Villain EAT > Hero EAT
Wait til you start getting into teams with multiples of them. There's really no downsides to them:
They do high damage
They have mez protection
They have great defenses
They get a second costume slot at level 10 (assuming you play through the arcs)
They're great teamed and solo
I honestly wish the hero EATs could be as good. I find them needlessly complicated and also lacking for slots every level.
But then again, your mileage will vary. Your trash, my treasure and vice versa.
You know what, I was about to make a long drawn out list of why VEATs are better than HEATs, but the only thing I can tell you to do is to play them both to 50, and I can put money on it that you will have a much easier time with a VEAT than you will a HEAT as I have a level 50 Bane Spider and Widow that both probably made to 50 in the time it took my PB to make it to 30. Oh yeah play on an all VEAT team and an all HEAT team let me know which one you like better.
"Yes, winning all the time can be boring."
-Knight_Chill
"It's amazing how well you can put up with endurance issues if you hide them under a large enough pile of bodies."
-Spiritchaser speaking on Dom Revamp
SoA are rather drab pre-24. Low defense, lame looking attacks(except for Pummel 
).
However once you hit 24, they start coming into their own.
Just stick with it, will be worth it in the end.
They aren't for everyone just like each AT isn't for everyone.
"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)
I absolutely LOVE my Crab Spider.
Im about to hit level 37 but already this is my favourite toon.
I am mainly using Ranged powers. The only melee (apart from Brawl - yawn) is my 12 month VET award Sands of Mu. If I didnt have this id have prbly gone for Arm Lash.
When it comes to Minions and Lts' I kick the proverbial.
My chain is: Wide Area Web + Venom Grenade + Frag Grendade + Suppresion + Channelgun + LongFang + Channelgun (it recharges fairly quickly).
Ive got all 3 Tactical Trainings + Crab Spider Armor + CT: Def + Fortification (which gives you a free aura as well).
Serum I use when im getting hit hard - mainly only if im teaming withour a Tank as the SoA 200% Threat tends to agro a lot. Thats the only downside as I use a lot of AoE attacks.
Bosses are also fairly straight forward and not a problem.
On a team it is simply fantastic. All the mobs (Minions+Lts) are either dead or half dead after the initial chain. Sometimes I dont even get to finish the Chain (depending on the level of the team).
Add in a 2nd Crab with at least Venom+Frag+Suppresion and .... WOW. Thats all I can say - WOW.
You dont see many Crabs but if they take the Tactical Training powers grab them for your team.
I do need 2-3 STAM slots for all my Toggles + attack chain but I rearly ever run out of END unless its a very long fight and im using my attacks as soon as they recharge. Even then its a long time before i need to use a Blue insp.
I have hover and have just started hovering during combat to force mobs to use Ranged attacks against me and I get hit way less, although END does drain faster.
I also dont have any travel power apart from Sprint and Hover. With Run, Sprint and Mental Training with 1 Running SO each I run faster than the Raptor Backpack.
I havnt done a Bane Spider yet (my last toon was a Stalker so wanted something different) nor a Widow.
All in all Crab Spiders rock. Get 2+ on a team and O.. M.. G..
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I tried to play a SoA but i just can't seem to enjoy it. I went to the hero vets, witch i just got yesterday, and they can fly right away and can transform and stuff it just seems more rewarding than a SoA. Now am i just missing something or what because it just seems so lack luster right now. 
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SoAs start pretty much like other characters, maybe a little weaker on defense. They end up stronger than a lot of other characters. They're incredibly survivably, deal excellent damage, and act as force multipliers on teams.
SoAs start modestly and end up demigods. Kheldians start with a flare, and end up as epic heroes.
That doesn't mean you'll like SoAs, or that it's wrong to like a Kheld better. But it's why people go on about them.
Blue
American Steele: 50 BS/Inv
Nightfall: 50 DDD
Sable Slayer: 50 DM/Rgn
Fortune's Shadow: 50 Dark/Psi
WinterStrike: 47 Ice/Dev
Quantum Well: 43 Inv/EM
Twilit Destiny: 43 MA/DA
Red
Shadowslip: 50 DDC
Final Rest: 50 MA/Rgn
Abyssal Frost: 50 Ice/Dark
Golden Ember: 50 SM/FA
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Wait til you start getting into teams with multiples of them. There's really no downsides to them:
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See, this always bugs me when I see it... 'cause I can say the same thing with a team full of Khelds, too (and have played that way,) and also steamroll anything in our path. Of course, the same holds true of just about any AT. *shrug* Won't argue that the leadership buffs are nice.
Personally, I've enjoyed the trip to 50 more on a HEAT than with my VEATs (haven't HIT 50 on any, highest is 42, and that's a Widow that's taken multiple builds to get 'satisfactory' to me. Next one's a bane that... eh.) I've run multiple Khelds to 50, and enjoyed it - the veats aren't drawing me in.
Of course, my biggest disappointment is the arcs themselves. They seem good until 20-25, then "meh." (And I've gotten to rather dislike the whole 23-wasted-levels bit.) Which is why I'm working on replacement arcs for them.
Despite that, still running one which will be a Crab, and another to turn into a Fort (I know, I can dual build, but I want to see how they evolve.) So I'm going to get very used to their 1-50.
*shrug* I'll agree it's a matter of personal taste, though. I've had more fun on my Khelds than on my SoAs by far.
What you guys me by "HEAT"?
One big difference is that Kheldians get a huge huge boost at level 6 (squid form) and you can stay in that until the 30s easily. After that however squid form starts to be outclassed rather handily by Blasters and Lobster form is pretty much always second fiddle to a real tank. Pure human is the most powerful at 50 (especially for Warshades), but also quite difficult to play and pretty risky all around--Kheldians never get useful mez protection, even the mez protection bonus from having a Controller around is a pitiful 1 per troller. By the time you have enough to be useful (at least 3, preferably 4 or 5), it won't matter because all of the spawns will be locked down anyway.
That said, if a Warshade has someone to slap on some mez protection (even Stimulant is enough), then they can easily become godlike. Capped damage, capped RES vs. Everything, one of the most powerful self-heals in the game, self-endo recovery, an honest to God nuke, stackable pets (that don't even die when you do!!!), controls, and more.
That said, veats are amazing at higher levels too, and don't have the mez hole. I don't think they can get quite as nuts as a Warshade with mez protection, but they're still amazing, and they don't require a specific teammate to be great.
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What you guys me by "HEAT"?
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HEAT = Hero Epic ArcheType (Kheldians - Peacebringers and Warshades)
VEAT = Villain Epic ArcheType (Soldiers of Arachnos)
For the purposes of City of Heroes, Epic uses the "vast, sweeping storyline" definition, and not the "OMGWTFBBQ!!!Godmode!" definition.
New story arcs coming soon (ARC IDs will be aded when I finish the arc):
So, you want to join the Hellions? (level 1-14 Villainous arc)
Sparks & Steel (level 5-20 Heroic arc)
and
So you want to join the Skulls? (level 1-14 Villainous arc)
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I tried to play a SoA but i just can't seem to enjoy it. I went to the hero vets, witch i just got yesterday, and they can fly right away and can transform and stuff it just seems more rewarding than a SoA. Now am i just missing something or what because it just seems so lack luster right now.
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I can't tell you how many times I stop lvling PB when I hit 14. Yes, the Fly and Form are kinda cool when you got them but it becomes annoying when you try to enhance those powers.
I haven't tried Epic Hero after their buffs. I can honestly say SoA > Kheldian. Of course some of you can disagree with me. I love how two SoA can almost cap the whole team's defense while not sacrificing anything. Those toggles are always on as long as you are within range. SoA is always on the attack-mode, unlike Defender/Corr who may spend time "supporting" others through buffs/heals or setting up debuffs. SoA just put on the toggles and fight.
I am just never impressed by Kheldians. When I play squishy, I love inviting SoA (with toggles of course) because I know as long as I am close to them, I get decent defense. If it's a Brute, I have to rely on him to draw aggro. With SoA, I just go crazy and it doesn't matter which AT I am at the moment.
PS: By the way, I have to emphasize that SoA WITH Maneuver. SoA without Maneuver is gimping himself/herself so hard that it's not even funny.
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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Once you hit 24, they start coming into their own.
Just stick with it, will be worth it in the end.
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Freedom Mains:
Sapphire Healer, Emp/Psych Def
Sapphire Blade, BS/Regen Scrap
Sapphire Gunner, AR/EM Blast
Izumi Reconstructed, Ice/Ice Corr
Operative Misaka, SoA
Arc #92364: The Shattered Sapphire
The dull before 24 thing is awkwardly true. You have two good powers: Venom Grenade and Leadership toggles, both of which are far more meaningful on teams.
Well like all attempts to make a new toon i found new glory in a different one so now I'm playing a gravity/energy dom and waiting for I15 although i think ill try to make one but sure it will not get to far.
We spill out guts out about why to stick with it to 24 and that is what you do??? Well fine, you have fun with your gimp/gimp!!!
....
....
Of course I am full of poo and will join you soon with the grav/energy I think.
gimpy is how i roll
Till I15 then ill be hitting 200s
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gimpy is how i roll
Till I15 then ill be hitting 200s
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Amen brother!
grav is fine, but if you're gonna go that route go grav/elec.
all you'll do with energy is piss off every single person you group with.
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grav is fine, but if you're gonna go that route go grav/elec.
all you'll do with energy is piss off every single person you group with.
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No way man my build is better so nyaaaaa
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grav is fine, but if you're gonna go that route go grav/elec.
all you'll do with energy is piss off every single person you group with.
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No way man my build is better so nyaaaaa
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This just reminds me way too much of back when I first started playing a troller (before CoV ) I took combat invis and had a blast playing that guy until one night ran into a group of people who could tell me how to make a better version of my troller, and first thing was to drop combat invis and get the PBAoE group invis. It makes you way better .. teams will love you more. Back the you got 3 respecs total.. I burnt my first in low 20s or pre-teens range, to take thier advice. The guy that was a blast turned to crap. The uber team invis had a recharge that left gaps in your invis as pre-SO you could not slot enough rech. worse the end drain was HUGE making it uncastable in combat with no endreduc SOs.
So as far as other peeps opinions on what teams favor and what is better.. pffff.
fair enough. just make sure, when you start shootin [censored] with your energy attacks that you have your target up against a wall and not getting knocked into other groups that will aggro and wipe your team.
energy is an ok set, it really is, but if you dont play smart, you're just gonna screw over the people depending on you.
elec is still a better set... decent damage and end drain proc.
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fair enough. just make sure, when you start shootin [censored] with your energy attacks that you have your target up against a wall and not getting knocked into other groups that will aggro and wipe your team.
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Um, Grav's holds do -10k% knock each, according to City of Data so once those open up you won't be QUITE so annoying.
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is a natural manure. -Thomas Jefferson
Read the Patriot newsletter. It's right, it's free.
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Villain EAT > Hero EAT
Wait til you start getting into teams with multiples of them. There's really no downsides to them:
They do high damage
They have mez protection
They have great defenses
They get a second costume slot at level 10 (assuming you play through the arcs)
They're great teamed and solo
I honestly wish the hero EATs could be as good. I find them needlessly complicated and also lacking for slots every level.
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hero EAT got nice damage, mezz prot, tanking ability by level 10, get better in team ...etc
the BIG difference is that hero side you really FEEL epic
you are an alien, you have power with lot of flashy FX, 3 possible build/playstyle and you are not a MOB with a shotgun of a claw meleer like / psi assault dom like thing
i was dissapointed too by villains Epic. Recluse ultimate weapon are well trained soldiers.. -_-'
and wihtout the shiny effect, having a attack chain of 3-4 power you cycle endlessly becomes boring (and the power are not that great in the end)
they lack of utility powers like PB's heal, or a free tp friend/foe.
not saying VeaT sucks, but i imagine that they don't fit my "ultimate super villain" view
but saying VeAT >HeAT is not true
Teamed VEATS>Teamed HEATS. It's pretty much a given. The Devs designed them with teaming in mind.
However, I do believe that HEATs have better storylines. I thought the VEAT ones were rather drab, hoping that they will go in and improve later as the did for the HEAT ones. And turning into a gigantic lobster or a flying squid? Thats just the icy on the cake.
I tried to play a SoA but i just can't seem to enjoy it. I went to the hero vets, witch i just got yesterday, and they can fly right away and can transform and stuff it just seems more rewarding than a SoA. Now am i just missing something or what because it just seems so lack luster right now.