Cone Powers

This power is in relation to the build I just posted. Shadow Maul.
What is the best way to use the type of powers that are Cones?
I also have a ice/ice blaster with frost breath so this applies to that one also.
Thanks
Zoner

Depends on the cone, really. The Ice/Ice Blaster has long, narrow cones. Basic idea is target something at the back of the spawn and let rip - the cone should've spread out enough to hit most or all of the spawn.

Melee cones, on the other hand, are much more fiddly. Shadow Maul, for instance, can be made to hit two people - the best way is to usually try and maneuver so that a second target is between you and your primary target. Getting more than two is more luck than anything, and it's not worth losing too much sleep over it - Shadow Maul is okay even if it hits a single target.

Easy - try to get as many enemies in the cone, and as quickly as possible.

As far as specifics, I'm the opposite of most people in my cone use because I like to be right next to my target because I'm a tab follow kind of guy. So I've gotten used to using my cones from standing right next to my target. Not as easy to line up, but another possibility.

Hopefully doing it quickly is obvious. You want to move right on to other attacks. In fact, while it might not be optimal, I give a fraction of a second key press, then hit my cone whether it's lined up or not. I'm moving on. I have other things to do.

Several ways to use a cone like Shadow Maul but you have to understand how it's shaped. You have cones like Slice/Flashing Steel which will pretty much hit everything within melee range infront of you, then you've got something like Shockwave which is basically just a big AoE. There's also the 'line' cones like Headsplitter/Golden Dragonfly which will only hit in a line. Then there's Shadow Maul, which I'd describe as a 'cluster cone' that kinda hits guys that stand near eachother.

I'd suggest just taking the vet power (or Dark Melee) and use Shadow Maul until you learn how to mess with it. Ways to use the cluster cone:

-Switch targets = target a foe that is behind another but close enough to hit. You'll hit both targets but it relies on the enemy being in the right position. Since enemy melee range is 5ft (I think) while our melee range is 8ft, NPCs might not stay in such position to use this technique.

-Sidestep = a simple technique when 2 or more enemies are in melee with you but are lined up side by side. If you target the middle foe then quickly position yourself to put the target behind another, you can hit two. If the foes are clustered close enough in their line, you can target one of the outer foes, step to the opposite side of that target so all the foes are in front of you, you can hit them all if you activate the attack before they move.

-Backstep = the toughest to learn but the most effective. It requires strong timing and understanding of the shape of the cone used. Basically, if the foes are in-line infront of you, take a few steps back. You have to pause before activating the power just long enough for the server to know you're in another position but not too long for the server to slap your wrist and tell you you're too far away. The latency with how the server checks your position that allows you to activate a power on the move (i.e. jousting) is what allows this technique to work. What you're doing is basically using the entire 'width' of the cone by putting that line of foes at its widest area. The hard part isn't the positioning (that part is easy, just step back), it's the timing that is tough. It's so effective because it's the quickest and hits the most enemies reliably.

-Overhead Leap = for fun. A variant on the Backstep but instead of going backward, you take a short hop over a cluster of enemies. This is better used if you have lots of enemies clustered behind you making it difficult to do the backstep. You need to time it right and probably have a good jumping power like combat jumping or hurdle. If the enemies are too tall, this isn't a good tactic. But even if you overshot the jump, you can just queue up the power and let it activate as the enemies turn to close the distance. They'll basically walk into the cone's shape.

Practice. See 3 or 4 hellions standing around atlas park? Line it up and see what happens. Little changes can mean going from 1 or 2 hit, to 3 or 4, sometimes 5.

A situation I find useful is when enemies close on me. They can line up 3 across, in front of you. Target one of the outside guys, sidestep around the guy on the other end and fire away. 3 targets hit.

Enemies swarm around you, target one in front of you and move back. The enemies on the side will close into the space you just left and as soon as the targeted enemy reaches cone range, you can nail 5 on occasion.

I've really liked the extended range on Shadow Maul since they changed it. Sure, a lot of the time I don't bother to utilize the cone aspect, but it's now much easier to use than it was before.