A few first-glance suggestions:
First and foremost I would suggest slotting for more recharge set bonuses. Recharge is crucial for Warshades. Getting Eclipse perma will do amazing things to your survivability. Getting less than 41 seconds downtime on Hasten will be really noticeable, too.
You could free up a lot of slots by forgoing the extra slots in health and stamina. Stygian Circle really obviates the need for regen and recovery. Also, Dwarf Drain is a pretty anemic attack as well as a mediocre heal. I'm not sure I would six-slot it, personally. I have found that when things start going sideways on my 'shade Drain usually doesn't do much to keep me alive.
I fiddled with your build for a bit and was able to get Eclipse and Hasten perma. However it comes at a significant sacrifice to max HP. I think perma Eclipse is definitely worth it, but you may feel otherwise.
Dwarf Mire is a great AoE attack as well as a buff, so I slotted it up.
I changed some of your one-slotted power picks, too, taking Stealth, Invis and Grant Invis as LoTG mules. I grabbed SS, too, to stack with Shadow Cloak for attack-capable invis, allowing you to position yourself for Eclipse/Mires.
Also, I noticed that all the enhancements you have slotted are level 30, even enhancements that don't contribute to bonuses. Was this intentional? I erred on the side of caution and assumed it was, so everything that contributes a set bonus is level 30. Stuff that doesn't give a set bonus I bumped up to lvl 50.
Almost forgot...Grav Em and Dark Extraction are using purple slotting at first glance. However if you shift-right click those powers it will switch to significantly less expensive slotting (at the cost of perma Hasten).
I tried to get stuff perma for the lowest inf cost I could. Keep in mind that if you are willing to throw large sums of cash at this build you can get perma with minimal sacrifices to other bonuses and slotting.
I hope this is useful to you!
EDIT: Almost forgot! If you haven't seen it yet, check out Dechs Kaison's great WS guide: The MFing Warshade (A Tri-Form Guide)
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.92
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Science Warshade
Primary Power Set: Umbral Blast
Secondary Power Set: Umbral Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Concealment
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Shadow Bolt -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Absorption -- S'fstPrt-ResKB(A)
Level 2: Ebon Eye -- Acc-I(A)
Level 4: Orbiting Death -- Acc-I(A)
Level 6: Dark Nova -- P'Shift-End%(A)
Level 8: Gravimetric Snare -- Acc-I(A)
Level 10: Starless Step -- Acc-I(A)
Level 12: Sunless Mire -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(13), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(13), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17)
Level 14: Shadow Cloak -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 16: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(17), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 18: Gravity Well -- BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(A), Dmg-I(19), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(21), BasGaze-Acc/Hold(48), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(48), Dmg-I(48)
Level 20: Black Dwarf -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(42), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(46)
Level 22: Stygian Circle -- P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(45), RechRdx-I(50)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 26: Gravitic Emanation -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Rope-Acc/Rchg(31), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(36), Rope-Acc/Stun/Rchg(36), Empty(36)
Level 28: Unchain Essence -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(37), Posi-Dmg/Rng(39), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 30: Super Speed -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 32: Quasar -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(40), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 35: Dark Extraction -- C'Arms-Acc/Rchg(A), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg(42), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), C'Arms-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(43), S'bndAl-Dmg/Rchg(43), S'bndAl-Build%(45)
Level 38: Eclipse -- Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(A), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(45), Efficacy-Acc/Rchg(46), ResDam-I(50)
Level 41: Stygian Return -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Stealth -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 47: Grant Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 49: Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Dark Sustenance
Level 1: Shadow Step -- Jnt-EndRdx/Rng(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 10: Shadow Recall -- IntRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A)
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Level 6: Dark Nova Blast -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(29), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31)
Level 6: Dark Nova Bolt -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(33), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 6: Dark Nova Detonation -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(21), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(23), Posi-Dmg/Rng(23), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(25), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 6: Dark Nova Emanation -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(25), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(27), Posi-Dmg/Rng(27), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Antagonize -- Zinger-Taunt/Rchg(A)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Drain -- Theft-Acc/Heal(A), Nictus-Acc/Heal(15)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Mire -- Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(11), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(11), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(37), M'Strk-Dmg/EndRdx(46)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Smite -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Step -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Strike -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5)
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Set Bonus Totals:
- 6% DamageBuff(Smashing)
- 6% DamageBuff(Lethal)
- 6% DamageBuff(Fire)
- 6% DamageBuff(Cold)
- 6% DamageBuff(Energy)
- 6% DamageBuff(Negative)
- 6% DamageBuff(Toxic)
- 6% DamageBuff(Psionic)
- 2.5% Defense(Energy)
- 2.5% Defense(Negative)
- 1.25% Defense(Ranged)
- 4.5% Max End
- 96.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
- 59% Enhancement(Accuracy)
- 64.25 HP (5.999%) HitPoints
- Knockback (Mag -4)
- Knockup (Mag -4)
- MezResist(Immobilize) 9.9%
- MezResist(Stun) 4.4%
- 14.5% (0.242 End/sec) Recovery
- 32% (1.431 HP/sec) Regeneration
- 20% ResEffect(FlySpeed)
- 20% ResEffect(RechargeTime)
- 20% ResEffect(RunSpeed)
- 4.725% Resistance(Fire)
- 4.725% Resistance(Cold)
- 3.125% Resistance(Negative)
...in CoH racing to 50 is like trying to race to the end of your vacation. -Arcanaville
Debt barely slows down levelling these days. It's just a little bar that measures how much Awesome you've generated recently. (If you're not getting debt, you're just not trying to generate Awesome hard enough.) -Kelenar
The data block I got did not have a power at level 49. That and Grant Invis are 2 more chance for LoTG recharges. For me that was one thing I learned for my WS, can never have to much recharge. With hasten I have %180 recharge and have seen others with over %200, so it may be possible to have enough, but, you still will not have to much.
Another popular idea is 5 slot the Nova attacks with with Posi and Decimation sets.
For the Pet, I put 2 Soulbound Allegiance, the A/D/R and the chance for build up, they can be had for fairly reasonable amounts at Wents. With 3 pets out, I love the affect.
Personally, for the Dwarf Strike and Smite, I 5 slotted them and put the extra slots in the Dwarf Mire, creating another opportunity for a recharge set bonus. Personal rant here, really wish the mire had a taunt.
A lot the power choices you make come down to, if you are using them because that is how you want to play the character, then they are the ones you need. For me mine is really Nova/Dwarf/Human or Dwarf/Nova/Human, all depends on what I'm fighting and if I have any BFs.
After going back and rereading your OP I realized I should try to address your issue with Grav Well and human attack chains.
My basic attack pattern on my WS is eclipse > human mire > dwarf mire > grav well a minion > unchain essence > quasar/stygian circle/nova blasts/summon extraction (whichever is appropriate). I have around 205% recharge, though, so my key powers are either perma or up just about every group. I basically use grav well to one-shot a target for unchain, then switch to res-capped nova for the whole death-from-above schtick. I will also fire off a grav well on a hard target when I drop to human to refresh my human mire. I use grav well as a hold to take out troublesome enemies (sappers, illusionists, etc.)
Would it be nice to be able to use grav well as part of a proper attack chain? Absolutely. Creating that attack chain...well...there's the rub. It would involve using precious slots on somewhat weak human attacks. A human-form build can be used to great effect, but IMO isn't as effective overall as a tri-form.
Don't sweat not being able to use grav well every time it's up, IOW. 
...in CoH racing to 50 is like trying to race to the end of your vacation. -Arcanaville
Debt barely slows down levelling these days. It's just a little bar that measures how much Awesome you've generated recently. (If you're not getting debt, you're just not trying to generate Awesome hard enough.) -Kelenar
Quote:
Hm.. Between that and the empty 49, it looks like I forgot to save changes the last time I played with it. I had been debating on the idea of making 2 builds; a triform for 1-38ish play, and a human one for 38-50, once I had eclipse to keep myself alive, so I had chosen the sets at 30 to keep the bonuses available in the higher end of the range it's meant to be played it.|
Originally Posted by Mr_Enigma
Also, I noticed that all the enhancements you have slotted are level 30, even enhancements that don't contribute to bonuses. Was this intentional? I erred on the side of caution and assumed it was, so everything that contributes a set bonus is level 30. Stuff that doesn't give a set bonus I bumped up to lvl 50.
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I've since abandoned that idea, though. I'm probably going to stick to triform only, especially if I do decide to start throwing cash at him.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mr_Enigma
You could free up a lot of slots by forgoing the extra slots in health and stamina. Stygian Circle really obviates the need for regen and recovery. Also, Dwarf Drain is a pretty anemic attack as well as a mediocre heal. I'm not sure I would six-slot it, personally. I have found that when things start going sideways on my 'shade Drain usually doesn't do much to keep me alive.
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Ontop of that, I didn't have it turned on in Mids because I don't want to focus around it, but the spiritual incarnates will boost the heal on that too, making it a lot more useful when it's firing off every 5 seconds or so. Taking all of that into account.. still no, though?
But as for the talk of Gravity Well.. I guess that makes me a little more comfortable switching the slotting.. make it less of an attack and instead take advantage of the Gaze set for the recharge.
I'm not entirely sure if I like ripping the slots out of Health and Stamina, either, but I might get turned around on that after I look at it some more. Back to examining it.
First, check out my guide (link in sig). I've got an entire section dedicated to how to build a warshade on any budget.
Second: Well, I'll just throw out some general advice. You're using all level 30 IOs, which is odd, but understandable if you want to keep your bonuses. I would recommend using level 50s when it comes to the common IOs, however, as you can't lose any set bonuses from them. Health and Stamina are completely unnecessary, let alone the extra slots you have in them. Eclipse is way underslotted. It needs accuracy and resist, along with capped recharge, and you barely have any recharge. I've got a few great recommendations in the guide for frankenslotting. You can get everything you need in four slots. I agree with you that Dwarf Drain is a good attack. I have mine slotted a bit for damage, but also heal and recharge. Basically, I use a few Crushing Impacts for accuracy and damage, while using some of the heal/recharge and heal/endurance/recharge from heal sets. Dwarf Drain actually does more damage per activation than the Dwarf Strike, so I figure it's worth enhancing. Also, the damage is purely negative energy, much less resisted than smashing.
Gravity Well: Use four Basilisk's Gaze to get the recharge bonus, then throw in two common Damage IOs in the end. Almost ED capped damage, plus some great recharge/hold/accuracy out of Gaze.
Finally, Dwarf and Nova should have the performance shifter proc instead of end mod enhancement. The proc will average more than double the endurance bonus that the end mod enhancement would.
Where to now?
Check out all my guides and fiction pieces on my blog.
The MFing Warshade | The Last Rule of Tanking | The Got Dam Mastermind
Everything Dark Armor | The Softcap
don'T attempt to read tHis mEssaGe, And believe Me, it is not a codE.
I'm somewhat new to Warshades, but not to City of Heroes and builds itself. What I'm actually looking for is suggestions not just about the build itself, but also about the idea I've evolved on how to play a triform - I want to make sure I haven't somehow missed a valuable part of being a triform in my trial and error approach. An explanation is probably warranted before we get to the actual build. After a lot of dying and trial & error about whether to focus on human, or a human/Dwarf dual, or all three, and if all three then how to balance stuff, I came across a play theory that seems to work for me. That is, trying to play to the extremes of each form.
Code:
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.92
Nova's aspect is Damage, especially in having the best AoE potential of any form in regards to an attack chain; therefore I focused on Emanation and Detonation, but did want to ensue the other two blasts were significant while the two AoE Recharges.
Dwarf's game lies in it's Resistance, but it's damage seems to suffer in the trade off. If I was ever in a situation where I had to stay in Dwarf to survive, I want to make sure it could smash through anything in it's way and so focused on boosting it's damage.
Human is for nukes. Mostly. At least, 'human is for nukes' was the 'answer' that struck me, but in actually planning the build I tried to make use of some of it's other stronger attacks. No toggles, as I'm not meant to be in Human form for anything more then a split second; either to Quasar or Unchain Essence. Maybe, if I happen to be in human and things look nasty, a Gravitic Emanation.
The thing that's bothering me and prompting me to post this is Gravity Well. More then once my nukes have been down and I've dropped into human to Well a target, then found myself wishing I had another human attack to follow it up with. Rather, I think the problem is that I'm not using the Well as much as I feel I should be. Since I don't have anything resembling an attack chain in human form I almost never use it and it seems like I'm wasting one of the strongest powers I have. If I drop forms to use the Well, I'll have to shift into another form to keep attacking. Yet, by the time I've shifted into another form the Well is almost recharged, but now it seems like a waste of time to have changed into another form if I'm not going to do anything in it but drop back out and Well again.
I'm not terribly happy with the slotting for either of the Mire's or Eclipse, but everything else does what it's supposed to, more or less in the way I imagined it. Human wipes out an entire mob or two every couple minutes, and in between Nova and Dwarf trade off crashing into the rest of the mobs like a purple fuzzy cannonball.
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Science Warshade
Primary Power Set: Umbral Blast
Secondary Power Set: Umbral Aura
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Concealment
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Shadow Bolt -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Absorption -- S'fstPrt-ResKB(A)
Level 2: Ebon Eye -- Acc-I(A)
Level 4: Orbiting Death -- Acc-I(A)
Level 6: Dark Nova -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 8: Shadow Blast -- Acc-I(A)
Level 10: Starless Step -- Acc-I(A)
Level 12: Sunless Mire -- Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(A), RechRdx-I(13), RechRdx-I(13)
Level 14: Shadow Cloak -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 16: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Gravity Well -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(48), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(48), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 20: Black Dwarf -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(42), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(46), EndMod-I(46)
Level 22: Stygian Circle -- Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg(50)
Level 24: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 26: Gravitic Emanation -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-EndRdx/Stun(36), Stpfy-Acc/EndRdx(36), Stpfy-Stun/Rng(36), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(37), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 28: Unchain Essence -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(37), Posi-Dmg/Rng(39), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), RechRdx-I(39)
Level 30: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 32: Quasar -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(40), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 35: Dark Extraction -- C'Arms-Acc/Rchg(A), C'Arms-Acc/Dmg(42), C'Arms-Dmg/EndRdx(43), C'Arms-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(43), RechRdx-I(43), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 38: Eclipse -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(45)
Level 41: Stygian Return -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Nebulous Form -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 47: Grant Invisibility -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 49: [Empty] -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
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Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Dark Sustenance
Level 1: Shadow Step -- Jnt-EndRdx/Rng(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 10: Shadow Recall -- IntRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- RgnTis-Regen+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(46), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(50)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(19), P'Shift-End%(21)
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Level 6: Dark Nova Blast -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(A), Dev'n-Dmg/Rchg(29), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 6: Dark Nova Bolt -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(A), Dev'n-Dmg/Rchg(33), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 6: Dark Nova Detonation -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(21), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(23), Posi-Dmg/Rng(23), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(25), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 6: Dark Nova Emanation -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(25), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(27), Posi-Dmg/Rng(27), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Antagonize -- Zinger-Taunt/Rchg(A)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Drain -- Nictus-Heal(A), Nictus-Acc/Heal(15), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(15), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(17), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(17), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(19)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Mire -- Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(A), RechRdx-I(11), RechRdx-I(11)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Smite -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(34)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Step -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 20: Black Dwarf Strike -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(31)