Psy/Em epic choice

I have been running my Psy/Em with force epic and not getting much out of it as far as save my keyster so I can run ( when phase shift is down

Am I using bad tactics ( semi noob aka " one who knows how much he does not know")
Bad timing ( old man too slow at this twitch intensive pvp)
Or the wrong epic choice for my power choices/ AT

I have been considering change to cold epic
Snow storm looks like it would slow down the target so I can get off a full attack chain then run away

The best epic to choose would be GetOffTheBandwagon Mastery.
There are other choices out there, and playing something even remotely challenging helps you not only learn real tactics and strategies, but increase your skill as well.

I am sorry
I forgot to start with my please do not be mean to mean preamble
It goes like this

Casual player (39 month vet) seeking break from PVE
Enjoys low level arena PVP but is trying to learn zone PVP
Since it takes me a long time to level up to 50 I chose my AT specifically seeking the FotM
I do not grind/ farm or play the market so all my toons have no purples set, nor any LotG recharges as they are out of my price range

So I may be on the "easy button" AT and lower choice, it is severally slow on recharge and damage
Plus my learning curve is slower as I can only take time away from family to get in the zone about and hour week

Now I have been playing pvp for over a year ( translate 52 hours)
And I do ok
My kill to be killed ration is 1:10
Basic
My battle cry is "here comes the purple farm"
So I figure the regular PVP player have made enough loot of the purple drops they get from me to be polite enough to throw me a bone; a little advice on a build or a good tactical tip

I do dream of being able to have the time to level up more 50 toons to try another style but real life pays the bills and this is only my hobby

So, any experienced blasters have a moment to toss me a little advice
You will have to type in all caps because this old man (44) is starting to develop vision problems

I wouldn't worry, Sbane12 just seems to have a problem with people who use effective characters. I am not a City of Heroes PvP expert, but my Psi/Em did what all the guides and veterans advised and used Ice Mastery and I never regretted it.

That was before PPPs were available to heroes, of course, but looking through them now, I don't see anything that stands out to my inexperienced eyes as being wicked-broken-tastic. Blasters are squishy. heals are good. I never really noticed a big difference made by Snow Storm but I liked to fool myself into imagining it was helping me kite, also, LOL

Thanks for the advice
I also found a good source for PVP build advice

When someone kills you and stands over you to gloat and does the pop dance emote
Take this time to target them hit info and read their power choices
Sure it does not help with sloting advice
( I could not afford anything the pros use anyway)

bONUS feature - you get to see some really nice dance moves you can also learn and use at the next family wedding

All the Psy/Em that killed me night had the cold epics
But they had flash freeze, not snow storm

Could anyone enlighten me to the useful mess of that power or is it just a have to take to get the others powers

Most of the blasters have flash freeze as a mule for the sleep purple set as it is very cheap and is an easy 10% rech.

It is probably not even in their tray as its useless in pvp (and pve) really.

I have a psy/nrg on Defiant and its not as expensive a build as most and still has HP cap and does alright. I know Defiant isnt regarded highly for its pvp, but there are a few of us they take it seriously and build toons for it.

Here is the build that i currently use, as you said you cant afford purples you can change the 3 apoc's in the build for something else without actually making too much different. Other than that it is a relatively inexpensive build. Also it does need a respec, as I havent changed it since inherent stamina.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.90
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Fun Bags: Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Psychic Blast
Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Legacy Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Cold Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Psionic Dart -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(A), Dev'n-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50)
Level 1: Power Thrust -- KinCrsh-Dmg/KB(A), KinCrsh-Acc/KB(40), KinCrsh-Rchg/KB(42), KinCrsh-Acc/Dmg/KB(42), KinCrsh-Rechg/EndRdx(42), KinCrsh-Dmg/EndRdx/KB(43)
Level 2: Mental Blast -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(3), Dev'n-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(39), Apoc-Dam%(40), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(40)
Level 4: Telekinetic Blast -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(5), Dev'n-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39)
Level 6: Build Up -- EncAcc-ToHit(A), EncAcc-ToHit/Rchg(7), EncAcc-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(7), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(37), AdjTgt-Rchg(37)
Level 8: Psychic Focus -- EncAcc-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(A), EncAcc-ToHit(9), EncAcc-ToHit/Rchg(9), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(36), AdjTgt-Rchg(36)
Level 10: Will Domination -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(11), Dev'n-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), HO:Nucle(19), FtnHyp-Plct%(34)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(13), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Run-I(A), Run-I(15), EndRdx-I(15), Zephyr-ResKB(17)
Level 16: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 18: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(19)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(21), P'Shift-End%(23), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(34)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), Krma-ResKB(23)
Level 24: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A), Jump-I(25), EndRdx-I(25), Zephyr-ResKB(34)
Level 26: Acrobatics -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(27), KBDist-I(27), KBDist-I(29)
Level 28: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(29)
Level 30: Psionic Lance -- Mantic-Acc/Dmg(A), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Mantic-Acc/ActRdx/Rng(31), Mantic-Dam%(31), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), HO:Nucle(33)
Level 32: Tactics -- HO:Cyto(A), HO:Cyto(33)
Level 35: Boost Range -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(36)
Level 38: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 41: Snow Storm -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Hoarfrost -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(45), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(45), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Dct'dW-Heal(46), S'fstPrt-ResKB(50)
Level 47: Frozen Armor -- HO:Enzym(A), HO:Enzym(48), Krma-ResKB(48), S'fstPrt-ResKB(48)
Level 49: Hibernate -- RechRdx-I(A), Heal-I(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 0: LEGACY BUILD
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 21.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 21.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 21.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 21.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 21.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 21.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 21.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 21.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 0.938% Defense(Energy)
• 0.938% Defense(Negative)
• 1.875% Defense(Ranged)
• 27.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 4% Enhancement(Heal)
• 5% FlySpeed
• 167.16 HP (13.87%) HitPoints
• 5% JumpHeight
• 5% JumpSpeed
• Knockback (Mag -27)
• Knockup (Mag -27)
• MezResist(Terrorized) 2.2%
• 6.5% (0.109 End/sec) Recovery
• 82% (4.125 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 2.5% Resistance(Smashing)
• 1.26% Resistance(Fire)
• 1.26% Resistance(Cold)
• 8% RunSpeed
• 3% XPDebtProtection

There's still a decent amount of PvP'ers on Onion, we just have a hard time getting them together. If you've got most of your PvP'ers on Onion though, give me a shout... I'm always up for arena stuff

I didn't read this thread, so I may be repeating what others have said.

I went with the old standard i18 builds, and replaced fitness with conserve power and boxing/tough. The resistance really does help, especially if you supplement it with psi resist bonuses (Though that's likely not as useful in zone)

If you're only doing zone, I'd probably suggest phase, since hiber will get you AS'd.

Thx Dave
I played with mids last night after seeing some other builds out in the zone
And some amazing dancing performed on my dead body

The resist is significant if the numbers on kids are true in game
Anther odd tweak was powerboost instead of conserve power
The negligible def numbers bump up alot
As well as super speed top number

I know the uber posters say def is not that great in pvp since everyone has acc in the hundreds and more when build up is going
But
If I was hit with a slow effect and needed to either chase or get away would the powerboost perform as advertised and give me the Dukes of hazard nitro boost that mids seems to imply?

I am willing to burn a respec just to try that out

Def is also not that good in PvP because DR hits it like a freight train. ~20% is the Diminshing Returns cap. 20% is better than nothing. If you ahve a handry defence power in your build (like Ice armor) no reason NOT to go for it, right? But not high enough to be a reliable defense against all the tactics, global accuracy bonuses, and, yes, BU/AIM/FA type effects.

Basically, what I've learned is to see it as a bonus thing. When you see that 'dodged' animation play as an attack wizzes by, thats a wonderful bonus. But you can't COUNT on it when planning your survival strategy.

I totally understand the whole defense thing
Even PFF is only " cute" in pvp
When I 1st started PVP in i12 I had a blaster with 3 slotted def in my PFF
And even with force of nature on I would get killed
Sure it took more shots

Anyway the thing I was thinking about was powerboost as a self speedboost for quick get away or running down the guy trying to escape with his last few hit points

So playing a Psi/EM or Stalker takes no skill at all? Hmm...that surely explains why there are so many bad one's out there. From what you're saying it sounds like you'd be gods gift to CoH if you played a Psi/EM, which makes me wonder what you play that takes so much skill?

As for the topic at hand, I did what Mebs said. Tough along with psi resist bonuses put me at the same amount of psi resist as a Force/Phase build while keeping Frozen Armor and Hoarfrost. It works well for arena PvP. For zones, a regular Cold Mastery build still works good, but Phase and PFF would be nice to have with TS.

I'm sorry to have to break this to you sir, but the prognosis isn't good.

The test for RV Down Syndrome was positive.

The test for Unique Butterfly Syndrome was sadly, also positive.

As a precaution we ran a few tests for rarer diseases.

You tested positive for Dahjmania, where the patient suffers from mass delusions that they know what they are talking about.

It would seem a you have the stage 3 of Mezmera's Syndrome, I'm sure you noticed the signs though. The constant whining about Psi/EM's in zones, claims of skill, ramblings of only being beaten (repeatedly) because of the build.

I don't know how to tell you this sir, our tests revealed a set of symptoms that have been previously unidentified and unnamed. Seeing as you are essentially patient 0 when it comes to this disease we have decided to name it SBanelexia (Because Crabs was already taken). Given that it is something so new and the symptoms so severe we can only hope you are in the late stages of it as it has gone unnoticed for quite some time.
Symptoms include : Blind Ignorance, mass paranoia about what is real and what isn't, mental regression, the belief that everyone is wrong but you, degrading motor skills and hand eye coordination, and finally complaining about builds and "skill" in Zone PvP, which in itself is the Playskool version of PvP.

He's a pretty good troll.

I'm on sbad's ignore list, can someone tell sbad that i challenge him to a duel? He can play whatever FoTM he wants, and I will not play a FoTM

Can't, because I too am on that list.

He complains about range but he has an arch/em?

Awww I got added to the list too because I don't understand the basics of PvP.

Maybe if the great and wise SBane12 can educate us newer PvP'ers instead of just claiming everything is wrong and made up and stupid, we could begin to learn the errors of our ways.