Starfox_EU

Welcome over to the cause of good!

Depending on what Brutes you've played, I'd recomend an Ice tank - most especially Ice/Fire. It is the tank most different from Brutes in playstyle. Ice Armor is not available for brutes, and Chilling Embrace makes them able to keep aggro in a style all their own. Fire Melee is a different beast than the Brute version because it has Combustion - which might be a lacklustre Blaster power, but absolutely rocks on tanks. Finding a concept for an Ice/Fire tank might take a bit of doing, tough.

This assumes you want to try a new playstyle. If you want a Tank that plays as the Brute you had, take the same sets. The most brutish Tank, and a very good solo build, uses Superstrength - Rage might not be fury, but it is the closest you get.

Volumens have been written on Taunt. My opinion is that if you are not an Ice tank, you should get Taunt before level 30. If you are an Ice tank, you should get it before 40. The reason is that Taunt is the only real way to keep the attention of AVs. Other than them, there really is little reason to take taunt unless you are Stone Armor or Burn tank - both of these stay immobile so much that they need Taunt early on.

For /Dark Corruptors, Rain of Fire and Rain of Ice (whatever the proper name is) are great powers. They combine just wonderfully with Tar PAtch. Sadly, they are not available to Defenders. This synergy is so great that I consider Dark/ Defenders a little gimp. The closest you get is the last power in Archery - a wonderful power indeed, should be a killer with Tar Patch. But you have to contend with redraw times, which I think will be a pain for a Dark/, and you don't get your overload until level 38.

That said, I seem to be having a romance with Archery atm.

Shadow fall's stealth doesn't supress. This is great when fightiong close to another group of mobs. Alos, you give eneryone in the radious damage riesistance - Energy, neg energy and spi are not exactly uncommon in CoV.

It does supress when you klick a blinkie, though.

Still the power is a defensive one. If you're a blaster wannabe...

You want one end redux in each attack as well. End redux in defendes help your recovery (it makes most difference when not actually fighting), endredux in attacks extends your time fighting (it helps more during fights than slots in shields).

A typical attack used continously costs 1-1.5 end/second. A typical shield uses 0.1 to 0.25 end per second.

It would take some glue to make that robe stay in place, but I'm not complaining...

Cool in a fantasy sort of way.

Comparing only the shields, Sonic is a great buff to people who already have resistance - all tanks except Ice will love you, as will Dark and Inv scrappers. FF is better for people who don't have resistance, especially if they have some defense. Ice tanks, SR scrappers will love you. So far things are pretty equal. But for people with neither defense nor resists (which is the majority), FF has better damage mitigation than sonic. Add the fact that almost everyone has small amounts of defense (from things like Combat Jumping) and FF begins to shine.

With a tank, they are pretty much equivalent. Sonic will let the tank take a lot more aggro, which means everyone else's defenses are pretty moot. Then again, most tanks don't really need this buff. In cases where squishies have to take aggro themselves, FF is someewhat stronger.

Also remember that defense lets you avoid side effects like mez, debuf (incluidng slow) and knockback.

As to the rest of the set, I'd say Sonic is better.

The Seeker Drones that the pets get may be the same as the ones in Traps, but pets can't use them well. Seeker Drones is a very good alphastrike absorber and pull power: place them around a corner, then watch as the mobs waste their heavy shots on them.

Like most traps, it works better solo than on a team tough.

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3 triage beaons is regen scrapper power!! but yeah i dumped mine and I know that my brother dumped his... its a shame as the team never stay long enough to feel the power of it.

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it definitely has a soloist bent. Don't even try to use it on a team with a brute.

Its a so-so power bordering on very good. Properly slotted it gives a good (400%) regen boost about half the time. Which is great and all, but you have to take the time to place it.

If you cannot afford to slot it it is mediocre at best. But that applies to most of Traps.

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You seem to be missing something. Like, enjoyment. Each AT has it's own abilities and if you like Scrappers, play Scrappers; just don't get upset if Brutes/Stalkers aren't the same.

Basically it seems like you don't like CoV because there's no Scrapper class, which seems really odd to me at least.

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Very true. You also have a GF who happens to like an AT in the same part of the game you like.

Imagine how much worse it would have been if you had liked Scrappers and she liked Masterminds!

AT Transfers FTW!

Bha, I have to witdraw from the Eden trial too - got they days confused. I'm busy saturday. I heard the Sewer trial lacked excemplars; I will probably be on Sunday, if a spot opens there I'm still interested.

Isn't it so that you cannotproperly excemplar for this?

Anyway. Starfox/Jetstream interested for my main badge hunter, Cidri (lvl 47 Claws/SR Scrapper). Kinell knows me well from toons such as Flame Arrow, Ice Valkyrie and others.

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Yes I stand still. Why? Because I want a fight. I didn't goto a pvp zone to run away from people. The only way to get a stalker out of hide for me is to stand still and let them AS me, and try to pick up the pieces to fight back.

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This is the issue with Stalkers - and actually with Stealth in general. You generally cannot choose to fight a Stalker - he attacks only at his own volition. Which is usually when you are engaged to someone else.

My PvP toon in FF/Psi with fly. I bubble my friends, then cruise over the battlefield with PFF on. That way, I can provide air cover for my firends - when one of them is attacked by a Stalker, I drop PFF and open up on them. This sometimes keeps them pinned long enough for more people to come in and pigpile them - but not very often. I can see how people think my tactics are something of a bore - but its the best way I've found to respond to Stakers.

When cruising like that, I sometimes spot a Dominator - and they're dogfood to me. Very few of their powers affect me; very few of their defenses dull my attacks. The imbalance is glaring. Then, not every ranged toon has mez resistance.

Your attacks cost WAY more than your armours, especially with Dark Melee. Slot 1 endredux in EVERYTHING (every attack and toggle except Combat Jumping), and you'll notice a marked improvemet in performance.

The first two Dark Melee attacks in particular.

Here's mine. At 28 currently, and I havn't really thought about the end-game. Nor have I checked the others, maybe we are all the same.


---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
---------------------------------------------
Name: Screaming Bat
Level: 50
Archetype: Defender
Primary: Dark Miasma
Secondary: Sonic Blast
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Tar Patch==> Rechg(1) Rechg(3) Rechg(7) Slow(9) Slow(29)
01) --> Shriek==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(25)
02) --> Darkest Night==> EndRdx(2) TH_DeBuf(17) TH_DeBuf(17) TH_DeBuf(19)
04) --> Scream==> Acc(4) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Dmg(25)
06) --> Hurdle==> Jump(6)
08) --> Twilight Grasp==> Heal(8) Heal(9) Rechg(11) Acc(11) Acc(13)
10) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(10)
12) --> Fearsome Stare==> Acc(12) Fear(13) Fear(15) Fear(15)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Swift==> Run(16)
18) --> Shockwave==> Acc(18) Dmg(19) Dmg(23) Dmg(23)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(21) EndMod(21)
22) --> Shadow Fall==> EndRdx(22) DmgRes(27) DmgRes(27) DmgRes(29)
24) --> Howling Twilight==> Rechg(24)
26) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(26)
28) --> Recall Friend==> Rechg(28)
30) --> Howl==> Acc(30) Dmg(31) Dmg(31) Dmg(31)
32) --> Dark Servant==> TH_DeBuf(32) TH_DeBuf(33) TH_DeBuf(33)
35) --> Screech==> Empty(35)
38) --> Dreadful Wail==> Empty(38)
41) --> Dark Consumption==> Empty(41)
44) --> Dark Embrace==> Empty(44)
47) --> Soul Drain==> Empty(47)
49) --> Amplify==> Empty(49)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
01) --> Vigilance==> Empty(1)
01) --> Power Slide==> Empty(1)
01) --> Power Quick==> Empty(1)
---------------------------------------------

Want to get in there with Umbral Pet, my Warshade. I alos have a tank and a scrapper in the range, but they will have to wait.

Maybe more than one team will go. Like n the good times with MBar!

Stamina helps when summoning/upgrading. I had 1 endredux in each, except Equip Robots with 3 endredux, and no Stamina. After respec, I have 1 endredux in each except Assault Bot, and my end dips less during summoning now.

Summoning takes time, time during which Stamina is at work.

I ran a Robots/Traps MM to 42 without Stamina, then I gleefully respecced into it. Putting down all those traps became costly after a while, and you need a lot of Web Grenades in the late gamwe to keep bosses/AVs from running around and away from your traps.

My Thugs/Dark got Stamina at 20, but she is a Blastermind ans shoots just as much as her minions. It's great!

Where for the love of all that is holy is Hoarfrost? Get that badboy in early, and 6 slot it. (3recharge, 3 heal)

Get that in asap, as that really needs to be in there.

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Not so convinced I want Hoarfrost. If I want self healing, Heal Self with 3 SO interrupt reduction is better. But solo/small team I don't need healing, and on a big team someone should be able to heal me.

My planned build (made her today, currently at 7).

Going heavily for defense from pool powers. Few attacks, I am mainly a meat sheild.

Anyone know for sure if Weave stacks with the defense from Ice Armors?

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Ice Valkyrie
Level: 50
Archetype: Tanker
Primary: Ice Armor
Secondary: Super Strength
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Frozen Armor==> EndRdx(1)DefBuf(5)DefBuf(5)DefBuf(13)
01) --> Jab==> Dmg(1)Dmg(3)Dmg(7)EndRdx(17)
02) --> Punch==> Dmg(2)Dmg(3)Dmg(9)EndRdx(11)Rechg(13)Rechg(15)
04) --> Chilling Embrace==> EndRdx(4)Slow(17)
06) --> Boxing==> Dmg(6)Dmg(7)Dmg(9)EndRdx(11)
08) --> Hurdle==> Jump(8)Jump(15)
10) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(10)
12) --> Wet Ice==> EndRdx(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Swift==> Run(16)
18) --> Glacial Armor==> EndRdx(18)DefBuf(19)DefBuf(19)DefBuf(23)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20)EndMod(21)EndMod(21)
22) --> Tough==> EndRdx(22)DmgRes(23)DmgRes(25)DmgRes(25)
24) --> Taunt==> Taunt(24)
26) --> Energy Absorbtion==> Rechg(26)Rechg(27)Rechg(27)DefBuf(34)DefBuf(37)EndMod(37)
28) --> Rage==> Rechg(28)Rechg(29)Rechg(29)TH_Buf(31)TH_Buf(31)TH_Buf(33)
30) --> Weave==> EndRdx(30)DefBuf(31)DefBuf(33)DefBuf(33)
32) --> Icicles==> Acc(32)Dmg(34)Dmg(34)
35) --> Maneuvers==> EndRdx(35)DefBuf(36)DefBuf(36)DefBuf(36)
38) --> Foot Stomp==> Dmg(38)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)
41) --> Block of Ice==> Empty(41)
44) --> Chilblain==> Empty(44)
47) --> Hibernate==> Empty(47)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
01) --> Gauntlet==> Empty(1)
01) --> Power Slide==> Empty(1)
01) --> Power Quick==> Empty(1)
---------------------------------------------

My trouble with Dominators is that they are too dependent on Domination and too lacklustre without it. Adding Mez resistance to Domination only makes this worse (though it does make the class stronger).

What Dominators need is an always on damage increase. Having an entire secondary devoted to damage, but which in fact does insignificant damage, is a waste. If we pay for this by losing our damage bonus in Domination, thats fine by me.

8% isn't as bad as it sounds.

First, if you actually use this, you slot it to 13%, that's 25% damage mitigation. In addition to the -Perception that certainly has it's uses.

Second, it is now auto-hit. Whcih should have cured some of the odd aggro issues with it and reduces the required slotting.

Third, it has no anchor and is not a toggle. Who cares if mobs go down, who cares if you get mezzed. It stays with the mobs no matter what, and lasts a pretty long time. This gives it a clear advantage over the (otherwise more powerful) Rad and Dark versions.

Fourth, you use it before battle and it causes no aggro. The area si also pretty large, and it will affect mobs that run out of the area.

However, it does not stack with itself as far as i know.

I could live with slightly better Stalker stealth if it was range limited. That is, if everyone became visible at 150' range. Then you could spot stalkers at range as they (or you) approach.

My beef with stalkers now is twofold; first they can get free kills if you lack enough perception, second they are veryhard for anyone else to target. If they were visible at long range, you could spot one, use a yellow inspiration to keep seeing them, and zoom in for the kill. Or you could snipe them with a range-buffed snipe.

If thsi change is made, by all means give them a little better stealth in close quarters. Perhaps give them the equivalent of Hide + Stealth, then remove the stackability with Stealth.

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It's about 8% unenhanced.

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I think it is 5% base, x1,5 for defensers. The Controller version, as well as Smoke Grenade and Smoke, seem to be 5% each. At least that's what i've gleaned from the forums; I have neither (my own) testing nor rednames to confirm it.

Have you been fighting CoT lately? Energy Aura protects you from accuracy debuffs (as they miss you), Dark Armor doesn't, but does protect against the Psi and negative energy damage.

With DA you don't take a lot of damage from CoTs, but your accuracy is greatly debuffed.