If you're going solo, you can pretty easily skip the ally buff shields. I definitely wouldn't skip either Dispersion Bubble or Repulsion Bomb. You probably want Personal Force Field for those situations in which you need to escape and Force Bolt for another "attack", though you might not want to because it would cause redraw (and DP's redraw is the longest in the game, iirc). For DP, I would take pretty much everything except for Suppressive Fire, unless you really want a variable stun/hold. You probably want to take the Fitness pool asap and the Fighting pool soon after.
For a team build, you'll definitely want the ally shields, Dispersion Bubble, and Repulsion Bomb. I wouldn't take Force Bolt on a team build since you don't really need the extra "attack". I would take the same DP powers for much the same reason. Fitness is definitely a must since you're going to be running more toggles likely, especially since I would recommend getting the Leadership pool for Maneuvers and Tactics (Maneuvers + Dispersion + ST bubbles can softcap your entire team with decent enhancement).
I wouldn't recommend taking Detention Field, Repulsion Field, or Force Bubble on either build, though your mileage and preference may vary.
Oh thanks 
Really taught me alot!
Some players find use for detention field on solo builds, it puts a tough target on hold while you clean up the rest of the spawn. Force bubble is in no way worthless, but if you team with scrappers it frustrates keeping them in dispersion bubble while the force bubble pushes their target away. Now, on a blaster/defender/controller team it can be godly since it denies almost all melee attacks from foes.
It is very useful to have the second build option after level 10 to maximize your success.
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
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That's part of why I said that you mileage and preference may vary. Personally, I couldn't stand those either of the powers you recommend on my FF/Sonic Fender, even when soloing, but I can't stand the use of those powers in general. Force Bubble used to be a great power though it became largely useless when all enemies were given ranged attacks way back when. Even with the lower average damage of NPC ranged attacks (roughly 80% of melee attacks), Force Bubble isn't an especially endurance efficient manner of excluding melee and has the side effect of pissing off additional groups as well (cuz Force Bubble is both big and indiscriminate). You could just as easily go with the Flight pool and accomplish the same thing (just fly out of melee reach) for less endurance and lower risk.
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Originally Posted by Psylenz
Some players find use for detention field on solo builds, it puts a tough target on hold while you clean up the rest of the spawn. Force bubble is in no way worthless, but if you team with scrappers it frustrates keeping them in dispersion bubble while the force bubble pushes their target away. Now, on a blaster/defender/controller team it can be godly since it denies almost all melee attacks from foes.
It is very useful to have the second build option after level 10 to maximize your success. |
For a solo-oriented build you can take Tough (which holds the Steadfast IO) and Weave, Manouvers and Combat Jumping or CJ. Slot them to stack defence with Dispersion Bubble. Thats around 32% Defence to everything, including Psi attacks, right there, and achievable by the late 20s.
Add in a few IO sets and you're the toughest "squishy" on the block. You'll never be the fastest solo-er, but you will be survivable.
You can do this without skipping the ally shields to create a more team-oriented build.
The guide in my sig has some more details.
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First things first: Strongly consider using dual builds. One solo build, one team build.|
Originally Posted by Mayhem
I plan on trying to solo with this toon. I dont know what powers are skipable and which to keep in a solo and team build.
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Solo specialty build (versus the "usual" FF build): No single target buffs. Less focus on AoE powers (damage, debuff, and control). More focus on self protection toggles (Tough & Weave, APP armor).
Team specialty build (versus the "usual" FF build): Less focus on single target damage. More focus on AoE powers (damage, debuff, and control). Maybe pick up Leadership pool and Vengeance.
You should consider the benefits of Repulsion Field. I swear by it on my solo builds. It's just too useful to have enemies on their back more than half the time without you having to do ANYTHING but turn on a toggle. Example.
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I'm on my first Shields toon ever and I wanted to take it just so I can someday go back to Atlas and pop gray-cons unto the horizon. Then I found out how useful it is solo, so I would second these suggestions.
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Originally Posted by Westley
You should consider the benefits of Repulsion Field. I swear by it on my solo builds. It's just too useful to have enemies on their back more than half the time without you having to do ANYTHING but turn on a toggle. Example.
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I tend to like Force Bolt- personal thing, undoubtedly, and not Westley being The Adversary Of Good And Decent Force Fielding- but not the AOE back-off toggles. I like being able to select exactly how many people I want to aggro. And there really aren't a lot of people I want to knock back and irritate- Sappers, Tsoo Sorcs... individuals, really.
Sig has a miniguide somewhere in that link.
Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.
So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.
Two benefits of Repulsion Field over Force Bolt: 1, you can do something else (like blasting) WHILE it's deflecting enemies and 2, it's autohit. That means that anything without knockback resistance WILL be knocked away, no to-hit check.
Also, you have to be right in the middle of a mob to "get aggro that you don't want" with repulsion field. It's acting radius is extremely small.
I respect out of repulsion field in favor of force bubble. It was very simple to softcap range and forcebubble keeps things at range and pressed together to maximize my cones and aoe's while occasionally dropping the bubble to dive in with a hail of bullets. I've found soloing at x8 /+0,+1 to be the most efficient and fun way to solo my FF/DP/Dark and the repulsion field just chewed my end up way too fast to make it worthwhile. Against smaller higher level spawns it would probably be much more effective.
On teams there is just something so satisfying about pushing spawns into the tank rather than...........waiting.
I have a new toon that is FF/DP and is very fun so far. I plan on trying to solo with this toon. I dont know what powers are skipable and which to keep in a solo and team build. Anyone can give me some pointers?