PB or WS?

My next project idea is an epic AT, i just dont know which one to do. What are the pros and cons of a PB, and the pros and cons of a WS. It wont be for pvp, mainly for TFs. I have to say I like my aoe, and WS has alot of that, but I just want to hear from you guys.

One main difference is that a Warshade's best powers require enemies - live or dead, depending on the power, for 'fuel'. In contrast, a Peacebringer is self-contained. This means that a WS has higher highs and lower lows as his powers and enemy availability fluctuate, while a PB is steady on through.

Both varieties also receive an inherent buff from their Team, based on the AT make-up of the team, but this is steady... until somebody disconnects, leaves the team, or leaves the zone.

The two Nova forms are essentially equivalent, as are the two Dwarf forms, but the available powers in Human form vary widely, between the two types of Kheldian. Kheldian Effectiveness depends much more highly on the strategies and tactics of the Player, than other ATs. There is no 'optimum build' for Kheldians, the power choices and slotting are more or less effective, depending on how the Player uses them.

Because of that, Kheldians tend to be highly flexible and adaptable, changing shape, tactics, and playstyle on the fly. Congratulations on your achievement and welcome to the Kheldian forums.

Be Well!
Fireheart

[Edit] Err, what LocalMan said!

What's the difference between a Peacebringer and a Warshade?

This has been getting asked often enough from new (or soon to be) 50s to merit a quick-reply cut and paste from me. Welcome to the world of Khelds! Enjoy your stay?

Basic reading

These guides will help you a lot:

Iscariot's guide to the triform Warshade by Justaris. Yes, it's warshade specific.

Plasma's ultimate guide to Kheldians for a very thorough overview. Really. It's long-ish, but read it.

And for the backstory, there's my own backstory guide. More "in game lore" than powers.

A quick overview

Khelds in general - Can be built around one (human) form or multiple forms, known as biform or triform. The other forms act like a blaster and a sort of "pocket tank." Human form buffs carry over - if you hit Hasten, you get it for the full length of Hasten. it doesn't cut off when you switch forms. Toggles, however, do at this time.

That said, the two are different in many fundamental ways.

Peacebringer - the old reliable.

Peacebringers are completely "self contained" Khelds. What this means is that all of their buffs and heals are going to act exactly the same, given the same level and slotting, every time. If you're level 40 and hit your self-heal for, say, 200 HP (making up a number) one time, and you hit it again without levelling, you'll get 200 HP again.

Peacebringers are more melee-oriented. They're more "in your face" than a Warshade. The example I used one other time was, if you insult a Peacebringer in a bar, they'll punch you in the mouth. A Warshade will go outside, slit your tires and fill your gas tank with sugar.

Peacebringers get Fly as an inherent travel power, and are locked out of any form of Teleport (other than the Dwarf form teleport, if you take that form.) And all Peacebringer attacks do a -defense debuff to whatever they hit.

Peacebringer Dwarf form gets an AOE knockdown and a click self heal that, again, is completely self contained.

Warshades - the wild, unpredictable ride.

Warshades have higher highs and lower lows in their performance. Where Peacebringers are completely self contained, Warshades rely on living or defeated foes for their buffs. Self heals - especially Stygian Circle - perform better with more defeated enemies around. Self buffs - such as Sunless Mire and Ecliipse - will give greater benefit with more live foes around. (This is part of why they also get some self-stealth, an oppressive Gloom clone, and I'm pretty sure part of the reason behind Teleport.)

Warshades are very control heavy. Every attack does some -slow and -recharge if it hits. They get an option of self stealth in shadow cloak, an Oppressive Gloom (PBAOE stun) clone, Gravity Well as a hold and other immobilizes and stuns.

Warshades also get somewhat longer lasting pets (and, generally, more useful) in Extracted Essence, which adds to your firepower, but requires a freshly defeated enemy to extract. It's also pretty much impossible to get them from ghost-type enemies and machines that explode. You can, with enough recharge, have up to three of them out for a short time, but they will expire. The plus side is that they do stick around once you're defeated. A Warshade in Nova with two "koosh balls" next to them spitting out damage is loads of fun.

Warshade Dwarf form gets another Mire (recently buffed!) and their self heal is a single-target attack which must hit - it's a copy of Siphon Life from Dark Melee.

Warshades, of course, also start with Teleport and are locked out of Fly (except in Nova form.) that said, TP Foe (Starless Step) and Gravity Well (your hold) are an excellent way to take care of pesky Void hunters before they get a shot off at you. You also get Shadow Recall at level 10, which pre-travel-power teammates (and later, those who want to stealth missions) will greatly appreciate.

Which is better?

They're both good, but they shine in different situations. If I'm clearing out a map, a Warshade's going to have lots of groups to play with, siphon from, get essences and the like. If I'm facing a long, one on one fight versus, say, an AV or EB, the Peacebringer's going to have an easier time with it, as the Warshade will only have the one target to buff from and will, over time, lose the essences.

I *generally* suggest a first time Kheld start with a Peacebringer to get a feel for everything. That said, they're both a lot of fun - and yes, I have multiples of them at 50, and don't regret any of them.

See my Guides and Tutorials

I prefer Peacebringers. Their power colors look awesome

Both. First Peacebringers, then Warshades, just so the journey to 100 feels awesome the first 50 levels and gets even better on the next 50 levels

Peacebringers are easier to play if you like melee attacks and don't want to do as much form swapping. They've got sweet Melee attacks, some ranged hits, and Photon Seekers for a close-range big boom. The most commonly effective Peacebringer is a Human/Dwarf form build that leaves out the ranged Nova Form so you can focus on beating things up close.

Warshades have powers that tend to effect more enemies. It also seems to have a bigger variety of powers, so I find it harder to focus on one aspect of it. Right now, my Warshade uses the heck out of its pets for extra damage and relies on Eclipse and Dwarf Form for durability, Nova Form for additional AoE damage, and Human Form to fill in gaps in control or mezzing. How I play it really varies between the three roles depending on the team I'm on.

If you intend to shapeshift, I highly recommend Peace Bringer. This is for two reasons, really.

First is the inherent. Blasters and Scrappers increase a PB's resists, while they increase a WS's damage. Defenders and Tankers do the opposite. In other words, PB's are good at the opposite of what their team does.

So, with 4 blasters/scrappers you go into Dwarf and have maxed out resists and a decent taunt. Yeah yeah they aren't the best tanks, but there's so much damage behind you it won't matter.

Then with 4-7 defenders/tankers you go into Nova and blast away.

With a team that's healthfully mixed you can switch around and put heals and leadership, maybe grant invisibility and play mild support as well as a human.

Second, I prefer the foot stomp on White Dwarf to the Mire thing on the the Black Dwarf. The self-heal requires no to hit and does more as well. If you were a dwarf on the above mentioned team, as a Warshade you'd do way more damage than the PB would. I just don't think you'd survive as well, and the team has plenty of damage anyway.

I think the other differences have been explained better than I could hope to already.