Did you do a board search? There were some recent threads on this including one I'd started a few weeks ago.
People are more likely to propose builds when you show one first, too. Just sayin.
I have looked at the many WM/SD build posts out there. I'm not looking for a build. I'm looking for words that will help describe what potential problems I might face once I'm 50. I'm looking for advice more than a build.
What's it like at 50? Awesome. Fun. Smash-tastic. I went body mastery (with superior conditioning and physical perfection) for my epic pool and I went spiritual for my alpha slot (faster clobber recharge, crowd control recharge, and shield charge? Yes please. Plus a side of +Heal for Health and True Grit? Nice). I very rarely have endurance problems (blues tend to accumulate in my inspiration tray as a result) - even if I'm fighting carnies. I used a fairly cheap IO build (it's posted around here somewhere, look for "Budget War Mace/Shield" build. I ended up using Twilight Snow's build and it's pretty darn good). My WM/SD is not an epic AoE farmer like a SS/Fire brute, but she can come close and she doesn't have to worry about silly rage crashes.
Problem children: You've probably already run into Devouring Earth Quartzes. Malta sappers rarely hit, so they can be safely clobbered and then finished off with crowd control/shatter/whirling mace/shield charge or what haveyou. Cimmerorans can cause problems if you're handling too many by yourself (cascading defense failure). Things with lots of slows that can stack on you can be painful (Council/5th Column marksmen, nictus from the ITF)- but usually not fatal (not enough hit to really crash your recharge).
Role in teams: Typically, I take a role as an Off-Tank/damage. I'll wade in to the spawn behind the "main" tank and see how much agro I can pull off them. If the main tank goes down, usually I've got enough threat that most things can shift to me and it's a matter of picking up stragglers and making sure the squishies are safe. If everything goes well, things get clumped around the "main" tank and I can go to town with AoEs or single target any problem children that need to be dealt with.
Hypothetically, I think you could get away with the cardiac alpha and stamina just fine. I found that my endurance problems started going away when I started slotting sets. The extra end redux in your attacks really makes a huge difference. Cardiac would just build on that instead of the extra max end and extra recovery that I built into my build through Physical Perfection and Superior Conditioning. In general, I don't find myself lacking AoE or wishing an AoE was up sooner with my current setup. The build that Twilight Snow made for me is soft capped with no real sacrifices in terms of power picks or expensive IOs (a few touch of death sets, 1 mako's bite set, multistrikes in AoEs, serendipity in defense toggles, and the steadfast +3% def IO. No PvP IO).
My War Mace/Shield brute is my new main character. I'm sure there are stronger characters out there but she's pretty darn strong, survivable, versatile (in the sense that she's got a powerful AoE chain and a powerful ST chain), and I came up with character concept and costume for her that I really like. Hopefully this information is what you were looking for.
Here's a link to my "Budget Build" request.
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=246450
Thanks Valorin. That was some good information. I used it to create a new build for my guy. I'm hoping that I won't have endurance issues with it so I'll be able to slot Spiritual Core Paragon. I have more endurance use than your build, but more recovery as well, so maybe it will work out.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Grim Hand of Death: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulverize -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(11), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(11), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), T'Death-Dam%(15)
Level 1: Deflection -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(3), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(3), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(5), ImpArm-ResDam(5), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(7)
Level 2: Jawbreaker -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(17), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(17), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Mako-Dam%(21)
Level 4: Battle Agility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(7), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(9), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(9)
Level 6: True Grit -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(33), Numna-Heal(33), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(33)
Level 8: Clobber -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(21), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(23), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Mako-Dam%(29)
Level 10: Active Defense -- Empty(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(13)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Whirling Mace -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42)
Level 20: Phalanx Fighting -- Ksmt-ToHit+(A)
Level 22: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- Aegis-Psi/Status(A), Aegis-ResDam(25), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(25), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(27), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(27)
Level 26: Shatter -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 28: Grant Cover -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 30: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(31), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(31), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 32: Crowd Control -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 38: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(39), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(39), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(39), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(40), GSFC-Build%(40)
Level 41: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(50), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(50), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(50)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(46)
Level 47: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 49: One with the Shield -- GA-3defTpProc(A)
Level 50: Spiritual Radial Boost
Level 0: Born In Battle
Level 0: High Pain Threshold
Level 0: Invader
Level 0: Marshal
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Heal(34), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(34)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(46), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(46)
Code:
| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1439;685;1370;HEX;| |78DA65936D53524114C777E1A2A29822089AA8689A887005B5D7CD945A3632A3D39| |48D3D307764815B84CC0567B2577D869AA92FD0E357E9B9BE470FEF4BE9DCF35F8C| |8281FBDB3D7BCEFEFFF72C9B7BB01A10E2D17921FB2E56AC7A3D7FC13968285FCE2| |AD97B43971CFB7EFCB2552DC4F78BF1556535CADD428830A7E473AAA294B96339F9| |9CB5A76208AEAAA2AAD69579B56CAB4AA1350D6E54CBCA51D586D91A04B6F6F72BE| |6A6B26A76B5D4CF9375BB546ED06CA0B554504EBD6CD7FE9F8FAED5EC3D73ADAA9C| |D22149D71BCA3984EB113297A4DF8214FAD3F4895DC29CE8BD09DC62046E334EDD0| |1F28CB7D4072175D5300DB2C2130606194608484837BD6B869192BA88AA6451B809| |8325A0CC18B281BB8CF03DC63BD2F242CBEB855617B47AA0D533C4784F793E9DE78| |BD2605CC4AFF34AFC1AB0CD30E9D9AD5D74C345182E227011818B185CC4E0E203ED| |EE4795F037E92322B4491FF4641F7C05E02B4A2BFD3AB73FC1E51FA97C404A0E0D4| |C712843B320B28C60D3E386A68E19330F3961EE8031DF607CA21D429013A123E1BE| |9E877486B5CE307BF252248A24237A8ECD8CAC0019C6E925609991A5E7A8B6300A0| |B495848C1420ADA2938F94C16C6B48531BC844182E3BAE9E368C2049A3081C399C0| |E1B8B2935A69124AF3509A8752121249087E21A5697D46D3BF38EFCC6FE008D09DC| |25633C2EB224D22B3BA6AF639AF9C7D01BC045E31E65E036F187E3A84847E85C433| |0E651F034F81278C40B0755B9A72017969E405A909A6DEC1441316D184453461114| |DF84A6F95D1E7955962CB31E3E4FAD1D73DC2644724D311C97644963B222B1D9175| |E3E4D236373B56B78C93CB292447FC83C2ED2BE77FEBA5557DF432CD67F4E36FC82| |3AFF0059FDA00D618DFDB6B700D7EB6D7FCD3C3347ABD1D12FCAF7435B77BDD5663| |BCD336BED136DE6D1BFF01703BF983| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Please take a look at my post in another thread on WM/Shield brutes. Note that the person asking stated that they already have the +Def PVP IO. If you don't have the money or A-Merits to buy one of those, you can use Maneuvers or Stealth to cover the difference. If you grab a power to get the last bit of defense, you'll want to strongly consider Energy Mastery for Superior Conditioning and Physical Perfection, and if you take stealth, remember to set Mids' to show your suppressed values (Options > Configuration > Effects & Maths > Suppression table on the far right, make sure "Attacked" is checked) or else it will report your out-of-combat defense, which is twice as high as it would be in combat.
Actually, Mace/Shield is kinda endurance heavy, so you'll probably want to go Energy Mastery anyways.
@Roderick
Roderick, I took a look at that thread and revised my build. I was trying to get out from under maneuvers. My take on the +3% def pvp io is that I'll just save up Vmerits for it. I think it would be worthwhile in that I could then drop maneuvers. I like the end cost vs. end use ratio of this build. I would have liked a way to put in aid self, but I only have 1 extra power and no slots for it anyway.
Any thoughts on this revised build, and what power to throw in there?
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Grim Hand of Death: Level 50 Magic Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulverize -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(13), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Mako-Dam%(17)
Level 1: Deflection -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(3), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(3), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(9), ImpArm-ResDam(9), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(11)
Level 2: Jawbreaker -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(17), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(23), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Mako-Dam%(37)
Level 4: Battle Agility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(5), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(5), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 6: True Grit -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(7), Numna-Heal(50)
Level 8: Clobber -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), Mako-Dam%(43)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(13)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Whirling Mace -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(19), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(19), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(21), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(21), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 20: Phalanx Fighting -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 22: Kick -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(43), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 26: Shatter -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(27), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(27), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(29), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 28: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(31), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(31), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 30: Grant Cover -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 32: Crowd Control -- M'Strk-Acc/Dmg(A), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(33), M'Strk-Dmg/Rchg(33), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(33), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(36), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 38: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(39), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(39), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(39), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(40), GSFC-Build%(40)
Level 41: Superior Conditioning -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(46), P'Shift-EndMod(46), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(46)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(48), P'Shift-EndMod(48), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(48)
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: One with the Shield -- GA-3defTpProc(A)
Level 0: Born In Battle
Level 0: High Pain Threshold
Level 0: Invader
Level 0: Marshal
Level 50: Spiritual Radial Boost
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Heal(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(50), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(50)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(45), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(45), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(45)
Code:
| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1427;678;1356;HEX;| |78DA65936B4F1341148667BA2DD852A48562B9146811A494525AE0BB89028AA109C| |428C62F646D8776B56EEBEE62E49BBF4113FD035EFF8A77FD1F5EBE7BA967CF3B85| |26DD64F79D79E7CC3C67CEEC941F6D4485787C51C881CB0DD3750F2E39479E0A95C| |D9A5519BEE258F7D3574DBB9A6E1EA63794E9D5FB8510090E3928AB8652857DD339| |289B159582B9A10E95EDAAC2F5BAA51AD54E37BE6DD795A36CAFD06944779BCD466| |147992DCBAE0D7267CBAAD53DEAC5B9B76D3FB45CEB8ED5B0BCE3A14E7055396EDD| |6A8D6FB6AC4A61D3564EED98E0AEA79C63E43D46E9E5E85D92423FED90382429894| |88D255A67397B1762B1C4EEB1BCA34A08A9678D4ADF0A2420319633C3902CC98288| |CCB1E4A59E44B3245831B0CE813506C818907360BD27960196618015042B08561F5| |81F282E84B84028498D29D17793474A37580AF4EDD7F87EE017805F047E11F845E0| |73C07FA465C358568497902DAD32004B0E20A328324AD2C820106230CBC19F68FE9| |0946C0D65D82A522FAE1389B7D81A7E007158122EC403EE88E5332D34A21319D135| |27DCA8C68DB6E9110639495D84E43A07E58A9035D482BEE39A3D0EF604D81360A7C| |04E813D0D7690969DD4673009F634763C8D33C8E00CBE508E533AC7296C7695BA33| |1A3803601AC03480690033006600FC4A0BCDEA59B3BF03BE75FE0FE42FE41FCB5C1| |B220C5F968935AF67CDBFE0910B2F21AF20AF5916DE40DEB284E92CB27A73D9E76C| |2D3F833C813C6589C63BD7A56D2C216E05712B885B419C7F10ED6FB481A23E9AE22| |A67970A9E5C35C14122D7E3147B9C528FB3D6E3ACF7385BC1930BDADEE919DD0D9E| |5C4421D909C7845F428EFF1EA151D93DFAF3D409C86DBECBA56B904D961FDD53F0D| |FFF3AB50C896AE551A63C8A9647B5F622FE350279BFAB7DABAB7DBBABBD3722F827| |F6DBFF014C2FFC21| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|
My WM/SD brute is lvl 37 right now and I'm having a lot of fun with him. I have a pocket ice/cold cor so I'm softcapped already, and I can just go around herding until I have about 10 mobs around me and then lay into the Shield Charge/Whirling Mace/Crowd Control/Shatter and watch them all melt around me. I love it!
What I don't love is trying to come up with a final build. This is my first brute with War Mace or Shield Defense so I don't know what the end game will be like. I don't know how much endurance I'm going to need.
Will I need Energy Mastery epic? Will I also need Cardiac alpha, or will energy mastery be enough that I can go Nerve for the extra defense buff?
Do I go with fighting pool AND maneuvers? Is it worth it to save up the Vmerits for the PvP +def IO?
Just doing a little experiment I find if I 3 slot all def powers with generic 50 IO's, including combat jumping, weave, and maneuvers, slot the two +3% def IO's in true grit, slot 6 Gaussian's in build up, 6 Oblits in Shield Charge, 6 Mako's in an attack, and 5 Aegis in tough, I end up with 46.3% melee and ranged, and 47.3% AoE.
Is that a good way to go? It would seem if I do that it frees me up to look for recharge elsewhere, so I don't need hasten, so I can go Aid Self. If I do that and go Energy Mastery and Cardiac, and slot the Miracle and Numi procs, will that take care of my endurance woes? Is that enough AoE? I was originally interested in Mu or Soul for Dark Oblit or Ball Lightning but I've heard that will cause redraw. I might still be interested in that if Cardiac and the procs are enough to take care of my endurance, but since I'm only lvl 38 I don't know the answers to these questions.
Can someone let me know?
Thanks.