Elec/Thermal Help (after creating 5 toons!)

So I've gone back and forth creating various controllers/defenders based on a conceptual build. (I discovered I tend to stick with characters longer if I actually enjoy them as a character- believe it or not.)

Let me cut to the chase. After creating 5 characters last week of various combinations, I decided I liked the subtlety and appearance of Electric control, while being a 'team' player with Thermal. Which is nice because I'm busy during a tough mission... but not insane button mashing busy.

I'm stuck on the build. The bottom line? I'm trying to get utility and not use hasten. I'm trying to get near ranged soft cap def.....

-My first question is (this always confuses me) will my use of Steadfasts in the two shields work like I think they do?

-Secondly, I'm stuck at the end of the build as you will see by the blank slots.

-Thirdly, I wasn't sure what to do with conductive aura. In reality I'm always hovering with this character, usually over the heat of the battle, but I think the field causes aggro... it's such a cool power, a defining element of the build, look and feel of the character, but yet I've done literally nothing with the power, but I"m not convinced it needs to be tweaked... thoughts?

Here's the build. I hope someone can help me answer some questions. I worked hard to get to 26.... and finally found I really seem to like this toon. Thanks for the help. (and advice previous to this as well!)

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Intergalactic: Level 50 Mutation Controller
Primary Power Set: Electric Control
Secondary Power Set: Thermal Radiation
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Tesla Cage -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(3), Lock-Rchg/Hold(5), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(13), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(21), Lock-%Hold(31)
Level 1: Warmth -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(3), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(5), Dct'dW-Rchg(9), Dct'dW-Heal(13)
Level 2: Thermal Shield -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 4: Cauterize -- Heal-I(A)
Level 6: Jolting Chain -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(7), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21)
Level 8: Hover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 10: Conductive Aura -- RgnTis-Regen+(A)
Level 12: Plasma Shield -- S'fstPrt-ResKB(A)
Level 14: Fly -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(15)
Level 16: Static Field -- CSndmn-Acc/Rchg(A), CSndmn-EndRdx/Sleep(17), CSndmn-Acc/Sleep/Rchg(17), CSndmn-Sleep/Rng(23), CSndmn-Heal%(25), ImpSwft-Dam%(40)
Level 18: Paralyzing Blast -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(19), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(19), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(23), G'Wdw-Dam%(25)
Level 20: Power of the Phoenix -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Grant Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 24: Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 26: Synaptic Overload -- Mlais-Acc/Rchg(A), Mlais-EndRdx/Conf(27), Mlais-Acc/EndRdx(27), Mlais-Conf/Rng(34), Mlais-Acc/Conf/Rchg(36), Mlais-Dam%(36)
Level 28: Maneuvers -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(29), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(29), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(40), RedFtn-Def(43), RedFtn-EndRdx(43)
Level 30: Chain Fences -- TotHntr-Acc/Rchg(A), TotHntr-EndRdx/Immob(31), TotHntr-Acc/EndRdx(31), TotHntr-Immob/Acc(37), TotHntr-Acc/Immob/Rchg(37), TotHntr-Dam%(37)
Level 32: Gremlins -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(33), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(34), ExRmnt-+Res(Pets)(34)
Level 35: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(36), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(43), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(46), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(46), GSFC-Build%(46)
Level 38: Melt Armor -- LdyGrey-%Dam(A), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg(39), LdyGrey-Rchg/EndRdx(39), LdyGrey-DefDeb/Rchg/EndRdx(39), LdyGrey-DefDeb/EndRdx(40)
Level 41: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(42), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), LkGmblr-Rchg+(42)
Level 44: Mind Over Body -- ImpArm-EndRdx/Rchg(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(45), ImpArm-ResDam(45), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 47: Heat Exhaustion -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 49: Psionic Tornado -- Empty(A), Empty(50), Empty(50), Empty(50)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx(A), Numna-Heal(11), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(48)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(15)

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My own Elec/Therm is only 22, and I'm still trying to figure out what to do w/him myself, other than pimp out his ranged def, which is sort of a default action of mine on controllers. My own thoughts on the combo though are, that it's not a particularly good one, which is to say there's nothing intrinsically bad about it, but there's little synergy. I only took /Therm myself because it was that, FF, Emp or Son, none of which I particularly like, or at least at controller levels (love my Son defender tho).

I do like Elec/* primary, and I use Cond. Aura after I've laid down Static Field, so I can sap the mobs in relative safety. Then I spam Jolting Chain & Chain Fences til things drop (takes a while... which is why I always team). Unfortunately, this would work far better w/like an Elec/Rad setup. *shrugs* I use Therm for the 2 shields, the AoE heal (cuz it's forced on me), Forge, HE & MA; I take none of the other heals or the CM variant.

Looking at your build, why do you skip Forge? It's not as good as Fort or SB, but it's still a pretty good damage buff for your pets, if no one else. I'd take that over a ST heal, myself (I'm of the opinion that as a controller, you should be too busy to do targeted heals, which is why I don't like */Emp). Hell, I'd take Thaw over a heal, if it came down to it. And your shields are horribly underslotted. If you're more interested in healing than shielding, maybe Elec/Emp would be better (though there, again, I'd favor Fort over HO anyway)? But then you don't have Cauterize slotted either. Not really seeing what you're trying to do w/your secondary here.

The Fortuna set is still pretty cheap for your sleep. I'd also go for the 6x Coercive set--they've gone up in price a bit, but still are relatively affordable. Also I'd 6-slot Blood Mandate for Gremlins for better def #s.

Any reason for the no Hasten thing? Powers like IW, Forge (if you take it), MA & HL scream for faster recharges. Plus, you can then 6-slot Paralyzing Blast w/Lockdowns for more def. And Invis? Guess if you're not going the SS + stealth IO route...

W/a self heal, I don't see the need for a +regen IO in CA. That should be more heavily slotted w/end mods. W/CA, you'll also have few end issues, so you don't need to slot so heavily for end redux elsewhere (e.g. replace the D/E LotG in IW w/a D/R for faster recharge).

I think HE is taken way too late at 47, and Fences should also be taken earlier, but procced for damage (and the hold purp proc if you can afford it). Yes, it costs you def, but 6x Crap of the Hunter is a heavy price to pay for 3.125% ranged def. Same for 6-slotting Red Fortune for only 2.5%.

I need to think about some of this, but the easiest things I can answer is that:

- Hasten. I just wanted to make a build for once that didn't have it. I don't have it at 28, and I'm not I/O'd out yet and quite honestly I already have the important holds up very frequently, the heals constantly, and everything else I can tweak with LoTG's.

I'm just sick of the furry pom poms. I really COULD replace the invis/self invis with Hasten/SuperSpeed but I really do not find it essential right now.

On not taking Forge... I'm a controller first most. I prioritized by going Control 1, shields 2, heals 3. If a team needs more than that out of me.... I just did not want to be a button mashing buff bot. So far this has worked very well. A defender can do it better anyway.... but I more than make up for it... on thin teams I am constantly healing as it is, whipping out controls between constant heals. It is working out so I'm probably going to keep that going.

Your cages thing... I only just added it to the build. To be honest it's weak... it's really weak. It reminds me of some of early ice immobs. But it does draw aggro. After a while how many different holds are you flipping between? To be frank out of everything Elec offers, I find cages is just very ordinary. Maybe if I had a more..... 'selfish' secondary I would use it, but Thermal keeps me VERY busy. I'm sure you've found that too.

I actually find I really like this combo of elec/thermal. Like I said, 5 toons were created to get to this. And I admit it may not be 100% what you'd play... but what the heck.

I may try to get some things in sooner, but invis for instance.... with vet team teleport, it is so nice. Stalkers love the extra invis. It's all about being flexible. I like the flexibility this build has given me so far.... I am just kind of stumped at the end.

Thanks for the thoughts, I'll revisit this for sure.