As far as the APP goes, I have Energy Master on my WM/SD brute. Superior Conditioning and Physical Perfection do make a big difference, and dont need a ton a slots, which is helpful since (on mine at least) I hade to six slot a lot of powers for the + Positional Def set bonuses. Phyiscal Perfection I slotted the same way I slot Stamina (+end proc and the +end from that set and then a common end mod IO) Superior conditioning, I just threw extra slot in and put common end mod IOs in both. Combine this with other set bonus and the 2 +Max End Accolades and I'm sitting at between 125 and 130 end, plus boosted recovery from Stam and Physical Perfection and the +end procs my end bar never moves. I cant remember the last time I had to pop a blue on him...
I rolled an Elec/Shield Brute and absolutely love this toon: great AoE burst dmg, only needed fairly cheap IOs, base situational defense of 49% melee, 47% range and 42% AoE. Aid Self works decent enough lacking a good heal. The lack of ST dmg is a problem, but I manage to solo EBs just fine, it just feels like I am slowly slapping them to death. I generally duo with my brother's Sonic/Kinetics Corruptor, who can does enough ST dmg along with his Debuffing for the both of us, or I team for TFs anyways, so lack of ST dmg doesn't bother me too much.
So I have two separate questions here:
1) Which incarnate ability and Epic powers do you all recommend? Right now I am at 2nd Tier Cardiac and Mu Mastery. I took Cardiac due to his moderate endurance problems (and the secondary Resist buff, though it turned out to be a nominal difference of only a couple %), and went with the Mu Mastery for a decent ST attack (Mu Lightning) and another AoE to fill in a decent overall AoE attack chain (Ball Lightning). I don't love either, and they are more of an extension of my primary set than something different to fill in a gap in his build.
Since Lightning rod and Shield Charge are my staple attacks, would it be better to drop the Mu set, get Energy to help with the endurance problems, and then drop Cardiac for either Spiritual or Musculature? Spiritual is attractive since 4th Tier would put me mighty close to perma-haste, and 25 second recharges for my two big guns LR and SC. Musculature is also tempting since, after all, I made this toon to do massive AoE damage.
Any thoughts?
Has anyone played around with this combo?
Will Superior Conditioning and Physical Perfection offset the increased endurance usage that comes with an inherent recharge?
2) I need some advice on the two Location PBAoE attacks, Lightning Rod and Shield Charge. Basically, it's a bit challenging getting them off all the time. I find that about 20% of the time, when I pop them and try to place the spot in the middle of a crowd, I end up selecting a mob or teammate instead of blasting the AoE. Sometimes the round locator is red, even though the terrain is fine, and I end up wasting a few seconds just trying to get them off. This is especially true in tight hallways and tunnels.
Can they be bound in such a way to just go off at my feet where ever I am standing instead of having to click on screen?
Would I be better off not trying to place it in a crowd, and maybe sit it just to the edge of a crowd?
FYI - I don't use either to teleport into a group. I usually run into a group, hit all my other AoEs to draw some aggro, pull the stragglers into PBAoE range and built up some fury, then pop BU and hit both. With a good amount of fury the damage is ridiculous.