I think the only two options you should consider are nerve's defense buff boost and musculature's damage boost, since those two things are basically everything that combo does.
From a practical point of view I'm considering using Cardiac for now and switching to Musculature or Spiritual once the high level ones get released. On my Traps/AR I'm pretty much ED capped for damage and recharge on the powers that matter so I don't get a lot of benefit form the tier 2 boosts
My understanding is that you'll be able to swap out abilities on very short notice so ultimately we don't really have to choose one or the other in a semi-permanent sense. Assuming we put the time and effort in you'll be able to switch out almost at will and depending on what the situation calls for. Though I'll grant you taking the time on a lot of characters to build up a selection might be arduous.
From the Issue 19 launch notes.
"You can freely choose which of your Incarnate Abilities you are currently channeling outside of combat and a short delay between changes. "
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I think nerve is overkill since softcap at 95% on the bubbler is still going to rule most situations. Musculature is the way to go with that I guess.|
Originally Posted by Garent
I think the only two options you should consider are nerve's defense buff boost and musculature's damage boost, since those two things are basically everything that combo does.
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There is something wrong with how my Rad/rad burns through end, even with a numina-recov/regen and conserve power.
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.
I'm trying to decide what to take on my own Dark(/Dark/Dark) Defender. I'm torn between Musculature for the obvious damage boost, along with even more tohit debuff, and Spiritual for the very attractive extra recharge.
On the one hand I'm already tohit debuffing most things into the ground, but the extra would be nice for e.g. AVs that resist it, and soloing becomes that bit less tedious with more damage. On the other hand, more Tar Patches, more Fearsome Staring, more Soul Draining, more Howling Twilights, which will ultimately have a similar effect to the extra damage (via more frequent/stacked -res) and the extra tohit debuff (more frequent/stacked Fearsome Stare and Dark attacks). Plus the extra healing on an already beefy heal would be amusing.
I guess ultimately both are available to swap in and out as desired, but I have so many alts I'm not sure how viable it'd be to [find time to] get the components for both with all the other chars I'm running too.
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I don't think alpha slots will do much for the character right now. It'll be better once the upper level ED piercing ones come out, at which point the musculature boasts a 30% damage boost to everything, while the nerve will give a 13% defense buff boost, which results in a total boost of like 3.5% defense for your whole team.|
Originally Posted by Psylenz
I think nerve is overkill since softcap at 95% on the bubbler is still going to rule most situations. Musculature is the way to go with that I guess.
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Uhm, yeah. When I run the numbers like that, I think a 30% damage buff to all of your attacks is better than a 3.5% defense buff for your whole team. Definitely go musculature.
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I'm pretty sure choking cloud is the villain. I never really picked it up but just looking at that scary and constant end cost number (on top of RI, EF, leadership toggles and the occasional EM pulse mini-crash) it looked like even slotting a lot of -end cost enhancements everywhere, it would go above what I could handle while attacking like crazy, even with 3-slotted stamina and AM.|
Originally Posted by Psylenz
There is something wrong with how my Rad/rad burns through end, even with a numina-recov/regen and conserve power.
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So I went for the Dark APP instead and grabbed OG, then slotted the immobilize proc in it. The end cost is negligible, so is the damage (Health makes up for it most of the time, and I can always fire a RA if I need it), and it stacks with CB's stun to let me insta-stun one boss all the time (as opposed to a guaranteed insta-hold of multiple bosses now and again, with CC+EMP, which sure would have been handy a lot of times). Also, while OG doesn't have CC's 50% chance to affect Lts., it's minion stun seems to land more consistently than I've seen CC's minion hold land... I keep being tempted to try out CC, but I keep looking at that end cost and forget about it.
And I just love the Dark APP too much. It also gives me Dark Consumption to help with the EMP mini-crash... And don't get me started talking about Soul Drain!
As for that immobilize proc... I hardly ever see its effect, so it's there right now just for the warm feeling it gives me. If I'm worried about things walking away from my debuffs, I can just slow them with LR but most of the time, with Soul Drain's amazing (and almost constant even after the nerf) damage buff plus rad blast AoE goodness, minions die before they can wander far (and that's all CC or OG affect consistently anyway, right?), Lts are pretty beat up and die in my next AoE chain, a boss is perma-stunned from OG+CB (and taking good damage, too) and most things are still inside my RI and EF... AVs or multiple bosses still kick my solo a**, though.
Back to the original question: I agree with people saying Musculature for the FF/Psy. For your Rad, remember that musculature will eventually boost End Mod too, making your stamina and AM help you more there. For my Rad/Rad, I went for musculature as well, and plan on going radial. Whenever I get the very rare, it should be boosting damage, my debuffs (I like the overkill there, just because) and Stamina's and AM's end mod. While I don't really need the extra end, I guess the occasional teammate won't complain about getting a souped up AM.
Playing CoH with Gestures
OK, I´m repeating myself (although made a lil´changes in the text) but I tought this should be better brought here for answers... Not sure why. And apologize in advance for it.
With Alpha slots the thing is... What to make with the other stuff you already have?
My Rad/Rad is at this time slotted for Perma AM/Hasten, with the whole build pretty much made around recharge. This cost me some Damage and some Resistance, I admit, but since he is a support toon it is fine. In groups I´m a God (All Hail THE Rad!). The thing is that when I´m alone I suck...
Now, with Alpha slot, what should I do? Go for Spiritual, wich (depending of the one I choose) gives me Recharge, Healing, Stun and Slow... And that way opens up space to change the whole build again to slot for other purposes. Or stay with Musculature that ups my Damage and also can give Defense Debuff, Endurance Modification, ToHit Debuff and Run Speed... And leave most of the damn build as it is to simplify stuff?
I´m kind of confused, not sure what would be better for my toon... Any toughts?
"Looks can be deceiving" - Statesman (in Memoriam)
Since you're already perma AM/hasten, I'd say go for the damage one. You shouldn't have much need for accuracy or endurance with your powerset combo.
At present, I have 4 defenders that I think I will alpha slot. Dark/ice will go Spiritual for the recharge and stun attributes. Storm/Rad blast is going Musculature-Radial. As my friend said, most of the time you don't need extra defense debuff until you really really do need it on AVs and such. The damage will be nice for the Lightning Storm, Tornado, and rad blasts.
My Radiation/Rad blast defender is another matter. I can see three types of alpha slot helping: Spiritual for the perma AM, perma Hasten build. Cardiac since he does suck down a lot of end even with conserve power to offset EM Pulse. Nerve core boost looks good for choking cloud and EM Pulse, but the Accuracy portion would be superfluous.
For my Forcefield/Psychic blast, I am completely undecided.
Any thoughts from the forum gallery?
Triumphant Defenders Forever
Psylenz FF/Psi, ArticQuark Storm/Rad, Symon BarSisyphus Bots/psn, Max VanSydow Thugs/Dk, Cyclone Symon Bots/stm, Blue Loki Ice/Cd, Widow 46526
HelinCarnate:OMG it is so terrible. I have the option to take 3 more powers but no additional slots. Boo F'ing hoo.