paging LordXenite


AlienOne

 

Posted

like many, I am having trouble working up a build I like for my PB. went tri-form on my WS and love it but so far, finding something I like on the PB has proven much more elusive.

I am constantly looking over these forums but rarely see builds posted. see a lot of good comments and suggestions but few full builds.

I did come across an interesting build that LordXenite linked in another thread (post copied below). it uses all 3 forms, which I am leaning towards right now though I may use my alternate build to play around a bit with a human only or bi-form build.

but I was curious about some of the choices in that build, especially choosing to use the taunt pool powers. does using those mitigate more damage than the shields that were skipped to make room for them? or maybe the idea is to fear most, hopefully all, of a group and then switch to squid form and blast away with much less return fire?

either way, I find it an interesting concept and would appreciate hearing more about how it works in practice. and would really appreciate it if anyone would post a build or two for their PB. I know things haven't changed all that much for this archtype but most of the builds in the build section date back to I11 or earlier.

many thanks all
________________

Well, to each their own, but Ascendantia's build is quite form-heavy and Photon Seekers are very good on it as well. Naturally I gave up on some Human-form abilities.
________________


 

Posted

This is what I'm doing with my tri-former PB:



Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Autumn Turning: Level 50 Natural Peacebringer
Primary Power Set: Luminous Blast
Secondary Power Set: Luminous Aura
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Concealment

Hero Profile:

Level 1: Gleaming Bolt

  • (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 31
  • (45) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance: Level 31
  • (46) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 31
  • (46) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 31
  • (46) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 31
  • (48) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
Level 1: Incandescence
  • (A) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection: Level 10
Level 2: Shining Shield
  • (A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
  • (3) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
Level 4: Essence Boost
  • (A) Numina's Convalescence - Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (31) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge: Level 31
  • (31) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (31) Numina's Convalescence - Heal: Level 31
Level 6: Bright Nova
  • (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up: Level 21
Level 8: Swift
  • (A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
Level 10: Thermal Shield
  • (A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
  • (11) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
Level 12: Build Up
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (13) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 14: Quantum Shield
  • (A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
  • (15) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
Level 16: Health
  • (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal: Level 31
  • (17) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery: Level 30
Level 18: Incandescent Strike
  • (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage: Level 31
  • (42) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance: Level 31
  • (43) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge: Level 31
  • (43) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (43) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (45) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal): Level 30
Level 20: Stamina
  • (A) Endurance Modification IO: Level 50
  • (21) Endurance Modification IO: Level 50
Level 22: White Dwarf
  • (A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
  • (23) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
Level 24: Reform Essence
  • (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance: Level 31
  • (27) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge: Level 31
  • (29) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (29) Numina's Convalescence - Heal: Level 31
Level 26: Solar Flare
  • (A) Eradication - Damage: Level 27
  • (48) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 27
  • (48) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 27
  • (50) Explosive Strike - Damage/Knockback: Level 20
  • (50) Explosive Strike - Accuracy/Knockback: Level 20
  • (50) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage: Level 10
Level 28: Pulsar
  • (A) HamiO:Endoplasm Exposure
Level 30: Glowing Touch
  • (A) Healing IO: Level 50
Level 32: Photon Seekers
  • (A) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 35
  • (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage: Level 35
  • (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 35
  • (33) Expedient Reinforcement - Endurance/Damage/Recharge: Level 35
  • (34) Soulbound Allegiance - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
Level 35: Restore Essence
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 38: Light Form
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (39) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 41: Conserve Energy
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 44: Quantum Flight
  • (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (45) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 47: Stealth
  • (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed: Level 50
Level 49: Grant Invisibility
  • (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed: Level 25
------------

Level 1: Brawl
  • (A) Empty
Level 1: Sprint
  • (A) Empty
Level 2: Rest
  • (A) Empty
Level 1: Cosmic Balance
Level 1: Energy Flight
  • (A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
Level 10: Combat Flight
  • (A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
------------

Level 6: Bright Nova Bolt
  • (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage: Level 31
  • (3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance: Level 31
  • (5) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge: Level 31
  • (5) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 31
  • (7) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 31
  • (7) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
Level 6: Bright Nova Blast
  • (A) Accuracy IO: Level 50
Level 6: Bright Nova Scatter
  • (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 27
  • (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 27
  • (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 27
  • (11) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 27
  • (13) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 27
  • (15) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff: Level 10
Level 6: Bright Nova Detonation
  • (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 27
  • (17) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 27
  • (19) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 27
  • (19) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 27
  • (21) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 27
  • (23) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge: Level 21
Level 22: White Dwarf Strike
  • (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage: Level 31
  • (37) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance: Level 31
  • (37) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge: Level 31
  • (37) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (39) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (39) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal): Level 30
Level 22: White Dwarf Smite
  • (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage: Level 31
  • (40) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance: Level 31
  • (40) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge: Level 31
  • (40) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (42) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (42) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal): Level 30
Level 22: White Dwarf Flare
  • (A) Eradication - Damage: Level 27
  • (34) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 27
  • (34) Eradication - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 27
  • (36) Explosive Strike - Damage/Knockback: Level 20
  • (36) Explosive Strike - Accuracy/Knockback: Level 20
  • (36) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage: Level 10
Level 22: White Dwarf Sublimation
  • (A) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance: Level 31
  • (25) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge: Level 31
  • (25) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 31
  • (27) Numina's Convalescence - Heal: Level 31
Level 22: White Dwarf Antagonize
  • (A) Accuracy IO: Level 50
Level 22: White Dwarf Step
  • (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%): Level 10
------------

Set Bonus Totals:
  • 15% DamageBuff(Smashing)
  • 15% DamageBuff(Lethal)
  • 15% DamageBuff(Fire)
  • 15% DamageBuff(Cold)
  • 15% DamageBuff(Energy)
  • 15% DamageBuff(Negative)
  • 15% DamageBuff(Toxic)
  • 15% DamageBuff(Psionic)
  • 21.3% Defense(Energy)
  • 21.3% Defense(Negative)
  • 25.6% Defense(Ranged)
  • 3.6% Max End
  • 18% Enhancement(Heal)
  • 33.8% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  • 32% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 8% FlySpeed
  • 108.4 HP (10.1%) HitPoints
  • 8% JumpHeight
  • 8% JumpSpeed
  • Knockback (Mag -4)
  • Knockup (Mag -4)
  • MezResist(Confused) 2.5%
  • MezResist(Held) 12.4%
  • MezResist(Immobilize) 12.4%
  • MezResist(Sleep) 2.5%
  • MezResist(Stun) 2.5%
  • MezResist(Terrorized) 2.5%
  • 9% (0.15 End/sec) Recovery
  • 48% (2.15 HP/sec) Regeneration
  • 20% ResEffect(FlySpeed)
  • 20% ResEffect(RechargeTime)
  • 20% ResEffect(RunSpeed)
  • 3.15% Resistance(Fire)
  • 3.15% Resistance(Cold)
  • 8% RunSpeed
------------

Set Bonuses:

Thunderstrike
(Gleaming Bolt)
  • 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  • 2.5% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
  • 7% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 4% RunSpeed, 4% FlySpeed, 4% JumpSpeed, 4% JumpHeight
  • 2.5% Defense(Ranged), 1.25% Defense(Energy), 1.25% Defense(Negative)
Steadfast Protection
(Incandescence)
  • Knockback Protection (Mag -4)
Numina's Convalescence
(Essence Boost)
  • 12% (0.54 HP/sec) Regeneration
  • 20.1 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
  • 6% Enhancement(Heal)
Numina's Convalescence
(Health)
  • 12% (0.54 HP/sec) Regeneration
Mako's Bite
(Incandescent Strike)
  • MezResist(Immobilize) 3.3%
  • 16.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  • 3% DamageBuff(All)
  • MezResist(Held) 3.3%
  • 3.75% Defense(Ranged), 1.88% Defense(Energy), 1.88% Defense(Negative)
Numina's Convalescence
(Reform Essence)
  • 12% (0.54 HP/sec) Regeneration
  • 20.1 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
  • 6% Enhancement(Heal)
Eradication
(Solar Flare)
  • 1.8% Max End
  • 3.13% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.56% Defense(Ranged)
Explosive Strike
(Solar Flare)
  • 1.5% DamageBuff(All)
  • 1.88% Defense(Ranged), 0.94% Defense(Energy), 0.94% Defense(Negative)
Expedient Reinforcement
(Photon Seekers)
  • Status Resistance 2.5%
  • 3% DamageBuff(All)
  • 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Luck of the Gambler
(Stealth)
  • 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Luck of the Gambler
(Grant Invisibility)
  • 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Thunderstrike
(Bright Nova Bolt)
  • 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  • 2.5% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
  • 7% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 4% RunSpeed, 4% FlySpeed, 4% JumpSpeed, 4% JumpHeight
  • 2.5% Defense(Ranged), 1.25% Defense(Energy), 1.25% Defense(Negative)
Positron's Blast
(Bright Nova Scatter)
  • 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
  • 1.58% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  • 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Positron's Blast
(Bright Nova Detonation)
  • 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
  • 1.58% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  • 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Mako's Bite
(White Dwarf Strike)
  • MezResist(Immobilize) 3.3%
  • 16.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  • 3% DamageBuff(All)
  • MezResist(Held) 3.3%
  • 3.75% Defense(Ranged), 1.88% Defense(Energy), 1.88% Defense(Negative)
Mako's Bite
(White Dwarf Smite)
  • MezResist(Immobilize) 3.3%
  • 16.1 HP (1.5%) HitPoints
  • 3% DamageBuff(All)
  • MezResist(Held) 3.3%
  • 3.75% Defense(Ranged), 1.88% Defense(Energy), 1.88% Defense(Negative)
Eradication
(White Dwarf Flare)
  • 1.8% Max End
  • 3.13% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.56% Defense(Ranged)
Explosive Strike
(White Dwarf Flare)
  • 1.5% DamageBuff(All)
  • 1.88% Defense(Ranged), 0.94% Defense(Energy), 0.94% Defense(Negative)
Numina's Convalescence
(White Dwarf Sublimation)
  • 12% (0.54 HP/sec) Regeneration
  • 20.1 HP (1.87%) HitPoints
  • 6% Enhancement(Heal)
Winter's Gift
(White Dwarf Step)
  • 20% ResEffect(RunSpeed), 20% ResEffect(RechargeTime), 20% ResEffect(FlySpeed)

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It's the end. But the moment has been prepared for ...

 

Posted

thank you for posting your build Redlynne. at a quick glance, it looks a lot like I was aiming for in my build - all 3 forms, adequately slotted to be effective; some range defense; some +rech all the time and hasten to boost that.

definitely some good food for thought in there, thank you


 

Posted

Uh ... you did notice that I rather deliberately omitted Hasten, didn't you?


It's the end. But the moment has been prepared for ...

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Redlynne View Post
Uh ... you did notice that I rather deliberately omitted Hasten, didn't you?
multi-screen tasking for the win :-) I was flipping between your build and LordXenite's and must have had hasten on the brain from his. so strike the comment about hasten, but that just gives me more to consider as hasten seems to be one of those fence sitting powers in Kheld builds. where its worth is really dependent on how much time you plan on staying in human form to get more benefit from it.

I don't care to switch in and out of forms just to activate hasten for the little time it's still up by the time you get back into Nova or Dwarf. guess that's one of the reasons I am having such a hard time designing my PB. hard to know how to spec him until I know how I want to play him but can't get a good idea of how I like to play him until I know what powers to include :-)


 

Posted

Personally speaking, I've refused to use Hasten in any of my character builds ... and never been the poorer for it.


It's the end. But the moment has been prepared for ...

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by Redlynne View Post
Personally speaking, I've refused to use Hasten in any of my character builds ... and never been the poorer for it.
Although I use Hasten on (almost) all my builds (and quite love it), I applaud this decision, as this is the same sort of individuality/playstyle choices I encourage by playing a human-only Kheldian.

Just because someone chooses not to pick a "certain" power in a build doesn't mean they should be "condemned" for using said build or made to feel stupid because they didn't pick that power.

They simply didn't pick that power because either they don't like it, or feel they can accomplish any task in the game just as well without it. Simple as that.



"Alien"


Quote:
Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades View Post
The way you play changes your IO slotting..


76 characters and Twenty-four 50s later, I still love this game.
AlienOne's Human-Form Warshade Guide (Old guide+New guide = 12,000+ views!)

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by kendo View Post
I did come across an interesting build that LordXenite ... ... ... but I was curious about some of the choices in that build, especially choosing to use the taunt pool powers. does using those mitigate more damage than the shields that were skipped to make room for them?
I've never played any AT's that have shields, so leveling Ascendantia without them as a TriFormPB, wasn't a big problem for me. Since my background — the AT I initially took to Lv50 — was a Controller, I looked for ways to actively neutralize a hard enemy or a small group of easier enemies and the only Power Pool that had something to offer was the Presence Pool.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kendo View Post
or maybe the idea is to fear most, hopefully all, of a group and then switch to squid form and blast away with much less return fire?
I've never actually measured or calculated how much damage fearing an enemy will prevent, but essentially, since I identified my PB's best combat style as dispatch the small fires first and worry about the Boss later, I usually combine Invoke Panic + Intimidate on (and near) a Boss, usually fearing it, and then using Pulsar, Photon Seekers and Nova/Dwarf powers I quickly get rid of the minions and lieutenants and then work on the Boss at my leisure. This fighting style requires quite a bit of form shifting and good rhythm, but I still find it slightly more "relaxing" compared to the frantic dance that is my TriFormShade™, and it's always fun seeing a Boss that could easily kill me — since I have no shields — cowering away while I blow up his minions and then turn to him with a smug grin.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kendo View Post
either way, I find it an interesting concept and would appreciate hearing more about how it works in practice.
It serves me well when soloing, or when fighting tougher enemies on a team that lacks more reliable control/dps components.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kendo View Post
Well, to each their own, but Ascendantia's build is quite form-heavy and Photon Seekers are very good on it as well. Naturally I gave up on some Human-form abilities.
Indeed, as she was planned from Lv1 as a TriFormPB. So I focused my Human-form power selection and slotting to augment her forms and her bind layout are set towards that goal. For that reason she doesn't have Lightform despite the power being essential for Human-only PB's. She simply doesn't spend too much time in her Human-form to justify the crash after Lightform.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kendo View Post
I don't care to switch in and out of forms just to activate hasten for the little time it's still up by the time you get back into Nova or Dwarf.
Neither do I, which is why I usually have Hasten on auto-fire and I let it trigger whenever I switch to Human-form and do not have any other powers queued-up.

Quote:
Originally Posted by kendo View Post
...guess that's one of the reasons I am having such a hard time designing my PB. hard to know how to spec him until I know how I want to play him but can't get a good idea of how I like to play him until I know what powers to include :-)
Indeed that is one of the issues with Kheldians, PB's especially. It's easier to see an emergent direction for a Warshade since it's much more focused on DPS where-as the PB lacks that focus and is more centralized around surviving while antagonizing the enemy.


I believe that a Kheldian Gold Standard should be based on SO's, and for anything above that... there's Platinum!

Save Ms. Liberty (#5349) Augmenting Peacebringers The Umbra Illuminati

 

Posted

Quote:
Originally Posted by kendo View Post
hasten seems to be one of those fence sitting powers in Kheld builds. where its worth is really dependent on how much time you plan on staying in human form to get more benefit from it.
When I look at PB builds I see two reasons to take Hasten.

1 - Even in the forms you do not have a smooth attack chain out the box, and Hasten helps this massively - and gets you closer to your ideal attack chain. It also lets you get your heals recycled faster, thus increasing your attack and survivability. Even accounting for recharge slotting in the powers and Hasten's downtime you are looking at a 10% increase in effectiveness just from one power, maybe even more.

2 - Long recharge powers like Photon Seekers and Conserve Power are helped massively

However I cannot see a single good reason not to take it, especially if you are making a recharge build because why would you want to spend any inf at all getting recharge while missing out on the single biggest source available to you?

To me it seems like some people skip Hasten (And Stamina) out of some kind of vendetta against 'must have' pool powers. It isn't individual to go not pick them, it is more like cutting off your nose to spite your face (IE: A bad idea just in the quest for non-conformity). Individuality would be making a green costume, not skipping a very very useful power.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Redlynne View Post
Personally speaking, I've refused to use Hasten in any of my character builds ... and never been the poorer for it.
Stating that you have never been the poorer for it is quite a big statement. You may have not felt poor (And may not have been actually poor), but there are very few builds that cannot be improved by it.

At the end of the day if you want your build to be the best it can be then there are very few reasons to justify excluding Hasten.


Princess Darkstar - Proud Member of the Handprints of Union, the #1 ranked SG in Europe!
British by act of union, English by grace of God, Northern by pure good fortune!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aggelakis View Post
PrincessDarkstar: "RAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH SOMEONE IS *WRONG* ON THE INTERNET!"

 

Posted

However... I must interject that what you're referring to is what all the "numbers guys" pray to:

Damage Per Second (DPS).

I believe there are several Khelds around that don't pray to that god, nor do they try to "max" their character, and therefore can justifiably say they are "not poorer for it."

To say that "if you haven't reached your max potental, you cannot pass a mission/get the game objective done (kill enemies)" is a pretty naive statement, and not one I expect to hear from any "number cruncher." Not that I HAVE heard anyone specifically say that... But people do like to seemingly "walk that fine line" when making reference to "must have" powers.

I don't believe there are ANY "must have" powers in any build. There are powers that can make you "more effective" or "better" or "faster" or have "higher DPS." But, not having a power (like Hasten or Stamina) doesn't automatically place you in the "PHAIL POOL." Well, maybe it does if the end goal was to get the highest DPS...

However, if that wasn't the "end goal" of the toon, then I wouldn't say that the toon is necessarily a "failure."

There are many reasons people play this game... Having the best DPS is only one of them. And somehow, some of these said people (who don't play for highest DPS) can successfully complete a mission! (supposedly the objective of a superhero MMO--which is debateable)

"Alien"


Quote:
Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades View Post
The way you play changes your IO slotting..


76 characters and Twenty-four 50s later, I still love this game.
AlienOne's Human-Form Warshade Guide (Old guide+New guide = 12,000+ views!)

 

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Originally Posted by AlienOne View Post
However... I must interject that what you're referring to is what all the "numbers guys" pray to:

Damage Per Second (DPS).
It isn't really anything to do with DPS particularly, because that requires more power thought and slotting, but why would anyone not want their best attacks up more often?

Also as mentioned Conserve Power for PB's and Eclipse for Warshades benefits massively from Hasten and I can't see any reason you wouldn't want those back faster.

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Originally Posted by AlienOne View Post
I believe there are several Khelds around that don't pray to that god, nor do they try to "max" their character, and therefore can justifiably say they are "not poorer for it."
Thats just it, just because you don't aim for max builds doesn't mean you can deny that a max build is better, so yes you are poorer for not going for it. Your build can still be good and I would never say otherwise or criticise anyone for not picking Hasten, but they can't really say they are not poorer for not having it.

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Originally Posted by AlienOne View Post
To say that "if you haven't reached your max potental, you cannot pass a mission/get the game objective done (kill enemies)" is a pretty naive statement, and not one I expect to hear from any "number cruncher." Not that I HAVE heard anyone specifically say that... But people do like to seemingly "walk that fine line" when making reference to "must have" powers.
I don't think it is quite that close to the line, must have powers increase your abilities in an obvious way so that nobody can deny it. Actually gettting max performance out of anything is an inexact science however.

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Originally Posted by AlienOne View Post
I don't believe there are ANY "must have" powers in any build. There are powers that can make you "more effective" or "better" or "faster" or have "higher DPS." But, not having a power (like Hasten or Stamina) doesn't automatically place you in the "PHAIL POOL." Well, maybe it does if the end goal was to get the highest DPS...

However, if that wasn't the "end goal" of the toon, then I wouldn't say that the toon is necessarily a "failure."
I would agree totally and I wouldn't do anything stupid like kick a strange build from my team, but equally I am never going to stand by and let people think that not taking the 'key' powers is a good idea.

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Originally Posted by AlienOne View Post
There are many reasons people play this game... Having the best DPS is only one of them. And somehow, some of these said people (who don't play for highest DPS) can successfully complete a mission! (supposedly the objective of a superhero MMO--which is debateable)
Well in CoX particularly you don't need a good build to do well enough, but I think aiming to not be the best is bad idea, everyone should always aim to be the best they can be and I think people should always be encouraged to be as good as they can be.

Specific aims like 'best DPS' are just as out there as 'roleplaying' builds and unless someone specifically states that they don't like Hasten or whatever I would always assume they want to take the key powers.


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Here's the thing ... from someone who's not addicted to Hasten.

I can build attack chains that "work" just fine, with minimal downtime, without Hasten. Furthermore, there's a synergistic effect in which because I don't have Hasten, I'm not burning through my blue bar in quite the same way I would if I did have Hasten. That means, net effect, my combat power feels more sustainable over the long(er) haul, which is an important consideration (for me).

I'm not working off a parameter that says "use THIS power as often as possible!"
Instead I'm working off a parameter which says "use this power as often as is practical" ... which you'll have to agree is a very different metric for success.
Furthermore, my decisions are based around having a power available for use "often enough" that I can work it into my regular attack chain, without letting it sit there, fully recharged, waiting for me to use it simply because I'm too busy animating all sorts of other things.

Basically, I find ways to synchronize the animation times of my attack powers such that I don't * NEED * to have Hasten. And because I plan my builds and my playstyle that way, the addition of Hasten to any of my builds would actually have a far lesser impact than you might think. That's because animation times are one of the irreduceable factors in the game. So just like there's a concept of "Over Healing" above and beyond what is "necessary" in a given situation, producing "wasted healing" ... I also believe that there's such a thing as "Over Recharging" above and beyond what is "necessary" as a matter of routine, producing "wasted recharge" which doesn't really benefit your character's throughput as well as the numbers on paper would lead you to believe.

So no ... I've learned to live without Hasten ... and I do not feel the poorer for it.
I stand by my earlier statement.


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Originally Posted by Redlynne View Post
So no ... I've learned to live without Hasten ... and I do not feel the poorer for it.
You changed your summary to exactly what it should have been, you don't feel poorer, and that is what I was saying.

It doesn't mean adding Hasten wouldn't make you better, it just means you don't feel you need to make any changes. That isn't a bad thing by any means.

I just don't like seeing any posts which can make someone who doesn't quite know everything make the wrong decision. I always understood your logic in not picking Hasten, I just don't think others should be thinking about not picking it unless they are fully aware how much difference it can make.

I always try and point out facts as best I can, people can make their own mind up how they use those facts. In this case the fact is that Hasten improves most builds.


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British by act of union, English by grace of God, Northern by pure good fortune!
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Originally Posted by Redlynne View Post
So just like there's a concept of "Over Healing" above and beyond what is "necessary" in a given situation, producing "wasted healing" ... I also believe that there's such a thing as "Over Recharging" above and beyond what is "necessary" as a matter of routine, producing "wasted recharge" which doesn't really benefit your character's throughput as well as the numbers on paper would lead you to believe.
The easier the foes you're fighting, the more correct you are in this belief of yours.

Hasten is a great power to add to your build because it affects every rechargeable power you have, if I'm not mistaken, even those powers you cannot directly enhance for -Recharge. As such, it is a good addition because it allows the player to react to their enemies faster than the enemies can react to the player, and that's all it boils down to.

Do we need Hasten to "win" the game? No. Do we need Hasten to be more efficient "arresting" machines? Most likely as it's been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Hasten increases DPS in stable attack-chains. Do Kheldians need Hasten? I'd say Warshades need it more than Peacebringers, and there are times when Hasten would sit there, ready to activate, but I'd be in Nova or Dwarf forms, sitting on it, waiting for the right time to let it activate.

Bottom line, unless you have very specific goals, like getting the best DPS you can, or having more than 2/3 fluffies out, Hasten is a luxury and can be omitted.

EDIT :: I just had to add that if Hasten was a passive +Recharge like Mental Training for example, then it would become as useful and important as Health and Stamina are and therefore would be an improvement to almost any build in the game. Since that is not the case, Hasten is useful only if and when you can actually activate it.


I believe that a Kheldian Gold Standard should be based on SO's, and for anything above that... there's Platinum!

Save Ms. Liberty (#5349) Augmenting Peacebringers The Umbra Illuminati

 

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Originally Posted by LordXenite View Post
EDIT :: I just had to add that if Hasten was a passive +Recharge like Mental Training for example, then it would become as useful and important as Health and Stamina are and therefore would be an improvement to almost any build in the game. Since that is not the case, Hasten is useful only if and when you can actually activate it.
I think if Hasten went that way it would be reduced to about 20 or 30% +recharge and become much less use to those who like it the most. Though I admit it would probably be of more use to the masses who don't build for perma-Hasten.

As to the comment about a luxury, I would agree on some builds (Mainly SO or normal IO builds) when it isn't up very often, but the OP did state he was looking at +recharge builds, taking it well into the ranks of an important power.


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Originally Posted by PrincessDarkstar View Post
I think if Hasten went that way it would be reduced to about 20 or 30% +recharge and become much less use to those who like it the most. Though I admit it would probably be of more use to the masses who don't build for perma-Hasten.
I feel the same way about it, which is why I'd never contemplate asking for Hasten to be changed, but you said it yourself, "the masses who don't build for perma-Hasten"... thus being the majority of the playerbase.

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Originally Posted by PrincessDarkstar View Post
As to the comment about a luxury, I would agree on some builds (Mainly SO or normal IO builds) when it isn't up very often, but the OP did state he was looking at +recharge builds, taking it well into the ranks of an important power.
For the OP, indeed Hasten can be a build-defining power, but again, only when Hasten is actually used. I say this because I know from personal experience there are plenty of times when Hasten does become overkill. When fighting harder targets +4 Bosses for example, Hasten is a life saver for sure, but not all of us fight like that...


I believe that a Kheldian Gold Standard should be based on SO's, and for anything above that... there's Platinum!

Save Ms. Liberty (#5349) Augmenting Peacebringers The Umbra Illuminati

 

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Originally Posted by LordXenite View Post
I say this because I know from personal experience there are plenty of times when Hasten does become overkill. When fighting harder targets +4 Bosses for example, Hasten is a life saver for sure, but not all of us fight like that...
Which was my point exactly.

"Alien"


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Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades View Post
The way you play changes your IO slotting..


76 characters and Twenty-four 50s later, I still love this game.
AlienOne's Human-Form Warshade Guide (Old guide+New guide = 12,000+ views!)

 

Posted

Hasten was never needed in the game, in all honesty. Looking at things mathematically, sure, it gave you a recharge edge and has a benefit. But it's never been needed... you could do perfectly ridiculous things in-game without it.

And really, it used to be more needed than it is now. It's pretty easy to rack up a lot of recharge bonuses that are hefty on their own, and you can usually stack those with a good amount of recharge in your powers, which was less possible with just SOs and Hami-Os.

Again, it does provide a benefit (as long as you can take the end cost), but it's one that is not really needed that much. There's nothing wrong with having it on your build or using it (my Khelds use it, for instance, because having a lot of recharge helps Khelds out so much more than most other ATs), of course, but I do balk at people suggesting that you must have it... especially after IOs were introduced.


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Originally Posted by PrincessDarkstar View Post
To me it seems like some people skip Hasten (And Stamina) out of some kind of vendetta against 'must have' pool powers. It isn't individual to go not pick them, it is more like cutting off your nose to spite your face (IE: A bad idea just in the quest for non-conformity). Individuality would be making a green costume, not skipping a very very useful power.
I'll hold my hands up to skipping fitness pool and hasten on both my 4 yr old Khelds. They've never had them. Hasten may give people a best ST or AoE chain in some form or another and fitness may provide the endurance to keep up with that output but the concepts lay around being jack of all trade Khelds.


He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.

 

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Originally Posted by New Dawn View Post
I'll hold my hands up to skipping fitness pool and hasten on both my 4 yr old Khelds. They've never had them. Hasten may give people a best ST or AoE chain in some form or another and fitness may provide the endurance to keep up with that output but the concepts lay around being jack of all trade Khelds.
I will always hate the glowing hands of doom FX and I can see skipping it for concept reasons, but whats the concept for skipping fitness "I'm an outta shape hero/villian"? I eat too many cheese puffs and twinkies?

To each their own but that one i'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around on.


If you PL'd to 50 just to get an "epic" thinking you'd be �ber, you're going to be sorely disappointed with the HEATs, because the VEATs were designed so that anyone with one good finger and a braincell can rock the toggles.

 

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Originally Posted by Obsidian_Force2 View Post
I will always hate the glowing hands of doom FX and I can see skipping it for concept reasons, but whats the concept for skipping fitness "I'm an outta shape hero/villian"? I eat too many cheese puffs and twinkies?

To each their own but that one i'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around on.
Well surprisingly warshades can live without stamina and peacebringers can at a push. It all depends on your slotting. In teams, and I really dislike soloing them as well, their endurance bars go up and down without me necessarily needing rest (without endurance buffs). With buffs life is better. They both self res and so typically, for me they could die and res just to have some endurance if I really wanted. Form switching does do them good.


He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.

 

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Oh I'm well aware of the lack of NEED for Fitness, I just have never seen it thrown into the catagory of "not taken for concept reasons".


If you PL'd to 50 just to get an "epic" thinking you'd be �ber, you're going to be sorely disappointed with the HEATs, because the VEATs were designed so that anyone with one good finger and a braincell can rock the toggles.

 

Posted

Well I never saw fitness pool as an option just to say that your character is fit.


He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.

 

Posted

Yeah, Fitness pool for roleplay reasons is never something I've considered, to be honest.

My PB Triform at 41 doesn't have Stamina just yet. I'm eventually going to fit it in, just to help a bit, but I have enough -end in my powers and +recovery to get most of the job done, and popping Conserve Powers usually does the rest for me (whenever I notice my blue bar getting low it's because Conserve Power has been up for a bit and I've been forgetting to use it). Probably becomes more necessary in a non-IO build, but not necessarily, since I have a lot more recharge from my IOs than I would have otherwise.


Guide: Tanking, Wall of Fire Style (Updated for I19!), and the Four Rules of Tanking
Story Arc:
Belated Justice, #88003
Synopsis: Explore the fine line between justice and vengeance as you help a hero of Talos Island bring his friend's murderer to justice.
Grey Pilgrim: Fire/Fire Tanker (50), Victory

 

Posted

Unless you're spending a lot of time in human form, Stamina is easily skippable. The Fitness pool, like many of the tertiary pools, simply does not carry over into the forms.

Playing a tri-form, it's not nearly as beneficial as it is for a human-form.