I've got a plant/ff/ice that I softcapped to ranged with high AoE defense. (Before the BotZ change, it was capped to both positions.) I eventually found myself building for recovery bonuses because running Dispersion Bubble, Combat Jumping, and Weave really burns through endurance. With good AoE damage, the ability to keep enemies at range, and good positional defense it soloes pretty well.
I have no real plans to play this, but I was looking at slotting for a Plant/FF Controller and found that it would be pretty easy to soft cap to Ranged, Smash, and Lethal while retaining decent Recharge (+66% in this case). This isn't a perfect build, but it may give someone an idea as a starter.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Plant Control
Secondary Power Set: Force Field
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Stone Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strangler -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Personal Force Field -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 2: Roots -- Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(7), Posi-Dmg/Rng(9), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), Posi-Dam%(11), TotHntr-Dam%(11)
Level 4: Entangle -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(13), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(13), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(19), RechRdx-I(19)
Level 8: Deflection Shield -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(23)
Level 10: Seeds of Confusion -- CoPers-Conf(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(17), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(23), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(27), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(27), CoPers-Conf%(29)
Level 12: Insulation Shield -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(29)
Level 14: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A)
Level 18: Vines -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(31), Lock-Rchg/Hold(31), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(31), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(33), Lock-%Hold(33)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(21), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Dispersion Bubble -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(25), LkGmblr-Def(37), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(37), Ksmt-ToHit+(37)
Level 24: Maneuvers -- HO:Enzym(A), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(25)
Level 26: Carrion Creepers -- Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(33), Posi-Dmg/Rng(34), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), Posi-Dam%(40)
Level 28: Super Speed -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(40), Zephyr-ResKB(40)
Level 30: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 32: Fly Trap -- SvgnRt-Acc/Dmg(A), SvgnRt-Dmg/EndRdx(34), SvgnRt-Acc/EndRdx(34), SvgnRt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), SvgnRt-Acc(43), SvgnRt-PetResDam(43)
Level 35: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), RctvArm-ResDam(36), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(36), RctvArm-EndRdx(43)
Level 38: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(39)
Level 41: Fissure -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), Posi-Dam%(42), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 44: Seismic Smash -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(45), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(45), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), HO:Endo(46), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Earth's Embrace -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(48), Numna-Heal/Rchg(48), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(48), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(50), Numna-Heal(50)
Level 49: Rock Armor -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def(50)
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 4: Ninja Run
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Set Bonus Totals: