Elec/Elec/??? Blapper - Does anyone Blap anymore?

First off, am I the only fool that still tries to play the role of Blapper? Solo, it's a bit of a crap shoot (in a mostly fun way) and very challenging. Teamed, as long as I have a Tanker to hold aggro, I am a beast... if not a minor annoyance for the Defenders (thank you all for your efforts in keeping my alive).

The "Electricity^3: The Guide to Blaptrolling in I8" guide from Mystic_Amethyst was very helpful in setting my toon up but I'm wondering how pertinent the information in it is these days (11 issues later).

Long John Electron (he be a robotic pirate - yeaarrgh!) dinged 35 this morning and picked up Power Sink. As the APP/PPPs approach I am wondering which would be best. I toyed with the idea of going Leviathan for thematic sake but then figured it will be between Force Mastery or Electrical Mastery.

Force will offer two panic buttons in PFF and Force of Nature along with S/L Defense shield. Electrical will offer a panic button, a third hold, an S/L/E Defense shield, and possibly a cone or PBAoE attack (I'm not sold on either yet).

Thoughts? Opinions? Snide remarks?

I have power choice questions but will wait to see if this thread picks up any momentum. I can also post of build if we'd like to pick him apart.

Knowing what I know now as opposed to building old blappers i'd almost go elec for the simple fact that an elec shield is a huge boost when fighting rikti. That and elec is certainly a lot more thematic and fitting with the character. If you're doing a lot of end draining too then static discharge is one more power to help with it performance wise.

Overall I'd say only really consider force if you have the healing pool, PFF is great to hide in to cast aid self, but otherwise it's kinda eh. The other force powers are knockbacks which defeats the whole point of blapping too. That and force of nature and surge of power are virtually the same power numbers wise.

One thing I would shoot for though? Try to get the geas of the kind ones accolade from the badges in croatoa. Pair it with hasten and something like surge of power, and the damage output is flat out scary.

My main is an Energy/Energy/Force Blapper.....

My fire/fire/fire blaster lives in melee. If i'm not using RoTP every time its up, i did something wrong.. And thats how i play him

For the patrons...you'd have to go full villain, as contacts won't give you missions as a vigilante.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiling_Joe ::looks at RaikenX's signature:: Something funny.

Blapping still exists. My main is an Elec. x3. I went with Elec. epic, it provides a good cone with Static Discharge, another hold (which is good), Charged armor for resist and Surge of Power stacked with armors can be sweet for a little while. Even EMP can have it's uses, though I don't use it.

That's just my personal feel for it. I love to sap and pound those dastardly evil-doers.

Currently, I'm on a static team where I and another both have Fire/Fire blappers. It's fun when you have that tank holding agro for you.

My Elec/Elec/Elec is a Blaptroller.. Taser will Blast you.. Blap you.. Hold you... Drain you..


into oblivion...

Elec/Elec/Elec may be the way to go. I still have to run some numbers in Mids but I like hearing the support for Electrical Mastery.

Another question for those who took Electricity Manipulation. What do ya'll think of Thunder Strike? Leading up to level 27 I couldn't wait to get it. But now after having it a few levels, I feel as though the animation takes way too much time and I'm not too keen on the knockback. I know that it packs a punch (pun intended) but I'm thinking of dropping it from my attack chain.

Is that just crazy talk?

re: thunder strike

if you really like to use it, invite controllers to your teams and wait for the anti-kb immobs.

i typically rush in near the tank when the mob is about half spent, say 4-7 baddies, and hit TS when i want to feel smashy. By the time it lands there are 2-5 baddies (your teammates have killed some), after it hits you can finish whatever's left with a quick blast or two- which will have all recharged while TS was animating.

3.3 seconds, and it feels like an eternity unless you're built to live in melee or there's a tank. but i still have it and still use it, cuz it's Fun; even a little epic if you manage to tag it right to the end of a build up chain. and i like the set bonuses. ymmv, my 2 inf, etc.

Like you, I was going to lose Thunderstrike on my /EM blaster, but decided at the last to take it for the bonuses in a PBAoE set. Plus, ummmm..... I couldn't come up with something I liked more. It will be the last of my punches I'll use though.

I opted for Fire in the epics, mainly for RotP. Not only is it a LOT of fun, but now I regard my untimely demise in an all new way - as just another tool in my arsenal of doom and destruction. Added bonus: I don't feel any need to try and soft-cap my blaster.

Go Flame Mastery and slot Rise of the Phoenix fully as a nuke. Don't look at faceplanting as something to fear, look at it as a chance to blow stuff up!

In reference to the question "does anyone blap any more?".... I have always considered the word "blapper" to be preceded by the word "crazy." Just hate that term - sounds ugly, and has developed a connotation meaning suicidal.

My /EM is an ice blaster, who holds, then smacks 'em good. Have never EVER considered her a blapper. She's not remotely crazy. In fact, she dies less than my scrappers. She's just a blaster who gets ranged attacks and melee attacks, just like the other blasters.

I don't think blasters in general have passed over the melee attacks, but now have more options for mitigation, and are thus able to play smarter. I haven't seen a "crazy, suicidal blapper" in ages. I do see a lot of blasters who combine powers intelligently - psi/fire is a pretty common one, isn't it?

So, to answer the question, IMO, I think it's just the term that's gone by the wayside, not having a combination of attack styles. And good riddance, too. Now if we can do something about the term "scranker".....