My first go at one...

Hi all. I have never really properly tried a controller or a dominator, and I think it's about time.

Currently, I think I'd like to play a Mind/Energy Dominator. Yes, I know that it has no pets, but I thought maybe my own damage output would compensate for this?

Basically, I want to try a Dominator that can solo like any other, after lvl 32. I also want to know how easy it is to solo against Elite Bosses as a Dominator, as I have no concept on how mezz protected they are.

If people say that Mind is 'gimped' because of the no pets (also, please tell me if this is a big problem!) I think I will either go Ice/* or Fire/Fire....

I will get a build up soon I hope, but I don't have the software where I am atm.

Mass Confuse is your "pet".

"Native" EBs have mez protetion similar to bosses, so can usually be soloed quite easily (unless they have stupid regen, Biff). However downgraded AVs have AV mez protection, and are difficult for a solo dom.

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Mass Confuse is your "pet".

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Yes, but it = less XP

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Mass Confuse is your "pet".

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Yes, but it = less XP

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Yes, but more XP over time


As for the OP, try a Plant/Fire. You won't be disappointed!

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Mass Confuse is your "pet".

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Yes, but it = less XP

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Only if you wait for it to recharge constantly. When using seeds of confusion, my XP/time definately goes up, and it can be a godsend power. I've used it when 2 groups mingled, and we were about to have a time wipe. In about 20 seconds all the foes (apart from bosses, who were SEVERELY weakened) were dead.

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Mass Confuse is your "pet".

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Yes, but it = less XP

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Only if you wait for it to recharge constantly. When using seeds of confusion, my XP/time definately goes up, and it can be a godsend power. I've used it when 2 groups mingled, and we were about to have a time wipe. In about 20 seconds all the foes (apart from bosses, who were SEVERELY weakened) were dead.

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I was referring to seeds of confusion but you're right - Mass Confusion does still increase XP over time, but at a much much slower rate than seeds.

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Mass Confuse is your "pet".

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Yes, but it = less XP

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I'm surprised some people still believe this. See clicky for some numbers. Conclusion: unless you're on a really bad team, xp/time goes up if you use Confuse smartly.

hmm... it's far too early and that's far too long to read now...

someone tell it to me "For Dummies" style?

I mean, I know that it makes enemies much easier to defeat, but how is it to defeat them anyway with a dominator's damage output? Remember, I am talking solo...

In a nutshell, if you do any damage to the mobs you get majority of the XP while the damage the mobs do to each other speeds things up a lot, not to mention the damage they don't do to you. XP per spawn is only a little less, spawns per hour is a lot more. The people who lose XP by confusion are the ones that stand back and wait for the mobs to kill each other.

I think mind/nrg sounds like it would solo pretty well, and not only after level 32. My ice dominator only became a decent soloer after 33 and good in the late 30s. My fire/fire has soloed well from level 1.

When I said after 32, I didn't mean that it would be Mass Confusion that made it solo-able, I meant that it could solo as well as a Dominator with pets.

I have lots of dominators; plant/thorn, ice/ice, fire/nrg, fire/fire and a grav/psi.

Of all of those my favourite by far is my fire/nrg. It has decent control, great pets and very good damage with energy. Also energy has that little gem, power boost. With it you greatly increase the secondary effect of powers. Domination + powerboost + cinders holds an entire group for a very long time. It is a great dom to solo (although a bit difficult to stay alive in a full team) and who doesn't love fire imps?

I havn't tried Mind, but as far as I can tell it is not significantly different to the other Dominator sets solo. Plant and Fire/Fire are maybe a little stronger than the other dominator sets solo.

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hmm... it's far too early and that's far too long to read now...

someone tell it to me "For Dummies" style?

I mean, I know that it makes enemies much easier to defeat, but how is it to defeat them anyway with a dominator's damage output? Remember, I am talking solo...

[/ QUOTE ]Mass confuse, Terrify (slotted for 3 daamge), hold any stray mobs, whirling hands, another terrify, use ST attacks, terrify, whirling hands etc. Is how I'd imagine a fight to go, although I haven't had high level dom outside the RV event.

Also, I think it's possible to stack either confuse or fear over purple triangles, which could enable soloing downgraded AV's. No personal experience on that tho'.

hmm.. ok.

I had already thought that Fire was a good choice, but I'd really want Energy Secondary, and I can't seem to think of a back story/origin for Fire/Energy... Anyone lend me theirs?

Also, are fire imps especially high damage? or what?

While I don't know about dominators that much, mind was the best daamging controller primary before containment, and seeing as dominators don't have that...

Don't let the lack of pet mislead you, mind is everything but a weak primary.

I've played mind/energy and mind/psi up to levels 27 and 30. I've solo'd with both of them when I've had to but I've had much more fun on any half decent team. I think I prefer psi simply because the 1st power in the set can be used to build domination very fast. Powerboost is a great power from energy and I miss that (even flight speed gets boosted!). Solo I normally use the ST confuse to get a "pet" then I may sleep the lot of them, wake the "pet" and start locking as many down as I can before they wake up. Later on its much the same for me except I may use terrify then mass sleep, or keep mass sleep in reserve in case I have to leg it. Once domination is going things move at a much faster pace
In very large groups of mobs I use psi dart to pull, it has a great range right out the box so its good for this.

BTW. I had to solo a downgraded AV a few days back (barracuda) and resorted to confusing a freakshow tank to do about 98% of the damage. I reset the mission and got a team though as it was a bit of a boring way to do it.

hmmm... yes...

So would you suggest slotting even some of the holds for damage? or what?

I'm still not sure whether or not to go fire for the Pets....

single target hold, slot 1-2 acc, 2-3 hold duration and 1-2 rechargerec. No damage.

aoe hold slot 2 acc, 2 duration, 2 recharge.

If you take fire primary you are best with fire secondary, for Fiery Embrace and Consume. Fire/Fire aims to kill faster, whereas other builds aim to hold longer (Power Boost increases hold duration).

Well fire is trading control for damage. If you want a damage dominator then yeah go with fire but it isn't going to be nearly as good as mind of plant for control. My fire dom couldn't really go near large teams until late teens as my controls drew huge aggro and did little else. It does solo well even before the imps though. At level 18 I do insane damage when Domination and Fiery Embrace are up.

Ice or energy as secondary could help with the control, though, as you'd get Power Boost.

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I can't seem to think of a back story/origin for Fire/Energy... Anyone lend me theirs?

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You almost never need anything beyond found/made/stole device, learned from book/school/mentor, freak accident, deliberate experiment, intense training or that's how his race is to explain any powers that aren't Mutations (probably the easiest power explanation ever).

Why you're a villain (or hero) doesn't need to have anything to do with your powers.

I think Magic is as easy as mutant.

"How do your powers work?"

"It's magic."

Call youself Red Fire Wizard.

Yeah.. guess so. That's what I did with Chi, but Energy doesn't seem very magical to me, more tech. And Fire seems more magical than tech. It could be tech if the animations were slightly different, but...

DnD spell Magic Missile is pretty much an energy blast.

Meh, guess you're right.

So, Mr Robot. In your opinion (don't give stats, percentages, or anything else) or in anyone else that can be bothered, what is better/pros & cons out of Fire or Mind? Bearing in mind, I know Fire is more damage, and less hold. Remember, I want to be able to solo well, not die too often, team fairly well, and have a high lvl PvP build.