Is this primarily a team build or a solo build? That makes a difference.
I'm guessing that it is a team build from your comments about Steamy Mist. With Steamy Mist and Super Speed, you can actually skip Superior Invis -- I did on my Ill/Storm. I pretty much leave Steamy Mist on all the time and toggle off Super Speed if endurance becomes an issue. The SM+SS combo gives you full invisibility in PvE, and it doesn't suppress the defense or resistance. That would free up another power choice if you want it.
The other choices depend on your playstyle. I like Hurricane, but only use it in select situations. I use it a lot more solo than on teams. The ToHit debuff is substantial, and if you can use it to trap foes in a corner or in a Cul-de-Sac, it is wonderful.
Flash is a standard PB AoE hold -- exactly the same (except graphically) as Fire's Cinders and Ice's Glacier. It has a 20% Accuracy penalty (like most AoEs), a short duration and a long recharge. It makes a good "panic button" power and sets up AoE containment, but you don't have any AoE damage powers until the APP powers. I generally recommend not taking it until AFTER Spectral Terror because you don't have any back-up AoE control until then. But then, Spectral Terror is overall better AoE control, so you don't really need Flash then . . . Flash is an optional power and a lot of people skip it. It really needs to have good enhancement of Accuracy, Hold and Recharge to be useful. I would suggest you wait on Flash until 28 or 30.
Os Boost is nice to have. Another optional power, but on teams, I like to be able to un-stun and heal teammates in an emergency. It is also nice to have to heal your Phantasm when you get him.
I'm not a big fan of taking other pool powers. The stuff you can get in your primary and secondary is generally better than those extra pool powers. . . . and more fun, too.
My suggestion? Take Steamy at 24, Spectral Terror at 26, Hurricane at 28 and O2 Boost or Flash at 30. If you respec and drop Superior Invis, you can take Flash AND O2 Boost.
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
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Call it a "balanced" solo and team build (no second build, at least not yet). This character plays a fair amount of solo, but also duo/trio with friends, as well as missions with full-sized pick-up groups. Playing solo at +1 or +2 (with Boss) hasn't been much trouble. In a trio with a PB and scrapper last night we rocked even at +2/2.|
Originally Posted by Local_Man
Is this primarily a team build or a solo build? That makes a difference.
I'm guessing that it is a team build from your comments about Steamy Mist. With Steamy Mist and Super Speed, you can actually skip Superior Invis -- I did on my Ill/Storm. I pretty much leave Steamy Mist on all the time and toggle off Super Speed if endurance becomes an issue. The SM+SS combo gives you full invisibility in PvE, and it doesn't suppress the defense or resistance. That would free up another power choice if you want it. The other choices depend on your playstyle. I like Hurricane, but only use it in select situations. I use it a lot more solo than on teams. The ToHit debuff is substantial, and if you can use it to trap foes in a corner or in a Cul-de-Sac, it is wonderful. Flash is a standard PB AoE hold -- exactly the same (except graphically) as Fire's Cinders and Ice's Glacier. It has a 20% Accuracy penalty (like most AoEs), a short duration and a long recharge. It makes a good "panic button" power and sets up AoE containment, but you don't have any AoE damage powers until the APP powers. I generally recommend not taking it until AFTER Spectral Terror because you don't have any back-up AoE control until then. But then, Spectral Terror is overall better AoE control, so you don't really need Flash then . . . Flash is an optional power and a lot of people skip it. It really needs to have good enhancement of Accuracy, Hold and Recharge to be useful. I would suggest you wait on Flash until 28 or 30. Os Boost is nice to have. Another optional power, but on teams, I like to be able to un-stun and heal teammates in an emergency. It is also nice to have to heal your Phantasm when you get him. I'm not a big fan of taking other pool powers. The stuff you can get in your primary and secondary is generally better than those extra pool powers. . . . and more fun, too. My suggestion? Take Steamy at 24, Spectral Terror at 26, Hurricane at 28 and O2 Boost or Flash at 30. If you respec and drop Superior Invis, you can take Flash AND O2 Boost. |
Thanks for your comments, which give some clarity into how the powers interact together. You're right, I'm leaning towards SM, although I wonder how the visual effects affect other players. I recall being on one team with a poorly-played constantly-toggled hurricaner and I couldn't hardly see a thing, including the floor I was moving around on - something I'd like to avoid for the sake of the group. Hopefully, SM doesn't affect the other team members' visibility, as it's the kind of power that I'd want up as often as possible.
From reading your comments, I may have 'wasted' a power with superior invisibility, yet it's also one reason why I've gotten this far in the earlier levels as easily as I have. I may re-spec it out upon taking Steamy Mist (SM), considering that SS and SM together already provide more than enough cover for a controller. Again thanks for your comments! I appreciate your knowledge and understanding of the difficulty in mid-level ill/storm power selections.
(p.s. After reading your comments and careful consideration, this character took Steamy Mist at 24.)
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As you had SI already I'd have recommended O2 Boost as a heal for your team and Phantasm at L32. |
Originally Posted by perwira
Call it a "balanced" solo and team build (no second build, at least not yet). This character plays a fair amount of solo, but also duo/trio with friends, as well as missions with full-sized pick-up groups. Playing solo at +1 or +2 (with Boss) hasn't been much trouble. In a trio with a PB and scrapper last night we rocked even at +2/2.
Thanks for your comments, which give some clarity into how the powers interact together. You're right, I'm leaning towards SM, although I wonder how the visual effects affect other players. I recall being on one team with a poorly-played constantly-toggled hurricaner and I couldn't hardly see a thing, including the floor I was moving around on - something I'd like to avoid for the sake of the group. Hopefully, SM doesn't affect the other team members' visibility, as it's the kind of power that I'd want up as often as possible. From reading your comments, I may have 'wasted' a power with superior invisibility, yet it's also one reason why I've gotten this far in the earlier levels as easily as I have. I may re-spec it out upon taking Steamy Mist (SM), considering that SS and SM together already provide more than enough cover for a controller. Again thanks for your comments! I appreciate your knowledge and understanding of the difficulty in mid-level ill/storm power selections. (p.s. After reading your comments and careful consideration, this character took Steamy Mist at 24.) |
As you've taken Steamy Mist then yes you should to respec SI out.
The Super Speed / Steamy Mist combo is very good as Local Man said - personally I specced out of it and into Group invisibility and Hover; not that I didn't want the SS/SM combo I just couldn't handle the End drain.
P.S Another option is to pick up Aid other and Aid self, Storm has no self heal so while levelling I used that combo and then replaced them with O2 and Hibernate late game.
L50s: Tanks: Cryofission - Ice/EM - Dr Celsius - Fire/Ice - Saint George - SD/SS | Controllers: Psichosis - Ill/Kin - Major Chaos - Ill/Stm | Scrappers - Neutron Crusader - DM/SR
Currently Levelling: Angelic Blade - BS/WP Scrapper | Seeds of Destruction - Plant/Kin Controller
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Steamy provides a lot of benefits for the team. I can't tell you how many times I have been running out with the front of a team, turned a corner only to see a bunch of foes that we were able to avoid aggroing because of Steamy Mist. If you have teammates with defensive builds, it adds a little more. In the late game, the Energy Resistance in SM really helps. (Rikti have a lot of energy damage.)|
Originally Posted by perwira
Call it a "balanced" solo and team build (no second build, at least not yet). This character plays a fair amount of solo, but also duo/trio with friends, as well as missions with full-sized pick-up groups. Playing solo at +1 or +2 (with Boss) hasn't been much trouble. In a trio with a PB and scrapper last night we rocked even at +2/2.
Thanks for your comments, which give some clarity into how the powers interact together. You're right, I'm leaning towards SM, although I wonder how the visual effects affect other players. I recall being on one team with a poorly-played constantly-toggled hurricaner and I couldn't hardly see a thing, including the floor I was moving around on - something I'd like to avoid for the sake of the group. Hopefully, SM doesn't affect the other team members' visibility, as it's the kind of power that I'd want up as often as possible. From reading your comments, I may have 'wasted' a power with superior invisibility, yet it's also one reason why I've gotten this far in the earlier levels as easily as I have. I may re-spec it out upon taking Steamy Mist (SM), considering that SS and SM together already provide more than enough cover for a controller. Again thanks for your comments! I appreciate your knowledge and understanding of the difficulty in mid-level ill/storm power selections. (p.s. After reading your comments and careful consideration, this character took Steamy Mist at 24.) |
Hurricane is a power that can be misused. Maybe it might help if I tell you how I use some of the powers. I use an 8-button mouse, and bind a lot of the powers to my mouse. I have Hurricane on one of those buttons, so I can turn it on and off with the flick of a thumb. I also have my travel power (in this case, Super Speed) on another button. That way I can turn it off easily in battle to save endurance.
I have seen people run Hurricane constantly, and it is usually a mistake. I use it to (a) protect myself and my squishier teammates when we get overrun in melee, (b) trap foes in corners or cul-de-sacs (This is really fun), (c) herd stragglers back into the group of foes where AoEs and teammates can take care of them, and (d) use its edge for the ToHit Debuff. The last two uses take some practice.
The lack of a self-heal in Storm is a problem. I tried to always carry a good number of green insps. When I get to the APP powers, I take either Ice or Earth with my Stormies just so I can get that heal.
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
"You're ready for security level 24!"
And still he can't decide as an illusion/storm controller.
He is already well built for illusion with spectral wounds (5 slotted with entropic chaos), blind (4 slotted with basilisk's gaze), superior invisibility (franken 4 slotted with 2 GotA and 2 kismet to boost D and end-red), deceive (double slotted with Malaise's illusions), and phantom army (4 slotted with Call to Arms). Storm-wise, he has gale, snow storm and freezing rain, all 2 slotted primarily for effect and endurance reduction. He already has hasten/superspeed and the full fitness set (hurdle, and triple slotted health and stamina).
The choices seem to be:
1) Hurricane - a defining ill/storm power, but is it overkill at this level?
2) Flash -wow, a PBAoE blind?!
3) O2 boost - very useful to help a team partner
4) Steamy mist - an even better team power with group D and damage resistance
5) Another pool power such as leadership, or leaping, or fighting... (several good choices here)
Which would you pick? He's still with the Luminary trying to decide.
The best choices seem to be: 1) Flash - already invis'ed to go into the midst of them, there goes a minion mob or 2) Steamy Mist - wow, what this does for a group or 3) well... wait a another 2 or 4 levels for the other good choices! Tough call.
Your thoughts?
(edited for completeness)