electric_emu

Yeah, Nihili's got the right idea. You're golden, and nigh unkillable, against S/L opponents, pretty good against F/C/E/NE enemies, but you become squishy as hell against anything Psi.

As for primaries, it doesn't matter TOO much. The Parry/Divine Avalanche from the sword sets can help you tank a bit. The light endurance cost of claws helps you manage your three/four (CJ, maybe) toggles. Dark Melee has a nice heal, which can help with the fact that you're mostly Resistance over Defense (though you do get a hefty amount of defense). But really, the primary is up to you.

Also, Invuln isn't very good right off. It picks up when you get Unyielding at level 16, and even more so when you get invincibility at 28. Ultimately, you will be quite survivable against most enemies.

The auto powers (aside from Resist Physical Damage) can be put off, but should *probably* be taken eventually. The build, depending on the primary, can be heavy.

Global: @AP
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So I rerolled my BS/SD Scrapper into a SD/EM tank. I felt squishy as hell for the first 22 levels, and weak as hell until 35 (I'm now 36). But now that I'm past the nightmare, and my defense and damage are bearable, I'm starting to wonder...

I know Energy Melee gets a lot of negativity for its long animations and subpar utility, but I created mine like I was rolling a Scrapper (the "Can't go wrong" mentality). Plus, the animation for Energy Transfer is just too cool =] Anyway! What should and shouldn't be taken from EM? I considered grabbing Stun, since that plus Total Focus puts a boss under (as far as I know)... but I can't seem to fit it in.

But what I'm getting at is this: Is EM JUST a set with above average ST damage and crappy AoE? Or does it really have utility? I don't think the set is bad... but it seems every other set can do whatever it does but better.

I probably should've mentioned... I didn't have the buffs yet, I was like level 8 xD

Just a thought that popped into my head. We have positional Defense vs. typed Defense. But, as far as I know, all resistances are typed. Do you guys ever think there will be a positional-based resistance set?

Personally, I have a bit trouble seeing the realism in it. Resisting lethal vs. cold seems to make more sense then resisting a sword vs. a bullet.

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Ignore the idiots and show them the ability of non-healers to shut them up.... like usual?

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Empathy shines on dysfunctional teams, which the AE _BREEDS_ So it's hard for people to attribute value to sets that work best when you have a competent team (wherein Empathy will look almost useless).

I had that experience on my Empath. I was VERY, VERY little use when the team stuck together. Whereas our Rad/Rad was a true hero. My aura heal was the only utility I had, and she had it too. However, when one of our Scrappers got into trouble (Scrapperlock, go figure) and I healed him up and let him fight it out, I was thanked all over the place. It was a little sad...

Seriously. I don't think I can pass through Atlas Park or Cap Au Diable without seeing "AE team lf Healer!!" What's more, someone will usually say "we need a healer" when I'm on an AE team. AE has created a new generation of noob, the kind that think the only type of worthwhile Defender is an Empath. Also, no one seems to realize, anymore, that a Controller possesses Defender primaries (albeit weaker version).

I know these people existed before. But why do they ALL have to come to the surface at AE? I'm getting tired of explaining that ANY type of Defender can be just as effective, even more effective in most cases, than an Empath. I've been asked "Do u heal???" when joining an AE team on my FF/Rad. And I've seen countless Rad/* and Kin/* overlooked because the leader "Wants a healer." What the hell? Is AE killing the Defenders?

I've seen this sort of talk even from high-end Brutes and Tanks (you know, soft-capped Shieldies, etc). Hell, I've heard DEFENDERS say "we need a healer." Why, oh why can people not see our usefullness!

Well, Defender board, what's there to do other than roll an Empath? =/
/endrant.

I don't see a whole lot of FF or Sonic at higher levels (at least on Defenders), despite both sets being quite good.

Never. I only have three of them. Sometimes I doubt their concepts, and think that other sets, and even ATs, could fit them better... but level 50 is too great an achievement, in my mind, to simply delete. But, I don't have befarmed level 50s. There's a chance I'd delete them, if I did. The three fifties I DO have each took a significant amount of time to achieve.
The first took 8~ months
The second took 4~ months
And the third took a little over 1 month

Really, any combination will give you an excellent solo artist. However, Willpower is nice, simple and effective. Also, the two swords, Katana and Broad Sword, get their Parry moves that make for an even easier time (and early on, too!).

But really, it's up to you.

I distinctly remember being able to easily solo invincible missions with my BS/WP Scrapper in his high 20s (post Heightened Senses and Disembowel). He had a generic SO build.

I don't think they suck. I absolutely LOVE have Focused Accuracy on my BS/WP (since he can stomach the freakish endurance cost). And I've never looked back since I've taken Energy Torrent. However, little tweaks could be made. And I think we need elemental APPs, especially now that Scrappers have Fiery Melee/Aura.

I think they're merely limited, not bad... But I only really have experience with Body Mastery.

I quite like the idea. It'd be like our own little preview of Going Rogue, assuming this takes off =]

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/Thorn is definately a good compliment but if it doesn't interest you I would suggest /fire or /elec.

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Any particular reasons for that?
I'm a bit new to Dominators in general...

I decided on Plant Control as a monkey for trying out the new, and dare I say improved, Dominator. Well, I really can't decide on a secondary. Of course, I can't *really* trust the guides, since none are post-Dom buff. Plus... all I really see is Plant/Thorns and Plant/Ice, neither of which interest me too much. Concept is pretty open, so any suggestions?

*/Nin is not bad at all. You won't get the same levels of defense as SR without IOs, but you get plenty of other nice tricks. You get a self-heal, something SR would kill for (taking Aid Self is almost ALWAYS stress-heavy on a build =P). You also get neat tricks like Caltrops and Blinding Powder. */Nin can be a lot of fun, and viable too. Plus, your build will be loose. That's great for Stalkers, since you're under a lot of pressure to take AS, BU, a Travel Power prerequisite AND (mostly likely) Swift or Hurdle all before level 14.

Maybe I'm not playing my two Kheldians correctly... but the SoAs seem to become much, much, MUCH better (than Kheldians) when they hit level 24. I've seen what a PB or WS can do when teamed with just the right Archetypes, and it's great. But SoA get team-friendly powers and are absolutely beastly solo (an easily soft-cappable Widow comes to mind). And with dual builds, the SoA get two archetypes in one; something that makes Kheldians "epic" (granted SoA can't change right then and there).
I like Kheldians, their concept is more user friendly than the SoA... but is there any reason to suspect that Kheldians could ever be thought of as equal to the SoA?
And will Kheldians ever get REAL dev attention again?

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Honestly, I feel like melee powersets have gotten enough attention lately. I'd really like to see more attention paid to ranged and control sets, as well as APPs for scrappers, and maybe some new assault and manipulation sets. And of course mastermind sets. It looks like we'll be getting the mastermind and ranged sets in going rogue, but that still leaves a lot of territory before melee needs any new sets. Besides, there's still quite a bit of proliferation to do for melee too before they start on new sets altogether.

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I agree with this.
I'd like to see elementalized Scrapper APPs (Earth, Ice, Fire, etc).
And for the love of all things good can we get Electricity Control?

I never see Sonic, but I've seen a few high level Psi.

But what I NEVER, EVER see is Assault Rifle.

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Does MA still have the squat-thrust AS strike? That's also a strike against it :lol:
At least as a DM-er I shove a GIANT SKULL into the baddies.

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Yes...
I think EM, DM, and MA (and any other set that has it) need to get ORIGINAL Assassin Strikes...

Wow, I figured Perma-Mind Link might be necessary, but I thought it'd take more rech bonuses than that. (not a math guy, obviously =P)
Thanks for the help!

Probably, I'm the only level 50 MA Stalker that I've seen =]

So I just got my Widow to level 24, and went down the Night Widow path. What I was wondering is how expensive will it be to softcap ALL defense down the road? Do I need Weave? Any sets in particular? And any advice is highly appreciated.

Someone once asked me why I wasn't bubbling them. I assume they saw my shield and wanted one for themselves =P

If it does reach Khelds, you'll probably have to keep their powers near what they are. For example, cool colors for WS and warm for PB. But you never know. I'd like a white-fire sort of thing on my PB

Well, there are a couple of things. First off, the Fear that comes with AS is beautiful in large spawns. You can also take care of pesky peoples, like Sappers. Basically, you're a Scrapper with AS and a little less Health.