Any Suggestions for a Claw/Ninjutsu Stalker

Hi:

With the advent of I19 we getting alot of new choices and specially versatility, not to mention free-respecs :<)

I had, in my mind, optimized my defense cap for my Stalker based on MIDS, not realizing that the value of my defenses were based on full hide.

I remember going into an ITF all smiles and so excited at my killer build, and then I went Aha! Dead LT, and then the minions proceded to kick my buns, with the other LT and Boss.

I felt like crying, oh heck, I did cry as in mere moments I was reduced to dust. With my ego totally crushed, I endured the rest of the TF feeling more like a support AT than a melee.

For days, I been wondering and agonizing on what happened, and how could it had happened?

Eventually from reading in this forums, I read an article about MIDs defensive calculation being done in an "optimistic" manner. So I went back to my build in MIDs and toggled off my "Hide" power and bang, there was the potential answer to my public humiliation at ITF, as soon as I attacked, I gave up my full hide coverage and besides becoming a target, I also became a victim.

So now, I have a design question for you all more experienced players than me:

As I understand there are 2 schools of defense capping, you could go positional (melee, ranged, AOE) or go the Lethal/Smash route which exploits the characteristic that there is no pure attacks, since all attacks are something plus lethal or smash.

Which route makes more sense for a Stalker?

I imagine, I can pursue lots of resistance, but I don't think that is possible with a Stalker to get resistance to any truly respectable level.

What I want?

I want my Stalker after uncovering, to be able to Scrapper around. I may not be as damage effective as a Scrapper, but I want the staying power of one. I value survivability above damage dealing ability, since I like to solo large groups of mobs at a time.

So any advice or builds for my Claws/Ninjutsu Stalker?

Hugs

Stormy

Well, since you haven't got a response yet I thought I might offer a little help. First of, I'm just returning from a year long absence so I am still figuring some stuff out (alpha slots, power changes, the state of the market economy, etc.), but since I have a lvl 50 Claws Nin that is currently IO'ed out, here goes.

First, since your armors are Melee/Ranged/AOE based, naturally it is easiest soft-capping positional defense. Putting together this build was fairly cheap when I did it, but that being a year ago, not sure what the cost would be now. I didn't use any purples or any of the ultra rare pieces so this should be something attainable.

I have both Melee and Ranged defenses to just below the soft-cap BEFORE accounting for Hide, which I assume still suppresses to roughly 2.3%, meaning both hit the soft-cap when accounting for Hide defense.

Hope this helps a little:

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.91
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Oblivion: Level 50 Technology Stalker
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Ninjitsu
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Weapon Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(3), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), T'Death-Dam%(15)
Level 1: Hide -- DefBuff-I(A)
Level 2: Slash -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(13), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(13), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17), T'Death-Dam%(17)
Level 4: Ninja Reflexes -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(5), S'dpty-Def(5), S'dpty-EndRdx(7)
Level 6: Danger Sense -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(7), S'dpty-Def(9), S'dpty-EndRdx(9)
Level 8: Assassin's Claw -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(23), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(25), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(25), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 12: Placate -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Kuji-In Rin -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 18: Focus -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(19), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(21), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 20: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 22: Kuji-In Sha -- Dct'dW-Heal(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(34), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(34), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 24: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), S'fstPrt-ResKB(27)
Level 26: Build Up -- AdjTgt-Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(39)
Level 28: Eviscerate -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(29), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Mako-Dam%(31)
Level 30: Caltrops -- TmpRdns-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(A), P'ngTtl-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(33)
Level 32: Shockwave -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(33), Posi-Dmg/Rng(50), Posi-Dam%(50)
Level 35: Blinding Powder -- CoPers-Conf(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(36), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(36), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(36), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(37), CoPers-Conf%(37)
Level 38: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(40), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(40), S'dpty-EndRdx(46)
Level 41: Web Grenade -- Enf'dOp-Acc/Rchg(A), Enf'dOp-EndRdx/Immob(42), Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(42), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(42), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(43), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob(43)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(45), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(45), Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(45)
Level 47: Exploding Shuriken -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng(48), Posi-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Recall Friend -- EndRdx-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Assassination
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(46)
Level 2: Stamina -- Efficacy-EndMod(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(40), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(43), Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(46)