Cannot build a good Stalker

I've been messing around in Mids, and I've concluded that making a tolerable Stalker is impossible. In order to have a build that I like, I have to do ridiculous things like skip a travel power or run with 3 attacks including AS well into the 20s. How am I supposed to play like that?!

I don't see the problem in getting 4 attacks before 20. Admittedly, it's because I have Ninja Run and can skip a travel power or leave it until late...

A quick example. Not the best power selection order (I know, for example, that many'd scream bloody murder about Focus Chi being so late), but mine's currently at 26 and having few, if any, problems...

STALKER - MARTIAL ARTS / NINJITSU
1: Thunder Kick & Hide
2: Crippling Axe Kick
4: Ninja Reflexes
6: Assassin's Blow
8: Danger Sense
10: Hurdle
12: Placate
14: Storm Kick
16: Kuji-In Rin
18: Health
20: Stamina
22: Kuji-In Sha
24: Combat Jumping
26: Crane Kick
28: Smoke Flash
30: Focus Chi
32: Eagle's Claw
35: Cobra Strike OR Super Jump
38: Kuji-In Retsu

This is, actually, the exact issue I think I had regarding my Stalker issues. I admit I just powered through my low levels, choosing a primary that animated and recharge quickly. Alternatively, you can pick up a power pool attack that leads to a travel power, such as Air Superiority or Jump Kick. That gets both a travel power start, and an extra attack to balance your attack chain.

I admit though, I also use Ninja Run and Hurdle for my travel power, even though I finally got City Traveler and could pick any Travel Power at level 6. That was more of a choice to get Stamina at 20, and I may Respec it differently later on.

A problem I see it is that it's hard to resist the allure of Build Up, Placate, and AS in a row so early in the builds. I know I can't.

IMO the only stalker worth playing is X/Ninjitsu.

Honestly scrappers are better in every way, so pretty much stick to the unique set that is only available to stalkers.

After that if you are intersted in PVE, I suggest only taking the sets that have AOE:

Spines
Elec
Dual Blades
Claws

Not very good aoe:
Katana
Broadsword
Dark Melee

No AOE-AVOID
Martial arts
Energy Melee.

Scrappers have superior single target damage,
Nearly as good burst,
And superior aoe ability
Along with better survivability.

If you are going to play a stalker, Pick one of the aoe sets, so you can at least be able to say: "I wanted a bit more Single target on top of my AoE damage."

Yeah, this is the Stalker forum. We don't give a crap whether or not Scrappers are better.

(Oops, disregard)

So what you're saying is, there is no way around it. You have to go without powers you would never skip on another melee AT until around 30 to play a Stalker.

To those above: if you think scrappers are better than stalkers, you aren't playing your stalker right. They are used in entirely different ways. The stalker isn't meant to stand in the crowd and take it. Learn to kite and use guerrilla tactics. Think of how you can tear a group apart instead of how to take all the targets down. Your method is to cause chaos and diffuse a crowd's abilities by spreading them around. Its why you can take an alpha but not much more. Duck in, duck out.

I normally hold off on placate and add an extra normal attack if I'm non-pvp. Placate is just gravy at lower levels and honestly isn't needed until the 20's in pve. If you want to add another attack or secondary power, there is no need for a travel power until your jetpack\zero-g dies. Do those bank missions and you are fine.

Ninjitsu is over rated.

Dark Melee is a great set once you learn its particular dynamic.

Playing a stalker is a change-up on what you think. Its an excellent AT.

Stalker builds are very tight early on since you really need to take AS, Buildup, and Placate at 6 8 and 12. It doesn't leave a lot of room to squeeze in things like extra attacks or travel powers. I have one stalker, Elec/EA, and I made him after Ninja Run came out. That one power let me skip a travel power and I was able to make a build I enjoyed playing.

Placate isn't necessary at lower levels, so if you want to fit in a travel power you can hold it off till later levels.

Yeah Build Up is not needed in the low levels at all. I would never wait on Placate though.

Interesting.

I guess we (OP & I) have varying definitions of "tolerable"

As for the Scrapper/Stalker discussion, I agree with the poster who said
they're very different - in terms of mindset, approach and playstyle.

If anything, I tend to play Scrappers and Brutes similarily, and I tend to
play Stalkers and Blasters similarily.

It's not a case of actual powersets, but rather mindset. Assuming your toon
wants to live (not always true with some of the Blasters I see out there ),
the latter two are about target priority and aggro management. They're much
more tactical generally speaking.

Brutes and Scrappers are about "Do unto them early and often so they cannot
do unto you" My Stalkers and Blasters can always skip a fight, my
Scrappers and Brutes just have to wade into the thick of it... YMMV.


I'm also not getting the issue with the stalker attacks either.

I grab the first two, AS, and typically Air Superiority all by L12 (when I
absolutely take Placate). L14 is a travel power. I tend towards Fly for my
stalkers, again, because it's tactical. I have a couple Super Jumpers, but
I still prefer Fly (even in PvP).

If I "defer" anything, it would be defense / heal. I'd much rather pop a luck
or a respite instead of limiting my initial attack chain.

If I have an issue with attacks, it's usually that I never get the later ones
so I miss out on higher damage hitters. But, by then, the ones I had earlier
are maxed, and are fast (decent DPS) and effective.

On top of that, I have vet attacks as well. Overall, they're not as good in
several ways, but early, they're pretty powerful, and good fillers. Later,
with Global Acc, they're still decent fillers albeit less effective overall.

Finally, how long does it honestly take to get into the L20's??? These days,
levelling is pretty quick and easy.

I guess I get back to the initial point - we must define "tolerable" very differently...


Regards,
4

PS> I usually take BU early as well - BU + AS one-shots a Yellow con Lt.
That's too good not to take imho. It's tight, but it's equally simple too.

I loosened up my Stalker builds in the early levels by putting off powers from my secondary.

You're not a Scrapper, you don't need mez protection or ranged defence (or whatever) that badly during your teens.

Solo, you can hit and run, taking out any mezzers before they see you. Enemies only enagage you once you're in their face, so Danger Sense/Focussed Senses are pretty much just burning endurance.

On teams, your threat level pretty much guarantees you're not the numero uno target.

So we agree.

Stalkers have less damage and less survivablilty than a scrapper:

AOE: ALWAYS
SINGLE TARGET: In that tiny sliver of the time during your career when you are fighting AVs.


Why roll a stalker again?

Ninjitsu (til they port it to scrappers).