Seriously fix EM (and TA)

As stated already, EM, as a whole, sucks unless you've got one big bad about to tear you a new one and they need to go down or be mezzed quickly. I used to have an Energy/Inv Brute, who I did delete after the ET change.. I spend alot of time looking at numbers, and I knew it was a tough hit so I decided not to go through with it.

I've got a few ideas on what could be done with EM.. As usual, the animations *could* be cut down, with Energy Transfer's animation regained and/or Total Focus sped up, but then a real form of good group mitigation is still missing.. Well, that got me thinking.

With Energy Transfer and Total Focus, when you hit the enemy there is a large burst of energy to give it more oomph. How about adding a low mag AoE stun to one of the two powers, or to both? Like Thunderstrike has the knockdown and damage element, Energy Transfer could maybe let loose a Mag 2 stun for several seconds?

Another idea is turning Barrage into a very short range cone.. I don't know, to me the animation and name suggests it could be used to hit several enemies, like Shadow Maul.

I'll throw in my two cents about energy melee.

Pre-nerf it may have been unbalanced in a game where PVP couldn't be tailored to work differently, it also may have been unbalanced (pre-nerf) in a solo game where mob adjustment wasn't available.

The problem is that post-nerf in today’s game with PVP only adjustments and mob size adjustment it lacks far behind most sets.

Is it honestly that beneficial to be able to consistently stun one or two mobs when facing settings set for 4-8? Is single target damage that beneficial when on teams or facing anything other than x1 difficulty? Is great single target damage worth it when it damages you for a significant amount of damage?

My answer and experience says no. EM does lack behinf other sets, and even if it were retroactively buffed to its pre-nerf state wouldn’t over perform in today’s game. Of course this is my opinion, but you will not see me rolling another EM unless some serious set changes occur.

I looked into Whirling Hands a bit this morning and if I were to change it I doubt the change would rock peoples world. Better chance to stun, longer duration of stun and slightly lower rechg to get more AoE Dam + Stun/time out of it and that'll be it.

I'm still trying to figure out what's the string of attacks one uses to obtain that DPS with Energy Melee.

I've yet to figure it out. I keep hoping that MAYBE if I can figure it out Energy Melee might not feel that bad, but as is, I hate playing Energy Melee now. :/ It feels way to slow now.

Btw, EM has the best, next to Fire, ST DPS with SOs. It's mitigation is also extremely effective against a single foe. Where EM's stuns really shine is when you pair the Set with a synergistic primary or secondary like Dark Armor. I found my DA/EM tank very handy at making tough spawns into kittens. True, my damage was low for AoE and my use of ET or TF was saved for Bosses, EBS or AVs but that never mattered since I used him for teaming, and damage was brought by the damage dealers.

I love EM threads. You can saying anything in support of EM and watch the anti-EMers swarm like flies on ****.

Weeee, around the carousel some more!

..EM is fine..only those with weak toons moan about it..it does the job thee end..

Tho TA does need a buffing. As a TA'er both corr and once defender..it doesnt perform as well as it can do compare to others

Energy Melee is currently an underperforming set and this is undenible. Its single target damage was reduced with the nerf while its pathetic AOE capabilties were neglected. Other than concept I can see no logical reason to pick EM. Super Strength , Fire Melee and Stone Melee seem to be very close with EM on single target damage yet these have much better AOE damage and in the case of Stone and SS they have better mitigation as well.

Solution 1:

Buff Whilring Hands by increasing its radius and chance to stun. Have the Stun duration last only a couple of seconds at most. This would make WH more like Foot Stomp to where it can reduce incoming damage except it would do it through Stun rather than KB. If the devs are feeling generous they can slightly improve its damage as well.

Solution 2:

Make Total Focus an AOE like Thunderstrike.

Solution 3:

Make Energy Transfer a PBAOE

A forth solution would be to simply lift the nerf and retore ET to its former strength but I feel it more benefical to the overall game based around team play for Energy Melee to get better AOE capabilities.

I do not play TA so I should not give a comment.

Althought I doubt Energy Transfer will ever be changed again in damage or animation (unless possible alternative animation), how about adding a 15 feet PBAoE knockdown (70% chance) along with the single damage and chance of stun to one single foe? This way, it remains fairly high powered against one foe, and it can now knockdown enemies around you (look at the animation and sound effect for it, it would probably fit).

I just read a quote by castle and ghost falcon regarding powerset balance where their response was "is it fun." It came from the late april Q&A I am pretty sure. This solidifies the sets (EM) imbalance -by their own terms- to me...