Spines, despite the DoT/Placate issue, seems to be quite popular anyways since it's got pretty much the best AoE and ranged attacks of any Stalker primary - which also lessens the use of Placate. I could be wrong, though. Not sure 'cos I've only played Spines on a Scrapper...
Ninjitsu is one of the most popular secondaries, though I don't think it would go well with Spines, at least not if you want to use Blinding Powder (AoE sleep) and Smoke Flash (AoE placate) [those, along with the self heal, being the main attraction of the set for me - well, and theme since it fits with Martial Arts]
Can't really give you any advice - I'm just starting to get into Stalkers myself (my highest currently being a L22 MA/Ninjitsu; had a 24 Energy/Dark way back, but that soured me on Stalkers for quite a while, for some reason).
You could try Elec/Nin, Lightning Rod (level 32) does not break Hide, follow it up with Thunderstrike (level 26). The only thing left alive is probably a boss, assassinate his ***.
If you plan on a solo only career, NRG/Nin is good. NRG is too slow for teaming, spawns w/o Elite Bosses or AV's are all dead before your heavy hitting attacks finish animating. On the bright side though, you feel like you have 3 assassinate level attacks.
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Well, what makes a character enjoyable is different for each player, so what I may find enjoyable you may find intolerable and vice versa. I personally dislike weapon sets - not for the redraw, but for neanderthal animations when moving. However, Broadsword and Katana offer a great deal of help to any secondary via Parry/Divine Avalanche.|
Originally Posted by RUN-DMZ
So I guess I'm canvassing for ideas/opinions as to what makes an enjoyable stalker and what the perception is about them on the servers as I get the impression there's a bit of a stigma surrounding them.
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As for Stalkers having a stigma... there are idiots on each server. If you have trouble getting on pre-existing teams you can form your own, or just solo. I don't have trouble getting on teams with my Stalkers, but apparently someone in the "AT General" section felt the need to start a thread about how nobody likes teaming with them on Freedom. From my experience, if you stay with the rest of the team and don't just stand there leeching, you can get on a team and be a welcome addition.
If you like the look of Spines and want to try it, then go ahead. On a defensive secondary like Ninjitsu even if the Placate is messed up they still have to hit you to break the hidden status, so you have a better shot at getting the critical anyway. I have a Spines/Nin at level 30 (and a Spines/WP at 50), and they do reasonably well.
Personally, I like Electric Melee for Stalkers over Spines - the energy/smashing mix is less resisted than Spines' nearly-all lethal with some toxic DoT, you get a better AoE burst due to Lightning Rod (as well as it not dropping you out of hidden status so you get a critical on the next attack as well), and you'll get better single-target DPS because it tends to animate faster.
If you want to just tear down single-targets quickly, then DM is a great choice. EM works great as well, but I'll echo the caution about slow animations on teams and how often you'll waste damage, and then there's Martial Arts - which looks good and works for theme but it otherwise outdone numerically by both of those sets (I have a level 41 MA/Regen, too... I made a lot of Stalkers).
But really, a "fun" character is often one that just has a hook that means you don't want to stop playing it - it doesn't have to be the best performer unless that's the only way you have fun.
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Originally Posted by PleaseRecycle
it has gone from unconscionable to downright appalling that we have no way of measuring our characters' wetness.
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Originally Posted by Brillig
It's hard to beat the entertainment value of Whackjob Wednesdays.
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I have found my DM/Nin very sturdy, and yet still stalkerie.
I tried to solo Hro'Dtohz at 47 and got him down to half health before he killed me with a double damage attack equaling more than my HP cap =(.
So it has enough damage to kill AV's on the cheap. (Critical Pine is still only level 48 an doesn't have all his slots and enhancements).
Your character does not have capped defense. Depending on your AT the cap is between 175% - 225%. Your defense is not teal in the combat window, it can go higher. STOP SAYING IT IS CAPPED! The correct term is Soft Cap.
I enjoy playing in Mids. I specialize in Melee Characters, other AT's usually bore me.
I just got an elec/elec stalker to lvl 32 and am loving the AoE damage from Lightning Rod and Thunderstrike. I feel like I'm really dealing a lot of damage and contributing to the team, a feeling that I didnt' get with my other attempts at stalkers. It's fun!
@Joshua.
Well, from personal Experiance, im learning that Stalkers are very useful on teams, no matter what there build is.
They are juiced up Scrappers on Crack!
you get a automatic 5-15% for all your attacks solo, but get a additional 3% crit chance for every team member you have in a team.
So in a 8 man team that Stalker get a Crit % of 26-36% (depending on Attack).
Id say they are already good on teams.
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Nah, this is pretty much my experience from my (now level 39) Spines/Regen. Placate's a bit less useful than on my Ninja/ stalker, but I also do tons versus most spawns (thanks to all the AoEs,) so it balances out. If I'm fighting a boss, it's usually very close to dead by the time AS recharges. If I'm not fighting a boss, the last guy in a spawn probably doesn't have a DoT on him anyway, so I can Placate->AS as usual.
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Originally Posted by JD_Gumby
Spines, despite the DoT/Placate issue, seems to be quite popular anyways since it's got pretty much the best AoE and ranged attacks of any Stalker primary - which also lessens the use of Placate. I could be wrong, though.
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Having Vengeance and Fallout slotted for recharge means never having to say you're sorry.
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It's 10% across the board. Does not vary by attack or enemy rank as it does for Scrappers.|
Originally Posted by Fire_Minded
you get a automatic 5-15% for all your attacks solo
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| but get a additional 3% crit chance for every team member you have in a team. |
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| So in a 8 man team that Stalker get a Crit % of 26-36% (depending on Attack). |
I'd guess the Stalker's actual average crit rate is in 20-25% range on a full team of eight over the course of a mission or series of missions. That's not bad, but it's not necessarily enough to exceed Scrapper damage given the lower base attack modifier and lesser Build Up buff.
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| Id say they are already good on teams. |
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I stand Corrected.
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Originally Posted by Zem
It's 10% across the board. Does not vary by attack or enemy rank as it does for Scrappers.
Not quite. It's every team member that is within 30 feet of the Stalker when the attack is made. 10-31% independent of attack. If you consider how many allies are within your 30 foot radius at any given time during a mission or TF, the average number is probably around half of your available teammates and even that may be optimistic. It's a difficult thing to measure or model since it is based on the behavior of up to seven other individuals. I'd guess the Stalker's actual average crit rate is in 20-25% range on a full team of eight over the course of a mission or series of missions. That's not bad, but it's not necessarily enough to exceed Scrapper damage given the lower base attack modifier and lesser Build Up buff. Good enough. I'd prefer a larger radius for the crit bonus and a 100% Build Up in PvE to more properly compete with Scrappers but... take what I can get I suppose. |
Hi all
New CoX player here looking for some advice.
I made up a Corruptor (DP/Traps) as a main as I've always tended to drop into the ranged/support/ambush role within other MMOs but something about the stalker...intrigues me. I saw some stats about them having a low retention rate as a class and I'm always a sucker for the underdog.
I'm definately looking at */Nin as I think it's the best suited secondary to my usual style of stealth play but I can't decide on a primary.
I like the look of spines but I've heard the DoT can screw up your placate power which makes it seem (on paper) a bit redundant. I think DM looks useful too (who doesn't love a bit life stealing here and there).
So I guess I'm canvassing for ideas/opinions as to what makes an enjoyable stalker and what the perception is about them on the servers as I get the impression there's a bit of a stigma surrounding them.
Oh, I should mention I'm more of a PvE than a PvP player but I'll go wherever the wind takes me.
Cheers In Advance.