Confused returning player seeks advice
By
Adeon Hawkwood,
Posted on: 2011-04-20 16:06 in Player Questions
I do believe some guides have been set up.
To go through yourself, go to the Incarnate Abilities tab under... I want to say powers, it'll show across the top. You can browse through what the various powers do by going to the "Equip" tab. Each category (Alpha, Lore, Judgement, etc.) has its own potential powers, and various tiers OF the powers - there'll be descriptions to the side.
Shards are used (to keep it basic) for the Alpha slot. Once you go to Ouroboros and go through mender Ramiel's arc, that will be unlocked and you can start earning shards. (You can also join a BAF or Lambda trial, the "Incarnate XP" goes for Alpha first, as I recall.)
Threads, Astral and Empyrian merits are used to build the components for the various powers - it's like a parallel invention system, but one that gives powers.
I originally wrote this as a response to someone in a similar position, I think it covers the basics of what you should be doing and aiming for:
Quote:
As for which powers to get in each slot. That's harder to say since it depends a lot more on your build.|
There are essentially three tiers to the Incarnate Content (at the moment) Tier 1 (Shards): The old level 50 content (ITF, LGTF, STF/LRSF, Khan/Barracuda, CoP, Mothership Raid, Hamidon) plus the Weekly Strike Target Tier 1.5 (Shards + Threads): Apex and Tin Mage Tier 2 (Threads + Incarnate XP): Lambda and BAF trials Running the Tier 1 content will get you shards and shard-based components (you can actually get shards from any content but the content listed also gives components or extra shards). The only requirement is to have your Alpha Slot unlocked. Running the Tier 1.5 content will give you a few shards and a few threads but it is a lot less efficient than either the T1 or T2 content so I wouldn't bother with it for now. It requires you to have a boost (of any rarity) slotted into your Alpha slot. Running the Tier 2 content will give you threads and thread-based components as well as Incarnate XP to unlock the slots above Alpha. The only requirement is to be level 50. Now what do I mean by Shards, Threads and Components? Once you have unlocked a slot you need to place a boost in it. Boosts are manufactured from components. The exact components needed depends on the boost but the rarity of the components is the same for all boosts: Tier 1 Boost: 3 Common Components Tier 2 Boost: 1 Tier 1 Boost + 1 Uncommon Component + 2 Common Components Tier 3 Boost: 1 Tier 2 Boost + 1 Rare Component + 2 Common Components Tier 4 Boost: 2 Tier 3 Boosts + 1 Very Rare Component + 2 Common Components (Alpha slot needs 1 Uncommon + 1 Common instead of 2 Common) The Alpha Slot boosts can be made using either Shard based components or thread based components but the other four slots can only use thread based components. Getting Shard Components: Common Component: 4 Shards or run a specific TF (see below) Uncommon Component: Crafted from Common Component + 8 Shards Rare Component (Notice of the Well): Run the Weekly Strike Target (max 1 per week) Very Rare Component (Favor of the Well): Crafted from 2 x Notice of the Well + 32 Shards In addition the old level 50 tasks give a specific common component as an option instead of reward merits: ITF: Ancient Nictus Fragment LGTF: Hero 1 Blood Sample STF/LRSF: Essence of the Incarnate Khan/Barracuda: Dimensional Keystone CoP: Penumbra of Ralaruu Hamidon Raid: 4 Shards In addition, 150 Vanguard Merits can be traded for a Grai'Matter (limit once every 18 hours). Getting Thread Components: Successfully completing the Lambda or BAF will give you an Empyrean Merit (one per day per trial) and a component, additionally you will earn threads and Astral Merits while doing it. The component is semi-random, the game selects a component rarity at random and you can choose any component from that rarity. In addition you can craft components: Common Component: 20 Threads Uncommon Component: 60 Threads Rare Component: 8 Astral Merits Very Rare Component: 30 Astral Merits You can also craft Rare/Very Rare components form Uncommon Components + Threads + Inf but this is not a particularly efficient method. Finally Empyrean and Astral Merits can be exchanged for additional threads. Empyrean Merits yield 20 threads but you're probably better off saving them for Rare/Very Rare Components. Astral Merits yield 4 threads and currently that is their only function although according to the devs we will eventually be able to buy other things with them. In terms of efficiency if you have a good team that can speed TFs the level 50 TFs probably the best way to get the Alpha Boost. If you don't then I'd say do the trials to get the components to make a Tier 2 Alpha Boost (and pick up some incarnate XP while you're at it) but run the WST and a couple of other TFs to get the Tier 3 Boost. Thread based Rare components are expensive so even if you get a lucky drop I'd save it for the other slots. Once you have a T3 Alpha leave it alone and start running Trials to get components for the other slots. Getting a T3 in all five slots should be your first goal. The T3 requires about 25% of the effort of a T4 but is about 75% as effective. In particular for the Alpha, Lore and Destiny slots it provides a Level Shift which is a huge bonus so focus on those slots first. Judgment and Interface get smaller benefits from the higher tiers so consider leaving them with just a Tier 1 boost until you have Tier 3s in the other slots. |
Alpha: With Elec/Elec you should have any End issues so you don't need Cardiac. If you are on SOs then Nerve is a good choice since it'll help you hit in the trials (which are at +4). Otherwise choose Spiritual or Musculature depending on which you think will be more useful, attacking more often or hitting harder.
Judgement: Ion. Ok, they'll all work reasonably well but Ion fits thematically.
Interface: Reactive is the most popular, especially if you solo a lot. You might also like Diamagnetic or Paralytic for a bit more survivability when solo. Gravitic is the least popular in general but if you have a sapper build you might find the extra -recovery useful.
Destiny: Clarion is a popular option if you wnat mez protection. Rebirth is nice for a Blaster since you lack many options for regen/healing powers. Barrier is the defense one although I find the duration buff a bit weak (it's good for the first 30seconds and after that it's weaker than an inspiration). Ageless is probably not that useful to you, the recharge is kinda weak, you shouldn't need the endurance and the debuff resistance is going to do you a lot less in terms of survivability than the other options.
Lore: If you want a support pet Seers or Clockwork are best (Clockwork gives you slightly better healing and and defense while Seers gives a damage and to hit boost as well as healing and defense). If you want Damage Warworks is the way to go. That being said the difference isn't large enough to worry to much if you want to select one for theme reasons.
i did the menders quests...but theres so many choices...i have no idea what to pick? like do i pick from which tree and grab what? does it matter? can i slot the ION power in the alpha slot...or does only alpha stuff go in there? and whats with all the other ones T_T
Try reading this thread before they close the I20 beta forums:
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=254417
It explains everything about incarnate powers and slots, and how to get them.
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Thanks Imma read this...study it and hurt my brain over it....so confusing but it helps me. ^_^
|
Originally Posted by Adeon Hawkwood
I originally wrote this as a response to someone in a similar position, I think it covers the basics of what you should be doing and aiming for:
As for which powers to get in each slot. That's harder to say since it depends a lot more on your build. Alpha: With Elec/Elec you should have any End issues so you don't need Cardiac. If you are on SOs then Nerve is a good choice since it'll help you hit in the trials (which are at +4). Otherwise choose Spiritual or Musculature depending on which you think will be more useful, attacking more often or hitting harder. Judgement: Ion. Ok, they'll all work reasonably well but Ion fits thematically. Interface: Reactive is the most popular, especially if you solo a lot. You might also like Diamagnetic or Paralytic for a bit more survivability when solo. Gravitic is the least popular in general but if you have a sapper build you might find the extra -recovery useful. Destiny: Clarion is a popular option if you wnat mez protection. Rebirth is nice for a Blaster since you lack many options for regen/healing powers. Barrier is the defense one although I find the duration buff a bit weak (it's good for the first 30seconds and after that it's weaker than an inspiration). Ageless is probably not that useful to you, the recharge is kinda weak, you shouldn't need the endurance and the debuff resistance is going to do you a lot less in terms of survivability than the other options. Lore: If you want a support pet Seers or Clockwork are best (Clockwork gives you slightly better healing and and defense while Seers gives a damage and to hit boost as well as healing and defense). If you want Damage Warworks is the way to go. That being said the difference isn't large enough to worry to much if you want to select one for theme reasons. |
If you need something to refer to later on: http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Incarnate_System
█ Players Guide to the Cities
Incarnate stuff. I've been hopping into a lot of high end...stfs...or raids...whatever. anyways Im not sure what to do with all my ribbons and such or astral badges...no idea what alpha is or which to pick for myself or even how to craft it. I am an Elec/elec blaster if that helps anything and would love some advice or opinions on how to proceed with my incarnate build.