Heh, thanks.
COMING SOON to a board near you!
CHI'S Fire/Kinetics Corruptor Guide!
Hi mate. We were teamed up on Saturday morning. Wanted to ask you about your use of Hurrican again vs Endurence (especially in PVP) as we ran out time. You were saying that Hurrican is most useful as a herding/positional tool - which I can image quite easily - but I wanted to build my storm/dark mostly for PvP. The thing is that every time I have tried I run into a serious endurence problem by the tim you have Manuevers, Tactics, Steamy Mist, Snow Storm, Acrobatics (say) and Hurrican running. Wandered what your thoughts are?
You mentioned that you thought Steamy Mist wasn't so valuable but with a 3.5% defence bonus and a 25% resistence bonus (as well as the stealth/positioning use) I find Steamy Mist a really cool all-in-one team defense package. And whereas Hurrican is great melee defense it of little use against ranged trollers/blasters etc.
I guess I was wandering again how best to plan both my PvE and PvP build for both - especially at mid-thirties level I am now. see below:
---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
---------------------------------------------
Name: the elemental
Level: 37
Archetype: Defender
Primary: Storm Summoning
Secondary: Dark Blast
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Gale==> Acc(1)
01) --> Dark Blast==> Acc(1) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Dmg(15)
02) --> Snow Storm==> EndRdx(2) EndRdx(3) Slow(3) Slow(11)
04) --> Moonbeam==> Acc(4) Dmg(5) Dmg(7) Dmg(11)
06) --> Swift==> Run(6)
08) --> Freezing Rain==> Acc(8) Rechg(9) Rechg(9) Rechg(15) DefDeBuf(17) DefDeBuf(19)
10) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(10)
12) --> Hurricane==> EndRdx(12) EndRdx(13) TH_DeBuf(13) TH_DeBuf(19)
14) --> Super Jump==> Jump(14)
16) --> Tenebrous Tentacles==> Acc(16) Range(17) TH_DeBuf(21) TH_DeBuf(21) TH_DeBuf(27)
18) --> Health==> Heal(18)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(25) EndMod(27) EndMod(29)
22) --> Night Fall==> Acc(22) Range(23) TH_DeBuf(23)
24) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(24) EndRdx(25)
26) --> Maneuvers==> EndRdx(26) EndRdx(36)
28) --> Tactics==> EndRdx(28) EndRdx(29) EndRdx(31) TH_Buf(34) TH_Buf(34)
30) --> Steamy Mist==> EndRdx(30) EndRdx(31) EndRdx(31) DefBuf(34)
32) --> Lightning Storm==> Acc(32) Acc(33) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) Dmg(36)
35) --> Life Drain==> Acc(35) Heal(36)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Vigilance==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------
Well, personally, I wouldn't say that Leadership is too good for a Stormy, as it means you will probably find it very difficult to attack without wasting endurance incredibly.
In fact, you will probably have more survivability than me in some ways. Your resistance to Hold will help a lot, and your +perc will help you see Stalkers. I had to get TP, as I'm a Sorcerer.
I normally run:
Steamy mist (3 resistance and 1/2 End rdx I think)
Hurricane (3 ToHit Debuff, 2/3 End Rdx)
Temp invul (from power mastery) (3 Resistance, 1/2 Ebd Rdx)
Hover ()
Snow Storm (3 Slow, 2 End Rdx)
I don't always attack, normally I just shove in Tentacles with the occassional blasts here and there.
My Build is Pv-Bi really, I love playing him in Missions, and he's great in PvP.
One on One, he goes on the 'Granite Tank' basis, as in: "I can't kill you, but you can't kill me either".
One on one, the only thing that seems to have beaten me was an En/En Brute (AoE defence is the only thing that gets past hurricane, with an exception of Rooted Granite, which you can just walk away from 
). He used 4 Yellows, then stunned me, then 2 shotted me.
Fighting ranged foes in PvP isn't too difficult either.
Flying Blaster, say. Hurricane, Freezing rain, Tentacles, turn of Mist if you don't need the resistance that much, then just keep on walking into him. You can't really be killed by just one person, there needs to be one ranged person and a few others getting in your way 
.
You will do enough damage in the end, but you will be a God when in a Team Battle.
I'd definetley try slotting more for full potential of your debuffs, 3 acc debuffs in Hurricane for example.
Situationally, you can have more survivability than a Granite Tank. It can take a full team of Scrappers to take down a well prepared Granite, but it will take the whole world of Scrappers to try and get you 
.
I have a friend, Healer Kid (Commonly known as Haggis), who likes to PvP on the odd occasion. He is Empathy/Radiation (no attacks).
We use Ventrilo (basically TeamSpeak) with a few coalition SGs, and all decided to go to Warburg. It was us two Defenders vs the rest of 4 SGs, and the rest of WB. We kicked butt. As long as you have enough endurance, and Fortitude on you, you're safe. It's everyone else that should be worrying.
I've found that you can manage your endurance quite comfortably with 2 x end reds in all your toggles, plus and end red in all your attacks. Looking at your build it may be worth slotting your steamy mist up with 3 damage resists aswell.
I have no major end problems in pvp and I run - Steamy Mist, Hover, Snow Storm, Temp Invuln, Tactics, Assault, plus using click powers from my primary and secondary sets.
[ QUOTE ]
I have no major end problems in pvp and I run - Steamy Mist, Hover, Snow Storm, Temp Invuln, Tactics, Assault, plus using click powers from my primary and secondary sets.
[/ QUOTE ]
that's just showing off!
I run steamy mist, superspeed, superjump, snowstorm and hurricane + attack loads and my endurance is a nightmare in PvE and PvP (couldn't get away with hover the superjumpers got away too quick from me so I ended up going with the superspeed superjump combo). I slot 2 end redux in nearly all my storm powers too 
Well, I don't think you should constantly run SS & SJ, just click em when you need em.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have no major end problems in pvp and I run - Steamy Mist, Hover, Snow Storm, Temp Invuln, Tactics, Assault, plus using click powers from my primary and secondary sets.
[/ QUOTE ]
that's just showing off!
I run steamy mist, superspeed, superjump, snowstorm and hurricane + attack loads and my endurance is a nightmare in PvE and PvP (couldn't get away with hover the superjumpers got away too quick from me so I ended up going with the superspeed superjump combo). I slot 2 end redux in nearly all my storm powers too
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh, I forgot Hurricane... 
I have a storm controller and even though i'm forced into taking gale, i think its a really useful power. In certain indoor maps where mobs are pretty badly disperesed for my flashfire+firecages combo i'll normally anchor say an Lt with snow storm, flip on hurricaine gale them into a nice corner and use light brushing of hurricaine to herd them into the corner. Gale really helps me with thsi herding tactic. Situational, but then again useful.
Well yeah, I had it... as I said before, I've had a build with all Dark Powers and another with all Storm powers. I just didn't find myself using it that much tbh...
Thanks for the feedback Chi/guys. On the endurence issues I guess it might largely depend on much you actually attack and, in PVP, if you talking about a one on one fight or a team fight. I was really thinking about 1 on 1 and my endurence disappears fast and with no way out but in a team PVP encounter endurence is no problem as us Defenders get the Vigilence bonus and my Endurence never runs out then. I don't have end reducers on my main attacks either and I can see these would make a big difference 1 on 1. I think I'm going to go very end-conservative and drop 3 end reduc's (halving my power needs) on all my main end burnering toggles and see how that goes.
Very funny what you said about the energy/en brute Chi. He basically just got lucky then. If you'd popped four Luckies at the same time he may not have got you at all. I actually really like the Lord Recluse bash for that sort of thing - last week. No inpirations really highlighted the shortfall of your power-sets and holds (without Break Frees) often completely took me out of the fight followed by a quick and nastey death!
Like you Chi, I'm still not so certain about using Hurrican that much just becuase of the time invloved in pushing/herding, manipulating foes into the nearest corner (when sometimes there aren't any) just to go and pummel them with ...
.. what?
At the moment I'm tending to use Tenbrous Tentacles directly on mobs instead. With 4 -acc debuffs on it and a range extension this seems fairly flawless on mob sizes of up to +1 sometimes +2. Once they're stuck there I drop SnowStorm and Freezing Rain on them followed by Night Fall in a chain. That takes down even failry large mobs (not including bosses) surprisingly quickly. Not sure yet, cos I haven't got it, if the opposite tactic (herding, cornering and then blasting with ten tents, Night Fall and Lightning Storm is any quicker at taking big mobs down. I hadn't taken Lightnign Storm to date as it obviously scatters the mob really quickly and you WILL need Hurrican (or a corner) again to contain them.
Any feedback/experience of trying those two different tactics would be much apprecaited too.
At the mo, I've pencilled in Black Star next (at lvl 38) to wipe out that same mob once softened up slightly with Ten Tents and Night Fall etc. Does BlackStar scatter foes much? Like Nova, etc? And how powerful is it against +1/+2 mobs? Would you need to have taken down 50% of their health first or more - before unleashing it? Ooo. And how long is the down-tiem afterwards. I was figuring that if I hit with Ten Tentacles first then I have a good 10 seconds recovery time before they start shooting again. Is that enough?
Many thanks either way.
Well, I'd say Blackstar is a Nono. Unless you carry a lot of blues, the damage is not really worth the fact that it stops you debuffing. I'd say always run hurricane, that's what makes me a tank.
Hmmm. It's still an interesting concept Chi: The Tank Defender. I'm going to try that on the test server with my next respec. BTW with BlackStar, I know you've tried it so:
1. How long is that debuff downtime after use?
2. How much damage to a +1 minion does it do? 50%, 75% ?
3. Does the blast do radial knock-back too?
Cheers mate.
Well, I had it long before I had HeroBuilder...
I'm not sure how long the debuff time is, but it's easily enough for you to get in, and get out without being scratched.
As far as I can remember, it took down yellow minions in one shot, but not sure... it has been a while!
There is no knockback on it, just the ToHit Debuff.
[edit:] I did normally use Power Boost (From Power Mastery) With Blackstar, so the damage and debuff was increased. Not sure if the info I have given is including this.. sorry!
[ QUOTE ]
did normally use Power Boost (From Power Mastery) With Blackstar, so the damage and debuff was increased. Not sure if the info I have given is including this.. sorry!
[/ QUOTE ]
I'm afraid powerboost only boosts the debuff (secondary effect) and not the damage (primary effect). The problem with blaststar isn't helped by the fact that dark blast gets no aim power, instead we get the delightful siphon life, torrent and dark s**t
I miss him in the weeping of the rain;
I want him at the shrinking of the tide;
The old snows melt from every mountain-side,
And last year's leaves are smoke in every lane;
But last year's bitter loving must remain
~Edna St. Vincent Millay
[ QUOTE ]
I'm afraid powerboost only boosts the debuff (secondary effect) and not the damage (primary effect)
[/ QUOTE ]
This for all defender nukes or just Blackstar, I'm sure it made my defender's Nova more damaging (50% Damage boost I think), and if it is just Blackstar seems unfair.
[ QUOTE ]
Self +DMG, +ACC, +Special
Your mastery of power and energy allows you to greatly increase the damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your Accuracy Additionally, Power Build Up greatly boosts the secondary effects of your powers. Your powers effects like Heals, Defense Buffs, Endurance Drains, Disorients, Holds, Immobilizes, Knockbacks and more, are all improved. Recharge: Long
[/ QUOTE ]
Quoted from Nofuture
thePhilosopher Martial Arts/Regen/Fire Scrapper
theRegulator Empathy/Energy/Soul Defender
Total Inertia Ice Blast/Kinetics/Psy Corruptor
Total Inferno Ice Blast/Thermal/Leviathan Corruptor
Phil ftw!
[ QUOTE ]
As far as I can remember, it took down yellow minions in one shot ...
[/ QUOTE ]
well that's easy good enough for me. Great that is does no knock-back. Big advantage to us as they should hopefully still be in ten tentacles or freezing rain by the time we come back round. Gonna test that anyway.
Cheers Chi/guys
hehe finaly someone who realise that snowstorm is great..all other stormies are always saying to mini icy that snow storm is useless if you have freezing rain but I love it combined^^
On the topic of snowstorm, isnt there a -fly component to it? I could have sworn I heard it/ read it somewhere, but cant find it.
Yep it has a -fly component to it... good for AVs like Luminary too. 
Thanks, thought I'd seen it somewhere. When playing through the hollows it struck me that it would be useful to make those damn electricky outcast shockers stay down. Annoying blue people, like smurfs only taller and angrier looking.
Would also be good against tough flying enemies- let them have falling damage, then smashy them.
Yes, very useful... but if you're still fighting Outcasts, will probably be a big end drainer.
[ QUOTE ]
It makes you melee proof in PvP
[/ QUOTE ]
Btw from what ive been hearing from all the nerf cries they gave into nerfing hurricane but thats not much to do with the point the nerf was like melee chars resist the -range cos i mean how close can u get for a hit and btw if u resist the repel/Kb ur gunna die to meleers so if ur in pvp and think u got uber stalker protection someone will come with protection to it and bang BU+AS and ur on 1 hp ( would be zero but I7 stopped one shotting. i miss it lol)and then one other attack and ur gone.
just stating that never think ur so good stalkers cant get you their everywhere u are and u dont even know.
I like the concept of a Storm defender, but the guides I've seen appear to agree that it takes some skill to play one effectively and team-friendlily. I'm still a noob to CoH, so would you not recommend trying out a Stormie? I'm not doing any PvP.
Excellent guide Chi.