Cloak of Fear

Heya,
I am working in a couple of /DA scrappers, a Claws/DA and a DM/DA which are fun to play so far. There's this power I was really willing to try, Cloak of Fear and after doing some research in the forums I have found out that nobody takes it and if anyone does then respecs it out as soon as possible. I guess it happens to a few powers in game and the devs should amend them somehow or replace them.
Anyway, my question is, is there actually a GOOD side that makes Cloak of Fear at least deserve a try?

Try it for yourself. I personally feel that too many players look at the forums, see people don't take the power and automatically think it must be bad.

I have had CoF since my 1st DM/DA character on the US Beta. I will never respec it out.

Before I3, CoF caused Minions and Lieutenants to flee. In I3, fear was changed into a cowering effect. In I5, the “To Hit” debuff was reduced. But use this alongside Death Shroud Mobs will enter the AOE, cower, be damaged by DS, exit the AOE and return for more punishment. This reduces the amount of damage you are receiving.

I recommend slotting - 2acc/2endred/1fear/1thtdbf

My first toon is a Claws/DA (which i found so much fun to play) and i originally took CoF, i then respec'd it out, but i really miss it now so with the freespec that comes with I9 i plan on putting it back in. It's quite end heavy (at least it was last time i tried it, not sure if it's been changed since) but i'd say it makes up for it.

My view of any power is that just because someone else says they don't like it, doesn't mean you won't. So if you like the sound of it, take it then respec it out if you find their comments to be true.

I think Cloak of Fear is really nice in some situations. I wouldn´t want to run it all the time, especially on a toon withouth an endurance drain, but other than that it´s well worth taking.

Ok thx for your comments. I will definitely use it on my DM/DA scrapper that will go pure /DA build for concept.

Thx

I like it lots on my DM/DA (45) and use it more than any other field, except when fighting nemesis when I turn it off and use OG... it looks great, and if it suits your concept go for it!

It does need heavy acc and end slotting though, with SO's. I have mine 2 acc/3 endrdx and that's WITH focussed accuracy too...

edit: I'll most likely add a thtdbf when I have a free slot (been slotting FA and Laser Eyes since 41)

Mmmm this is the actual build I was planning although I will always need be full of blues I guess:

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Exported from Ver: 1.7.6.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://sherksilver.coldfront.net/index.php)
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Name: Magnus Ridolph
Level: 50
Archetype: Scrapper
Primary: Dark Melee
Secondary: Dark Armor
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01) --> Smite==> Rechg(1) Acc(3) EndRdx(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(5) Dmg(7)
01) --> Dark Embrace==> EndRdx(1) EndRdx(7) DmgRes(9) DmgRes(9) DmgRes(11)
02) --> Shadow Maul==> Rechg(2) Acc(11) EndRdx(13) Dmg(13) Dmg(15) Dmg(15)
04) --> Murky Cloud==> EndRdx(4) EndRdx(17) DmgRes(17) DmgRes(19) DmgRes(19)
06) --> Combat Jumping==> DefBuf(6)
08) --> Siphon Life==> Acc(8) Acc(21) Heal(21) EndRdx(23)
10) --> Obsidian Shield==> EndRdx(10) EndRdx(25) DmgRes(25) DmgRes(27) DmgRes(27)
12) --> Swift==> Run(12)
14) --> Health==> Heal(14)
16) --> Dark Regeneration==> Acc(16) Acc(29) EndRdx(29) EndRdx(31) Heal(33)
18) --> Super Jump==> Jump(18)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20) EndMod(23) EndMod(31)
22) --> Acrobatics==> EndRdx(22) EndRdx(33)
24) --> Cloak Of Darkness==> EndRdx(24) EndRdx(34) DefBuf(34)
26) --> Dark Consumption==> Acc(26) Acc(36) Rechg(36) Rechg(36) Rechg(37)
28) --> Soul Drain==> Acc(28) Acc(37) Rechg(39) Rechg(39) Rechg(39)
30) --> Death Shroud==> Acc(30) Acc(31) EndRdx(34) EndRdx(40) Dmg(40)
32) --> Midnight Grasp==> Rechg(32) Acc(33) EndRdx(37) Dmg(40) Dmg(42) Dmg(42)
35) --> Oppressive Gloom==> Acc(35) EndRdx(45) DisDur(50)
38) --> Touch of Fear==> Acc(38) Acc(42) TH_DeBuf(43) TH_DeBuf(43) TH_DeBuf(45)
41) --> Conserve Power==> Rechg(41) Rechg(43)
44) --> Focused Accuracy==> EndRdx(44) EndRdx(45) EndRdx(46) TH_Buf(46) TH_Buf(46) TH_Buf(48)
47) --> Cloak Of Fear==> Acc(47) Acc(48) EndRdx(48) EndRdx(50) TH_DeBuf(50)
49) --> Soul Transfer==> Heal(49)
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01) --> Sprint==> Jump(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Critical Hit==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Rechg(2)
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Then I guess if I manage to get a few HO's I could then put some extra endrdx in toggles and there is also further research to be done in the Invention System for further end recovery.

Any suggestions? Pls bear in mind that for concept I'd really like to try CoF and really like to go pure /DA

Your build looks pretty good to me. A couple of comments you might want to consider. Firstly, DA is still pretty End heavy and toggle management is a pain at times, especially high game where the baddies have multiple attack types and you can't de-toggle. Having said that, dark consumption is a great power and should cover your end needs. 2 end reducers may be overkill in your armours, but definitely keep at least two in death shroud and cloak of fear.

Unless you want cloak of darkness for concept reasons, I'd drop it as combat jumping will be enough immob resistance.

I'd have a recharge in dark regen rather than health. if you're fighting 3 mobs or more, it'll fill up your bar 100% and if you are fighting 3 or more, you'll want it up again quickly. You might consider dropping siphon life too, in my opinion the heal is too small and the damage is too little to warrant taking it, but others love it.

Cloak of fear and touch of fear stack on bosses, so I'd definitely recommend CoF for a dm/da despite it's end use.

Finally, seek out larger teams. Soul drain is an awesome power and you really want to max out the mobs it hits (think 7 is the most). With soul drain you'll become a boss killing, lieutenant smiting damage animal. All the better if you fear the boss first so he's quaking in his boots as you open your can of whoop [censored]!

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Your build looks pretty good to me. A couple of comments you might want to consider. Firstly, DA is still pretty End heavy and toggle management is a pain at times, especially high game where the baddies have multiple attack types and you can't de-toggle. Having said that, dark consumption is a great power and should cover your end needs. 2 end reducers may be overkill in your armours, but definitely keep at least two in death shroud and cloak of fear.

Unless you want cloak of darkness for concept reasons, I'd drop it as combat jumping will be enough immob resistance.

I'd have a recharge in dark regen rather than health. if you're fighting 3 mobs or more, it'll fill up your bar 100% and if you are fighting 3 or more, you'll want it up again quickly. You might consider dropping siphon life too, in my opinion the heal is too small and the damage is too little to warrant taking it, but others love it.

Cloak of fear and touch of fear stack on bosses, so I'd definitely recommend CoF for a dm/da despite it's end use.

Finally, seek out larger teams. Soul drain is an awesome power and you really want to max out the mobs it hits (think 7 is the most). With soul drain you'll become a boss killing, lieutenant smiting damage animal. All the better if you fear the boss first so he's quaking in his boots as you open your can of whoop [censored]!

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Ok thx for your help. To be honest Siphon Life was taken to cover some heal until Dark Regeneration at lvl 16 (the scrapper is lvl 11 now) and will be probably respec'd later so I can use the slots to complete the toggles. Will probably take Air Superiority with just 1xAcc SO for filling the attack chain with a fast recharging / low end costing / good damage mitigating attack.
On the other hand, Cloak of Darkness is only there because I am a little too oriented to defence being my main scrappers all /SR, will probably try it and will also lose it in respec because I like to see my toon while playing, probably Hasten will substitute it or maybe Jump Kick also for low end, quick recharge and cool looks (the animation is loooong, the dmg is loooow, but I love how it looks, it's the kind of attack a super-powered dude would use).

Thanks very much for the advice

I nearly suggested putting hasten in there, as you'll always want to have more attacks ready than DM can give you, but I'm a hasten freak, don't have a build without it!

I'm really looking forward to i9, as I figure DA will get a huge boost from IOs. Being able to slot Dmg/End IOs in Death Shroud and Dark Regen will be great, let alone the end/mez in oppressive gloom, plus fear/acc in cloak of fear... I'll stop now or I'll go on all day!

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I nearly suggested putting hasten in there, as you'll always want to have more attacks ready than DM can give you, but I'm a hasten freak, don't have a build without it!

I'm really looking forward to i9, as I figure DA will get a huge boost from IOs. Being able to slot Dmg/End IOs in Death Shroud and Dark Regen will be great, let alone the end/mez in oppressive gloom, plus fear/acc in cloak of fear... I'll stop now or I'll go on all day!

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LOL, I am actually also looking for the same specially for the healing bonus sets that add more recovery

Also a couple or three HO's will also come handy for slot saving. My highest DA is a Claws/DA at lvl 21 and I am already guessing that you can never have enough endrdx in DA

Just to add my 2p to this ancient thread.

I took CoF the level it became available when playing my DM/DA and I hated it. I did the same with OG.

Then after many months of slogging to 50 and with a freespec coming up, I used my existing freespec to bring OG in, this was fine for a couple of weeks but I found my self not running it more often than not.

So I used one of my vet respecs and swapped it out for CoF and bought ToF in rather than LBE. I must say that as I have gone for a hastenless build, the ability to take most of the minions out of play is a life saver.
And to top it off, I now have 4 of the 6 Glimpse of the Abyss recipes. With those slotted and a few choice HO's it's just so useful.

Just a note, I'm sure your all aware of this, but don't run it with Death Shroud........

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Just a note, I'm sure your all aware of this, but don't run it with Death Shroud........

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As i said above, its personal choice.

I use CoF with DS and i find the DMG and Fear running along side each other helps a lot.
The Fear and DMG effect swap between each other so it A: prevents the mobs hitting you and B: lowers their health.
Yes the DMG does remove the Fear effect but then it is added again almost straight away when they return into the AOE.

But it all depends on slotting and personal preference