Success! Where do I go from here?

I hadn't really played a tank in a long time, I've always loved Ice Armor though. So last week I got an idea in my head, how early can I cap an Ice Tank all the time, without relying on EA or on some crazy low level IO slotting? Some fiddling in Mids and my answer was 27, although it did include one non-standard IO, the Steadfast +def. Not necessarily the fastest answer, but it worked out on paper. Of course I am talking about S/L/E/N only.

So I did it! Rolled him, hit 27, saw that beautiful 45.07%, and filled with immense pleasure at accomplishing my goal. I'm feeling pretty damn tough, and CE gives me solid aggro control for now (although I plan to pick up Taunt at 30). That said, I have endurance for about 10 seconds at a time, with only 2 attacks (SP and Smite). Just hit 28 and picked up EA, so that'll help with end some.

So now I need to decide what to do with the rest of my build. I did throw something to 50 together in Mids, but it doesn't really have much direction. My general goal is to be as strong at tanking as possible, including survival and aggro control. Whatever damage-dealing I can squeeze in I would consider a bonus. Right now I got to the cap through brute force power selection lol, which is to say Weave, CJ, and Maneuvers. I'm certainly not married to it. My only requirement is capped S/L/E/N 24/7. I can't stand taking an alpha at less, god forbid being under cap in an av fight because he's the only thing EA is hitting.

So, suggestions? Regen, rech, resist? I'm not looking to spend an insane amount of money (although if the build is juicy enough, I can). Something in the 200m-1b range would be good. Either general advice or specific builds are welcome. Thanks in advance.

so this is ice/dm right?

Yep!

If you've got your build in Mids, let's see what you've got going on.

I'd like to see this build as well.

Here you go. I hit 31 last night but haven't trained yet.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.703
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Black Light 27: Level 31 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Ice Armor
Secondary Power Set: Dark Melee
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Frozen Armor -- DefBuff-I:30(A), DefBuff-I:30(3), DefBuff-I:30(3), EndRdx-I:30(11)
Level 1: Shadow Punch -- Acc-I:30(A), EndRdx-I:30(9), Dmg-I:30(9), Dmg-I:30(11)
Level 2: Chilling Embrace -- EndRdx-I:30(A)
Level 4: Hoarfrost -- RechRdx-I:30(A), RechRdx-I:30(5), RechRdx-I:30(5), Heal-I:30(7), Heal-I:30(7)
Level 6: Wet Ice -- EndRdx-I:30(A)
Level 8: Hurdle -- Jump-I:30(A)
Level 10: Boxing -- Acc-I:30(A)
Level 12: Smite -- Acc-I:30(A), Dmg-I:30(13), Dmg-I:30(13), Dmg-I:30(15), EndRdx-I:30(15)
Level 14: Tough -- EndRdx-I:30(A), ResDam-I:30(17), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:22(17)
Level 16: Health -- Heal-I:30(A)
Level 18: Glacial Armor -- DefBuff-I:30(A), DefBuff-I:30(19), DefBuff-I:30(19)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I:30(A), EndMod-I:30(21), EndMod-I:30(21)
Level 22: Weave -- DefBuff-I:30(A), DefBuff-I:30(23), DefBuff-I:30(23), EndRdx-I:30(25)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I:30(A), DefBuff-I:30(25), DefBuff-I:30(27)
Level 26: Maneuvers -- DefBuff-I:30(A), EndRdx-I:30(27)
Level 28: Energy Absorption -- RechRdx-I:30(A), RechRdx-I:30(29), RechRdx-I:30(29)
Level 30: Taunt -- Taunt-I:30(A)
Level 32: [Empty]
Level 35: [Empty]
Level 38: [Empty]
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 6: Ninja Run

Well... you could try to go for being soft-capped without Weave. If you're into having fewer toggles.

OR! You could use sets and bonuses to do 4 things:

Get ridiculous global recharge (Ice/ lends itself to a lot of LotG 7.5s)

Get decent +HP bonuses (3 Crushing Triples and Mako's Quad/Triple/Dmg-Rch will give you two HP bonuses and make your attack enhancement values godly)

Frankenslot EA to near ED-cap levels of recharge, defense, and end-mod (imagine having plenty of room on your defense to avoid cascading failure).

Maximize your attacks' and shields' enhancement levels for best possible values and bonuses (see previous +HP suggestion for example)

[edit] And once you do all that, see if you can solo an AV. (you may need a tray full of reds to help, since Soul Drain won't be perma)

I know this is kind of out of left field, but please someone start a campaign to have icicles changed to do cold damage - lethal is the most resisted and makes no sense when it comes to the power anyways. Take away the -slow if you must, if that's the reason for it.

This is a relatively cheap build, not too different from you slotting. Drop Maneuvers...

I have an Ice/Stone which is awesome, though rarely played now. Ice/Dark should be awesome as well.

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Mutation Tanker
Primary Power Set: Ice Armor
Secondary Power Set: Dark Melee
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Frozen Armor -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(3), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(3), RedFtn-Def(11), RedFtn-EndRdx(40)
Level 1: Shadow Punch -- S'ngH'mkr-Acc/Dmg(A), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx(5), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/Rchg(5), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(43), P'ngS'Fest-Stun%(43)
Level 2: Chilling Embrace -- Taunt-I(A)
Level 4: Hoarfrost -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Dct'dW-Heal(9), Dct'dW-Rchg(11)
Level 6: Wet Ice -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 8: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 10: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 12: Smite -- S'ngH'mkr-Acc/Dmg(A), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx(13), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/Rchg(13), S'ngH'mkr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(15), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/EndRdx(48)
Level 14: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(17), Aegis-ResDam(17), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 16: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(46), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(48), Heal-I(48), RgnTis-Regen+(50)
Level 18: Glacial Armor -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(19), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(19), RedFtn-Def(42), RedFtn-EndRdx(42)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(21), P'Shift-End%(46)
Level 22: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(23), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(23), RedFtn-Def(25), RedFtn-EndRdx(43)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(25)
Level 26: Energy Absorption -- P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(A), P'Shift-EndMod(27), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(27), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(29), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(37)
Level 28: Siphon Life -- Nictus-Heal(A), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg(31), Nictus-Acc/Heal(31), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(31), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Dmg-I(36)
Level 30: Taunt -- Zinger-Dam%(A)
Level 32: Shadow Maul -- Erad-Dmg(A), Erad-Acc/Rchg(33), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(33), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(34), Sciroc-Dam%(34)
Level 35: Soul Drain -- Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(A), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(37)
Level 38: Midnight Grasp -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 41: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(45), EndMod-I(45), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(46), Numna-Heal/Rchg(50), Numna-Heal(50)
Level 47: Hibernate -- Heal-I(A)
Level 49: Touch of Fear -- Acc-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 9% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 9% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 9% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 9% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 9% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 9% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 9% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 9% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 6.75% Defense(Smashing)
• 6.75% Defense(Lethal)
• 6.13% Defense(Fire)
• 6.13% Defense(Cold)
• 6.13% Defense(Energy)
• 6.13% Defense(Negative)
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
• 4.88% Defense(Melee)
• 4.56% Defense(Ranged)
• 4.56% Defense(AoE)
• 1.8% Max End
• 16% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 4% Enhancement(Heal)
• 15% FlySpeed
• 302.2 HP (16.1%) HitPoints
• 15% JumpHeight
• 15% JumpSpeed
• MezResist(Immobilize) 11%
• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
• MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
• 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
• 70% (5.48 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 5.04% Resistance(Fire)
• 5.04% Resistance(Cold)
• 20% RunSpeed

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1395;707;1414;HEX;|
|78DAA5934B4F135114C7EFD029A574DAD216DA52DE0885F21820BAF091688C6068A|
|0501559A975A8579850A7646624346EFC00AED4E8CAB8F71B183F818F44FD183ED6|
|3E917A1E17362E9DB4FFDFDC33E7FEEF9933F796F6E60D21EE9F139A71A166795E6|
|5CD72B6A5DB56BAEB5BBE5D7744480891E560655EDE968E27CD625556CEBB77EA6E|
|463D28C99A94E6BCE56EF36DA2E86C49573ABE79786394EBF59A79D1F61DE979513|
|5D8DCF26D67931F2D4B6B0706091A149D5DDBB337EC9AED37520B3B76D55C70A4BB|
|D9A8942CCF976E230B4515E0FF3A0CA2C15F3475D10E37C3A225C28812DA6384B13|
|8E11BA6D3D50C8A658121BDC45821B4AE122616017D626289F0166669BC88D0E628|
|E10D84026CA40796C8BBB544685B61ACF2F265C23B480F2A87E010AF047D0DA9506|
|89C421A84B8C0A608E728F41DC6115570840B36B860830B8E71C1312E78A6480880|
|5194BD03D18C86A18E592AA4E30461EA3821047971D5BDF83A85A6AF1266D61823E|
|43E77963CDE433109959EE06627B9D9496E76819B5DE066B7817B4A55917AD882A1|
|CE478C2784E9A7041DF2BA946D17DBA6D936CDB659B69D60DB34A467385DCBF4537|
|D59C607A8AF9B764333D8CD2BE578DDDC63426F921C7A53849104E117CCEA512DEE|
|490530D4DFC9E8626C90FB509570AC8FF0338C1DE16FD5E791FB0F080D28A3814F2|
|DF87CF033E30BE32B616897FDEE11F6C3F4E9E9ED87F7788906E30FD98E1C30F609|
|07903EAA1619BD497979AE2FCFF5E56F11C624C3263C871719E759DAF824850A8C1|
|7512126B99BC149FE1E53DCB3A9414A98BE445D9ABBC2E0EDF111AA30D5DB9BBC47|
|7E436856856679F3F6EA47A70D7E7089E57F22655D9D5F3C5B1429E84747FABFAE9|
|7C6E15AE1CBEDA06B28659475946B28D7516EA058281B285594E6ABA3D9F19358D0|
|2994D32867501E6052084F6604C54089A2C450E2281D282994344A0EE5194AF32F5|
|D12F3C1|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Ice Ember

Ok, I tried to move from the build you had (so respecing wouldn't be too difficult) and only dropped maneuvers. It's a lot of end drain for little benefit. Instead, you now run at the cap without EA, and if you use EA, you'll be around 58% in a full group, enough to cover any -def. AND! You'll be around 30% F/C defense as well with EA.

AND THEN! you'll be running at faster than perma-hasten (over 76%) without the penalty of a hasten crash. WOOT! Your Soul Drain will only have a 15 sec downtime, so that's a lot of damage bonus! Fireball fires off every 16 secs, along with Icicles that can be a fair amount of AoE damage with all the massive single target damage you'll be handing out.

And if ridiculous defense coupled with outrageous damage isn't enough to keep you alive, I've managed to work in 13% +HP. If you get your accolades, that can be 33%. Which will give you about 557 extra HP to soak up damage. That is, during the 15 secs Hoarfrost won't be up.

Enough talk though, here's the build -

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.703
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Black Light 27: Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Ice Armor
Secondary Power Set: Dark Melee
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Pyre Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Frozen Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(3), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(3), S'dpty-Def(11)
Level 1: Shadow Punch -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(11), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 2: Chilling Embrace -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 4: Hoarfrost -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Heal(7), Dct'dW-Rchg(7)
Level 6: Wet Ice -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 8: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 10: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(27), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(40), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 12: Smite -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(15), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(15), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 14: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(17), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(17)
Level 16: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 18: Glacial Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(19), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(19), S'dpty-Def(37)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(23), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(23), S'dpty-Def(25)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(25)
Level 26: Icicles -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), Erad-Acc/Rchg(31), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx(31), C'ngBlow-Acc/Dmg(31), C'ngBlow-Dmg/Rchg(42)
Level 28: Energy Absorption -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(29), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(29), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(42), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(43), P'Shift-EndMod(43)
Level 30: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(45), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(45), Mocking-Acc/Rchg(46), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(46), Mocking-Rchg(46)
Level 32: Siphon Life -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(33), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(34)
Level 35: Soul Drain -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(45)
Level 38: Midnight Grasp -- C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(40), F'dSmite-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 41: Char -- Empty(A)
Level 44: Melt Armor -- Empty(A)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), Posi-Dmg/Rng(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg(50)
Level 49: Touch of Fear -- Abys-Acc/Rchg(A), Abys-Acc/Fear/Rchg(50), Abys-Dam%(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 6: Ninja Run
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 3% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 3% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 3% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 3% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 3% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 3% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 3% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 3% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 9.25% Defense(Smashing)
• 9.25% Defense(Lethal)
• 6.13% Defense(Fire)
• 6.13% Defense(Cold)
• 7.38% Defense(Energy)
• 7.38% Defense(Negative)
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
• 6.13% Defense(Melee)
• 5.19% Defense(Ranged)
• 4.56% Defense(AoE)
• 3.6% Max End
• 76.3% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 2.75% Enhancement(Terrorized)
• 39% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 4% Enhancement(Heal)
• 5% FlySpeed
• 253 HP (13.5%) HitPoints
• 5% JumpHeight
• 5% JumpSpeed
• MezResist(Held) 2.75%
• MezResist(Immobilize) 14.9%
• MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
• MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
• 3.5% (0.06 End/sec) Recovery
• 22% (1.72 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 2.84% Resistance(Fire)
• 2.84% Resistance(Cold)
• 5% RunSpeed

Thanks for the responses! I had guessed that Maneuevers would end up getting dropped, which is fine with me. I did forget one thing which was part of my original plan: Arctic Mastery, Shiver specifically. One of the things I like most about Demons is how the Prince can really neuter a spawn with his combination of CE+Shiver, and I wanted to try and replicate that on a character I'm actually controlling, heh.

Ice Ember, your build looks pretty good although I'm surprised at the lack of Icicles. From my perspective, I spend so much time surrounded by 10+ mobs it seems like it would be really effective. Is Hibernate actually useful? It's probably been 3 or 4 years since I used the power.

Rylas, your build is nice too, with Icicles instead of SM and Pyre instead of Energy. On the other hand, I have been itching to get SM, even though I traditionally hate it. On this character it seems like it would hit 2-3 enemies easily and often. With neither DC nor Energy Mastery, do you think I'd be okay on end?

Overall it doesn't seem like any final build is going to extremely focused on a particular type of bonus. I had the feeling just messing around with builds that there wasn't really going to be anything gonzo. I was looking to take Super Jump at some point, probably 49. Seems like the big decisions I have to make are:

SM, MG, or both?
An additional end power besides EA/Stamina?
What to do at 47(assuming I go with Block of Ice/Shiver)?