plainguy

They did fix them, it used to be worse.

Honestly expect never and be happy when you see them fix it the day before they shut down the game servers.

It doesn't really matter if it's either we have absolutely no control over these forums. The Developers and Moderators will do what ever they want.

The only freedom I have here is where I post. Personally I only respond to build request in the AT forums. I expressed my opinions when this first came out and I exercised my choice of not posting here for my reasons.

But his thread is going to get ugly.

I'm assuming your a F2P Player since your asking about SO builds. Though you clearly didn't say it since you hinted at Invention IOs.

My general comment is use Mids to create a build you might be interested and look at the numbers. http://www.cohplanner.com/

Storm is a Endurance hog but with Cardiac or Musculature based on your build that should not be a problem. Again if your Free to Play then you can run storm but you will not be able probably run snow storm along with other toggles at the same time.

If your not free to play and looking to learn about the game mechanics then I would suggest reading up on the links in my sig and of course going over to players help section to read up on some other stuff their. EG how mids works to some degree.

Then create a build and post it up for people to inspect and give you advice. But yet again if you don't know at least what the right advice might be you can end up listening to someone who knows less then you but just makes a convincing argument or is a good writer on these forums.

Traps is a very good set even with SO because they are all fire and forget. With an SO build you probably can get some decent numbers with defenses and use a purple inspiration to get you the extra defense you might need. So I don't know what the issues are there.

Again post the build and see what people tell you.

@ Mordakar

Your right I had to know

Just wondering do set bonuses in human form carry over to Dwarf form ? I remember a time when certain things did not carry over between forms and just trying to remember the rules when creating a Kheldian.

@ OP.

Regarding Traps in general.

Traps has been done for masterminds, heck its been done for all the ATs that can use it. Personally there is nothing at this point in the game that someone is going to discover that has not been done with Traps. So there is no reinventing the wheel here. With Masterminds and Traps there are about 2 builds that a player can create around with some minor changes that will keep you within the Leet killing boundaries. If your going to deviate from the "norm" build wise your clearly doing it understanding you might hamper your abilities in one way shape or form.

So that being said you can do mastermind / Traps and still be very successful, but don't expect to be killing AV's or running missions on 4/8 settings. So its your game and if your game says you don't have room for hasten its fine and okay.

As far as the leap attack. Understand that Traps is a stationary build and your force field generator ( FFG ) along with all your other trap devices will NOT move with you or teleport to your new spot. So doing this leap attack for openers will cause your FFG to move towards you, but not at any lightening speed. So you might have lower defenses while your waiting for this thing to come to you. Once you did your leap attack, you would now have to start placing down acid mortar and what not. End result you could have been doing that in the first place. I could see the leap attack as a power at PBAOE as a follow up for Trip mine placement. So I can see you pulling the mobs, Leap attack, Trip mine, Poison trap ( with lockdown proc ), Trip mine.

Personally I feel if you don't follow one of those 2 Traps builds that are listed repeated for masterminds I think your gimping yourself. Again I reiterate Personally, thus not gospel or written in stone.

I could see the leap attack with ninja /dark where you have more flexability with your powers compared to Traps.

You might have an odd issue.

Mid to low 30s for IOs sets can be very expensive. There are some IOs that you can buy at lvl 50 for 1 million that can cost 20 million in those level ranges. End result a low to mid level build can end up costing much more then the hundred or some millions you have. Especially when your placing high priced bids and hoping it covers when someone places those IOs for sale on the market.

Looked at the build.

I would go range cap hover blaster and use Repulsion to keep away or knock down any fliers that come near you. Using force bubble as was mentioned is gonna get you absolutely nothing on a team in today's game play, except get you people to yell at you or kick you. Further even if you decided I'm gonna keep this as my "Oh shoot" button you still lack the defenses to fend off all the mobs that will immediately aggro on you. I have a robot FF MM and I learned this the hard way during a TF and I am completely defense capped.

To be honest and equally harsh at level 50 FF are bit useless when someone pops a Barrier or just simply with all the stacked defenses that teams are running these days. So with that being said I think you have done your duty of giving out bubbles and anything else done to the toon should be for your personal benefit.

Any defensive powers you slot with LOTG should just have 3 IOs from the set in them. the +recharge, Defense and either Defense / End Redux or Defense / Rechage depending on the power. Use the 1 extra slot somewhere else.

This is something I would go with.

Jumping in to semi defend ( go figure in a defender forum ) traps issues and comment to the OP as well.

First and foremost I believe the best toon you can bring to a team is your best toon and not your best "team toon". My thought process is like this. If I have a defense cap defender that can solo 4/8 setting, which a full team of 8 players might run on a 4 setting, again might being the keyword here. I join a team of 7 other players now with this toon, what are these 7 other players if nothing more then a DPS increase for me. I could solo this mission before I joined them. Granted mobs like Malta and Carnies might give me a 2nd thought, but Malta and Carnies on a team of 8 on a 4 setting can be a big for some teams as well, let alone me being solo.

Traps without a questionable doubt will allow you defense cap and allow you to run a 4/8 setting solo regardless of which AT you pick, whether it be Defender, Corruptor or Mastermind. On a team FFG alone is great for the defense buff and the hold debuff protection it offers. The recharge on a level 50 IOed character for FFG is about 5 to 7 seconds. FFG can be used to take an alpha and still survive enough to walk in drop a few attacks and summon another FFG. Just letting FFG take the alpha and resummoning will have done the job of absorbing the initial attack and allowing you to regain aggro, because the minute you resummon aggro will switch to you.

On some mobs and lower settings I just run around with FFG and using my main attacks. If anything Acid Mortar is very helpful and has a noticeable effect on mob debuff wise. Acid Mortar is also another quick recharge power.

But regardless I will agree with some others saying FFG is like Device as it is a set of the old days of COH, before Invention sets. There is only 1 buff out of FF that is good for you for defense reasons. As was mentioned Barrier incarnate which is very, very popular along with the heal incarnate ( forgot the name atm ).

You mentioned Assault Rife. My defender is a Traps AR toon with incarnates. Traps btw will allow you to place trip mines at will. So you will find more use for them on a Traps then you would a Device toon. Maybe this is your time to make a Traps/AR or a Traps Dark fitting the shadow shard theme.

Coming from a player who has PuG'ed for the past 6 years I have had little issues. But I think if anything my success on teams is because I can handle what the team is doing, because all my toons are built around defense caps. I only have 1 50 scrapper that I just started using and old SD Electric I decided to IO out just a few weeks ago. But beyond that my 18+ level 50 Incarnate toons are anything but Tank, Scrapper, Brute, Dominator, Controller toons. I have a petless mastermind that can solo 4/8 setting ( traps of course ).

This is the theme I suggest you look at.

Do not build the toon around the theme but instead build the theme around the build. If you do it your way because of the powers you must have for thematic reasons your going to have to accept your short comings. The other way around pick 2 sets that look well together and roll with that.

Simple example I have a Storm Sonic I am working on and I also would like to have some story to put in the background. I went Storm Sonic for some PvP ideas and for some debuffing ideas for taking on AVs. So my story to fit my build is a player that naturally had Storm powers ( mutant origin ), but from so many battles against villains he took tech from those defeated and with some help built an armored suit that emits sonic attacks, so part mutant part technology. So all his costumes will have some sort of Tech in it.

My Traps AR is a soldier from Paetoria wars that was injured during the battles, documented as MIA / Dead but was taken to Neuron for experimentation.

Nutshell I would not go Force Field, but pick a combo that will make YOU great and join a team for the extra dps.

Not trying to push my builds on anyone.

But I would suggest getting close to range defense cap and then get low 20s with Melee and AOE and let hurricane do the rest via hit debuff. Hit debuff is a bit iffy because it can be resisted. But for everyday game play it should be fine.

I would go over to the defender forum and look at my Storm Sonic Build and try to mirror it on this side working in your ideas where needed. But I think it will give you some insight and ideas to work with. Its not the end all be all. But I was given some good advice on changing it up and I think it pointed me in a better direction.

First off post your build. Your Mids will explain everything instead of everyone asking you more follow up questions.

Second I just posted a follow up on my defender forum thread about my Storm Sonic. The buff and debuff numbers are different but the endurance issues are the same. Maybe that thread might shed some light on your issue and some ideas.

Huntsman, Range cap, Hover blaster with perma pets. Pick up Barrier and its pretty fun having 3 pets that just won't die. You have a short number of attacks and will probably pick up another from one of the PPP's. But with the double maneuvers and assault those small number of attacks really pack a big punch.

I would consider getting a flying pet. Even the Storm one for hurricane.

I added Slot enhancers to my pain build to get 50+5 bonuses where it seemed I would get some value out of them.

I'm thinking between the hurricane pet and the hit debuff proc instead of reactive you might be really crippling some players in PvP. Oddly enough once fully buffed I last much longer with my DS Pain then some other toons in PvP.

This is what I have atm.

World of Pain - You have several choices with this one. I went this route to have it up a bit sooner, so I am 5 seconds off perma. Six slotting WOP with Resistance/ Recharge will give you slightly ( about 1 or 2 percent ) better numbers but the recharge will be 11 seconds off perma. If you also notice by hovering over WOP IOs that they are 50+5. I slotted each with 5 enhancement booster. Otherwise the recharge is time is higher.

The build in general.

I went with a tankermind approach. I went range cap, along with range cap I picked up AOE defense at 40% just because of how the sets work out and Melee is at 20%.

My idea was that eating one purple and using provoke would keep mobs on me. As the mobs moved in Oppressive gloom would kick in stunning a bunch of the mobs. I would then have to deal with the bosses that OG does not affect. My regeneration is at 660 ( slotting it with enhancement boosters will give you 670% regeneration ). I was hoping that between OG and my Regeneration and my AOE heals I can keep myself alive. It seems to work out well. Barrier Incarnate should fix any issues related to defense eventually.

Hopefully it will give you some ideas.

BTW you would get better results with responses slotting some IOs in the build.

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Demon Summoning
Secondary Power Set: Pain Domination
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Presence
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Summon Demonlings -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx(3), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx(3), BldM'dt-Dmg(7), BldM'dt-Acc(9), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11)
Level 1: Nullify Pain -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Numna-Heal/Rchg(7)
Level 2: Lash -- FrcFbk-Rechg%(A)
Level 4: Soothe -- Numna-Heal/Rchg(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(9)
Level 6: Enchant Demon -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 8: Kick -- Acc-I(A)
Level 10: Provoke -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(11), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(25), Mocking-Acc/Rchg(25), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(34), Mocking-Rchg(39)
Level 12: Summon Demons -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx(13), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx(13), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), BldM'dt-Acc(15), BldM'dt-Dmg(17)
Level 14: Conduit of Pain -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 16: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(36), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(36), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(50)
Level 18: Hell on Earth -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx(19), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx(19), BldM'dt-Acc(21), BldM'dt-Dmg(23), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31)
Level 20: Suppress Pain -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal(21), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(33), Numna-Heal/Rchg(33), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(40)
Level 22: Hover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(37), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(40)
Level 26: Summon Demon Prince -- BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(A), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx(27), BldM'dt-Acc/EndRdx(27), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), BldM'dt-Acc(29), BldM'dt-Dmg(31)
Level 28: World of Pain -- Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(31), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(40), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(46)
Level 30: Maneuvers -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-EndRdx(34), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(36), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(37), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(37), RedFtn-Def(39)
Level 32: Abyssal Empowerment -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 35: Anguishing Cry -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(42), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(43), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(43), GSFC-Build%(43), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(46)
Level 41: Dark Embrace -- Aegis-Psi/Status(A)
Level 44: Oppressive Gloom -- Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(A), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(45), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(45), Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(45), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(46), Stpfy-KB%(48)
Level 47: Soul Tentacles -- Enf'dOp-Acc/Rchg(A)
Level 49: Painbringer -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 50: Cardiac Core Paragon
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Supremacy
Level 6: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Heal(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(34), Mrcl-Heal(48), Numna-Heal/Rchg(50)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(17), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(23), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(50)

What about a Range cap Huntsman with Perma pets. Small number of attacks but they are extremely, extremely solid.. They all do high damage. Pick up Barrier and now you and your perma pets are completely defense capped and resistant capped. The pets are good but with Barrier they are that much better. I can tell you my SOA Huntsman was my first toon that could handle Malta on a 4/8 setting with no issues. The Inspiration Tray is just there for whatever you want once you pick up barrier.

How about a Traps Defender or a Storm toon, Range cap and hurricane will help you cap put via hit debuff melee and aoe. But of course aoe has to take by mobs within your hurricane. I am running a Sonic Storm ATM. Between the resistance debuff of Sonic and the defense / resistance debuff on storm I can take on mobs that are much higher cons solo just by being aggressive and pushing them with hurricane for the debuff.

I think the answer to your question varies based around what type of MM you are running and how you are built.

BAF should not be an issue for really any build.

LAM you have to settle with assisting the tank types in the group and not fighting during the warehouse / lab phase. Basically the tank is your pet during the warehouse / lab phase. Dark and Trick arrow for example excel a bit more during this phase then traps because they are much faster. During the AV phase it can be a bit tricky because he moves around so much but not far enough that your pets will run instead of being TPed to his location. What I try to do is if I should loose target on the AV as soon as I can I retarget and direct the pets to attack him even if he is across the screen. This way they are running towards something and keep going even while getting hit by other mobs.

Keyes is much easier now and even having the AV at 80 the pulse was not bad at all. The only issue you have in keyes is making sure your pets are not attacking the AV. I just stay completely away from him. There is enough to kill that you don't need to be near him.

Underground is like BAF your just running around killing so no issues. At the end your either set up to kill the AV or your not. So if the group does not have clarion then its doomed if you can't kill it fast enough. I have done UG with again my SO DS Traps and the AV died in moments. But we had 5 players with Clarion. With Underground pretty much the League leader picks up the clarion players and fills in the rest.

But honestly at this point in the game the only rarely will you have issues as you so many players who are incarnate slotted and IOed out. I recently ran a LAM where the AV didn't even get to move from the first spot. One grenade and he will killed in moments. I was leading the LAM on my SO DS Traps MM. Not one person noticed or cared if they did notice my build. I ran about 5 or 6 other LAM and BAF mix after that one and no one said a word about my build or how I was slotted.

Here is the link to the boosters. I asked in market IO forum was curious myself: http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Enhancement_Booster


I keep forgetting that Chrono Shift has a 50% 90 second recharge buff.

EDIT - Mids info.

You can increase the IO value in mids on the build so you can see the numbers. My issue is I cannot get it work with Hasten values ( side note changing the number of IOs in build seems not to be doing anything atm. but off topic ).

What you do is click on the IO your want to change in value and right click on it as if your going to change it. Once you do that put your mouse over the IO you have slotted in there and hit the plus or minus key and you will see either a +( number ) or -( number ) next to the IO value EG. 50+1, 50+2, Etc. Then you have to hit the return key to make it stick. You should notice the power values change.

What about enhancement boosters on top of whatever you might be thinking..

How do you have perma Chrono shift ?

EDIT- Ageless I would assume ?