Are we talking Peacebringer or Warshade?
Warshade: Sure. You play a bit like a Blaster with some self-defense. You're a bit slower than a Peacebringer early on (mainly thanks to a lack of Radiant Strike), but you'll very quickly come into your own after Gravimetric Snare.
Peacebringer: Sure. You're more Scrapper-ish, and you have to play a bit more conservatively, since your major damage is coming from your melee attacks. Radiant Strike and Incandescent Strike are both good for keeping tough mobs locked down, while Pulsar is useful for lowering incoming minion damage, since you can only heal so fast.
I just now figured how to play my PB as a human. It was extremely cumbersome trying to put the right slots in the right place and have fun with all of it. I figured I was spreading myself thin. He is 40 now and I respecced both builds. One is human, with most of the stuff I want maxxed and the other is a dual-form(nova and Dwarf) and I had to give up all human goodness for them to be where I want.
Making all human from the ground up did not seem nearly as fun as I thought it would be. It's viable, but if I wanted viable I would not have tried a PB after my warshade. I wanted more awesome...and like I said, at 40, I am just now feeling that. This is all my opinion, of course, and others probably say it's just fine. I just don't like being average for too long when I don't have to. The only way he was playable until then was to maximize on the two forms and break to human only for buildup, hasten, conserve energy and such.
PB has a bit of trouble until you get Reform Essence, Incandescent Strike and Pulsar. Pulsar keeps minions (and sometimes Lieutenants) corralled, Incandescent Strike is your beefiest attack and a mainstay of your attack chain, and Reform Essence will keep you standing and breathing.
Leveling as a human form kheld is definitely viable, from level 1 onward.
For both a human-only PB and a human-only shade I'd recommend getting stamina at level 20. Even though stygian circle is all manner of win for any shade, stamina helps a lot when fighting single hard targets, in the absence of any nearby defeated mobs to use as an instant refill.
On a related point, your "burn rate" for endurance can easily exceed your human-only kheld's innate recovery rate, while in human form. This is especially true because a key effectiveness-related reason you might want to play a human-only shade is to get more value from toggles such as those in a shade's secondary powerset and in the leadership pool; having stamina makes using such toggles much easier to manage. Just as shades can, PBs can also go through endurance like water, especially when making heavy use of their AOEs.
My experience is similar to Live Wyre's. I have a human form Peacebringer at 40, and it's not looking great. Even worse, my best complete builds in Mids aren't looking much better. I'm having to slot for Endurance really heavily (impervium armours) and the attacks are still gonna drain my bar dry in short order. Conserve power seems like a must.
I will say that photon seekers and dawn strike have helped survivability (from the knockback) and damage considerably, but the big radial knockback is a problem on teams. Maybe I should be starting to rely on my (lame damage) ranged attacks instead? I dunno.
Would folk recommend pulsar even in a 50 Human only build btw?
Any help appreciated.
Cheers!
OMG! How like, totally kewl are these characters?!1
I find that pulsar was good when I picked it. I also found that when I need it on teams for survivability, there was usually a tank or I was the semi-tank in dwarf, so I dropped it. It is good for minions and such but there are no other powers in PBs to stack with it like the warshade has for stun so it was extremely situational.
I actually have a human form PB which I played that way all the way to 50. I will say, it was both fun and rather difficult. If you're one of those that absolutely -has- to squeeze every last ounce of defense out of things, then it's not gonna make you happy. At all.
Kailee has been a blast, though, and remains as such (for me) to play. If I had to pick some way to describe her, I'd have to say she's roughly a weaker version of a scrapper. With human form only, the one major problem is lack of mez protect/resist. But I learned early on to carry some extra break frees. And when I run out, to make three of something else into one.
All in all, it seriously depends on your personal preferences.
Quote:
I have no idea what you're talking about, my human PB has very little trouble with endurance and usually ends up dispensing blues to his teammates, to keep them going, while he powers forward. Currently resting at level 32 while some IO bids come through, but perfectly viable on SOs.|
Originally Posted by ShoeTattoo
On a related point, your "burn rate" for endurance can easily exceed your human-only kheld's innate recovery rate, while in human form. This is especially true because a key effectiveness-related reason you might want to play a human-only shade is to get more value from toggles such as those in a shade's secondary powerset and in the leadership pool; having stamina makes using such toggles much easier to manage. Just as shades can, PBs can also go through endurance like water, especially when making heavy use of their AOEs.
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Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.704
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Starlight Saint: Level 50 Natural Peacebringer
Primary Power Set: Luminous Blast
Secondary Power Set: Luminous Aura
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Gleaming Bolt -- Acc(A), Acc(3), EndRdx(5), Dmg(21), Dmg(40)
Level 1: Incandescence -- ResDam(A)
Level 2: Glinting Eye -- Acc(A), Acc(3), EndRdx(9), Dmg(21), Dmg(40)
Level 4: Gleaming Blast -- Acc(A), Acc(5), EndRdx(11), Dmg(23), Dmg(40)
Level 6: Shining Shield -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(7), ResDam(7), ResDam(13)
Level 8: Radiant Strike -- Acc(A), Acc(9), EndRdx(13), Dmg(34), Dmg(43)
Level 10: Essence Boost -- RechRdx(A), Heal(11), RechRdx(29), Heal(34)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff(A)
Level 14: Proton Scatter -- Acc(A), Acc(15), EndRdx(15), Dmg(34), Dmg(43)
Level 16: Luminous Detonation -- Acc(A), Acc(17), EndRdx(17), Dmg(37), Dmg(45)
Level 18: Incandescent Strike -- Acc(A), Acc(19), EndRdx(19), Dmg(23), Dmg(45)
Level 20: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 22: Health -- Heal(A), Heal(37), Heal(43), Empty(50)
Level 24: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(25), EndMod(25), Empty(50)
Level 26: Reform Essence -- RechRdx(A), Heal(27), RechRdx(27), Heal(37)
Level 28: Glowing Touch -- RechRdx(A), Heal(29)
Level 30: Solar Flare -- Acc(A), Acc(31), EndRdx(31), Dmg(31), Dmg(46)
Level 32: Quantum Shield -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(33), ResDam(33), ResDam(33)
Level 35: Photon Seekers -- Acc(A), Acc(36), EndRdx(36), Dmg(36), Dmg(46)
Level 38: Dawn Strike -- Acc(A), Acc(39), EndRdx(39), Dmg(39), Dmg(46)
Level 41: Light Form -- RechRdx(A), ResDam(42), RechRdx(42), ResDam(42)
Level 44: Build Up -- RechRdx(A), ToHit(45), RechRdx(48), ToHit(48)
Level 47: Conserve Energy -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(48)
Level 49: Thermal Shield -- ResDam(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx(A)
Level 1: Cosmic Balance
Level 1: Energy Flight -- Flight(A), Flight(50)
Level 10: Combat Flight -- Flight(A)
------------
Code:
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Fireheart
Yes. I have a Human-only Warsahade I play here and there. I really like the forms but while leveling, slots are so tight I just cannot effectively slot for tri-form and be effective. In this day of steamrolling content, even while leveling up on PuG's, by the time I get rolling, the spawns wiped out. Since the change to toggles not dropping, some of the human shields are more attractive and I'm nearly high enough for Eclipse so survivability really shouldn't be an issue anymore. Just blast-troll in Human and let the poof balls supplement the damage. Works for me, anyway.
PS: Can't say for PB's. Highest I've gotten one is about 18ish and I just couldn't stand the sounds and bright lights. It seemed more like a Energy/Energy Blaster with special effects and some added survivability at the cost of damage.
I love my Human-only PB, currently level 40. Low levels kind of sucked due to high end costs and low damage, but it eventually smooths itself all out. I've gone from being feeble to rushing in and smacking everything without much fear. I don't even worry about going toe to toe against non-boss Quants and Voids. I play her like a Blapper, using both melee and ranged attacks. I typically jump into a group, hit Pulsar and Solar Flare, and then take out my opponent single-target style.
When I hit 50, my power selection will look more or less like this. I didn't do enhancements because 1) I'd need to log in and 2) I gotta go in about 3 minutes. I may have messed up the order I picked my pre-30s powers, so don't take that as literal truth for what I did.
+----------------------------------------------------------------
+ Built with SuckerPunch's Online Planner v5.0
+ http://planner.cohtitan.com/planner
+----------------------------------------------------------------
Archetype: Peacebringer
Primary: Luminous Blast
Secondary: Luminous Aura
+----------------------------------------------------------------
01: Incandescence => Empty(1)
01: Gleaming Bolt => Empty(1)
02: Gleaming Blast => Empty(2)
04: Shining Shield => Empty(4)
06: Radiant Strike => Empty(6)
08: Essence Boost => Empty(8)
10: Thermal Shield => Empty(10)
12: Swift => Empty(12)
14: Health => Empty(14)
16: Quantum Shield => Empty(16)
18: Incandescent Strike => Empty(18)
20: Stamina => Empty(20)
22: Reform Essence => Empty(22)
24: Build Up => Empty(24)
26: Solar Flare => Empty(26)
28: Pulsar => Empty(28)
30: Quantum Flight => Empty(30)
32: Photon Seekers => Empty(32)
35: Dawn Strike => Empty(35)
38: Light Form => Empty(38)
41: Restore Essence => Empty(41)
44: Conserve Energy => Empty(44)
47: Glowing Touch => Empty(47)
49: Group Energy Flight => Empty(49)
+----------------------------------------------------------------
+ Inherent Powers
+----------------------------------------------------------------
01: Brawl => Empty(1)
01: Sprint => Empty(1)
02: Rest => Empty(2)
01: Energy Flight => Empty(1)
10: Combat Flight => Empty(10)
Would leveling as a Tri-Form first then switching to Human Form at 50 be the smartest idea for a first time Kheld?
Quote:
That is often suggested.|
Originally Posted by GRUDG
Would leveling as a Tri-Form first then switching to Human Form at 50 be the smartest idea for a first time Kheld?
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I have several PBs and a Warshade, besides the human-form PB above, but none of them are out of their teens, yet, so I can't really say if it easier, or not. I think it depends on your playstyle and your play-situation (whether you solo a lot, or can always find teams). Best suggestion is 'try everything' and see what works for you. Kheldians are Flexible and no two are quite the same.
Be Well!
Fireheart
Quote:
That is what I suggest most of the time to first-timers... It gives you a broader sense of the capabilities of a Kheldian, and *most* people I've talked to in game about the subject have said (and I tend to agree) that leveling up as human only--especially from lvl 1-30--is significantly more challenging.|
Originally Posted by GRUDG
Would leveling as a Tri-Form first then switching to Human Form at 50 be the smartest idea for a first time Kheld?
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"Alien"
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades
The way you play changes your IO slotting..
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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!)
Quote:
That mostly depends on your patience level vis a vis leveling. Human only gives you less raw power and weaker defenses at least until the late 20s, and more likely the mid or late 30s. |
Originally Posted by GRUDG
Would leveling as a Tri-Form first then switching to Human Form at 50 be the smartest idea for a first time Kheld?
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Most will say "Go for the more powerful / flexible build first." There's a lot of sense in that, especially if you like leveling quickly because then you're much less likely to get frustrated with your rate of progress. There's another perspective, which is that if you challenge yourself to learn how to manage with less, you'll become a better player faster, or something along those lines. I don't find going human only too slow while leveling. But, many do, and so its hard for anybody else to say what's best for you.
If you have some influence to spare, then you try human only on one build and, if you get bored or you get frustrated by the pace at which you level (or your level of contribution on teams), then you can use your second build to go tri-form.
For most, it would be faster and easier. However, if you intend to play pure-human, leveling as pure-human would let you learn to play one better rather than respecing/second building one at 50 and then dropping yourself into the cockpit. Tri-form and human-only are drastically different stylistically.
You should probably at least pick up Dwarf Form in there somewhere if for nothing more than the heal. It's great in a heated fight.
Playing humanform warshade felt very natural even at low level. You're a blaster, except with defensive toggles instead of melee attacks.
I don't necessarily think you need to take dwarf form, but it is nice to have around as a way of breaking mez, and it gives you free access to a quick heal and another, quickly recharging sunless mire.
Something you could do if you have a bunch of veteren respecs is play squiddy as a hoverblaster until level 14 or so. It's nice to be able to fly and have a functional attack chain at level six.
@Dysc, on virtue:
Virtue blues: Overnight (DP/MM), Kid Ridiculous (FC/rad), Panorama (Ill/time)
Virtue reds: Block Party (SS/SD), Goldcrush (earth/fire), Deadwire (claws/elec), Snowcrush (ice/kin)
Is it viable?