How's This (Illus/Storm)

This is my first attempt at using Hero Builder, so forgive me. Also, since I'm just beginning to read about controllers, be gentle on my build. All I know for sure is that I'm confident it's ok up to level 20. After that is where I got a bit shaky. Any suggestions would be fantabulous.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Mesocyclone: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Acc(A), Dmg(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(7), Acc(11), RechRdx(11)
Level 1: Gale -- Acc(A)
Level 2: Blind -- Acc(A), Dmg(3), Dmg(3), Dmg(5), RechRdx(13), RechRdx(13)
Level 4: O2 Boost -- Heal(A), Heal(9), RechRdx(15)
Level 6: Air Superiority -- Acc(A)
Level 8: Superior Invisibility -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(9)
Level 10: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 12: Assault -- EndRdx(A), RechRdx(15)
Level 14: Fly -- Flight(A)
Level 16: Freezing Rain -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(17), DefDeb(17), DefDeb(31), DefDeb(34)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- Acc(A), Acc(19), Dmg(19), Dmg(21), Dmg(21)
Level 20: Health -- Heal(A), Heal(43), Heal(46)
Level 22: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(23), EndMod(23)
Level 24: Steamy Mist -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(25), ResDam(25), ResDam(40)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- RechRdx(A), Fear(27), EndRdx(27)
Level 28: Thunder Clap -- Acc(A), Dsrnt(29), Dsrnt(29), Dsrnt(31)
Level 30: Tactics -- RechRdx(A), ToHit(31), ToHit(34), RechRdx(37)
Level 32: Phantasm -- Acc(A), Acc(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(34)
Level 35: Tornado -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(36), RechRdx(36), Dmg(36), Dmg(37), Dmg(37)
Level 38: Lightning Storm -- Acc(A), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(39), Dmg(39), Dmg(40), Dmg(40)
Level 41: Mental Blast -- Acc(A), Acc(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(43), RechRdx(43)
Level 44: Indomitable Will -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(45), RechRdx(45), DefBuff(45), DefBuff(46), DefBuff(46)
Level 47: Psionic Tornado -- Acc(A), Acc(48), Dmg(48), Dmg(48), RechRdx(50)
Level 49: Recall Friend -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(50), RechRdx(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 2: Ninja Run

You build has a few issues. At least one is a critical issue.

First ... YOU SKIPPED DECEIVE! Deceive is perhaps THE reason to play an Illusion controller, after Phantom Army. Deceive will give you more safety and effectiveness than you can shake a stick at. Get it at level 4. Don't wait.

Spectral Wounds and Blind are both going to eat your endurance alive. You WILL be using them over and over, and with no endurance reducers, your blue bar will vanish. I'd lower your expectations or goals on the level of foes for a bit, fight even-level foes, and basically swap out 1 accuracy for an end reducer in each of these powers.

For O2 boost, its an endurance hog, so I'd replace the recharge with an end reducer.

Air superiority is decent soft control, but un-slotted its kinda mediocre. I skipped it on my Ill/Storm. But it can be useful.

Assault doesn't need 2 recharge. Go with 2 end reducers if you must take it. Also, consider skipping assault entirely. It can be helpful, but its not a must-have. Certainly, I'd take Deceive before I took either Air Superiority or Assault.

Freezing Rain probably doesn't need defense reduction. 3 recharge and 1 endurance reducer is the minimum standard slotting.

Phantom Army needs 6 slots. Also, its not a permanent pet. It is on a long recharge timer. SO it needs 3 recharge first and foremost. Then go with 1 acc and 2 dam in the other 3 slots. (rech x3, acc x1, Dam x2). Recharge is CRITICAL here.

Don't bother putting extra slots in health at this point.

You probably don't need recharge in Spectral Terror, truthfully. A lot of people don't even slot it (I slot mine up for a set recharge bonus).

You are missing Hurricane. While I wouldn't leave it on all the time, it is invaluable in certain circumstances. 1 end reducer and 3 hit debuffs is the way to go.

Thunder Clap could probably use a 5th slot. 2 accuracy, 2 stun, 1 recharge.

Tactics is more or less not needed. I'm not saying it isn't nice, but you'll be de-buffing defense with freezing rain, and you'll probably hit things fine overall. You need to reclaim those slots for deceive (which you want to take at level 4 btw).

Tornado probably needs endurance reduction more than recharge. You probably don't really want to cast it every time its up. Some people skip it on Illusion/Storm, some only slot it with 1 endurance reducer. If you actually want it for damage for AVs or bosses, go with 3 damage and 1 end reducer. If you want it up more often, throw 1 or 2 recharge in there if you must. But for Illusion/Storm, recharge probably isn't a priority (for reasons I wont get into now).

Lightning Storm can get by without accuracy, since it has a high base accuracy. Change the acc to an end reducer.

Mental Blast ... change one of the accuracy enhancements to an endurance reducer.

Indomitable Will is nice with defense, but I wouldn't worry about it. You have lots of other distraction. I'd go with 3 recharge and 1 end reducer (its got a heavy-ish end cost). Save the other slots.

Psi Tornado, with generics, deserves 6 slots. 1 acc, 1 end, 1 rech, 3 damage.

Recall Friend doesn't need recharge or any extra slots. Use them on the powers you skipped (Deceive, Hurricane, Flash, etc).

OK that's about it for a first pass. Good luck with the character!

Lewis

Attempt number 2: I noticed you mentioned flash way too late, so I may need to work this in (don't know if it's required or not), hence the reason I have 02 Boost in there...I didn't know what else to take.

Here goes:

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Mesocyclone: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Acc(A), EndRdx(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(11), RechRdx(13)
Level 1: Gale -- Acc(A)
Level 2: Blind -- Acc(A), EndRdx(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(9), RechRdx(11)
Level 4: Deceive -- Acc(A), Conf(13), Conf(15), Conf(15), RechRdx(21), RechRdx(21)
Level 6: Hover -- EndRdx(A)
Level 8: Superior Invisibility -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(9)
Level 10: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 12: Recall Friend -- RechRdx(A)
Level 14: Fly -- Flight(A)
Level 16: Freezing Rain -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(17), RechRdx(17), EndRdx(27), Slow(46), Slow(46)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(19), RechRdx(19), Acc(25), Dmg(25), Dmg(27)
Level 20: Health -- Heal(A)
Level 22: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(23), EndMod(23)
Level 24: Hurricane -- EndRdx(A), ToHitDeb(37), ToHitDeb(37), ToHitDeb(37)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- Acc(A), Fear(43), EndRdx(46)
Level 28: Thunder Clap -- Acc(A), Acc(29), Dsrnt(29), Dsrnt(31), RechRdx(31)
Level 30: Steamy Mist -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(31), ResDam(34), ResDam(34)
Level 32: Phantasm -- Acc(A), Acc(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(34)
Level 35: Tornado -- Dmg(A), Dmg(36), Dmg(36), EndRdx(36), RechRdx(40)
Level 38: Lightning Storm -- EndRdx(A), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(39), Dmg(39), Dmg(40), Dmg(40)
Level 41: Mental Blast -- Acc(A), EndRdx(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(43), RechRdx(43)
Level 44: Indomitable Will -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(45), RechRdx(45), EndRdx(45)
Level 47: Psionic Tornado -- Acc(A), EndRdx(48), RechRdx(48), Dmg(48), Dmg(50), Dmg(50)
Level 49: O2 Boost -- Heal(A), RechRdx(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 2: Ninja Run

EDIT: I posted this at the same time you posted your new build. This post was regarding the original build.

Welcome to Controlling! I think you're going to enjoy it. I have just a few comments on your first build.

- Like UnicyclePeon said before me, you will want Deceive. Take it as soon as possible. If you will be doing a lot of teaming, this is the most important power to slot up early on. Even if you will only be teaming occasionally, it's still important.

- I see that you've taken Air Superiority and Fly. While a lot of people disagree with me, I tend to avoid Fly as a power pick on a Controller. The reason is that very long lasting jet packs are available that perform the same basic function. If I take any travel power at all, it's Super Speed--mainly for the invisibility. These days, a lot of people (like me!) use a power called Ninja Run available by purchasing the Ninja pack on the website for $10. Ninja Run + Hurdle slotted for Jump is very, very fast. It's basically like a mini Super Jump.

- I agree that you will want Hurricane. Great power.

- Thunderclap isn't my favorite power, but note if you slot 2 recharge 2 accuracy 2 disorient, you are able to re-stun same-level mobs faster than the power recharges.

- You won't need Recharge in Recall Friend. I slot one range IO in it. If you decide to spend some money at high levels, you can also toss a knockback resistance enhancer here to keep you from getting thrown backward by attacks.

- You may want to consider a different epic pool. While Psi is just fine, it does mental damage, which is the same as many of your attacks. This could be problematic if you run into something resistant (i.e. robots). The fire and ice pools are fairly popular choices, with Ice probably the more thematic choice.

- One option open to you is to drop Superior Invis for Group Invis. This will cut back on your endurance costs and allow you to hide the entire team. There are some places Superior Invis is.. uh.. superior, (e.g. PVP) but for the most part Group Invis will do the trick. If you're still worried, remember you could combine your Steamy Mists with Super Speed for toggle-based invisibility through most content, and even add a Celerity to your Sprint power to increase the range of your inviso.

- I agree that Tactics won't serve you well, and actually may create some problems for you. Under Tactics pets see further and are more likely to run off and attack groups in the distance.

I hope that was helpful. You should post another build for us to look at and give you some more direction.

I first thought that Flash would be just a quick way for me to die, being it's a PBAoE. Then I thought about the nature of Deceive distracting the mobs enough for me to run in and hit it, so I gave Hero Builder another shot. How's about this?

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Mesocyclone: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Ice Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Acc(A), EndRdx(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(9), RechRdx(11)
Level 1: Gale -- Acc(A)
Level 2: Blind -- Acc(A), EndRdx(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(9), RechRdx(11)
Level 4: Deceive -- Acc(A), EndRdx(13), Conf(15), Conf(27), RechRdx(29), RechRdx(31)
Level 6: Flash -- Acc(A), EndRdx(15), RechRdx(27), RechRdx(29), RechRdx(31), Hold(31)
Level 8: Hasten -- RechRdx(A)
Level 10: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 12: Group Invisibility -- EndRdx(A), EndRdx(13), RechRdx(50)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Run(A)
Level 16: Freezing Rain -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(17), RechRdx(17), EndRdx(25)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(19), RechRdx(19), Acc(21), Dmg(21), Dmg(25)
Level 20: Health -- Heal(A)
Level 22: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(23), EndMod(23)
Level 24: Steamy Mist -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(40), ResDam(43), ResDam(46)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- Acc(A)
Level 28: Hurricane -- EndRdx(A)
Level 30: Thunder Clap -- Acc(A), Acc(34), Dsrnt(34), Dsrnt(36), RechRdx(37)
Level 32: Phantasm -- Acc(A), Acc(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(34)
Level 35: Tornado -- Dmg(A), Dmg(36), Dmg(36), EndRdx(37), RechRdx(37)
Level 38: Lightning Storm -- EndRdx(A), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(39), Dmg(39), Dmg(40), Dmg(40)
Level 41: Ice Blast -- Acc(A), EndRdx(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(43), RechRdx(43)
Level 44: Frost Breath -- Acc(A), EndRdx(45), Dmg(45), Dmg(45), Dmg(46), RechRdx(46)
Level 47: Ice Storm -- EndRdx(A), Dmg(48), Dmg(48), Dmg(48), RechRdx(50), RechRdx(50)
Level 49: Recall Friend -- EndRdx(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 2: Ninja Run

Scotty,

Your recent build is a lot better. The only real issues I see with it are:

1) Hasten is best with 3 recharge enhancers in it.

2) Hurricane should really have 3 or 4 slots (1 end, 3 hit debuff) ... at least it should if you are wanting to strongly debuff the enemies' chances of hitting you. Even with just 1 end reducer only, it still has the nice repel effect.

3) Group Invisibility is not particularly great. Its OK, just not great.

You might want to consider replacing Group Invisibility with Recall Friend (move recall friend from 49 to 12). Its handy at low levels. You won't need the invisibility at all really, since you'll have both Steamy Mist and Super Speed, which stack to give you full (basic) stealth. Allies won't be visible either (usually) as long as they aren't attacking and are in the steamy mist and are more than 5 feet away from enemies.

So you might want recall friend at 12 and Hibernate at 49. Hibernate is a great self-intangibility / heal / endurance recovery power.

Then you could move the 2 slots you save from Group Invisibility over to Hasten. That would solve issues #1 and #3 above.

As for #2, its hard to come up with 3 slots from your build to put on Hurricane, at least since you are using generics. It is still useful unslotted, just not as safe. Later, when you get Set IOs and can combine Sets to get effective numbers in your powers with less slots, you might be able to shave off a slot here and there and put them on Hurricane. My build didn't have both Flash and Thunder Clap so I had spare slots. I'm not saying to drop one of them. Its great that you have both. I'm just saying.

Oh, also, Flash doesn't really function well until you are level 22 or higher and have SO enhancements (or better) in it. So, don't judge it too harshly until you've really got it 5 or 6 slotted with SO grade (33%) enhancements in it. So, you could almost consider taking Recall Friend at 6, Steamy Mist at 10 (for full stealth sooner), Hurdle at 12, Flash at 24, and Hibernate at 49.

But basically, in the end, these little issues about a slot here and a power there are no big deal. Your build is solid enough overall that you can (and should) just jump in and start. Illusion/Storm is a fun combo, and as you play, you'll figure out for yourself which tweaks you want to make.

Have fun!

Lewis

Ok, I think with all the input, I've worked it down to this. (Thanks, everyone, btw)

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Mesocyclone: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Ancillary Pool: Ice Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Acc(A), EndRdx(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(9), RechRdx(13)
Level 1: Gale -- Acc(A)
Level 2: Blind -- Acc(A), EndRdx(3), Dmg(5), Dmg(7), Dmg(9), RechRdx(13)
Level 4: Deceive -- Acc(A), EndRdx(15), Conf(15), Conf(37), RechRdx(40), RechRdx(43)
Level 6: Recall Friend -- EndRdx(A)
Level 8: Hasten -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(31), RechRdx(31)
Level 10: Steamy Mist -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(11), ResDam(11), ResDam(46)
Level 12: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Run(A)
Level 16: Freezing Rain -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(17), RechRdx(17), EndRdx(25)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(19), RechRdx(19), Acc(21), Dmg(21), Dmg(25)
Level 20: Health -- Heal(A)
Level 22: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(23), EndMod(23)
Level 24: Flash -- Acc(A), EndRdx(27), RechRdx(27), RechRdx(34), RechRdx(34), Hold(37)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- Acc(A)
Level 28: Hurricane -- EndRdx(A), ToHitDeb(29), ToHitDeb(29), ToHitDeb(31)
Level 30: O2 Boost -- Heal(A), RechRdx(50)
Level 32: Phantasm -- Acc(A), Acc(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(33), Dmg(34)
Level 35: Tornado -- Dmg(A), Dmg(36), Dmg(36), EndRdx(36), RechRdx(37)
Level 38: Lightning Storm -- EndRdx(A), RechRdx(39), RechRdx(39), Dmg(39), Dmg(40), Dmg(40)
Level 41: Ice Blast -- Acc(A), EndRdx(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(42), Dmg(43), RechRdx(43)
Level 44: Frost Breath -- Acc(A), EndRdx(45), Dmg(45), Dmg(45), Dmg(46), RechRdx(46)
Level 47: Ice Storm -- EndRdx(A), Dmg(48), Dmg(48), Dmg(48), RechRdx(50), RechRdx(50)
Level 49: Hibernate -- RechRdx(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 2: Ninja Run

Looking good. I only have 1 minor nitpick. I tend to prefer Defense slotting in Steamy Mists to resistance, especially for this combo. Your Spectral Terror has -ToHit, which stacks with +Defense to make you and your team harder to hit. Combining the two, you'd get around +5 defense from Steamy and -30% ToHit (against a same level enemy) from things hit by Terror. That's actually around what a Controller with Force Fields brings to the table.. tho again only against same level enemies, if they are hit by the Terror.

Scotty,

Looks good. Only thing I'd do different is make Flash 2 acc, 2 rech, and 2 hold. Oh, and O2 boost might be better with an end reducer instead of the recharge. Otherwise looks great. As for resist vs defense in Steamy Mist ... either way is fine (I prefer resist, some prefer defense).

Lewis

Thanks again for the help, guys. Already level 10 and enjoying the build http://boards.cityofheroes.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Everyone's given you good advice. I have only a few things.

Get stamina at 20. You'll thank me when you run Positron. If it's at 22, you have no Stamina.

For many of your powers, especially pet powers, sets will be cheaper than the common IOs.

Procs in Freezing Rain. I forget which. I think the turtle one and Achillies heel. There's another an you can always put Lady Grey's in there. They will go off, but only once every 10 sec, so three times. Besides, Procs are fun.

As said, Hurricane is situational, but if you've ever had those horrible Shamen pulling that crap on you, you know it can be effective. Once, when my team was getting wiped, I stood in a narrow passage holding back around 17 Council, screaming, "Heal me!" and with heals and around 30 seconds of me being a barrier for our team, letting only a few through, we were able to take them on and not all die.

Lightning Storm is the most fun in dense crouds. I do some cheapy acc/rech in Terror as you can stack them. I think I can have three out at once. Silly, but it locks them down and ill/storm gets a bad rep for chaos w/o control. It deserves it, muah ha ha ha, but we can lock stuff down.

But, seriously, look into Pet Sets at least.

Oh, I intend to look into sets once I get to 50. Levelling first. Didn't want to go off spending a bunch of influence and have nothing at 50. Also, since I have yet to make it to 50 on any toon, a figured baby steps would be necessary first.

I liked your middle build better than the end one, but that's because I like using Hover for placing Lightning Storm directly above my foes. Turns the KB into knockdown, which I usually prefer, especially with your pets chasing knocked backed mobs into agro. Illusion/Storm does need Hasten though, so something would have to give. I ended up not taking Frost Breath or Ice Storm on my Ill/Storm because it is uncommon for her to have much in the way of containment, so they do a LOT less damage for an Illusion controller than for most other controller builds. Otherwise it is very like my build.

EDIT: Meant to put this on a different forum....Paying attention FTW