Rhyltran

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I really enjoy the AE system, it's a great tool to create stories and characters, write dialog, and bring some interesting ideas to life. However, i am finding that the majority of players, are simply interested in finding the AE mission which will give them the most XP and influence, for the least amount of effort. Getting into teams with people, who have really no clue of how to play the game, don't understand teamwork, following the Tank, the concept of pulling, or looking at your team roster to see how everyone's endurance is doing before aggroing the next mob, just drives me crazy when these players are in their high 30's 40's and even at 50, because they really have never taken the time to actually PLAY THE GAME. I had a really bad string of PUGs tonight. Used to be that if someone was a level 50, you could count on a certain level of skill and teamwork, because they had worked hard through all the zones, and knew what to do.I'm just frustrated at the ever increasing level of newbies, leveling fast, and not grasping basic game fundamentals. I really hope this post sinks in to at least one person, and saves one team from wiping, and then i'll be happy.

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I know what you mean. This is why, outside of a few situations, I avoid MA teams. I prefer to either do some of the stories solo or get teams to do normal contact missions/scanner/paper. Not all MA teams are bad but I find since I can't play very often I'll just avoid the headache altogether. It's a shame, really, but many are really that bad.

Yeah, I didn't use the build to the exact. On my character I plan to take Elude. Even if I just end up using it as an "Oh [censored]" power. I just needed some direction and thanks to the first post I received that. Also in the higher levels I took hasten as well which would reduce the down time on it (as well as everything else of course) as well.

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Here's a starter build I came up with quickly to get you to level 41 where you can decide on your own what epic you prefer. OR you can decide to never choose an epic powerset.

I have not included elude, because you really dont need it prior to 40. Personally I would never take it, I would go Soul Mastery and take Shadow Meld and never have to deal with the End Crash.

From the Primary, Crippling Axe Kick is most skippable. I would try to fit in Cobra Strike in the last 4 picks as it is great mitigation.

Take all the powers from the secondary except Elude.

Also you COULD take hurdle at 20 instead of health, if you wanted more maneuverability. This build will make you extremely fast all the time, and elusive -- even without elude.

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

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

MA/SR starterbuild: Level 40 Magic Stalker
Primary Power Set: Martial Arts
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Thunder Kick -- Acc(A), Acc(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(11), Dmg(21), RechRdx(37)
Level 1: Hide -- DefBuff(A)
Level 2: Storm Kick -- Acc(A), Acc(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(11), Dmg(15), EndRdx(21)
Level 4: Focused Fighting -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(17), DefBuff(19), EndRdx(37)
Level 6: Assassin's Blow -- Acc(A), Acc(7), Dmg(7), Dmg(15), RechRdx(37)
Level 8: Focus Chi -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(9), RechRdx(9)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff(A), EndRdx(40)
Level 12: Placate -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(13), Range(13)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump(A)
Level 16: Practiced Brawler -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(17)
Level 18: Swift -- Run(A), Run(19)
Level 20: Health -- Heal(A), Heal(40), Heal(40)
Level 22: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(23), EndMod(23)
Level 24: Dodge -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(25), DefBuff(25)
Level 26: Crane Kick -- Acc(A), Acc(27), Dmg(27), Dmg(29), Dmg(34), EndRdx(39)
Level 28: Quickness -- Run(A), Run(29)
Level 30: Focused Senses -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(31), DefBuff(31), EndRdx(31)
Level 32: Eagles Claw -- Acc(A), Acc(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(34), EndRdx(34)
Level 35: Evasion -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(36), DefBuff(36), EndRdx(36)
Level 38: Agile -- DefBuff(A), DefBuff(39), DefBuff(39)
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Assassination

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Thank you for posting! This is exactly what I was looking for. So I see that my instincts were right in that just about everything should be taken. Glad I'm not going crazy . Thank you for the build/quick write up on your choices and why certain ones weren't included!

I'm in the process of trying to make a Martial Arts/Super Reflexes stalker but I'm lost on what powers to get, how to slot them, and when. Unlike most other AT's I end up feeling a bit overwhelmed because I feel like taking everything but don't know what powers to take or when. With other AT's it was very clear cut on what powers I wanted and what powers I didn't and many times I took certain powers only because I ran out of choices.

Basically, I need help from someone who is familiar with Martial Arts/Super Reflexes and can help me out with this situation. It'd also be nice if any of you guys can post what powers you think are amazing and what ones you think are sub par as well as the reason why. Any Sample builds would be greatly appreciated as well but aren't as necessary. What's more important is just some direction on where to go.

Also note that I'm a casual player so I probably won't be getting into IO's on this character. I also plan to be playing this character with solo oriented work in mind with minimal teaming due to my play schedule. So I don't expect to be soloing AV's. Again, thank you in advance for any advice. If anyone wishes to talk via pm that's okay too.

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The power of Empathy is the ability to sense and manipulate the emotions of other people psionically.

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That is complete hooey. The power Empathy and the even the definition of the word "empathy" has nothing to do with the manipulation of emotions.

As for any psionic involvement, please show me even one example that Empathy has anything to do with Psionic powers.

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Empathy is psychic in nature. However, I was going by the comic book definition in which heroes with Empathy also have the power to control the emotions of others. You can be Empathic person but there is a psychic ability known as "empathy" in which a person has the ability to read the emotions of others by simply being in their presence. In super hero terms it's not unheard of for certain people to develop their ability further to alter the emotions of others.

This isn't possible in COH but it has been displayed by several characters in Marvel comics and I believe one character in DC. As to the other person who said that they'd only learn to care for others. Not the case. You can feel what someone else feels, you can understand the pain, and at the same time you could end up caring more about yourself.

Also, as I said before, what if an Empath who has developed his abilities further ends up going mad? What if feeling everyone's emotions overwhelms the person's brain driving him/her insane? Then at the same time, the person retaliates by attacking/twisting the emotions of those around him? It is theoretically possible for an Empath to be a villain if the person is able to control the emotions of others.

*Edit* For example, Blackavaar, an extension of Telepathy can lead one to the power of suggestion, an extension of that, mind control. Telepathy isn't far from the power of suggestion which in turn isn't far from the ability to control people mentally.

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Sadism, not apathy. Big, BIG difference.

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Exactly. Take Joker from Batman. If he had power over Empathy..

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I'd like to go ahead and apologize for pretty much everything I've said today.

The remark Bill made about killing and life support really hit a sensitive spot in my heart and -really- threw me out of whack. I've been emotional, rude, and verbally abusive. I'm sorry. And I hope everyone can forgive me.

-Rachel-

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I was never upset with you nor do I think you're a bad person. I actually had fun discussing this topic. I'm sorry that someone in this thread upset you and I truly do hope that you feel better. I'm also sure that Bill didn't mean to cause any pain or upset.

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Smurch.

In the REAL WORLD A Superhero, licensed to arrest villains would be put in prison for killing hundreds a day.

In the REAL WORLD a protest would rise against someone using the bodies of loved ones to fight crime.

In the REAL WORLD a lot of what's been suggested wouldn't be acceptable, even if it -was- possible.

Hence why I'm objectively right for ever and ever. If you're going to attack me as a person, by all means stop posting.

-Rachel-

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I respect this, however, I think in the real world if governments found a way to bring back the dead and use them to fight in wars people wouldn't object as much. I think some groups would at first but it'd calm down in favor of other people not having to risk their lives or the need to draft living people. I can see people quietly accepting it and in time with it becoming the norm. Considering a dimension is threatening to take over our world it's the same concept.

There's also, like I said, the fact that currently there's a dimension that threatens to overtake our very universe (not just our planet) and that these same Necromancers/Villains are willing to fight on our side. It's like the united states. People cheered when Japan surrendered but had the U.S. drop a nuke on a country that just threatened us there'd be a huge outcry. People's opinions on what's right or wrong change depending how great a threat is to them.

With the threat of another dimension conquering our own many people who would be against such villains being given licenses may quietly accept it. In time their concepts could be changed forever if they help thwart the conquest. As I said earlier, that's the expansions theme, the line between good/evil has been blurred because of this massive threat. What used to be considered morally wrong is just viewed as questionable. What was once questionable is now accepted.

It was this chaos that paved way to Necromancers getting licenses. Kheldians not watched so closely and peace bringers straying towards the path of darkness to use their prejudice. Warshades having the opportunity to switch back to nictus either from greed or fear of the over zealous peacebringers. Citizens that would normally cry out in protest are now sitting quietly not wanting to be invaded.

The power of Empathy is the ability to sense and manipulate the emotions of other people psionically. Just because you're an empath doesn't make you a good guy. If you decide to use this ability to bring out hate/fear/and sorrow in people then you're using the power of Empathy for evil. It would be hard for an Empath to be evil because being able to feel how others feel could cause themselves pain and by feeling others pain they can understand what causes them to feel this way.

However, it does not make them inherently good either. If the person was clinically insane with power over Empathy they could be a truly frightening individual. With the power of Empathy I can make those around me feel really good about themselves and towards other people. I could help them work through their problems by understanding what they're going through and change negative emotions to more positive ones.

However, if someone hurt the person I love, I could find the person in question and manipulate their motions to feel how I feel. Possibly even push it a few steps further overloading their mind with emotion until they break. The reason I bring up this example is because using the scenario above it's quite possible for an empath to go bad.

I just want to know where this reply came in from. I didn't claim that consequences don't have any weight or that you can get away with everything. I just conceded the point that it's up to you whether to roleplay if the badges you gain have any kind of real meaning. Just because you roleplay that badges don't have meaning and that the badges you've obtained doesn't mean anything doesn't make your rp pointless.

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Then that's different. Basically, my original post was mostly in response to all the posts I've seen on the forums that say "Going Rogue makes no sense! There's no way a Zombie Mastermind, Kheldian, or (insert AT here) could be good/evil. My point was that depending how you roleplay anything can be. I also don't think villains are going to get the hero level up badges. Just their own. I could be wrong.

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I think it's a mistake to assume that badges carry with them any kind of actual in-game meaning. They're just meta-game gimmies/rewards. They don't have an objective reality in the game world itself. You can choose to RP that they do, but really they're a metagame reward more than anything (or do you really think that standing on the roof of Aeon University will make everyone know you as an Egghead?).

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Yeah, that's true.

Then that's different. Basically, my original post was mostly in response to all the posts I've seen on the forums that say "Going Rogue makes no sense! There's no way a Zombie Mastermind, Kheldian, or (insert AT here) could be good/evil. My point was that depending how you roleplay anything can be. I also don't think villains are going to get the hero level up badges. Just their own. I could be wrong.

It makes sense. An empath is someone who can feel another's emotions. Now imagine an Empath who is completely psychotic? Feeling everyone's pain around them, getting a kick out of it, a rise out of it. So they use their powers of Empathy to twist up their opponent's emotions driving them to the brink of insanity while getting their own allies in the right kind of mindset to promote more misery.

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Well how does the general populace view his act, is the question. Does the general public of Paragon consider zombies to be evil (Vahzilok, Banished Pantheon, Halloween Zombies) or do they view them as tools to be used?

If it's the former, then a Hero Zombie Mastermind would likely have his license suspended or revoked based on public outcry. If he continues heroing he could be arrested.

If the latter is true, however, then zombies would likely do most of our menial labor. From digging ditches to fetching water and building materials.

-Rachel-

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I like this post here but allow me to explain. I think you're right that the Hero in question would have his license revoked in normal situations. Possibly even arrested but that's the reason why you can't be a heroic mastermind but with the coming of the expansion we've learned that Praetoria is trying to expand into our own world. Right now people don't have time for discrimination. If a man who can revive the dead is willing to fight for our future, our universe, and our lives they're not going to revoke his license just because some people don't like how he's doing it.

Realize that in the expansion it's not under normal situations. If someone is using something that's morally questionable for good then he's still using it for good. The other side has a super powered army ready to march down into our world.

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Typically the -act- of raising the dead is considered evil.

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What if it's not forced? What if the Necromancer asks the nice spirit if he wants to come help? Sort of like a voodoo witch: "Hear me, oh spirits of darkness! ... That's the guy. *point*"

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Generally acceptable, I think? Pointing spirits of vengeance towards a criminal, that they might handle it. Yes. That could be considered a good act.

But using Zombies as they are typically understood to exist in this game (the dead given some semblance of life for the sole purpose of serving their master) is evil. Using a Corpse-puppet is at the very -least- extremely disrespectful to a family.

-Rachel-

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Yeah, but think of it this way. You revive someone's husband. That same family gets attacked by a crazed criminal. You're the only one there (ironic considering you revived their father). You manage, with your zombie minion, to save the familie's life. Are you worse than the criminal? I don't think so. You saved their life. Maybe the method you did it can't be considered a "pure" act. You could probably cause some emotional trauma in the family as well.

But most importantly you gave them a second chance at a life. If you think in terms of souls/spirits do you really think the soul of the husband is going to think, "That [censored] used my corpse to save my family! He should have let them died. How could he use my body?" No, he did something that the spirit would have wanted. Will the family be upset? Yes, but at the same time he saved them and their daughter. You can claim the man in question isn't entirely in the right but you can't classify him as a villain either.

If the zombies are mindless he can be using raising the dead as a necessary evil in order to fight crime and corruption. While it's true that he could be using a loved father's corpse to fight this crime and while that could stress out/upset certain people it could also save people's lives. This, to me, sounds like the concept of the expansion. The line isn't as clear as it used to be, another dimension is trying to conquer our own, and should we deny the help of someone who's willing to risk his own life to protect our world just because he uses a morally questionable practice?

Remember, in our own reality there's people who don't believe that animals have souls, that they don't have true emotions, and roll their eyes at those who go out of their way to protect them but at the same time will help their fellow man. A necromancer can view the same towards a corpse. That it's an empty shell, that it can be used for justice, and that it's illogical for people to persecute him for simply using his own talents to save the lives of others.

Again, you have to look at the individual. While many people may not be able to accept his practice, if he uses corpses to fight evil and take some of the most dangerous people off the streets their will be those who will overlook his talents. Or maybe the person doesn't require any fame at all? Maybe he doesn't mind that others refuse to see what he's doing as good but does it anyway because he feels he's doing the right thing? You may be unable to accept it but it doesn't change the side he's fighting for.

Of course.. such a man can end up viewing everyone as shells, becoming arrogant and seeing himself as a god, etc. Corruption which would lead him back to being a villain.

*Edit* I see where you're coming from but at the same time it can be a necessary sacrifice to protect the lives/existance of others. Of course, the Dark line of powers are the ones that could more pull towards someone to the path of complete darkness. I also suspect that you'll see more Dark oriented characters going bad when Rogue starts which would actually make sense from a roleplaying standpoint.

I don't understand why some people claim that certain things can't ever be seen as good. A common complaint I see is the concept of a Necromancer mastermind doing good deeds but who is to say that all necromancers are evil or cannot be redeemed? What if the person is a scientist who has managed to learn the secret of bringing the dead back to life? This same scientist has decided to dedicate his research to reviving the dead in order to combat crime.

His view of the death is that the person who used to inhabit the body are long gone and now the corpse can be used in order to protect those who are still living. Changing the story around, you can even use the same concept with a magical character. In reality it's the same concept as a demon summoner forcing demons to fight against their own kind.

At the same time I hear a lot about how Kheldians would never do evil but this simply isn't true either. A Warshade can feel the allure of his past crimes calling back to him and slowly end up reverting back to his Nictus ways. Afterall, he was once a nictus before so becoming one again isn't an impossibility. At the same time, in the story, they mention that there's over zealous peace bringers that REFUSE to accept the Warshades. The only reason they do so is because their leader manages to keep them under control. Because he has faith in their cause but what's to say a Peacebringer doesn't rebel? That he can't see it not being a ploy and that Warshades are one of the greatest threats?

What if his prejudice pushes him into feeling betrayed, that everyone is being used, and seeing the Paragon heroes that trust the Warshades as the ones who are wrong? A peacebringer who has become much like the witch hunters of old and even going as far as to side with the Rogue Island Villains in order to fight against the Nictus threat. Believing that what it's doing is best for humanity as a whole?

No matter what any of the ATS can be used for good or evil. So many of you are thinking in terms of black and white. These aren't the only possible scenarios but are simply examples. As for the Kheldian bit (because I see this one the most), remember that Nictus were once Peacebringers. Peacebringers can go corrupt and aren't infallible beings.

Thugs mastermind? Remember, with the right amount of cash and maybe some manipulation you can pay most people to do anything.

Fire/Fire for me. I second the FE+BU+Attack chain.

I see the badge complaint a lot but don't quite understand it. From my understanding there's already choices in game that lock you out of certain badges but it goes beyond this. They said that you can go from hero to villain to back to hero again if you want. What this means is that you can get all the hero based badges, become a villain, and then start getting villain badges which potentially allows you to get far more badges than normal.

Now.. if you can choose to be a Exemplary Hero instead you miss possibly one badge while having access to much more. As I said before. There's already choices that lock you out of certain badges. So if you're a badge collector the obvious choice is to go to the other side and have access to a plethora of other badges. You missed one on hero side? Switch back over and get it.

Or is there something I'm missing?

Dark Armor is a really good secondary for scrappers imo. I have a Katana/Dark and he doesn't feel too squishy at all. In fact, I can actually pseudo tank with him with the combination of Divine Avalanche as well as the Dark Armor shields. For me, Dark Armor is one of my favorite secondaries and I have more fun with it than I do with Willpower or Regeneration. Of course, that's just me and everyone is different but just because Dark Armor isn't brought up a lot don't count it out.

No problem! Glad you like it.

Well, you asked for a build so here's the one I use... Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/

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

Celestial Drifter: Level 50 Natural Peacebringer
Primary Power Set: Luminous Blast
Secondary Power Set: Luminous Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Medicine

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Glinting Eye -- Acc(A), Dmg(7), Dmg(7), Dmg(9)
Level 1: Incandescence -- ResDam(A)
Level 2: Gleaming Blast -- Acc(A), Dmg(3), Dmg(3), Dmg(9), RechRdx(11), RechRdx(11)
Level 4: Essence Boost -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(5), RechRdx(5)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(17), RechRdx(17)
Level 8: Aid Other -- Heal(A)
Level 10: Radiant Strike -- Acc(A), Dmg(13), RechRdx(13), Dmg(15), RechRdx(15), Dmg(19)
Level 12: Build Up -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(23), RechRdx(23)
Level 14: Shining Shield -- EndRdx(A)
Level 16: Thermal Shield -- EndRdx(A)
Level 18: Incandescent Strike -- Acc(A), Dmg(19), Dmg(31), Dmg(36), EndRdx(45), RechRdx(45)
Level 20: White Dwarf -- ResDam(A), ResDam(21), ResDam(21)
Level 22: Reform Essence -- Heal(A)
Level 24: Conserve Energy -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(25), RechRdx(25)
Level 26: Pulsar -- Acc(A), Acc(27), Dsrnt(27), Dsrnt(50)
Level 28: Quantum Flight -- EndRdx(A)
Level 30: Solar Flare -- Acc(A), Dmg(37), Dmg(37), Dmg(39), RechRdx(46), EndRdx(46)
Level 32: Dawn Strike -- Acc(A), Dmg(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(33), RechRdx(48), RechRdx(48)
Level 35: Photon Seekers -- Dmg(A), Dmg(36), Dmg(36), RechRdx(48)
Level 38: Light Form -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(39), ResDam(40), EndMod(42), EndMod(42)
Level 41: Restore Essence -- RechRdx(A)
Level 44: Glowing Touch -- Heal(A), Heal(50)
Level 47: Group Energy Flight -- EndRdx(A)
Level 49: Super Speed -- Run(A)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Acc(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx(A)
Level 1: Cosmic Balance
Level 1: Energy Flight -- Flight(A)
Level 10: Combat Flight -- Flight(A)
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Level 20: White Dwarf Strike -- Acc(A), Dmg(34), Dmg(43), Dmg(45), Acc(46)
Level 20: White Dwarf Smite -- Acc(A), Dmg(31), Dmg(34), RechRdx(42), Dmg(43), EndRdx(43)
Level 20: White Dwarf Flare -- Acc(A), Dmg(29), Dmg(29), Dmg(34), RechRdx(40), EndRdx(50)
Level 20: White Dwarf Sublimation -- Heal(A), Heal(31), Heal(37), RechRdx(40)
Level 20: White Dwarf Antagonize -- Taunt(A)
Level 20: White Dwarf Step -- EndRdx(A)


Now a few comments. I know that you said you're looking to blast but I found the melee attacks in human form do considerably more damage than the blasts. Typically if there's already a tank I use my character as a pseudo scrapper with some support abilities. In human form you have extremely high damage melee attacks and can dish out some decent dps as well. I heavily slotted my Dwarf form and because of this the Dwarf can do some decent damage as well and with it's heavy resists and sublimation the Dwarf has a lot of staying power.

Note that I'm not the greatest player. I'm actually pretty casual but I've had no problems running with this build, even with single origins. On top of this I can tank pretty well and do some mean damage when I feel like it. I hope that this helps!

My scanner mission is showing the AE building but I can't go to the portal or do anything there. Anyone know what I can do? It's a scanner mission. Pretty generic. Rescue so and so from the Tsoo.

Hi bobitron. I wanted to say that I'm very new to the game. I just got the game 6 days ago and as my first character I made Katana/Dark Armor scrapper. Right now I'm 21 and your guide has helped me a lot. Thanks for putting it together.