Hover is viable (although it can take some practice), but I would try to max its flyspeed. If you do not mind dropping Blizzard, the following is an idea. Personally, I'd get Build Up sooner, but I exemplar a fair amount.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Ice Blast
Secondary Power Set: Electricity Manipulation
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Cold Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Ice Bolt -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21)
Level 1: Electric Fence -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(21), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(27), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 2: Ice Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(17), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 4: Charged Brawl -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(23), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Mako-Dam%(45)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(7), Zephyr-ResKB(7), LkGmblr-Rchg+(39), LkGmblr-Def(40)
Level 8: Aim -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(9)
Level 10: Havoc Punch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(11), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(11), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(19)
Level 12: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Flight-I(34), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(37), Zephyr-ResKB(37), LkGmblr-Rchg+(37)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(15), Zephyr-ResKB(15)
Level 16: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 22: Bitter Ice Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 24: Lightning Field -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(43), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(43), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Oblit-%Dam(50)
Level 26: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(27), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(31), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 28: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(29), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(29), RctvArm-ResDam(39), RctvArm-EndRdx(46)
Level 30: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(31), LkGmblr-Def(31)
Level 32: Acrobatics -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 35: Power Sink -- Efficacy-Acc/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(39), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(40)
Level 38: Shocking Grasp -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Dam%(50)
Level 41: Flash Freeze -- LgcRps-Acc/Rchg(A), LgcRps-EndRdx/Sleep(46), LgcRps-Acc/EndRdx(48), LgcRps-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(48)
Level 44: Frozen Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(45), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(45)
Level 47: Hoarfrost -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 49: Build Up -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance
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.
The thread about softcapping to 3 positions got me thinking about giving the softcapped S/L and ranged idea a try with my upcoming ice/elec blapper. The build I came up with is below. Is it a viable build?
I can get within about 0.5% of softcapped to both S/L and ranged if I'm running hover, but is hover a viable tactic if I'm going to be in melee? I think I'll be okay on end usage, but I haven't run the numbers yet.
So does anyone have suggestions/improvements?
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Ice Blast
Secondary Power Set: Electricity Manipulation
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Cold Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Ice Bolt -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21)
Level 1: Electric Fence -- TotHntr-Acc/Rchg(A), TotHntr-Dam%(21), TotHntr-Acc/Immob/Rchg(27), TotHntr-EndRdx/Immob(33), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx(33), TotHntr-Immob/Acc(34)
Level 2: Ice Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(17), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 4: Charged Brawl -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(19), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(23), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(25)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(7), Zephyr-ResKB(7)
Level 8: Aim -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(9)
Level 10: Havoc Punch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(11), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(11), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(19)
Level 12: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(37), Zephyr-ResKB(37)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(15), Zephyr-ResKB(15)
Level 16: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 22: Bitter Ice Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 24: Lightning Field -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(43), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(43), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Oblit-%Dam(50)
Level 26: Boxing -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(31), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mako-Dam%(45)
Level 28: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(29), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(29), RctvArm-ResDam(39), RctvArm-EndRdx(46)
Level 30: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(31), LkGmblr-Def(31)
Level 32: Blizzard -- Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(A), AirB'st-Dmg/Rchg(34), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(37)
Level 35: Power Sink -- Efficacy-Acc/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(39), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(39), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(40)
Level 38: Shocking Grasp -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Dam%(50)
Level 41: Flash Freeze -- LgcRps-Acc/Rchg(A), LgcRps-EndRdx/Sleep(46), LgcRps-Acc/EndRdx(48), LgcRps-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(48)
Level 44: Frozen Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(45), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(45)
Level 47: Hoarfrost -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 49: Build Up -- Rec'dRet-ToHit(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit/Rchg(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance