Reptlbrain

There's a little-played alt heroside I have whose market window continues to display a single Military Cybernetic purchased months ago for 75,005. I just can't bear to pull it down.

Okay, the healer thing was just a gag to get responses and comments.

Curiously, I got bored with my Ice/Kin just after she picked up Fireball, so after a few months of stabling her in Wentworth's I decided to rebuild her with defensive IOs in mind to possibly make her more interesting.

Suggestions/critiques/arguments/comments requested for the build below.

I realize that I may be neglecting melee defense too much for a toon that's often in the thick of things, but melee defense bonuses are more difficult to come by (often sacrificing a set with both AoE and Ranged def), and that enemies are often engaging with ranged attacks after running a bit from Arctic Air.

I suppose it is possible to swap out Hurdle/Health/Stamina for Box/Tough/Weave (with no slots beyond the initial), though the cost of all the toggles and AA + the non-stop super-recharged clicking powers might require too much juice.

Another possibility would be to take the Earth epic (losing the Steadfast res/def and the AoE bonus from Aegis, but gaining 14.4% unslotted vs. lethal/smashing and maybe 1.25% more ranged in Basilisk's Gaze in Seismic Smash).

I don't think I've gone over the rule-of-five (Mid's doesn't seem to think so, anyway) for any bonuses.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]


Hero Profile:
Level 1: Block of Ice -- Lock-Acc/Hold:40(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg:40(3), Lock-Rchg/Hold:40(3), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:40(5), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:40(5), Lock-%Hold:40(7)
Level 1: Transfusion -- Nictus-Heal:35(A), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg:35(7), Nictus-Acc/Heal:35(9), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen:35(9), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:35(25), Nictus-%Dam:50(34)
Level 2: Frostbite -- TotHntr-Acc/Rchg:35(A), TotHntr-EndRdx/Immob:35(11), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx:35(11), TotHntr-Immob/Acc:35(31), TotHntr-Acc/Immob/Rchg:35(42), TotHntr-Dam%:35(45)
Level 4: Chilblain -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:40(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:40(17), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(21), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:40(21), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:40(40), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(40)
Level 6: Arctic Air -- C'phny-Acc/Rchg:30(A), C'phny-EndRdx/Conf:30(13), C'phny-Acc/EndRdx:30(13), C'phny-Conf/Rng:30(15), C'phny-Acc/Conf/Rchg:30(15), C'phny-Dam%:30(34)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel:35(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:40(31), Krma-ResKB:30(40), Ksmt-ToHit+:30(50)
Level 10: Siphon Speed -- Acc-I:45(A), RechRdx-I:35(17), RechRdx-I:40(19), RechRdx-I:40(19)
Level 12: Ice Slick -- RechRdx-I:40(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel:40(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:40(23)
Level 16: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 18: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Speed Boost -- EndMod-I:40(A)
Level 22: Maneuvers -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:40(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg:40(23), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg:40(25), RedFtn-EndRdx:40(37), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(43), RedFtn-Def:40(43)
Level 24: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:40(A), RechRdx-I:40(42), RechRdx-I:40(42)
Level 26: Glacier -- Lock-Acc/Hold:40(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg:40(27), Lock-Rchg/Hold:40(27), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:40(29), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:40(29), Lock-%Hold:40(31)
Level 28: Tactics -- EndRdx-I:40(A)
Level 30: Stamina -- EndMod-I:40(A)
Level 32: Jack Frost -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg:40(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx:40(33), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx:40(33), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(33), BldM'dt-Acc:40(34), BldM'dt-Dmg:40(46)
Level 35: Transference -- P'Shift-EndMod:35(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg:35(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg:35(36), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg:35(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc:35(37), P'Shift-End%:35(37)
Level 38: Fulcrum Shift -- Acc-I:35(A), Acc-I:35(39), RechRdx-I:35(39), RechRdx-I:35(39)
Level 41: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:42(A), Posi-Dam%:42(43), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:42(46), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:42(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng:42(48)
Level 44: Fire Shield -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:40(45), Aegis-ResDam:40(45), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(46)
Level 47: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:42(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:42(48), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:42(50), Dmg-I:40(50)
Level 49: [Empty]
------------

Sprint[/b] -- ULeap-Stlth:40(A)

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The defense stands at:
Melee: 5.3%
Ranged: 35.9%
AoE: 22.1%

and additionally helpful vs. melee
Energy/Negative: 24.3%
Fire/Cold: 17.4%

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I was under the impression that if I rolled in the 30-34 pool, even at 29 the worst I could get is 30. Does that only count for recipes that don't go below 30 or something?

[/ QUOTE ]

...
If the recipe exists at your level, you will get it at your level.

So by rolling in 30-34 at 29 you will either get a 30 or a 29. It will be 30 if it doesn't start until level 30, it will be 29 otherwise.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry I didn't mention your/SwellGuy's point. Additionally, the pools where the 30 is lots more valuable than the 29 are the ones that top out at 30, so rolling at 29 you might be costing yourself (crazily, I know) as much as 5 or 10 million (See Basilisk's Gaze quad) if it's something you need to sell to fund your Kinetic Combat needs.

I can think of an exception, though. I don't know if it's always true, but a 30 Numina's unique is probably worth more than a 33. (When I've bought them I grabbed them at 32/33 to save a bit.)

Sorry if this is redundant, but got interrupted while typing.

Shadow Maul you can enhance for accuracy, damage, recharge, end redux, etc. Sands you cannot. (You can receive buffs from acc and recharge to Sands, but the only damage "buffs" possible are -res debuffs against enemies.)

My current build (31) drops the Taunt and Touch of Fear from the primary and eventually acquires all the secondary, though putting off Grant Cover until late. I am contemplating dropping Shadow Punch for Boxing to pick up Tough/Weave in the 40s, though. My travel needs only require 2 powers (CJ and SJ both 2-slotted for Blessing of the Zephyr's range def bonus; you could do the same with TP), so I'll be picking up Maneuvers where you will pick up Hover.

If you have funds, or feel like marketing up some cash, try adding positional defense IOs (Steadfast res/+def unique, six-slotted Obliterations, Eradications, Scirocco'ses, Touch of Deaths and Makos, and perhaps Red Fortunes, Aegis, and/or Gaussian'ses). It's not hard to have range/melee within one buff (Fortitude, Ice shields or Force Field bubbles, 1 small purple) of the softcap at 30.

Running the Croatoa redcap arc with a small team with my DM/Shield handily soft-capped for melee and range by a Cold/ defender, and the rescue missions were each taking a bit of time (even with no deaths on the one with the steep hill). Got to the Broadkin mish, said, "This one will be short." Stepped in, got shielded, flew to Broadkin, typed "here," Soul Drain - Shadow Maul swoop - Mu swoop - Smite - Siphon Life - Shadow Maul swoop - Smite. Mission complete before the others got to the spawn.

Hee hee.

[ QUOTE ]
I'm 29, almost 30 and can roll in the 30-35 range to receive 30's. I suppose that's close enough.

What are the odds of getting something worthwhile off 2 merit rolls?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd recommend waiting til 32 or 33 to roll the TF roll, in hopes of grabbing the Kinetic Combat. The 35-39 pool has a lot fewer recipes than the 30-34 pool, making the Kinetic Combat triple slightly more likely, AND a 32 or 33 recipe is usually worth a lot more for sales than a 29.

Conversely, there are a few dynamite scores in the 30-34 pool at level 30.

[ QUOTE ]
I believe this is the fastest 1-50 done through MA, shattering all previous records.



one hour

[/ QUOTE ]

Log in. Level pact with lowbie. Log out. Pact-mate powerlevels essentially 100 levels. Log back in. Voila, "one hour." Interesting as performance art, but performance art nonetheless.

[ QUOTE ]
The people who played the market to get rich now are paying for their greed. I say things are balancing out just nicely. One could almost call it Karma o.@

-C.A.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, the people who earned a lot of influence prior to i14 now have a hell of a lot more purchasing power when it comes to non-purple recipes.

The best story missions I've been on so far as non-leader have had brief but informative mission-beginning and -ending pop-up bubbles.

A weird thing is that I actually read almost all of the text in MA when soloing (if it drags I'll quit the arc), but have almost never (in two years of playing) followed the storylines in the regular game. The regular contacts nearly all seem to have loggorhea...

[ QUOTE ]

Putting critters of differing levels into the same group expands the level of the group. This can be a good thing if you want a group that spawns lower level and weaker foes at low levels, but starts putting in the higher level and stronger foes at a higher level.

However, if you put critters of different levels in *separate* groups, and use both group anywhere in the mission then the mission gets restricted to where the two groups overlap.

So, if you have a Boss objective and the Boss is level 30-50 and you put in an accompanying group to spawn with the Boss whose range is 20-40, then that will restrict the mission to 30-40.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just to clarify: you're saying if you made a custom group to fill the whole mission, from, say, the ranks of the CoT, and put both Succubi (e.g., levels 30-40 [**not actual levels**]) and Hellfrost bosses (levels 20-35) in the group, then the mission's range would be 20-40, not 30-35? (And presumably you could even do this with a custom group that included bosses from different factions.)

Cargo ships are the greatest of tactical maps; I find them easily the most enjoyable of mission maps to move around in.

The ability to pull the "camera" back a long distance makes hovering/flying combat (as mentioned above) feasible without disorienting vertiginous camera shifts (as in low-ceilinged instances).

You can pull back your vision to maximum and lay out drops and AoEs to full effectiveness.

Superspeeders can zip in and out of combat without getting hung up on wall sconces and desks; combat jumpers can heroically bound onto the big containers and smack the bad guys in the face.

Most of all, you can see everything.

[ QUOTE ]
The easiest way to determine if it's valid in a text field is to right-click. If you get a menu full of text formatting options, it's valid. If you just get cut, copy and paste, it's not.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks a lot--had no idea about the right-clickability...

Hee hee.

*Winks at Uberguy*

I noticed at least one html tag appearing in MA after I typed in stuff normally, but attempting to input others has led to error messages (improper tags or somesuch).

Is there a list somewhere of acceptable html in MA?

[ QUOTE ]

Does the ally have a damage aura?

[/ QUOTE ]

Shouldn't have, Energy Melee &amp; Willpower, set pretty low, I think. RttC? Thanks for the idea, I will tinker with that.

[ QUOTE ]
In the broken mission, is he surrounded by mobs or alone?

Lastly, what sort of mobs should be guarding him?

[/ QUOTE ]

He should be (and *was*) surrounded by a spawn, but I'm not actually sure because the event of his freeing happens on a different floor.

The mobs are a custom group composed of a few varieties of Crey.

A rescue ally situation--which had been working--changed to have the ally getting free when zoning into the mission. Any idea how to rectify this problem?

It's hard to tell what's the best, with an unknown weighting system for which type of recipes drop (see Kitteh's posts in the Market forum, though I think she was just doing Merit random TF rolls), the work of calculating which uncommon + rare As or rare As + Bs drop in each level range, and an ever-shifting market. Consensus seems to be Merit random rolls are much more worthwhile in infl/hour than Gold ticket rolls, at least.

There was in the last couple of days a price drop in one of the Basilisk pool A pieces (Acc/Hold, I think) from about 30 to 5 million, for your troller.

Very interesting, particularly the buy recipe-craft-sell bits.

(I've always been surprised by how cheap the Devastation quad is. 2 SOs in one slot! It's a purple, sort of. I guess it's because the set bonuses are meh.)

The bind /bind j "++up" is helpful for making an autojump so you won't be pressing the jump button all the time (hit j or space bar to turn the autojump off). Especially useful during safe travel.

Combat Jumping is useful in the combo in that it lets you steer a lot better in the air than Hurdle alone.

[ QUOTE ]
Very specifically you regain 5% of your endurance bar every (3 / (1 + RecoveryBoost)) seconds.

Stamina is a 25% RecoveryBoost. It works on schedule A (33% enhancers).

[/ QUOTE ]

So this means that the min-maxiest way of slotting a /Regen scrapper with both QR and Stamina would be a second slot in QR, then a second slot in Stamina, then a third slot in QR...?

[ QUOTE ]

Some people honestly don't know and assume that you when ask for "rad" that you'll take rad-anything including secondary.

[/ QUOTE ]

Heh. Half-a-dozen times I've built a team and gotten this disappointment (Hmm. Blank search comment. Only defender available in the level range ... "Excuse me, but would you be a rad/, and interested in teaming lvl xx?"), producing an emp/rad with NB only, and the exact same litany of pools: Stealth, TP, Fitness, Speed. (You didn't take Cosmic Burst?!)

A variant that works fairly well, put forth by somebody some time ago on the defender boards, "Do you blast?" often gets you someone who's specced their defender for offense and defense.

[ QUOTE ]
once he does AS, it drops, he can be seen even without temp powers or buffs and killed very easily.

[/ QUOTE ]

Because this is a very stupid stalker that doesn't use Placate?

Digression:

[ QUOTE ]

For comparison, I'd tried my rad/rad defender some months back against a very similar scrapper of his, and it was also a draw; he whiffed enough with Rad Infection going that I could heal the remaining damage, but I couldn't out damage his regen.

[/ QUOTE ]

You can with Lingering Radiation.

I love the
[ QUOTE ]

Name: Paragon High Knockback Club

[/ QUOTE ]
...but why no Storm Summoning? (Yeah, yeah, they couldn't stay in formation...)

I used to worship at the altar of no knockback, though not as much with my scrapper ('f' &amp; 'tab' bound) as with my rad/dark, though he once ran with a 4 energy/ blaster, 2 kheldian (nova, natch), and 1 emp/energy team, which meant that anchors were pretty much knocked back along with everything else. But, like you say, it's because practically no one bothers to position themselves to make knockback useful (they shoot from where they were standing when they first see the target, then run forward if it gets knocked beyond range). If everyone would bother to choose their knockback angles with some care (at least as much as combat's chaos allows), then it wouldn't be hated so.

Superteam Idea (sort of cross-posted earlier), that's more of a Gedankenexperiment than anything else:

The Stand-Around Gang

A set of extremely lazy twenty-somethings, who aren't all that into "click" powers or running, really.

1 Stone/SS Tank w/Mudpots &amp; Footstomp
1 Fire/Fire Tank w/Burn &amp; Fire Sword Circle
1 Fire/Rad Controller w/Hotfeet, Cinders, EMP &amp; Choking Cloud
1 Dark/Rad Defender w/Shadowfall, Irradiate &amp; Neutron Bomb
1 Ice/Storm Controller w/Ice Slick, Arctic Air, Glacier, Freezing Rain &amp; Steamy Mist
1 Spines/Dark Armor Scrapper w/Quills, Spine Burst, Death Shroud, Cloak of Fear, &amp; Oppressive Gloom

Someone has Team Teleport. They all have Teleport Foe or Taunt for stragglers and snipers, and all but the stone tank have Acrobatics. They work from a very tight formation and teleport from center of a spawn, do their "work," and teleport to the next.

[ QUOTE ]
Likewise, if you've got 4 Defenders, get yourself a blaster or scrapper or two for Pete's sake, unless you like knocking down bad guys veeerrry sloooowly.

[/ QUOTE ]

You're playing with the wrong defenders (unless you're at low levels). Rikti office bldg mish last night +1-+3 to the party with a Fire/Rad, Ice/Storm, Rad/Rad, and a Dark/Dark defender. We mowed through the opposition, and upon checking the damage log I realized I hadn't been hit on the second floor. If you're co-ordinated (with two Enervating Fields, AMs, a Radiation Infection, a Tar Patch, and Freezing Rain all at once, in this case) your enemies' defenses and resistances are pitiful, and they melt before you.