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I also find it weird that a set that advertise -def in almost all powers can't even slot -def IO sets or Enhancement
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There is a simple reason for that. Quicksand alone has a 25% Defense debuff. Most of the other powers have a 20% Defense debuff. Without any enhancement, you can debuff defense so far that it is non-existant.
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
yeah I can understand that, but it would have been nice to add some -def sets to the mix 
I guess it's like sonic would don't even have a -res set or bonus available...
ok so I got this build "planned" for when i'm lvl 50.
Can anyone tell me if i'm dead wrong or if I simply need to modify things here and there?
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Earth Control
Secondary Power Set: Thermal Radiation
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Stone Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Fossilize -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(7), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(7), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(9), Lock-%Hold(40), Lock-Acc/Hold(46)
Level 1: Warmth -- Dct'dW-Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal(9), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(11), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(11), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(13)
Level 2: Stone Cages -- Posi-Dam%(A), Posi-Dmg/Rng(3), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(3), Posi-Acc/Dmg(5), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(5), GravAnch-Hold%(40)
Level 4: Cauterize -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Heal(37), Dct'dW-Rchg(37), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(37), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 6: Quicksand -- Slow-I(A), RechRdx-I(43), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 8: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 10: Salt Crystals -- CSndmn-Heal%(A), CSndmn-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(13), CSndmn-Sleep/Rng(15), CSndmn-Acc/Rchg(15), CSndmn-EndRdx/Sleep(17)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Stalagmites -- Amaze-Acc/Rchg(A), Amaze-EndRdx/Stun(17), Amaze-Stun/Rchg(19), Amaze-Acc/Stun/Rchg(19), Amaze-Stun(21)
Level 18: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(36), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(46)
Level 22: Earthquake -- Achilles-ResDeb%(A), LdyGrey-%Dam(23), Achilles-DefDeb/Rchg(23), ExStrk-Dam%(25), RechRdx-I(25), RechRdx-I(27)
Level 24: Thermal Shield -- ImpArm-ResDam(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(31), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(31), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 26: Volcanic Gasses -- BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Hold(27), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(29), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(29), Lock-Acc/Rchg(36), Lock-Rchg/Hold(40)
Level 28: Forge -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 30: Plasma Shield -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(33), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(33), ImpArm-ResDam(33)
Level 32: Animate Stone -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(34), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(34), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(34)
Level 35: Power of the Phoenix -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Heat Exhaustion -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(39), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 41: Melt Armor -- UndDef-DefDeb(A), UndDef-Rchg(42), UndDef-DefDeb/Rchg(42), UndDef-DefDeb/EndRdx(42), Achilles-ResDeb%(43), Achilles-DefDeb/Rchg(50)
Level 44: Fissure -- Posi-Dam%(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Posi-Acc/Dmg(45), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(45), Posi-Dmg/Rng(46)
Level 47: Rock Armor -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50), RechRdx-I(50)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
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[u]Set Bonus Totals:[u]<ul type="square">[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Fire)[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Cold)[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Energy)[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Negative)[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)[*]16.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)[*]5% Defense(Energy)[*]5% Defense(Negative)[*]3.75% Defense(Psionic)[*]2.5% Defense(Ranged)[*]8.55% Max End[*]8% Enhancement(Heal)[*]49% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*]5% Enhancement(Sleep)[*]60% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[*]5% FlySpeed[*]49.6 HP (4.88%) HitPoints[*]5% JumpHeight[*]5% JumpSpeed[*]MezResist(Confused) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Held) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Immobilize) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Sleep) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Stun) 2.5%[*]MezResist(Terrorized) 6.9%[*]20.5% (0.34 End/sec) Recovery[*]10% (0.42 HP/sec) Regeneration[*]8.19% Resistance(Fire)[*]8.19% Resistance(Cold)[*]5% RunSpeed[/list]
looks solid. I sprinkled some of my preferences..
Removed a rech IO from Quicksand.
Put some acc in Heat Exhaustion and Melt Armor.
I swapped the LotG's for Red Fortune in Rock Armor.
I dont really care for Stone Mastery but most take it for the theme (including myself)
There's so much control and buffage on this build, I doubt you'll ever get to use Salt Crystals or Power of the Phoenix.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
perma jump is ---> /up 1
Drop Salt Crystals you will never use it...
Fire would help you with damage more than Stone Epic will unless u are being thematic.
You will want hasten A LOT sooner..
The hard things I can do--- The impossible just take a little bit longer.
If numbers are so much more important than a teammate who is fun to play with, forget about the game altogether and go play with a calculator instead. -Claws and Effect-
Powers I'd drop are Combat Jumping (you are not getting a lot out of it unless you planned to stack it with set bonuses, which doesn't appear to be the case here), Salt Crystals and likely Power of the Phoenix. Swap Super Jump with Super Speed unless you are dead set on being a jumper. You could also drop Haste for Air Superiority and go with Fly as a travel power; you will be hurting bad for an attack until 40-ish level with this build.
You should also reconfigure to get Earthquake at level 18. I also recommend delaying Cauterize in favor of Thermal Shield and relying on Warmth for your low-level healing. Unfortunately, there isnt a good build I can come up with that puts Plasma Shield earlier than level 22.
Power of the Phoenix is subjective. I often advise Thermals to skip it because it is so very, very endurance heavy and has a huge recharge time. In the build below I put it as your last power pick but IMO you would do better to get Recall Friend and carry some Awakens with you. When someone dies give them an Awaken (if they don't already have one) and just Cauterize and then Thaw them.
** Edit: I also swapped the epic powers around. I recommend getting Hurl Boulder for some much needed damage at level 41. Seismic Smash could also work.
I'd change the order of powers to something like this:
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Fossilize -- (A)
Level 1: Warmth -- (A)
Level 2: Thermal Shield -- (A)
Level 4: Stone Cages -- (A)
Level 6: Quicksand -- (A)
Level 8: Swift -- (A)
Level 10: Hasten -- (A)
Level 12: Stalagmites -- (A)
Level 14: Super Speed -- (A)
Level 16: Health -- (A)
Level 18: Earthquake -- (A)
Level 20: Stamina -- (A)
Level 22: Plasma Shield -- (A)
Level 24: Cauterize -- (A)
Level 26: Volcanic Gasses -- (A)
Level 28: Forge -- (A)
Level 30: Thaw -- (A)
Level 32: Animate Stone -- (A)
Level 35: Heat Exhaustion -- (A)
Level 38: Melt Armor -- (A)
Level 41: Hurl Boulder -- (A)
Level 44: Rock Armor -- (A)
Level 47: Fissure -- (A)
Level 49: Power of the Phoenix -- (A)
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You mentioned that you would like to solo occasionally. While every powerset in CoH/V -can- solo, you have possibly picked one of the slowest of all. Earth is one of the two least damaging control primaries and thermal does not do much to help that. It is better than empathy or force field but starting with such a non-damaging primary, you will have very little added boost.
It still looks like a great combo...depending on what you expect from it.
it's mainly to try something with more control. I have a fire/FF a plant/rad and a grav/storm troller already so I wanted to try something new.
Soloing for me is not being able to blast through 20 enemies while making coffee, if I have to run i'll run, if I have to spam the same power but be safe i'll do it. As long as i'm able to finish the mission alone i'll be happy Thats why I went for a bit of +dam and a bunch of +rech. The duration of a hold or a immo is irrelevant if you can double/triple stack it 
Some different point of views, Having an Earth/Therm buddy toon of my own.
I would not take stone cages at lvl 2. It draws way too much aggro and is too costly that low. I would take Stone Prison @ lvl 2 for some much needed damage.
Definatly drop Salt Crystals @ lvl 10. If you want I would grab your AOE immob if you really want it.
I did not take my shields until the 20s. The reason being that I find pre 20 they are not that vital, more so if your solo.
Grab your AOE heal @ lvl 4
If your not partial to SJ I would keep hurdle @ lvl 6, take quicksand @ lvl 8, hasten @ lvl 10, stalagmites @ 12 and SS @ lvl 14.
Grab health @ 16, then EQ @ 18, Stamina @ 20
That allows you some freedom. By the 20s you'll prolly be teaming more. If so your shields can be grabbed @ 22+24.
Your AOE Hold @ 26
I'm not a big fan of the AOE immob in earth, just a personal taste. I like the KD from earthquake and with good recharge it can be up very often.
After 26 the only earth power left that truely is needed is Poo Man. That leave 28/30 for personal choices.
Tho I strongly suggest Forge at 28 for teaming and for your pet.
Your 30s are really locked down. 32 Poo Man, 35 Heat Exhaustion, 38 Melt Armor.
Epics are a mixed bag each has its own niche.
Earth works thematically. Lotsa great synergy too.
Fire gives some good damage.
Ice has some fun powers.
Psi is rather meh.
Primal gives you some great END management. Which allows for spamming of heals. Plus Power Boost.
I would try to maximize your recharge over +damage. Recharge brings your heals & controls up faster. +Dam won't get you as much of a boost as you don't really have good damage. It will help but you but you won't see as much from it as some other sets.
Hope this gives you some alternative ideas to consider about how you can build your new troller.
thanks i'll see what I can do with this info I like the aoe immo more than the single target so i'll keep that, but i'll look at dropping Salt crystal and changing things around
My Earth/Thermal just hit 33 and I've been working on his build plan over the past few days. My overall goal is to build for recharge while keeping on eye on maximizing the individual bonuses of key powers (powers are sometimes left a little lacking when slotting solely for set bonuses).
I don't have Stone Cages because Earthquake is my opener and it's up for every group (and I despise the effect of Stone Cages).
I took the Stone epic, mainly for fissure which I muled Kinetic Crash into for the recharge bonus.
I have Hasten within 5 seconds of perma without using any purple sets. Once I hit 50 I'll swap out a few sets for purples and have perma hasten.
With all the recharge I'll be able to keep Forge up on six team mates at a time (or five plus Poo Man).
I tend to stay away from Purple set. Not because I couldn't afford it ( I do have 4 set of 5 in my spine/regen) but simply because I realized how useless they really were. I sell 1 purple recipe and I can get 2 full set of IO for another toon (like positron).
I was also aiming for recharge but without the purple. I think I still have some modification to do here and there but in the end I'm pretty happy with the build so far (got to 41).
Hi,
I rolled an earth/therm troller not too long ago but I have really no idea what I should be aiming for. I do want to use him more for support than damage, but i'm not sure which power should be prioritized. Should I go for +dam, +rech, more control... I'm really not sure. I know earth is not the damage dealer but it'd be good to be able to solo a bit
I'm currently sitting at 35.
I also find it weird that a set that advertise -def in almost all powers can't even slot -def IO sets or Enhancement