City of Heroes: Live Forum Archive

FF/energy build help

Adeon Hawkwood

By Adeon Hawkwood,
Posted on: 2010-07-18 22:40 in Defenders

 

Posted

I rolled a FF/energy defender that I intend to be completely support. I've never IOed a toon, though, so I need a lot of help with slotting. I basically have no idea what I'm doing and just picked sets in Mids that looked useful.

I do like the hefty recharge bonus I get from all the sets, since I'm not taking hasten, but if there are better sets for certain powers than please let me know. :)

- Stamina is one of the biggest issues, none of the sets really seem to fit
- I purposefully didn't slot for knockback in Repulsion Bomb, because I want to capitalize on the knockdown
- Detention Field and Maneuvers: ?????

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

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FF Defender 1: Level 50 Mutation Defender
Primary Power Set: Force Field
Secondary Power Set: Energy Blast
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Psychic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Deflection Shield

  • (A) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  • (3) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  • (3) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  • (5) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 1: Power Bolt
  • (A) Accuracy IO: Level 50
  • (29) Accuracy IO: Level 50
  • (29) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 2: Power Blast
  • (A) Kinetic Crash - Damage/Knockback: Level 50
  • (23) Kinetic Crash - Accuracy/Knockback: Level 50
  • (25) Kinetic Crash - Recharge/Knockback: Level 50
  • (25) Kinetic Crash - Recharge/Endurance: Level 50
  • (27) Kinetic Crash - Damage/Endurance/Knockback: Level 50
  • (27) Kinetic Crash - Accuracy/Damage/Knockback: Level 50
Level 4: Force Bolt
  • (A) Kinetic Crash - Accuracy/Knockback: Level 50
  • (5) Kinetic Crash - Recharge/Knockback: Level 50
  • (9) Kinetic Crash - Recharge/Endurance: Level 50
  • (21) Kinetic Crash - Accuracy/Damage/Knockback: Level 50
Level 6: Insulation Shield
  • (A) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  • (7) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  • (7) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  • (9) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 8: Aid Other
  • (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance: Level 50
  • (31) Doctored Wounds - Heal: Level 50
  • (31) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge: Level 50
  • (31) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  • (33) Doctored Wounds - Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
Level 10: Power Burst
  • (A) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage: Level 40
  • (11) Decimation - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 40
  • (11) Decimation - Damage/Endurance: Level 40
  • (13) Decimation - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 40
  • (13) Decimation - Chance of Build Up: Level 40
  • (46) Damage Increase IO: Level 50
Level 12: Hover
  • (A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
  • (21) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
  • (23) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 14: Fly
  • (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range: Level 50
  • (15) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance: Level 50
  • (15) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
  • (19) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 16: Dispersion Bubble
  • (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance: Level 50
  • (17) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  • (17) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed: Level 50
  • (19) Luck of the Gambler - Defense: Level 50
Level 18: Personal Force Field
  • (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance: Level 50
  • (33) Red Fortune - Defense: Level 50
  • (33) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge: Level 50
  • (46) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  • (48) Red Fortune - Endurance: Level 50
Level 20: Swift
  • (A) Flight Speed IO: Level 50
Level 22: Health
  • (A) Healing IO: Level 50
Level 24: Stamina
  • (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod: Level 50
  • (36) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Endurance: Level 50
  • (37) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge: Level 50
Level 26: Repulsion Bomb
  • (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  • (34) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range: Level 50
  • (34) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance: Level 50
  • (34) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage: Level 50
  • (36) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
Level 28: Repulsion Field
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (43) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (43) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 30: Detention Field
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (40) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (40) Accuracy IO: Level 50
  • (42) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 32: Maneuvers
  • (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (37) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
  • (37) Defense Buff IO: Level 50
Level 35: Tactics
  • (A) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (36) To Hit Buff IO: Level 50
Level 38: Nova
  • (A) Obliteration - Damage: Level 50
  • (39) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50
  • (39) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge: Level 50
  • (39) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge: Level 50
  • (40) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge: Level 50
Level 41: Aid Self
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (42) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (42) Healing IO: Level 50
  • (43) Healing IO: Level 50
  • (46) Healing IO: Level 50
Level 44: Dominate
  • (A) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Hold: Level 30
  • (45) Basilisk's Gaze - Endurance/Recharge/Hold: Level 30
  • (45) Basilisk's Gaze - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold: Level 30
  • (45) Basilisk's Gaze - Recharge/Hold: Level 30
Level 47: Mind Over Body
  • (A) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
  • (48) Resist Damage IO: Level 50
  • (48) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
Level 49: Mass Hypnosis
  • (A) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (50) Recharge Reduction IO: Level 50
  • (50) Accuracy IO: Level 50
  • (50) Endurance Reduction IO: Level 50
------------
Level 1: Brawl
  • (A) Empty
Level 1: Sprint
  • (A) Empty
Level 2: Rest
  • (A) Empty
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 4: Ninja Run
------------
Set Bonus Totals:
  • 5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
  • 5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
  • 5% DamageBuff(Fire)
  • 5% DamageBuff(Cold)
  • 5% DamageBuff(Energy)
  • 5% DamageBuff(Negative)
  • 5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
  • 5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
  • 4.06% Defense(Energy)
  • 4.06% Defense(Negative)
  • 4.38% Defense(Ranged)
  • 2.25% Max End
  • 27% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 50% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
  • 4% Enhancement(Heal)
  • 34.3 HP (3.38%) HitPoints
  • Knockback (Mag -6)
  • Knockup (Mag -6)
  • MezResist(Immobilize) 4.95%
  • MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
  • MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
  • 6% (0.1 End/sec) Recovery
  • 16% (0.68 HP/sec) Regeneration
  • 5% Resistance(Smashing)
  • 4.1% Resistance(Fire)
  • 4.1% Resistance(Cold)
  • 6% RunSpeed

------------
Set Bonuses:
Kinetic Crash
(Power Blast)
  • 3% RunSpeed
  • 2.5% Resistance(Smashing)
  • Knockback Protection (Mag -3)
  • 6% (0.25 HP/sec) Regeneration
  • 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Kinetic Crash
(Force Bolt)
  • 3% RunSpeed
  • 2.5% Resistance(Smashing)
  • Knockback Protection (Mag -3)
Doctored Wounds
(Aid Other)
  • MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
  • 1.26% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  • 4% Enhancement(Heal)
  • 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Decimation
(Power Burst)
  • MezResist(Immobilize) 2.75%
  • 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  • 2.25% Max End
  • 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Blessing of the Zephyr
(Fly)
  • 3.13% Defense(Ranged), 1.56% Defense(Energy), 1.56% Defense(Negative)
Luck of the Gambler
(Dispersion Bubble)
  • 10% (0.42 HP/sec) Regeneration
  • 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  • 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Red Fortune
(Personal Force Field)
  • MezResist(Immobilize) 2.2%
  • 1.26% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  • 2% DamageBuff(All)
  • 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Efficacy Adaptor
(Stamina)
  • 11.4 HP (1.13%) HitPoints
  • 1.5% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
Positron's Blast
(Repulsion Bomb)
  • 2.5% (0.04 End/sec) Recovery
  • 1.58% Resistance(Fire,Cold)
  • 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 6.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Obliteration
(Nova)
  • MezResist(Stun) 2.2%
  • 3% DamageBuff(All)
  • 9% Enhancement(Accuracy)
  • 5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
Basilisk's Gaze
(Dominate)
  • 2.5% Defense(Energy,Negative), 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
  • 2% (0.03 End/sec) Recovery
  • 7.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)




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Posted

Can you post the data link or the data chunk please? It's much easier to examine a build in mids than in the forum post.

In regard to your build I will point out that a pure support FF defender doesn't really benefit from IOs (I will ignore the question of the usefulness of a pure support defender at all). In general IOs provide damage mitigation in the form of defense or increase the effectiveness of your powers in the form of recharge. Force Field as a set doesn't really need much recharge (as opposed to other sets like Traps and Empathy that really benefit) and a pure support toon doesn't need damage mitigation.

Frankly I would say leave this guy with SOs and find a character who will benefit more to IO. If you really want to IO this guy then I would say build for defense, take the presence pool and make him into a Tankfender. He will at least benefit from set bonuses that way.

 

Posted

Done! Sorry, first time using Mids, it was such an achievement for me just to post the build, haha.

 

Posted

I'd slot for some personal defence. You're the team keystone, keeping everyone un-stunned and un-held. If you fall, the rest can follow pretty quickly.

Recharge isn't hugely important for Force Fielders because you have no long recharge powers.

I'd six slot your three single target blasts with Thunderstrike.
This gives some +Recovery, good Defence, high accuracy and very nice values for the powers, including good end reduction. You're currently going to knock enemies around too much, you're better off supporting your team by doing decent damage with your blasts and being accurate. This will give you global accuarcy and good acc in your blasts, for knocking away troublesome bosses etc. who are bothering your teammates up close.

Six-slot Red Fortune in Diseprsion and Manouvers, will give maximum defence and endurance reduction. Your ally shield slotting is good as it is.

To get these extra slots, dont put any extra slots in Personal Force Field or Fly, just slot 1 recharge in PFF and 1 fly in fly. Also lose the Recharge in Repulsion Field, and I think you're even again. 4 slotting Force Bolt is good here for the knockback protection.

All up, this will give you an extra 16.25% Ranged Defence, with Dispersion, Manouvers and Hover you're now at around 40% defence to all ranged attacks, making you much less likely to get shut down by a sleep or ranged damage, and les likely to need Personal Force Field, which while protecting you, makes the rest of your team more vulnerable.
It'll make you more end efficient and accurate, and you won't lose a whole heap of recharge either, since red fortune provides some.

And its all very cheap and available sets.

 

Posted

Quote:
I rolled a FF/energy defender that I intend to be completely support
Don't take this the wrong way, but you've just accomplished what many Empaths DREAM about. You're the closest thing in the game to napping your way to 50 and still being a very useful member of the team.

I would, as DrMike suggested, go for personal defense. With Maneuvers, big bubble, and little bubbles you can put everyone ELSE to the softcap in Defense. Why shouldn't you get some of that for yourself?

Red Fortune and Thunderstrike, as mentioned, give you all the Ranged defense you could need. Some AOE defense, if you can find it, is also nice.

My personal belief is that if you have any power on your character that produces green numbers for someone else, then idiots will blame YOU when THEY get killed. Even if they're three rooms away, herding on a blaster. In my experience if you have Maneuvers and the bubbles up, and you are reasonably easy for the team to find (so they can stay IN the big bubble), normal regen rates will provide all the healing people need... almost always.

So that's why my Force Fielders tend to have Tough and Weave [with the Steadfast Def/Res in Tough] and nothing from the Medicine pool. Cause I just don't believe Force Fielders need to do any reactive defense. If you can't take care of people with the bubbles and with occasional slap-to-the-horizon Force Bolts (oh, mr. Tsoo Sorceror, I don't THINK you're going to be hurricaning my team...) you probably can't do it with that plus a tricorder.

Mini-guides: Force Field Defenders, Blasters, Market Self-Defense, Frankenslotting.

So you think you're a hero, huh.
@Boltcutter in game.

 

Posted

I would also echo the advice of both Dr. Mike and Fulmens with the following caveats.

Nova crashing your endurance is in direct conflict with your idea of being pure support.

Repulsion field costs lots of endurance and since you'll be hovering will rarely see use. The times that it will be useful you could essentially do the same thing with Force Bolt or Power Push.

Don't discount AoE knockback as a support tool. Proper positioning (ie: hovering above the spawn) converts knockback into knockdown. Chaining Repulsion bomb, Energy Torrent, and Explosive Blast can keep an entire spawn on it's backsides, contribute AoE damage, and still leave the mobs in the range of melee toons.

-Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein.
-I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. - Galileo Galilei
-When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. - Thomas Jefferson

 

Posted

If you are looking for a support orientated character, I think Aid Other complements Force Fields rather nicely.

Not only does it heal (and that's very handy when the lucky Tank Swiper takes away over half a teammates health bar), but it breaks sleep - the one effect that Dispersion bubble doesn't protect against.

I didn't take Medicine, and I can remember standing near a slept Controller on my team several times, wishing he'd wake up when things were going bad. Since I'd bubbled him, he wasn't about to take damage, and sleeps can last a long time uninterupted. I really wished I had Aid Other at that time.

 

Posted

Oh wow, I didn't even think of what using Nova would do to the team's defense. I think I'll replace that with Explosive Blast, and then take all your slotting advice into account. Thanks so much everyone, I really appreciate it