I think we'll need some more information.
Specifically, how are your attack powers slotted? For SOs, typical attack slotting would be one accuracy, 3 damage, one endurance reduction and one recharge reduction.
Have you outleveled the SOs in your powers? If you're more than 4 levels above the level of the enhancement, it won't provide any benefit at all and you'll have to replace it.
How many toggles are you running during combat? While attack powers use up endurance MUCH faster than toggles, having a number of toggles running during combat can make endurance issues worse, ESPECIALLY if they don't have endurance reduction enhancements slotted.
Have you considered the Fitness power pool? It has a power called Stamina, which you can pick at level 20 or later after you've picked any two other powers from the pool. Stamina increases your endurance recovery, and while it's not a substitute for slotting endurance reducers, at the very least it'll reduce your downtime between fights.
@Demobot
Also on Steam
Stamina!!!
Stamina will go a very long way in improving your performance.
I'm actually able to get away with not slotting end reduction in any attacks with a 3 slotted stamina.
I'd also suggest looking at picking up Power Bolt. Personally, I couldn't play without it in the build. Really useful since you can use it while mezzed too!
Bonesmasher! My entire style of play changed once I got over my fear of melee and picked this up.
Bonesmasher + Total Focus = dead LT or nearly dead boss!!
Your defense is your Knockback. Power Thrust is great to keep those heavy hitting melee guys outta your face.
I actually picked up Power Push to use as a Boss Mez. With proper use of Power Push I can keep the boss on his butt the whole fight while I whittle him away to nothing.
I really think your whole perception of the toon will change if you pick up stamina. It can be a pain to give up 3 powers for it but. well, its still well worth it. Some builds do just fine without the fitness pool. Blasters IMO do not.
I'd consider dropping the leadership pool entirely. It gives extremely low returns for blasters. So even if you have it for teaming the team really isn't getting much benefit and on top of that its constantly draining your endurance. This might be the easiest way to pick up the fitness pool.
Maestro Mavius - Infinity
Capt. Biohazrd - PCSAR
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Keep Calm & Chive On!
Everybody has given excellent advice.
Here's my tidbit:
Are you making sure you're turning OFF "Sprint" once you enter combat? I only ask because when I was new, it took me a few weeks to realize that it was having an impact on my endurance usage... and while it doesn't have the same drain as other power toggles (as Demobot mentioned), it does help to remember to turn it OFF once you get up to your targets. 
Just my $0.02.
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A) Drop flight, too (not just leadership). Unless you're using hover to stay above the fray in combat. Even if you are, having fly and teleport is a waste.
B) You *need* power bolt and boost range. Power Bolt is a "defiance" power. You can use it even if you're stunned, asleep, or held. Boost Range will make your cones (Energy Torrent and Static Discharge) bigger if you have them, and let you use your other ranged attacks at such distance that you should stay safer longer.
A+B) Keep Boost Range up while you're teleporting and you'll go ridiculously fast. Like fast enough that you'll get to make a sandwich while you wait for your teammates.
C) It's been mentioned, but knockback is your main form of mitigation. If you're having problems with it and would like to try an entirely different route than I mentioned, pick up Stun and Power Boost. Then the disorient effect on Stun, Bone Smasher, and Energy Punch will last longer, allowing them to stack and hold down bosses pretty easily.
I'd be happy to share my Energy/Energy almost-all ranged build if you'd like. I have a blapper build too, but I don't think it's very good.
D) All that previous advice stands. You so want Stamina, slot some endurance reduction in your quick recharge attacks if you still need endurance, and consider the heavy hitting melee powers if you're regularly soloing small mobs.
@Gilia1
I play heroes on Champion.
I play villains on Virtue.
THANKS EVERYONE! FOR YOUR ADVICE!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!
yeah i have fitness/stamina pool
i just love flight too much i guess haha its a nice freedom to go anywhere
BUT if its REALLY effecting me THAT Much..then i guess ill get rid of it.
right now i have a basic SO slot of 2ACC 3Attack 2end red.
and thanks for the advice towards using power bolt and boost range. and also i am going to get rid of leadership. thanks for everything guys! ill get back to you and let ya know if it improves..gotta go get a respec first haha
and YES haha i made sure i didnt have sprint on..not THAT new 
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Not necessarily. I have Hover, Fly and Teleport on my main and they all fill their respective roles quite nicely. Hover in combat (and while Teleporting for added insurance), Fly over short distances, Teleport from one end of the zone to the other. I couldn't imagine not having all three, and I hardly need to mention how beneficial Recall Friend is.|
Originally Posted by Gilia
A) Drop flight, too (not just leadership). Unless you're using hover to stay above the fray in combat. Even if you are, having fly and teleport is a waste.
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I don't know how unorthodox the Flight/Teleport combo is, but it works quite well for me.
@Demobot
Also on Steam
It really comes down to what works best for you.
Once you solve your endurance issues the rest should be gravy.
Personally, my 50 has Fly and Super Speed.
Fly simply because of concept reasons and the ability to point myself in the direction and hit auto run before running to the bathroom. Never used in battle though.
SS for the Stealth + SS combo.
I found Energy/Energy to excel in boss killing. At least my blapper build does. I ended up building to specialize in this. So I usually stealth every mission.
I do typically shy away from having more than 1 travel power. Unless I have a concept reason or an extra power choice.
That said, I've found Teleport to be nearly useless unless I have hover to go with it. This is due to me having a dinosaur of a PC though.
Maestro Mavius - Infinity
Capt. Biohazrd - PCSAR
Talsor Tech - Talsorian Guard
Keep Calm & Chive On!
Quote:
If you're only using fly over short distances, not having it would be a lot like using Raptor Pack instead. If you happen to have picked up GvE, it would mean throwing Jump Pack up at the same time and flying at max speed, too.|
Originally Posted by Demobot
Not necessarily. I have Hover, Fly and Teleport on my main and they all fill their respective roles quite nicely. Hover in combat (and while Teleporting for added insurance), Fly over short distances, Teleport from one end of the zone to the other. I couldn't imagine not having all three, and I hardly need to mention how beneficial Recall Friend is.
I don't know how unorthodox the Flight/Teleport combo is, but it works quite well for me. |
Concept reasons make sense. I dare say even preferred play style and good old fashion "I enjoy having two/three travel powers" are good enough reasons, too. I just would put it off for a bit in a build that's lacking so many awesome powers. Taking two, three, even four travel powers is a common misuse of power picks with newer players, and I find it safer to say you should do that for no reason, then when you reconsider/respec your build and start dropping stuff, then you pick up the redundant/useless powers that would be fun.
It's not a black and white thing for me either. I have plenty of characters with more than one way to get around, I just don't see Fly as worthy early power pick in this case.
@Gilia1
I play heroes on Champion.
I play villains on Virtue.
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Energy/energy was my first blaster also. Believe me when I say that running out of end and a quick death is what make true blaster players know they're doing their jobs correctly. If you're more masochistic than the run of the mill blaster, try Fire/energy, or Fire/Fire.|
Originally Posted by Ryderillac
Okay..so this is the deal..this toon is my very first toon ever and my first build ever. ive been playing CoH for about 4 months now..pretty new and i feel like ive hit a wall..im about to retire my character after ALL THIS TIME i put in it to get to lvl45. my troubles are,
1:My toon uses SO much END im empty almost after 5 attacks 2:i have no defense what so ever! i cant take on more than 4 people atta time(+1 level or +2 or same) i die very quickly! |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ryderillac
ive heard of IO's obviously but i really dont understand how to use them at all. right now im using SO enhancements which obviously arent doin the trick. please please help me and dont worry PLEASE ITS OKAY TO TALK TO ME like i DONT KNOW A THING haha because im pretty new at this and i dont mind you takin it slow.
so..hmm..i need to know what IO sets i should set! help! |
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ryderillac
ill make it easy.
the powers i DIDNT choose are: power bolt power push energy punch bone smasher stun powerboost and boost range my epic pool i chose electrical mastery my travel is Flight i have leadership i have TP hope you can help! |
1: Power Blast
1: Power Thrust
2: Energy Punch
What I have found, is that /energy has some of the hardest hitting *melee* attacks in the game. Once you shed your fear of melee, you can outpace scrappers in damage output.
4: Build Up
/energy gets theirs first.... why not grab it early.
6: Power Burst
8: Air Superiority
I too love the Flight power pool. This melee attack, has a ton of knock up and hits you target with -fly if you are both airborne.
10: Bone Smasher
12: Aim
Here it is... what should become your opening combo in every fight. Aim + Build Up (BU).
14: Fly
16: Hurdle
18: Health
20: Stamina
Get it, Live it, Love it, 3 slot it.
22: Power Bolt
Now you may be wondering; "Why is he waiting 'til his 20's to pick up a tier one power?". because most of the mez you face doesn't start showing up til around 20. Also there's just so much cool stuff ya need to get first.
24: Stimulant
your team is there to help you survive. If they get mez'ed, they aren't doing their job.
26: Explosive Blast
28: Aid Self
Self gratification.... yay!
30: Resuscitate
See Stimulate.
32: NOVA.
I love this power... but I know saying that can re-spark an age old battle between elder gods and bring about the apocolypse.
35: Boost Range
38: Total Focus
41: Personal Force Field
44: Temp Invulnerability
47: Force of Nature
49: Swift
I'm actually thinking of changing something out for Conserve Power but I dont know where or what to change. I'll figure it out later. I don't want to threadjack you.
If you don't have it already (and are not using a Mac), download Mids from CoH Planner, it can help you plan out your build.
"I used to make diddly squat, but I've been with the company for 16 years and have had plenty of great raises. Now I just make squat" -- Me
Pediatric brain tumors are the #1 cause of cancer related deaths in children.
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That's (hopefully) just because it's your first character. An experienced player (at least Blaster-player) will not have these issues.|
Originally Posted by SacredMay
Energy/energy was my first blaster also. Believe me when I say that running out of end and a quick death is what make true blaster players know they're doing their jobs correctly. If you're more masochistic than the run of the mill blaster, try Fire/energy, or Fire/Fire.
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Just a note or two on your build:
Don't take Explosive Blast over Energy Torrent. Energy Torrent does more damage, has quicker recharge, and with Boost Range it covers over twice the area. The kicker? Lowed endurance cost, too. It's a better power. If you can't pick up both, the one you should have is definitely Torrent.
Don't wait so long on Power Bolt. It's moot since you've both out leveled it, but with /Energy or /Devices you are already down one ranged defiance attack when you're mezzed (even if it's less common). Power Burst isn't going to help you anymore in other circumstances anyway.
I'm a little nervous about using Air Superiority for holding down a single target when you could have taken Power Push or Stun. I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, it just always throws me when someone elects to use a power pool choice instead of their power sets. It does quite a bit more damage, at least.
Resuscitate?
The nice thing about Energy/Energy is it's so simple. I think you'll find it was a lot of people's first 50, or at least first level 50 blaster, because it's hard to mess up really bad.
@Gilia1
I play heroes on Champion.
I play villains on Virtue.
You can do a lot with IOs. I think mostly I learned from this guide by Fulmens: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=119641
Common IOs at your level (45) provide more bonus than the shiniest SO you can get. Set IOs that add to more than one aspect to a power (like Acc/Dam, Acc/Dam/End, etc) provide more total enhancement to a power than any common IO or SO does. Two basic approaches: put most or all of a set into a power, reaping the benefits of the improved IO enhancements as well as the often tasty set bonuses, or "frankenslot" your IOs by using IOs of more than one set along with commons to get seriously huge enhancements to the power, but skipping set bonuses.
So, for something like Energy Torrent, you could put 5 or 6 Detonations in there, which should give you better pluses than your SOs did, plus the set bonuses, and Detonations are cheap. (Alternately, Positron's Blast is a much nicer set in that the bonuses for the set are way more useful, but those aren't so cheap.) Or, for frankenslotting, you could put an Acc/Dam/Recharge in from both of those two sets, then a Dam/End/Recharge, Dam/Rech, and a Dam/End, and in five slots you should be ahead of where you were with six SOs. Slot saved, minor set bonuses for any set you used at least two of, and they don't go red. Or put an end reducer in the sixth slot. (The actual best slotting for targeted AoE at level 45 is not something I'm going to claim to know, so that was an offhand example.)
Don't be afraid to try weird things. /Energy shines at weird things. Power Boost makes the Medicine pool more effective, and Boost Range permas easily, so you can really haul with Teleport. My first and only 50 is energy/energy, with perma range boost, TP, Hover for combat, three recharge in Power Boost, which doubles as a turbo button for Hover, and she's a hell of a lot of fun to play. No purples, nothing esoteric, just 4 sets of Thunderstrike and 2 of Posi's Blast. However, I've also done the blapper thing with her, and that was fun too. I would say definitely pick up and slot Power Bolt and drop Leadership, whatever else you do.
Virtue
Angel Witch II - Chord of Souls - Storm Witch II - Princess of the Dawn - Standing Horse - Witch of Xymox
Silent Scream - Shadow Witch II - Liquid Serenade - Nebulous Dawn - Ghost Witch II -Xiberia
Angel Witch II - Chord of Souls - Storm Witch II - Princess of the Dawn - Standing Horse - Witch of Xymox
Silent Scream - Shadow Witch II - Liquid Serenade - Nebulous Dawn - Ghost Witch II -Xiberia
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I agree that if you only take one, make it torrent. However, there is no reason in the world to only have one. |
Originally Posted by Gilia
That's (hopefully) just because it's your first character. An experienced player (at least Blaster-player) will not have these issues.
Just a note or two on your build: Don't take Explosive Blast over Energy Torrent. Energy Torrent does more damage, has quicker recharge, and with Boost Range it covers over twice the area. The kicker? Lowed endurance cost, too. It's a better power. If you can't pick up both, the one you should have is definitely Torrent. |
Take both of them, and if you take Electricity as the epic, grab Static Discharge as well. It makes a great threesome.
Outside of build advice (to the OP), one of the skills needed for Energy/Energy is proper targeting. To fully harness an Energy Blaster's mitigation against multiple opponents, constantly be changing targets. As soon as an enemy gets hit with knockback, switch targets. With practice, particularly with Power Push added, it is nothing to have several targets picking themselves off the mat.
Power Push really is a hidden gem that a lot of people don't take. It is just more knockback, but it is guaranteed knockback with better than sniper level accuracy. Even with only a single ACC slotted, it will rarely ever miss and its mag is high enough to knock back virtually anything not immune to the effect. The other single target blasts are relatively low mag, and with the exception of Power Burst, a relatively low chance of knockback. Power Bolt only has a 20% chance and Power Blast only 30%. For an Energy/Energy, Power Thrust can substitute if you want to let the enemy get into melee range first, but there is still a huge benefit to having that power at range against several bosses/LTs.
Personally, I prefer CJ+Hurdle for Energy Blasters. I know a lot of people take flight for concept and personal preference, but I like the freedom to get in and out of melee quickly and nothing does that faster than CJ+Hurdle.
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Cant agree more, I was leveling up and accidentally put two *extra* slots into PP 'round about level 13. I felt like an idiot when it happened, figuring I would respec' the mistake at 24. Just for kicks, I filled the slots with ACC, KB and a Recharge. Loved it kept it. Missed the extra slot but it made PP go from fun to awesome.|
Originally Posted by brophog02
Power Push really is a hidden gem that a lot of people don't take. It is just more knockback, but it is guaranteed knockback with better than sniper level accuracy. Even with only a single ACC slotted, it will rarely ever miss and its mag is high enough to knock back virtually anything not immune to the effect.
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Originally Posted by brophog02
Personally, I prefer CJ+Hurdle for Energy Blasters. I know a lot of people take flight for concept and personal preference, but I like the freedom to get in and out of melee quickly and nothing does that faster than CJ+Hurdle.
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Also a player of Energy/Energy blaster as a first character...I'll just give how my build works rather than offer advice because mine may be slightly unorthodox (No AoEs)
Also, I lack time to write it out in "build format" so bare with...
Primaries: First off, guilty, I didn't take Power Bolt...My build is pre-Defiance '08 so I was only taking the essentials for range
Power Blast
Power Burst (high damage knockback)
Sniper Blast (Extreme damage, awesome synergy with Power Thrust)
Aim (of course)
Nova (yeah, I know they hate it, but I love it... :P)
That's it for Primary, the reasons for not taking the others:
Power Bolt - too weak for my tastes, however, when the time is right I will respec into it
Energy Torrent - annoying knockback
Power Push - I have Power Thrust, and although Power Push is superior, I don't feel the need for both since I dropped other more important powers
Explosive Blast - I really dislike this power...there is very little Explosive about it.
Secondary:
I took everything but Boost range....Here's why:
Power Thrust - Well, had to, but it's a very nice utility when you're soloing mobs (re: switching targets)
Build Up - of course
Energy Punch
Bone Smasher
Power Boost
Stun
Total Focus
These all add up to death for any enemy...With Power Boost, you will mez the crap out of anything and nothing short of an Elite Boss will recover...if you're fighting three or 4, Power Boost+Stun one, Total Focus another, Energy Punch/Bone Smasher (very quick combo) a third, and power thrust the fourth...Finish off the third and fourth, because the first and second aren't going anywhere...
Conserve power = infinte endurance...For a short time of course, but trust me, you'll get the most out of it...
Boost range - My blaster has no use for this because he fights at close range...
Pools:
Fitness
Swift, Health, Stamina
I opt Swift over hurdle because like the OP, I prefer flight...Slot flight IOs and it will greatly boost your hover speed
Flight
Hover, Flight
I actually had slots available to three slot both as well as Swift...However, someone else will have to tell you if Flight is capped before that because I get mixed impressions fromt he game regarding flight speed...At the very least, with hover and Swift 3 slotted you can get up to sprint speed with Hover...Power Boost also speeds these up...
Speed
Hasten, Super Speed
Reason I take Super Speed and Flight is because hover is nice in combat, and Flight is great for vertical motion (more precise than teleport, more freedom than Super Jump)...Hasten and Superspeed are probably the best travel powers in the game...
Medicine
Heal Other
Heal Self
Once again, Power Boost is huge with Heal Self...
Force Mastery
Personal Force Field (wherein you can safely Power Boost+Heal Self, or even setup Aim/Build Up/Power Boost without interruption)
Temporary Invulnerability
And unfortunately, my Blapper build does not have room for the most obvious reason to take Force Mastery: Force of Nature...This is a personal failing on my part and is solely due to my love for Nova...To me Nova is a concept thing, like many others and Flight...Eventually I will find a way to include both, but I would recommend Force of Nature over Nova...
So, as I explained throughout, your attacks against a boss go:
Target the enemy far away and Power Boost to set up. Click Stun and run past with Superspeed, you will hit it and be out of melee range when it lands. He will likely be stunned, so return with Aim+Build Up+Total Focus+Bone Smasher+Energy Punch...If he's still alive, continue with Power Burst, Power Thrust, Sniper Blast until he's dead...If he's still alive, he's still very stunned, hit him with another Stun+Total Focus etc until he's dead...
Against multiples, do the same, but target a different enemy with each attack (Bone Smasher+Energy Punch should stun or even kill with Defiance against a Minion or Lt.)...
This is how my Blaster runs, and believe me, he's very fun even on teams...It's standard for a blaster to sit back and use cones and AoEs to wipe out all the minions and Lts., but it's awesome to charge in and wipe out the Boss while the rest of the group mops up the rest...Furthermore he is amazingly helpful against AVs (I can't solo them mind you, but I can solo most EBs with little difficulty)...
I know the build isn't optimal and has a couple inefficient choices (Flight over SJ, Nova), but those are personal preference...You can easily get around those...
Hope my input helps some...
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I love the ranged game, so I like all of these powers on my 50 energy/energy.|
Originally Posted by Splattercat
Power Bolt - too weak for my tastes, however, when the time is right I will respec into it
Energy Torrent - annoying knockback Power Push - I have Power Thrust, and although Power Push is superior, I don't feel the need for both since I dropped other more important powers Explosive Blast - I really dislike this power...there is very little Explosive about it. |
Power Bolt isn't weak... sure, shot for shot it is lower damage, but not over the duration of a fight. Plus, it is a defiance builder and usable when you are mez'd. Looks cool too
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Secondary: I took everything but Boost range....Here's why: |
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| Energy Punch |
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| Boost range - My blaster has no use for this because he fights at close range... |
Definitely not saying your build is bad, just contrasting it with my very successful ranged build. I really enjoy the power boosted/range boosted triple-shot of Static Discharge+Energy Torrent+Explosive Blast and wouldn't give it up for the world.
The OP seemed disillusioned with his Energy/Energy and I thought I'd offer my experience with a non-standard (standard being Blaster=range) build that I enjoy...Not ripping down the range game or saying Energy/Energy MUST be melee only, merely explaining how and why my melee build does work, and how he takes advantage of "the best defense is a good offense"...
Regarding Energy Bolt and Energy Punch: For both our purposes they are nigh-mutually exclusive with regards to having enough attacks and not being as strong as we need...However, as I mentioned, my build is pre-Defiance 2.0 so when I redesign I will be making every effort to include it...
Blasters are ranged attackers by default, and natural AoE killers.../Energy can make single target or even melee blasters not only possible, but extremely effective...My build describes this, and it's not even as good as it could be...
Okay..so this is the deal..this toon is my very first toon ever and my first build ever. ive been playing CoH for about 4 months now..pretty new and i feel like ive hit a wall..im about to retire my character after ALL THIS TIME i put in it to get to lvl45. my troubles are,
1:My toon uses SO much END im empty almost after 5 attacks
2:i have no defense what so ever! i cant take on more than 4 people atta time(+1 level or +2 or same) i die very quickly!
ive heard of IO's obviously but i really dont understand how to use them at all. right now im using SO enhancements which obviously arent doin the trick. please please help me and dont worry PLEASE ITS OKAY TO TALK TO ME like i DONT KNOW A THING haha because im pretty new at this and i dont mind you takin it slow.
so..hmm..i need to know what IO sets i should set! help!
ill make it easy.
the powers i DIDNT choose are:
power bolt
power push
energy punch
bone smasher
stun
powerboost
and boost range
my epic pool i chose electrical mastery
my travel is Flight
i have leadership
i have TP
hope you can help!