It's the whole of Force Mastery that's insanely good/overpowered.
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Is there really any point to these other epic shields if FoN is soo good?
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You're trading attack power for defence.
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Don't get me wrong - the other pools have some good powers - especially the holds - but in PvP these are largely irrelevant against most melee toons.
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Given that APP holds are mag3 - same as controllers, it doesn't take much to overcome a melee AT basic mez resist, 3 holds for a stalker, 4 for a brute so I don't think the holds are irrelevant.
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With the 'balancing' that I7 brings for villains - isn't it about time that blaster epics got a bit of a lift (why not resistance to ALL types??) - even if FoN has to take a nerf!
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Sure...and why not increase all Patron Power armours so they are the same. You realise there is nothing in Patron Powers that comes close to Force Mastery?
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It's the whole of Force Mastery that's insanely good/overpowered.
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Is there really any point to these other epic shields if FoN is soo good?
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You're trading attack power for defence.
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Hardly - the epics have very little in the way of extra attack power compared to what a blaster already has.
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Don't get me wrong - the other pools have some good powers - especially the holds - but in PvP these are largely irrelevant against most melee toons.
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Given that APP holds are mag3 - same as controllers, it doesn't take much to overcome a melee AT basic mez resist, 3 holds for a stalker, 4 for a brute so I don't think the holds are irrelevant.
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Try getting 3 of those holds out - not many blasters have 3 holds even.
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With the 'balancing' that I7 brings for villains - isn't it about time that blaster epics got a bit of a lift (why not resistance to ALL types??) - even if FoN has to take a nerf!
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Sure...and why not increase all Patron Power armours so they are the same. You realise there is nothing in Patron Powers that comes close to Force Mastery?
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Hence the suggestion to nerf force mastery!! 
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Hardly - the epics have very little in the way of extra attack power compared to what a blaster already has.
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LRM Missile.
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Hence the suggestion to nerf force mastery!!
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No argument there 
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Is there really any point in having anything other than force epic on a blaster in pvp. I'm slowly coming round to the fact that FoN is 'da uber' power and Force Mastery the epic to take.
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Pyre Mastery, just for Rise of the Phoenix. Of course depends what you're after in PvP, but it helps a damn lot.
Then again, I've never been one going for the über build. Heck, my blasters don't even have acrobatics. :P
[b][color=blue]Coldest War /[color=red]/ Omega Patient[/b]
[url="http://www.the-cow.net/"][color=red]The CoW Network (Blog) /[/url][url="http://www.collegeofwar.com/"][color=blue]/ College of War[/url]
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Hardly - the epics have very little in the way of extra attack power compared to what a blaster already has.
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LRM Missile.
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Which is ok - i currently have it as i don't have a snipe but it's not fantastic damage - certainly not 'epic' - and it's still very little 'compared' to what blasters already have
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Hence the suggestion to nerf force mastery!!
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No argument there
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But if you do that, the rest of the epics will need balancing - they're not 'that' epic.
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Is there really any point in having anything other than force epic on a blaster in pvp. I'm slowly coming round to the fact that FoN is 'da uber' power and Force Mastery the epic to take.
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Pyre Mastery, just for Rise of the Phoenix. Of course depends what you're after in PvP, but it helps a damn lot.
Then again, I've never been one going for the über build. Heck, my blasters don't even have acrobatics. :P
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It does depend on what you're after - but i'd rather not die in the first place to have to use RotF!
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It does depend on what you're after - but i'd rather not die in the first place to have to use RotF!
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In heated, balanced PvP (or in a situation where the world is against you) dying happens to a blaster far more than it does not. You're squishy and dangerous. It makes you a prime target. For Zonal PvP a self Rez is very useful, this from my experience on test where the balance might not be the best ever
[b][color=blue]Coldest War /[color=red]/ Omega Patient[/b]
[url="http://www.the-cow.net/"][color=red]The CoW Network (Blog) /[/url][url="http://www.collegeofwar.com/"][color=blue]/ College of War[/url]
You are aware that the ForceMastery Shields come with some drawbacks?
Force of Nature is a long recharge Clicky. So yes, you get amazing Resistance.. for 2 Minutes. After that, you need to wait nearly 12 Minutes for it to recharge, 6 if you slot Recharge Redux into it. And you lose all your endurance once it wears off, so yea, it is better than any other toggle shield.. for 2 Minutes
Force Mastery has 2 Emergency Buttons, Personal Force Field which stops you from attacking (kinda pointless for a Blaster?) and Force of Nature which is a 2 Minute "Please make sure I can fight that AV or tank a bit longer" clicky with a big endu-drain and long recharge.
You should always look at the entire picture and not just say that it is "better" than the other Epics, for the other epics have a few more attacks, some holds and toggle shields
FYI, to compare the toggles of the other epics with Force Mastery you should only compare them to Temp Invul, which is on par with those.
Edit: And seeing the toggle-dropping rate is rapidly decreased some blasters might want to redo their 40-50 PvP Builds to get a few more toggle-droppers rather than Blapping-Shields
Depends what kind of PvP you want to do.
For duals: Force is the best choice. (Force of nature, pff, temp invul is great armour)
For PvP zones: Elec would be best choice (ranged control, best armour)
For Teams: Ice would be best choice (snow storm and hibernate)
Munitions is the rogue one to be honest. I think munitions is the best choice for "stalker hunter" builds all the devices out there who use snipe along with LRM with defiance.
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It does depend on what you're after - but i'd rather not die in the first place to have to use RotF!
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In heated, balanced PvP (or in a situation where the world is against you) dying happens to a blaster far more than it does not. You're squishy and dangerous. It makes you a prime target.
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Don't i know it - but using FoN and for 2 minutes the tables are turned.
I use elec epic on one blaster and munitions on the other and have avoided force like the plague. But now i'm thinking otherwise - if you come up against a blaster with FoN, as a blaster - about the only thing you'll be able to do is run or click the hospital button.
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You are aware that the ForceMastery Shields come with some drawbacks?
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Quite aware thanks.
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Force of Nature is a long recharge Clicky. So yes, you get amazing Resistance.. for 2 Minutes. After that, you need to wait nearly 12 Minutes for it to recharge, 6 if you slot Recharge Redux into it. And you lose all your endurance once it wears off, so yea, it is better than any other toggle shield.. for 2 Minutes
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But the damage and destruction you can do in that 2 minutes is far more than you'd be able to do otherwise - what i'm saying is there will be blasters in RV sitting it out for that 'downtime' - then jumping back in when FoN is back. Team with a kinetics and have hasten and that downtime isn't that long.
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Force Mastery has 2 Emergency Buttons, Personal Force Field which stops you from attacking (kinda pointless for a Blaster?) and Force of Nature which is a 2 Minute "Please make sure I can fight that AV or tank a bit longer" clicky with a big endu-drain and long recharge.
You should always look at the entire picture and not just say that it is "better" than the other Epics, for the other epics have a few more attacks, some holds and toggle shields
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It is clearly 'better' for one power which enables a blaster to become a blanker - albeit for 2 minutes. The other epics, all of which i have tried and used do fill in the gaps for certain primary and secondary types - but Force has 1 power that if you have enough attacks/holds already increases the power of your build exponentially more than the other epics.
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FYI, to compare the toggles of the other epics with Force Mastery you should only compare them to Temp Invul, which is on par with those.
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Quite aware - only Body Armour is worse, others are slightly better with res to other damage types.
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Edit: And seeing the toggle-dropping rate is rapidly decreased some blasters might want to redo their 40-50 PvP Builds to get a few more toggle-droppers rather than Blapping-Shields
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By 40, you have taken most if not all of your toggle droppers as a blaster or blapper - getting more is not much of an option for most
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With the mez resists and damage resist FoN gives - you wade in - do tons of damage till it runs out then leg it.
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Are you taking that description from a hero planner by any chance? The resistances of FoN are very nice indeed, but I always get mezzed straight through it so I assumed that the planner descriptions were just a holdover from when Unstoppable was originally put in that slot in the Force APP.
If it does offer Mez protection it's very low Mag indeed (eg. Oppressive Gloom will still Stun me through it), although it's certainly nice that you still keep your resists whilst mezzed.
By my 50s shall ye know me:
Tundra, DVM, The Late, Neutrino Ghost, Sir Clanksalot, End Of Days, Prof. Migraine
Howler Monkey
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With the mez resists and damage resist FoN gives - you wade in - do tons of damage till it runs out then leg it.
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Are you taking that description from a hero planner by any chance? The resistances of FoN are very nice indeed, but I always get mezzed straight through it so I assumed that the planner descriptions were just a holdover from when Unstoppable was originally put in that slot in the Force APP.
If it does offer Mez protection it's very low Mag indeed (eg. Oppressive Gloom will still Stun me through it), although it's certainly nice that you still keep your resists whilst mezzed.
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Probably - do you run acrobatics too? Mez resist isn't really the point, though it'd be nice to know if it stacks with acrobatics - but as you still have 'huge' resistance to damage, a break free is all you need and you won't be dead before you get to use it!
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Probably - do you run acrobatics too? Mez resist isn't really the point, though it'd be nice to know if it stacks with acrobatics - but as you still have 'huge' resistance to damage, a break free is all you need and you won't be dead before you get to use it!
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Don't get me wrong, it's a great power (and I'm certainly not planning on speccing it out), but I'm pretty sure it doesn't give Mez protection. I do run Acrobatics as well, yes - invaluble for avoiding KB if nothing else.
Incidentally, it's pretty easy for some Blaster builds to have three Holds. Ice/Elec can manage it without even needing an APP, and my Elec/Elec/Elec had three until I respecced into Force, but I tend to find two to be enough.
By my 50s shall ye know me:
Tundra, DVM, The Late, Neutrino Ghost, Sir Clanksalot, End Of Days, Prof. Migraine
Howler Monkey
Choice of epic depends on your play style.
Choose one of FoN, LRM missile or Hbernate depending on which suits you better.
Ofcourse, you may want to pick up a hold in your epic in which case you wouldnt want to get Force or Munitions.
For PvP at 50, RotP and EM Plse offer very little, and it would be silly(imo) to not get one of the 3 powers I listed first.
Saying that, since the start of i5 I've had elec mastery because the S4 tourney was fought at 46 (so no last epic power available), and I've been able to function perfectly well.
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The [b]Retribution[/b] is coming.
[url="http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j19/Valens_ii/"]Some of my toons[/url]
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Probably - do you run acrobatics too? Mez resist isn't really the point, though it'd be nice to know if it stacks with acrobatics - but as you still have 'huge' resistance to damage, a break free is all you need and you won't be dead before you get to use it!
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Don't get me wrong, it's a great power (and I'm certainly not planning on speccing it out), but I'm pretty sure it doesn't give Mez protection. I do run Acrobatics as well, yes - invaluble for avoiding KB if nothing else.
Incidentally, it's pretty easy for some Blaster builds to have three Holds. Ice/Elec can manage it without even needing an APP, and my Elec/Elec/Elec had three until I respecced into Force, but I tend to find two to be enough.
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Will have to check the description for FoN about mez resistance.
'Some' blasters being the point - don't even get me started on holds and their toggle dropping! It is why certain combinations will do better in pvp than others - which incidentally i found it amusing though the other night in warburg when Sunrod (sonic/elec) got called a cookie cutter build by an ice/elec!!
I'll certainly be sticking with what i've taken on each blaster - and possibly going for ice with my 3rd, or maybe fire, not sure yet - but will ultimately see how blasters are affected in RV with the toggle changes and how well those with FoN do.
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Choice of epic depends on your play style.
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Absolutely - but some choices are perhaps a little more effective than others - and as i say, can improve certain builds exponentially over others.
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Choose one of FoN, LRM missile or Hbernate depending on which suits you better.
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Already have - but i like to try different epics. FoN pretty much fits 'all' playstyles though!
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Ofcourse, you may want to pick up a hold in your epic in which case you wouldnt want to get Force or Munitions.
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?? Munitions has Cryo Freeze Ray - the drawing of the weapon is a pain but the hold sometimes hits before the animation finishes - it's not 'actually' that bad.
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For PvP at 50, RotP and EM Plse offer very little, and it would be silly(imo) to not get one of the 3 powers I listed first.
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I definitely wouldn't get any of those epics for either of those powers for pvp thats for sure.
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Saying that, since the start of i5 I've had elec mastery because the S4 tourney was fought at 46 (so no last epic power available), and I've been able to function perfectly well.
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I took elec first time round and have kept on the nrg/nrg blaster - definitely a nice shield and hold - others i didn't, nor would i now bother with.
I disagree Kronosy =/
While FoN is a fantastic power, there are others out there that can best it, i think the resistance on FoN is Mag1, thats 1 blaster hold it can resist (a troller hold is 3 times as powerfuland effective).
Pop a Breakfree? Sure, you could do that; but if Brutes were smart now before engaging a blaster they should pop 1, making toggle dropping impossible. Its all about balance & tactics.
The 'Epic' Power pools are rightfully called ancillary power pools - Relating to something that is added but is not essential.
As to what you said about FoN fitting all playstyles, i hardly think so, it suits the type of blaster that prefers to jump into the battle & really get stuck in without faceplanting in 2 hits. For Blasters that stay behind tanks, or use more trollerish powers it would be better suited to use Hibernate for example, as they could quickly recover and defend themself (think Rest with Unstoppable minus the attacks).
As someone has already said, by choosing Force Mastery, you are choosing Defence over Offence, ive had a concept Elec/Elec/Elec since i started the game, & ive always found EM Pulse, Shocking Bolt & in some situations Static Burst useful, Force Mastery just gives defence, where Elec for example gives practical mez attacks.
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While FoN is a fantastic power, there are others out there that can best it, i think the resistance on FoN is Mag1, thats 1 blaster hold it can resist (a troller hold is 3 times as powerfuland effective).
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FWIW, neither the long or short description (or any of my experience with the power) say it has any resistance to status effects at all. It's described as providing high resistance to all damage types but Psi and boosting End recovery.
That's why I originally asked about Hero planners. As far as I'm aware, the info in Hero Builder (which was copied from Unstoppable) is the only place mez resistance is mentioned. I can only guess that people keep bringing it up on the boards because far more people have played with Hero Builder than have tried out the power.
By my 50s shall ye know me:
Tundra, DVM, The Late, Neutrino Ghost, Sir Clanksalot, End Of Days, Prof. Migraine
Howler Monkey
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While FoN is a fantastic power, there are others out there that can best it, i think the resistance on FoN is Mag1, thats 1 blaster hold it can resist (a troller hold is 3 times as powerfuland effective).
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FWIW, neither the long or short description (or any of my experience with the power) say it has any resistance to status effects at all. It's described as providing high resistance to all damage types but Psi and boosting End recovery.
That's why I originally asked about Hero planners. As far as I'm aware, the info in Hero Builder (which was copied from Unstoppable) is the only place mez resistance is mentioned. I can only guess that people keep bringing it up on the boards because far more people have played with Hero Builder than have tried out the power.
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I'm sticking with what i've got anyway - but i still feel that FoN does fit any playstyle - whether ur buffed or not, it doesn't matter so much - and yes, you lose out on a hold and perhaps a snipe (sooo wish the recharge time on LRM was shorter) - but i'm betting the majority of blasters in RV will be either force or elec epic.
Ive tried cold elect and force on my blasters.
Force is by far the best in a team (for blappers). Why? because with buffs such as AB and sb its back up in no time. with FoN fort and such you become a tank with uber
damage.
Electric, also very good dam. res. and you also get a good hold. Its great 1v1 if you dont already have a hold( which means your foe needs to bring BFs in 1v1s) If you plan to team PvP i would pick force over elect.
Cold, The armour isnt great but snowstorm and hibernate are great powers. I think 1v1 cold can be a great choice. snow storm = slow and -fly as everyone knows but, snow storm also interupts snipe, heal self etc which is outstanding in 1v1s.
mutations, ive tried it on test and the snipe is very good. combined with invis, fly and your own snipe you can do alot of ranged damage. But its slow and theres lots of better options imo. The sleep power isnt bad and i can see with time more sleep powers becoming more used in PvP.
IMO 90% of the time Force is the way to go.
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For PvP zones: Elec would be best choice (ranged control, best armour)
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Munitions is the rogue one to be honest. I think munitions is the best choice for "stalker hunter" builds all the devices out there who use snipe along with LRM with defiance.
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These two are the ones that I've previously had, so some observations - Elec, Fire and Munitions all provide good ranged control with hold.
Munitions actually does even moreso with the sleep grenade, but the clear downsides of Munitions are that if you're going for shields, the one provided by the set is actually the worst. The second reason to skip Munitions is that if you are something other than assault rifle, you need to adjust to the fact that the offensive powers in the set (3 powers out of 4) use the assault rifle animation, which requires drawing out the weapon first. For an Ice blaster taking Munitions might be still worth it, since they'll finally get a snipe at lv 47 from it
Elec hold has good solid range and the energy drain effect never hurt anyone. The armor is solid, but the attack provided by the set is a bit slowly animated cone attack (with the same range as frost/fire breath but with wider cone). Energy resist is good, but somehew the EMP is a bit lacking.
Upside is that EM Pulse causes stun, not hold, which isn't resisted by Acrobatics. But sadly you'll end up on an endurance recovery break for a short while after firing the power, which can be quite dangerous and frankly causes you to stock up more blues if you want to keep going.
Also in PvP none of players aren't robots as far as the system is concerned, so EMP does no damage (it rocks more in a fight against freakshow or nemesis waffles.)
[b][color=blue]Coldest War /[color=red]/ Omega Patient[/b]
[url="http://www.the-cow.net/"][color=red]The CoW Network (Blog) /[/url][url="http://www.collegeofwar.com/"][color=blue]/ College of War[/url]
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Cold, The armour isnt great but snowstorm and hibernate are great powers. I think 1v1 cold can be a great choice. snow storm = slow and -fly as everyone knows but, snow storm also interupts snipe, heal self etc which is outstanding in 1v1s.
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Yes, Im interested in cold myself Actually I think theres more variation available in blaster epics than there is in scrapper epics..
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Pop a Breakfree? Sure, you could do that; but if Brutes were smart now before engaging a blaster they should pop 1, making toggle dropping impossible. Its all about balance & tactics.
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Um, break frees have no effect on toggledropping (and I mean REAL toggledropping. Mezzing is different. Hold is a hold is a hold, but I'm talking about the blaster melees with built-in toggledrop ability. Of course this will all be forgotten once I7 hits live.)
Is there really any point in having anything other than force epic on a blaster in pvp.
I'm slowly coming round to the fact that FoN is 'da uber' power and Force Mastery the epic to take.
With the mez resists and damage resist FoN gives - you wade in - do tons of damage till it runs out then leg it.
With the toggle dropping changes it's hard enough to do sustained damage against scrappers or tanks even without being clobbered, so is this going to be the 'only' viable option for blasters who PvP.
(For 3 slotted shields)
Munitions mastery
'Epic' shield gives ~13% resist to smashing/lethal - something that 'tough' also gives, albeit in toggle form.
Pyre mastery
~30% resist to smashing/lethal and some resistance to fire and cold
Electric mastery
~30 resist to smashing/lethal and some resistance to energy
Is there really any point to these other epic shields if FoN is soo good?
Don't get me wrong - the other pools have some good powers - especially the holds - but in PvP these are largely irrelevant against most melee toons.
With the 'balancing' that I7 brings for villains - isn't it about time that blaster epics got a bit of a lift (why not resistance to ALL types??) - even if FoN has to take a nerf!