Peacebringers: Tri-/Bi/Human-form

Hey guys,

like I'm sure every person that has a 50 has felt at some point: I've got alt-fever right now

I've rolled a Warshade in the past, but just didnt really get a good feel for it. I personally didn't like the look of the powers, and the feel either. I LOVE the look of PB powers, but am not sure how I'll feel about it. Time to find out

The question that bothers me however, is what would suit me better: tri-, bi- or humanform.
I wanna say triform, because all the shapeshifting is very cool, but a few minutes in hero planner will easily teach you that you'll get in trouble with enhancement slots. And I've seen some humanform PBs that are downright lethal.

So I was hoping for some general opinions from experienced PBs: during your lvling, what did you think lead to the best results?
Any comments are very welcome
TG

I was always going to be a tri-former as I felt it had the best versatility. If you are carefull where you put slots and don't waste them, you can get by pretty easily. I've often thought how my build would be different if I went all human but other than six slotting essence boost and reform essence (currently four and three slotted I think) and adding Pulsar, I wouldn't change the human part of my build at all. Seems like a good trade off to me for getting two extra forms with additional powers.

I've started my PB today, with the following planned build (heavily based on the "newbie PB guide" on the US forums)

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Name ?
Level: 44
Archetype: Peacebringer
Primary: Luminous Blast
Secondary: Luminous Aura
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Glinting Eye==> Dmg(1)
01) --> Incandescence==> DmgRes(1)
02) --> Gleaming Blast==> Dmg(2)Dmg(3)Dmg(3)
04) --> Shining Shield==> DmgRes(4)DmgRes(5)DmgRes(5)
06) --> Bright Nova==> EndMod(6)EndMod(7)EndMod(7)TH_Buf(13)TH_Buf(13)TH_Buf(15)
08) --> Radiant Strike==> Dmg(8)Dmg(9)Dmg(9)
10) --> Essence Boost==> Rechg(10)Rechg(11)Rechg(11)
12) --> Hasten==> Rechg(12)
14) --> Build Up==> Rechg(14)
16) --> Super Speed==> EndRdx(16)
18) --> Incandescent Strike==> Dmg(18)Dmg(19)Dmg(19)
20) --> White Dwarf==> DmgRes(20)DmgRes(21)DmgRes(21)EndMod(23)EndMod(23)EndMod(25)
22) --> Reform Essence==> Empty(22)Heal(36)Heal(37)
24) --> Conserve Energy==> Rechg(24)
26) --> Solar Flare==> Dmg(26)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)Acc(39)
28) --> Quantum Flight==> EndRdx(28)
30) --> Stealth==> EndRdx(30)
32) --> Photon Seekers==> Dmg(32)Dmg(37)Dmg(37)Acc(42)
35) --> Dawn Strike==> Dmg(35)Dmg(43)Dmg(43)Acc(43)
38) --> Light Form==> DmgRes(38)DmgRes(39)DmgRes(39)Rechg(40)Rechg(40)Rechg(42)
41) --> Pulsar==> Acc(41)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Energy Flight==> Empty(1)
01) --> Cosmic Balance==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
10) --> Combat Flight==> Empty(10)
---------------------------------------------
06) --> Bright Nova Bolt==> Dmg(6)Dmg(17)Dmg(33)
06) --> Bright Nova Blast==> Dmg(6)Dmg(15)Dmg(31)
06) --> Bright Nova Scatter==> Dmg(6)Dmg(17)Dmg(33)
06) --> Bright Nova Detonation==> Dmg(6)Dmg(27)Dmg(33)
20) --> White Dwarf Strike==> Dmg(20)Dmg(29)Dmg(34)
20) --> White Dwarf Smite==> Dmg(20)Dmg(31)Dmg(34)
20) --> White Dwarf Flare==> Dmg(20)Dmg(31)Dmg(34)Acc(40)
20) --> White Dwarf Sublimation==> Rechg(20)Rechg(25)Rechg(27)Heal(29)Heal(42)
20) --> White Dwarf Antagonize==> Rechg(20)
20) --> White Dwarf Step==> EndRdx(20)
---------------------------------------------


Any thoughts?

First thought is I think you are going to miss a lot with no acc in all those attacks...

Agreed - save a couple of slots from Dwarf Sublimination - a couple of recharges and a heal or couple of heals and recharge and stick some +acc in your human powers.

You could be more sparing on the forms perhaps too. Nova already has an bonus to acc and endurance so perhaps a couple of end mod and one or 2 to-hit buff would be ok. From dwarf - have a 3 slotted resist set up - but only 2-slot the end mod and save a slot their also....

You have to really make compromises with a tri-form but they have to be the right ones. Taking acc from your human blasts and human melee type powers is not a good sacrifice.

The forms already have inherent benefits to them so you don't have to go overboard - just a good boost to them is fine.

I also only 3-slot Dawn Strike for damage as it is used infrequently enough that I just pop a Yellow before firing it off instead thereby saving another slot.

Lastly - and now I go further into my opinion rather than the general concensus - I would not bother maxing out the damage of Dwarf powers at the expense of something else more useful - at least not till mid 40's or so) Its not really designed to be a high-damage form. If you solo exclusively then maybe you could but if you team (and alot of Khelds find it easier if I'm honest) then keep Dwarf your 'tanker/mez/status' resist form and don't get too hung up on doing uber damage in this form. That said if you have nothing else you want to slot then go for it!

Peace.

Point taken. I do actually plan to do some decent damage in Dwarf form (I like scrappers better then tankers, on teams too, therefore I want my dwarf to have some firepower. I realise he wont match scrappers, but at least those damage slots will help :P). But I'll make sure to give them a low priority, you make a good point. Not much changed here, but this is my current lvl 43 build:

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder
---------------------------------------------
Name: Name ?
Level: 44
Archetype: Peacebringer
Primary: Luminous Blast
Secondary: Luminous Aura
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Glinting Eye==> Dmg(1)
01) --> Incandescence==> DmgRes(1)
02) --> Gleaming Blast==> Dmg(2)Dmg(3)Dmg(3)Acc(7)
04) --> Shining Shield==> DmgRes(4)DmgRes(5)DmgRes(5)
06) --> Bright Nova==> EndMod(6)EndMod(7)TH_Buf(13)TH_Buf(13)
08) --> Radiant Strike==> Dmg(8)Dmg(9)Dmg(9)Acc(15)
10) --> Essence Boost==> Rechg(10)Rechg(11)Rechg(11)
12) --> Hasten==> Rechg(12)
14) --> Build Up==> Rechg(14)
16) --> Super Speed==> EndRdx(16)
18) --> Incandescent Strike==> Dmg(18)Dmg(19)Dmg(19)Acc(25)
20) --> White Dwarf==> DmgRes(20)DmgRes(21)DmgRes(21)EndMod(23)EndMod(23)
22) --> Reform Essence==> Heal(22)Heal(36)Heal(37)
24) --> Conserve Energy==> Rechg(24)
26) --> Solar Flare==> Dmg(26)Dmg(36)Dmg(36)Acc(39)
28) --> Quantum Flight==> EndRdx(28)
30) --> Stealth==> EndRdx(30)
32) --> Photon Seekers==> Dmg(32)Dmg(37)Dmg(37)Acc(42)
35) --> Dawn Strike==> Dmg(35)Dmg(43)Dmg(43)
38) --> Light Form==> DmgRes(38)DmgRes(39)DmgRes(39)Rechg(40)Rechg(40)Rechg(42)
41) --> Pulsar==> Acc(41)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Energy Flight==> Empty(1)
01) --> Cosmic Balance==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
10) --> Combat Flight==> Empty(10)
---------------------------------------------
06) --> Bright Nova Bolt==> Dmg(6)Dmg(17)Dmg(33)
06) --> Bright Nova Blast==> Dmg(6)Dmg(15)Dmg(31)
06) --> Bright Nova Scatter==> Dmg(6)Dmg(17)Dmg(33)
06) --> Bright Nova Detonation==> Dmg(6)Dmg(27)Dmg(33)
20) --> White Dwarf Strike==> Dmg(20)Dmg(29)Dmg(34)
20) --> White Dwarf Smite==> Dmg(20)Dmg(31)Dmg(34)Acc(43)
20) --> White Dwarf Flare==> Dmg(20)Dmg(31)Dmg(34)Acc(40)
20) --> White Dwarf Sublimation==> Rechg(20)Rechg(25)Rechg(27)Heal(29)Heal(42)
20) --> White Dwarf Antagonize==> Rechg(20)
20) --> White Dwarf Step==> EndRdx(20)
---------------------------------------------


Put acc in the human attacks that need it (could also replace the glinting eye dmg slot for an acc one), and been a little more sparing on the form. Not much change, but my human attacks shouldnt miss annoyingly much now. Thx for the tips, I wasnt sure how the forms would do unslotted, it's good to hear they don't need too many slots

Some more thoughts for you.

You can get much better returns with slotting endred in attacks than by slotting endmod in forms. For instance one EndRed in Dwarf Flare will save 4 end every 16 seconds (if hasten is running, every 9.5 seconds) whilst one EndMod in Dwarf itelf will gain you 4 end every 48 seconds. It is similar for Nova. Slot heaviest end usage attacks first.

The To Hit in Nova is tricky. If you really don't want to slot Acc in the attacks I would three slot with To Hits in Nova but put one Acc in say Bright Nova Detonation. That should mean you hit with that attack if used first and then the -def should mean the others will hit after and you can start to stack -def.

You may want to avoid trying to spread the slots out over all three forms straight away. I slotted Nova early, then human, then finally started seriously slotting dwarf in the late 40s. Focus on the forms you want to use most first.

Heres my build.

I am currently 40 But I took the build to 50. Think my version of hero planner might be old though - not sure. There may be some (not many) errors in the order I took things but it gives you the general idea.

Its worked well for me. I have a pretty full human attack chain in the end for light form and because I tend to like being in human form alot for some reason - bit of a strange habit some might say.

Took SS and Stealth for stealthing mishes and creeping up on V/Qs.

Never got on much with Photon Seekers to respec'd out of them. Plan to slot up dwarf more at the end and took conserve energy as a last resort. Didn't fancy much else tbh. I do use Light Form but not an awful lot so only resists in it (no recharge - but have hasten)

Have endred in most human powers (and its a stamina build) due to my unexplainable liking for my human form. Think I just made myself to damn gorgeous!

I hate missing when I am in Nova so have stuck a couple of to-hits in the build and plan to put some accuracies into all but Nova Bolt before 50..

Anyway - as with anything its not for everyone but I like it for my playstyle...

Peace.

Hero Plan by Designer Hero
Program Version: 1.62
Data File Version: August 20, 2005
Designer Hero Home Page

Nova Child: Level 50 Peacebringer
Primary Power Set: Luminous Blast
Secondary Power Set: Luminous Aura
Power Pool Set: Concealment
Power Pool Set: Speed
Power Pool Set: Fitness

Hero Profile
Level 1: Glinting Eye -- Acc (A), Dmg (3), Dmg (5), Dmg (11), EndRdx (46)
Level 1: Incandescence -- ResDam (A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty (A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty (A)
Level 1: Energy Flight -- Flight (A)
Level 1: Cosmic Balance -- No Slot (A)
Level 2: Shining Shield -- ResDam (A), ResDam (3), EndRdx (40)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty (A)
Level 4: Essence Boost -- RechRdx (A), RechRdx (5), Heal (34), Heal (50)
Level 6: Bright Nova -- RecInc (A), RecInc (7), ToHit (25), ToHit (34)
Level 6: Bright Nova Bolt -- Dmg (A), Dmg (23), Dmg (31)
Level 6: Bright Nova Blast -- Dmg (A), Dmg (15), Dmg (25), Acc (43)
Level 6: Bright Nova Scatter -- Dmg (A), Dmg (7), Dmg (17), Acc (43)
Level 6: Bright Nova Detonation -- Dmg (A), Dmg (13), Dmg (23), Acc (43)
Level 8: Radiant Strike -- Acc (A), Dmg (9), Dmg (9), Dmg (11), EndRdx (46)
Level 10: Stealth -- DefBuff (A)
Level 10: Combat Flight -- Flight (A)
Level 12: Build Up -- RechRdx (A), RechRdx (13), RechRdx (17)
Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx (A), RechRdx (15), RechRdx (37)
Level 16: Super Speed -- Run (A)
Level 18: Incandescent Strike -- Acc (A), Dmg (19), Dmg (19), Dmg (27), EndRdx (36), RechRdx (37)
Level 20: White Dwarf -- ResDam (A), ResDam (21), ResDam (21), RecInc (40)
Level 20: White Dwarf Strike -- Acc (A), Dmg (45)
Level 20: White Dwarf Smite -- Acc (A), Dmg (33), Dmg (40), Dmg (45)
Level 20: White Dwarf Flare -- Acc (A), Dmg (29), Dmg (37), Dmg (45)
Level 20: White Dwarf Sublimation -- RechRdx (A), RechRdx (29), Heal (50)
Level 20: White Dwarf Antagonize -- RechRdx (A)
Level 20: White Dwarf Step -- EndRdx (A)
Level 22: Swift -- Run (A)
Level 24: Health -- Heal (A)
Level 26: Reform Essence -- RechRdx (A), RechRdx (27), Heal (34), Heal (50)
Level 28: Quantum Flight -- EndRdx (A)
Level 30: Stamina -- RecInc (A), RecInc (31), RecInc (31)
Level 32: Dawn Strike -- Dmg (A), Dmg (33), Dmg (33)
Level 35: Gleaming Blast -- Acc (A), Dmg (36), Dmg (36), Dmg (39), EndRdx (46)
Level 38: Light Form -- ResDam (A), ResDam (39), ResDam (39)
Level 41: Solar Flare -- Acc (A), Dmg (42), Dmg (42), Dmg (42)
Level 44: Restore Essence -- RechRdx (A)
Level 47: Luminous Detonation -- Acc (A), Dmg (48), Dmg (48), Dmg (48)
Level 49: Conserve Energy -- RechRdx (A)

Got my tri-form PB to level 47 then I had to give up on the idea. I respecced, she now fights in human form with dwarf for those dodgy situations. I kept nova form but it's only really because I like to switch occasionally - probably wasted a chance to get a better power there but what the hell. Now I've respeced her into more of a scrapper, she's suddenly fun to play again.

As far as I'm concerned, there just aren't enough slots available to be really effective in all three forms all the time. The choice as I saw it was to be really effective with two forms or mediocre with 3. I chose two and I'm no longer wondering why on earth I rolled a Kheldian

On the other hand, others have been very successsful with tri-form builds, I suspect they probably spend more time in teams than I do, Kheldians benefit greatly from teaming. I like toons that can solo because I sometimes just don't feel like teaming and I still want to be able to choose any toon to play.

Actually it seems to me like triform is more suited for soloing, and human/biform is more fitted for teaming. A kheld benefits mostly from his/her team in humanform, so the more time u spend in humanform the more you benefit from your team.

I just dinged 24 so I've been happily tri-forming for a while now, and hardly changed the above build (the order in which I took my enhancement slots is totally different tho). I love the char, but spent by far the most time in novaform. 6 slotted nova detonation&scatter can wipe out entire spawns on 8 mans teams in mere seconds

I use humanform for my selfbuffs mostly, and sometimes a nice melee attack. I use dwarf when I need to hide from my aggro, or when the team needs a tank right then and right there. But I try to be in Nova form most of the time

[ QUOTE ]
Actually it seems to me like triform is more suited for soloing, and human/biform is more fitted for teaming.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine was great as tri-form until I hit the 40's. Almost every attack from mobs at that sort of level knocks you straight out of nova form. Scooting round a corner (my own fault I know) into a group of -4 (yes -4!) Malta including one sapper and one engineer saw me knocked out of the sky by the engineer who zapped me, stunned me instantly. The sapper then stole all my endurance and the perma holds from that engineer (being reapplied faster than they wore off) meant the rest (all two of them) could take their time beating me to a pulp.

Frankly being wiped out so easily by a group of 4 -4 minions is just ridiculous. The total lack of any defence against anything in nova form is a nightmare at that level. What's the point being able to do massive damage to the mobs if you don't have time to get more than one attack off before you've been stunned or put to sleep?

Anyway, enough of that, it's starting to sound like I'm complaining that my epic AT isn't quite as epic as I'd hoped...it is fun to play for me again so hopefully the next 3 levels won't take as long as the last 7

Well, I´d say that Warshades make better Tri-Formers, because the best tricks in their arsenal rely on heavy shapeshifting with the goal of making the Nova the deadliest thing floating around (with purple fuzzies as a bonus) while peacebringers´ shapeshifting is more about choosing the right form for a given situation. This way a peacebringer´s slots tend to be a little bit too spread if you try to be a "real" Tri-Form.
So, what you have to do is make sacrifices to make your build awesome. Often enough it is better to have a concept in mind with fewer tricks (but being really good at them) than to prepare (=slot) for all those could-be-situations. Sometimes the result may look silly...

Granted, by lvl 40 I may be talking differently, but for the moment tri-form is working perfectly.
Although at the moment I still think a proper tank could have prevented situations like the above, but I'll find out for myself

A tri-form PB will only reach their full potential at level 50 when they have all their slots. Before that it's a case of only slotting two forms whilst the third is a little weak or trying to slot all three and being generally weak.

Doesn't every char reach it's full potential at 50 tho? :P
Yes you do focus on one and eventually two and lastly three of the forms, but I'm definetely having a benefit of being tri-form, LONG before I'm lvl 50.
If only for Nova's damage, Human's selfbuffs and Dwarf's durability, being tri-form has some distinct advantages.

Tri form PB & WS should be alot better after the invention system comes in. Try and save you respecs.

Also my PB is a real killing (cough*defeating) machine when both hasten and conserve power are up. IMO its a big mistake leaving conserve power till 49. Take it asap and love it (when it is up).

Paragon Girl

Hmm, altho I do slowly run out of end it rarely slows me down mid-fight. I did take Conserve Power at 24 though, but it's more of a situational power really (when I don't want to take those 30 seconds to rest up :P)

Could you explain why the invention system will make tri-form Khelds that much better? (I know hardly anything about this system, but would like to)

With the invention system you can build your own multiple-type-enhancements sort of like Hami-Os.
Since this saves a lot of power slots and since the lack of slots is the only thing preventing Kheldians from becoming really unfair the invention system will rock Kheldians´ world. I grabbed my Hero Builder and tried slotting up my Kheldians on Hami-Os.
The result was as astonishing as the amount of Hami-Os needed to achieve it. I would have never even dreamed about participating in that many Hami raids, but with the invention system in place...

Ah that IS interesting

Its interesting - and totally unconfirmed what the invention systems enhancements will actually yeild - so before everyone rejoices jjust bare that in mind...

I'll agree it looks hopeful - but its all speculation at this stage....