Invul/SS Tanker... growing pains?

Since before this game was released I've always wanted to try this style of character but started as a Scrapper then Blaster then took a 3+ year leave of absence... so when I finally came back I read some guides and decided to give it a go! The result? Thus far I'm underwhelmed... keep in mind I understand a "tank" should not solo as well as a "dps" class and most of my experience with this character thus far has been in groups (where he performs well) but I attempted to solo some missions at 15 yesterday and almost wanted to cry. My "Super Strength" attacks carried a very purse-like punch.

I build my character almost exactly like this up to 15 (excluding taunt which I plan to get a bit later) :: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=133483

My build:

(1) Temp Invul :: endred/dmgres/dmgres
(1) Jab :: acc/endred/dmg/dmg
(2) Punch :: acc/endred/dmg/dmg
(4) Dull Pain :: recred/recred/recred/heal/heal
(6) Boxing :: dmg
(8) Combat Jumping :: endred
(10) Unyielding :: endred/dmgres/dmgres
(12) Hurdle
(14) Super Jump

So my three offensive abilities are a 4 slotted Jab and Punch and Boxing... none of them make any dastardly villains shake in their boots. I had originally intended to take Air Superiority but decided the defensive upside of Combat Jumping and Acrobatics destroys what Flight can provide.

I've already set the ground work for Health/Stamina and Tough/Weave but I really can't kill a darn thing right now. Is this just growing pains? Will it all work out in the end? Using half of your endurance pool to kill an even level Minion is beyond depressing, its downright demoralizing. I've read that most people exclude Haymaker due to is end cost and recharge but I really need a dmg dealing ability if I'm going to maintain my sanity.

Any advice going forward? Is it really just this bad until Stamina? Is it always this bad endurance wise? I'm also going to copy this post into the Tanker forum but please, if you are reading this and have any suggestions I would very much appreciate it.

Tankers are a little weak until SOs, yes. However, /SS also has the benefit/penalty of Rage. With Rage on, you get a substantial increase in the damage you can put out. However, most of the attacks in the set are balanced around that, and are a little weaker than in some other sets.

Once you get to level 18 for Invincibility, level 22 for SOs, and 28 for Rage, you'll be singing a different tune.

Yup, growing pains. Inv is late to mature. You really won't get working well until at least 18 and Invincibility, and to me, SS doesn't really kick in well until you get Rage. Stamina, of course, will alleviate many problems as well.

LEGION OF VALOR - Be a part of the Legend!

An inv tanker would never, ever need Acrobatics.

Keep in mind you are using DOs or IOs so at best your powers are weak.

This is the layout for my inv/SS tanker at levels 1-15 but I did take Fly with DOs/common IOs:

Temp Invulnerability 4 slots 3 Resist Dam, 1 End Reduction
Jab 2 slots 1 Acc, 1 Dam
Dull Pain 3 slots 3 Rech Red
Haymaker 4 slots 1 Acc, 2 Dam, 1 End Red
Swift 1 slot - empty
Unyielding 4 slots 1 End Reduction, 3 Res Dam
Air Superiority 3 slots 1 Acc, 2 Dam
Taunt 1 slot - empty
Fly 1 slot 1 Fly

If you really wanted Super Jump, then swap out Air Sup and Fly with CJ and SJ and move the 2 extra slots I have in Air Sup into Haymaker (Damage) and Dull Pain (Recharge)

Invuln is just as bad on end as Shield, proven fact. So if you've ever played a shield character sorta slot it like you would that but with res. Oh and, I couldn't help muhself but post a very nice IO build that you can use whenever if you wanna. Oh and with the Psi Def/Res, I've experienced with my Invuln tanks(yes I have more than one) that it's not SEVERELY needed. Should you run across some Psi baddies, either pop that nice Rikti Accolade and/or Dull Pain. I'd encourage getting Atlas Medallion as well, but don't stop there! Get all the accolades!! Anyways, enjoy!

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.803
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
InvulnSS: Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Resist Physical Damage -- TtmC'tng-ResDam(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(3), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(3), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(34)
Level 1: Jab -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(17), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(25), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27)
Level 2: Temp Invulnerability -- TtmC'tng-ResDam(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(9), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg(9)
Level 4: Dull Pain -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(5), Numna-Heal/Rchg(5), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(7), RechRdx-I(7)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- S'dpty-Def(A), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(42), S'dpty-Def/Rchg(43)
Level 8: Unyielding -- ImpArm-ResPsi(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(11), ImpArm-ResDam(11), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(13)
Level 10: Haymaker -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(13), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(15), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17)
Level 12: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(43), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(43), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(46)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-ResKB(A)
Level 16: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(19), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(19), Mrcl-Rcvry+(37), Mrcl-Heal(40), RgnTis-Regen+(40)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), Efficacy-EndMod(21), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(21), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(34), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(42)
Level 22: Knockout Blow -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(23), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(23), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 24: Invincibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(25)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(27)
Level 28: Rage -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(29), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(29), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(31), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(31), GSFC-Build%(31)
Level 30: Boxing -- P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(A), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/EndRdx(42)
Level 32: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(33), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(33), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 35: Hurl -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(36)
Level 38: Foot Stomp -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(39), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(39), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Oblit-%Dam(50)
Level 41: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- Mrcl-Heal(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(45), Mrcl-EndRdx/Rchg(45), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(45), Efficacy-EndMod(46), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Resist Energies -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(48), RctvArm-ResDam(48), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(50), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 0: Ninja Run

I wasn't happy with my inv/ss tanker until around level 30 but it's no scrapper/brute.

You may want to consider using a Brute if you want to go the SS/Inv route. I liked that a lot more though again Inv is an endurance hog.

All tanks tend to struggle in the low levels; things improve considerably with Stamina and SO's though. Your build right now doesn't look bad; I would have delayed the Fighting pool until the 20's personally and I'd certainly have taken Haymaker over Punch (Dull Pain at 2, Haymaker at 4) as it does considerably more damage.

You're not going to be killing things very fast with any tanker in that level range; your damage modifier is 20% lower than a blaster and your low level attacks aren't exactly crushing damage dealers. Still, replacing Punch with Haymaker will improve things and Knock Out Blow will improve them more.

SS seems to be built around Rage, so look for your damage to improve considerably once you get it. I do admit that my knowledge of SS is secondhand since it's a set I haven't ever played.

I'm doing one of these myself (6 years, I finally decided to try one.) I looked at the numbers BEFORE doing the build and SS has a medium and two big hitters- Haymaker is the medium and Knockout Blow and Foot Stomp are the big hitters.

In the lowest levels, you're pretty weak and not going to look any better with Punch. The bad news is, you've got a long road before you look any good. The good news is, you're most of the way along it.

I expect that Stamina, KO Blow (with 4 slots), and SO's are where it will look good. Right now I'm ... two levels short of that.

One more thing.

Try logging in today. You just got a resistance debuff as part of your primary attack. That should increase your damage output slightly.

Clicking on the linked image above will take you off the City of Heroes site. However, the guides will be linked back here.

I, too, took Punch over Haymaker.

Of all the SS attacks, Haymaker's the one that seems most noticeably "pre-nerfed" for Rage.