Rad/Traps?

I searched through the guides and couldn't find one for a Rad/Traps corruptor. Maybe my search-fu was failing, since I know I've heard these guys are viable. So...anyone have either a guide or suggestions/pitfalls/encouragements for a new, fledgling rad/traps corruptor? I'd greatly appreciate it.

I love the concept of the guy. He's basically your typical merc for hire, only he's adept at understanding how things optimally work (tools, patterns, etc) and putting "pieces" together. Imagine Sherlock Holmes only with "things" rather than "events". As such, he's basically skilled at aquiring technology and magical tools to use for the right occasion. His body is tatooed with mystic Tsoo protection spells, he has magical (rad) attacks infused with all of the technological gadgets necessary to make sure he is standing when his enemies fall. Not super powered, himself, just good at using the tools he finds to his advantage. The thing is...I really WANT him to survive and still do moderate damage. So...help me out?

It SEEMS like Rad is weak on damage, light on end, and with the -def and some procs, able to compensate for the weak damage at higher levels. Is that right? I have ZERO experienced with either of these sets, so as much advice on what powers to take, skip, how to use, slot, etc. would be helpful.

Disclaimer: Defenders are not Corruptors, I know this, but I can only speak with experience as a Defender.

I will never take Rad Blast on another Defender ever again. It definitely has utility and is a fast blast set, but on the enemies I typically fight at level 50 (lvl 52-53 Rikti mostly) the energy damage is extremely lacking because of the difference in levels and their inherent energy resistance.

As a Corruptor I imagine that Scourge will make up for a good bit of the damage lost to resists, so I'd say your mileage may vary on that front. For mobs that don't have resistance on top of +level res, I imagine you'd be doing fine.

I had my Neutrino Bolt slotted with 4 Thunderstrikes, a Lady Grey Proc, and the Apoc proc. On mobs that were my level I would mow through single targets very quickly.

But for me, at level 50 on a Cold/Rad, it was not worth it and that's why I rolled a Cold/Sonic. I still have my Cold/Rad but I don't think I've played him at all since I resubscribed a couple weeks back.

Anything/traps isn't talked about much since they nerfed PT. Still a viable set, sorta, but just not as awesome as it was for a short while. Rad is an alright powerset. Not my favorite blast set, but solid, and I do play it on concept toons.

Powers you want from traps:
FFG
Acid Mortar
PT (nerfed, but still useful)
Maybe Triage Beacon (depends on your playing style--I toe bomb and find it useful, also can be useful on teams)
Caltrops (useful as a OH NOEZ power)
Seeker Drones (useful for safely toe bombing)
Trip Mines (zomg awesome)

Powers you want from rad:
Neutrino Bolt
Irradiate
Aim
Cosmic Burst
Neutron Bomb
Atomic Blast (the nuke)
And, according to a friend of mine who actually likes rad blast--the snipe is awesomesauce on a chocolate chip pancake if you can fit it in.

Possible pools I would recommend:
Stealth (if you want to get up in their faces while setting up a trap or three)
Speed (Hasten. Yum)
Flight (Hover if you get the kb cone, makes it kd)

The AoE nature of Irradiate and Neutron Bomb fit nicely with the AoE debuffs of traps. You may even want the cone--Electron Haze--to knock baddies back into the debuff zones, but that's more a personal playstyle type of thing.

The one thing to know about rad blast is it's a fast set--it's low damage because in the time it takes people to fire off one or two attacks from other sets, you're in your fifth or sixth attack. Procs are your friend. It is a clicky set, kinda like kin.

Irradiate will make you happier than it should. And that is good and right, because Irradiate is amazing. If you choose to use Irradiate like it is meant to be used (jumping into the middle of a large mob and using it whenever it recharges, maniacal laughter is optional), you'll probably end up toe bombing a lot.

Fun random fact--both sets are end bar friendly. You can probably go quite a while, or even all 50 levels, with no Stamina if you slot occasional end reducs. That being said, I did a pretend build in Mids just to see how this build would pan out, and I started running out of powers to take if you don't take Stamina.

If you toe bomb (ie, run up and start dropping traps and attacks, rather than pulling like a sane person), PFG is your frieeeend. PFG is your bestest bud. 3 defs, and maybe a end reduc. You don't need recharge.

Triage Beacon is nice if you like playing on the edge, but it doesn't shine til it is six slotted with 3 heals and 3 recharges. Maybe a heal IO set would be good in here, not sure, I haven't IO'd my traps yet.

And you are going to be kinda squishy until PFG. I'd say stick with it until then, then make your decision about whether or not you like it.

And whatever you do...do not take Time Bomb. There is no point to burn a perfectly good respec because you took this power.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I'm sure others with more experience will have better/more exact advice.

As an owner of a Rad/Dark corruptor, I can help you tell one thing: Rad is an interesting set IF!!!!!! you don't mind it going a bit slow.

It is true that Scourge, of course, is us Corruptors' friends, and yes, the snipe is useful.

If I may, I'd hope you're quite the teamer, because in a team, Rad (i think Traps will be the same) is VERY strong! You have access to a lot of AoE's, that your teammates will like the -def effects of.

I think your combo is interesting, so I hope you will enjoy it

Janus is actually right, this really is a team friendly build. You can solo, and traps is a VERY safe solo'er once you get PFG and everything else, but it can be slow (set up times, etc).

On a team, it's kinda nice because you can just drop your traps and then blast, because whether or not your teammates take damage is kinda up to them, you can just focus on killing things. ...I mean, "arresting".

I'm pretty sure villains don't "arrest" : o

Depends.

I do have one villain who actually arrests other bad guys. Amusingly, it's my traps. She's not really evil, just a poor tinkerer who has to beg, borrow and steal the parts she needs to do what she loves best--building stuff. If I'm around for GR, she'll be the first to switch sides, most likely.

But all my other villains? Oh yeah. There is none of this namby pamby 'arresting'. I am shooting you with bullets, ice, fire, blasts from the netherworld...I'm not arresting you.