Pain vs. Empathy

Originally Posted by Smashmaster

I think people are making a mistake if they think Pain is supposed to be a "bad guy" version of Empathy. That is quite understandable, as it shares 5 (arguable 6) powers that are very similar. But World of Pain, Soothing Aura and Anguished Cry completely set Pain apart.

Consider this: A defender can play a "pure healer", ie an Empath with all of the Empathy Set and only one of his blasts. He makes no effort to inflict damage for the team, he simply pushes buffs as soon as they come up and fires off Absorb Pain when someone's Green Bar drops. If somehow he gets some agro, he takes evasive action (run, phase, etc).

I used to think this was a rather lame way to play, but after making a Plant/Emp (heavy on both), I now understand this mindset somewhat better. I have found Empathy a rather demanding set to play, not in the sense that its "hard", but in the way it is designed with all click powers. Maximizing the empath's buffs takes constant effort. I can't tell you how busy my plant/emp is, constantly pushing buffs, attacks, heals, controls, more buffs, more heals, more buffs.... it's a bloody mashfest. Not that I don't like my plant/emp, but it requires more of my attention then any other toon I have created, excepting perhaps my Kin/Elec.

Pain does not play the same way. WoP is an "every fight" buff, AC is an "every fight" debuff, and Soothing Aura requires no attention at all. It effectively has no activation time, doesn't require much endurance, and has a worthwhile benefit to you and those near you.

If you are trying to shoehorn a */Pain corruptor into a play style like a Pure Empath, then yes, you are going to shortchange yourself and your team. Pain is just not nearly as effective in that role to merit that kind of devotion.

So, what is Pain good for then? OFFENSE! For you as well as for your cohorts. Be aggressive, get a primary that complements it (like Rad) and get up in your foe's grill and unleash your wrath upon them.