Freeform Domination - Guide to Alternative Tactics
By
Anonymos1,
Posted on: 2006-03-24 24:15 in Player Guides
Let me be the first to compliment you on putting this down in writing. This is the way I play all my characters, to one degree or another.
The thing people forget, in a huge, graphics-intensive MMORPG, is that it's all about your imagination. Old pen and paper games left it all to your imagination, but games like CoH put everything right in front of you, so people tend to turn their imagination off and just absorb what's in front of them.
Since what you see is what you see, nothing left for the imagination there, use your imagination in HOW YOU PLAY! Dare to try new things, and above all HAVE FUN WITH IT!
Very well said.
Though I think most of your advice applies to all ATs, and not just dominators. Without a doubt, being a more active and versatile member of your team is the best thing you can do to help it.
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Very well said.
Though I think most of your advice applies to all ATs, and not just dominators. Without a doubt, being a more active and versatile member of your team is the best thing you can do to help it.
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Completely agree with the above. We need more players like you 
Not only is it fun, but also amusing to see people's reactions. Especially when you pull something off that your team never thought you could manage
I've been playing my recently-made Controller this way, and she's been an absolute blast. I was surprised when I found myself throwing away my own advice in favor of more fun. 
Great lil' guide! Heck, I wish the folks out there having issues with their Dominators would bother reading it. They'd understand why so many of us can have this much fun with our own alts. I suppose a flexible chaotic playstyle doesn't appeal as much to those who wish repeatable 1-2-3 tactics, but I'd rather not be bored or bummed out myself. Add more examples to show 'em what they're missing!
A guide to the deranged, degraded inhabitants of the forums.
Great Guide
Thought you said it wonderfully
I also always played my toons this way Never understood "cookie-cutter" builds. Great advice for everyone who wants to keep having fun even after 2 years of playing this game.
Very nice. I thought I was the only one that played like that. This is how I play my */traps mm. Typically I wait until someone else starts the battle (I am a swishy after all). Then I just jump in there.
I like to keep my eye on everyones health even though Im not a healer just so I know whats going on. And I can always use tp foe to help someone who is about to die.
My build is mostly damage with some control. My first focus in on control. Then I look for an existing battle I can engage myself in. Or send my pets after that boss no one is tanking even though it will mean their death. (Thats why I have hasten after all the best pet heal is a re-summons).
And if I think we are in for a wipe I will the first to run, yelling run! Theres no point in fighting a losing battle. That being said I put myself in harms way all of the time just because its more fun.
Agreed. Great post! I too use similar techniques with my Mind Controlling Hero and Villain main characters. Also, since I started with a Mind Controller, I've noticed that my Controller/Dominator experience applies to my other characters as well. Especially my tank who is constantly watching the whole room as opposed to just the mob around him.
Also, I can't impress upon the importance of keybound emotes enough! Make up fun sayings and actions that involve your targets whether they be friend or foe. I'm practically a puppeteer now the way I play my toons and I am often complemented by other teammates who have told me I've "made" the team because of my binds. Interact! Interact! Interact!
Vorago Level 50 Mind Controller / Kineticist
Penitent Wyrm Level 50 Invulnerable / Firebreather
Protector Server
Absolutely. Interestingly, it was my Dominator that led me to similar conclusions. Have a look at my guide to team roles which covers some of the same ground in a lot more detail.
It's easy to loose sight of the fact this is meant to be a game and fun :P
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Psychoti
"....so I headbutted the blind chick."
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[ cruise / casual-tempest.net / transference.org / xenogamous.com / wytedragon.net / quantam sufficit ]
I think those are good playing suggestions in general ^_^. Don't pick abilities because other people tell you they're good and you're trying to follow someone else's build. Pick them because they're fun. I got converted to Doms once I started to get one to about lvl 10. It was the most fun character I have. Everyone had been saying what lousy damage they do and such so I'd taken a while to try one out, but I think a Dom is an essential part of any team even more than a Corr is. Its so fun to be in control, and busy always checking your targets, seeing which hold is about to go away and who needs to be locked down. At first I was frusterated, but once I got over the often quick death when you lose control it was great. It can be a little difficult getting through your early levels with limited choices, but you also learn to appreciate each power and learn how to utelize them best. Playing a Dom is not like any other character. I'm usually a Defender type and I think that carries over to a Dom since I'm always keeping track of what's going on around me, though Doms focus more on mobs than team members you still need an awareness of what your team is doing moreso than say, a Brute. I like to play on teams since I find holding larger mobs much more satisfying. WHACK! Guess what you're all confused! Mwahaha I shall keep them occupied while everyone painlessly takes them out. Doms turn bosses into servant kittens.
_Victory_
Character List
Great post. The "find 3 uses for..." motif is too structured for me (sounds like homework!), but I agree with the ideas.
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Sure, the guy next to you has been hitting two buttons over and over and gets a Nice heal at the end of a big fight. Let it go. You just had way more fun than he did.
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True, and very well said! I've been having tons-o-fun playing my Dom due to the "zen" of mixing control and damage reactively.
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You are squishy, and can die at any moment. Be bold anyway! Why? Because it's infinitely more fun. Take a long jump over the MM's bots, land in the middle of a pack who are beating on the brute, and cast your PBAOE hold and maybe a PBAOE damage to boot. Bounce off the ground by jumping backwards out of the pack, and getting a good camera view to pick up on any targets with the word "Missed!" above their heads. Before you have landed, have that enemy targeted, assess their health, and have a single hold or damage heading their direction.
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Exactly that move is probably the most fun I've had in this game over my several months of subscription. I got into using that type of move with my rad/rads but it's even more enjoyable as an ice/ice Dom! Love Hurdle+CJ for this (and an outdoors mish), timing it so it looks like the force of my Circle Sword propels me back into the air out of the pack.
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Of course, it's helpful to know when the above tactic is folly and death. But its most fun to pull off when youre right on that line
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"Fun" is relative! I'd say pulling that move is most thrilling while flirting with death. But it's most fun--or satisfying--to me when I time it just so that my Circle Sword kills a bunch of the mob. <grin>
- Black Ice Calamity
- Victory server
Yes! Perfect guide. It adequately describes exactly what it takes to have the most fun and be at peak effectiveness in CoX, and being a Dominator I can relate entirely to the central example. Five stars for you, buddy.
Sometimes I wonder if certain archtypes or maybe power combinations should unlock (tankers and scrappers) after you have played a squishy a bit. I know, I know... so many bad ideas here, but the concept of having to learn how to play and coordinate is what I am getting at.
It took me from I1 to I5 to get my fire/rad (and at the time /mind) controller to 50 with very limited Alts. That said I also came up with some really fun moves and crazy things that various forums foofoo'd (smoke and bonfire come to mind).
My ultimate favorite move is kinda similiar I used SS + slotted Hurdle jumping over the group of mobs. While in the air I would queue Flashfire (tactics, Assault, manuevers all running) such that when I landed my toon would auto-turn around and 'Blast' the whole group but what was truly sweet is that my Imps, 5-9 of them in the good 'ole days would be hitting the mob group about the same instant that Flashfire would go off.
I would follow up with Enervating Field and Lingering Radiation.
Big explosions, flashy effects, other players crying out that wow you are crazy was great. However, my tactic was infinitely safe you notice that I only actually did a couple of points of damage from flashfire and ran up with -perception. It looked dangerous but I ended up living by the motto "I only die when targetted"
Hell the worst thing I could have done was to use Hotfeet, Ring of Fire, and Fire Cages. :-)
During your fun guide you also mention forget attack chains. This is pretty smart. I would like to add to this comment by saying the following. You can manage your endurance by making smart decisions on which powers to use on a particular mob.
Just because your AOE attack is 'up' while everything else is recharging doesn't neccessarily mean you should use it if you are only going to catch 1 or 2 mobs in it.
You don't need to hit the minion mob with 25% life left with Total focus... (Let a Blaster/Defender/Corruptor kill them).
Sure your theoretical DPS will drop through the floor but if you manage yourself you might be surprised at what the team can accomplish.
Communication can also lead to 'fun' and success. If you are leaving mobs so that squishies can finish them, please inform the blasters on the team. If you have a -perception power please always open with it before the Tanker runs up there.
If you have a power like Vengeance, or even if you have Recall Friend and carry extra Awakes... just tell people this (and that they need to make sure they have an open slot... ever wonder how those people that just died seemingly are always full of insp and have seemingly gone bio at the same instant?)
If you are an alternative archtype (def who can't heal, ScrapTroller, DefTanker, or my new favorite my BruTroller d/d brute can you say 4 fear powers!) You should announce the fact that as a fear monger I will be ghetto holding everyone but not laying out the smack down.
sigh back to work!
Great guide. My Mind/Ice Dom I made opened me up to playing like this again (I used to back when CoH first released, then kinda got into min/max'ing for a long time).
Going with the whole Experimenting thing, I actually settled on a Stamina-Less build for my Mind/Ice Dom that I absolute adore. So many combo's I can make, and so many more options now.
Damage Proc Mini-FAQ
Just noticed Damage Proc Mini-FAQ wasn't working with new forums, it's been updated.
Yes! Down with the cookie-cutters!
Great guide! I'd team with you anytime.
I love kicking [censored] with the "underpowered" AR/Devices blaster. Who needs aim? I've got Full Auto!
Leader of the Insanity Guns
"We rush in where fools fear to tread!"
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Joe Insanity 50 AR/Dev Blaster - Infinity
CykaTek 50 Bots/FF Mastermind - Infinity
How about kicking tail with a TA/Archery Defender? I think mine should have a blue gauntlet instead of a shield... most of her career has been solo -- admittedly, at Heroic level -- but she's great fun to play in either solo or team situations. (And no, she doesn't have Aim OR anything from the Fitness pool.)
I'm having just as much fun with my new Ice/Fire Dom, and have already found that the conventional wisdom regarding Ice's immobs (namely, that they are useless because they still allow ranged attacks) doesn't apply to my very offense-oriented playing style. My TA/A is jealous of my Dom because TA/A's Ice Arrow doesn't cause damage like Block of Ice does... :P
Yes! Let's pat ourselves on the back for our Indieness, rather than attempt to get game balance addressed!
Great guide...I love my doms, they are so fun to play.
I try to improv and freeform dominate as well...now I actually have a name to describe how a play.
Bravo!
(Responding to Guide, not to any other comments)
I don't much like it. I think its only because you seem to be trying to force the player into spending way to much time doing things most will pickup on common sense. Like finding new ways to use an attack, or how to pull into a cone damage. Stuff like your improvisation, i just dont think any of it will do you any good, or is anything you havent learned already. Also, why is it dom only? Every AT can play the way you suggested with some minor tweaks. Your guide should of pretty much been; " Play the game the way you want to. Have fun and try new things.", isnt this something we're taught in preschool(substituting the game for life)? In which case, as i do believe, the guide didn't really help the player through anything, or teach the player anything. Sure, you made some nice grammars, and actually used a period, but i just don't agree that the guide had a need to be written in the first place. Maybe its personal opinnion.
Way to be a wet blanket, BlackCarnage. I like the guide, brought up a bunch of good stories from folks. It inspires me to give my blaster another look. I got bored with the 'attack chain' nature of the character, but now I'm gonna try a respec and see what cool stuff I can do with her.
Great guide, I've always played with one hand on the mouse, right button down so I can see the whole battle field, zoomed in or out as much as needed to know what all is going on.
I just recently got a dom up to level 20 and find it incredibly fun. There's a lot more decisions to make than just "keep hitting it until its dead." eg. Do I wait for my next melee attack to finish recharge to kill the minion with 1/2 health in front of me and hold the lt 15 ft away or bust over to the lt build up and smash him to death while the minion is held...
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(Responding to Guide, not to any other comments)
I don't much like it. I think its only because you seem to be trying to force the player into spending way to much time doing things most will pickup on common sense. Like finding new ways to use an attack, or how to pull into a cone damage. Stuff like your improvisation, i just dont think any of it will do you any good, or is anything you havent learned already. Also, why is it dom only? Every AT can play the way you suggested with some minor tweaks. Your guide should of pretty much been; " Play the game the way you want to. Have fun and try new things.", isnt this something we're taught in preschool(substituting the game for life)? In which case, as i do believe, the guide didn't really help the player through anything, or teach the player anything. Sure, you made some nice grammars, and actually used a period, but i just don't agree that the guide had a need to be written in the first place. Maybe its personal opinnion.
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While maybe the "game of Life" tells us to be creative and do things our way, we've got a forum full of guides with ton's of pages that say, "Here's my build." And we get people who post builds and put things in their build to have people tell them, "You're stupid for not taking X power."
This post is a nice reality check that says, "It's a game, enjoy it." Have fun playing the game and okay a character the way you think will be fun!
I play my fire/kin with repel. I can't say how great it is to be playing in the middle of the pack and then when everything starts getting over run with enemies to hit that one key that turns on repel and sends them flying to the corners of the room!
50s:
White Valkyrie - BS/Regen Scrap
Fear of Silence - Ninja/Dark MM
Corporate Zombie - Necro/Poison MM
Ardent Cataclysm - Stone/Fire Tank
Angelic Heart - Peacebringer
Maelstrom - Elec/Elec Brute
Novastar - Energy/Fire Blaster
Nice. This advice reminds me of my first 50... before I respec'd her into a poor excuse for a speedbump.
A Dk/Dk defender I'd stay close enough to heal the tank, run up to let off Blackstar, pop a blue, drain some END, then hop back to range. Usually, the tank was able to keep most of the damage, if not, drop Tar Patch, Tenebrous Tentacles and heal again.
I miss that build... wish I could remember the details.
edit for spelling.
"she understands. She doesn't comprehend."-River",in Firefly.
Please try my AE arc and give feedback. Arc ID: 403586, Absolute Power...
FREEFORM DOMINATION -- A GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE TACTICS
Ideas for players who want a little more action, variety, and joy in their CoH/CoV battles.
I have always imagined that Im just having more fun than the average player, based on my personal approach. I never thought I could really explain my play philosophy very easily, but this represents my attempt to do so. I hope this will help some people shake out all their current notions of what MMORPG battles should be, and helps give them a fresh new look. Im also curious to hear from any of you with similar approaches to play.
This guide, while written with the dominator in mind, should in many ways apply to all archetypes. It is written from my own experiences as a freeform tactics player in general, and as a fire/fire dominator in particular. I have played all ATs to some degree, and many other dominator power sets as well. I love to play in-your-face squishies, so read this with that in mind.
Questioning the Player Guides
The guides have useful information, but digest what you can, then dare to question their assertions. Be bold and try a power they tell you is no good. Prove that they were short-sighted. Learning the synergy between two powers is much more important than just learning the limits of a single power.
Experimentation
Doms require more quick decision-making and more role-switching than any other AT in my opinion. There is no auto-pilot button, so it's important to do some solo work to train your instincts, even if you generally like to team. Forget about death for awhile, and test your limits by taking on groups that will make you sweat. Then experiment, experiment, experiment!
Improvisation
There are many, many ways to take down a group of foes, even given just one particular power set. Don't just find the fastest way, or least endurance-heavy way, or most impressive way... find LOTS of ways. Do them all. Let it become second nature to pull just the right way at just the right time. Invent three new ways of lining up enemies for a cone attack. Become the master of improvisation!
Team settings are unpredictable and chaotic. You never know how much aggro and of what type you will face. If you are the master of improvisation, you are ALWAYS ready for anything. Have some powers you don't use much? Before you respec out of them, get creative, and find three new uses you didn't realize they had.
Dropping the Attack-Chain Mentality
Who builds the better house, the layman with very detailed instructions, or the well-trained carpenter with just the idea of what a good house should be? Be the carpenter, and know everything there is to know about your tools. Don't be a slave to instructions, even if you were the one who wrote them.
Learn to use your WHOLE arsenal, and you'll never be waiting for a power button to pop back up. Instead, you'll be scanning across the powers that are ready to launch, and be able to instantly whip up a new recipe that fits the situation. Once this becomes second nature, you will be creating recipes in advance, based on powers that will be available within the next few seconds. This will do the following for you:
1. Teach you to pull off team-saving maneuvers from the brink of disaster
2. Make you a more versatile player
3. Keep you from ever getting bored
Target Switching & Room Juggling
Team members who tell you to stay focused on one or two targets do not understand Doms. Mastery will come to you when you can juggle a large room of foes, and this means finding exactly the right target at exactly the right time. I use tab/shift-tab/ctrl-tab AND the mouse, and am constantly scanning the room. As the targets cycle, I note the mob type, its remaining health, its status, its hold priority, whom its attacking, etc. Note that you can switch targets immediately after beginning to launch an attack, even if you havent seen the animation yet. You can often sneak in one extra light damage attack on an almost downed enemy, and switch back to your main target for something more substantial, all without a pause. This can take a lot of coordination, and requires a good camera angle, but as you do this more and more, you will be hit less and less. And thats a good thing.
Range Control
More than any other AT, the dom needs to move during battle, especially as things get more out of control on a large team. Learn to use auto-follow, jumping, and the camera to best get in and out of melee range. During battle, my left hand is on the keyboard and my right is on the mouse. I use the right mouse button and the scroll wheel together to set up optimum camera angles and distance at each position change as time allows.
Fitting the Team
You should be the most versatile member of your team. Take a look around at the people you're fighting with, and think about how you might plug the holes. Your job will most likely be multi-faceted: crowd control, damage, distraction, protection, wall-building, repulsion, clean-up, and hat-check girl. Do it all, and turn a mediocre team into a powerhouse. Sure, the guy next to you has been hitting two buttons over and over and gets a Nice heal at the end of a big fight. Let it go. You just had way more fun than he did. As a freeform dom, you probably just had more fun than the anybody else on the team as well. Keep it to yourself. Change your costume, run around in circles and talk silly if you want some attention. No, seriously it helps.
Being Bold
You are squishy, and can die at any moment. Be bold anyway! Why? Because it's infinitely more fun. Take a long jump over the MM's bots, land in the middle of a pack who are beating on the brute, and cast your PBAOE hold and maybe a PBAOE damage to boot. Bounce off the ground by jumping backwards out of the pack, and getting a good camera view to pick up on any targets with the word "Missed!" above their heads. Before you have landed, have that enemy targeted, assess their health, and have a single hold or damage heading their direction.
Of course, it's helpful to know when the above tactic is folly and death. But its most fun to pull off when youre right on that line
Conclusion
Its your game; you paid for it. Play it the way you want to play it. Blaze your own trail. If its fun, youre doing it right. Keep that in mind when someone tells you your build is gimped. Its not gimped, its challenging. And a challenge overcome is a reward in itself. If you need an answer to the question Why did you pick that weak power?, just tell them Fun trumps damage.
Or if you want to be more mysterious, try Its my secret weapon.