Robotics - Dark Miasma vs. Traps

I know, I know. This has been asked before. But, I'm posting this because people in those threads end up just posting their own builds and saying 'copy this', while not really providing much information or true insight.

I'm not going to post a build until I can finalize what I want. I know I can soft cap both easily enough.

Dark Miasma and Traps both have a concept synergy for what I'm going for. When I can't decide by concept, the only alternative is power and gameplay. This is what I'm here for.

I am curious about the synergy between the two sets, and what extra add-ons each set needs to be able to not irritate the hell out of you. I know Robotics, at 32, has this amazing habit of sending stuff flying. Dark Miasma and Traps both seem to hate this.

I know one solution for Traps is to take Teleport, to move your traps around. A question for this is: how needed and useful is this? Is it better than Hasten, to put up traps sooner, and to knock down Pet cooldowns for when they go splat? With no proper healing, I can see Traps as to having to re-summon a bit more often, thus Hasten has it's appeal.

The other alternative to make 'bots less annoying is to go Mu Mastery, as an example, and using Fences to Anti-Knockback them.

Dark Miasma is getting Twilight Grasp's radius extended to the normal values, which is glorious. This, alone, has be excited. But one power generally isnt enough, in most cases.

So, to not make this long and drawn out;

What are the synergic bonuses, and notes, for Dark Miasma and Traps, to Robotics?

Which is better overall for 'tankerminding' aspects, for when the call is needed to perform as such (or if you just want to show off)?

Which allows more stupid hilarious fun in +X, xX?

Heck, which yields more excitement period?

And what are the team-note-worthy additions both bring? Because Masterminds, in most scenarios, are selfish little jerkfaces.

I like being loved~

Bots/Traps Synergy:

• Protector Bots summon Seeker Drones, which stack with your own Seeker Drones for good crowd control and Damage De-buff.
• Protector Bots buff the other Robots and yourself wth Force Shields, which stack with Force Field Generator for increased Defense.
• Caltrops and Poison Trap are an effective way to keep mobs together for the Assault Bot's Incendiary Swarm Missiles, as well as other AoEs used by your Robots.
• Assault Bot's Plasma Blast Regen De-buff stacks with Poison Trap's De-buff.
• Triage Beacon is a notable survivability boost to yourself, which can help when fighting AVs/Heroes.

Bots/Dark synergy:

• Assault Bot's Plasma Blasts do -Regen, which stacks very nicely with the -Regen from Twilight Grasp and Howling Twilight for soloing AVs and GMs (GMs are honestly kind of a joke as long as you can keep the damage up on them, though this can be made difficult if they do a lot of running around on varied terrain and across buildings, Jurassik )
• -ToHit stacks with the Defense from your Protector Bot's Force Field bubbles, and you've got several good sources of it (Darkest Night, Fearsome Stare, Twilight Grasp; also see point after this)
• Shadow Fall also has some Defense to stack with the ProtBot's bubbles
• Dark Servant is a 7th pet, with extra -ToHit and control effects which complement some of your other Dark Miasma powers
• This is somewhat less specific for Bots, but since they're attacking at range (*coughideallycouch*), you can keep them by your side for handy healing via Twilight Grasp, which can often bring all 6 of them back from the brink of defeat (and it's getting a radius buff next issue!).

Interesting so far! Not enough to make a firm decision yet, but both seem to have merit to consider so far.

Miasma's reliance on both a cone and an anchor to help hit their magical "Soft Cap", for the pets, is a little tricky... but hum. The assistance of one of the best heals in the game is alluring.

Still, I just can't decide...

Also another little (major) fact is that TG is getting buffed (finally normalized?) to a full 20' radius for MMs. (finally!)

The only real issue that kills dark miasma as an MM power is the ity-bitty radius on twilight grasp and that's getting fixed. Can't wait for it as it's impossible to count the number of times the minion that I'm trying to heal runs away from me right as I root for the animation.

The early levels can be very difficult for this reason but by the time you hit 24 most any set should be rolling right along. One thing to keep in mind is that your protector bots will be healing most damage that slips through the softcap. Dark does have some much more potent debuffs, particularly in howling twilight but traps is a much more solo friendly set

My bots/traps tanked the Vengeance buffed Bobcat on Tin Mage.

Just sayin'.

That's great, Dechs! What aspects of Traps allowed that?

Sorry, OP, you can NOT teleport the traps around. I think it used to be allowed but it was a minor nerf.

Traps vs. Dark is a good debate. Both traps and dark are rather stationary in their approach. Traps don't move and tar patch is stationary. Both sets benefit from higher recharge. Dark, if you go spiritual alpha slotting can benefit from recharge, stun, and heal. For traps, not so much on stun (some stun, but not a major feature) and even less heal benefit.

The big issue to decide is how the tohit debuff from multiple sources compares to the forcefield generator which is a pet that follows you, although sometimes it DOES lag. This issue and the bigger regen debuff in poison gas trap (for AV fights) are the two deciding issues in my opinion.

Awww :<

Well, I suppose the FFG's major issue is in faster-paced teams. I have noticed it lag behind when I played Traps in other styles, before. Since Dark's is a toggle, although obviously weaker, it doesn't have that issue flat-out.

Traps does have the better -Regen, but Dark's does have the advantage of being usable at range, and against an AV, has a few other (although resisted), effects.

Ugh. It's too hard to really decide! The Spirituality remark is a good one, but Dark is rather endurance hungry as it is. Hrm.

It seems both sets have great synergy ._.

I see! And what does Web Grenade bring to the kit that makes it that noteworthy? Sorry for the questions, but each comment makes me curious!

Right, right. Okay, that's something to really consider, to keep things in range of your toys.

Okay then, in terms of A/PPP, what works well with Traps? Since soft capping is hardly a challenge, I'm guessing a +Resistance pool?

Another thing, webnade keeping enemies out of melee range (where they tend to do the most damage) is worth noting as well.

For A/PPPs, actually, I went with Chill Mastery. It made softcapping to S/L trival (so I could focus set bonuses to other positions), gave me room for another LotG +recharge, and opened up the most broken power available to Masterminds: Hoarfrost. Big heal and +HP when you have a +regen power is ridiculous.

Is the +HP/Real really worth more than the huge resistances? Hum...

Hrnnn. This is a lot to consider, but traps is definitely showing it's appeal. Still, blah. I'd normally work this out with "Concept", but it works with both!

As for Hoarfrost, as nice as it is, Frozen Armor is hideous :<

I'd like to mentions that I found /dark to be A LOT easier to lvl up combared to traps as you get all of your big powers right ayway (1, 2, 4). Where as you dont seeker drones until 28. Just something to mention if you suck at lvling up toons like i do.

Traps in most ways will outperform /dark, until level 38. Then, I have a hard time saying which is better because of the arrival of your bestest pal ever, the mightiest non-mastermind pet of them all, the Dark Servant. Dark Servant heals, currently with a much wider radius than the mastermind (changes are coming). Dark Servant has a WHOPPING 30% base PbAoE tohit debuff aura. Dark Servant has controls not available to the mastermind in tenebrous tentacles. Everything the Dark Servant uses has a tohit component except for the hold. Speaking of which, holding foes of all magnitudes is increased using Dark Servant's petrifying gaze with your pet gaze with additional hold from patron powers.

What does traps get at level 38? Time bomb.

i like traps just for the mez protection.

My bots/traps hit 41(I think, maybe 42) last night and has quickly become my favorite solo toon. The final robot upgrade, it is amazing how much difference it makes.

I never knew about the slotting on detonator though...I'm going to have to redo my planned build now.