OrphanedHope

@ bright shadow

this thread needs more man. for those who prefer tsfl - teat slider full left.

this woman the OP has issues with. its nonsense drama perpetuated by both of them. do not entertain nonsense if that is what it is. likewise do not hurt someone if you care about them. simple as that.

the below is better than kicking a dead horse (imo).

package slider full right for my fox boy pls. Inequality in ludicrous fantasy!

paying to group is outrageous in my opinion. You join a group and pull your weight or if someone wants to tag you along for sights to see and free xp then asking for a truck ton o' money just leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Perhaps you are grouping (or not) with the wrong people, or not starting groups. I've found people are more than willing to group and are looking to do so but are too timid to form and run a group themselves, or find it too much of a hassle.

I for one will play with you whenever, sure loads others would too (currently lvling a stone/stone tank with a friend who happens to be a kin def, which is nice) - called jade prison and 'easy like methadone'.

cg winnar!

squee!

so... sli not being supported seemed to be a core engine limitation thing back in the day, asking about it the devs wouldn't even really respond. So this is fantastic.

I wonder if the capability became possible with the ultra revamp or if they're still at work on the graphics engine at that kind of level.

dunno, who cares! this is awesome news!

for those of us running at a fraction of our machines capability, being hobbled by inferior graphics card configs involving a single card that costs less than 300.

quad sli - yes pls. hope this is true.

Plant / Thorn – no haste, no stamina – a guide with power reviews and my current build


Intro

When fully leveled – you will be strong. You will be able to punch through high def mobs/heroes, and steadily maintain lowering of their def while you dish out consistent dps, and good control.

Your secondary is like a scrapper set – and can dish out good damage with the added bonus of a dot component, and a def- and/or slow as 2ndary effects. Many of the thorns abilities are close range or melee, so to be fully effective with these you will have to move around a lot, and risk melee range.

To this end we must address the low def (no prim or 2nd abilities improve your def) and low HP. In the build section I’ll show you a sample build (the one I currently use).


REMEMBER – a stalker cannot hide from you if dotted.

REMEMBER – STACK YOUR DoTs!

If I have made mistakes pls pm me or send me a tell in game (im Orphaned Hope on freedom)

Power review

PLANT CONTROL

Entangle
click, 7.8 end cost, 1.2 s cast, 4 s recharge

Effect: ranged single target foe, moderate dot (smash, lethal) SINGLE IMMOB

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, immob duration+

Comments:

Do not underestimate the value of a single target immobilize – both for PvP and PvE. Your major comparison will of course be roots in this power set. Why take a single target immob when you already have an aoe one?

My answer would be –
you do not need to incur aoe agro potential
the single target is about half end cost
the single target has half the recharge time
the single target does more dmg (the dots between your power sets really add up when stacked)
you are stacking magnitudes with roots for tougher mob immob

This power is a viable choice and a good addition if your build allows. Remember to use it a lot – its cheap and puts a good dot… stack your dots. As with roots this immob seems to make carrion creepers spread more effectively.

Strangler
click, 8.53 end cost, 2.07 s cast, 8s recharge

Effect: ranged single target foe, moderate dot (smash), SINGLE HOLD

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, hold duration+

Comments:

Fantastic power. Cheap, reasonable cast time, good dot (moderate), graphic for hold easily understood by teammates. You want this one.

Roots
click, 13 end cost, 1.67 s cast, 8s recharge, 10 targets max effect

Effect: ranged AoE from target foe (sphere 30), minor dot (smash, lethal), AOE IMMOB

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, immob duration+

Comments:

Very good in combination with seed of confusion (cone confuse) used before or spore burst (aoe sleep) used after for brief sleep on mob while you fall back. Seems to cause carrion creepers to spread more effectively.

Spore Burst
click, 13 end cost, 1.37 cast, 45s recharge, higher than standard base range, sphere aoe 25, 10 targets max effect

Effect: ranged AoE from target foe (sphere 25), no dmg, AOE SLEEP

Possible enh: acc+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, sleep +

Comments: quick cast, good base recharge, good base sleep duration. I find this one very useful both as a power to use as falling back from a mob, and also as a way to give you and your team a few seconds breather (even with a team which completely ignores sleep effects you’ll still typically get a second or two – and sometimes that’s enough)

Seeds of Confusion
Click, 15.6 end cost, 1.07 cast, 60s recharge, 10 targets max effect

Effect: ranged wide cone from you with target foe within cone area, no dmg, CONE CONFUSE

Possible enh: acc+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, confuse+

Comments:

Wonderful. Large and wide cone, highly effective. It is often a good idea to lock down mobs with an immobilize after using seeds to prevent them from wondering away to agro other mobs.

Spirit Tree
Click summon, 13 end cost, 3.2s cast, 200s recharge

Effect: placed summon immobile, physical obstruction, PBAoE from summon increases ally regeneration rate

Possible enh: heal+, recharge+, end cost-, PBAoE / placement range+

Comments:

So I read this was a crappy power… I didn’t believe it and I took it. I think its great – here’s why:

the tree provides your only ability to heal, and does so in a long lasting regen boost. Over time the amount healed is quite significant. In longer battles being able to provide a modicum of healing, even if only to offload some pressure from other team members is invaluable.
the tree heals your carrion creepers. This effect cannot be underestimated. The creepers are quite hard in pvp to target and there tend to be many of them. By increasing the regen of these creepers by 200% base (with no slotting) is great. Your creepers stay up longer. When I use creepers I tend to place a tree right in the middle of the patch.
the tree acts as a physical obstruction – you can use this to your advantage with doors etc.
Often as a dominator we tactically direct the fights (whether our team appreciates this or not J ). I have found the tree to provide a moral boost to team mates. It can be set as a rally point, can be used as a marker for where you want the timid robot mms to hide etc.
When your in the middle of a mob, you can hardly see from the creepers flailing about etc. this little guy is ticking you constantly with improved regen. Remember what I mentioned about low HP. This partially offsets it when combined with a raised def (we’ll talk about power pool selection in the build section).

Vines:
Click, 15.6 end cost, 3.1s cast, 240s recharge, sphere aoe 20, 10 targets max effect

Effect: ranged AoE from target foe (sphere 20), no dmg, AOE HOLD

Possible enh: acc+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, hold duration+

Comments:

A solid, valuable power. When I use this one it tends to be when I feel that pressure needs to be applied to a mob. You’ll take a good few from the fight with this one with judicious targeting. The recharge is quite long, but this can be taken care of. Seems to spread creepers in the same way the immobilizes do.


Carrion Creepers:
Click, 26 end cost, 1.17s cast, 360s recharge, location based area, will spread for duration

Effect: ranged location summon, foe speed-, foe jump-, fly-, foe knockback, minor lethal dmg, creepers will spread on mob death (particularly if foe immob on death)

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, knockback+, slow+, immob duration+

Comments:

Creepers is wonderful. We’ll talk about its slotting in the builds section.

This power in pvp has a great effect on the enemy. The creepers are disgusting, heroes have nothing that even mildly resembles the graphic effect. The players vision will be reduced – in best cases all they’ll see is a forest of worm like vines knocking them down, slowing them, and applying damage effectively as a dot. (remember - stack your dots!)

Fly Trap
Click summon, 26 end cost, 1.17s cast, 240s recharge

Effect: summon fly trap pet, summon casts ranged immob, ranged moderate lethal with dot with def- effect, moderate melee lethal bite. Summon resistant to smash … {check other types}

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, immob duration+, def debuff+

Comments:

A solid pet. Resistant to smashing dmg makes him last a good while (though he’ll be torn up by fire). Uses a mix of ranged and melee attacks. Tends to go for melee only when in close proximity and more so if foe immobilized/held.

His immobilizes seem to cause creeper spread.

Although I am uncertain of the boost – on hitting domination I will resummon the pet often. I do not yet have numbers on whether he is boosted by doing this.

THORNY ASSAULT

Thorny Darts
Click, 4.4 end cost, 1.33s cast, 3s recharge

Effect: ranged target foe single, minor dmg (dot toxic), foe DEF-

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, def debuff+

Comments:

Cheap to use, fast to recharge, another dot, def lowering effect. I use this one a lot in combination with strangler and impale. Hitting with this one first is often a good idea. It’s a quick cast, costs very little end and sets you up for your follow up by lowering mob defense.

Skewer
Click, 8.5 end cost, 1.63s cast, 8s recharge

Effect: MELEE moderate dmg (lethal), dot (toxic), def-

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, def debuff+

Comments:

Quick strike much like thorny darts in speed but at melee range. Good (moderate) dmg, def debuff effect, another dot (stack your dots!). This one is great and a good melee opener. You can quickly dot an opponent and reduce their def. good to use before an attack like ripper – to make it more likely to hit

Fling Thorns:
Click, 13 end cost, 1.63s cast, 12s recharge, cone 30, 10 targets max effect

Effect: ranged cone foe targeted, moderate dmg (lethal), dot (toxic), def-

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, def debuff+

Comments:

Wide cone effect. With a range enh or two very good area covered with a def- effect and dot.

I like this one very much. Good to lower def before thorn barrage, or before seeds of confusion, vines etc etc.

Impale
Click, 6.9 end cost, 2.43s cast, 6s recharge

Effect: ranged single target foe, high dmg (lethal), dot (toxic), IMMOB, def-, speed-, fly-, jump-

Possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, def debuff+, slow+, immob+

Comments:

Get this one. First off it’ll knock a mob out of the sky, itll slow them, prevent them flying away or super jumping etc. for a short while. The power deals high dmg with a good dot. As an added bonus – a slow effect, a def- effect and potential for immobilization. Part of the 3 core ranged abilities I use most (strangler, thorny darts and impale). Not a bad one to put a range enh or two in to prevent escape.

Aim:
Click, 5.2 end cost, 1.17s cast, 90s recharge

Effect: self +acc, +dmg

Possible enh: recharge+, end cost-, to hit buff+

Comments:

A good power up. Very useful prior to seeds of confusion, or anything really that you want to hit.

Also useful to boost your attack strengths. Youll see this boost most in impale, skewer, thorny barrage and thorn burst etc.

Thorn Burst:
Click, 15.19 end cost, 3s cast time, melee sphere 15, 15s recharge, 10 targets max effect

Effect: PBAoE melee 15, moderate dmg (lethal), dot (toxic), def-

Comments:

A good power. However, expensive to use (15.2 end), has a long cast time (meaning mobs must be immob for full effect. Recharge time is long on this too. This power can help to devastate a mob group caught in a creeper patch.

I respecced out this power – due to:

long cast time/end cost vs. damage/debuff effect normally delivered does not work out well
You expose yourself to melee for a minimum of 3s (normally more to move in / out)
We need to address defense of the dominator – not taking this one frees up a slot for us to do so. Because I chose not to take stamina, this becomes a perfect candidate to skip.

Thorntrops:
Click, 7.8 end cost, 1.63s cast, location placed AOE, 45s recharge

Effect: placed location aoe. Minor dot (lethal), foe speed-

Possible enh: recharge+, end cost-, range+, dmg+, slow+

Comments:

Its caltrops really. I took it then respecced it out. The small location aoe is often easily avoided.

This power could be useful in pvp – the dot will break a silly stalkers hide if they tread in it. Good obviously for locking down opponents. Good in combination with thorn burst as prevents foe escape during cast time.

I skipped this power because:

the range of placement without slotting for range is low
the recharge time is long – it is hard to dynamically use this power OFTEN to control mob movement flow
smart people wont step in it
We need to address defense of the dominator – not taking this one frees up a slot for us to do so.

Ripper:
click, melee cone 5, 11 end cost, 2.17s cast, 11s recharge, 5 targets max effect

effect: melee cone 5, high dmg (lethal), dot (toxic), def-,knockback effect, speed-

possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, knockback+, def debuff+

comments:

A good choice. excellent damage, a slow effect, potential knockback, def- effect, yet another dot. Note you cannot currently slot this power for slow+.
The range on the cone is short, you'll rarely hit more than one mob in practice.

I have experimented slotting this for knockback. My conclusion is that you'd be better with more def-

Thorn barrage
click, short ranged, 10.2 end cost, 2s cast, 11s recharge

effect: close ranged, high dmg (lethal), dot (toxic), def-

possible enh: acc+, dmg+, recharge+, end cost-, range+, knockback+

comments:

a nice reward at 38. Range is low. High dmg and another dot. can knockback foe.

Build

This is the build I currently use. I very much like it and find it to be effective both in solo and group pvp/pve. I would welcome any constructive criticism or comments on the build.

As I mentioned earlier we have a few major areas of weakness - a low def due to no primary or secondary def boosting abilities, and low HP.

The character needs to be able to get into (and out of) melee range quickly. to this end i chose super jump as a travel power. We will use stealth and invis to hide, detect hidden and raise our def. We use acrobatics and combat jumping to increase resistance to holds, knockback, immob and to raise def.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.1.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Orphaned Hope
Level: 40
Archetype: Dominator
Primary: Plant Control
Secondary: Thorny Assault
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Strangler==> Dmg(1)Acc(3)Hold(3)Hold(27)Dmg(31)EndRdx(31)
01) --> Thorny Darts==> Acc(1)Dmg(5)Dmg(17)DefDeBuf(17)Dmg(23)EndRdx(31)
02) --> Skewer==> Acc(2)Dmg(5)Dmg(34)
04) --> Roots==> Acc(4)Immob(11)
06) --> Fling Thorns==> Acc(6)Dmg(7)DefDeBuf(7)
08) --> Seeds of Confusion==> Acc(8)ConfDur(9)Rechg(9)
10) --> Impale==> Acc(10)Dmg(11)Dmg(15)Slow(19)DefDeBuf(21)Dmg(27)
12) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(12)DefBuf(13)EndRdx(13)DefBuf(15)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Aim==> Rechg(16)
18) --> Vines==> Hold(18)Rechg(19)
20) --> Spirit Tree==> Heal(20)Heal(21)
22) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(22)EndRdx(23)
24) --> Stealth==> EndRdx(24)DefBuf(25)DefBuf(25)
26) --> Invisibility==> EndRdx(26)
28) --> Carrion Creepers==> Acc(28)Rechg(29)Rechg(29)Immob(36)Slow(37)Dmg(37)
30) --> Spore Burst==> Acc(30)
32) --> Fly Trap==> Dmg(32)Acc(33)Immob(33)Dmg(33)Dmg(34)KB_Dist(34)
35) --> Ripper==> Acc(35)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)DefDeBuf(37)
38) --> Thorn Barrage==> Acc(38)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)Range(40)Range(40)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Domination==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------



I hope this is of some use to you. Please let me know what you think.

\@_@/

edit - typos
edit - changed build to short format