I can't decide! (Cold/Sonic)

_Tux__EU · 10-28-2009 03:43 PM

Hi guys,

Sorry to bore you all with *another* Cold/Sonic question, but I can't decide what I want as my last power for my Defender. My final build has almost 30% ranged defence and 75% Global Recharge. However I have a choice at L49 between Assault or Snow Storm. Most of my playtime I'll end up fighting AVs (In TFs mainly), so has anyone got any suggestions on which would be more valuable?

18.75% more damage on a AV sounds nice (the end cost is neglible in my current build, especially considering I'll have Heat Loss up quite often), but so does -60% recharge on a particularly nasty enemy. Halp!

Thanks in advance,

Tux

@Fail (Used to be @Tux) and @Tuxedo Infinitus Defiant/Freedom/Champion
Favourite Toons: Prosper [Ill/Rad] Controller :: Infinitus [Fire/Elec] Blaster :: Pocket Dynamo [Fire/Shield] Scr :: Fast [Cold/Sonic] Def ::
Inspire [Plant/Storm] Controller :: Quality - SS/Fire Brute :: Double Down [DP/Kin] Corr :: Pwnz [Fire/Cold] Corr :: Fail [Fire/Son] Corr

Deacon_NA · 10-28-2009 04:17 PM

If I were in your shoes, I'd go Assault.

With Cold/ and /Sonic, you're not merely talking about an 18.75% damage buff. Both of these sets ooze -Res and with how Damage is multiplied by Resistance, the net damage buff becomes much tastier.

(1 + DMG buffs - DMG debuffs) * (1 - Res (target buffs)) * (1 + Res(debuffs on target))

For simplicity, let's assume no additional Resistance on target, or DMG debuffs, giving us
(1 + DMG buffs) * (1 + Res debuffs)

Adding Assault gives (1 + DMG + .1875) * (1 + ResD), or, all told to what your prior net Damage was: .1875 * (1+ ResD). Let's just say you've laid down Sleet and a Howl, that's 50% Res debuff, so net damage increases .1875 * 1.5 = .28125. Things get silly when you start including Heat Loss and /Sonics ST attacks.

On the other hand, I'm not going to say Snow Storm is useless against an AV, I certainly use it when fighting one, but they strongly resist the -Rch and -Run.

Global = Hedgefund (or some derivation thereof)

Garent · 10-28-2009 08:07 PM

If it's between those two, I say snow storm. It's all about the corner pulling and scatter prevention.

Doomguide · 10-29-2009 12:51 AM

The above 2 posts are probable why both are finding a way into my build. Given your mention of TF's though might lean in the direction of Assault given a choice of one over the other. Between all the other -spd and immobilize you and a team are likely carrying the damage added to the teams output by Assault (multiplied up by all the stuff Deacon mentions) would to my mind outweigh the effects of Snow Storm vs an AV.

_Tux__EU · 10-29-2009 04:21 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. It is a really tight build, as I want Maneuvers for the ranged defence (and stacking with my team members shields, for their benefit) and I guess I'm leaning towards Assault as I will be in a team of 8 90% of the time I play this toon.

Thanks for the little calculation Deacon as well, Assault does sound extra tasty now! Snow Storm sounds great as well, but if it's resisted by a lot of AVs then it might not be as useful as I thought. On the other hand, I do have Frostwork in my build. Good for the Tank against LR, useful for the squishy Blaster/Controller on TFs? I find it hard to notice the merit of it in-game and I've read posts arguing it's the most skippable power in Cold. Thoughts?

Thanks again guys! Any other advantages/disadvantages to each power?

@Fail (Used to be @Tux) and @Tuxedo Infinitus Defiant/Freedom/Champion
Favourite Toons: Prosper [Ill/Rad] Controller :: Infinitus [Fire/Elec] Blaster :: Pocket Dynamo [Fire/Shield] Scr :: Fast [Cold/Sonic] Def ::
Inspire [Plant/Storm] Controller :: Quality - SS/Fire Brute :: Double Down [DP/Kin] Corr :: Pwnz [Fire/Cold] Corr :: Fail [Fire/Son] Corr

PC_guy · 10-29-2009 09:43 AM

its really hard to give advice on which power to take wihtout knowing what you have/haven't already taken because then we could work with the build and probably get both into it.

Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.

TRTerror · 10-29-2009 12:19 PM

I would go for assault to make all the -res even better.

Frosticus · 10-29-2009 12:53 PM

Assault. Nothing wrong w/ snowstorm, but assault can greatly affect a full team with all the -res you can throw out on a cold/son. Whereas SS just makes you a little bit safer vs an AV that is probably already putty from benumb.

Solo, I'd probably lean toward SS on a cold def, but not on a team and especially not on a team w/ sonic.

_Tux__EU · 10-29-2009 03:33 PM

Code:

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That's the build, (hope that works). Just wondering whether to swap Snow Storm for Frostwork?

@Fail (Used to be @Tux) and @Tuxedo Infinitus Defiant/Freedom/Champion
Favourite Toons: Prosper [Ill/Rad] Controller :: Infinitus [Fire/Elec] Blaster :: Pocket Dynamo [Fire/Shield] Scr :: Fast [Cold/Sonic] Def ::
Inspire [Plant/Storm] Controller :: Quality - SS/Fire Brute :: Double Down [DP/Kin] Corr :: Pwnz [Fire/Cold] Corr :: Fail [Fire/Son] Corr

PC_guy · 11-02-2009 11:25 AM

Yes. definitely switch out snow storm for frostwork. frostwork is a PoS power that is the easiest power to skip in the entire set. why? see turbo's cold guide.

Positron's i13 letter: We are trying to make PvP more accessible to new players, while giving experienced PvP'ers the advantage that comes with formulating tactics around the new systems we're putting in place. PvP from now on will be on our priority list. If something isn't working out, we'll be in there tweaking it and making it work, for the entire future of the product, not just Issue 13.