Shield Defense inflames my Altitis

All,

Is anyone else kinda frustrated by Shield Defense? It is just too good to not take it. I have always wanted a Fire/SR scrapper since Fire Melee came out, but I never got around to it. Now, I keep looking at the Fire/SD option and drooling. Its kinda pissing me off. I made an Elec/SR and loved him, until I made a SD/Elec tank. Now, it makes me wish I'd made an Elec/SD scrapper. Also, I have a DM/WP that was always supposed to be DM/SR and so I'm tempted to re-make her, but I keep looking at DM/SD. AoE on a Dark Melee scrapper? Inconceivable!

Shield Defense is really getting me down. I love SR for concept but SD keeps making me wring my hands.

BAH!

Lewis

I had the same problem then I said screw it and made a fire/SR scrapper, I already have a MA/Shield and was so tempted to go fire/shield but in the end Im glad. I have both soft capped to all 3 positions but the Super reflexes toon just feels more solid maybe it's because of aid self maybe it's because the scailing res SR gets Im not 100% sure but my SR toon can go whole rikti raids and never die not so with my shield.

So I think SR even when both soft capped is tougher but SD is more damage obviously.

Yeah, maybe I'll jump on the bandwagon for the Elec/Shield scrapper (tho I already have an awesome level 50 Shield/Elec Tanker, so I'm not sure) but stick to /Super Reflexes for Dark Melee and Fire Melee. I have good level 50 softcapped builds I like for them. I dunno.

Lewis

I find myself constantly battling the question of how I can make a scrapper to out perform something/shields. I'm not sure I've come up with a solution yet... but that is essentually the underlying motivation for most of my pet projects. So in a sense, my altitis is inflamed in that I'm making anything BUT shields.

The best I've come up with so far is a blaster, but I don't really like to talk about that.

Two players who saw my fire/shield in action rerolled their fire/sr to fire/shield. Not that this helps any...

But honestly, even if you don't use shield charge, the damage boost you get from AAO all by itself is pretty amazing.

*sniff*

My problem is that I have such alt-itis that I can't afford a softcapped Shield build, unless its a Tanker. BTW do Fiery scrappers usually take Breath of Fire or do they skip it? Only having FSC from the primary seems a bit lacking for AOE.

Lewis

I have a shield/electric tanker whose softcapped to all positions and what a fun too,i also had to ask myself why didnt i go the scrapper route on him.I also have a fire/sd scrapper and the damage is insane,still working on getting it softcapped though so the tactic is kill fast.I just came back a few months ago and when i saw the shield powerset in action had to roll 1,now i have 2 and im sure more to follow.

Grr. OK, I think I may leave my MA/WP and not re-make him since he is level 40. My DM/WP was originally (when COH was released) DM/SR but at some point (before I realized about softcapping) I said screw it and made her DM/WP. She is level 41 though, so even though she *should* be DM/SR, maybe I'll just let it go and leave her. Tho I'm tempted to make her DM/SR. I dunno.

But for the Fiery Melee guy, maybe I'll go Fire/Shield. If I make another Electric scrapper (I have a level 50 Elec/SR) I'll definitely do Elec/Shield.

Does anyone have a CHEAP Soft-capped Fire/Shield build? I can afford maybe 300 million or less (not counting rare salvage, which I will buy via some AE farming). I dont care about epics at all, but I do prefer to have a good single target attack chain without using Boxing, Air Superiority, or Epics. I also don't care about recharge or regen at all. I can't afford all the LOTGs and Numinas I see all over the place in builds.

Or is it even possible?

Thanks,

Lewis

This is the cheapest build I can work up for Fire/Shield that is soft capped. I kinda wish I had Breath of Fire, but only barely.

I say "cheapest" but it does have 2 Touch of Death sets in it, which is pricey for my blood. I prefer Kinetic Combats, but 4 of them cost at least double what a Touch of Death set costs. The build also has a full Obliteration set in it. Ouch! It also has a Miracle and a Numina unique, but they are optional and all it takes is about (sigh) 20-25 task forces to earn them.

So that's about as cheap as I could get it. Regen and Recharge and Global Accuracy are basically zero. The lack of significant global acc makes me wish I could afford Kinetic Combats instead of Touch of Death, because I could frankenslot about +20% accuracy to those attacks. Anyway.

Does this seem OK for a "cheap" build?

Thanks,

Lewis

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

ZZZ SVR Fire Shield: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Fire Sword -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(3), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(7), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), T'Death-Dam%(39)
Level 1: Deflection -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx(A), GftotA-Def(13), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(13), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(17), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(43), Aegis-ResDam(43)
Level 2: Cremate -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(5), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(5), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), T'Death-Dam%(37)
Level 4: Battle Agility -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(15), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(15), RedFtn-Def(17), RedFtn-EndRdx(50)
Level 6: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(25), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(31), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(46), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(46), GSFC-Build%(46)
Level 8: True Grit -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(39), ResDam-I(39), ResDam-I(40), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(40)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(11), RechRdx-I(11)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(40)
Level 16: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(19), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(21), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(21), RechRdx-I(25)
Level 20: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(50)
Level 22: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(23), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(23), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(48), P'Shift-End%(50)
Level 24: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Incinerate -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(27), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(27), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Mako-Dam%(34)
Level 28: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff-I(A)
Level 30: Grant Cover -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(33), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 38: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 41: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(42), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(42), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Aegis-ResDam(43)
Level 44: Weave -- GftotA-Def/EndRdx(A), GftotA-Def(45), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(45), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 47: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A), Zephyr-Travel(48), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(48)
Level 49: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit

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FF,

Why do all the builds I see skip Fire Sword and take Scorch instead? Is Scorch better? I kinda wanted the sword for concept. Also, while I like your build and I like the presence of Physical Perfection, I don't really like the fact that Grant Cover is missing. Isnt it key to having some Defense Debuff Resistance?

Thanks for the effort, I'll study it. I see some things in your build I'll likely use.

Lewis

Thanks EG!

Lewis

I don't really want to drop Hasten or Grant Cover. That pretty much forces me to drop Physical Perfection. Which I am fine with.

Lewis

I love my FM/SD so much so it's worth like 8bill an still not finished. End build is i reckon 13 - 14bill an well worth it!

I run GFS,Incin,FS. Works pukka for me.

Yeah. I still kinda WANT the character to be Fire/SR. Some part of me is considering making both Fire/SR and Fire/SD. It is a part of me I don't like.

Man, I so wish my DM/WP and MA/WP weren't in the low 40s. I really kinda want to remake them as /SR. I also wish we weren't having an unknown new endgame system coming, because I already have too many characters to bring though it. I don't need more.

Bah!

Lewis