Yes, it's viable. It's a popular farming build because of all the AoE damage it puts out. I lack the experience in either set to comment much more though.
They ALL float down here. When you're down here with us, you'll float too!
@Starflier
Viable. I have a 50 spines/dark who, frankenslotted, is pretty good with the farming. The AoE damage is incredible, especially when it crits well. That said it matures quite late (you basically need almost the entire /DA set to be really survivable) and has end problems with the two damage auras until you can get some +recovery bonuses in it.
If you are dying all over the place, make sure you're using the self-heal in /DA. It's amazing - zero to full bar with 3 minions around you. I find if I'm dying it's because I'm not using that power enough.
The other main trick with the powerset is that this is not exactly DM/SD - it's not an AV killer, it's an AoE blaster with more protection. My spines/dark can wall-farm in Cimeroa fast as anyone, but if there are 3 bosses in a group he's in trouble, let alone an AV. Run mishes and choose fights looking for large numbers of minions and lts, the way you would with a Fire blaster.
Once you get all your dark defenses running (Make sure you get OG so that minions only ever get one hit on you), you should be able to maul large spawns:
1) Fire BuildUp
2) Start Running towards the group
3) Queue Throw Spines (the cone) at the back of the group so it will fire as soon as in range
4) As soon as that fires, queue Spine Burst and target the boss in the group
5) As soon as Spine Burst fires, fire the /DA PBAoE self-heal whose name I forget right now
6) Focus all your single-target attacks at the boss. The minions will die incidentally by virtue of standing beside you while you work the boss
Repeat. This is a fun thing to do.
I'll post my build when I get home tonight - it's not uber or anything but will give you a reference point.
Viable?
Viable?!
Its a beast. It is an AoE, minion munching monster.
Noumken describes it nicely.
When I break my 50 out its fun running around feeling like one long, continuous nuke.
City of Heroes was my first MMO, & my favorite computer game.
R.I.P.
Chyll - Bydand - Violynce - Enyrgos - Rylle - Nephryte - Solyd - Fettyr - Hyposhock - Styrling - Beryllos - Rosyc
Horryd - Myriam - Dysquiet - Ghyr
Vanysh - Eldrytch
Inflyct - Mysron - Orphyn - Dysmay - Reapyr - - Wyldeman - Hydeous
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen. It turns Dark into a really end hungry set to a set that is middle of the road in end usage. It also turns the heal from an "emergency, use it only if you have to and have blues to pop so you don't detoggle" to "have fun using it anytime you're at less than half and surrounded".
As far as the powerset combo... You're looking at two damage toggles, a choice of two toggles that essential remove all minion melee combatants from the fight, and decent resists and defense to boot. Plus, Spines brings a recharge debuff to the table too, bringing some added mitigation there. I would look at taking Tough and Weave if possible.
[ QUOTE ]
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting idea - I should try this with my Spines/Dark. Right now I have conserve power on autofire but this could free up a power slot if it works as described. Cool, thanks.
Agree with all the other comments....
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting idea - I should try this with my Spines/Dark. Right now I have conserve power on autofire but this could free up a power slot if it works as described. Cool, thanks.
Agree with all the other comments....
[/ QUOTE ]
Did this on my dark tank & scrappers. Glee.
I also like the completely random nature of it... I can get nothing from a huge mob targets, or I can completely refill my bar.
[ QUOTE ]
Is this a viable build? what level does it shine? I had one up to 32...and I died ALOT...perhaps I didnt give it enough time? perhaps I didnt have it slotted/powers choosen correctly?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, happened to me to, make sure you plug the KB hole (Karma, Steadfast or Blessing of The Zephyr uniques will do it) and remember that DA offers a mix of Res & Def, while spines adds zero additional mitigation (unlike most primaries)
The skill become in knowing exactly when to hit Dark Regenration as you enter a mob, after a while you'll start to get it right, but early on, soloing asgainst large spawns, you will die.
Stick with it though, use inspirations where you have to, and it is an absolutely amazing mob killing machine.
It should take off as soon as you get one of the mez toggles, either Oppressive Gloom (my choice and recomendation) or Cloak of Fear. If you didnt pick up OG at 28 this might be why you are down on /dark. It is a huge, change in playstyle. Basically you still eat the alpha, but after that half the spawn does the sorority girl shuffle. The only thing that would make your toon perfect would be the strongest heal in the game to recover from the alpha...wait a minute, JACKPOT!!!!!
Some other things that help quite a bit, load up on recovery IO's, and try to work in tough. Make sure you slot the heck out of dark regen, that needs to be frankenslotted ASAP, it has horrific endurance cost and the recharge isnt great.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting idea - I should try this with my Spines/Dark. Right now I have conserve power on autofire but this could free up a power slot if it works as described. Cool, thanks.
Agree with all the other comments....
[/ QUOTE ]
It is wonderful to have that in Dark Regeneration, but it is expensive to the common player.
Virtue: @Santorican
Dark/Shield Build Thread
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting idea - I should try this with my Spines/Dark. Right now I have conserve power on autofire but this could free up a power slot if it works as described. Cool, thanks.
Agree with all the other comments....
[/ QUOTE ]
It is wonderful to have that in Dark Regeneration, but it is expensive to the common player.
[/ QUOTE ]
At only a 20% chance for +10% End it's not worth it, there is better, cheaper bang for the buck to be had,
Five Doctored wounds and the Armageddon proc for example 
[ QUOTE ]
It should take off as soon as you get one of the mez toggles, either Oppressive Gloom (my choice and recomendation) or Cloak of Fear. If you didnt pick up OG at 28 this might be why you are down on /dark.
[/ QUOTE ]
True except the picking up OG at 28. It's not available until L35 on a scrapper, which is a few levels past where the OP has gotten.
But true. Until you get OG, you have only middling resist shields, some minor slows, and some knockdown in Ripper to keep you alive between Dark Regen cycles. And you're a huge aggro magnet on teams, capable of pulling aggro off of many tanks--aggro you're not great at surviving.
OG keeps the minions off you for a relatively low HP and trivially low end cost. It adds dramatically to your survivability.
To the OP--get your Spines/Dark to 35 with an acc slotted in Oppressive Gloom before you give up on the character. Get Tough in the build if you can, especially if you plan trips to Cimerora.
Be careful against things doing heavy Energy damage like Rikti most of the time, and the occasional enemy doing Toxic damage (ouch!). Instead go fight the carnies that most despise fighting and tear them into shreds.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting idea - I should try this with my Spines/Dark. Right now I have conserve power on autofire but this could free up a power slot if it works as described. Cool, thanks.
Agree with all the other comments....
[/ QUOTE ]
It is wonderful to have that in Dark Regeneration, but it is expensive to the common player.
[/ QUOTE ]
At only a 20% chance for +10% End it's not worth it
[/ QUOTE ]
That's per target. If you're routinely surrounded by foes when you need a heal, it pretty much just stops costing you endurance on average.
"That's because Werner can't do maths." - BunnyAnomaly
"Four hours in, and I was no longer making mistakes, no longer detoggling. I was a machine." - Werner
Videos of Other Stupid Scrapper Tricks
[ QUOTE ]
At only a 20% chance for +10% End it's not worth it, there is better, cheaper bang for the buck to be had,
Five Doctored wounds and the Armageddon proc for example
[/ QUOTE ]
Except that doesn't offer any accuracy and Dark Regen requires a tohit check.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
At only a 20% chance for +10% End it's not worth it, there is better, cheaper bang for the buck to be had,
Five Doctored wounds and the Armageddon proc for example
[/ QUOTE ]
Except that doesn't offer any accuracy and Dark Regen requires a tohit check.
[/ QUOTE ]
Fair call, but if you can afford the Proc, I'm going to assume we've put the Kismet unique in elsewhere and already getting a few Acc bonuses from Sets.
Honestly though, I probably wouldn't use the 6th slot for the Armageddon, that belongs in spine burst anyway.
But it still sounds fun
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting idea - I should try this with my Spines/Dark. Right now I have conserve power on autofire but this could free up a power slot if it works as described. Cool, thanks.
Agree with all the other comments....
[/ QUOTE ]
It is wonderful to have that in Dark Regeneration, but it is expensive to the common player.
[/ QUOTE ]
At only a 20% chance for +10% End it's not worth it
[/ QUOTE ]
That's per target. If you're routinely surrounded by foes when you need a heal, it pretty much just stops costing you endurance on average.
[/ QUOTE ]
QFMFT
My Dark Regeneration routinely has me GAINING endurance when I fire it off. It checks for every target in range and has a chance to go off for each one.
If you are surrounded by 10 enemies and Dark Regen hits all 10 of them, you are almost guaranteed to have the proc fire at least twice. I've seen it hit as many as 6 before.
Slotted end cost = 21 end per use
proc on 6 targets = 60 endurance returned
net endurance gain = 39
Do not sell this IO short, it is HANDS DOWN the best single IO investment a Dark Armor anything can make. If you can only afford one IO in your entire build, it should be this one. It really is THAT good.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
[ QUOTE ]
Do not sell this IO short, it is HANDS DOWN the best single IO investment a Dark Armor anything can make. If you can only afford one IO in your entire build, it should be this one. It really is THAT good.
[/ QUOTE ]
These days, half the time I fire off Dark Regeneration isn't for the heal, it's to gain back end. No it's not a sure thing, but that's part of the fun. If my end is low, I look to see if I have skittles; got one--good fire off DR. Bad roll, oh well pop the skittle. Good roll, excellent, save the skittle for later.
SI Radio has many DJs and listeners whom hold City of Heroes close to their hearts. We will be supporting many efforts to keep CoH ALIVE!!
[ QUOTE ]
Do not sell this IO short, it is HANDS DOWN the best single IO investment a Dark Armor anything can make. If you can only afford one IO in your entire build, it should be this one. It really is THAT good.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes! Thank you. That was exactly my point. It may take 30-50 million and some time but it has an even bigger impact than the -KB IO on gameplay.
And Reyne, there are merits for getting the proc. I think if you run the first three blue-side taskforces, you would have the merits required.
I got them as random rolls. I got 3 in a row on my rad/sonic defender 
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As far as endurance concerns with /DA, it can't be said enough: Get the Theft of Essense: Chance for +End Proc for Dark Regen.
[/ QUOTE ]
Interesting idea - I should try this with my Spines/Dark. Right now I have conserve power on autofire but this could free up a power slot if it works as described. Cool, thanks.
Agree with all the other comments....
[/ QUOTE ]
It is wonderful to have that in Dark Regeneration, but it is expensive to the common player.
[/ QUOTE ]
At only a 20% chance for +10% End it's not worth it, there is better, cheaper bang for the buck to be had,
Five Doctored wounds and the Armageddon proc for example
[/ QUOTE ]
It definitely is worth it if you can afford it. With 3 minions near you it nearly cuts the cost of dark regeneration in half.
Virtue: @Santorican
Dark/Shield Build Thread
<QR>
I'm looking for slotting suggestions for Dark Regeneration that include the +end proc.
I current have a set of 5 Doc Wound's and 1 acc IO, but I just scored a +end proc recipe, and I don't think it's a good idea to overwrite any of the slotted IOs, so I want to redo it completely.
The slotting that I'm thinking about:
Theft +end proc, acc/end/rech
Nictus acc/end/rech, acc/end/heal, heal/rech
any heal/end/rech
Any alternative slotting suggestions?
Right now I am playing around with it and I have in it currently
Multi Strike:Acc/End
Doctored Wounds:End/Rec
Numina's Convalescence:End/Rech
Numina's Convalescence:Heal/End/Rech
Touch of Nictus: Acc/End/Rech
Theft Essence: Chance for +Endurance
Totals are 47% Acc, 98% End Discount, 21% Heal increase, 91% Rech.
It recharges in 8.9seconds.
Virtue: @Santorican
Dark/Shield Build Thread
I have 5 Touch of the Nictus and the Theft of Essence +End
The damage proc was the one I left out of Touch of the Nictus.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
Anyone have a good spines/dark build? Ive become inspired to make this toon on freedom....my old one is on pinnacle and iM too cheap (well my wife would beat me) to spend 10 bucks to have it transfered
Ok...so I tried to make a build...be gentle. Im tryin...although I think Im screwign some stuff up here...
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Level 50 Technology Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Spines
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Lunge -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(43), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(45), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- TtmC'tng-ResDam(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(5), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(5), TtmC'tng-EndRdx(15), TtmC'tng-EndRdx/Rchg(34), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 2: Spine Burst -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Dmg(3), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(3), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(15), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 4: Death Shroud -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(11), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(40), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(43), EndRdx-I(43)
Level 6: Murky Cloud -- ImpArm-ResDam(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(7), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(7)
Level 8: Impale -- Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Decim-Acc/Dmg(9), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(9), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(13), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(13)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- ImpArm-ResDam(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(11), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(42)
Level 12: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 14: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(46)
Level 16: Dark Regeneration -- Dct'dW-Heal(A), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(17), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(19), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Theft-+End%(39)
Level 18: Combat Jumping -- Krma-ResKB(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(A), P'Shift-EndMod(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(23), P'Shift-End%(23)
Level 22: Super Jump -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 24: Quills -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Dmg(25), EndRdx-I(25), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(39), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-%Dam(48)
Level 26: Ripper -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(27), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(29), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(29)
Level 28: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 30: Tough -- ImpArm-ResDam(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(31), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(31), ImpArm-EndRdx/Rchg(31), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 32: Throw Spines -- Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg(33), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(33), Posi-Dmg/Rng(34)
Level 35: Oppressive Gloom -- Amaze-EndRdx/Stun(A), Amaze-Stun(36), Amaze-ToHitDeb%(36), Amaze-Acc/Stun/Rchg(36), Amaze-Stun/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Weave -- Ksmt-ToHit+(A)
Level 41: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(A), GSFC-ToHit(42), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(42), GSFC-Build%(50), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(50), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(50)
Level 44: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(45), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 47: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 49: Cloak of Darkness -- EndRdx-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1390;688;1376;HEX;|
|78DAA5935B4F135110C7CFB65B0BBD522A502E2D16694B295 DCA9B9707A3A289D00|
|25AC2935A97F6088DB56D76AB529FFC003EA9112F315E02A8 CFDE62FC62268A752E|
|8726C44737EDFFB73B6766CEECCC9EC2D6BC4F88076784163 85F336DBB542C5B66B|
|3292DCFAA2C6FD61BB5C6465BB8851003070BA582AC49695C BE53ADD5ECD1AE755E|
|DE94755B1AF3A675AB74D6BADDB04297EA9BD292F5967170E 35B69346AC6C56AAB2|
|E6D9B1FF2D26C56EB1B7EB5B2B1D982270F3D159B52564217 9AD5B271AE5169970A|
|A6DD92563B02C5A4E1FF1AABA2ABA38B0A604E24CB84E91B8 41993905D27A4D15D2|
|37797303434E9D38C0C21304B88CF10B259C21BB70A8228AD E34093E317E33721B0|
|4F98FCC3104E2A00A29C6A2FE77DDADE739790BAC7D8E242D B8C382103512E8E72B|
|8A6E026258E4C32128477E0E0566FEC7E29D0D4B3CD7846F0 3D67BC20CC806FAFCA|
|D7CBF93C9C2FCDF95CE0E06507E1CD520D6E30F9D9A4F9D7B 8130BE49C8595A0A6D|
|13B059769A56F919127F417184B84643F74222A06212AA4B6 08FD1468EA0153984D|
|7AF829B5EDE823C663C2E013C6366108DC07F8A5C580934C3 B601A52ED1DE2A1447|
|82811EE64928792E2A1CCF25076216A58756F988732C24319 E1A18CF150C678281A|
|B88FAA7D473B70092758A2AAF028F733C6FD8C713F6349423 C45D803F771B5DFF83|
|7CA79EC13E333E30B21FE959003F709957D62890A3FBEC058 66E4F9135B24E8E09E|
|508D4DEC5363DF82694A7DAB531FC82BBDC3784F98FBC8D86 5EC1126202AA3BE924|
|C860FCE2114A17B06A775186C9A3D040332E45429391EC098 DE3D9BF0C3E6E5FFB1|
|ACE8DDA32534B28CEBDD23FA5FD777DFC15EBD573CA0AB282 B286B285751AEA15C4|
|73151D651CA289D1FDDE8E0092CE824CA2994D3280FD1C9ED 05F1A2F850FC280194|
|204A1F4A1865106504E5154AE72F7410FCA1|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre><hr />
Is this a viable build? what level does it shine? I had one up to 32...and I died ALOT...perhaps I didnt give it enough time? perhaps I didnt have it slotted/powers choosen correctly?
Anyone got some advice?
Builds?
Tell me to shaddup and quit whinning?