Tankermind build: Maneuvers vs. Tough/Weave

I recently decided to dust off a Bots/FF MM I had sitting around, and after doing some surfing through the boards thought I'd go with a Tankermind build. After some messing around with a build someone had posted, I got a regen bonus of 178%. To do this, however, I swapped the Leadership pool for Fighting. So, my question is, do you think it's a fair trade? The one drawback I see is that Maneuvers applies to my bots as well, but if I'm going for the tankermind build (and using provoke) wouldn't I be better off with Tough/Weave? Also, I can slot Boxing to give a 14% regen bonus.

Here's the basic build. Don't worry too much about the power/slot levels, I'm more looking for advice on the bonuses, and how this build would work for a Tankermind.

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Morpheus1-2: Level 50 Technology Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Robotics
Secondary Power Set: Force Field
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Presence
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Battle Drones -- EdctM'r-PetDef(A), BriL'shp-Acc/EndRdx(37), BriL'shp-Acc(39), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(39), BldM'dt-Dmg(39), Dmg-I(40)
Level 1: Force Bolt -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(A), Dev'n-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Apoc-Dam%(48), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(48)
Level 2: Deflection Shield -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(3), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(3), GftotA-Def/Rchg(9), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(36), LkGmblr-Def(37)
Level 4: Insulation Shield -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(5), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(5), GftotA-Def/Rchg(7), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(7), LkGmblr-Def(9)
Level 6: Fly -- Frbd-Fly(A), Frbd-EndRdx(42)
Level 8: Equip Robot -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 10: Provoke -- Annoy-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(A), Annoy-Taunt/Rchg(11), Annoy-Taunt(11)
Level 12: Protector Bots -- SvgnRt-PetResDam(A), BriL'shp-Acc/Dmg(13), BriL'shp-Acc(13), BldM'dt-Acc/Dmg(21), BldM'dt-Dmg(34), Dmg-I(34)
Level 14: Aid Other -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg(15), IntRdx-I(15)
Level 16: Personal Force Field -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(17), LkGmblr-Def(17), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(19), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(19), GftotA-Def/Rchg(21)
Level 18: Hover -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 20: Repair -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(29)
Level 22: Dispersion Bubble -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(23), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(23), LkGmblr-Def(31), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(33), GftotA-Def/Rchg(33)
Level 24: Aid Self -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg(25), IntRdx-I(25)
Level 26: Assault Bot -- BriL'shp-Acc/EndRdx(A), BriL'shp-Acc(27), BldM'dt-Dmg(27), BldM'dt-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Acc-I(31), Dmg-I(43)
Level 28: Resuscitate -- Numna-Heal/Rchg(A), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(29)
Level 30: Boxing -- P'ngS'Fest-Stun%(A), Rope-Acc/Rchg(36), Rope-Acc/Stun(36), P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg(48)
Level 32: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(33), S'fstPrt-ResKB(34)
Level 35: Upgrade Robot -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), GftotA-Run+(43), Krma-ResKB(46)
Level 41: Force Bubble -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Scorpion Shield -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(45), LkGmblr-Def(45), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(45), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(46), GftotA-Def/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Power Boost -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 49: Group Fly -- Frbd-EndRdx(A), Frbd-Fly(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Dmg-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Supremacy
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A), Flight-I(43), Flight-I(50)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(40), Numna-Heal(40), RgnTis-Regen+(50)
Level 2: Stamina -- EnManip-Stun%(A), EnManip-EndMod/Rchg(42), EnManip-EndMod(42)
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 5% Defense
• 4.25% Defense(Smashing)
• 4.25% Defense(Lethal)
• 3% Defense(Fire)
• 3% Defense(Cold)
• 3% Defense(Energy)
• 3% Defense(Negative)
• 3% Defense(Psionic)
• 3.625% Defense(Melee)
• 3% Defense(Ranged)
• 3% Defense(AoE)
• 15% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 45% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 57.23 HP (7.127%) HitPoints
• Knockback (Mag -8)
• Knockup (Mag -8)
• 17.5% (0.292 End/sec) Recovery
• 178% (5.967 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 20% ResEffect(FlySpeed)
• 20% ResEffect(RechargeTime)
• 20% ResEffect(RunSpeed)
• 10% Resistance(Smashing)
• 10% Resistance(Lethal)
• 10% Resistance(Fire)
• 10% Resistance(Cold)
• 10% Resistance(Energy)
• 10% Resistance(Negative)
• 10% Resistance(Toxic)
• 10% Resistance(Psionic)
• 7.5% RunSpeed

Pets can be resummoned whenever you want, but their effectiveness disappears if you disappear. Maneuvers boosts defense by 2.625% while Tough boosts damage resistance by 15% and Weave boosts defense by 4.5%. If you team lots, then Maneuvers is useful, but if you solo lots, then Weave is more useful than Maneuvers since Bots are replaceable.

I'd say take Leadership, all the suvivability in the world doesn't matter if your bots can't hit anything and Tactics really helps the lower tier bots.

Well, maybe what I'll do then is drop Provoke and Resuscitate and take both.

Drop Repair and pick up Maneuvers. You already have Aid Other, which is superior in every way from my play experience (my first villain is a Lvl 50 Bots/FF).

Also, dropping Repair wouldn't allow me to take Maneuvers, as I'd still have four pools already. The only option I can see that would allow me to take both would be to drop Provoke, which would free up a pool choice.

Drop fighting, grab leadership, problem solved

For a /FF repair would be the better choice honestly. What damage does get through your defense, that your protector bots won't heal up on their own, you can use repair on. Even with a base slot (1 rech) Its up often enough to help out a lot in conjunction with the protector bot heals.

See: http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Taunt_(Status_Effect)

Most "Tankerminds" have no clue how the Taunt effect works in game and just stand around spamming Provoke. This approach is somewhat ineffective if you aren't also attacking or have taken attacks to generate threat. Taunt/Provoke is a threat multiplier that works marginally well by itself because it generates some threat on its own. You need to attack/cause damage/generate threat as well as layer Provoke to be most effecctive, and your build has very few attacks that will cause enough damage/mez/debuff in order to generate such threat.

Dropping Provoke isn't as bad as it seems, and most "Tankerminds" should really read the link or play a Brute/Tank to better understand why simply spamming Provoke doesn't hold agro all that well. Pets and allies will rapidly strip agro off of this type of uninformed Tankermind.

My opinion is that if you can't generate threat and multiply it with the taunt effect in Provoke, then it may be better to grab something else. And since you are a FF mastermind, Manuevers will have a very significant effect since it's stacking on an already high level of defense.

Thanks for the input everyone. I've just been using the vet reward attacks, so I think I'll try dropping provoke in favor of taking Leadership and Fighting.

To take this in another direction, I've been reading through the bind and macro info, but am still relatively new to it. Does anyone know if there is a way to create a macro to cast Repair on a specific bot? Either by name, or just by something like "tier 1, bot 1?"

Jumping in late, but has anyone else not noticed that the person who is trying to grab aggro from his pet is not defense capped. I get the whole regen idea. I'm not going to speak on how effective his regen of 380% is going to be when coupled with only half Defenses. I'm honestly not familiar with regeneration numbers to say ahh okay, 380% is equal to 20% defenses.

My thoughts are how susceptible is that build to a damage spike.. Similar to what an AV hands out.. With the number of hits getting through I can see bodyguard mode being done with in 2 hits from an AV. Or multiple bosses, either LTs or an EB and several LTs. Which similarly with low defenses would be seeping in through about 50% of the time..

I also wanted to comment on that link JuliusSeizure pointed out. Which is very true.. Someone pointed it out to me a while back when I asked about tankerminds and its one of the big reasons why I have Trip mine and fire ball in my build, to help build up the aggro.

With all that being said.. I have also have a robot traps mm looking to go that route. I was looking at something along this route.

Here is the break down..

Your at Ranged Defense Cap from the start.. Once bubbled up by the protector bots your now at AOE and Melee Defense Cap.

I am not crazy about the endurance Ratio so I think this is where the Cardiac Alpha slot would definitely come in handy.. I had Scorpion Shield slotted which for certain put you in Smash Lethal Cap but it was a killer on endurance. I swapped it out for Repulsion Bomb for an additional AOE attack to help reinforce Provoke. It Lowered endurance but still its not within the 2 point cushion I am used to.

If you had the money I would say swap out the kb protection in tough for the PvP IO which offers +3 Def. Which now would bring your AOE up to Defense cap. The only thing you would be relying on the bots for is the Melee Defense Cap. If your have the Vet pet for Defense, then I think with the rounding up the system does you would be close to Melee Defense cap. Otherwise your stuck waiting for the pet buff for cap..

I placed in Photon Grenade a Absolute Amazement proc for - 7.5% ToHit. out of many Purple IO's it is one of the cheapest. It's a Kluge but for now it is the best I can think of. It's that power that you hope goes off when your trying to resummon your pets during a fight that might have went bad.. Your hoping the Proc goes off to give you the Defense Cap you need for that moment. At 33%% its much higher then other procs going off.

The one good thing about Repulsion Bomb is now with the KB IO's I believe it changes it to a Knock back instead of Knock Down. Since it is AOE if your have Repulsion Field going and mobs sneak in you now have 2 powers to knock back enemies with.

If LOTG are not your style then I would swap out the LOTG for Kismet IOs. Gift of the Ancients set bonus is maxed out.

You also have Repair.

Overall I think it covers pretty much what everyone wanted. I feel if I play around with it a bit more I might be able to fine tune it a bit more..

My final issue is with all honesty I have not played the build. I do not usually post builds I do not play for myself. I am generally more comfortable posting something I use and play so I can clearly say what it can and cannot do. But it is what it is.. If you respeced to it and the endurance drain is impossible then you should immediately try to get Alpha slotted. I know from experience that it saved my AR Device toon.

No more babbling.. Here is the build

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Technology Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Robotics
Secondary Power Set: Force Field
Power Pool: Medicine
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Presence
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Battle Drones

• (A) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage
• (7) Blood Mandate - Damage/Endurance
• (11) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Endurance
• (11) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (29) Blood Mandate - Accuracy
• (29) Blood Mandate - Damage

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage
• (3) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge
• (5) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (7) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (19) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (19) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance

• (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense
• (3) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance

• (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense
• (5) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO

• (A) Miracle - Heal/Recharge
• (9) Miracle - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (9) Miracle - Heal
• (48) Interrupt Reduction IO

• (A) Empty

• (A) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage
• (13) Blood Mandate - Damage/Endurance
• (13) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Endurance
• (25) Blood Mandate - Accuracy
• (27) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (27) Blood Mandate - Damage

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
• (40) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection

• (A) Miracle - Heal/Recharge
• (17) Miracle - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (17) Miracle - Heal
• (23) Interrupt Reduction IO

• (A) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Recharge
• (25) Razzle Dazzle - Endurance/Stun
• (31) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Endurance
• (33) Razzle Dazzle - Stun/Range
• (42) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge
• (42) Absolute Amazement - Chance for ToHit Debuff

• (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance
• (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense
• (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge
• (48) Gift of the Ancients - Endurance/Recharge
• (50) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (50) Gift of the Ancients - Run Speed +7.5%

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

• (A) Perfect Zinger - Taunt/Range
• (33) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage
• (36) Perfect Zinger - Taunt/Recharge/Range
• (37) Perfect Zinger - Taunt
• (39) Perfect Zinger - Taunt/Recharge
• (50) Perfect Zinger - Accuracy/Recharge

• (A) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage
• (34) Blood Mandate - Damage/Endurance
• (34) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Endurance
• (34) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (36) Blood Mandate - Accuracy
• (36) Blood Mandate - Damage

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed
• (33) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
• (37) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense
• (31) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance
• (31) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO

• (A) Explosive Strike - Damage/Knockback
• (37) Explosive Strike - Accuracy/Knockback
• (39) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage
• (40) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge
• (48) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
• (39) Endurance Reduction IO

• (A) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Recharge
• (42) Enfeebled Operation - Immobilize/Range
• (43) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Endurance
• (43) Enfeebled Operation - Endurance/Immobilize
• (43) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Immobilize/Recharge
• (46) Enfeebled Operation - Accuracy/Immobilize

• (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
• (45) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
• (45) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
• (45) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
• (46) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
• (46) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Empty

• (A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
• (15) Miracle - Heal/Recharge
• (15) Miracle - Heal

• (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
• (23) Performance Shifter - EndMod
• (40) Endurance Modification IO

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