It used to one shot stun bosses, but was reduced to mag 3 so you need to stack it with another stun, which you probably don't have.
It does 109 base damage. Comparatively Lightning blast does 59.
The only toon I've felt that defender total focus "rocks the house" on was my storm/sonic. I'd stack up ludicrous -res hit aim, pbu and hammer out huge numbers with TF, but that was an extreme corner case.
I dunno, if you really need another attack then it can work. It tends to be pretty meh on defs though.
Quote:
I'm not really a defender player, so I hope the power is the same as the versions I know. |
Originally Posted by perwira
Just how good is the Total Focus as a boss-smiting attack in the Power Mastery epic power set? The description reads "This is a very slow, but incredibly devastating attack that can knock out most opponents, leaving them Disoriented. Due to the exhausting nature of Total Focus, recharge time is very long."
I'm working on respec'ing an empath/electric defender and looking at this particular (Extreme Energy/Smashing) attack as a possible one-shot boss/AV smack backed up by the Power Build Up in the same epic set as well as Aim in the electric blast set. Would it disorient a boss or even an AV if it hits? And typically what percentage of their hit points? Or is it a silly idea for an empath/electric defender to even consider this? |
Total Focus is a Mag 3 stun. That's enough for a Minion or Lieutenant, but not a boss. Stacking it with other stuns (or itself), or using Power Boost/Power Build Up first will allow it to stun Bosses. Stacking Total Focus with itself would require insane amounts of +recharge and/or +stun duration; it's probably not worth trying.
You will not stun an AV with Total Focus, not even one of the rare ones that lack purple triangles. EB's, I'm not sure, but doubt you could reliably control them with TF.
If you plan on teaming, I would suggest letting the controllers handle the crowd control; some defenders can control, emp/elec isn't the best for that. If you're dead set on contrlling, do it through the -end in elec.
If you're soloing, take TF and slot it up. Once slotted, even a defender should be able to one-hit a minion, and it should lay some serious hurt on a Lt. I'd expect it to take a noticable chunk out of a Boss, but even on a blaster or brute, it won't one-hit a boss.
@Roderick
Quote:
Thanks for your comments. I'd probably dismiss the idea outright were it not for the Power Build Up in the same epic set, which reads: "Your mastery of power and energy allows you to greatly increase the damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your chance to hit. Additionally, Power Build Up greatly boosts the secondary effects of your powers. Your power effects like heals, defense buffs, endurance drains, disorients, holds, immobilizes, knockbacks and more, are all improved."|
Originally Posted by Frosticus
It used to one shot stun bosses, but was reduced to mag 3 so you need to stack it with another stun, which you probably don't have.
It does 109 base damage. Comparatively Lightning blast does 59. The only toon I've felt that defender total focus "rocks the house" on was my storm/sonic. I'd stack up ludicrous -res hit aim, pbu and hammer out huge numbers with TF, but that was an extreme corner case. I dunno, if you really need another attack then it can work. It tends to be pretty meh on defs though. |
Would the Power Build Up effectively increase the mag 3 disorient to a higher mag level? And if so, by how much, and would it be enough?
Quote:
I appreciate the constructive comments. See my reply/question to the prior poster about whether the epic set Power Build Up would likely give the Total Focus attack the boost it needs to be effective.|
Originally Posted by Roderick
I'm not really a defender player, so I hope the power is the same as the versions I know.
Total Focus is a Mag 3 stun. That's enough for a Minion or Lieutenant, but not a boss. Stacking it with other stuns (or itself), or using Power Boost/Power Build Up first will allow it to stun Bosses. Stacking Total Focus with itself would require insane amounts of +recharge and/or +stun duration; it's probably not worth trying. You will not stun an AV with Total Focus, not even one of the rare ones that lack purple triangles. EB's, I'm not sure, but doubt you could reliably control them with TF. If you plan on teaming, I would suggest letting the controllers handle the crowd control; some defenders can control, emp/elec isn't the best for that. If you're dead set on contrlling, do it through the -end in elec. If you're soloing, take TF and slot it up. Once slotted, even a defender should be able to one-hit a minion, and it should lay some serious hurt on a Lt. I'd expect it to take a noticable chunk out of a Boss, but even on a blaster or brute, it won't one-hit a boss. |
The intent here was not so much control as to provide a single-shot hard blow when the opportunity presents itself, probably used only once or twice (or only a few times) a battle (depending on how long the fight lasts) given the slow recharge time. If it disorients a major enemy combatant (boss or EV) just for the several seconds(?) the disorient lasts, that's sufficient, as it provides damage mitigation/prevention for the team and in particular for the ones up close fighting the boss/AV.
The electric set itself doesn't provide much apart from the specialty of endurance reduction, which can be moderately effective against the surrounding minions in draining them (especially with the Power Build Up preceding the attack), but not as much against larger bosses and AV with their extremely fast endurance recovery - sometimes they can be fully drained for an instant, but they often very quickly recover enough of a sliver of endurance to keep active. The Power Mastery epic set seems to provide an opportunity to give the defender the occasional shot at a potentially effective attack that can support the team effort. The question here is whether it is feasible with this particular attack. I appreciate the comments so far on this, and your comments will largely determine whether I seriously consider adding this into the respec'd build.
Quote:
As I said in my earlier reply, Power Build Up (or Power Boost) will make TF stun bosses, but not AVs. It might make it affect EBs, but I'm fairly certain it's not good enough alone.|
Originally Posted by perwira
I appreciate the constructive comments. See my reply/question to the prior poster about whether the epic set Power Build Up would likely give the Total Focus attack the boost it needs to be effective.
The intent here was not so much control as to provide a single-shot hard blow when the opportunity presents itself, probably used only once or twice (or only a few times) a battle (depending on how long the fight lasts) given the slow recharge time. If it disorients a major enemy combatant (boss or EV) just for the several seconds(?) the disorient lasts, that's sufficient, as it provides damage mitigation/prevention for the team and in particular for the ones up close fighting the boss/AV. The electric set itself doesn't provide much apart from the specialty of endurance reduction, which can be moderately effective against the surrounding minions in draining them (especially with the Power Build Up preceding the attack), but not as much against larger bosses and AV with their extremely fast endurance recovery - sometimes they can be fully drained for an instant, but they often very quickly recover enough of a sliver of endurance to keep active. The Power Mastery epic set seems to provide an opportunity to give the defender the occasional shot at a potentially effective attack that can support the team effort. The question here is whether it is feasible with this particular attack. I appreciate the comments so far on this, and your comments will largely determine whether I seriously consider adding this into the respec'd build. |
Make sure you take a look at the numbers for PBU before deciding to take it: Because it combines the effects of Power Boost and Build Up, it comes with a HUGE recharge time - possibly long enough for you to decide you don't like it as much. Then again, since you'd have the +damage from aim and PBU, plus the extra stun, it may be worth it.
I personally would grab these powers if I had room in the build, but would not sacrifice anything for them - they seem somewhat situational to me.
@Roderick
Quote:
PBU doesn't increase the mag, it increases the duration. If you used PBU and then TF, you might be able to stack it to stun a boss, but honestly it's not worth bothering with. The endurance cost and recharge are too high to be more than a one-off deal unless you have lots of -res to stack it with (such as a Rad/Son, Cold/Son, or Storm/Son).
|
Originally Posted by perwira
Would the Power Build Up effectively increase the mag 3 disorient to a higher mag level? And if so, by how much, and would it be enough?
|
@macskull, @Not Mac | XBL: macskull | Steam: macskull | Skype: macskull
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
"One day we all may see each other elsewhere. In Tyria, in Azeroth. We may pass each other and never know it. And that's sad. But if nothing else, we'll still have Rhode Island."
Quote:
Honestly, that's a little unfair to Lightning Bolt. Lightning Bolt animates in 1.848 seconds (if you don't understand how I got 1.848 seconds from a 1.67 sec listed animation time, check out this Paragonwiki link and this forum link, which is substantially wordier and involved) whereas Total Focus animates in 3.432 seconds. Lightning Bolt has a DPA of 31.9 whereas Total Focus has a DPS of 31.75. Where damage is concerned, Lightning Bolt is actually better than Total Focus, especially since it's got a better cycle time thanks to having a lower recharge.|
Originally Posted by Frosticus
It does 109 base damage. Comparatively Lightning blast does 59.
|
Numberless summation:
Total Focus takes too long to animate to make it a decent damage dealing power. If you're going to take it, use it as a combination mez/damage power. Otherwise, you're better off just sticking with your normal attacks, however bad they may look (unless you just like seeing bigger orange numbers no matter how bad they look on paper).
Whatever control you can get out of TF you can get more out of Tesla cage.
Add the lockdown hold proc and a devastation hold proc and pretty dang often you'll one shot hold bosses. Neither proc is very expensive.
TF:
Base 109
w/ 3 SO's = 212
+aim = 267
+aim+pbu = 354
Quote:
I'm aware of Arcanatime, so I'll assume you linked that for the OP. Feel free to quote in completion as I more than adequately summed up the "power" of TF in the following sentence, but your short quoting allowed you to contradict me. Or so it would seem.|
Originally Posted by Umbral
Honestly, that's a little unfair to Lightning Bolt. Lightning Bolt animates in 1.848 seconds (if you don't understand how I got 1.848 seconds from a 1.67 sec listed animation time, check out this Paragonwiki link and this forum link, which is substantially wordier and involved) whereas Total Focus animates in 3.432 seconds. Lightning Bolt has a DPA of 31.9 whereas Total Focus has a DPS of 31.75. Where damage is concerned, Lightning Bolt is actually better than Total Focus, especially since it's got a better cycle time thanks to having a lower recharge.
Numberless summation: Total Focus takes too long to animate to make it a decent damage dealing power. If you're going to take it, use it as a combination mez/damage power. Otherwise, you're better off just sticking with your normal attacks, however bad they may look (unless you just like seeing bigger orange numbers no matter how bad they look on paper). |
At any rate TF and LB have almost identical DPA, but the OP asked about, and I quote, "a boss-smiting attack". And seems to have been inquiring about not only the mez magnitude but the burst damage of the power seen in "how much percentage of a boss's hp does it take off".
OP again says:
"the intent is not so much control, but to provide a single hard blow when the opportunity arises"
Lightning bolt, despite have a very similar dpa to TF is neither a controlling power, nor a boss-smiting power. In fact the only reason I cited LB was so the OP would have a reference point that they are familiar with what with being an /elec def.
The OP is clearly seeking:
1. Will TF mez a boss? no, not alone
2. what about if I use pbu? no, not alone
3. Does it wtf pwnzor in the damage department? no, not unless you have a very strong forcemultiplcation build (of which emp/elec is not).
Like most people in the game I kind of doubt the OP cares at all about 0.2 difference in DPA, but rather how big the orange numbers are. But maybe I'm wrong and the OP will take it upon themselves to read those eloquently crafted articles.
OP for reference TF will hit a smidge harder than your snipe.
Quote:
Wait, is that how it has always worked? I thought Power Boost and Power Build Up increased the mag of mezzes, just like they boost the strenght of heals, buffs and debuffs. I knew the accolade version only boosted duration, but I thought it was a deliberately weaker version.
|
Originally Posted by macskull
PBU doesn't increase the mag, it increases the duration. If you used PBU and then TF, you might be able to stack it to stun a boss, but honestly it's not worth bothering with.
|
@Roderick
No power boost type power increases the magnitude of mez effects. The only power that "increases" the magnitude of mez effects is Domination, and what that really does is set a special mode where certain powers will apply a secondary effect that is another mez. Power boosts have only ever increased duration, for as long as I have played the game.
@SPTrashcan
Avatar by Toxic_Shia
Why MA ratings should be changed from stars to "like" or "dislike"
A better algorithm for ordering MA arcs
Quote:
In short, these answer the questions I had. As someone else had suggested, I was looking for the combination of both the mez effect and a contributory degree of damage knowing that most bosses/AV's may take more than at least a few rounds to take out. Without some assurance that the mez would take effect, I wouldn't consider it. From what I'm been reading here, PBU does *not* add to the mag 3 effect of the TF attack. The damage is also not extraordinary relative to some other attacks mentioned (LB and snipe) while equivalent mez effects can be had by the electric TC (surprising, given that TF is an epic power and TC is not).|
Originally Posted by Frosticus
The OP is clearly seeking:
1. Will TF mez a boss? no, not alone 2. what about if I use pbu? no, not alone 3. Does it wtf pwnzor in the damage department? no, not unless you have a very strong forcemultiplcation build (of which emp/elec is not). OP for reference TF will hit a smidge harder than your snipe. |
I appreciate everyone's responses and suggestions in this thread. Thanks!
(I also hadn't heard of the term 0.132 second 'Arcana time' although I have been well aware of it's effect in attack cycles. Interesting.)
Quote:
Would it then make more sense to choose the Electricity Mastery epic set and use its Shocking Bolt attack with TC to combine Hold effects? Because these are both duration over time attacks, would the Hold mag in these two attacks stack? If so, this looks like a far more attractive choice than PBU/TF from Power Mastery. Your thoughts?
|
Originally Posted by Frosticus
Whatever control you can get out of TF you can get more out of Tesla cage.
Add the lockdown hold proc and a devastation hold proc and pretty dang often you'll one shot hold bosses. Neither proc is very expensive. TF: Base 109 w/ 3 SO's = 212 +aim = 267 +aim+pbu = 354 |
- is really not worth your time or attention.
Your a defender. An empath, no less. You don't need to worry about damage, thats someone elses problem. You keep them alive so they do the hitting.
Even if you happen to solo, TF is a swine of a power to pick.
High end cost. Stupidly long animation time. Meh damage for something that costs so much end/time wise. Get the ranged attack/hold.
Ended up getting rid of TF on my tanker totally because it was such a waste of space.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
 |
Quote:
Tesla Cage + Shocking Bolt will stack and hold a boss, yes.
|
Originally Posted by perwira
Would it then make more sense to choose the Electricity Mastery epic set and use its Shocking Bolt attack with TC to combine Hold effects? Because these are both duration over time attacks, would the Hold mag in these two attacks stack? If so, this looks like a far more attractive choice than PBU/TF from Power Mastery. Your thoughts?
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Sarrate
Tesla Cage + Shocking Bolt will stack and hold a boss, yes.
|
From all I've read so far, it seems pretty clear that this is a better way to go than to attempt PBU/TF, pretty much deciding the direction I'll take on the respec.
Quote:
In general, I agree. An empath often has enough to do and doing damage rates near (if not at) the bottom of the list in terms of priority of what they should be doing. On the other hand, there will always be times when an opportunity presents itself for an empath to contribute to control and damage mitigation, possibly decisively, according to the situation. And after 50 levels of play, I've learned that an empath has to be able to adapt to any number of situations as well as any different number of team sizes/combinations in the mission. This adaptability is the strength of the empath I play and my original question originates in the exploration of increasing the empath's capability range even further.|
Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha
- is really not worth your time or attention.
Your a defender. An empath, no less. You don't need to worry about damage, thats someone elses problem. You keep them alive so they do the hitting. |
Damage itself is really only of interest in solo or possibly very small teams (duo or trio, depending on the other AT's and powers). For soloing or some duoing, a second build geared towards more damage delivery would be more appropriate.
Just how good is the Total Focus as a boss-smiting attack in the Power Mastery epic power set? The description reads "This is a very slow, but incredibly devastating attack that can knock out most opponents, leaving them Disoriented. Due to the exhausting nature of Total Focus, recharge time is very long."
I'm working on respec'ing an empath/electric defender and looking at this particular (Extreme Energy/Smashing) attack as a possible one-shot boss/AV smack backed up by the Power Build Up in the same epic set as well as Aim in the electric blast set.
Would it disorient a boss or even an AV if it hits? And typically what percentage of their hit points?
Or is it a silly idea for an empath/electric defender to even consider this?
(eta: What I had envisioned is a fight against a boss or AV already being engaged by other members of the team. Already being superspeeded and stealthed, the defender would zip in and out for a single blow to add to the damage - if not K.O. potential - against a top enemy combatant. Comments welcome on whether this is a viable idea or not.)