Franken-slotting Cobra-Strike

I dunno.....


If I was willing to forego a set bonus, I could see the setup above being close to optimal. (And nice work putting that beast together.)

But, a more 'modern' combo might be 4 kinetic combats, two mako's (quad and acc/end/rech) and the upcoming alpha slot enhancer, Spiritual Radial Paragon.

The SRP, assuming it makes it into live with no changes, is...PERFECT for martial artists, and would pull the set up into the top tiers, especially if you team it with recharge-loving secondaries like fire, electric, and especially regen.

Until the SRP goes live, it's hard to argue with the alpha uncommon 'Spiritual Core Boost'. The SCB should be pretty easy to get and adds 33 percent recharge and 33 percent stun to EVERY power that can use them, namely, Cobra Strike and Eagle Claw, as well as Thunder Kick (much less so).

So, for me, that's where I'd go:

4x Kinetic Combat
2x Mako (quad, acc/end/rech)
Alpha Uncom: SCB

Oh yes indeed.

After Werner demonstrated the formula for running the numbers (Thanks again!) I pondered for a few minutes and came to a realization:

For optimal builds, you should pick your Alpha FIRST. The reason is, it affects multiple powers, but all the same way.

After you choose which alpha you want, you then optimize your enhancement bonuses around that solid core, and then balance your set bonuses around all THAT.

For example:

http://goingrogue.na.cityofheroes.co...lpha-slot.html

Continuing the above thoughts, let's assume we are working up a MA/elec toon using the SRP (oh how we love it) as the foundation of the Incarnate build.

The mighty SRP grants:

Rech: 33
Stun: 33
Heal: 33
Slow: 33
Jump: 33
ToHitBuff:20

Two-thirds of these bonuses bypass ED, and the SRP adds a +1 level shift, so you affect all foes, and are affected by all foes, as if you were level 51. So you do one level's diff worth more damage, take one level less damage, etc, etc, but do NOT have to accept lesser rewards. (I think.)

Yes, say "HOLY MOLY."

This is equivalent (per Werner's workup, which I believe) to free global set bonuses equal to:
Rech: 22
Stun: 22
Heal: 22
Slow: 22
Jump:22
ToHitBuff: 13.3

So, you would take powers to maximize these things: In MA, you want all your stunners (EC,CS,TK).

In elec you want all your recharge-based buffs (energize, power sink).

You'll probably choose the leaping pool for movement.

While choosing sets, you have a lot more options now: Do you skimp on recharge, since you get 3-4 7.5's of benefit for free now? Where do those slots go now? Do you skip a purple set or two and go for more defense bonuses? Do you look at non-recharge sets more? In healing powers, can you drop a slot? Where do they go?

SO much more to look at and do now. I suspect frankenslotting will become MUCH more viable and common as people 'home in' to exact benefits to supplement the Alpha's potential.

However, you still need to make a build that's viable at below 50! So how tightly do you optimize? Do you put in a second build for exemplaring? (Very good idea for extreme min-maxer's.)

The build design landscape has opened up enormously.

This Dev team is expanding the game enormously. This is a very very good thing. Remember, the Alpha slot is the FIRST of TEN.

Easy to play, hard to master.

MUAHAHAHAHA.