...crickets...
I guess this build is as rare as I thought.
I got one to 35. its fun.
Was thinking about making a earth/thermal but now your post inspired me to try a Ice/Thermal.
My only 50 is an Ice/Thermal. I love the combination.
I've respecced the character a few times and can never seem to make up my mind on about what to keep/drop. Thermal is a great set without any real standout powers; it shines because of the combination of powers more than because of any one individual ability.
IMO, there isn't any power in Ice or Thermal that is a "must skip." Power of the Phoenix, to me, comes the closest because of its extreme endurance cost; I had the power for a long time and exchanged it for carrying wakies and simply using Cauterize / Thaw.
My current build is posted below. I went for a strong teaming build with slow-but-steady solo capability. The character is able to safely solo on one notch below Invincible; however, Epic Bosses and above are out of the question (which is fine with me because on a team Ice/Therm can obliterate them).
Hero Profile:
------------
Level 1: Block of Ice (A)
Level 1: Warmth (A)
Level 2: Thermal Shield (A)
Level 4: Chilblain (A)
Level 6: Arctic Air (A)
Level 8: Hasten (A)
Level 10: Plasma Shield (A)
Level 12: Ice Slick (A)
Level 14: Super Speed (A)
Level 16: Hurdle (A)
Level 18: Health (A)
Level 20: Stamina (A)
Level 22: Shiver (A)
Level 24: Cauterize (A)
Level 26: Glacier (A)
Level 28: Forge (A)
Level 30: Flash Freeze (A)
Level 32: Jack Frost (A)
Level 35: Heat Exhaustion (A)
Level 38: Melt Armor (A)
Level 41: Ice Blast (A)
Level 44: Frozen Armor (A)
Level 47: Hibernate (A)
Level 49: Thaw (A)
You'll notice that my build puts off Cauterize until after the shields. I did this because I find the shields, overall, much less skippable than the single target heal, largely because you also have an AoE heal. Deaths at low levels are mostly due to "chipped away" HP rather than spike damage, and I always found the shields + warmth to be just fine for reducing damage in most situations.
I have both Shiver and Arctic Air to get a good combo of ranged and up-close slows.
I have Flash Freeze, which lots of people skip. It's not great on teams and you can't open with it. The reason I have it is because Ice has no other AoE status mezzes besides Glacier. I use it once a fight has already started to nullify any enemies with ranged attacks who manage to escape Ice Slick. I also sometimes use it as a panic button.
I went with the Ice epic but dropped the AoE powers. You can make a decision for yourself there depending on how much damage you need to do. I feel like I'm able to do fine with just the single target power and the pet (who stays Forged at all times). You may find this too slow, however.
Here is what I built up. I stop'ed at 35 to start up my plant/storm. I am not sold on heat exhaustion btw. single target and way too long recharge.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Level 50 Technology Controller
Primary Power Set: Ice Control
Secondary Power Set: Thermal Radiation
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Fire Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Block of Ice -- Hold-I(A), Lock-Acc/Hold(5), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(7), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(13), Dmg-I(13), Dmg-I(15)
Level 1: Warmth -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(9), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Dct'dW-Heal(37), Dct'dW-Rchg(37)
Level 2: Thermal Shield -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(3), ResDam-I(3)
Level 4: Frostbite -- TotHntr-Immob/Acc(A), TotHntr-Acc/Immob/Rchg(5), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx(9), TotHntr-Acc/Rchg(17)
Level 6: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A)
Level 10: Plasma Shield -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(11), ResDam-I(11)
Level 12: Ice Slick -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15), RechRdx-I(17)
Level 14: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 16: Power of the Phoenix -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 18: Cauterize -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(19), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(19), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Dct'dW-Heal(31), Heal-I(46)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Arctic Air -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(23), Pplx-Conf/Rng(27), Pplx-Acc/EndRdx(40)
Level 24: Thaw -- S'fstPrt-ResKB(A)
Level 26: Glacier -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(27), Lock-Rchg/Hold(29), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(29), Lock-Acc/Hold(34), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 28: Forge -- AdjTgt-Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit(31), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(36), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 30: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 32: Jack Frost -- U'Loyal-Acc/Dmg(A), BriL'shp-Acc/Dmg(33), BriL'shp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(33), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), ExRmnt-+Res(Pets)(34)
Level 35: Heat Exhaustion -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(36), RechRdx-I(36), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 38: Melt Armor -- ShldBrk-DefDeb(A), ShldBrk-Acc/DefDeb(39), UndDef-Rchg(40), UndDef-DefDeb/Rchg(40), AnWeak-Acc/Rchg(43), AnWeak-Acc/Rchg/EndRdx(43)
Level 41: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(42), Posi-Dam%(42), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(43)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(45), Dmg-I(45), Dmg-I(45), Dmg-I(46), RechRdx-I(46)
Level 47: Consume -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(48), RechRdx-I(48), RechRdx-I(48), RechRdx-I(50)
Level 49: Acrobatics -- EndRdx-I(A), KBDist-I(50), KBDist-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
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Ice/therm is a FANTASTIC combo.
The big main points:
2 heals, 2 shields, frostbite, shiver, and AA with an occasional ice slick thrown in.
Those powers alone pretty much guarantee a team success.
The shields and slows greatly reducing the damage coming in to the team via spike, and over time, lets you easily heal the team up to where it needs to be.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Ice Thermal: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Ice Control
Secondary Power Set: Thermal Radiation
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Block of Ice -- NrncSD-Acc/Rchg(A), NrncSD-EndRdx/Hold(5), NrncSD-Acc/Hold/Rchg(11), G'Wdw-Acc/Rchg(25), G'Wdw-EndRdx/Hold(25), G'Wdw-Acc/Hold/Rchg(31)
Level 1: Warmth -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(3), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal(27), Dct'dW-Rchg(31)
Level 2: Thermal Shield -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(3), ResDam-I(15)
Level 4: Cauterize -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(17), Dct'dW-Heal(27), Dct'dW-Rchg(31)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 8: Shiver -- P'ngTtl-Acc/Slow(A), P'ngTtl-Acc/EndRdx(9), P'ngTtl-Rng/Slow(9), P'ngTtl-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(19), RechRdx-I(19)
Level 10: Plasma Shield -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(11), ResDam-I(15)
Level 12: Ice Slick -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(13), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(43)
Level 22: Frostbite -- TotHntr-Acc/Rchg(A), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx(23), TotHntr-Immob/Acc(23), TotHntr-Acc/Immob/Rchg(34)
Level 24: Power of the Phoenix -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Arctic Air -- CoPers-Conf(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(34), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(34), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(37), CoPers-Conf%(40), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 28: Forge -- AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(29), AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg(29), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx(43), AdjTgt-Rchg(46)
Level 30: Thaw -- S'fstPrt-ResKB(A)
Level 32: Jack Frost -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(33), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46)
Level 35: Glacier -- NrncSD-Acc/Rchg(A), NrncSD-EndRdx/Hold(36), NrncSD-Acc/Hold/Rchg(36), G'Wdw-Acc/Rchg(36), G'Wdw-EndRdx/Hold(37), G'Wdw-Acc/Hold/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Melt Armor -- ShldBrk-Acc/DefDeb(A), ShldBrk-Acc/Rchg(39), ShldBrk-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(39), LdyGrey-Rchg/EndRdx(40)
Level 41: Flash Freeze -- FtnHyp-Sleep(A), FtnHyp-Sleep/Rchg(42), FtnHyp-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(42), FtnHyp-Acc/Rchg(42), FtnHyp-Sleep/EndRdx(43)
Level 44: Heat Exhaustion -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(45), RechRdx-I(45), RechRdx-I(45), RechRdx-I(46)
Level 47: Mental Blast -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(48), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(48), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Indomitable Will -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
------------
[u]Set Bonus Totals:[u]<ul type="square">[*]9% DamageBuff(Smashing)[*]9% DamageBuff(Lethal)[*]9% DamageBuff(Fire)[*]9% DamageBuff(Cold)[*]9% DamageBuff(Energy)[*]9% DamageBuff(Negative)[*]9% DamageBuff(Toxic)[*]9% DamageBuff(Psionic)[*]2.25% Max End[*]42% Enhancement(Accuracy)[*]2.5% Enhancement(RunSpeed)[*]4% Enhancement(Confused)[*]5% Enhancement(Immobilize)[*]2.5% Enhancement(FlySpeed)[*]8% Enhancement(Heal)[*]55% Enhancement(RechargeTime)[*]2.5% Enhancement(JumpHeight)[*]2.5% Enhancement(JumpSpeed)[*]5% FlySpeed[*]133.5 HP (13.1%) HitPoints[*]5% JumpHeight[*]5% JumpSpeed[*]Knockback (Mag -4)[*]Knockup (Mag -4)[*]MezResist(Confused) 5%[*]MezResist(Held) 5%[*]MezResist(Immobilize) 12.2%[*]MezResist(Sleep) 7.75%[*]MezResist(Stun) 5%[*]MezResist(Terrorized) 9.4%[*]13% (0.22 End/sec) Recovery[*]5.04% Resistance(Fire)[*]5.04% Resistance(Cold)[*]1.26% Resistance(Energy)[*]1.26% Resistance(Negative)[*]2.52% Resistance(Toxic)[*]2.52% Resistance(Psionic)[*]15% RunSpeed[/list]
<font class="small">Code:[/color]<hr /><pre>| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
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Plasmic's Guide to Sonic/Mental
Plasmic's Guide to Regeneration
Plasmic Fire - 50 Fire/Rad Victory Server
One other piece of advice: when you get close to 50, plan to splurge a little and purchase the Contagious Confusion purple proc from Wentworth's. Now that it's been fixed so that it no longer hits your own pets, it increases the power of Arctic Air tremendously.
What the proc does is randomly cause an enemy to become confused. This confusion then spreads to adjacent enemies. The chance of the proc landing is low, but because its a toggle Arctic Air fires the proc every 10 seconds. So every 10 seconds, every enemy in range has to make a roll, and if just one of them fails, the effect cascades to other enemies. Even better, being that you specialize in -recharge, some of the confused enemies will waste their lone chance to attack on each other! It's really incredible to see in action and is part of the reason I recommend every build take Arctic Air.
So admittedly, Doms are some of my favorite toons, but I have a renewed love of Controllers lately. My Plant/Storm remains one of my favorite toons, and I recently built an Ice/Thermal that I just LOVE! Incredible utility player who can do anything, and most things very safely with Ice's mitigation and slows.
My problem is I want to take everything in both sets, so can either do dual builds for different purposes - for instance ranged versus melee, though melee would be admittedly support, not damage - or I can find out if anyone here has run these builds and has recommendations. So here I am.
There are no guides that I see for this combo, and a really small number of search results. I know /thermal is relatively knew for controllers, so maybe that's why.
In addition to the safety and utility, I have to mention the effects are just right. Earth seems to pollute the screen too much for me, Illusion feels real hands-off. Mind and Grav, too, have minimal effects. Fire I've played to 50 as a Dom, and Plant, well, how much more giggle-worthy could a set be than that?! Ice seems to have visible lockdown and slows without getting in the way, and Thermal is the same with visible cool-looking shields.
Anyway, enough rambling. Does anyone have build advice for what is skippable in your opinion? What would be best for a melee-focused toon (I like being in the thick of things) and a utility player style versus sticking to a single spammable repetition of moves?
Thanks.