The_Other_Player

That made my flu go away for a total of 5 seconds.

Well worth the price of admission. Will watch again

I seriously doubt, however, there will be color customization for weapon-based powersets, which is what I traditionally use.

On Ene/Ene, however, probably making both yellow-red or a yellow-orange color.

The only time I didnt take Conserve Power was with my own arch/EM build. If you perma Boost Range, you practically keep sniping and can use the range (+ hover if you want it, it wasnt part of my concept though) as a psuedo damage mitigation.

Since you're primarily staying at range, there's no need for any of the melee attacks of EM, thus, you can focus on fully utilizing the Archery primary. I've taken all of the Archery attacks and all of them have a use.

On the side, this also leaves some room for other power pools besides Fitness and a travel pool. I took a second travel pool out of concept and

Where's the source of that info? Havent seen definitive proof that we're getting color customization...

dont be afraid to slot 2 acc's for most of the powersets. Sometimes, its better to hit a weak attack rather than to miss a strong one.

I did some Mids-ing and came up with this. I'm basically hours away from making the MM already, and I just want to make sure I dont run into a snag just because I built it wrong...

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

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

Level 50 Technology Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Robotics
Secondary Power Set: Traps
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Battle Drones <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (3) Accuracy[*] (3) Accuracy[*] (5) Damage Increase[*] (5) Damage Increase[*] (7) Damage Increase[/list]Level 1: Web Grenade <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[/list]Level 2: Pulse Rifle Burst <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (7) Accuracy[*] (9) Damage Increase[/list]Level 4: Caltrops <ul type="square">[*] (A) Slow[*] (43) Slow[*] (46) Slow[*] (48) Range[*] (48) Recharge Reduction[*] (48) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 6: Equip Robot <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Reduction[/list]Level 8: Hover <ul type="square">[*] (A) Flight Speed[*] (9) Flight Speed[/list]Level 10: Photon Grenade <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (11) Accuracy[*] (11) Damage Increase[/list]Level 12: Protector Bots <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (13) Accuracy[*] (13) Damage Increase[*] (15) Damage Increase[*] (15) Defense Buff[*] (17) Defense Buff[/list]Level 14: Fly <ul type="square">[*] (A) Flight Speed[*] (17) Flight Speed[/list]Level 16: Swift <ul type="square">[*] (A) Flight Speed[*] (50) Flight Speed[/list]Level 18: Health <ul type="square">[*] (A) Healing[*] (19) Healing[*] (19) Healing[/list]Level 20: Stamina <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Modification[*] (21) Endurance Modification[*] (21) Endurance Modification[/list]Level 22: Force Field Generator <ul type="square">[*] (A) Defense Buff[*] (23) Defense Buff[*] (23) Defense Buff[/list]Level 24: Acid Mortar <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (25) Recharge Reduction[*] (25) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 26: Assault Bot <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (27) Accuracy[*] (27) Damage Increase[*] (29) Damage Increase[*] (29) Damage Increase[*] (31) Knockback Distance[/list]Level 28: Seeker Drones <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (31) Recharge Reduction[*] (31) Recharge Reduction[*] (33) Accuracy[*] (33) Range[*] (33) To Hit Debuff[/list]Level 30: Triage Beacon <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (34) Recharge Reduction[*] (34) Recharge Reduction[*] (34) Healing[*] (36) Healing[*] (37) Healing[/list]Level 32: Upgrade Robot <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Reduction[/list]Level 35: Trip Mine <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (36) Accuracy[*] (36) Damage Increase[*] (37) Damage Increase[*] (37) Damage Increase[*] (39) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 38: Poison Trap <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (39) Recharge Reduction[*] (39) Recharge Reduction[*] (40) Hold Duration[*] (40) Hold Duration[*] (40) Hold Duration[/list]Level 41: Maneuvers <ul type="square">[*] (A) Defense Buff[*] (42) Defense Buff[*] (42) Defense Buff[*] (42) Endurance Reduction[*] (43) Endurance Reduction[*] (43) Endurance Reduction[/list]Level 44: Tactics <ul type="square">[*] (A) To Hit Buff[*] (45) To Hit Buff[*] (45) To Hit Buff[*] (45) Endurance Reduction[*] (46) Endurance Reduction[*] (46) Endurance Reduction[/list]Level 47: Assault <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Reduction[*] (50) Endurance Reduction[/list]Level 49: Vengeance <ul type="square">[*] (A) Defense Buff[*] (50) Defense Buff[/list]------------
Level 1: Brawl <ul type="square">[*] (A) Accuracy[/list]Level 1: Sprint <ul type="square">[*] (A) Run Speed[/list]Level 2: Rest <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 1: Supremacy

I've played blueside for the most part of my first official month in CoX, and realized I'm only getting half out of my subscription. So, I've decided to take a shot at playing a bad guy.

My first attempt was a corruptor. At this point, my only experience was with blasters, and had trouble getting a character going. Then I saw a bots mastermind with 2 pets just standing there whilst his pets basically owned the newbie enemies available there.

From that point on, I knew, I had to be a mastermind.

Then I did some of Doctor Creed's missions, and ran into a huge ethical issue that basically ruined the fun for me.
(if you must know, it was the "kidnap homeless for experimentation" mission)

So I went back to being a hero that I ought I should have been. Playing blasters and shooting at range, which is where I feel most comfortable.

A week or so later (yesterday, and today), I had that "I should really try the other part of what I'm paying for" vibe and decided to try my hand at Masterminds once again.

Then a couple of friends dragged me onto another server, suggested I try Bots/FF (which I did without knowing what to really take or do), and basically got stuck in an AE mish, 90% of it spent on the floor, and got PL-ed to 20.

I gave an excuse to leave and left. I havent played the game all the way once yet!

So now I'm still no close to experiencing how it is to be a true mastermind (except say, mids and numbers, oohh shiny numbers...) and was hoping I could get some questions answered before I remake one where I mostly play (and not get PLed too far, maybe out of the beginner zone wherein its boring as heck after several more test characters, testing synergies...).

There's also a lack of guides for other secondaries like pain dom and Storm summoning. Discounting their synergies with non-ranged MM's that is. I'm fully intending to try Bots or Mercs as a MM primary, since I intend to stay at range and feel all important with minions doing all the work for me, and maybe even take potshots at my leisure.

I've asked around ingame and such on builds, synergies, and the like (as much as people were on and willing to give, considering my playtime is often during offpeak), but also got info I simply couldnt believe, and from the forums, is shared as well here, and still couldnt believe.

1st: Is it true Masterminds run at difficulty 4-5 as early as lvl1 solo?! How is that possible?!

2nd: Is it completely true that its not a good idea to get the personal attacks of each set? What about bodyguard mode? Wouldnt the personal attacks attract enough aggro for the mode to be useful?

3rd: I dont suppose there is a way to rein in wayward minions who run headlong into melee, is there?

4th: Going more specifically into the builds now:
A) Is /FF's two starter bubbles really required with Bots? Protector Bots have a bubble they cast well enough on their own after all..
B) Do Mercs and Thugs do the same damage type (lethal)? I've seen how painful how resistances on it are higher up (heroside) and would like to avoid that.
C) /Traps looks to be a all-or-nothing secondary to take. A lot of people swear by Acid Motar, Poison Trap, Trip Mine and even Detonator. That basically leaves nothing but a travel power, fitness pool, and very short on slots too.

5th: Lastly, since my concept revolves around a near-to-far future modern mastermind, and prefer to stay at range and simply support if ever, are there any readable guides, information or others that would help me keep at range, keep my minions at range (already have binds created for this purpose waiting and willing), and basically feel how a mastermind should feel: Laughing maniacally as his enemies are destroyed by his lackeys.

EDIT: I might like to add that since I often play at off-peak times, I'd be more or less soloing though most of the game.

I've got an AR/EM and currently making an Arch/EM. Both are absurdly fun especially if you want to stay back out of the main fight and not crowd the tank/scrapper in your team.

AR/EM with its cones is more team-oriented, with Arch/EM's late RoA is more solo till it gets RoA. Both benefit from Boost Range, since they can stay away farther and use the range as a sort-of melee defense tank, especially if they hover.

I've always played the ranged DPS character in nearly all games if I could choose to do so. Some, however, see better use in being a bit closer with a different secondary, and you cant blame them.

Archery, however, demands you practically take all of the primary powers to maximize its use, thereby reducing its "blapperish" synergy.

TBH, the only reason I get snipe attacks on any of my characters is for utility. I'm not even a month old and even I can see they're not much to speak of as a skill in terms of usage.

I get to use them infrequently in teams, and even less solo, opener or closer. Even then, if slotted for damage, I find that I do far more damage with 2 other skills with the same cast time and recharge total compared to snipe.

If snipe has an interrupt, takes that long to cycle and fire off, and slotted, does LESS damage than two attacks that take the same time to get off, somethings a bit off there.

The only other advantage snipe attacks have is range, which 90% of the time isnt used because blasters still have to move into range to follow up a snipe. Time better spent actually getting into range and starting an attack chain instead.

Tried to remake your build, following the cold APP, focusing a bit more into ranged def. First attempt at Mids.

Code:[/color]

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| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |

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my 33 AR/NRG barely uses Insp's as is, actually. Its all in proper positioning. If he does use Insp's, its often right before a lt-heavy mob and I'm prepping a Flamthrower+FullAuto, which most of the time, I dont need to prep that much except get them all in the cone.

There's a reason why I chose CJ+Hurdle and not my traditional hover/fly...

I'm surprised no one mentioned Archery much at all. Unless I needed to sleep last night when I was reading this, I didnt spot anyone mentioning the Archery primary for blasters. I take its not a good solo set because of the lack of early AoE?

forgive me for not knowing such obvious facts, oh wise and knowledged poster, for this barely-1-month-old player knows no better (/sarcasm)...

We Are The Champions by Queen as well, obligatory.

Danger Zone by Kenny Lodgins (Top Gun song)

Bodies by Drowning Pool

I Believe I Can Fly by R Kelly (for KB specialists)

Love Me When I'm Gone by 3 Doors Down (Blasters faceplant, a lot)

Could add more, but fit different AT's more than blasters so...

...cept some people dont like ice as a power.

Guess from the amount of praise ice/ice is getting, that leaves everyone else in the dust for solo work.

Speaking as a KB-wanting blaster, I've already given up on using any form of KB attack and even gave up leveling my ene/ene blaster because of all the complaints (some of which already reach well beyond the profanity filter).

Take for example when a troller is about to get hit by an LT and I KB him away, only to find out a scrapper is about to save the same troller's hide in the process...

...and then I get the negative responses?

I would REALLY like to toss back some of the insults I've gotten over my choice of powersets back at you. You people know who you are...

PvP is sadly, one of the pillars of the MMO business. If a MMO doesnt have some form of competition between players (and the most visible and most viable form of this is PvP), there wouldnt be a true challenge for the player, and thus no point in playing more.

There's a reason why Warhammer Online, WoW, EVE Online, and a dozen other MMO's suceed in their PvP gaming. They keep it as balanced, as fixed, and as fun as possible.

Whilst true, there are people who are strongly against PvP, there are far more who live in he "gray zone" between no PvP and all PvP, people who play what they want, when they want it, and expect a fun time, win or lose.

I'm not even an MMO dev and even I can see there's things wrong with the PvP mechanics and how it "feels" on the end-user currently.

Following Fulmens' build, I scratched up something in Mids' that looks perfect for me. I'm still keeping my options open in the ending edge of the power choices I've made, since I have no experience in the endgame of course.

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

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

Level 50 Technology Blaster
Primary Power Set: Energy Blast
Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Medicine
Ancillary Pool: Munitions Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Power Bolt

[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (3) Damage Increase[*] (5) Damage Increase[*] (11) Damage Increase[*] (15) Endurance Reduction[*] (34) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 1: Power Thrust
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (46) Knockback Distance[/list]Level 2: Power Blast
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (3) Damage Increase[*] (5) Damage Increase[*] (11) Damage Increase[*] (15) Endurance Reduction[*] (36) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 4: Build Up
[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (17) Recharge Reduction[*] (19) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 6: Power Burst
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (7) Damage Increase[*] (7) Damage Increase[*] (13) Damage Increase[*] (23) Range[*] (37) Range[/list]Level 8: Sniper Blast
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (9) Interrupt Reduction[*] (9) Interrupt Reduction[*] (13) Damage Increase[*] (23) Recharge Reduction[*] (37) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 10: Hover
[*] (A) Flight Speed[*] (40) Flight Speed[*] (40) Flight Speed[/list]Level 12: Aim
[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (17) Recharge Reduction[*] (19) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 14: Fly
[*] (A) Flight Speed[*] (40) Flight Speed[*] (42) Flight Speed[/list]Level 16: Swift
[*] (A) Flight Speed[*] (43) Run Speed[*] (43) Run Speed[/list]Level 18: Health
[*] (A) Healing[*] (25) Healing[*] (25) Healing[/list]Level 20: Stamina
[*] (A) Endurance Modification[*] (21) Endurance Modification[*] (21) Endurance Modification[/list]Level 22: Power Push
[*] (A) Knockback Distance[*] (31) Knockback Distance[*] (37) Knockback Distance[*] (43) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 24: Aid Other
[*] (A) Healing[/list]Level 26: Explosive Blast
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (27) Damage Increase[*] (27) Damage Increase[*] (29) Damage Increase[*] (29) Endurance Reduction[*] (39) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 28: Power Boost
[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (31) Recharge Reduction[*] (31) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 30: Aid Self
[*] (A) Healing[/list]Level 32: Nova
[*] (A) Damage Increase[*] (33) Damage Increase[*] (33) Damage Increase[*] (33) Recharge Reduction[*] (34) Recharge Reduction[*] (34) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 35: Boost Range
[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[*] (36) Recharge Reduction[*] (36) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 38: Resuscitate
[*] (A) Interrupt Reduction[*] (39) Interrupt Reduction[*] (39) Interrupt Reduction[/list]Level 41: Body Armor
[*] (A) Resist Damage[*] (42) Resist Damage[*] (42) Resist Damage[/list]Level 44: Surveillance
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (45) Defense Debuff[*] (45) Defense Debuff[*] (45) Defense Debuff[*] (46) Recharge Reduction[*] (46) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 47: LRM Rocket
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (48) Damage Increase[*] (48) Damage Increase[*] (48) Damage Increase[/list]Level 49: Total Focus
[*] (A) Accuracy[*] (50) Damage Increase[*] (50) Damage Increase[*] (50) Damage Increase[/list]------------
Level 1: Brawl
[*] (A) Accuracy[/list]Level 1: Sprint
[*] (A) Run Speed[/list]Level 2: Rest
[*] (A) Recharge Reduction[/list]Level 1: Defiance

Thanks for all the info, and even the rather hot comments some people posted. I know I may be the wrong kind of player or playing this game the wrong way, but when a character concept comes your way and sticks in your head, and a game can give that character life, wouldnt you try and give it the strongest go you can?

I have, and I've hit walls higher than I could scale. But at least I learned quite a bit:

I've realized why Energy has shorter-ranged attacks. If paired with Energy secondary, it makes for a thematic and synergistic blapperish attack style (provided you have the mobility to do so). This of course goes against my idea of the blaster being a ranged character.

...then again, maybe the concept of the blaster isnt just range, of which I need to learn still.

I am open, however, to just pushing the concept off the cliff myself and just play the game as its supposed to be played. I guess in my old gamer times, old habits die very hard and old standards that I play by are archaic and broken by today.

Anyway, couple of questions:

1. I've noticed some blapper videos have people short-jumping into and out of melee range to do melee attacks sprinkled with some ranged. How do they manage this?

2. I've noticed that AR/Devices is both thematic and work well together. Noticed Ignite working well with Caltrops. Is this a good prim/sec to work with as a ranged character who can solo?

3. If anything else, I'd like some more suggestions on a prim/sec for an all-ranged (or at least, non-melee) blaster.

I've just deleted my 30th-something character trying to roll a blaster concept that I have in my head, nailed solid. I just cant seem to pull it off because I either screw it up pre-lvl10 with bad powerset choices or pre-20 when I run into enemies too resistant to my damage output due to how contacts lead to other contacts without proper info on what the next contacts will lead you to in terms of enemies (and by extension, their resists).

No amount of aggro management, picking off, maneuvering, or even running away can help if the enemies resist/avoid most of your damage, hit harder at ranged than you can, and can run faster than you.

This dead-ending has to stop. I've already wasted a week and a half and I've not even gotten above lvl 20. Just to show how bad it is: my highest attempt was lvl 17, and she was so poor from buying inspirations she didnt even have money for lv12 DO's!

Granted, I've been treating my idea like a bull and havent considered other power sets because they are too anti-thematic to the central idea I have. I intend to create a character that will RP, and so it has to mesh well. Problem is, I cant even get high enough to see if powerset ideas that do work will work well...

So, bottomline is, I'm asking, nay, begging for help now.

First off, character concept:
Definately a blaster, definately all range, and technology. Think sexy cybergirl meets Seven of Nine meets Data meets Iron Man.

After reading up and asking around, I settled on a prim/sec powerset. In hindsight, maybe I should have tried them for myself but instead, I burned myself out on the following:

At first Energy/Energy would suit her, but considering the lack of damage output, slow attack animations (lots of scrappers) coupled with the already mouth-foaming hate I was recieving from groups because of my knockback (lots of scrappers), I decided I'd try something else

I then went electric/Energy. I ended up dying a ton more because I've gotten used to using Energy's knockback mechanics to buy myself time and keep them at range. The endurance drain was nice, but not enough for my rather hefty endurance consumption.

Then I tried Psy/MM on a whim, thinking I could change the concept in my head. Instead, I fought Clockwork, and we all know how that'll turn out.

Now I'm so burned out on rerolling that my idea is about to step off a sheer cliff to die. I dont want it to do that. I got into this game for the simple reason I could give the idea form and let it grow. At this point, it'll die without a chance of living.

Help?

1. Report that in.

2. Report ALL the details they'll ask

3. Make sure to request if you can keep the wings since you're the lucky one and you're being honest about it after all

Other than that, good luck