Here's a build I was thinking of trying out based on this guide... I didn't do any slotting work to it yet, I figured i'd do that while playing....
Any suggestions?
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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
[/b]---------------------------------------------
01) --> Energy Punch==> Empty(1)
01) --> Kinetic Shield==> Empty(1)
02) --> Bone Smasher==> Empty(2)
04) --> Power Shield==> Empty(4)
06) --> Air Superiority==> Empty(6)
08) --> Swift==> Empty(8)
10) --> Entropy Shield==> Empty(10)
12) --> Combat Jumping==> Empty(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Empty(14)
16) --> Health==> Empty(16)
18) --> Total Focus==> Empty(18)
20) --> Stamina==> Empty(20)
22) --> Energy Cloak==> Empty(22)
24) --> Stimulant==> Empty(24)
26) --> Aid Self==> Empty(26)
28) --> Energy Drain==> Empty(28)
30) --> Resuscitate==> Empty(30)
32) --> Energy Transfer==> Empty(32)
35) --> Acrobatics==> Empty(35)
38) --> Overload==> Empty(38)
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01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
01) --> Fury==> Empty(1)
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Out of curiosity, why are you taking Acrobatics?
Sorry, that was a misclick in the builder, I meant to fill that slot with Whirling hands since i hadn't added it yet at that point...
[/b]---------------------------------------------
01) --> Energy Punch==> Empty(1)
01) --> Kinetic Shield==> Empty(1)
02) --> Bone Smasher==> Empty(2)
04) --> Power Shield==> Empty(4)
06) --> Air Superiority==> Empty(6)
08) --> Swift==> Empty(8)
10) --> Entropy Shield==> Empty(10)
12) --> Combat Jumping==> Empty(12)
14) --> Super Jump==> Empty(14)
16) --> Health==> Empty(16)
18) --> Total Focus==> Empty(18)
20) --> Stamina==> Empty(20)
22) --> Energy Cloak==> Empty(22)
24) --> Stimulant==> Empty(24)
26) --> Aid Self==> Empty(26)
28) --> Energy Drain==> Empty(28)
30) --> Resuscitate==> Empty(30)
32) --> Energy Transfer==> Empty(32)
35) --> Whirling Hands==> Empty(35)
38) --> Overload==> Empty(38)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
01) --> Fury==> Empty(1)
---------------------------------------------
Aha. With that change made, it seems like a reasonably workable build. I would suggest reading my EM/EA guide too just to see if any of my opinions on powers give you any second thoughts.
This looks like an excellent build to me. I'm assuming Resuscitate is a personal preference. While you won't have to carry any wakies around, personally I think you'll get more mileage out of some different choices. You really can't go wrong with Build Up, especially in higher levels when there will be certain Longbow, CoT, and Carnies you'll want to kill instantly (when you're not likely to have the fury going to do it). Bumping Whirling Hands to 30 and grabbing Conserve Power at 35 can also save you a few headaches.
Even if you keep Resuscitate, you'll have plenty of fun with this build.
01) --> Energy Punch
01) --> Kinetic Shield
02) --> Bone Smasher
04) --> Power Shield
06) --> Build Up
08) --> Hasten (Most ppl dont recommend getting Hasten this early, but I do. Hasten is an EXCELLENT Boss killer and useful for solo brutes who rely on Rest)
10) --> Entropy Shield
12) --> Combat Jumping
14) --> Super Jump
16) --> Hurdle
18) --> Health
20) --> Stamina
22) --> Total Focus
24) --> Energy Cloak
26) --> Maneuvers
28) --> Energy Drain
30) --> Tactics
32) --> Energy Transfer
35) --> Stun/Barrage/Conserve Power (I havent decided)
38) --> Overload
Thats the build Im going with atm. My plan with Tactics is to get it 3 slotted with ToHit Buff enhancements so that I can take off 1 Acc from my offensive powers and put an End Reduc in its place. Example: Total Focus: 2x Acc, 3x Dam, 1x End Reduc (instead of 3x Acc, 3x Dam).
Inspector6! Just stopping in to thank you again for your guide. I'm following it pretty closely and I think it has worked out great so far. Invincible Monk hit 22 at this point and I'm very pleased with him as a solo and team PvE toon, and my first PvP session was a success.
You were right about Stamina and Health changing the way the toon plays. It was a drastic difference. Almost as big of a difference as Energy Cloak! Ahhh... stealthing newspaper missions. 
Loving Energy Cloak myself! While in Sharkhead, I used EC for the paper missions that required to get some fella and his guards. Took only a few minutes to complete them as I just ran to the end and gained a ton of experience. Works very well!
[ QUOTE ]
Loving Energy Cloak myself! While in Sharkhead, I used EC for the paper missions that required to get some fella and his guards. Took only a few minutes to complete them as I just ran to the end and gained a ton of experience. Works very well!
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, same here. I can just run through to the final room and get my Fury built up to blow through it in no time flat. At level 22 its good for 1250-1450 xp each mission.
I really like the background stuff you wrote up for Dreadstar, IW. I need to do that someday. Looks like fun! I think the updates are neat, too. It'd be cool to do an update every couple TL's describing the new powers.
My opinions have changed somewhat on EM/EA (Energy Aura in particular). I may be reworking this guide with I7 in mind and a stronger bias for PvP. I'm glad it's helped so many of you, and hopefully I can improve on it. Thanks.
Cool! I'd love to see your revision. Invincible Monk is still kickin' butt. I've been afk for a few weeks now and I'm dying to get back in there and get him to 30th.
FOLLOW UP to an EM/EA Brutes Guide to Level 40
============================================
by Inspector 6
Now that the release of Issue 7 and the addition of 40-50 villain PvP has fully set in, I feel its necessary to make an addendum to this guide. In the long wait for I7, my interest in this game turned entirely to PvP. High level PvP has brought some major disappointments to villains, and to Energy Aura brutes in particular.
Lackluster PPPs have done almost nothing to help villain PvP, while hero APPs do quite a lot for them. In all honesty, unless you have some novel idea for a specific team designed around an EA brute, theres little point to rolling an Energy Aura brute for PvP. This guide should still work effectively for regular PvE play, though there is certainly a more comprehensive guide to be read on that subject.
Before I get into my thoughts on PvP though
ERRATA
While there are a lot of changes that I could make to steer this guide for PvP, Ill just correct the facts that are flat-out wrong.
<ul type="square">Energy Melee: EM Disorient Information: Technically, Im told that Total Focus is actually a 100% Mag3 with an 80% chance of an additional Mag1.
Power Pools - Travel: Speed: Whirlwind never was a toggle dropper. It was popular because it kept toons from rooting while activating their powers (that is, toons didnt stop on the ground to do the animation). This was never intended, and has since been removed from the game. Whirlwind is rare in PvP now, and is no longer a threat or a consideration for most PvPers.
Power Pools - Other: Concealment: Invisibility probably shouldnt ever be considered for a brute. I have no idea why I said that. I think I meant to write Phase Shift.[/list]OK, now on to the task at hand
A EULOGY FOR THE EM/EA PVPER
Firstly, there has been no indication that Fury will ever be fixed in PvP. It is a known bug that it does not build at the proper rate when facing against another player, but apparently the coding to fix it just isnt worth it.
As for Energy Melee/Energy Aura brutes specifically, they have been pretty disappointing in high-level PvP. Any hopes that theyd have advantages over other brute secondaries have been mostly dashed. Unlike every other Brute secondary, EA is defense based meaning its less likely that youll be hit. Other brute secondaries use resistance to mitigate damage, which means they are easy to hit but they take less damage. [Introduced in I7, Electric Armor has become a true FoTM for PvP brute builds. In many ways it resembles a resistance version of the Energy Aura set.]
When you are hit through your defenses, you will take full damage right to your squishy core. This balances fairly well in PvE, but in PvP there is no shortage of accuracy bonuses that your opponents will use to render your shields totally useless. Here are the main threats you will need to be aware of:
<ul type="square">Aim/Build Up: If you see your enemy pop one of these powers, back away. A ten-second retreat will do wonders for your health.
Focused Accuracy: Tankers and Scrappers in level 41 and up PvP will likely have this toggle. EA is almost entirely useless against it. I would not engage these guys unless I was running Overload.
Fortitude or Forge: These buffs both contain +accuracy. More enemy accuracy means more hurt on you.
Super Strength: The accuracy boost from rage will rip you a new one.
Radiation Emission: Radiant Infection is yet another common PvP power that will wreck your defenses (and Enervating Field will make you even squishier by dropping your nonexistent resistance). Although Entropy Shield claims to offer a good resistance to defense debuffs, I cant say Ive ever noticed it.[/list]Basically, if youre looking to make a tough melee toon that can take a lot of abuse, EA IS NOT FOR YOU.
So Energy Aura sucks for PvP?
Well
yes and no. EA has one extremely valuable asset that makes it useful, especially in unorganized zone PvP and in certain team arrangements: Entropy Shield. In addition to disorient & hold protection, this toggle grants protection against knockback, sleep, immobilize, enemy teleportation, and repel (which includes TK). Entropy Shield alone will make it very difficult for most controllers and dominators to kill you, and thats not something every brute can say. If I could make a perfect Incarnate build, using any power in the game, Entropy Shield would be there.
Being a squishy-killer might not sound like something to brag about, but Ive seen other brutes falter against controllers and doms when EA stands unaffected. Youll still have weaknesses, but you have another way to deal with that
Energy Melee.
EM does NOT - in any way whatsoever - suck for PvP. While a controller is working on stacking mezzes on you, you can reduce them to a pulp. If theyre not prepared, its also likely theyll be the ones mezzed disorient is a squishys biggest annoyance.
While its not a terribly common choice for a PvP build, Energy Cloak can be used to great effect in Sirens Call. The heroes can have some significant +perception, but its pretty remarkable how many dont. Drop in on them with an attack cued up and you can catch a lot of people off guard.
In one-on-one fights, Overload is a very powerful god-mode. Very few unsupported players will be able to crack your insane defense. Also, slotted perfectly, Overload will also give you a massive HP boost, and that alone will make you difficult to kill. Perfect slotting isnt easy though, because youll need to be at least level 47 and have 3 Membrane SHOEs. With 3 Membranes and 3 Heals, you can effectively 9-slot overload (equal to 3 Recharge, 3 Defense Buffs, and 3 Heals) to get a huge defense [u]and[u] HP boost. Also, compared to other brute god modes, you have the least crippling crash. Life in Recluses Victory isnt that bad if you know when to use Overload.
As I said, the Patron Power Pools arent very exciting for any villains. For brutes - especially zone players - I still think the Web Envelope is the only choice from the PPPs worth taking.
OH WELL
I hate to sound pessimistic, but there is no reason to think Energy Aura will be buffed in the future to make it viable for high-level PvP. You can take some solace in knowing that you can still be a big threat in Sirens and Warburg something some brutes will never be. Its a shame that the pool of viable PvP builds is even smaller now.
Great guide and I love how it's written (Brute in a tux? Awesome! )
PvP in this game is a joke, and probably always will be. That's the problem with the 1-2 punch of PvP as a design afterthought AND the lowest priority on the developer priority list.
Of course this does go double for Defense based sets. I don't know why people even bother with uberizing their Accuracy. Hitting opponents with regularity is trivial. Of course, the answer for why Focused Accuracy is so common is probably Stalkers and FA's +Perception. I doubt as many people would bother with FA if Stalkers didn't exist. Defense based sets like Energy Aura simply get the side-effect of Stalker fear: ie, incredibly high Accuracy.
If base Accuracy in PvP is 75% that may be part of Defense based sets' problem too. The sets are balanced around even con minions having an Accuracy of 50%. By throwing in the extra 25% in PvP, that cuts your Defense by more than half right off the top. If I'm misremembering that 75% figure just forget this part of my theory.
Though at Siren's Call level, as you point out, Defense based sets are actually not too bad. /EA might even be better than Scrappers' Super Reflexes at that level as /SR is defenseless to Cones and AOEs in Sirens (aside from its scaling resists, which exceptionally skillfull PvPers can side-step completely with the little-damage-lots-of-damage approach).
But anyway, my basic point is Energy Aura is only broken in PvP because PvP itself is broken (ie, poorly implemented). So I don't hold that against it, or any set.
Awesome guide though! My only additional suggestion would be for Energy Aura Brutes to strongly consider taking Weave and at least consider (to a much lesser extent) Maneuvers, as these can "top off" your Defense, and even put a band-aid on your Toxic and Psi holes. (OK, that sounds kind of nasty but you know what I mean )
The best comics are still 10�!
My City of Heroes Blog Freedom Feature Article: "Going Rageless?"
If you only read one guide this year, make it this one.
Super Reflexes: the Golden Fox of power sets!
WARNING: I bold names.
I haven't been playing Invincible Monk much lately since I hit 32 with him, but I did take a dip or two into PvP. I've found my defenses far too weak to be useful in a few fights against the exact toons you mentioned- a blaster with Aim and Build Up and a SS/Inv Brute and Inv/SS Tank.
But you are dead-on about squishies, too. The same controller that gives my Katana/Dark a hard time is an easy kill for my brute. With my Cloak activated, I can queue Total Focus and jump right on top of 'em. Once stunned, it's an easy kill.
But generally I've died more often than not. The Defense doesn't suit the PvP game. Still having lots of fun in PvE, though!
Fantastic guide, Inspector6! This will certainly come in handy with my Brute.
Here is the build I will go with when (if) the respec is available with I7:
01 : Kinetic Shield defbuf(01) defbuf(3) defbuf(7) endred(11)
01 : Energy Punch acc(01) acc(5) dam(13) dam(17) dam(31)
02 : Bone Smasher acc(02) acc(3) dam(9) dam(13) dam(17)
04 : Power Shield defbuf(04) defbuf(5) defbuf(9) endred(11)
06 : Boxing acc(06) acc(7) dam(15) dam(27) dam(31)
08 : Swift runspd(08)
10 : Entropy Shield endred(10)
12 : Hover fltspd(12)
14 : Fly fltspd(14) fltspd(15) fltspd(37) endred(37)
16 : Health hel(16) hel(37)
18 : Total Focus acc(18) acc(19) dam(19) dam(23) dam(27)
20 : Stamina endrec(20) endrec(21) endrec(21)
22 : Tough damres(22) damres(23) damres(25) endred(25)
24 : Build Up thtbuf(24) recred(40)
26 : Energy Cloak defbuf(26) defbuf(34) defbuf(34) endred(36)
28 : Energy Drain recred(28) recred(29) recred(29) endrec(31) endrec(36) endrec(36)
30 : Stun acc(30)
32 : Energy Transfer acc(32) acc(33) dam(33) dam(33) dam(34)
35 : Hurdle jmp(35)
38 : Overload recred(38) recred(39) recred(39) defbuf(39) defbuf(40) hel(40)