Voltaic Sentinel - Blasters
By
Adeon Hawkwood,
Posted on: 2010-11-21 12:13 in Archetypes and Powers General Discussion
Its a pet on a 1 minute timer. During that minute VS will fire 10 times
It has one attack, Charged Bolts. Since its a pet defenders, and corruptors get a little more mileage out of this power. VS has the same stats for every AT.
At level 50 unslotted thats 400 pts of damage over time. Remember even though that damage is spread out over time, you don't have to attack to deal it. You keep on blasting, Vs keeps on blasting. You get mezzed VS keeps on blasting.
VS will spread those 10 shots around, so its in your best interest to lessen the number of targets as fast as you can.
If you're taking on an Lt and 2 minions, hold the Lt and arrest the 2 minions first. If there's only one target VS will only shoot that target.
Some other things about VS you should know.
It's a great Defiance boost, 20%
Cheap place to slot IOs, four slots and a couple million at most and you've got anther 7.5% recharge.
Its in excellent pulling tool. If you're a trapper it's amazing. Set up a minefield behind a corner and cast VS in line of sight of the mob. VS passes it's aggro to you, but you can use that to your advantage.
It should be noted that, although it's one attack is Charged Bolts, the range is shorter (something like 50-60 ft, I think, as opposed to the actual Charged Bolts' 80 foot range.). So if you are shooting from range, and it is right next to you, or even behind you, it won't be attacking, which is likely why you've experienced that.
Also, you are not the first person to "wonder" about this power. It has been the subject of debate many, many times over. Some like it because it is unique among the Ranged attack sets and provides a Defiance damage bonus for 60 seconds (as opposed to other attacks bonuses that only last about 8 seconds). Others are not big fans due to its short duration and underwhelming attack strength. But since Voltaic Sentinel is working as intended, it will not be changed nor replaced.
@Winter. Because I'm Winter. Period.
I am a blaster first, and an alt-oholic second.
I'd probably only bother with it when going up against a single tough target. Against an AV or GM or something, it adds to your DPS by quite a bit.
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when did this happen?
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Originally Posted by Winterminal
Some like it because it is unique among the Ranged attack sets and provides a Defiance damage bonus for 60 seconds (as opposed to other attacks bonuses that only last about 8 seconds).
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I am pretty sure it doesn't do that (and Red Tomax supports me on this). The issue is that for all powers that summon a pet (including most of the devices powers) the buff symbol remains on your bar for the duration of the pet and will tell you it provides a damage bonus if you right click on it but in actual fact it doesn't provide a defiance bonus longer than normal and you can see this if you monitor your damage bonus.
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Originally Posted by Winterminal
Some like it because it is unique among the Ranged attack sets and provides a Defiance damage bonus for 60 seconds (as opposed to other attacks bonuses that only last about 8 seconds).
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So it's not a bad power, but it's not a great power either. In a team, not much use for it, solo, a lot more. Gonna keep it. First time through with an elec blaster, so it's a good testing ground.
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What's your secondary?
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Originally Posted by thgebull0425
So it's not a bad power, but it's not a great power either. In a team, not much use for it, solo, a lot more. Gonna keep it. First time through with an elec blaster, so it's a good testing ground.
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Then I stand corrected. I don't pay much attention to the combat numbers, so I had not noticed this. I mean, that makes perfect sense that it would work that way considering it would be very easy for a /Devices blaster to plant a bunch of mines at the entrance of a mission and just carry the damage bonus throughout the mission. I had just never looked at it from that angle. I appreciate the clarification.|
Originally Posted by Adeon Hawkwood
I am pretty sure it doesn't do that (and Red Tomax supports me on this). The issue is that for all powers that summon a pet (including most of the devices powers) the buff symbol remains on your bar for the duration of the pet and will tell you it provides a damage bonus if you right click on it but in actual fact it doesn't provide a defiance bonus longer than normal and you can see this if you monitor your damage bonus.
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My feelings on the power still stand, however. It's definitely worth keeping, considering it allows you to pump out more damage, I'm simply not a huge fan of the way it works.
@Winter. Because I'm Winter. Period.
I am a blaster first, and an alt-oholic second.
I thought Blaster's VS does more damage than Defender's version. I think Corruptor/Dominator/Blaster's VS all do the same damage? I could be wrong on this as I don't play Defender but Mids shows Defender's version is less damage?
I've suggested before that VS would be a good one to add "electricity jump" attack like what you see from Chain Induction.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
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I like this suggestion. Especially since the concept was introduced with Electric Melee and is not otherwise present in any of the blast sets. It also makes sense if the VS is a charge of electrical potential you have built up and is "firing" as it discharges into foes when they come near enough for the charge to arc to them. The jump would merely be that charge continuing to arc between potential grounds.|
Originally Posted by Jibikao
I've suggested before that VS would be a good one to add "electricity jump" attack like what you see from Chain Induction.
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I personally view it as a damage aura that is cast as a click power instead of a toggle. The damage may be low, but it is damage over time, and as mentioned, you get up to 10 shots from that power without having to actually interrupt your attack chain. I find that VS really helps the damage my Corruptor does, previously to VS I had to take an extra attack (a Temp Power) to supplement my damage.
It might not be necessary for a Blaster, which does plenty of damage without it, but I'd definately recommend it for a Corruptor or Defender, since it can be dealing damage while they're using buffs and debuffs.
My secondary is Energy. Elec/NRG is the build for the hero.
What do I slot it with then?
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Considering it has high accuracy out of the box... how about focusing on recharge? Four parts Expedient Reinforcement (Acc/Rech, Dam/End, Acc/Dam/Rech, End/Dam/Rech), and either a Recharge IO, or maybe a EndMod/Rech (or two) from Efficacy Adaptor (and Performance Shifter if going for two). :3 That will give you at the least, 2.5% status resistance (meh), 3% damage buff, and 6.25% recharge.
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Originally Posted by thgebull0425
My secondary is Energy. Elec/NRG is the build for the hero.
What do I slot it with then? |
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"Keep living the dream, and never let any jerk tell you what to do."
-- High-Roller
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I wouldn't slot recharge intensive pet or endurance modification sets unless there was a particular set bonus you were looking for. I'd slot damage, accuracy (if you're fighting +level enemies), and endurance reduction (if your blue bar is an issue). Pet damage if you're using IO sets.
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Originally Posted by thgebull0425
My secondary is Energy. Elec/NRG is the build for the hero.
What do I slot it with then? |
I had VS (aka Sparky) a million years ago on my elec blaster (I think my first-ever repsec was done for the purpose of ditching it). Back then I didn't appreciate how Sparky works. Now more than anything, it's a matter of not having room in my build for it.
I19 opens up the power choices I used to spend on the Fitness pool, but I simply do not have the slots to give these new powers. What I'm wondering is, can Sparky function as a One-Slot Wonder? If I just throw an Expedient Acc/Dam into it, I know it's not going to be a world-beater, but is it at all worth doing?
Later on,
Gate
@Generator
Mostly Pinnacle, with scattered alts on Liberty, Freedom, and Justice.
I had a great time playing with you!
"Sparky" is an ok power, not great, not awful.
From an endurance standpoint, those 10 shots it can put out are a pretty
good deal.
My E3 used it in 3 situations (in order of usefulness).
1> Pre-Nuke. I'd cast it, so it can chip away (and probably kill) a straggler
or two that survive the nuke while I'm recovering my Endurance.
2> Against a tough single target (ie. AV). It helps...not much, but > 0
3> Against a decent sized spawn I've already aggro'd, on the theory
that every little bit of damage helps - if he kills something, bonus (same as #2). 
Regards,
4
PS> I just slotted it for damage.
I've been rich, and I've been poor. Rich is definitely better.
Light is faster than sound - that's why some people look smart until they speak.
For every seller who leaves the market dirty stinkin' rich,
there's a buyer who leaves the market dirty stinkin' IOed. - Obitus.
I have a 50 Elec/Nrg Blaster and I love Sparky and make sure to keep her up and running at all times. I slotted her with a full set of Blood Mandate to pick up the defense bonuses and the little bit of recovery.
Took this power tonight, and I'm not exactly sure what it does? Can someone help me out. It says it's a pet, but it doesn't last long, doesn't attack, even though it says it does. Can someone explain? Did I just waste a power slot?