So, my question is basically, how do you deal with this crash, what tactics do you employ to a) detect when LF is about to crash; b) protect yourself after LF crashed while you wait to regenerate and recover?
I usually just get out of the fray just prior to crash and once crash hits, I use the quick self heal in human form and then quickly change to dwarf and use that heal. That puts me back to full and I sit in dwarf and start the recovery process from there.
Works about 90% of the time, solo or on a team for me. The other 10% or so is more mistimings but that is why I got the self-rez.
I do something a little more exotic, ...eat a pink just before you crash [that' s your mez protection]. Once you crash, chomp a blue, and hop into quantum flight ... hit conserve power and do what you need to do in that form then switch on over to Dwarf form.
ArchRex Dojhrom x ?
* Sidus Loricatus: B-NRG2, S-BS/Reg, T-Fire/Ice, MM-Bots/FF, St-NRG2, Dom-Psi/NRG, Cor-Son/Traps, Cor-Ice/Kin, Ctrl-Fire/Kin, PB-LB/LA
* Arachnos Loricatus: Soldier, Widow
* Praetoria Loricatus: B-DP/Dev, Cor-Elec/Elec
To be honest, I can't remember the last time light form crashing got me in trouble...if after 3 minutes, you haven't finished off whatever put you in "oh crap" mode to begin with, you're probably going to die anyway 
. That said, I try to have Essence Boost recharged in time for the crash, and Conserve Power (though that's less essential, as you'll see). Ideal situation: pop a blue, then Conserve Power, Restore Essense, Essense Boost. Will end up at about 95% health, and good to go. Alternatively, I will hit Geas of the Kind Ones, Restore Essence, Essence Boost .
In a combat situation, it is unlikely that I would be in too much danger (I team the majority of the time), as I am not likely to have much aggro on me using lightform, one blue, one green, one self heal, and good to go.
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So, my question is basically, how do you deal with this crash, what tactics do you employ to a) detect when LF is about to crash; b) protect yourself after LF crashed while you wait to regenerate and recover?
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Any time you're using a "Tier 9" Power that has a crash, you need to be prepared to keep an eye on the timer. The blinking icon is a hint, but that's easy to miss. If you find yourself consistently getting caught with your pants down mid-fight, then you might consider downloading & installing "Hero Stats" or one of the other peripheral programs that run along side the game & give you an actual count-down timer. That's the first part of my answer to your question.
As far as how you keep going..that's trickier. You don't have any endurance recovery abilities as a PB, so you have limited choices. The simplest thing is to pull out of combat shortly before the power expires - but that's assuming that you have the ability or the foresight to do so. The second best bet is to carry tic-tacs in your tray to get you through the crash.
If you're playing a Kheld, hopefully you're on a team, and you can get some support from your other mates.
Why do I do do do things I do
Nobody was ever there for me to talk to
Once I was youngster, pure and true
Now I'm running with a sick, sick crew.