Sell me a Stalker

Ok, not literally, but the Stalker AT is the only one I haven't really played by now. I rolled one up way back when CoV was new, but I failed so hard at it I abandoned the AT. I have a project that involves creating one of each AT on a chosen server and Stalkers are my last piece to the puzzle.

So, convince me to roll up a particular Stalker. I'm liking the look of Ninjitsu, probably because it is unique to Stalkers, but I'm willing to consider anything. I'm especially looking for something iconic, something Stalker-y (as opposed to Poached Scrapper). I have this idea of a warrior-assassin who takes out a target, then eliminates witnesses. One who is capable of merely wading into combat and emerging victorious, but is wise enough to engage on his terms, not his opponent's.

I'm not a min/maxer, but I don't like dying faster than Rest recharges. So, I come with questions:

• I've seen comments to the effect that Kin Melee works best on Stalkers (versus other versions), is this true? Why?
• Is it better to really focus on the single-target nature of the AT, or do the sets with AoE (esp. Elec/ and Spines/) just leave others in the dust?
• Does Willpower really work well on Stalkers? I was somewhat unimpressed by WP's numbers.
• Is it better for a mitigation set to focus on Resist, or Defense?

I am a big big fan of /nin. Caltrops is amazing mitigation, also, very fun.

As to attacks... I have been doing kin/nin, and I really, really, like the effect on the set of eventually getting an AoE, because without it life is pain. YMMV.

Dark melee/ ninjutsu is always a classic. The two sets compliment each other nicely.

Kinetic melee isn't bad, I have a 50 kin/DA stalker and there are some unique mechanics specific to that set. One is that the T9 has a chance to instantly recharge BU (and it doesn't crit...). The other is that its AE attack, burst, has a 100% crit from hide, where all other stalker AEs only crit 50% from hide. Also, DA's stun aura stacks well with the stuns of KM to keep bosses in line.

Elec/ is a beast on stalkers because lightning rod is a pet... and thus won't break your hidden status. BU + LR + TS crit on the biggest baddie, if he's still standing placate + assassinate. It's IMO the best stalker set, but I personally just prefer AE toons.

And defense sets > resistance sets for the most part, that seems to be the consensus. But as easy as it can be to add defense to a resistance set (or regeneration... I have multiple S/L capped toons and even an /elec that is capped to S/L/E/N) I have always held that the resistance sets have more value in the long run (as in "I'm gonna IO this set to the gills").

I too have only recently turned to Stalkers and my very first one has been Kin/Nin. She's only level 20 but I'm having a blast.

Kin has some nice mitigation such as knockdown and stuns. Not only is that helpful, it also feels nice and powerful too. I like choosing my targets, selecting where to position myself in a fight. On a team, I can take out the problem mobs in seconds. Buffers/Debuffers, annoying bosses - all taken out of the fight within seconds, leaving the rest of the team to clear up the spawn without a hitch. I'm kinda amazed that teams don't value Stalkers for this role alone.

Nin is fun and has some neat tricks. I took it because it is unique to Stalkers but it works very nicely as a set as well. Even teams appreciate Caltrops and I can't wait to get Blinding Powder later on.

So good luck, Kin/Nin is fun and has helped me to appreciate Stalkers a lot.

I'm rolling an elec/elec stalker and it's the most fun I've had with a toon in awhile. You can hit Lightning Rod while hidden and score critical hits on entire mobs, and most of the time you remain hidden since it's a bot doing the actual damage. You can then hit Thunder Strike and get more critical hits on much of the mob, and then hit Placate and Assassin's Strike on whatever boss or Lt. is still alive. Fun stuff.

**Disclaimer - The following is a biased opinion**

Might I suggest the glorious pairing of a Ninja Blade with your Ninjitsu?

Not only does it possess the sexiest of all AS animations, but the melee defense buffing potential for DA combined with the "finesse" Golden dragonfly mini-cone results in a stalker that looks as good as it plays.

Not only that, but taking the full on way of the ninja allows for immense variation in slotting utility, running the entire gamut from simple softcapping to raw damage potential, Nin/Nin is the way to go.

But wait, there's more!

Not only will you find yourself a master of melee combat capable of evading ANY and ALL melee attacks with even simple SO slotting, but you get the choice of eleven, count them ELEVEN instruments of death as beautiful as they are deadly. From the rugged Rusted Blade to the glowing Vanguard Katana, there is sure to be a ninja blade to fit your specific character concept.

And lets face it. Ninjas are cool. You could certainly pick up a similar weapon in a scrapper set, but lets face it. Without the ability to swiftly and decisively SHOVE your instrument of death through the chest of your enemy before he can react, THRUST his best friend in the the air, CRUSH his prone form in to oblivion with a single downward stroke, and then simply WAVE the poor sap watching your ballet of death goodbye seconds before repeating the process you're just not ninja material. You're a guy that hits things with a katana.

Ever heard of "Teenage Guys Who Hit Things With Swords and are also Turtles"?
Nope.

How about the cult 80s classic "American Guy Who Hits Things With a Sword"
No. You haven't.

That's because the word you're looking for is NINJA. To strike with precision. To be without peer in single combat. To kill all of his friends to make sure you're in single combat. To speak only in riddles and DEATH. This is what Ninja Blade can give you. This is the way of the ninja.

So I encourage you. Go. Hunt. Kill EVERYTHING with the quiet grace than only Ninja Blade can deliver.