no clue where to start.

Ok, to start off, im not the best at posting on the fourms, so bare with me, i only post when i need to, or do my research on new archtypes, powersets, FOTM. Just keeping updated. Anyways, im here to talk about Illusion / Storm Controller. I have 3 Other trollers as well, Earth/Cold, Fire/Kin, Ele/Rad. They all were pretty fun, so im looking forward to this controller. I just need a hand with a few things, considering i never really play my controllers once they hit 50, im more of a Tanker, so always busy with my main tank. But im changing stuff up, and IOing this Controller out, which ill need help also, trying to get a build for her.

So the things im planing to do with this controller, is Taskforces, Trials, and Teaming. If i can get a build which could, or if a ill/storm can, solo AVs/Monsters, then ill solo with her aswell.

() Which Powers are Skippable?
() Which Powers do i have to take ASAP
() Ideas for Pool Powers? Was Thinking TP/Speed/Lder
() Can i get Perma-PA with a Ill/Storm, since we dont have AM.
() Slot for Damage, or Holds/Sleep?

Also, a build to go off by, or use. This char will most likely be 50 pretty quick if i get into her, so far so good and only level 12. So if anyone could help me out here? that would be great, and very appercaited. Thank you in advance, and hope i gave enough information here, if not, ill be checking this post every chance i get. So, alot.. lol

1) From the primary, you can probably skip Group Invisibility or Superior Invisibility. In fact, pairing super speed with steamy mist, you could probably skip both GI and SI. It just depends on what you are shooting for. However, Steamy + Super Speed lets you have full normal invisibility. Also, some people skip Flash from the primary, but I consider it essential for that full-featured jack-of-all-trades / pull anything of the hat feel, that Ill/Storm has.

From the secondary, some people skip O2 Boost, some skip Thunder Clap, and some skip Tornado. I personally only skip O2 Boost. All are useful though. It simply depends on what you want to be able to do. None of the powers are bad powers.

2) Powers to take ASAP / Immediately:

Blind
Spectral Wounds
Deceive
Phantom Army
Spectral Terror
Phantasm

Steamy Mist
Freezing Rain
Lightning Storm

I personally also take Hurricane and Tornado ASAP, but that is personal preference.

3) Hasten and Super Speed are very nice, especially if you are going for perma-hasten, or high recharge. Plus, as mentioned before, Super Speed with Steamy Mist gives not only stealth for the team but invisibility for you. I also personally like to run both Combat Jumping and Hover for maneuverability.

4) You can get perma-hasten, and you can just get within perma-PA (not counting recast times). It is expensive though. That's what my build does, though I haven't bought (and may never buy) the Ragnarok set or the Apocalypse set. Now that Incarnate powers are out, the Tier 3 spiritual Alpha with the 45% recharge bonus will get the same build underneath the perma values needed, even factoring in casting times.

5) Do not slot for Sleep. I think Blind can do Sleep but only on a secondary target. The effect is almost worthless. Slot for Holds and Damage though. It just depends on the power. Here is an expensive build that has perma-IW, perma-Hasten, and perma-PA. You might not make such an expensive build, but it gives you an idea of the kinds of things to shoot for based on the power.

Lewis

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.942
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Glass Menagerie: Level 50 Magic Controller
Primary Power Set: Illusion Control
Secondary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Flight
Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Apoc-Dmg(A), Apoc-Dmg/Rchg(5), Apoc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Apoc-Acc/Rchg(9), Apoc-Dmg/EndRdx(9)
Level 1: Gale -- Acc-I(A)
Level 2: Blind -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(3), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(3), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(7), HO:Perox(7), HO:Nucle(11)
Level 4: Deceive -- CoPers-Conf/Rchg(A), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(13), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(13), CoPers-Conf/EndRdx(34), CoPers-Conf%(34)
Level 6: Flash -- UbrkCons-Hold(A), UbrkCons-Hold/Rchg(11), UbrkCons-Acc/Hold/Rchg(40), UbrkCons-Acc/Rchg(43), UbrkCons-EndRdx/Hold(45)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 10: Steamy Mist -- S'fstPrt-ResKB(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(37), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(37), LkGmblr-Rchg+(50)
Level 12: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15), RechRdx-I(15)
Level 14: Super Speed -- QckFt-EndRdx/RunSpd(A)
Level 16: Freezing Rain -- Ragnrk-Dmg(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(17), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(37), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(42)
Level 18: Phantom Army -- ExRmnt-Acc/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(19), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(21), S'bndAl-Dmg/Rchg(21), S'bndAl-Build%(25)
Level 20: Snow Storm -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Recall Friend -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 24: Hurricane -- DarkWD-ToHitDeb(A), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/Rchg(25), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(27), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(27)
Level 26: Spectral Terror -- U'spkT-Acc/Rchg(A), U'spkT-EndRdx/Fear(43), U'spkT-Acc/EndRdx(46), U'spkT-Fear/Rng(46), U'spkT-Acc/Fear/Rchg(46)
Level 28: Thunder Clap -- Amaze-Stun(A), Amaze-Stun/Rchg(29), Amaze-Acc/Stun/Rchg(29), Amaze-Acc/Rchg(31), Amaze-EndRdx/Stun(34)
Level 30: Hover -- Srng-Fly(A), Srng-EndRdx/Fly(31), Flight-I(31), LkGmblr-Rchg+(40)
Level 32: Phantasm -- ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(33), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33)
Level 35: Tornado -- ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(36), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(36)
Level 38: Lightning Storm -- Decim-Acc/Dmg(A), Decim-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Decim-Dmg/Rchg(39), Decim-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39), Decim-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40)
Level 41: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 44: Mind Over Body -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam(45), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(45)
Level 47: Psionic Tornado -- Posi-Dmg/Rchg(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg(48), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Posi-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Superior Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 50: Spiritual Total Core Revamp
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(50)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(23), EndMod-I(23)

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There are a lot of options to build an Ill/Storm. You don't "have" to have perma-PA or capped defenses or anything like that . . . it is a fun character even without all the maxed attributes.

Leveling mine (which was mostly before IO sets), I chose to skip both Invisibility powers and go with Super Speed + Steamy Mist for Invis. Of course, that was long before Inherent Fitness when builds were tighter. Now-a-days, those powers can be useful to hold IOs that you want.

I agree with Lewis on what he considers the essentials, mostly. For Illusion:

Blind, Spectral Wounds, Deceive, Phantom Army, Spectral Terror and Phantasm.

Flash is nice to have but not essential. I leveled my Ill/Storm up without Flash and then added it in with Inherent Stamina. Sup Invis or Group Invis are entirely optional, but you should have at least one of the three options of Invis.

For Storm, Freezing Rain (and you are forced to take Gale, sadly) is the only "essential" power, but others are highly recommended: Lightning Storm, Hurricane, Snow Storm. I consider Steamy Mist to not be essential if you have one of the two Invisibility powers, but since it does so many other things, I recommend it highly anyway. I like to have O2 Boost -- solo, you can heal up your Phanty, and it provides a weak heal, stun protection and endurance drain protection on teams. Tornado I also like, but don't use it much on teams, as the chaos is a bit much. Thunderclap looks cool, but is skippable as a lowly Mag 2 PBAoE Stun -- I have other powers that will handle Minions. (On characters who already have an AoE stun, I like Thunderclap.)

I didn't take Hover . . . I like to stay on the ground for my */Stormies for Herdicaning. I don't recommend Leadership on */Stormies, as */Stormies already have endurance issues and Leadership is a drain on endurance.

As for slotting, there are lots of options, but the most obvious one is to slot for Recharge. It will take some expensive purple sets to get a Perma-PA build as you have to make up for the 30% provided by AM with other sets.

On the choice of the APP -- I have Ice on mine. Hibernate is a great Panic button power that lets you recover both health and endurance. Ice Blast is a nice, fast attack to let you get that all-important Blind-SW-Blast-SW attack chain. Also, Ice is not Psi (makes Psi-resistant foes easier) and is rarely resisted. You get a choice of two AoE attacks or can include a nice S/L Defense shield (and it will take another LotG Recharge).

Ok, thank you ur input LM, and the build Lewis. I can afford the build which he made up for me, money isnt really an issue with me. Im now understanding the combo, i barely see Stormies use Hurricane like we do, and wouldnt Flash be handy for sets from the hold sets? thats 10% or like 6.25% recharge right there between the IO Holds. Making myself a build, with my liking, no offense Lewis, thats a great build, im using it as a guide, but knowing i dont need the 2 invis, thunderclap, and possible skipping Flash, i would like it , but if i cant fit it in the build, then i guess i wont be having it lol.

I consider Hurricane to be a situational power with both defensive and offensive benefits. I'll often go long periods without using it, and then use it quite a bit. I almost never run it for long periods of time. I have Hurricane set up with a bind to activate and deactivate with a quick push of a button on my mouse.

Hurricane has a huge ToHitDebuff (-30% base and enhanceable) and a substantial Range debuff (-60%) as well as the Repel effect and a 5% chance for a Mag 8 knockback. Defensively, it can be used to protect you from ambushes and groups you may have aggroed. I love to turn on Hurricane and go around a corner -- as the foes come after me, they get hit by both debuffs while I can pick them off at range. Offensively, Hurricane can be used to trap foes in a room or a corner where your attacks and pets can wipe them out. Hurricane can also be used to "herdicane" with some practice -- circle around the outside of a group to push the stragglers into the group where they can be more easily hit by AoE powers. (I like Superspeed for doing this.)

Hurricane is one of those situational powers that has a lot of uses, but you kind of have to look for them and buy into it. But anyone who runs Hurricane all the time generally does not know what they are doing.

If you are going for a Perma-PA build, Flash is a great place for the Unbreakable Contraint set. 4 Bas Gaze + some extra Acc and Dam for Blind. Thunderclap takes the Absolute Amazement or Stupify sets. Each of the Invisibility powers and Steamy Mist will take a LotG Recharge and 5 Red Fortune (if you have that many slots).