Better Duo Partner for Empath
By
BlackBellatrix,
Posted on: 2009-10-27 01:16 in Archetypes and Powers General Discussion
For low levels, Blasters have always had the advantage in sheer firepower. Someone said once "Below level 12, everyone's a tank." It's true. Blasters look best in the early levels because they're not fighting +2 to +4s, they're not fighting enemies that take 80% of their HP in one shot, they're not running end-draining low-efficiency defensive toggles, basically they're kings of the battlefield.
Something important to realize on the Emp duo (and this may be where you have a second build for "normal" teaming) is that the optimum build is nontraditional. Instead of Swift/Hurdle, Health, Stamina you take Assault, Maneuvers,Hasten and (eventually) Tactics and you let the RA's handle your endurance needs. I imagine there will be slow patches until Adrenaline Boost- hasten will not be perma yet, so there may be times with no RA. On the other hand, +70% damage (Fort + 2xAssault) will speed things up in the DO levels quite some, I would think.
I haven't done this as an organized, dedicated pair yet. I should.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
Quote:
That pretty much sums up how I designed the builds the wife and I are using. I put Assault off until the early 20s, since the lower level spawns died plenty fast (not sure how it would have worked out in the late teens though, the Posi TF leveled us to 20, so we had blaster damage to pull us along through those tougher teen levels).|
Originally Posted by Fulmens
Instead of Swift/Hurdle, Health, Stamina you take Assault, Maneuvers,Hasten and (eventually) Tactics and you let the RA's handle your endurance needs. I imagine there will be slow patches until Adrenaline Boost- hasten will not be perma yet, so there may be times with no RA. On the other hand, +70% damage (Fort + 2xAssault) will speed things up in the DO levels quite some, I would think.
I haven't done this as an organized, dedicated pair yet. I should. |
I am wondering about the wisdom of Tactics. With CM, we have +perception, with Fort we have to-hit. We have Tactics, but I am thinking it is uneeded (although maybe later it would be a better choice, as you indicated, I probably just took it too early).
Jump in and do it. The low levels fly by anymore, a good night or two of fun and you can be 20.
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.
You might not need Tactics. Depends, I guess, on whether you're fighting +2s or +4s... like I said, haven't tried this myself.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
While one could fight +0 or +2's with either of these pairings (and blow thru them faster than the proverbial hot knife) myself I'm thinking more or less how far can either pair push it. If fighting +4's (or +5's or higher ... and I know the Emp+Emp duo likely can, particularly if the spawn sizes aren't set much higher, from my Green Machine experiences) then you will want Tactics as your Base Chance to Hit is much lower and Fort is only going to recover half(ish) of it prior to any considerations of To Hit Debuffs coming your way. Part of the thrill, for me anyway, about duo's of this sort rather than a random duo is how the the pairing lets you tackle stuff that normally would eat you alive solo (or with any two AT's pulled off the shelf).
Quote:
I'll have to see where we end up. Even on my toughest characters, I normally only like to go to +2 (which means I fight +2s and +3s) for regular use, with the occasional foray into higher settings just for challenge and change. |
Originally Posted by Doomguide
While one could fight +0 or +2's with either of these pairings (and blow thru them faster than the proverbial hot knife) myself I'm thinking more or less how far can either pair push it. If fighting +4's (or +5's or higher ... and I know the Emp+Emp duo likely can, particularly if the spawn sizes aren't set much higher, from my Green Machine experiences) then you will want Tactics as your Base Chance to Hit is much lower and Fort is only going to recover half(ish) of it prior to any considerations of To Hit Debuffs coming your way. Part of the thrill, for me anyway, about duo's of this sort rather than a random duo is how the the pairing lets you tackle stuff that normally would eat you alive solo (or with any two AT's pulled off the shelf).
|
I often found Unyielding to be a bit tougher than Invincible, the extra spawns complicate things in ways an extra level does not. I do normally like to increase the number of enemies since that provides the type of challenge I prefer (and the increased drop rate is just something I have to live with
).
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.
Indeed love to see how it plays out.
Love to see more ideas on what sort of blaster is paired and what they can bring to help the team while maintaining the offense that's the reason to go blaster over a second emp.
Note that the Aura rotation on the Emp/Sonic build I'm looking at only has about 30 seconds of down time, auras are recharged in about 120 seconds (with AB on both Emps) so a big chunk of time they are stacked.
The lack of that mutual buff, of clear mind etc. etc. when the blaster+emp duo rounds the corner and is staring 3 or more +4/x6+ rikti mobs (or worse?) full of Chief Mentalists and Chief Soldiers in the face is where I think the Emp+Emp duo is going to pull ahead.