Hi hun.
My darling Violet is now at lvl 37 and it seems that I have been playing her for a very long time indeed! My advice to you would be as follows:
Seeds of Confusion - your best attack! Slot well!! Currently, I have 2 acc, 2 confu, 2 rech. Sadly, I love this power so much and I often faceplant from rushing in to confuse a new group that i take the alpha they launch before my attack hits!
Follow up with anything that causes damage. Thorntrops and any vine holds/immobs work well, as does any AoE/cone attack.
Team often. Your Domination will rise so fast in a team that you will have perma-dom in no time.
Drop me a line in-game if you require any more detailed info. You know where I am!! 
Just hit 30 last night with my stalker, and enjoyed a very, very pleasant hour or 2 with a Plant/Thorn's dominator doing missions on ruthless as a duo.
Our abilities seemed to work together very nicely, especially as we both had aid other for those trickier moments.
Such was the fun, I'm half wanting to roll a plant/thorns myself. Stick it out, whatever happens, it seems by 30 you'll be getting pretty good.
Any nature lover I've teamed with has said the same regarding the combo, it has a shakey late-teens/early-20s after what feels like a powerhouse start.
But pushing to the 30s really turns it around, especially when Carrion Creepers is picked up at 26, huge vines sparking up out of the ground is always fun to see and keeps enemies together.
@Drakmarth & @Drakmarth2
Avatar by S. Wall
#415877 - An Uncivil War: Preclude - Looking for Feedback
Another handy thing I've noticed is to have stealth or stealth IO so you can get a bit closer to the mob when unleashing the confusing seeds at them.
Once those Single Origins are slotted its almost game over for the mobs 
Always slot seeds highly for accuracy.
Not sure how this taking the alpha before getting it deployed is happening. I've never really experienced it outside just a plain unlucky duff roll with a lot of misses. You have Aim in Thorns which is a must take as it also gives a healthy +damage buff.
However if it is an issue, Carrion Creepers at 26 will make alphas a thing of the past, never to be seen again . Creepers are an awesome alpha taker. Again slotted for some accuracy (as an accuracy check per enemy is what spawns the vines per enemy) you should find that nearly all the mob focuses on the vines, away from you and afford you plenty of time to approach and throw Seeds' from wherever you want.
A great way to maximise Seeds' is to follow up with the AoE Immob' and the cone Fling Thorns, keeping everything packed tight and tagging it with all the damage you need to ensure the XP gain from the mob. As you level more, this approach gets stronger as you factor in more power choices.
Skewer is the mainstay and key single target attack for so many levels until you get Ripper at 35 and 'Barrage at 38 and even then is a major part of your chain. Please take it and invest slotting into it .
When you unleash your pet you'll be doing a great job of decimating anything in your path and this can be pushed further with some choice IOs. Remember /Thorns is packed full of -def debuffs, a great place to chuck an Achilles Heel proc for -res . Thorny Dart is a nice place for this as you can get one in without trading off any damage which you wouldn't really be slotting into the power. Unless you want to trade off a slot in Fling Thorns, which I haven't tried, but might be fortuitous for the chance to -res debuff several enemies at once.
Aid Self IMO is a must really on all the Doms I have. I never like to have to rely on a heal from an external source.
Plant/Thorns is very fun and there's some great stuff to look forward to as you progress.
Level 20ish and the early stuff around Sharks does make a bit of a bump for Plant/Thorns. I think the enemies just tend to escalate a little out of touch with your character. But this does reign in again after SOs and some keystone powers around those levels .
If you feel demotivated at all, I'd be happy to lackey you up and show you what a later build looks like and how it rolls. I did this myself at those early 20s struggle levels and once a kind high level showed me their pet, that was it, I was committed and determined to bloody get it 
.
Late on Plant/Thorns is a pretty spiteful creature and I found it paces not far behind Fire control Doms' for eating through stuff .
Nice post, Mighty. I would repeat the comment regarding healing. Aid Self/Other is a much better option than relying on the +regen ability of the Spirit Tree.
I am nearing 38 with my dom. Barrage is worth taking then?
And the thought of stealthing into range for Seeds has merit. I have the +stealth IO slotted in flight and so I just need to trigger that more often to avoid needless deaths.. lol
I LOVE Barrage. Although it gets a mixed reception sometimes.
Level 38 Dominator Blasts tend to come across a bit underwhelming overall.
It does several hits it does 2 X KB which some people tend to berate, but I personally love that. It's great for pushing something out of your face whilst giving them a facefull off thorns in return . Besides the knockback is easily mitigated with your control.
Ripper and Skewer is still the big hitter combo, but Thorn Barrage IS nice and it looks so darn coool! (Power Bolt etc animation firing out dozens of thorns - is like a double nailgun ).
Never taken the spirit tree. Might be good in AB/EB fights I guess.
There's some really good info there people thankyou, especially Mighty. I did get a run out last night with her and I got over the lvl 20 bugbear.
As for spirit tree /em Homer I like my spirit tree, I liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike it
but I guess I could respec it out.
I have a freespec on her so I'll go play with Mids
Thelonious Monk
Working with the all Dom team, and with other nature lovers I've teamed with, Spirit Tree can be VERY nice in long battles and a lil helpfulness otherwise.
I concur with the Level 38 blasts, Psi has a very nice PBAoE whilst the rest tend to focus on a ST attack, never truly feels like a 'final attack'.
@Drakmarth & @Drakmarth2
Avatar by S. Wall
#415877 - An Uncivil War: Preclude - Looking for Feedback
[ QUOTE ]
Nice post, Mighty. I would repeat the comment regarding healing. Aid Self/Other is a much better option than relying on the +regen ability of the Spirit Tree.
[/ QUOTE ]
Good (PvE) domi's hardly need aid self really. Especially a plant domi with it's overpowered seeds which offer a huge (perma) damage mitigation.
Although admittedly handy at times, your build + skills + smart use of insps (and external buffs/heals when teamed) should be enough to handle even the most tough battles 9/10 and leaves room for 2 more useful powers imho.
And ofcourse that lovely tree only provides first class highly occasional usefull pants.
But its soooo pretty 
@Jaw Dropper - Toons of all levels so drop me a line!
Imaginary Inc.
Twitter me!
[ QUOTE ]
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Nice post, Mighty. I would repeat the comment regarding healing. Aid Self/Other is a much better option than relying on the +regen ability of the Spirit Tree.
[/ QUOTE ]
Good (PvE) domi's hardly need aid self really. Especially a plant domi with it's overpowered seeds which offer a huge (perma) damage mitigation.
Although admittedly handy at times, your build + skills + smart use of insps (and external buffs/heals when teamed) should be enough to handle even the most tough battles 9/10 and leaves room for 2 more useful powers imho.
And ofcourse that lovely tree only provides first class highly occasional usefull pants.
[/ QUOTE ]
TBH I did mention and reccomend Aid Self with a view to using the character in any part of the game, including some forays into PvP, which I'm guessing Scarlet Shocker will want to try at some point, and also for high repped end game content.
But,even good PVE Dom's roll unlucky sometimes . And a high level EB, AV or Hero, with purple triangles is going to complicate your theories somewhat .
TBH I'm sceptical if you imply good Dom's don't take Aid Self, it must be poor ones that do. I find the opposite of what you say true, and it's the better Dom's that have taken it over a couple of powers in any set that would be more or less redundant anyway, and are usually those standing longest. I guess overall it's a matter of preference. My own is to have toons that are self reliant even if I happen to be playing with really good teammates.
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Nice post, Mighty. I would repeat the comment regarding healing. Aid Self/Other is a much better option than relying on the +regen ability of the Spirit Tree.
[/ QUOTE ]
Good (PvE) domi's hardly need aid self really. Especially a plant domi with it's overpowered seeds which offer a huge (perma) damage mitigation.
Although admittedly handy at times, your build + skills + smart use of insps (and external buffs/heals when teamed) should be enough to handle even the most tough battles 9/10 and leaves room for 2 more useful powers imho.
And ofcourse that lovely tree only provides first class highly occasional usefull pants.
[/ QUOTE ]
TBH I did mention and reccomend Aid Self with a view to using the character in any part of the game, including some forays into PvP, which I'm guessing Scarlet Shocker will want to try at some point, and also for high repped end game content.
But,even good PVE Dom's roll unlucky sometimes . And a high level EB, AV or Hero, with purple triangles is going to complicate your theories somewhat .
TBH I'm sceptical if you imply good Dom's don't take Aid Self, it must be poor ones that do. I find the opposite of what you say true, and it's the better Dom's that have taken it over a couple of powers in any set that would be more or less redundant anyway, and are usually those standing longest. I guess overall it's a matter of preference. My own is to have toons that are self reliant even if I happen to be playing with really good teammates.
[/ QUOTE ]
Let me start with saying that your post was overall a nice piece of information indeed for scarlet (and other plant/thorn domi's out there)
And maybe i missed it , but I don't see any reference to PvP in Scarlet's post though. Nor did i see you say anything specifically about PvP either. Although you wrote:
[ QUOTE ]
Aid Self IMO is a must really on all the Doms I have. I never like to have to rely on a heal from an external source.
[/ QUOTE ]
But when you say in reply:
[ QUOTE ]
TBH I did mention and reccomend Aid Self with a view to using the character in any part of the game, including some forays into PvP
[/ QUOTE ] that implies that (almost) everyone should take Aid Self so that they are prepared for some PvP if you happen to suddenly find yourself in a PvP zone
So I'm continuing from a PvE point of view...
And that's where i disagree from my experience of near 200 lvls of playing dominators.
Imo Aid Self is defo not a must for a domi as you say. Ofcourse you may take it if you like it and when it fits your playstyle/preference, and admittedly it's handy sometimes, but not so much that the pick is justified imo. It's not so much really needed as you tell us.
Ofcourse there have been some occasions where i myself thought '[censored], I wish I had aid self just now', but that's been the case on many toons in moments when things go [censored]. And sure as hell that's not a good enough reason to spec it in on all those toons...
And even in those cases the situation most of times is so that Aid Self likely would be interrupted anyway. 
On a sidenote things change a bit in favour of Aid Self when you are a /ice or /nrg domi. Powerboost largely upgrades the usefullness of Aid Self.
But i stick to that normally a well played domi should be able to be self sufficient without aid self and with good insps (and not just green ones as replacement for aid self, but oranges/purps to lower the need for any heal in the first place) +skills+build -and teammates, but yes ofcourse you still faceplant here and there.
My point is that not taking Aid Self leaves room for more powers that will help your quality and survivability in other ways, like killing them faster, controlling them better/faster, and/or taking other utility powers like maybe a second travel power (personally I find SJ + SS is brilliant for example).
Didn't mean to offend you, but i do wanted to point out that for domi's Aid Self is not a must at all as you seem so convinced about.
P.S Aid Self or not i'd advice not to solo any AV/Hero with or without triangles when playing a domi and instead bring some friends+insps
Not offended at all .
To be fair I did say a must on all Dom's I have for what I like to do and where I like to play them, which I did neglect to mention again in my most recent reply . So sure, it is not a must for all Doms. I, for my experience like it very much on mine, as much as you, for your experience prefer not to.
But I'd say that "good" Dom's not needing Aid Self would be just as blanket as me indeed saying every Dominator should have it .
PvP or PvE; Aid self is very easily min/maxxed in. Some of the powers can so easily be done without (ie why have 2 of the same thing and why the long recharge powers?).
Well I don't have aid self on any of my Doms as I try to slot the bread and butters and kite well instead. I definitely would suggest Aid Self for PvP to at least beat anything up to a scrapper.
Most likely, I won't be getting it for my Plant/Thorns. Not because I am good but because I take my planting seriously.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
Well, if we are talking bout Aid Self:
1) Im totally agree with Blue note, I got a mind/ice who has AS (just becoz it has PB), but I never had it in my mind/fire, neither in my grav/psi, or other toons...
The fact is that we are squishies, and here is what I differ with u guys... If u want to pvp, u will be 2-shotted almost always, and u will not have time to pop up AS and go ahead... Instead of that, u can defend urself being more offensive, and avoiding ppl 2-shot u (kickin them before they kick u)...
This has been the theory of the 'Active-defense', and although I have tried many times to pvp with aid self, I have found it is much more usefull grabb tactics and earn that little +perc to see enemies b4 they attack u.
2) For PvE, u can or not have aid self, it all depends on ur way to play and how much dmged u are. Here can appear ppl saying "it is a must!!", and "there r plenty other primary powers!!", since each of us play his/her dominator the way they want..
3) Just finishing, this weekend i totally pwned a corr and a brute in arena with my mind/fire, who has leadership. A good insp tray could supply u all the heal u would need, and it isnt interrumpible... I really doubt it would be so easy with my mind/ice, and it has aid self...
4) For OP, if u like spirit tree, go ahead with it, and dont let them change ur mind... For PvE it will work as well as AS.
Just my 2 cents, and all Im talkin is bout my experience.
Cheers.
Just a postscript to this, I got my pet last ngiht and I'm really enjoying the toon now, and have done for a while. Getting past those shaky late teens/early twenties made all the difference and now with a bit of judicial thought I seem able to take on pretty big mobs of yellow and orange. I'm having lots of fun - thanks to all for the advice.
One thing I have found tho is the Spirit Tree works really well for me and I'm surprised people have made negative comments about it
Thelonious Monk
J'Adore la Spirit Tree!!! Saved my skin sooo many times I won't let anyone speak bad of it...well I will but just disagree with a grunt. Like I say its saved my skin so many times, just planting it down and letting the enemy come onto me then spanking them (love my plant dom for doing this against the CoT's).
I didn't really find any probs with my plant dom in the late teens altho she's just entered the early 20's. My Ice/Psi on the other hand is a pain in the butt...level 21 being the worse...death after death!
Reason: No spirit tree!!!
So lets all gather round the spirit tree and sing a song of the woodsy lord and the forest folk.
@SkullFester
I'm not changing this signature until I'm proclaimed 'King of the World'.
[ QUOTE ]
J'Adore la Spirit Tree!!! Saved my skin sooo many times I won't let anyone speak bad of it...well I will but just disagree with a grunt. Like I say its saved my skin so many times, just planting it down and letting the enemy come onto me then spanking them (love my plant dom for doing this against the CoT's).
I didn't really find any probs with my plant dom in the late teens altho she's just entered the early 20's. My Ice/Psi on the other hand is a pain in the butt...level 21 being the worse...death after death!
Reason: No spirit tree!!!
So lets all gather round the spirit tree and sing a song of the woodsy lord and the forest folk.
[/ QUOTE ]
With you all the way and gratz on giving my 2nd favourite game a huge mention
Thelonious Monk
Gratz on being the first person to understand the reference, used that bind so many times and sat in wait of someone to get it!!
@SkullFester
I'm not changing this signature until I'm proclaimed 'King of the World'.
Just a quick question, ive got a baby plant/thorns and was wondering if its worth slotting pre IO set for defdebuff on any of the attacks, i was thinking holding, then jumping in for thorn burst for the -def??
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.30
http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/mhd.php
Phooey: Level 50 Technology Dominator
Primary Power Set: Plant Control
Secondary Power Set: Thorny Assault
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Strangler -- Acc-I(A), Hold-I(5), Hold-I(15), EndRdx-I(42)
Level 1: Thorny Darts -- Dmg-I(A), Dmg-I(3), Acc-I(15)
Level 2: Roots -- Immob-I(A), Immob-I(3), Acc-I(11), Acc-I(42), EndRdx-I(42)
Level 4: Skewer -- Dmg-I(A), Dmg-I(5), Dmg-I(9), Acc-I(9), Acc-I(31), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(7), RechRdx-I(7)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A), EndRdx-I(43)
Level 10: Seeds of Confusion -- Conf-I(A), Conf-I(11), Acc-I(13), Acc-I(13), EndRdx-I(31)
Level 12: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Impale -- Dmg-I(A), Dmg-I(17), Dmg-I(17), DefDeb-I(19), Acc-I(19), EndRdx-I(33)
Level 18: Health -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(21), Heal-I(21)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(23), EndMod-I(23)
Level 22: Vines -- Hold-I(A), Hold-I(25), Hold-I(25), Acc-I(27), EndRdx-I(27), RechRdx-I(29)
Level 24: Aim -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(29), ToHit-I(31), ToHit-I(40)
Level 26: Carrion Creepers -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(33), RechRdx-I(33), Immob-I(34), Immob-I(34), EndRdx-I(34)
Level 28: Thorn Burst -- EndRdx-I(A), Empty(48), Empty(50), Empty(50)
Level 30: Acrobatics -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 32: Fly Trap -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(37), Immob-I(37), DefDeb-I(37), Acc-I(39)
Level 35: Ripper -- Dmg-I(A), Dmg-I(36), Dmg-I(36), Acc-I(36), Acc-I(39), EndRdx-I(39)
Level 38: Thorn Barrage -- Dmg-I(A), Dmg-I(40), Dmg-I(45), Acc-I(46), Acc-I(46)
Level 41: Power Sink -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(43), EndMod-I(43), RechRdx-I(45), RechRdx-I(50)
Level 44: Charged Armor -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(45), ResDam-I(46), EndRdx-I(48)
Level 47: Summon Mu Guardian -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 49: Super Speed -- Run-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Domination
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[ QUOTE ]
Gratz on being the first person to understand the reference, used that bind so many times and sat in wait of someone to get it!!
[/ QUOTE ]
Well your wait is over! I reckon if they made Thief as an MMO it would ROCK!!!!
I wanna be....
a Hammerite!
Thelonious Monk
[ QUOTE ]
Just a quick question, ive got a baby plant/thorns and was wondering if its worth slotting pre IO set for defdebuff on any of the attacks, i was thinking holding, then jumping in for thorn burst for the -def??
[/ QUOTE ]
I use a lot of -Def and it works. I'm light on damage at present but I'm getting more slots now so that's enabling me to build up. But once held opponents are pretty well stuck and my pet will also much them quite happily especially with the -Def components we have
Thelonious Monk
Another quicky...flytrap is shown only with a short duration in mids im assuming it lasts till it dies or you zone though?
Guys
I've got a plant/thorns dom that started really well but at lvl 19 is just too damned squishy for words. I can't get anywhere with her.
Any words of advice would be gratefully received please
Thelonious Monk