SoulWarden

...wishing to try out some PvP of course.

Now, before I start, I'll say that I have a vague and painful recollection of a Blaster literally two-shotting my Corruptor and my toon not being able to do... well, almost anything to most of the enemies back in Bloody Bay... this was around the time when PvP zones were first introduced, so it was a long time ago. I left, disgusted (Heroes had all them shiny lvl 50s and were beefed up to no end) and decided then and there to keep as far away from PvP as possible...

I didn't really keep to my promise, as I did play a bit with a Stalker (that was some sweet sweet revenge when Heroes were still so sure of themselves that they went out and killed small groups of Villains all by themselves).

Anyway, then I made my lovely MM and didn't pay much attention to PvP, and THEN I took a year long break from CoX.

Now, after coming back to the game and leveling up to 43, I wish to take this toon for a spin... or at least plan on to doing that.

I've got a Robo/Dark MM... no attacks really, but I do have some holds, scares and such... and my bots of course. Anyway, are there any tips anyone could share?

Really? Weird... I could swear it didn't have any effect.

OK, but than again I'm the one who didn't play for over a year...

End reduction on bots makes 'em cheaper to spawn, not makes them use less endurance when fighting.

Like the title suggests, I haven't played CoV in a little over a year. That's a long time, and I'm a bit in the dark. Patron powers showed up, and I'm gonna bet a few tweaks have been made here and there to powers.

As such, could someone please help me out with my Mastermind build?

This is how my build looks like right now, where I left it:

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1,21
http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/mhd.php

Nexus Com: Level 34 Science Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Robotics
Secondary Power Set: Dark Miasma
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Flight

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Battle Drones -- Acc(A), Acc(3), Dmg(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(5)
Level 1: Twilight Grasp -- Acc(A), Acc(7), Heal(7), Heal(9), Heal(11), RechRdx(11)
Level 2: Tar Patch -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(13), RechRdx(13)
Level 4: Darkest Night -- EndRdx(A), ToHitDeb(15), ToHitDeb(15), ToHitDeb(17)
Level 6: Recall Friend -- IntRdx(A)
Level 8: Equip Robot -- RechRdx(A), EndRdx(9)
Level 10: Swift -- Run(A)
Level 12: Assault -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(17)
Level 14: Protector Bots -- Dmg(A), Dmg(19), Acc(19), Acc(21), Acc(21)
Level 16: Health -- Heal(A)
Level 18: Hover -- Flight(A)
Level 20: Teleport -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(23)
Level 22: Fearsome Stare -- Acc(A), Fear(23), Fear(25)
Level 24: Tactics -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(25), ToHit(27), ToHit(27)
Level 26: Stamina -- EndMod(A)
Level 28: Assault Bot -- Acc(A), Acc(29), Dmg(29), Dmg(31), Dmg(31)
Level 30: Petrifying Gaze -- Acc(A), Hold(31), Hold(33)
Level 32: Upgrade Robot -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(33), RechRdx(33)
Level 35: [Empty]
Level 38: [Empty]
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx(A)
Level 1: Supremacy



<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>| Copy &amp; Paste this data chunk into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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34J&lt;XKSF!S8GT3YZ:^](26TFLI%:F5F;.WCD6#K@(I96YE=O-;ZC4ZT,`
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
</pre><hr />

I know Stamina needs another slot, and so do the robots.

But beyond that, I've no idea. IOs got me all bewildered (I've no idea which sets should I get). I remember Shadow Fall being somewhat weak when I left, so I have no idea if that's worth it... well, basically, I'm lost. I've even lost the build I was aiming for since last I played... A year's a long time it seems.

Can someone help me out and suggest me a build?

PS. I don't remember when (at which levels) I got these powers... so when creating this build in Mids I just picked the powers, not looking at the order of things. So that's probably off too.

EDIT: One more question: I remember, before I left, that the first robot upgrade, when used on the Assault Bot, actually caused him to do LESS damage. Is that still the case? And why do Protector bots still cast the shield on the drones? Which is really weird...

Two small things:
a) When issued the Go To command, my robots tend to "jump" from time to time. This is nothing gamebreaking, but it's annoying, and disrupts RPing.
b) The Protector Bots are obsessed with protecting... but they aren't smart about it. They will protect the Seeker drones, they will protect other party members' pets, they'll protect any nearby friendly object. However, they will cast a shield on me LAST, they don't shield other teammates, and why, WHY shield seeker drones?

[ QUOTE ]
And also, would Union be the server that you would generally recommend?

[/ QUOTE ]
Someone, some time ago, said that most of the RP is on Union, while Defiant is more for the PvP folk. (That does not mean there's no RPing on Defiant, and no PvP on Union!)

I've no idea if that statement is still true, so don't quote me on that!

My humble opinion:

PvE: Regen. SR might be good after the def is buffed against bosses and such. Coupled with EM, it's great!
PvP: SR. Do NOT take Regen. Other sets are viable too (as Obot proved with the shield).
All-rounder: Hmm... Ninjitsu. Nice defense, a heal, mez protection that protects against fear... good set.

Here's roughly what I did to my stalker (Ninja/Ninja). I haven't played with this char for a looong time, but when I did, it was fun and it worked in PvP. Don't know how it would fare now.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Crimson Assassin
Level: 41
Archetype: Stalker
Primary: Ninja Blade
Secondary: Ninjitsu
---------------------------------------------
01) --&gt; Sting of the Wasp==&gt; Dmg(1)Acc(3)Dmg(7)Dmg(19)
01) --&gt; Hide==&gt; DefBuf(1)DefBuf(3)DefBuf(13)
02) --&gt; Ninja Reflexes==&gt; DefBuf(2)DefBuf(5)DefBuf(15)EndRdx(15)
04) --&gt; Danger Sense==&gt; DefBuf(4)DefBuf(5)EndRdx(9)DefBuf(17)
06) --&gt; Assassin's Blade==&gt; Acc(6)Dmg(7)Acc(17)Dmg(19)Dmg(21)
08) --&gt; Build Up==&gt; Rechg(8)Rechg(9)Rechg(21)TH_Buf(23)
10) --&gt; Flashing Steel==&gt; Acc(10)Dmg(11)Dmg(11)DefDeBuf(25)
12) --&gt; Placate==&gt; Rechg(12)Rechg(13)Rechg(25)
14) --&gt; Combat Jumping==&gt; DefBuf(14)
16) --&gt; Super Jump==&gt; Jump(16)
18) --&gt; Swift==&gt; Run(18)
20) --&gt; Health==&gt; Heal(20)Heal(27)Heal(29)
22) --&gt; Stamina==&gt; EndMod(22)EndMod(23)EndMod(27)
24) --&gt; Kuji-In Rin==&gt; Rechg(24)Rechg(29)Rechg(31)
26) --&gt; Gambler's Cut==&gt; Acc(26)Dmg(33)Dmg(37)Dmg(39)
28) --&gt; Kuji-In Sha==&gt; Heal(28)Heal(31)Heal(31)Rechg(33)Rechg(33)
30) --&gt; Soaring Dragon==&gt; Acc(30)Dmg(34)Dmg(34)Dmg(34)
32) --&gt; Stealth==&gt; DefBuf(32)
35) --&gt; Golden Dragonfly==&gt; Acc(35)Acc(36)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)Dmg(37)EndRdx(37)
38) --&gt; Kuji-In Retsu==&gt; DefBuf(38)DefBuf(39)Rechg(39)DefBuf(40)Rechg(40)Rechg(40)

EDIT: Downside of this build is the lack of knockback protection. You could try and fit Acrobatics someplace in there.

Hehe... the dreaded Obot shows his dreaded build!

One thing that bothers me tho...
You have slotted Entropy Shield with 2 -END enhancements, and Fly with one. I'm guessing most of your fights are NOT airborne then? Because you'd save more END by 2 slotting Fly, not ES.

Unlike other nukes, Blackstar has the advantage of throwing extra accuracy debuffs around. So it's a bit "safer" to use then other nukes I'd guess.

Than again, I've only seen the nuke from the Fire set, and that's high damage, and little else. Definitely you don't want anything to be alive after using THAT. Whilst it seems you actually may survive using Blackstar and leaving some enemies breathing.

[ QUOTE ]
Co* is designed as a team game in either PvE or PvP. Why stalkers think they should be a special case and be able to successfully PvP solo is beyond me.

A stalker can function very well as part of a team. It seems they just don't want to.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm. Strange. I've seen blasters doing solo hit and run tactics. Similar thing with scrappers. Sure, they couldn't go against a GROUP of enemies, but 1 on 1... why not?

As for stalkers teaming up... Yeah, it works. If my teammate throws out holds, I can probably AS something. That's about it for teamplay. Cos if a stalker can be seen, then his team needs to be a REALLY good distraction to allow the stalker to AS something.

Just... play a stalker will you? They're really poor in teams. AS, run away and hide, AS, run away and hide (Hmm... same as solo, no?). And don't EVER AS before your team attacks... which in turn make's all the nice AoEs fly around disrupting AS.

Note: I have not played my stalker in some time now. I do not know about the supposed nerf/bug/whatever. The above opinion is "if that change is actually true" style response.

This COULD be WAI...

If ordered to stay, and if you get too far away from them (travel power or something), they get "teleported" to you. OK, this is OK. But AFTER that teleport, they loose the "stay" command, and will follow you around until the command is given again.

[ QUOTE ]
For a TP that can cover the entire length of Nerva on 1/3 of a bar of end or less, without Stamina, all you need is 3 End Reduction SO's. That's what I've got on Toybox, and I can arrive at any mission with enough end left over to summon at least Stompy and the Protector Bots.

I don't like range enh's in TP since it messes up the nice, simple "1 tp hop = 100 yards travelled" calculations, which I find make it easier to plan my hops. With range enh's, you'll find that the length of a hop will vary whenever you level, as your enh's drop in effectiveness.

YMMV though.

[/ QUOTE ]
The traveling issue isn't all THAT important, since TP isn't that useful in closed maps (open, large maps... now that's a different story, and Hover's a must, if you want to explore those before engaging enemies). Switching slooting around, that's easy. The idea to TAKE stamina is what I've written already: during longer fights (bosses / elites) I tend to heal a LOT, and with Assault, Tactics and Darkest Night running, I end up dry if I resummon my pets too much. Mind you, I have NOT slotted those powers with SOs yet, so perhaps it migt be better with them.

Anyway, I think I'll keep to it till lvl 27 at least, until lvl 30 SOs are available, and see what the effects are then.

[ QUOTE ]
Quick question how end heavy is your secondary?

I have a bots/ff MM and he doesnt have stamina even though I do run 3 toggles - assult, tactics and dispersion bubble as well as using forcebolt, aid other, aid self and repair when needed. I wouldnt be suprised to see that you couldnt get rid of stamina especially as you are leaving it so late in your build.

[/ QUOTE ]
I found that during longer fights (bosses, elite bosses) I use Twilight Grasp a LOT to keep my bots running, and even then sometimes they go boom. Recasting and buffing takes a nice chunk of endurance.

As I said, the levels are off. Do not look at when the powers are taken / slots are added. I've been toying in the builder.

[ QUOTE ]
I have teleport as a travel power and dont yet have hover I only find the need for hover when trying to locate glowies that dont glow or the named boss in large outdoor maps which I havent found that common. The only other reason I would have to include hover is to type while traveling but you can get around that if your careful.

[/ QUOTE ]
And that's exactly what I use it for as well. That, and I know that maps such as Nerva are big... and I mean big. Thus it's a good idea to be able to stop safely in the air and recover some endurance, rather than fall to the ground.

I thought I could swap TP Foe for Hover. I haven't even gotten TP Foe so far, and I've been doing fine withou it.

TP IS a travel power. And stamina is practically a must for any class but a mastermind.

Basicly, you'll probably need to use 2 extra pools: travel and stamina. That's it.

OK, I've meddled with the build a bit more. Since I was trying things out, levels of powers or enhancements might be off.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: rob-dark MM
Level: 41
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Robotics
Secondary: Dark Miasma
---------------------------------------------
01) --&gt; Battle Drones==&gt; Dmg(1)Acc(3)Dmg(3)Acc(5)Dmg(5)
01) --&gt; Twilight Grasp==&gt; Acc(1)Acc(7)Heal(7)Heal(9)Heal(9)Rechg(11)
02) --&gt; Tar Patch==&gt; Rechg(2)Rechg(11)Rechg(13)Slow(13)
04) --&gt; Darkest Night==&gt; EndRdx(4)TH_DeBuf(15)TH_DeBuf(15)TH_DeBuf(17)EndRdx(29)
06) --&gt; Equip Robot==&gt; Rechg(6)EndRdx(17)
08) --&gt; Recall Friend==&gt; IntRdx(8)
10) --&gt; Swift==&gt; Run(10)
12) --&gt; Protector Bots==&gt; Acc(12)Dmg(21)Acc(23)Dmg(23)Dmg(25)DefBuf(25)
14) --&gt; Teleport==&gt; EndRdx(14)Range(19)Range(19)EndRdx(27)Range(27)
16) --&gt; Health==&gt; Heal(16)
18) --&gt; Assault==&gt; EndRdx(18)
20) --&gt; Tactics==&gt; EndRdx(20)TH_Buf(21)TH_Buf(33)
22) --&gt; Fearsome Stare==&gt; Acc(22)Acc(34)Fear(34)Fear(34)
24) --&gt; Teleport Foe==&gt; Acc(24)Acc(31)
26) --&gt; Assault Bot==&gt; Dmg(26)Acc(36)Acc(36)Dmg(36)DisDur(37)Dmg(37)
28) --&gt; Petrifying Gaze==&gt; Acc(28)Hold(29)Acc(31)Hold(31)
30) --&gt; Shadow Fall==&gt; EndRdx(30)DmgRes(33)DmgRes(37)
32) --&gt; Upgrade Robot==&gt; Rechg(32)Rechg(33)
35) --&gt; Stamina==&gt; EndMod(35)EndMod(40)
38) --&gt; Dark Servant==&gt; Acc(38)Acc(39)Heal(39)Heal(39)TH_DeBuf(40)TH_DeBuf(40)

What about now? Stamina's there, though 2 slotted. Got rid of Howling Twilight, Hover and the Pulse Rifle.

I feel I could use Hover though, makes scouting certain maps easier, and allows for safe long distance travel (what could I get rid of instead?). I don't think I'd miss Pulse Rifle much, as well as the rez.

[ QUOTE ]

If he's a regen scrapper then you'll be running for the hills screaming like a girl before then, but it's nice to know regen stalkers have some potential. Although still low lvl that's what mine is

[/ QUOTE ]
I have NOT tested it, but as far as I've seen:
Build Up + AS + Energy Transfer + Placate + Strongest thing you got left = a LOAD of damage very fast. I wonder... if a regen isn't paying attention, he should be as good as dead.

You think you have it bad? Try Darkest Night! Even I, the caster of this debuff, have trouble spotting where I put it sometimes.

Especially with a few other dark powers around... Tar Patch, someone hit with Twilight Grasp, and it's neear impossible to tell, who's got Darkest Night on.

[ QUOTE ]
I appreciate that some builds would benefit more from the attacks than others, but I don't think Rob/Dark needs the rifle, it's more of an indulgence.

[/ QUOTE ]
It definitely looks nice!

Fire/dark offers a great AoE combo: Tar Patch + Rain of fire.

As someone once said:
Tar Patch + Fireball + Firebreath + Rain of fire + Scourge = masacre.
Add a potent heal in there (Twilight Grasp) and a powerful AoE ACC debuff (Darkes Night), and you can use this against even large numbers of enemies.

Thanks for the tips!

Actually, I didn't really think I'd be running so many toggles 100% of the time. While I consider Darkest Night to be my primary "stay alive" ability (that is, use it as often as possible, to reduce the damage taken), I though about using Shadow Fall only in situations when it's really needed; that is, when I either need stealth for my pets (or party, but that doesn't happen often), or for energy resistance. With this in mind, that one slot from TP could go into Darkest Night.
So, I'd be using Assault, Tactics and Darkest Night almost constantly. Hover is to keep me from falling when using TP (even with the nifty powexec bind, I sometimes start falling).

That still leaves a big unknown regarding the defense buff of defender bots, and if it's worth to slot them with a defense enhancement. As for Upgrade Robot, I'm looking at that build, and I just can't think of any powers that I could strip of enhancements (assuming the defender bots and assault bot powers are properly sloted). Perhaps Pulse Rifle blast... but it's nice to do a little bit of damage now and then. Make's me feel a bit more "dangerous".

Right, here it is. Probably nothing special, but still.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: rob-dark MM
Level: 41
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Robotics
Secondary: Dark Miasma
---------------------------------------------
01) --&gt; Battle Drones==&gt; Dmg(1)Acc(3)Dmg(3)Acc(5)Dmg(5)
01) --&gt; Twilight Grasp==&gt; Acc(1)Acc(7)Heal(7)Heal(9)Heal(9)Rechg(11)
02) --&gt; Tar Patch==&gt; Rechg(2)Rechg(11)Rechg(13)Slow(13)
04) --&gt; Darkest Night==&gt; EndRdx(4)TH_DeBuf(15)TH_DeBuf(15)TH_DeBuf(17)
06) --&gt; Equip Robot==&gt; Rechg(6)EndRdx(17)
08) --&gt; Recall Friend==&gt; IntRdx(8)
10) --&gt; Pulse Rifle Blast==&gt; Acc(10)Dmg(19)
12) --&gt; Protector Bots==&gt; Acc(12)Dmg(21)Acc(23)Dmg(23)Dmg(25)DefBuf(25)
14) --&gt; Teleport==&gt; EndRdx(14)Range(19)EndRdx(27)Range(27)EndRdx(29)Range(29)
16) --&gt; Hover==&gt; Fly(16)
18) --&gt; Assault==&gt; EndRdx(18)
20) --&gt; Tactics==&gt; EndRdx(20)TH_Buf(21)TH_Buf(33)
22) --&gt; Fearsome Stare==&gt; Acc(22)Acc(34)Fear(34)Fear(34)
24) --&gt; Teleport Foe==&gt; Acc(24)Acc(31)
26) --&gt; Assault Bot==&gt; Dmg(26)Acc(36)Acc(36)Dmg(36)DisDur(37)Dmg(37)
28) --&gt; Petrifying Gaze==&gt; Acc(28)Acc(31)Hold(31)Hold(33)
30) --&gt; Shadow Fall==&gt; EndRdx(30)DmgRes(33)DmgRes(37)
32) --&gt; Upgrade Robot==&gt; Rechg(32)Rechg(40)
35) --&gt; Howling Twilight==&gt; DisDur(35)
38) --&gt; Dark Servant==&gt; Acc(38)Acc(39)Heal(39)Heal(39)TH_DeBuf(40)TH_DeBuf(40)

The enhancement from Pulse rifle can go into something else. Optionally, it could get replaced by Vengance. Well, not directly, but if I move TP Foe into it's position, then I can take Vengeance... or something else.

Also, I've got no idea on how much defense do Protector Bots give with their shields, so that defense enhancement might or might not be useful.

PS. Enhancement levels (that is... when an enhancement slot should be opened) might be off, as I've been toying around in the Char Builder.

[ QUOTE ]
(...) and the EM set has massive damage potential,you can achieve 1000+ damage from energy transfer+build-up from Hide (...)

[/ QUOTE ]
Energy transfer does the same ammount of damage out of hide; it just doesn't "damage" you then. So it's better to use hide with something that can crit, unless you're low on health.

A friend of mine DIDN'T take stamina, and I got to see him play at around lvl 30. It's was terrible. Kill 2 groups of mobs, and you're almost without endurance. In case of bigger groups / tougher enemies, make it 1.

I haven't had many problems with my bots, apart from one.

I really, really hate it, when one of my bots decides lasers are lame and goes in to use his hammer. This usually results in the bot being wacked hard. It's even more annoying, that I have an AoE heal, and need the bots close for it to work.

Other than that, and occasional "bot is stuck" (for which I have TP friend), everything's fine.

PS. When a bot decides to go meele, then the only thing I can do is set him to Follow mode, and then issue the attack command again. TP friend doesn't work, as they'll just run into the enemy as soon as they're ported.