SoulWarden

<whispers>

Shh... you guys should check out the WoW forums from time to time... that's a laugh.

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I vote for the Cap au Diable Globe, The Golden Giza or the University where the Chunk-missing Globe is.

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Can I add the Monkey Fight Club to that list? That's a nice place.

If someone doesn't know where it is... well, ask here, or someone in game. I'm sure a RPer will answer the call.

Here it is:
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Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
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Name: MM
Level: 40
Archetype: Mastermind
Primary: Mercenaries
Secondary: Force Field
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01) --> Soldiers==> Dmg(1)Acc(3)Dmg(3)Acc(5)Dmg(5)
01) --> Force Bolt==> Acc(1)KB_Dist(7)
02) --> Deflection Shield==> DefBuf(2)DefBuf(9)EndRdx(9)DefBuf(11)
04) --> Insulation Shield==> DefBuf(4)EndRdx(11)DefBuf(13)DefBuf(13)
06) --> Equip Mercenary==> Rechg(6)EndRdx(7)
08) --> Burst==> Acc(8)Dmg(15)Dmg(15)Dmg(15)
10) --> Hasten==> Rechg(10)Rechg(19)Rechg(21)
12) --> Spec Ops==> Acc(12)Dmg(21)Acc(23)Dmg(23)Dmg(25)
14) --> Super Speed==> Run(14)
16) --> Aid Other==> Rechg(16)Heal(17)Heal(17)Heal(27)
18) --> Personal Force Field==> DefBuf(18)EndRdx(19)DefBuf(31)EndRdx(40)
20) --> Dispersion Bubble==> DefBuf(20)DefBuf(29)DefBuf(33)EndRdx(33)EndRdx(33)EndRdx(34)
22) --> Assault==> EndRdx(22)EndRdx(25)
24) --> Tactics==> EndRdx(24)EndRdx(27)TH_Buf(34)
26) --> Commando==> Acc(26)Acc(34)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)
28) --> Vengeance==> TH_Buf(28)Heal(29)TH_Buf(37)Heal(37)
30) --> Aid Self==> Heal(30)Heal(31)Heal(31)Rechg(39)
32) --> Tactical Upgrade==> Rechg(32)Rechg(40)Rechg(40)
35) --> Resuscitate==> Rechg(35)Rechg(37)Rechg(39)
38) --> Force Bubble==> EndRdx(38)EndRdx(39)

Does this set look workable?

Note: the numbers on when certain powers should be slotted can be way off, as I was experimenting with it as I went along. So please just comment on the final slotting for lvl 40.

Also, as you can see this is a build where the I would leave most of the work to my soldiers, and just provide shields / heals.

I'm sorry to burst your bubble guys, but it's impossible to achieve perfect ballance; the moment where every AT can beat every other AT. ESPECIALLY when PvE is on the line as well.

Just look how long WoW is out, and they're still far, far away from balance.

To do that, you'd need to make every class the same.

I had this idea on the detection of stalkers...

Currently, any AT in a PvP zone get's a nice, big and red marker above his head (if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the name you see on enemies). Now, this won't affect a stalker directly. That is to say, he won't see it. But any hero will not see the red name above the stalker, and depending on how strong the stalkers stealth is and how many perceptoon buffs the heroe has, the easier (or harder) it is to spot that stalker. That is, he's visible all the time, but he's a feint, small blurr to someone with no perception buffs... On the background of building and dark ruins, he should be impossible to see (again, without any perception buffs). Add a few perception buffs, and bingo, you can now spot him... although still with difficulty.

However, one thing: there's a range the stalker must be in in order to be targeted (greater with perception, smaller with hide). This is to ensure a stalker can run, and won't be taken out by blasters from sniper range (Don't expect me to belive you can shoot that blurry thing from THAT distance now ).

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*Mumbles to self, then gets AS'd*



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Well, it's your own fault for standing still...

DavidG, I wonder what would you have done during a specific night in Sirenes, when the villains wanted to win the hotspot battles (heroes tried to stop us), so there were plenty of NPCs to go round. I'd like to see you clear them out before taking on the villains.

OK, OK... bad joke.

On a more serious note: IMHO the mobs in Sirenes (or any other PvP zone for that matter) should NOT give debt of any kind IMHO.

Come to think of it... they shouldn't give exp too. And... why ARE all those mobs there ANYWAY? I mean, besides Longbow and Arachnos troops fighting it out.

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Well, that's odd... Is this WAI?

If so, then an update in the power description would be nice.

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Erm it does tell you in the description....

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<slaps himself on the forehead>

Damn! I've been reading the description in the builder, and I assumed it was the same in game.

Fair enough.

I still find it strange to take a set for one power only. But each to his own I guess...

PS. Go get em Stalk-obot! Shame I won't ever see you doing your job... I'm on Union.

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No, but you dont loose HP while using it, as you normally do.

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Well, that's odd... Is this WAI?

If so, then an update in the power description would be nice.

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It would be really nice if there was a band of color at the end of the name-bar, that turned from white to blue when someone was effected by a 'hostile state'.

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I may be wrong here, but if an enemy hits you (doesn't need to be a status effect, just damage), then you also get ANOTHER icon.

Anyway, while I don't play as a primary healer, I do like to keep an eye on my teams status... and it DOES get VERY long in large teams. This isn't the "perfect solution" (that would be something like you suggested, but that would require a LOT more work than it seems I believe), but I think one should bind a "/l I'm held! HELP!" to a button, and spam it a few times in moments of trouble.

But we're going way off topic here. Returning to the issue at hand, that is skill... While it WOULD be nice to make PvP more skill based, I find it hard to do using the current mechanics.

Sure, you can implement some form of cone vision, so that stalker would have to sneak up from behind. Or you could make darker places where stealth works better than in bright places. (Note: all that affects mostly stalkers)

But what would it change? Stalkers would just hang back a bit more, before moving in for the kill. Or in extreme cases, wouldn't be able to do anything (at this point you may as well remove the class from the game).

The problem is that the characters in PvP have little options. You don't even need to "face" the enemy, your AT will turn to face them by itself. You just press 2 buttons, and wham... you have an attack chain, which will be executed as long as you're not out of range. Sure, you may make tactical calls on when to retreat, or when to stun someone, but considering the ammount of powers, it's still not much IMHO. Basicly, any AT will get a few attacks or attack chains that he's going to be using in PvP the whole time, and then a few more aditional spells such as stuns, heals or the like, which are situational but still very defined on when to use them.

At least, that's the impression I get when I see the way villains have been made. Blasters get access to 2 attack sets, so that gives them a bit more attack powers. I do not have CoH, so I cannot say for sure, but even with the increased number of attack powers, it's still going to be a main attack chain, and a few extra trick powers.

When compared to other MMORPGs with PvP, CoX also misses items and gear. Everyone can have those SOs. Sure, high lvl ATs will have more slots (which is a reason villains can safely say that heores are overpowered ATM, and it's VERY unfair for ALL those low lvl ATs who want to PvP in low lvl zones). But in the end, everyone has them.

So to make PvP more skill based you'd need to change a lot... a whole bloody LOT! Basicly, you'd have to change the whole game.

In the end, PvP will be fun as long as there's at least SOME balance. Not in numbers of ATs on either side (it's obvious that if there's more players on team A, then team B will most likely loose), but in the general concept. With the example I've given in my previous post (the one about the blaster), I think stalkers have a good place in PvP. At least it makes heroes a little bit nervous when they're alone.

Then you can try and make PvP more fun by adding more PvP content... missions, events and so on... I won't write about that here. Other have done so in other threads.


Oh, and I almost forgot... could we PLEASE make it possible to set an arena fight so that all participants have the same lvl? I'd like to fight some of my SG friends, and I'm unable to do so because of the lvl difference. A difference of 2 lvls is a LARGE one in the arena.

PS. I bet I'm going to get flamed for the statement I'm about to write, but what the hell... I believe stalkers need the MOST skill to PvP. It seems VERY easy to walk up to someone and kill them in one go. But against a moving enemy, and the increasing ammount of people with perception buffs and PBAoE powers, it's really NOT that easy as it sounds. Unlike others, who just need to be in range. Even other meele classes just need to get close enough... and that's just running towards your target with the attack prepared.

Stalkers DO have it relatively easy to run away though.

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Energy transfer cannot do criticals.

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What? It wont crit when it's performed while hidden?

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Hollows.

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OK, I was actually expecting a CoV zone.

Anyway, I did some checking. A quick note though: I have NOT played CoH, I do not know the zones, I do not know how they work with bases.

Anyway, some people reported that the hospital works for "hazard" zones (and Hollows IS a hazard zone, or at least that's what I read)... I assumed "hazard zones" were PvP zones, as I never saw the CoV SG hospitals work for anything else in CoV. But... it seems CoH has a lot more zones to play in than CoV.

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Depend os whether you are looking at a single attack or a single attacking chain in which case for a stalker Id suggest the following:

Build Up, Asassins Strike, Placate, Evicerate

Ok its two moves but does a shed load of damage.

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Uhm... there are more damaging shots a stalker has access to... Energy Transfer being the highest? That is, besides an AS crit.

You know why I made a stalker?

Cos I was sick and tired of my corruptor being two shotted by blasters. Because I was sick of him being chain held by controllers. And I was sick of him not doin' any damage at all to tanks, little damage to scrappers, and completely miss defenders.

I'm sure some will jump up now and say they have a corruptor who does well in PvP. Well, guess what. I guess it depends on having a team, and specific sets. Hmm... looks just like the anti-stalker formula: get a team, get target drones (specific set).

Also, if it's balance we're talking about:
I saw a blaster happily as ever charge into a small team of villains and two shot others: stun and finish off. Only when I entered with my stalker would that blaster start to complain...

So I find it balanced... at least I was ONE reason for that blaster to actually be worried, rather than charge into another group of villains and kill one or two before running away.

PS. It's winter, and someone has turned off the heating in my room... So I'm cold and angry. Forgive the attitude. <runs off to check the heating system>

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2- I would't put 3acc's on AS. 2acc 3dmg and 1 endred is the best choice since buildup alrdy gives extra accuracy (yes you can hit ninjitsu and SR stalkers).

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I don't know about hitting stalkers, but for SR scrappers, I couldn't hit them with a 2x ACC slotted AS and Build up runnin with a "To Hit" enhancement. (Although this wasn't with claws, but with ninja blade.)

Which zone was that Max? It seems to be working like it did for PvP zones (PvP missions included).

Also, I did some pondering, trying to figure out a way WHY the developers might have changed it to the way it's working now, and here's what I came up with:

Imagine you're traveling a zone with some nasty mobs all around you. Something happens, and you die (let's skip WHAT happened there, shall we?). So your body ends up surrounded by a lot of mobs you have no chance to take on, and most likely won't be able to run away from. And then let's assume the base doesnt have a teleporter. So you're stuck ressurecting back at that spot.

There's a flaw to this way of thinking though: you can always rez at the zones hospital.

Apart from the above, I haven't been able to think of anything better.

Unless you have some specific personal reasons (themed AT for example) for picking EA, I'd suggest you scrap your stalker and re-make it using a different set, if you really want to PvP.

Ninjitsu and Super Reflexes offer almost the same ammount of defense to ALL attacks as the EA set offers to only energy (not to mention, SR has some of the highest defenses of all time ). And those sets too have mez protection, and some nifty gimmicks. Regen doesn't offer nearly as much defense, but you REALLY get to have more HP, and you regain it very quickly.

Of course, in the end the choice is yours.

Dark set: good for a support character. In a team, it's good. Solo... it's not as good as the fire/dark combo, because it lacks attack powers, and those available don't do that much damage.
Fire set: as you said, great for solo. Coupled with /dark, it's good in teams as well.

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Nope. No stalkers have psi defence.

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So how does positional defense work? I though it only checks the position, not the damage type.

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Infirmary is only good for PvP Base Raids as it provides a rez point inside the base.

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And we all know how hard it is to make a PvP worth base...

Conclusion: base hospitals are useless for the avarage SG.

Hmm... I've just noticed something worrying.

So far, quite a lot of best PvP happens in Sirenes Call, which is a lvl 30 zone. Evasion is available at 35. While a SR stalker will have more AoE defense than any other stalker out there, he'll have that advantage in Warburg and beyond. This isn't BAD... although people who want to do some PvPing NOW, may wish to use a different build. Especially, that AoE defense without Evasion is the same as a Regen stalker, and worse than a Ninjitsu stalker (Danger Sense).

Again, this isn't bad in the long run. But if you like Sirenes, and want to have a PvP build for that zone, then a SR won't be that much help... although I must say I'd like to have Quickness on my stalker.

PS. That's assuming SherkSilver builder has correct values on this... The defense for AoE from Hide seems to be off in this builder (according to Zaprobo).

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You'll find that there are a very small amount of powers that actually give defense to Psi, EA is certainly not alone in not having any.

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Yes, but other stalkers have positional defense, and that DOES work against everything (including psionics), right?

Hmm... I think I'll wait and see whan the extra powers are for stalkers once lvls 40+ show up. Then it should be easy to make up one's mind about Elude.

Hmm... I've quickly looked through the powers of EA, and I don't think they're as good as SR for example. The best thing of EA is possibly the Entropy Shield, which protects against repel.

Also, the shields give defense against specific damage types... which means psionics will go right through it, and the max defense on energy attacks is around 40% (I slotted everything with 3 defense SOs in Character Builder). EDIT: I have NOT counted in Overload considering it's recharge time. Personally, I'd like to be able to PvP the whole time, not wait for a power to recharge. And even then, psionics get you.

Than again, I have NOT played such a stalker, so I could very well be wrong.