Twilight_Snow

I think energy aura is not terrible by itself, but when compared to other secondary power sets, energy aura is probably not as effective. Hence, the comments that you typically read in the forum are relative to other power sets. People don't usually elaborate, and they may give you an impression that energy aura is trash on some absolute scale.

You can pick a primary power set that can provide good mitigation. For slotting, you just need to soft-cap defense, which is pretty easy even with a small budget for energy aura.

If you follow the guide, you can routinely solo and herd in 8-people missions, not just small teams. The mobs can be anything, although Carnies, Rularuu, and Devouring Earth can be problematic.

It is true in general that the primary power set can help a lot in survival. Maybe it is more so for energy aura. This guide is specially designed for people who does not rely on the mitigation of the primary power set.

I'll say a different opinion here. I think the main idea of introducing the market is not to introduce a mini game. The market was introduced at the same time as the invention system as a platform for players to trade invention salvage and recipes. As such, making sure that players can trade efficiently through the market should be utmost important. Market as a mini game is probably a side product. I think the motivation behind the suggestion is ok.

In principle, it is not necessary to do anything about people playing with the salvage. This is because they cannot sustain the game for a prolonged period of time. They are annoying when you need salvage. Sometimes, I cannot tell whether there are people playing with the salvage, or if the demand is really larger than the supply.

I think the issue of most suggestions to regulate the market is that they punish both the "bad guys" as well as players who use the market for normal trading.

Among the secondary sets for brutes, there are 5 power sets that offer DDR. Willpower's DDR is pretty low, and SR is at the maximum. The other 3 power sets (invulnerability, shield, and EA) have around ~50% DDR. Among these 3 sets, I would say EA is closer to being a purely defense set. It is quite reasonable to ask for a DDR value between 50% and 95%, or make it enhanceable like shield.

I think the issue is that the current DDR value of 50% is not really too low or wrong. It is not easy to make a strong argument saying that such change need to be done. If we end up having to talk about numbers and gauge secondary power sets under a metric to proof our point, then it would be very problematic.

I believe if DDR were added to energy drain, a typical usage was to use energy drain immediately at the beginning of the fight. Given the healing and endurance abilities of energy drain, I think the beginning of a fight is probably not the best time to use the power. I would add the DDR somewhere else.

As mentioned above, the to-hit debuffs are probably not as useful to SR compared to other secondary power sets. The damage debuff is still useful though. Overall, there are probably not enough incentives to take the endurance heavy toggle for SR.

I think your build is ok. If there is no special reason to take focused accuracy, you can consider tactics instead, which has lower endurance cost. Maybe 6-slotting combat jumping is a bit too much. I think eviscerate is an ok attack if it can hit more than 1 mob.

Below is my take on claws/SR by re-slotting your build. The build has just enough recharge to run the follow-up > slash > focus > strike single-target attack chain. The IO bonuses are focused on hit points, regeneration, and damage proc. If you turn on all the toggles, the build requires you to take cardiac core paragon in order to run the attack chain without draining your endurance (without taking accolades into account).

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Super Reflexes
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- Mako-Dam%(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg(13), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(13), T'Death-Dam%(31), T'Death-Acc/Dmg(31), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(33)
Level 1: Focused Fighting -- GftotA-Run+(A), GftotA-Def(3), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(3), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(5)
Level 2: Focused Senses -- GftotA-Run+(A), GftotA-Def(5), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(7), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 4: Slash -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A), Mako-Acc/Dmg(33), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(33), T'Death-Acc/Dmg(34), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(34), T'Death-Dam%(34)
Level 6: Spin -- Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(A), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(9), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Armgdn-Dam%(11)
Level 8: Follow Up -- Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg(A), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(37), Hectmb-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Hectmb-Dam%(39), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 10: Practiced Brawler -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 14: Agile -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(15), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(15)
Level 16: Dodge -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(17), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(17)
Level 18: Focus -- Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(A), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(19), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(23), Apoc-Dam%(25), Decim-Build%(40)
Level 20: Evasion -- GftotA-Run+(A), GftotA-Def(21), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(21), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GA-3defTpProc(25), TtmC'tng-ResDam(46), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(50)
Level 26: Weave -- GftotA-Run+(A), GftotA-Def(27), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(27), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 28: Lucky -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(29), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(29)
Level 30: Aid Other -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Aid Self -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(39), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(40), IntRdx-I(48)
Level 35: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(36), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(36), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 38: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 41: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(45), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(45), P'Shift-End%(45)
Level 47: Focused Accuracy -- GSFC-Build%(A), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(48), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(48), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx(50), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Quickness -- Run-I(A)
Level 50: Cardiac Core Boost
Level 0: Born In Battle
Level 0: High Pain Threshold
Level 0: Invader
Level 0: Marshal
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(43), Numna-Heal/Rchg(43), RgnTis-Regen+(43), Mrcl-Rcvry+(46)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(42), P'Shift-EndMod(42), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(42)

I don't know what your current build is. According to the first posted build, there should be a time gap of 0.2 to 0.3 seconds. Actually, you don't need to use the pylon to find out your dps. You can simply add up the damage of each attack from the Mid's planner, then divide by the time to obtain dps. If you do that, it should be ~172 dps at 70% fury without taking into account the effect of build up.

Similar to dps, you can add up the endurance usage of each attack, and then divide by the time to get eps of your single-target attack chain. Together with the usage from toggles, you can estimate how much recovery you need. Since the Mid's planner can now take into account the alpha slot, you can easily see if cardiac can completely solve your problem. For the first posted build, it seems like cardiac is not enough to sustain very long fights. Also, maybe you don't have the born-in-battle accolade, so your endurance in game may not be as high as in the planner.

As a first step, it helps to slot your attacks with more endurance reduction. For example, instead of using HO in your 5th slot of your attacks, you can use an IO with some endurance reduction. Also, there is no endurance reduction at all in fire sword circle.

For brutes, if it is just a purple proc in scorch, the highest dps attack chain is probably not the one in the quote for the recharge of your build. But this is just from the perspective of dps.

If you solo 8-people missions, it helps.

You will experience a similar situation against Cimerorans, for example, where there are a lot of defense debuffs. When the cascade failure comes in, I doubt that aid self helps much. I suggest that you use your current setup to play various contents, and see how it performs in general. It may be helpful to raise the s/l defense beyond softcap.

You can take a look at my guide. Scroll all the way to the bottom for the guide on fiery melee. It will tell you how much endurance you need for the attack chain. You can then add that to the endurance usage of your toggles in Mid's planner. This will give you some idea on the minimal recovery needed.

In general, I don't think it is necessary to be able to sustain fighting indefinitely. It is problematic if the endurance drains too quickly, but it is ok if you have enough endurance to handle typical encounters. Pylons and AVs are meant for teams. However, if soloing them is your goal, you probably need to build your brute differently.

For energy melee, the endurance cost of a single-target attack chain is ~4.6 per second without endurance reduction for a wide range of recharge rate. It gets lower at low recharge rates. Actually, other primary sets are usually more endurance intensive.

As energy aura will one day be proliferated to heroes, who already have access to conserve power, we expect conserve power in energy aura to be changed. If we want the change to be ported back to the brutes, the change should have an endurance discount component. There were many ideas on what to add on top of the endurance discount. You can do a search on this topic, particularly in the brute and suggestion forums. Such discussions pop up quite regularly.

The heal is quite good with many mobs around. Hence, another popular suggestion is to make the heal in energy drain front-loaded.

If you want to handle large spawns, softcapping defense is still necessary. In addition, if you don't need to be constantly healed, the corruptor can focus on attacking, rather than spamming heals on you.

The resistance buffs, thaw, and forge are all on different timers. While herostat helps with the timing, I suggest just keeping the resistance buffs and forge regularly. Use thaw on demand. With just 2 people on team, communication should be easier.

I tried using obliteration in my mace AoE attacks. Since the IO set doesn't have much endurance reduction, AoE drained my endurance quickly. I think you need to take the cardiac as your alpha slot.

The radius of grant cover is probably a bit too small.

For your build, it is ok. I would drop the slot for the +regeneration unique in health, as the corruptor can take care of your health. And drop the slot in superior conditioning as well, as it only gives you 2 end. I would slot grant cover with an end reduction, and move the LotG +7.5 to deflection. Finally, make sure that you can get the pvp IO.

I think swoop shouldn't be skipped. An ok attack chain for battle axe is pendulum > cleave > swoop > gash > chop.

For your slotting, you should click "view active sets" in the Mid's planner and find out the places where the "rule of 5" is violated. Basically, you're not getting the regeneration and hp bonus from the 2 sets of scirocco's dervish and efficacy adaptor. I would slot your AoE with eradication. I think you can use the single-target attacks for defense bonuses, which is better than just pushing regeneration and hp alone. And maybe use reactive armor IO sets in your resistance powers if you decide to go for defense. However, you're the one to make the decision.

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.91
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 48 Natural Brute
Primary Power Set: Battle Axe
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Chop -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(37), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(37), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(3), Numna-Heal/Rchg(3), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(48)
Level 2: Mind Over Body -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(43), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(43), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 4: Gash -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(39), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(40), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 6: Fast Healing -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(7), Numna-Heal/Rchg(7)
Level 8: Swoop -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(42), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(42), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 10: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(11), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(11)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(13), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 16: Rise to the Challenge -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(17), Numna-Heal/Rchg(17), DisWord-ToHitDeb(19), DisWord-ToHitDeb/Rchg(19), DisWord-ToHitDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(21)
Level 18: Whirling Axe -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg(27), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(34)
Level 20: Quick Recovery -- Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(21), Efficacy-EndMod(25), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(25)
Level 22: Build Up -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(23), Rec'dRet-Pcptn(23)
Level 24: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 26: Cleave -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg(31), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(36)
Level 28: Heightened Senses -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(29)
Level 30: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(46), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(46), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 32: Pendulum -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg(33), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(37)
Level 35: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(36), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(36)
Level 38: Strength of Will -- Empty(A)
Level 41: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(45), P'Shift-End%(45)
Level 47: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48)
Level 49: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(5), Numna-Heal/Rchg(5), RgnTis-Regen+(15), Mrcl-Rcvry+(27)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(9), P'Shift-EndMod(9), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(15)