I just wanna spank that polar bear on the butt.
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For those so inclined, please refrain from advising me to six slot my Haymaker power with six Hecatomb.
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Pfft.
I was only going to tell you to slot 5 hecatombs... how presumptous! 
I actually couldnt agree more with the sentiment of this guide. I also find it pretty ridiculous when people post full purpled builds as guidelines on "how to fix my build" posts... any build with 5 sets of purples in it is going to rock, you really arent helping much by posting that.
I've always begun with the presumption that readers are going to be slotting with SOs or common IOs to enhance the basic functions of powers. The other thing is that people's priorities as to what they want out of set bonuses may differ sharply. I put a very high priority on endurance recovery bonuses, myself; not everyone shares that, I know.
The few guides I've written that discuss set IOs speak mostly about how to get away with using the sets that few people want, using them for frankenslotting. I usually build this way, myself, at least at the beginning. If a power will take Hold or Sleep or To-Hit Debuff sets, I look to see what those sets have to offer before looking at "default" sets like healing or defense.
<《 New Colchis / Guides / Mission Architect 》>
"At what point do we say, 'You're mucking with our myths'?" - Harlan Ellison
While I agree...
I'd personally like to see build progressions. How are you dealing with things pre-stamina? Pre-pets at 32? Pre-epics? If I'm trying ot make a decision on a build at 18, knowing how it works with stuff at 50 is nice... but I'm a ways away, and have to live long enough to GET to 50. 
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I just wanna spank that polar bear on the butt.
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If the OP changes his avatar, your post will be so stupid... =P
I agree, Memphis! And I think I'm going to put my money where my mouth is. I have a little free time coming up for spring break. I think I may post my first guide focusing on the progression and growth of the AT.
Stand by...
Global: @FuzzyOne
Find me playing these servers: Champion, Justice, Freedom, Virtue and Pinnacle
This erm...'guide' can be interpreted in several different ways. It seems you are responding to someone's guide specifically, which really doesn't help anyone.
Any assertions that a player that possess Multiple Purple IOs is some how all well built is rather inaccurate. In many instances, Purple IO sets will actually hurt a build's overall performance.
On the same token, there are many different reasons for a guide. Some players are looking for a 'final' build. Not necessarily something they will level up with or into, but rather something they will be focusing their efforts to obtain.
Claiming 'Purple Builds' are Champagne tastes in the face of beer budgets is categorically false. Every player has the same opportunities to acquire influence/infamy, recipes, and IOs. We all have the same means of income. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be planning for Purple IO outside of your own personal desire not to do so.
I do agree, the best guides will include level up advice and/or builds that can be leveled into. That doesn't mean every single guide could be written as such.
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I think the OP has a pretty good point. To me a guide is something that will help a majority of people who are trying out a new AT or Powersets. I don't think that the majority of people are going to have several million infl available for what might well be an alt or test character.
Sure list out the tricked out build too if you want to. But if that's all you have, then it might be best to not be too touchy if others don't find your guide to be all that useful.
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See [URL="http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=2134817#post2134817"]Useful Tagging for the good of the Forum[/URL], my guide to tags.
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This erm...'guide' can be interpreted in several different ways. It seems you are responding to someone's guide specifically, which really doesn't help anyone.
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If this "guide" can be interpreted several different ways, then I failed to convey myself clearly enough. I refrained from listing any specific guides because it would be a violation of the forum rules, but anyone can see that the practice I describe is quite common, and I meant it in a very general sense. And yes, my tone was not intended to be helpful. I was trying for scornful. Did I succeed?
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Any assertions that a player that possess Multiple Purple IOs is some how all well built is rather inaccurate. In many instances, Purple IO sets will actually hurt a build's overall performance.
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Hardly. Purple IO sets provide enhancement bonuses that are comparable to other IO sets, and their set bonuses function when exemped down below actual level. I cannot think of a single instance where a purple IO set actually hurts a build's overall performance. I will, however, acquiesce that there probably are single instances where a purple IO set actually harms a build, but the single or few exceptions do not invalidate the rule.
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On the same token, there are many different reasons for a guide. Some players are looking for a 'final' build. Not necessarily something they will level up with or into, but rather something they will be focusing their efforts to obtain.
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Granted, but how big is that audience compared to all players using the forums?
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Claiming 'Purple Builds' are Champagne tastes in the face of beer budgets is categorically false. Every player has the same opportunities to acquire influence/infamy, recipes, and IOs. We all have the same means of income. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be planning for Purple IO outside of your own personal desire not to do so.
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False? The analogy is quite sound. Your egalitarian assumption is false. It assumes that all players have equal opportunities to acquire influence/infamy except you exclude available play time. The player who can play for 20 hours a week has twice the opportunity to earn influence/infamy than the player who can only play 10 hours a week. And yes, "there is absolutely no reason why a [casual player] shouldn't be planning for Purple IO [sets]," but a standard enhancement build will serve that player better while he/she takes twice the amount of time to acquire a purple IO set.
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I do agree, the best guides will include level up advice and/or builds that can be leveled into. That doesn't mean every single guide could be written as such.
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Granted. Let me ask you this, though, do you honestly believe that every guide author on this forum operates from a base of pure altruism, or is it possible that some use it as a means of serving their vanity and garnering praise?
This "guide" is directed at those players.
On an aside, your guide is excellent and a standard setter. It is sequential, informative and exceptionally thorough. My sincerest regards, well done!
Global: @FuzzyOne
Find me playing these servers: Champion, Justice, Freedom, Virtue and Pinnacle
I agree with the sentiment. Sure, my MM would LOVE to be all purpled out, but what yellow and orange IO sets are good too?
Guide-Jerk: n. A player who, using Mid's Hero Planner, submits a "pie-in-the-sky,' dream build using multiple unique sets and invention origin enhancements costing 100s of millions influence/infamy in place as a guide for how to build a hero/villain. This player is very similar to the Build-jerk who solicits advice on a similarly constructed build. Also see vain, impractical, callow, and presumptive.
As a professional educator, I've learned one thing--
don't use champagne examples when your students can only afford beer!
For those so inclined, please refrain from advising me to six slot my Haymaker power with six Hecatomb. Let's assume that if I had the resources to invest in purchasing/finding a complete purple set that I would already know how to slot the darn power.
Don't post a guide to show off your ultimate build and try to sound like you are spreading your hard-found knowledge. Such behavior is puerile. One synonym for the word "guide" is teacher. A guide writer should try to be one.
Global: @FuzzyOne
Find me playing these servers: Champion, Justice, Freedom, Virtue and Pinnacle