Ukaserex

Yes - most of us have gotten this badge on numerous toons when it first came out, and have found it more annoying than fun - especially when trying to train or set up a tf in various zones when the invasion hit.

But, I'm still seeing a lot of people who have been unable to get this badge, because by the time enough people join to spawn the GM, it's just not enough time and/or not enough people.


So, please, help these folks out if you can. Surely there's at least one toon that you have that doesn't have unveiler badge. For me, that's in part my motivation. I have a mission on my alt that will help me get it, if I don't get it in the invasions. Yet, the invasions are a little bit more fun - and less of a hassle if the recruiting process isn't too lengthy.

I certainly hope they don't do anything with Judgement. I've worked a good bit to get a tier 4 on 15 of 21 of my 50s. It would irk me to no end to have them change the rules on me.

As for the blaster nuke -end crash, it's simply a non-issue. Pop a blue and a geas of the kind ones, and you're right back where you were in seconds.

It's not broken, don't fix it.

Now, if they took the end crash away, I wouldn't mind a bit, but it's certainly not crippling any of my blasters.

The whole point to the incarnate grind is to enter non-incarnate missions and actually be super. (for me, anyway)

Wow.

Just wow.

I skimmed over this thread a few days ago. I had actually written a good bit about my opinion on the matter of mez protection for blasters. But, I thought better of it, because I ended up in a mini-rant and felt nobody was going to benefit from my words.

Here's my more rational line of thought. I don't think blasters need mez protection any more. Before IOs, yes. After, no. With well thought out slotting, the duration of mez can be seriously reduced to the point that it's merely an annoyance. And really - that's what it is - the longer the duration, the more annoying. Way back in issue 4, it's what got me to roll a tank instead of another blaster.

Yet, the blaster AT has so much potential now with IOs.

Not take the fight pool? If you're going to solo to any large degree, I would question your experience in playing. If you're teaming, fine - take the teleport pool instead. Your teams buffs should cover those gaps, and likely over-shadow what the fight pool would do.

Numbers, numbers, numbers. I'm not that good with them, but with mids', I can certainly compare a higher number to a lower one.

And, I know this is unpopular, but if you are not making the effort to give your characters the best chance you can, then you're basically saying "It's my money, I'll make the toon how I want."

You know, that's fine. Do that. But guess what - you will find yourself on tfs that just can't quite get the job done sometimes. You may not be able to break through the mold wall av in the eden trial, because you wanted tp ally instead of the fight pool - and because you lacked defense - you got defeated. Repeatedly. So, your team stares at the mold wall. Because of you. Well, not just you. Your other teammates should be able to carry your weight. But - no. You're teaming with them because they're your friends and you all think the game should be fun. But, fun is different for many of us.

I might love to blast - but if I'm defeated, I'm not having any fun.

As for me, I come to the forums, I check out various builds and market like crazy so I can afford to make my toons as good as I can make them.

I want defense for my blasters so they'll live to blast. A defeated blaster is useless and not fun to play. Mez? pff. If I don't have a breakfree, I make one, combining insps.

Yeah, you go ahead and forget about defense. Build your toons with some entertaining theme and enjoy yourself. It is your sub after all. I don't pay it. For my money, I'm going to try and play as well as I can. Every time.

Me, I'll be the one who doesn't use an ambrosia against the titan, because I'll be at range, away from the crystal titans damage splash.

And you...

You still won't be past the first wall.

Defeated.

By a minion!

But hey, fun is different for all of us.

These theatrics were brought to you by an amused ice blaster who holds his foes before they mez him.

A lot depends on your server, and the number of trials you do when you play.

I know that the ugt gives a guaranteed rare/very rare -- if you complete it. For the most part, the ugt is now old hat, and it's more likely to succeed than fail. But, anything can happen if a couple of players aren't paying attention.

Because rares and very rares are ..well, rare and very rare, it stands to reason that spending one on a tier 4 alpha is...up for debate - depending on the server you're on, and how much you play that character when not in iTrials. If you do a task force or two every day, in addition to trials, I would suggest you not use a very rare to complete your alpha - use shards and a couple of notices - sadly, this means it takes you 3 weeks (15 days at least)to get the notices - but you'll need to get a bunch of shards anyway - and they drop, but not that often. Depends on how many bosses you come across.

So, it all depends.
I would agree that saving your emps for rares or very rares is a good idea - unless you are on Liberty where I run at least 2 ugts a week with a very high margin of success.

In that context, I say break the emps down, or convert them to threads to send to your alts.

Playstyle differences aside, Nemu is pretty awesome at making builds.

Making them on a budget is another matter.

Drainpsyche is...so good, that if I ever come across a */mm blaster without it, I will lump them in a class with ill/* controllers without PA and fire tankers without burn.

It is incredibly awesome - especially once you level up.

Learning is a process though. I find playing an elec dom to be totally horrible, even with nemu's 4 billion inf build. And it's more because I want the baddies to melt away much, much faster than they do. I do not have this issue with the fire/MM.
Why, oh why, did I wait so long to try the MM secondary? The time I wasted with */energy! I could strangle myself, it makes me so mad.

Like you, Raverex, I tinkered with builds, and I learn a little bit each time.

Here's my build. I absolutely loathe redside and get irked at nemu for assuming everyone wants to go through those seemingly endless tip missions for the patron powers. (Why Nemu? Why must all your builds have patron powers? What's wrong with Frozen armor? Nothing!)

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.956
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Molten Heat: Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Fire Blast
Secondary Power Set: Mental Manipulation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Cold Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(9), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(11), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(13), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(13)
Level 1: Subdual -- HO:Endo(A)
Level 2: Fire Ball -- SBlastersW-Acc/Dmg:50(A), SBlastersW-Dmg/Rchg:50(3), SBlastersW-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(3), SBlastersW-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(5), SBlastersW-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(5), SBlastersW-Rchg/Dmg%:50(7)
Level 4: Super Speed -- Zephyr-ResKB:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(15)
Level 6: Flares -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(37), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(37), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(37), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(39), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(42)
Level 8: Mind Probe -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:50(15), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:50(17), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(17), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(23), Mako-Dam%:50(23)
Level 10: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(11)
Level 12: Aim -- GSFC-ToHit:50(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(36), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(36), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(46), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(50), GSFC-Build%:50(50)
Level 14: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A)
Level 16: Concentration -- Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg:20(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit:20(48)
Level 18: Blaze -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(19), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(19), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(21), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(21), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(34)
Level 20: Drain Psyche -- Panac-Heal/EndRedux:50(A), Panac-EndRdx/Rchg:50(25), Panac-Heal/Rchg:50(25), Panac-Heal/EndRedux/Rchg:50(27), Panac-Heal:50(27)
Level 22: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A)
Level 24: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(42), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(43), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(43)
Level 26: Blazing Bolt -- Mantic-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(29), Mantic-Acc/ActRdx/Rng:50(31), Mantic-Dmg/ActRdx/Rchg:50(31), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx:50(31)
Level 28: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A), GA-3defTpProc:50(29)
Level 30: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A)
Level 32: World of Confusion -- CoPers-Conf:50(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg:50(33), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg:50(33), CoPers-Acc/Rchg:50(33), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx:50(34), CoPers-Conf%:50(34)
Level 35: Flash Freeze -- Empty(A)
Level 38: Psychic Shockwave -- Oblit-Dmg:50(A), Oblit-%Dam:50(39), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:50(40), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:50(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(42)
Level 41: Frozen Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(43)
Level 44: Hoarfrost -- Panac-Heal/EndRedux:50(A), Panac-EndRdx/Rchg:50(45), Panac-Heal/Rchg:50(45), Panac-Heal/EndRedux/Rchg:50(45), Panac-Heal:50(46)
Level 47: Telekinetic Thrust -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(48), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(48), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(50)
Level 49: Rain of Fire -- HO:Nucle(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx:35(36), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg:35(39), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(46)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Clrty-Stlth:50(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 4: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(A)
Level 4: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%:50(A), P'Shift-EndMod:50(7)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
------------

It probably doesn't qualify, but herding the entire floor surrounding the Crystal titan in the Eden Trial before taunt cap (or ED for that matter) was just a rush.

I have solo'd countless gms on scrappers, my ill/rad and my fire/mm blaster is nothing to sneeze at. I did start to solo a gm with it, but it appeared as if it was going to take more than 5 minutes, so I got bored with it. 20 minutes for like how much inf? Not worth the effort for me. Now if it paid like 10 million or something, then maybe.

Hey, I deleted my snark before I posted.

But, hey, all's fair, right?

What I left out was that there were plenty of people "on" - at least they appeared to be online and a member of the lb channel.

When a player who has at least a half decent rep for putting together good teams,(yes, that would be me) I would think that when someone is recruiting for a weekly, those that are on would be wanting to make progress in one of these areas:

XP -- it's 5 bars of xp bonus upon completion (unless you're 50 already)
incarnate progress - Notice of the well. This was Wednesday. It had only been the weekly for one day.

Accolade/badges - It's not common knowledge, but the first two missions either give you the defeat badges you need, or a very, very good start on them. Last time, I think I needed 11 vamps and 23 puppies to complete the badges. The two defeat badges are required for Atlas Medallion accolade.

I don't expect anyone to quit their day job. I do expect that players that are on would want to do the weekly tf with every character they have that doesn't have the Atlas medallion, and every character they have that hasn't gotten to 50+1 on their 50's.

And, additionally, every "poor" character that needs merits to fund their next alt should also be wanting to join in.

Now, there were about 70 players on at that time. Probably another 30 that were hiding. I'm sure some were on other servers and don't even have lb chat showing on their screens.

I can get that maybe 10% hate my guts, have me on ignore and never even saw my recruiting - but a lot of those names (on lb)I recognized from the iTrial circuit. Heck, even a half dozen were on my global list. But for whatever reason, they didn't want to do the weekly. And whatever the reason, I'd like to know what that reason is or what those reasons are.

Don't get me wrong, folks. I like Liberty - for the most part.

I'm not sure whether I'm noticing it more, or whether it's just recently bothering me more. Liberty during prime time is hard to beat. TFs or iTrials, the teams/leagues can be formed, no problem. And the skill levels are ranging from a very few horribly inexperienced players to a large number of characters that can solo just about anything the game can throw at them.

[72,000 word of ranting diatribe removed]

I don't want to make a fuss, I just want to know if there's anything that can be done to promote teaming in the daytime.

Tried to form a moonfire yesterday early afternoon - and only one person responded in a timely fashion.

It only takes 60 seconds to type a response "switching" or "ugh - I need to finish this big room before I can join"

I wanted to do citadel this morning, I couldn't even get enough people to pad it so I could solo it! That's just ridiculous!

Wake up earlier, Liberty!

Well, thanks for your responses - I reread my post, and it comes off as far more...what's the word...snarky, I guess, than I meant.

And I did know you could swap out - but I thought the whole point was one build.

And, in my mind, swapping interface does change the effectiveness of a toon. Semantics, of course.

I applaud your spirit, though. Taking on challenges that most wouldn't, and coming through just fine. For me, I've found the hero merits for converters to be better value than astrals -but I guess with the cool down timer, astrals could be better. Too many lowbie 50s myself that can use the astrals, though. Different strokes, and all that.

As someone who recently took a fire/mm blaster to level 50+2, I looked over your build with a little interest.

I have a few questions.

Why go Agility? I would have thought Cardiac Core would have served you better, at least going by the 1%def =2%res theory.

Ok, you say you solo'd a GM - how long did this take you? Were there any defeats? If so, how many? I have solo'd gms with the help of temp powers - and the rewards for doing so are not worth the time investment, in my opinion.


Did I read it correctly - no inspirations?

And on mids', I'm reading that you have degenerative interface - and then later, I see you mention that you use cognitive.

This puzzles me, as I thought you said one build. Swapping out interfaces and destinies seems to me to be using different builds.


These activities that you say you have done - it's not that I doubt the accomplishments, I question the reason why.
Just to see if you could?

I'm very curious to know your tactic in out damaging Romulus while the nictus is healing him. Also curious to know how long this effort took. On my server, we've completed the whole itf in under 12 minutes - which makes it a far more worthwhile effort, from a reward standpoint. So, I'd suggest that if it takes you longer than 20 to 30 minutes (one must recruit to form a team, I would think) than you are pretty much wasting your time.

More to the point - the better builds are more easily gotten (aside from using the paragon market) from merits - how many reward merits can you toon earn you in an hour?

But - it's more than that - it's 10 rogue missions,(+morality) then 10 hero missions (+morality) and then 10 more hero tips (+morality) to reenforce the alignment (or else no hero merits from SSA).

Red side is for the most part a ghost town.

The story line of these "epic archetypes" is fine, for those that choose to immerse themselves in it. I choose not to.

And, I could pl myself to 20 in rwz AE and jump through the necessary hurdles to go blueside. But why? It's completely unnecessary.

I do not think that it is a coincidence that blue side is far more populated than red side. Red side - the devs did such a good job with it - that it literally makes me sad to be there. Spiders and snakes? Why would I want to immerse myself in that environment?

It is not the content I object to - but the depressing environment.
Boomtown is pretty vacant on blueside as well. Small wonder.

Dark Astoria was largely vacant also, except for occasional Adamastor and BP mask hunts.

I'd rather do my zone traveling - if I have to do it at all -in a nicer environment.

But, you all disagree, and you're allowed to.

But I still make the suggestion. There is no VALID reason not to. Not valid to me, anyway.

I would like to suggest that epic archetypes be allowed to be created as heroes, villains or praetorians.

I don't like the red side. I'd like to try out both the widow and the soldier- and I'm sure not gonna pay 800 points to bring them to blue side instantly. I just don't understand why they want to "force" me to choose to play redside if I select a certain AT.

So, I won't try that AT until they change this.

So - the weekly tomorrow is Moonfire - a tf I try to use to get my toons ready for getting the Atlas Medallion. So, I look at my inventory of characters, and the only one over level 10 that doesn't have the medallion already is my level 17 ice/ice tank.

I've heard that ice is great for aggro management, poor damage and a defense based set.

So, I figured I'd take a peek at some builds from the forums, tweak as I saw fit - but I notice that the builds I'm seeing - well, they reach soft cap for s/l/e/n just fine. But the resistance is very low.

Well, I don't get it. Why would someone play an ice tank, when they can have the soft cap numbers PLUS the resistance numbers via an invuln or fire? Is there something about this set that makes it "hey, this is great"? So far, I'm not impressed. I'm thinking respec, take the good stuff out, and start over with something that can actually punch his way out of a bag.

ComixGeek speaks the truth. I play on Liberty and lead MoUGTs frequently, usually twice a week as well as other iTrials. I also play on Champion and @Amygdala has a knack for making things easy. The key will be the times you have available to play -as most of the trialing is done predominantly from 7pm to 10pm eastern.

The MoiTrial times Amygdala runs have been at 730ish eastern. Check the Champion server forum for a verified time.

You'll also want to ask for membership in ChampioNexus and perhaps Champion Trials. These are the channels that I have found to be helpful in getting on unscheduled runs.

I feel it's worth pointing out - any pug that can do a Synapse in an hour is not just a pug. Maybe I was lucky to be on a team where folks knew what to do and a better/faster way to do it. Color me impressed. I can't recall the exact time, but I'm thinking it was like 1:08 (5/12 or 5/13)

Color me impressed. It was a privilege to be on the team.

That is correct - it's part of Unai Kemens Story arc - and further into is the council map. None of those crazy stunners in there, thankfully.

ok, my first glance at your numbers....you are pursuing positional defense. While there's nothing wrong with this - your ranged defense is a little low.

Well, anyone can say that, right? Have you considered going for typed defense as opposed to positional?

I think - for the most part, your new build is easily good enough to hold it's own in most situations.

Off the top of my head, I look at your lowest numbers -which are pretty low for most tanks - but. ..everything but melee and s/l is in the 20s. So, instead of 5% of attacks that aren't melee coming in, you catch about 25% or more of them. (unless they are s/l, in which case, you'll catch about 15%.) Let's think about ranged attacks - sure, most of them have some smashing or lethal component, but for the most part, they are energy, negative energy, psionic and toxic. Discount psionic and toxic, because outside of team buffs ,there's only so much you can do.

But, the energy and negative energy, they are fairly common. Freaks come to mind. You get those electric blasts and I think you're going to feel it more than you should.

So, before I make adjustments on your build - maybe I'll learn something from you - have you thought about settling for less melee and raising ranged a little bit more, or going for typed defense instead?

Perhaps your line of thought makes more sense than mine. <shrug>

Tonights run was very strange indeed. Normal up to the point directly before I was to lead Desdemona into the trap room.

As I was about to proceed, an small ambush seemed to spawn on top of me. I got stunned - and I saw some of Des's pets chase after some. In any event, I had told the league of the ambush, and then noticed the words -Alpha Crystal Destroyed, followed by Gamma Crystal Destroyed, and in just a moment - the trap had been sprung in all 4 corners - and yet, Des still hadn't entered the room.

And, when she did, she went to her normal spot, as if waiting for the crystals to be destroyed. But, because they were already gone - she never got the queue to proceed.

I tried to self-destruct - that did no good.

I filed a petition, and a GM came but was unable to assist. (predictable)

We still won the trial without Des - which took me by complete surprise.


From this source here:http://na.cityofheroes.com/en/news/g...ound_guide.php

One thing no one has mentioned yet - and that is, depending on the server you're on, you may not get any clear direction on some of these trials, even if you tell the leader it's your first run. I would recommend you take a peek at http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page and do a search for each trial, and check out some of the strategy - so you'll have at least a vague notion of what's going on, and what's expected of the league.

Well Voltzie came through with a few of his SG buddies. Thanks to Paragon City Saints for setting things up.

Next time, Geronimo, we're going to let you set your alarm to wake up at 3 AM for CoP.