What level is your brute? What's the build like? Defense-based secondaries are usually a bit... trying in the lower levels.
I never feel heroic on my Brute, but I do feel downright Epic sometimes. What are you missing? My guess is quite a bit. /SD is made of awesome. I have read some posts on how it works better on scrappers than brutes, but that doesn't bother me. Still awesome on a brute. I can't personally compare it to other secondaries at high levels (except energy aura in the 30s - many many many issues ago. Pretty and meh), but I'm pretty sure it doesn't warrant the adjective of "squishy" even compared to things like /wp or /stone.
Nope, no self heal unless you dip into the pool for Aid Self. Honestly you shouldn't need it once you are even half built (like me, about half built or less) at 50 and at or near the softcap on your defenses - unless you are aiming to solo AVs and such. I haven't done that yet so no experience there, but I hear a self heal of some sort helps with those fights.
I noticed a night and day difference after getting Tough/Weave running with enough end management to handle it. The extra S/L resistance helps a LOT. Weave is maybe less of a buff, but still an easy way to get closer to capping def. If you aren't running those, that may be a factor as well.
If you are used to tank level survivability, I'm not sure a you'll get it. I will say that I got a tell from an LRSF leader that said he was really impressed with how well an /sd brute worked out as a tank for that. Lots of buffs on that team, so take that with a grain of salt. Still, nice to get props from the leader on a solid team like that.
Quote:
Brutes are a little more survivable than a Scrapper, and do a lot more damage than a Tank.|
Originally Posted by Ukaserex
I was thinking that a brute should be (damage dealing aside) a little less survivable than a tank, but more survivable than a scrapper.
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And I'll second that defense based secondaries don't really come into their own until endgame.
Shield brutes are most definitely squishy until you can start layering defenses and building some set bonuses. The best thing you can do in lower levels is to always enter every mission with tons of Lucks.
It gets better!
Freedom: Blazing Larb, Fiery Fulcrum, Sardan Reborn, Arctic-Frenzy, Wasabi Sam, Mr Smashtastic.
Quote:
Pretty much.|
Originally Posted by Sardan
Shield brutes are most definitely squishy until you can start layering defenses and building some set bonuses. The best thing you can do in lower levels is to always enter every mission with tons of Lucks.
It gets better! |
I have an SD/SS tank at 50 who's near (Not at, just near) the Softcap. She whoops ***. There was rough spots moving up there, yes, but she whips ***.
I also have a KM/SR Brute at level 36 with defenses around 35% at the moment. She also kicks loads of ***, although she tends to get smacked now and agian.
Defense based toons take a while to develop and need a lot of love and care to grow into the badasses we all know and love.
/begin rant
I must be missing something. I was thinking that a brute should be (damage dealing aside) a little less survivable than a tank, but more survivable than a scrapper.
Am I expecting too much from my Brute?
Is there some self-heal that I'm missing? I just don't understand why anyone would play a kin/shield brute - or /shield at all - the defense is about the same as a purple insp. The resist about the same as an orange insp.
I guess I can understand why Brutes are a "villain" AT. I sure don't feel heroic playing one.
What am I missing?
/end rant
"Most people that have no idea what they are doing have no idea that they don't know what they are doing." - John Cleese
@Ukase