Area of effect powers are utterly pointless if you are fighting single enemes, but in groups of enemies they shine since damage is spread. If you solo mainly then you are facing anywhere from 2 to 4 enemies per group so your AoE powers would be good for you. If you are lower level and don't have much accuracy/to-hit to aid with the to-hit check you may not be gettign the most out of the power.
Also AoE powers are weaker than your single target powers for the tradeoff of multiple enemies. Single target blasts in my opinion are always going to be the best option if you are facing one or two or three enemies.
What level is your Blaster?
"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)
The two blasters in question are: Coruscating Oxidizer--Level 38
Elemental Spark--Level 14
Coru has been a street runner his whole life and done little teaming or mish running.
Sparky is going to be my teaming and TF running Toon. I want him to work well in a team setting in mishes.
I know the play style is different between the two. This is where I run into confusion. On a team, I will not be responsible for all the damage as I am when soloing the streets. I want Sparky to be as efficient on a team as Coru is alone.
I know I am rambling so if I am not adequately supplying you all with the info you need just let me know.
Thanks for helping despite my lack of experience.
I assume Coru is your Fire/Devices Blaster correct? What power sets does Elemental Spark use?
The Fire/Devices Blaster can be effective in teams if you wanted him to be. You wouldn't necessarily have much use for Time Bomb, or Trip Mine unless teams wanted you to set up a mine field for pulls etc, but Gun Drone is good. Fire Blast, Flares, Fireball, Rain of Fire, Blazing Bolt are all good damage powers, but your meat and potatoes is going to be Fireball, Firebreath, and Rain of Fire for mass area of effect damage. In a team you will just drop RoF when the Tank or Controller has them agroed or locked down and watch the number fly.
You will have to tell me more about the other Blaster you want to be your team Blaster for me to better assist you.
"People love to talk, but hate to listen." Alice Duer Miller, American Author (1874-1942)
An AOE attack is about 3 times the endurance of a single-target attack.
I'm going to ask a couple of basic questions- I don't mean to patronize, but you did mention you're new to the game:
1) Do you have Stamina? This makes a large difference on Endurance.
2) Are you using Fire Breath? Are you hitting the whole group with it? One problem, (especially seen when someone comes from melee characters, but can come from anywhere) is when someone "tab targets" to the closest critter in a spawn, hits Fire Breath, and runs toward them. This results in an AOE that only hits one person, making it look like a slow, overpriced singletarget attack.
3) Do you have Aim? Despite what it says on the box, it's most useful as a moderate damage buff. Difference between wiping out even-con minions and wiping out +1s.
Fireball/Fire Breath, as mentioned, should drop an entire spawn of even-con minions if used right. I'm not a big fan of Rain of Fire because it kills badguys slower than badguys kill me.
I'm not a huge fan of /Devices so I won't discuss that side of the equation.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
You should take stamina and also slot with at least one end reduction SO, that helped me out.
On My Fire/Devices I drop Caltrops and use my ST blasts to build up defiance and then drop Fireball and then breath, Most times if I use ST blasts on different targets and have Gun Drone out, Fireball is enough.
"Yes, winning all the time can be boring."
-Knight_Chill
"It's amazing how well you can put up with endurance issues if you hide them under a large enough pile of bodies."
-Spiritchaser speaking on Dom Revamp
As has been mentioned, the first thing to do is decide whether or not the endurance cost of an AoE is warranted. I always have the first two basic attacks and Blaze on my fireblasters to cobble together a single target chain. Then, you need to position yourself in such a way so as to maximize the number of baddies you are hitting. When if comes to Firebreath, the cone is sort of narrow. I like to slot my cone attacks with some range where I can, often an HO-Cent as I approach level 50. The further a cone attack fires, the wider the end of the cone tends to get, so range is to your advantage with them. I either open with Fireball and break LoS and let them charge at me, stringing out into a line as they come then targetting the hindmost mob to unleash firebreath, or I open with Firebreath and finish with a splash of fireball.
Tangentially, I think the generally accepted wisdom is to use Firebreath, Fireball in that order for enemies to drop fastest.
I use Fireball first, because I have been trained by years of knockback to get the next attack going as soon as possible.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
Hey sorry I took so long to get back to you guys. I have been detained by the real world. so pesky as it is. Anyways, thanks for all the help. I appreciate you guys taking the time help me make a decision. As I have mostly been an "AE baby" and a farm based player to date, I have not had the pleasure to experience the game as it was meant to be played til now. I was worried how the endurance issue would present itself in standard play. (yes I always take stamina and 6 slot it.) Moving away from my PLed toons(Coru) to the toons I am gonna take through the game(Spark) I wanted to do it right. I believe Fireball has its purpose. I look forward to teaming with you all!
THANKS!
Sirken
Don't 6-slot stamina. Ever since ED came out, every slot past the third of a single type of enhancer offers less effectiveness. You can 6-slot it, but your 4th, 5th, and 6th enhancer of EndMod will not give you effectiveness worth the price you'll pay for them (no matter which type we're talking about). I guess if you want to slot all 6 pieces of an IO EndMod set for the bonuses then you would do it.
I get by just fine on my fire/ice with 3 slots in stamina and some extra EndRed slotted into individual powers as needed. Flare only runs out of endurance if he gets into a prolonged fight where he runs Snowstorm continuously.
Quote:
Six-slotting Stamina is unadvisable -- three should do it. The only time you'd want more is if you're slotting an IO set for the bonuses, or if you're using a Stamina IO set proc like Performance Shifter: Chance for +End.|
Originally Posted by Mortimer_NA
I was worried how the endurance issue would present itself in standard play. (yes I always take stamina and 6 slot it.)
|
If you're really concerned about making your characters run well (fast attacks and low endurance usage), I'd suggest slotting some IO sets in your attacks once your character hits level 30 or so.
The sets provide much more bang for slot: a set of five level 30 Thunderstrike ranged damage IOs provides the equivalent of one level 40 Recharge IO, one level 40 End Red IO, two level 25 Acc IOs (including the 7% bonus from having 4 of the set) and two level 30 and one level 25 damage IOs.
For those five slots you get almost seven slots worth of enhancements.
The Thunderstrike IO set also give you 2% end recovery bonus, energy and ranged defense bonuses, and movement speed bonuses.
If you're really interested in optimizing your characters IO sets are the way to go.
The only time you should put more than 3 or 4 slots in Stamina is if you're using IOs to get set bonuses.
My BS/DA scrapper has it 5 slotted with Performance Shifter.
Everyone else answered most of your questions pretty good, I just felt that was worth repeating.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
Quote:
I always 4 slot Stamina with the Performance shifter set, EndMod, EndMod/Acc, EndMod/Rech, +End Proc. But that's with IOs, and I dont suggest you bother too much with sets yet. Instead I'll sugest 3 generic ENDMOD SOs or IOs, and the Performance Shifter +End Proc.
|
Originally Posted by DestineeFable
Don't 6-slot stamina. Ever since ED came out, every slot past the third of a single type of enhancer offers less effectiveness. You can 6-slot it, but your 4th, 5th, and 6th enhancer of EndMod will not give you effectiveness worth the price you'll pay for them (no matter which type we're talking about). I guess if you want to slot all 6 pieces of an IO EndMod set for the bonuses then you would do it.
I get by just fine on my fire/ice with 3 slots in stamina and some extra EndRed slotted into individual powers as needed. Flare only runs out of endurance if he gets into a prolonged fight where he runs Snowstorm continuously. |
@Mazzo Grave
Webmaster Grave, Virtueverse!
Energy/Energy Blaster Guide
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by BackAlleyBrawler
you *******!!!!
|
Oh wow. Thanks guys. I had not thought about that. I was using Efficacy adapter in stamina but I see your point about using fewer slots to get more effectiveness. That is one problem I always find myself thinking about is where the slots should go. This forum has helped me more than I expected.
If you see Elemental Spark running around or Coruscating Oxidizer, please hit me up for a team. I am always up to beat down on some baddies.
Again THANKS!
Sirken
BTW. How do I go about actually posting a MIDS build into the forum? That might have helped.
Quote:
In the menu bar press Import / Export - Short Forum Export.|
Originally Posted by Mortimer_NA
BTW. How do I go about actually posting a MIDS build into the forum? That might have helped.
|
Under Colour Scheme, I like Fruit Salad. Formatting Code Type, use phpBB / Zetaboards.
Under Data Chunk, I only check the first box, Export Data Chunk if creating a DataLink isn't possible.
Under Enhancements, I check only the middle button, Don't Export Invention Levels.
Under Set Bonuses, I only check the first button, Export Bonus Totals.
Then click, Export Now and then OK.
Then paste into the post editor.
Why Blasters? Empathy Sucks.
So, you want to be Mental?
What the hell? Let's buff defenders.
Tactics are for those who do not have a big enough hammer. Wisdom is knowing how big your hammer is.
[color:#489AFF]Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.401[/color]
[color:#489AFF]http://www.cohplanner.com/[/color]
[color:#B1C9F5]Click this DataLink to open the build![/color]
[color:#B3CAF7]Level 50 Mutation Blaster[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Primary Power Set: [/color][color:#B3CAF7]Fire Blast[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Secondary Power Set: [/color][color:#B3CAF7]Electricity Manipulation[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Power Pool: [/color][color:#B3CAF7]Speed[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Power Pool: [/color][color:#B3CAF7]Fitness[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Power Pool: [/color][color:#B3CAF7]Flight[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Power Pool: [/color][color:#B3CAF7]Leaping[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Ancillary Pool: [/color][color:#B3CAF7]Electrical Mastery[/color]
[color:#489AFF]Hero Profile:[/color]
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 1:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Fire Blast[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](7)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](7)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](9)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](9)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](40)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 1:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Electric Fence[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 2:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Fire Ball[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](3)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](3)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](5)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](5)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](37)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 4:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Flares[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](13)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](19)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](23)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 6:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Charged Brawl[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](13)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](19)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](23)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 8:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Fire Breath[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](11)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](15)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](17)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](40)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](40)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 10:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Havoc Punch[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](11)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](15)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](17)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 12:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Hasten[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 14:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Super Speed[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]Clrty-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Stlth[/color](A)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 16:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Swift[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 18:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Health[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]Numna-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Regen/Rcvry+[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Numna-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Heal[/color](31)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Numna-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Heal/EndRdx[/color](34)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Numna-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Heal/Rchg[/color](43)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 20:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Stamina[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]Efficacy-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Acc/Rchg[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Efficacy-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]EndMod/Acc[/color](21)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Efficacy-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]EndMod/EndRdx[/color](21)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Efficacy-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]EndMod[/color](43)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 22:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Aim[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]AdjTgt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ToHit[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]AdjTgt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ToHit/Rchg[/color](25)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]AdjTgt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ToHit/EndRdx[/color](27)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 24:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Build Up[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]AdjTgt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ToHit/Rchg[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]AdjTgt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg[/color](25)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]AdjTgt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ToHit[/color](27)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 26:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Hover[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]Krma-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Def/EndRdx[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Krma-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Def/Rchg[/color](29)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]Krma-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResKB[/color](29)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 28:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Combat Jumping[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]LkGmblr-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Def/EndRdx[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]LkGmblr-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Def/Rchg[/color](31)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]LkGmblr-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]EndRdx/Rchg[/color](31)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]LkGmblr-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Def/EndRdx/Rchg[/color](33)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]LkGmblr-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Def[/color](33)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]LkGmblr-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]Rchg+[/color](33)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 30:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Thunder Strike[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](34)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](42)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](43)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](48)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](48)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 32:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Blaze[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](34)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](42)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](42)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](46)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](48)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 35:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Power Sink[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](36)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](36)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](36)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](37)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](37)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 38:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Inferno[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](39)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](39)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](39)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 41:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Static Discharge[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](46)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](46)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](50)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 44:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Charged Armor[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]S'fstPrt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResDam/EndRdx[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]S'fstPrt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResDam/Def+[/color](45)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]S'fstPrt-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResKB[/color](45)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]ImpArm-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResPsi[/color](45)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 47:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Surge of Power[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]ImpArm-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResPsi[/color](A)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]ImpArm-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResDam[/color](50)[color:#B1C9F5], [/color][color:#7AA4EF]ImpArm-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]ResDam/Rchg[/color](50)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 49:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Lightning Field[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#7AA4EF]Erad-[/color][color:#7AA4EF]%Dam[/color](A)
[color:#489AFF]------------[/color]
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 1:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Brawl[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 1:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Sprint[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 2:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Rest[/color] [color:#489AFF]--[/color] [color:#5EAEFF]Empty[/color](A)
[color:#4FA7FF]Level 1:[/color] [color:#B3CAF7]Defiance[/color]
Please look through this and tell me what ya think. This is Elemental Spark. Currently level 25. This is what I would like to do...I think. lol
Sirken
whoops sorry about that mess of formatting.
Sirken
Hey everyone. This is my first time posting. I appreciate any help I can get.
My main toon is a Fire/devices blaster. I use Fireball a LOT. However, I have been paying more and more attention and notice that I am much more efficient relying on single target attacks. Time of battle is faster and endurance drain is less. However I hear many sing the praises of AoE powers. I dont see the damage I would like from Fireball for the END drain. Am I expecting to much or doing something wrong? Only been playing for a few months so all advice is welcome.
Sirken