The_Almighty_Bob

Empath is another good choice if you like team support and it is possible to play without Stamina (freeing up 3 often vital power slots) compensating intially with lots of end reducs, then Recovery Aura and Hasten by 28. You can also pick up Geas of the Kind Ones around 28-36, which is just in time to power Telekensis

Ok, as both myself and my g.f play one of these I should be able to give some fairly useful advice.

1) Shadow Maul - Decent damage, but long animation tends to mean you can't use the power as often as you'd like. Best picked later on once you have a few Fury building attacks.

2) You still need Stamina ASAP, Dark Consumption and Consume are nice but when you're running 4 toggles (Fire Shield, Plasma Shield, Burning Aura and Acrobatics not to mention Tough and Weave later on) your End still drops like a sack of bricks before the powers recharge (Hasten may avoid this... maybe)

3) Generally speaking Dark Consumption covers most of your End Rec needs with Stamina, so far I've not needed Consume though I'm tempted to get it anyway because both powers are useful for knocking down several enemies health at once.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Duke Belail
Level: 44
Archetype: Brute
Primary: Dark Melee
Secondary: Fiery Aura
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Shadow Punch==> Acc(1)Dmg(3)Dmg(34)TH_DeBuf(34)
01) --> Fire Shield==> EndRdx(1)DmgRes(3)DmgRes(7)DmgRes(13)
02) --> Smite==> Acc(2)Dmg(5)Dmg(19)TH_DeBuf(37)
04) --> Healing Flames==> Heal(4)Heal(5)Rechg(11)Rechg(36)
06) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(6)DefBuf(7)Jump(9)
08) --> Blazing Aura==> EndRdx(8)EndRdx(9)Acc(15)Dmg(36)
10) --> Siphon Life==> Acc(10)Acc(11)EndRdx(13)Heal(15)Heal(23)Rechg(34)
12) --> Hurdle==> Jump(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)Jump(17)
16) --> Plasma Shield==> EndRdx(16)EndRdx(17)DmgRes(19)DmgRes(21)
18) --> Health==> Heal(18)Heal(21)Heal(31)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20)EndMod(23)EndMod(31)
22) --> Dark Consumption==> Acc(22)Rechg(25)Rechg(25)EndMod(36)EndMod(43)
24) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(24)EndRdx(29)EndRdx(29)
26) --> Soul Drain==> Acc(26)Acc(27)Dmg(27)Dmg(31)Dmg(37)TH_Buf(37)
28) --> Consume==> Acc(28)Rechg(40)Rechg(40)EndMod(43)
30) --> Burn==> EndRdx(30)Dmg(40)Dmg(42)
32) --> Midnight Grasp==> Acc(32)Acc(33)Immob(33)EndRdx(33)
35) --> Boxing==> Acc(35)
38) --> Rise of the Phoenix==> Heal(38)EndMod(39)Dmg(39)Dmg(39)
41) --> Tough==> EndRdx(41)DmgRes(42)DmgRes(42)DmgRes(43)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Fury==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------

On my mind controller I've found that all three of the first powers are useful UNLESS you have a decent blast power for causing damage. I only dropped Levitate from my build when I got my epic pool with Power Blast in it and only then because it caused knockback.

[ QUOTE ]
All updated to here!


[/ QUOTE ]

Umm you seem to have missed everyone listed in my post

Anyway Force is Electrical/Energy/Force

Wohoo! Maybe I can finally remove my key bind "OMG They killed Black Mage, you <unfriendly people>"

Ok, since the last list maintainer gave up before adding these, let's try again

High Pain - Inv/Super STrength/Energy tanker
Midknighter - Claws/Regen/Body Mastery scrapper
Miss Manners - Mind/Empath/Primal controller
Princess Sazzy - Broadsword/Regen/Body mastery scrapper
Force, blaster Electricity/??/??
Kijantha, Defender Empath/Radiation/Psi

All members of the Band of Indiscriminate Justice

Teleport always seems malaigned whenever anyone asks about travel powers. My main experience of it is in conjunction with Hover, which overcomes all it's shortcommings as a travel power.

The best thing about teleport is definately the speed AND safety that you arrive at a mission, not to mention being able to bypass groups of enemies inside a mission itself (or arrive in the middle of them)

I've been having a blast with my necro/dark MM, and they seem to have gotten tougher with the I7 patch as well. Tar Pit + Zombie vomit + Twilight Grasp = fun

Well the last one was rather dull but I guess it was only 90 minutes long so I'll be there.

Still, it was ammusing to watch Xanthus's connection fall over from him yelling so much :P

I can make it with Miss Manners, Mind/Empath controller. I can technically hit a Mag9 hold via TK+Vanguard+Power Boost, but it'll only last for 15 seconds and for some reason the other AV's always shoot at me when I use it....

Well I'm quite happy so far with taking the first three attacks, I have snap shot slotted with two damage, aimed shot with a damage & recharge and fistful of arrows slotted for a reacharge (only level 6). Hopefully this guy will get enough playtime to get him up to at least mid-30's but he's competing with my tank, my kheldians and my dark/rad defender (pre-I7 honest!)

Could I perhaps stack Stealth from the Concealment pool with Cloaking Device? Reason being is my concept is a thief and I'd like the ability to hide from lower levels.

Ok, so I've gotten my character to level 50 and I'm looking to try the other AT's, for blasting whilst I did have a level 12 fire/nrg blaster it didn't suit my style of play (I prefer to be a bit more cautious that wiping out everything in my L.O.S. within 30 seconds).


Anyhow, I've settled on something slightly different in the form of an archery/devices blaster but I'm at a loss as to which powers to select. I tried doing a build, including stamina (as I seem to run out of End a lot), superjump and stealth but I don't seem to have enough power slots to take an epic.

Can you add more members of the Band of Indiscriminate Justice please?

Force, blaster Electricity/??/??
Kijantha, Defender Empath/Radiation/Psi

Many Thanks

The following members of the Band of Indiscriminate Justice have dinged 50 recently

High Pain - Inv/Super STrength/Energy tanker
Midknighter - Claws/Regen/Body Mastery scrapper
Miss Manners - Mind/Empath/Primal controller
Princess Sazzy - Broadsword/Regen/Body mastery scrapper

We've had a busy old time these have all dinged within the last week

Well I've played a fire/nrg up to level 12 so far and it is fun (despite me having both Hover and Hasten so far). It's definately fun to hit Build Up and then fireball, firebeath and then a fire blast to the boss/lt. Most mobs tend to crumble before that much damage and that's only at level 12.

Congratulations Stoic! Soon it will be me I tell you!

Mental Blast is the reason I stopped using the Psi epic recently on my controller and switched to Primal. It's a reasonable useful attack but it's long animation and the fact the damage is Psi means that it wasn't helping me much vs the enemies I was already struggling with (like robots)

I put Absorb Pain in as a test to be honest, to see if it truely does replace Heal Other. I'm guessing it doesn't

Anyway, for thsoe of you who dislike my slotting, what should I put in? I need most of the end redux due to lack of stamina but other than that what should I have in there? I've never really got the hang of slotting powers to be honest so I've always gone with gut instinct (my powers miss a lot so add accuracy, I need longer holds cos they're breaking free before power's recharged)

Well, I've earnt my final respec (baring any free ones) and I'm really tempted to use it to change my Epic to fire as I find just holding people and healing unsatisfying at times, not to mention my lack of soloability.

Anyway, the main thing I've done is leave out Stamina, having played without it for the last 7 levels, I can't say I miss it more than once a play session, probably not even that often.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Miss Manners
Level: 50
Archetype: Controller
Primary: Mind Control
Secondary: Empathy
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Mesmerize==> EndRdx(1)Acc(3)Dmg(21)Sleep(34)Sleep(45)
01) --> Healing Aura==> EndRdx(1)Heal(5)Heal(7)Heal(13)
02) --> Dominate==> EndRdx(2)Acc(3)Dmg(21)Hold(34)Hold(46)
04) --> Absorb Pain==> Rechg(4)Rechg(5)Heal(7)
06) --> Recall Friend==> IntRdx(6)
08) --> Confuse==> Acc(8)Acc(9)Acc(9)ConfDur(17)
10) --> Resurrect==> Rechg(10)Rechg(11)Rechg(11)
12) --> Mass Hypnosis==> EndRdx(12)Acc(13)Rechg(15)Acc(37)Sleep(40)
14) --> Teleport==> EndRdx(14)EndRdx(15)Range(43)
16) --> Hover==> Fly(16)Fly(17)Fly(42)
18) --> Hasten==> Rechg(18)Rechg(19)Rechg(19)
20) --> Clear Mind==> Range(20)
22) --> Fortitude==> Rechg(22)Rechg(23)DefBuf(23)DefBuf(25)Rechg(36)DefBuf(37)
24) --> Total Domination==> EndRdx(24)Acc(25)Acc(31)Hold(34)Hold(43)Rechg(43)
26) --> Terrify==> EndRdx(26)Acc(27)Rechg(27)Dmg(37)Dmg(40)Fear(40)
28) --> Recovery Aura==> Rechg(28)Rechg(29)Rechg(29)
30) --> Telekinesis==> EndRdx(30)EndRdx(31)EndRdx(31)
32) --> Mass Confusion==> EndRdx(32)Rechg(33)Rechg(33)Acc(33)ConfDur(46)ConfDur(46)
35) --> Regeneration Aura==> Rechg(35)Rechg(36)Rechg(36)
38) --> Adrenalin Boost==> Rechg(38)Rechg(39)Heal(39)Heal(39)
41) --> Fire Blast==> EndRdx(41)Acc(42)Dmg(42)
44) --> Fire Ball==> EndRdx(44)Acc(45)Rechg(45)Dmg(48)Dmg(48)
47) --> Super Speed==> EndRdx(47)EndRdx(48)
49) --> Consume==> Acc(49)Rechg(50)Rechg(50)EndMod(50)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Containment==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------

Well, to be honest having taken my build up to level 23 so far I'm pretty happy with it. Based on the forums I should have Touch of Fear in there, but taking Stamina and Leaping to keep me on top of my Fury bar as much as possible meant I couldn't afford it.

Basically this Brute build is like the Energizer bunny, he keeps going and going and going. I've got resistance to all mez types, rarely run low on Endurance unless hit by an End sucking enemy and if I do I can hit Dark Consumption for a quick refill (thought it's a good idea to pop a couple of yellows first). Dunno how it'd hold up in PvP because it relies on Fury to hit hard, but it has serious staying power.

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.5.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Duke Belail
Level: 41
Archetype: Brute
Primary: Dark Melee
Secondary: Fiery Aura
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Shadow Punch==> Acc(1)Dmg(3)Dmg(34)TH_DeBuf(34)
01) --> Fire Shield==> EndRdx(1)DmgRes(3)DmgRes(7)DmgRes(13)
02) --> Smite==> Acc(2)Dmg(5)Dmg(19)TH_DeBuf(37)
04) --> Healing Flames==> Heal(4)Heal(5)Rechg(11)Rechg(36)
06) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(6)DefBuf(7)Jump(9)
08) --> Blazing Aura==> EndRdx(8)EndRdx(9)Acc(15)Dmg(36)
10) --> Siphon Life==> Acc(10)Acc(11)EndRdx(13)Heal(15)Heal(23)Rechg(34)
12) --> Hurdle==> Jump(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)Jump(17)Jump(39)
16) --> Plasma Shield==> EndRdx(16)EndRdx(17)DmgRes(19)DmgRes(21)
18) --> Health==> Heal(18)Heal(21)Heal(31)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20)EndMod(23)EndMod(31)
22) --> Dark Consumption==> Acc(22)Rechg(25)EndMod(25)
24) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(24)EndRdx(29)
26) --> Soul Drain==> Acc(26)Acc(27)Dmg(27)Dmg(31)
28) --> Consume==> Acc(28)Rechg(29)EndMod(37)EndMod(37)
30) --> Burn==> EndRdx(30)Dmg(40)Dmg(40)
32) --> Midnight Grasp==> Acc(32)Immob(33)Immob(33)EndRdx(33)
35) --> Stealth==> Empty(35)DefBuf(36)DefBuf(40)
38) --> Rise of the Phoenix==> Heal(38)EndMod(39)Dmg(39)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Fury==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------

Well my experience of Telekinesis has varied a fair bit. The power ranges from being an instant death button to an invaluable tool in being able to pin an AV in place. The main thing to remember is without a +Recovery power (and Stamina doesn't cut it on it's own), you'll run out of Endurance.

With something like Recovery Aura or Adrenaline Boost you can run it for the duration of the power. One fun trick is to target an immovable object like Gun turret or cyst, it seems to turn the target into a trap that anything runnning past is held.

My personal total is just over 420,000 prestige as I created the group and thought it was hypocritical for me to ask people to be in supergroup mode if I hadn't earnt the most prestige

[ QUOTE ]
Which means, what to leave out on Dark Melee?

My initial thoughts on options are:

Shadow Maul, Taunt, Touch of Fear


[/ QUOTE ]

I've got a level 22 Dark/Fire brute and I've so far found that ignoring those powers makes for a pretty survivable Brute.

Shadow Maul - Left this out because of the long animation time and because it's pretty hard to hit more than one target at once. YMMV but ideally you want your Fury as high as possible and long animation times detract from that.

Touch of Fear - Left this out because any enemy I can hit, I either want dead ASAP or hitting me to build Fury.

Taunt - Didn't want to die hideously due to getting more aggro than I could handle.

Hopefully with the upcoming salvage bins, you can collect so much salvage that makes making mistakes like this pretty bareable.