Do dominators suck like people say they do?
By
Aleshanee_NA,
Posted on: 2006-07-05 13:59 in Dominators
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Hell, even when I don't control, every time there is an ambush, I always get hit first. Why is that?
[/ QUOTE ] I would suspect the ambush is simply being smart--what's the CoV AT that doesn't have any form of passive defenses whatsover? The Dominator.
In that aspect, being an offense-based AT with only active defenses, Doms are in Blaster territory...and ask Blasters about ambushes 
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... AI AMBUSH #39525789 DEFENSIVE CHECKSUM ACTIVE ...
... RUNNING ...
... TARGET LOCATED: DOMINATOR ...
... PASSIVE DEFENSE QUALIFICATION TEST STARTUP ...
... POWER DESIGNATION: SPRINT ...
... PASSIVE DEFENSE QUALIFICATION TEST FINISH ...
... SUMMARY: PRIMARY TARGET LOCKED IN ...
A guide to the deranged, degraded inhabitants of the forums.
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We've got a nice tweak to the Domination ability coming down the pipe (it will crank up your Mez resistance while it is active), and are currently data-mining PvP to see what effect our last set of tweaks to the AT have had.
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Thanks for the mez prot tweak: it's a good start. Another idea also popped into my head -- what do you think of this?
As I mention in my previous post in this thread, Dominators desperately need faster Activation and Recharge, as well as lower Endurance costs. Instead of a straight/flat +Act/+Rech/-End buff, how about a gradual +Act/+Rech/-End buff that scales upward as Domination mojo is accrued?
This would make Domination similar to the Brute's inherent power Fury, which gradually buffs Damage, instead. Obviously, this buff would peak when Domination is triggered -- perhaps even go away entirely, because Domination itself is already such a great self-buff, there's little need to augment it with +Act/+Rech/-End, too (but a boy can dream, can't he?). Once Domination wears off, and the mojo bar is reset to 0, the new buff resets to 0, too, and starts building again.
The lore explanation to back this up is this: "As the Dominator's destructive glee increases, his excitement compels him to attack faster and faster, and his adrenaline flows freely, reducing his exertion."
The gradual +Act/+Rech/-End buff doesn't have to be dramatic: a small enough percentage to be noticeable, yet not overpowering, should be sufficient. Perhaps it can cap out at +33% or something, so that it's the equivalent of a single SO. Heck, even +20-25% would be nice.
Such a simple thing would go a long way to improving the "Jekyl" side of the equation, before Domination is triggered, without totally unbalancing the "Hyde", afterwards. What say you?
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As I mention in my previous post in this thread, Dominators desperately need faster Activation and Recharge, as well as lower Endurance costs. Instead of a straight/flat +Act/+Rech/-End buff, how about a gradual +Act/+Rech/-End buff that scales upward as Domination mojo is accrued?
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As weird as it is to be replying to my own post, an off-topic, but related thought just occurs to me. We could do the same/similar thing with Blasters -- except in reverse. As the Blaster's health decreases, he gets a gradual +Act/+Rech/-End buff, too -- not just the +Dam from Defiance.
That might actually make Defiance more palatable/useful. I dunno. Just a thought. I hate Defiance. Oh well. It doesn't really apply here. Whatever.
They already get +acc.
Phantom Rose: Ill / Kin / Psi
Soleau: Ice / Icy / Ice / Core: Ice / Fire / Pyre / Wind / Eclipse / Flare / Corona
---------------
Solo Space
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Jib, you should of went with Mind/* my friend.
Gravity has Propel, Dimension Field, and 2 immobilizes which are all garbage powers in my personal opinion.
Now with your sentiments towards wormhole...I would almost go with 5, hehe.
so 5/9 of your primary sucks...wow, i would stop playing that powerset completely.
Mind/* has a quicker animating hold and has levitate (same thing as lift, but does MORE damage).
Everything else in Mind/* is a great power. Mass Hypnosis and Telekinesis are considered to be the most situational for PvE...but they are still pretty damn good.
Mind is 9/9 set. I love it.
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I agree. And I still wonder how so many people defend grav so strongly when it so obviously has issues when compared to ... anything else. Just because you can make it work, just because you can solo, just because you held a boss and your team actually appreciated it, just becuase you are happy making the best out of what you've got ... does not mean the powerset is good.
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...And I still wonder how so many people defend grav so strongly when it so obviously has issues when compared to ... anything else. Just because you can make it work, just because you can solo, just because you held a boss and your team actually appreciated it, just becuase you are happy making the best out of what you've got ... does not mean the powerset is good...
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conversly just because you cant do all that, or are not happy 'making the best with what you've got' (um, hard to turn around a phrase with so many hidden negative implications and asumptions) doesnt mean the set is broken. mabey they defend grav/ cuz they like it and are succeding in meeting their gaming goals. look, i know this has been a tough concept for you to understand, but not everyone shares your opinion of the gravity control set and how it relates to the dominator AT. some do share it, and that MAY (again, i say MAY) be indemic of a problem...but not necessairly the problems YOU see. most of the major complaints i've seen relate to activation times/animations of powers. some have related questionable worthiness of individual powers. so far i've not seen a 'concensius' for the latter, but the former is on the issues list. mabey you should be proactive there, as we now have demonstrated proof that the devs are watching. IS and ISC got fixed cuz of it, so...
i'm not gonna argue one way or the other about it, as i've no interest in grav/ for theamatic reasons (elemental at heart...can occationally break down and play a psionic or a SMASHER) and my experience is nil. what i really care about is people coming in screeming DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM. we all know you dislike grav/ and really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want to see it 'fixed so you can play it'. do you really want all those others that like grav/ to feel the way you do about it? cuz if they didnt want the changes, then now their stuck with a set that underperforms for them, and that's ATLEAST how they will feel...probably cheated aswell. go sugest changes and find one everyone can live with if you must change it...but can we cut down on the DOOOOOOOOOM please? i promise i'll cut down on the responces to it 
Your Insanity May Vary...9/9 powers in the mind/ set are keepers?!? have you used the sleep powers on a team?
Well, I started a fire/ps tonight and I don't find fire's control power better than Gravity at the moment. It starts with immob and hold. I took Hold. And then it has access to aoe immob which I am trying to avoid. And then it goes to Smoke, which I really don't find the need for it. People say they use it to build domination but the recharge is "slow" isn't it? How effective is that except it doesn't draw aggro? I am not going to sit there and keep hitting Smoke to build Domination. That's just dumb. (unless the # in the guide is wrong. The recharge is quite slow)
I think I will hate Hot Feet. The end cost is HUGE. I don't even know how some of you guys can manage to take it at lower levels. The benefit is great but I hate the dot damage 'cause I know it will draw more aggro to me than I wanted.
That leaves me Flashlight and Aoe Hold which I am going to take. And I read the guide in the sticky that says Bonfire is questionable. The description in the guide doesn't give me a whole picture. It doesn't have duration in the description and the guide says it's 10s..... I need to test that. I usually don't mind knockback at all. I see it as a soft control and if the Brute doesn't like it, screw him. I know there are many other ATs who would the soft control from knockback.
Yes, I am waiting for Fire Imps. I want to see if those 3 helpers can really boost my damage.
Oh, my point is.... I don't think Gravity has the worst control set. Fire isn't any better IMO. Wormhole attracts "free hits" but at least in 2-4 team, I can handle the hits and teleport foes successfuly without getting killed. Wormhole is a great power for tp foe(s), stun and position foes into ... say Tar Patch? lol
I do hate Propel. I actually like Lift as a soft control. It's quick. But I thought it has -jump effect? I can't disable flight with Lift. All I get is a stupid "flip" animation with some damage.
Mind set is a REAL hardcore control set. In fact, when you think about controlling, you think about "mind control". lol Gravity does need some work, no doubt. That set seems to be designed for Troller more.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
My fire/energy is much more effective than my grav/energy. Hot Feet is great. I would recommend it be taken asap at 8. It let me deal w/ 3 +2s. Sure its an end hog but thats easily dealt with. I usually turn it off after I have killed the first baddie and gotten the second to half life. Usually by then the third baddie has run far away, some even losing aggro and not coming back. (I would also recommend taking hasten at 6).
Regarding bonfire, well you (I believe it was you) mentioned being ambushed upon entering a mission. That has happened to me several times. All I need to do is throw bonfire and problem is solved or at least I gain enough time for myself and team to escape.
And Fire Imps make most non-triangle missions very very very easy.
Imho, fire is much stronger than grav, at least in the early game. But since many people have said that it gets better I will stick with it or at least until I get tf. However I am not surprised that most (at least that is what is seems to me) of those who say dom suck are gravs.
Mmmmm, maybe I should just take Hot Feet? I don't know. I am still testing this Fire dom. I do think Psonic's damage is so low at the moment.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
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Mmmmm, maybe I should just take Hot Feet? I don't know. I am still testing this Fire dom. I do think Psonic's damage is so low at the moment.
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hehe you're just gonna make yourself mad again. Try ice, mind or plant, with fire, thorns or energy. Those combinations don't mature as late.
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Mmmmm, maybe I should just take Hot Feet? I don't know. I am still testing this Fire dom. I do think Psonic's damage is so low at the moment.
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hehe you're just gonna make yourself mad again. Try ice, mind or plant, with fire, thorns or energy. Those combinations don't mature as late.
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disagree. fire is awesome as it gets flashfires early and char is one of the best holds in the game (fast activation). The problem is that most people relate doms to the cov version of a controller, however i dont believe that to be the case. Yes, they have the same primaries, but due to the dom's secondary and inherent and lack of containment (which promotes the use of immobs and sleeps) the closest corollary is really that of a blaster with some controls. this is evident in pvp as well as the quickest buildup of domination is only achievable by massive spamming of assault attacks.
Yes, i realize that people can be successful at playing a dom as a controller (focus on mob lockdown), but really in pve, anything can work, even a flurry/jumpkick empathy defender.
the fact is, doms dont need alot of power selections from their primary. a fire/psi dom only really needs char, flashfires, cinders and imps to be hugely successful as their secondary has some nice early single target attacks and some great aoe damage in the form of psi scream and shockwave later in the game, shockwave being one of the most devestating aoes in the game since it recharges decently and works well with drain psyche (being in the middle of the mobs). infact, a fire/psi dom and a fire/kin corruptor duo doesnt need anyone else on a team to run through 6 man team mobs ridiculously fast.
So shift your playstyle and stop comparing doms to controllers and start thinking of doms as blasters with some nice single target/aoe mezzes that can go ape-poop on mobs every few minutes.
The devs have said that the playstyles of each of these cov AT's are different from what many of us would percieve as their coh counterparts, and with doms, this is especially true.
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Well, I started a fire/ps tonight and I don't find fire's control power better than Gravity at the moment. It starts with immob and hold. I took Hold. And then it has access to aoe immob which I am trying to avoid. And then it goes to Smoke, which I really don't find the need for it. People say they use it to build domination but the recharge is "slow" isn't it? How effective is that except it doesn't draw aggro? I am not going to sit there and keep hitting Smoke to build Domination. That's just dumb. (unless the # in the guide is wrong. The recharge is quite slow)
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This is a bit OT to the thread but do take Smoke and love it. The highest lvl Dom in my VG (bypassed me recently since Venus is retired until they eff'n FIX DOMs) is a Fire/Ice. He never worries about those down times between fights for bio, smoke break, strategy confab, etc., or what they're doing to his Domination bar. He stands there casually spamming smoke on the next mob and by the time everyone is back and hitting F7 he's got Domination ready to fire.
"He may be arrogant, but he happens to be correct" - Ellis
"The server is full of crazies" - New_Dark_Age
Rainbow Arcana / Diamond D: Legion of Freedom - Virtue
lof.guildportal.com
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My fire/energy is much more effective than my grav/energy.
[/ QUOTE ] I haven't palyed a fire dom, but I strongly belive that is true.
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But since many people have said that it gets better I will stick with it
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I felt the same way. People kept saying "oh it will get so much better with wormhole" and then "oh it will get so much better with sing". Well IMHO it does get better... around lvl 37.
Funny you can say all that when I'm agreeing with a previous post someone made. As for suggesting things, I've done that numerous times. As for your exaggerated dooom, I've never said that doms or even grav is unplayable. But many people have said that they are less useful, more situational and do less damage than other ATs. If doms have only 6% of players and grav is the most situational and underpowered of all doms, I think that discussing grav flaws, in spite of a few people that like it the way it is, is appropriate. You can call that DOOOOOOM if you like but IMHO the points made about grav are actually quite valid.
um, if i'm not mistaken, you've been crying DOOOOOOM about grav/ doms since like before I7 hit test. started several threads about there 'total suckage' too. it's toned down alittle, but seems like you drop a DOOOOOM post or 2 in every thread you're in.
yup, you were agreeing with another poster, and also crying DOOOOM about grav/ and implying that anyone who defends them is too stoopid to see they are 'broken'. that's actually what i was commenting on...notice i answered the 'why ppl defend them' question? but that's cool. i dont mind being called stoopid by someone who cant succeed at something i can (or seeing it happen to others either as in this case), but constant, UNPRODUCTIVE NEGATIVITY really starts to bring out the beast in me.
OMG...we didnt win the popularity contest!!!!! we're so unloved we MUST be broken...oh, wait my dom is succeeding. frell, now i gotta go learn how to play my dom again so i can suck and be 'part of the crowd'. JesusHPChristonastick. not popular is not the same as broken. MacIntosh computers are not as popular as PC/IBM clones, so Mac's underperform right??? someone better improve them, so they will be more 'popular' cuz they must suck being so unpopular right? no, they are'nt as popular because of other reasons (cost 3 times as much as a PC clone, cant use it as a gaming console nearly as effectively as you can a PC clone [this is changing since Intel started making chips for apple], etc...) because, infact, the macintosh is actually considered 'far superior' to the PC clone.
Your Insanity May Vary...we know you think any negative pointed out about grav/ is valid...you dont seem to know that your opinion is not universal...
I believe that it's not just a matter of Doms loosing a popularity contest. I believe that the grav powerset has several flawed powers that make that set undesirable for most players and most groups.
So yes, I come here and add comments to topics about dom powers. If you want to call that DOOOOOM that's up to you. But I regularly point out, and discuss, the specific flaws with grav. I believe that is what a forum is for. And yes exaggerations like you saying that I'm crying DOOOOM is also part of the forum, but not a useful part. If you want to, instead of yelling "he's yelling doooooooom!", discuss any of the issues feel free. I may sometimes post "unproductively negative", but maybe you should take a look at your own posts. They seem pretty unproductively negative to me.
Your computer analogy is flawed. Doms, especially grav, being unpopular is because they are flawed not in spite of it. Low popularity is just a symptom of the problems. Grav doms compared to other ATs is more like comparing PC/IBM clones and an abacus. Some people may prefer an abacus. But given choices that are supposed to be "balanced" the 'player base' deserves something better - even if that means a few people lose some of their pet tactics.
It certainly wouldn't be the first time the game was changed for the sake of balance. Maybe this time the change can be a positive one for most players.
To review a few of the major points that I've brought up:
<ul type="square">[*]Propel needs quicker activation.[*]DS needs to be less situational.[*]Wormhole should group mobs rather than scatter them.[*]Control or Damage should to be improved slightly.[/list]If that doesn't give you enough "productive" ideas to discuss then read the dom guild that's been in my signature for several weeks.
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Your computer analogy is flawed. Doms, especially grav, being unpopular is because they are flawed not in spite of it.
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um, yet again, your OPINION is not UNIVERSAL. take that into consideration and the computer analogy makes a little more sense.
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To review a few of the major points that I've brought up:
* Propel needs quicker activation.
* DS needs to be less situational.
* Wormhole should group mobs rather than scatter them.
* Control or Damage should to be improved slightly.
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this would look good in the dom issues thread where it could be discussed and see if it's universaly agreed apon (not sayin it is or isnt) and does sound lots better than 'grav sucks', 'grav is useless' and 'you cannot succeed with grav' which is the bulk of your message from what i've read of your posts. i've seen very few posts by you like what is quoted above tho (but i only audit the issues list every so often). to improve on the 'positive' aspects of this i'll add:
*how much should it be shortened by and why?
*all powers are situational, some situations happen more often than others...
*why? (other than for your convienence)
*again why? (other than for your convienence)
it's not enough just to say 'fix it'. helps loads if you have a concesus that it's 'broken' first with reasons why.
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If that doesn't give you enough "productive" ideas to discuss then read the dom guild that's been in my signature for several weeks.
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um, only thing to read in the siggy is veni vidi vici by waybreaker, and i read it when the title was 'how not to suck as a dominator' thankyouverymuch. and i'd like to point out that since reading it i've been SUCCESSFUL with EVERY DOM I'VE TRIED!!!!! mabey you should re-read it?
Your Insanity May Vary...always love it when they go "well, your doin it too, so i'm justified"
Propel is kind of a special case. I can't comment on Gravity as a whole, but I do know that people have been clamoring for it to have a quicker animation since before I started playing...and it probably won't happen, if it hasn't in the last 2 years, heh.
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I believe that it's not just a matter of Doms loosing a popularity contest. I believe that the grav powerset has several flawed powers that make that set undesirable for most players and most groups.
So yes, I come here and add comments to topics about dom powers. If you want to call that DOOOOOM that's up to you. But I regularly point out, and discuss, the specific flaws with grav. I believe that is what a forum is for. And yes exaggerations like you saying that I'm crying DOOOOM is also part of the forum, but not a useful part. If you want to, instead of yelling "he's yelling doooooooom!", discuss any of the issues feel free. I may sometimes post "unproductively negative", but maybe you should take a look at your own posts. They seem pretty unproductively negative to me.
Your computer analogy is flawed. Doms, especially grav, being unpopular is because they are flawed not in spite of it. Low popularity is just a symptom of the problems. Grav doms compared to other ATs is more like comparing PC/IBM clones and an abacus. Some people may prefer an abacus. But given choices that are supposed to be "balanced" the 'player base' deserves something better - even if that means a few people lose some of their pet tactics.
It certainly wouldn't be the first time the game was changed for the sake of balance. Maybe this time the change can be a positive one for most players.
To review a few of the major points that I've brought up:
<ul type="square">[*]Propel needs quicker activation.[*]DS needs to be less situational.[*]Wormhole should group mobs rather than scatter them.[*]Control or Damage should to be improved slightly.[/list]If that doesn't give you enough "productive" ideas to discuss then read the dom guild that's been in my signature for several weeks.
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Being i have a level 47 Grav dom and a 36 fire, ill respond somewhat.
Grav doms have some issues, but over all i dont consider them to be nearly as problematic as people say. First off I dont take propel, just like i didnt take a snipe because of the root and the animation time. Its a choice. And sure though its fun to smack a enemy with a forklift in play, since propel does really no more damage then anything else in your assualt pool, then why take it? Sure it can fill in a incomplete attack chain early on, but by later levels i would think most doms are respecing it out.
DS is more of a Oh S* button. Though i dont like it, and got rid of it, i dont think its broken. Single target would be preffered but when your team is getting spanked by a group DS a mob of enemies is probably not gonna be argued much.
Wormhole isnt for herding. No other Sleep/disorient has a "grouping" feature, and in fact powers like flash fire on my fire dom are just as effective and yet the group instantly starts to wander around. Which is why i get my AOE immoblize on both my doms. But if you work with Wormhole, use walls and corners etc, it does a good job of putting people where you want them, and infact its probably the one power i miss most going from grav to fire play.
As to the last one, i say damage. Its what i have been screaming since beta only to be told by the DomBios that i just dont know how to play them. Well i know how to play them just as i do a blaster, or a controler, or any other AT i have played. And they need more consistant abilities. This "god mode" everyone thinks we get with domination is the worst design this game has. Yes as a boost to mag/duration and even the planned mez protection i can get behind it, and think our control outside of dom is adequate. But damage no. That buff should be a full time damage level for us. We as a AT have no real ability to self buff or heal or mitagate damage accept for the active primary. We have the lowest HPs, and from having a higher level Stalker, dom, blasters, tanker, controlers, and even Peacebringer i would say my doms (and yes specifically my grav more so then fire) need the damage increase. And considering how i felt about my Peacebringers damage levels when playing him, that is saying ALOT.
To me remove the damage buff from domination. Grant it on a full time basis, which should place us right around i think 85-90 percent damage levels. With no defiance, scourge, buildup or aims etc. I woudl think that is right about fair where we should be for our defense levels to our damage output to end consumption ratios.
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As to the last one, i say damage. Its what i have been screaming since beta only to be told by the DomBios that i just dont know how to play them. Well i know how to play them just as i do a blaster, or a controler, or any other AT i have played. And they need more consistant abilities. This "god mode" everyone thinks we get with domination is the worst design this game has. Yes as a boost to mag/duration and even the planned mez protection i can get behind it, and think our control outside of dom is adequate. But damage no. That buff should be a full time damage level for us. We as a AT have no real ability to self buff or heal or mitagate damage accept for the active primary. We have the lowest HPs, and from having a higher level Stalker, dom, blasters, tanker, controlers, and even Peacebringer i would say my doms (and yes specifically my grav more so then fire) need the damage increase. And considering how i felt about my Peacebringers damage levels when playing him, that is saying ALOT.
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as i have no experience with the grav/ set on either side of the CoX fence i dont speak to the individual powers other than to try to define what people perceive the problems are. but this one i'll speak to, as it is something i have experience with on multiple dom builds.
somewhat reluctantly i now agree with this sentiment. i now see that i was actually 'spoiled' a little bit (not much, but a bit, as i didnt think i was a blaster/blapper or nothin) being a fire/fire dominatior, especially as i early realized that the secondary effect for /fire was damage and used it to my advantage (i will write a guide one day i swear!). i did 'unorthodox' stuff like 5 slot my ST-Immob 1acc, 3dam, 1rcg and frellin use it as part of my 'attack chain' (whatever that is for a dom. i will someday write a monologue defining the dominator 'playstyle' focusing on the philosophy/mindset behind the tactics/strategies [well, and them too] i use. i have an outline, and some of it is filled in/drafted. comming soon [as in Cryptic soon] i promise). when you get synergistic effects from powers like Fiery Embrace (love the name BTW. the 'synergy' comes from the increased (100%) increase to fire damage, which BOTH fire/fire sets do.../fire EXCLUSIVELY does fire damage IIRC [doubledamage for your entire secondary], and the secondary damage effect for fire/ is, you guessed it FIRE.) and it is possible to not 'see' that doms need a damage boost.
then i made a mind/energy dom. i looked at those sets and thought "damn, i could play this like a ranged 'stalker' and pwn PvE. Be damn good PvP aswell if wisely built..." got him to the 20's and i'm single target death, but it's WORK (this comming from someone who ENJOYS the fact that i'm constantly changing targets, workin the spawn 'the oldfashion way' as it were, having to be in a state of constantly updating situationaly awareness)...all because of the 'subpar' damage i had been rediculing (yes, anyone i offended by my saying otherwise can now accept this as an official and public apology. i was wrong...except cuppaxxxxx as we're still in a 'spiting contest' about certain grav/ issues.)(naw, scratch that last part, cuppaxxxxx gets the apology too, you're right that grav/ doesnt do enough damage and i'm sorry if i ever said otherwise.). not because my 'control' was lacking, but because i had to do SO much attacking to finish a mob (this also has been 'not true' of my ice/ice experiences. they be frellin killers...but i'm not even in the teens yet. they DO seem, from my experiences/memories to be the most 'bad [censored]' tho). this may have been intended as a means of generating domination points, but In My Opinion, the recent reduction of the dom timer and the (granted PvP only) boost of dombuilding points to assault powers may show that "lots of low/medium damage powers to spam/kill is good for doms" is not the proper paradigm for the dominators most successful playstyles. also the nonreliance on DOMINATION by several of the more successful dom players (due to powerusage choices, anyway i'm thinkin) may also be indicative of this.
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To me remove the damage buff from domination. Grant it on a full time basis, which should place us right around i think 85-90 percent damage levels. With no defiance, scourge, buildup or aims etc. I would think that is right about fair where we should be for our defense levels to our damage output to end consumption ratios.
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i can actually get behind this/sign on the 'illegal petition' (they expect 'villains' to abide by the eula...muhahaha). or even a milder spread...say boost us outside of domination damagewise to 80% or 85% for BOTH, and cut the dom boost in half would make all doms better, and not overpower the few builds that CAN squeek out the damage (the one area i can actually advocate for a change in DOMINATION and still get my 'enjoyment' from the AT)(not that swaping out the damage from the inherent to all the time would even overpower all builds of doms, but damn, fire/fire would be a frellin killer at the "sacrifice of controll options" [keep that myth propagating cuz i love it's false nature/benefit to fire/fire doms]).
Your Insanity May Vary...never make concrete judgements, as life and the universe are fluid...flexibility is NOT a liablity!
The long and short of the damaging control sets (Fire, Gravity, Mind, in that order) is that they work much better for Controllers (with Containment) than they work for Dominators. Compared to what you get in your secondary, the attacks in your primary are lacklustre, and your ranged damage is so bad you can't even rely on those.
Goes off to plan a melee dominator build for the Plant/Fire
I can't complain about Levitate. It's better damage and better soft control than its /psi analogue, TK Thrust.
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My AOE hold is up almost every 2 minutes and holds for almost 30 seconds, that must really suck! (and thats without powerboost or domination).
oh and low damage sure, lessee blaze is up almost every 5 seconds and does 180 damge per pop to a white con minion. 250 with fiery embrace, nearly 300 with domination and fiery embrace.
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Yes the person you're trying to shred was right, low damage and poor hold availability. If you're on a difficulty where you hold things for 30 seconds, then the rest of the team killed them in less than 10.
I'm not sure what the hold duration of the ice AoE hold is (the power lasts 30s base, but some of that is the debuff after the hold has worn off), but the fire one lasts 10s (just under 20 when 3 slotted v even cons). Against the sort of difficulty most good large teams play at, you might get 12-15s of hold and you wish it was more as +2s and +3s can outlast that particularly when bosses are involved.
Last time I played on a team of 5 at even level (on a SF which was why we didn't up the diff) I was playing a corruptor, and by the time I'd fired off tar patch, rain of fire and fireball and looked up, there was rarely anything left (possibly a boss, but not all mobs had one and usually the stalker plus AoEs sorted him out anyway). 30 seconds of hold would not have been desperately useful.
Again 300 damage may sound impressive, but against even cons (which I almost never fight) with my brutes I'm pushing 1000. My 41 EM/invul brute can do 800+ to yellows with a 600+ follow up, (an EM/fire could do even more) so 300 really is fairly puny, I suspect it's about what my third best attack does with a bit above half fury.
My fire/fire dom feels totally useless in the team in which he plays, not because doms suck, but because of the plant dom in the team who has seeds of confusion which seems to recharge every fight, so do I use flashfires or cinders ? hell no, just stops the mobs shooting each other, so I'm downgraded to being a bad corruptor/blaster till I get imps. Basically I do nothing an ice corruptor couldn't do better unless we screw up and aggro multiple mobs.
Disclaimer, figures quoted from hero builder, don't flame me if they're wrong.
Your Ex from Hell 41 EM/invul brute pinnacle
Lucifer's Lieutenant 50 SS/fire brute protector
Suspect Device 18 fire/fire dominator protector
and 70+ others including 7 CoH 50s
It's true. This game is NOT rocket surgery. - BillZBubba
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this would look good in the dom issues thread where it could be discussed and see if it's universaly agreed apon (not sayin it is or isnt) and does sound lots better than 'grav sucks', 'grav is useless' and 'you cannot succeed with grav' which is the bulk of your message from what i've read of your posts.
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Just a FYI, not everyone finds those threads useful. Just because the forum clique agrees on something and writes it in there, doesn't mean the other 99% of the playerbase automatically feels that way, or even a majority.
The truth is it's useless trying to argue with this forum's clique, so I don't even read or participate with that thread. What is the point? We will just get responses like yours in this thread.
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Hell, even when I don't control, every time there is an ambush, I always get hit first. Why is that?
[/ QUOTE ] I would suspect the ambush is simply being smart--what's the CoV AT that doesn't have any form of passive defenses whatsover? The Dominator.
In that aspect, being an offense-based AT with only active defenses, Doms are in Blaster territory...and ask Blasters about ambushes
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Well, it's not just about ambush. Last night, there was an ambush at the door. I had 2 MMs with me. At first, I used Wormhole to stop them which attracted TONS of attention... then the MMs just weren't ready so I said I was going to use Dimenion Shift. Ok, a few did not get DS. Throughout the whole duration, the Ninja MM's pets were attacking the critters (stupid, I guess) while I was staying way back, trying to heal myself and I STILL GET HIT. I got so mad and I asked why did the critters still attack me when the Ninja are attacking them??!!! Is it because they hate DS that much or what? The MMs were laughing. None of them get hit even once. ugh
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.