Mid's Issues:
Set Phalanx Fighting to 0 allies. To do this, options-> advanced -> database editor -> main database editor -> brute defense -> Shield_Defense ->phalanx fighting -> scale range to 0, not 1.
Power Choices:
-You do not need both Charged Brawl and Havoc Punch. Drop one.
-Jacob's Ladder is way too late in your build.
-You really do want tough/weave. Especially weave.
-Hasten lets you fire Shield Charge and Lightning Rod more often.
IOs on the Cheap:
-Be patient in your bids. Bid under the buy it now price and let it sit for a few nights.
-Check crafted generic IOs. A lot of people craft generic IOs for the table accolade and then dump them on the market. Often the crafted generic IO is cheaper than the crafting cost, unlike sets.
-Buy Expensive IOs at levels other than 50. Sometimes you will find that 5 million inf IO at 50 is going for 500k at level 42. The numbers won't be quite as good, but the multiple attributes they enhance will still be more effective than if you chose generic IOs. Plus, you still get the set bonuses. You really don't lose as much as you think you would!
-Pick sets that are 'yellow' (uncommon) rather orange (rare). Often, yellow sets may not even require rare salvage, drastically reducing crafting costs.
IO Set Recommendations:
-Multistrike is dirt cheap. The set bonuses aren't the best out there, but will compliment your slotting.
-Mako's Bite isn't all that expensive once you have a level 50 toon to grind out a little bit. In fact because Crushing Impact is so popular, sometimes Mako's winds up being cheaper! Until you can afford such a set, you can use frankenslotting cheap sets.
-Look to buy Steadfast Protection Res/3% Def at level 30. There are more of these floating around and the price has dropped a bit on these. It is worth the investment.
A suggested reasonable build to work toward:
Pros:
-This can be done cheaply compared to a lot of elec/shield builds.
-This build is designed to be functional without the more expensive parts. Slot what you can cheaply and slowly work your way towards completion.
-Ghost Patron's pool gives you access to Darkest Night. This power is to be used on fights you know will be difficult. It is slotted to reduce endurance cost and debuff the enemies.
Cons:
-Multistrike is not recharge heavy. As a result, my placing it in Shield Charge and Lightning Rod means that both will not fire as often. 40 seconds vs. 26 seconds on the better shield builds.
-You are not softcapped. However, softcapping a shield brute costs a lot more infamy. But, you aren't too far off either. Melee is 42.9%, Ranged 36.3% (yuck), and AoE is 39.4%.
-You do not have Dark Obliteration. This is due to the high endurance cost of this power.
-Your accuracy could be better. I placed a kismet 6% Acc (really to-hit) in combat jumping. It is moderate in cost.
-I was unable to fit in a heal, as much as I wanted to. Also, I was unable to fit in grant cover, which will make you more vulnerable to defense debuffs. However, given that this is going to be a bit endurance hungry, missing that extra toggle isn't a bad thing. In fact, you might even not run tough.
The Build:
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Level 50 Technology Brute
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Charged Brawl <ul type="square">[*] (A) Smashing Haymaker - Accuracy/Damage[*] (3) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Endurance[*] (3) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Recharge[*] (15) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (17) Accuracy IO[/list]Level 1: Deflection <ul type="square">[*] (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance[*] (7) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance[*] (29) Serendipity - Defense[*] (37) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge[*] (43) Titanium Coating - Resistance/Endurance[*] (46) Titanium Coating - Resistance[/list]Level 2: Battle Agility <ul type="square">[*] (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance[*] (7) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance[*] (29) Serendipity - Defense[*] (34) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 4: Jacobs Ladder <ul type="square">[*] (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage[*] (5) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance[*] (5) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge[*] (11) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance[*] (15) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (25) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 6: Combat Jumping <ul type="square">[*] (A) Kismet - Accuracy +6%[/list]Level 8: Thunder Strike <ul type="square">[*] (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage[*] (9) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance[*] (9) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge[*] (11) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance[*] (17) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (25) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 10: Hurdle <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 12: True Grit <ul type="square">[*] (A) Healing IO[*] (13) Healing IO[*] (13) Healing IO[*] (40) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%[/list]Level 14: Super Jump <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 16: Health <ul type="square">[*] (A) Healing IO[*] (27) Healing IO[*] (40) Healing IO[/list]Level 18: Chain Induction <ul type="square">[*] (A) Smashing Haymaker - Accuracy/Damage[*] (19) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Endurance[*] (19) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Recharge[*] (23) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (23) Mocking Beratement - Accuracy/Recharge[/list]Level 20: Stamina <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Modification IO[*] (21) Endurance Modification IO[*] (21) Endurance Modification IO[/list]Level 22: Against All Odds <ul type="square">[*] (A) Endurance Reduction IO[/list]Level 24: Active Defense <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (27) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 26: Phalanx Fighting <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 28: Boxing <ul type="square">[*] (A) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (40) Smashing Haymaker - Accuracy/Damage[*] (46) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Recharge[*] (48) Smashing Haymaker - Damage/Endurance[*] (50) Rope A Dope - Accuracy/Recharge[/list]Level 30: Tough <ul type="square">[*] (A) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance[*] (31) Reactive Armor - Resistance[*] (31) Reactive Armor - Endurance[*] (31) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 32: Lightning Rod <ul type="square">[*] (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage[*] (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance[*] (33) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge[*] (33) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance[*] (34) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (34) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 35: Shield Charge <ul type="square">[*] (A) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage[*] (36) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance[*] (36) Multi Strike - Damage/Recharge[*] (36) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Endurance[*] (37) Multi Strike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (37) Multi Strike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[/list]Level 38: Weave <ul type="square">[*] (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance[*] (39) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance[*] (39) Serendipity - Defense[*] (39) Endurance Reduction IO[/list]Level 41: Gloom <ul type="square">[*] (A) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge[*] (42) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance[*] (42) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge[*] (42) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge[*] (43) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance[*] (43) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage[/list]Level 44: Darkest Night <ul type="square">[*] (A) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge[*] (45) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge/Endurance[*] (45) Dark Watcher's Despair - Recharge/Endurance[*] (45) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Endurance[*] (46) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Endurance[/list]Level 47: Hasten <ul type="square">[*] (A) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (48) Recharge Reduction IO[*] (48) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]Level 49: Build Up <ul type="square">[*] (A) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge[*] (50) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge[*] (50) Recharge Reduction IO[/list]------------
Level 1: Brawl <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Sprint <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 2: Rest <ul type="square">[*] (A) Empty[/list]Level 1: Fury
Edit:
If you are unhappy with the recharge in Lightning Rod and Shield charge, you can choose to sacrifice the 6th setbonus on multistrike (0.94% melee defense) for a recharge IO. I recommend dropping the Damage/Endurance one.
Will I still be able to build fury fast enough by dropping one of the first 2 attacks?
Yes. Keep up the aggression on your enemies and you'll maintain 80%-90% fury. The enemies attacking you will help you the most.
You have will have boxing decently slotted to replace Charged Brawl.
I'm not really great with IO sets at all, and I don't have a bunch of cash... Nor do I know what I'm doing as a Brute.
I'm only slotting up to 32 so far, cause that's what I'm about to hit.
For the msot part, I'm using vanilla IOs, with a few cheap things thrown in for the defense IO bonuses.
Any assistance or suggestions would be appreciated. Or suggestions on what to aim for down the road.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.401
http://www.cohplanner.com/
[u]Click this DataLink to open the build![u]
Technobotic: Level 48 Technology Brute
Primary Power Set: Electrical Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Charged Brawl -- S'ngH'mkr-Acc/Dmg(A), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/Rchg(5), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Hbntn-Acc/EndRdx(13)
Level 1: Deflection -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(15), DefBuff-I(17), EndRdx-I(27)
Level 2: Havoc Punch -- S'ngH'mkr-Acc/Dmg(A), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/Rchg(5), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Hbntn-Acc/EndRdx(13)
Level 4: True Grit -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(19), Heal-I(27)
Level 6: Battle Agility -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(15), DefBuff-I(17)
Level 8: Thunder Strike -- Acc-I(A), EndRdx-I(9), Dmg-I(9), Dmg-I(11), Dmg-I(19)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(11)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Chain Induction -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(23), Dmg-I(23), EndRdx-I(25), Dmg-I(25)
Level 24: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff-I(A)
Level 28: Jacobs Ladder -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(29), Dmg-I(29), EndRdx-I(31)
Level 30: Grant Cover -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(31), DefBuff-I(31)
Level 32: Lightning Rod -- Acc-I(A)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Acc-I(A)
Level 38: One with the Shield -- ResDam-I(A)
Level 41: Mu Lightning -- Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Ball Lightning -- Acc-I(A)
Level 47: [Empty] -- Empty(A)
Level 49: [Empty] -- Empty(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury