Trick Arrow/Archery: The Silk Fletcher's Journey
By
Ace_of_Hearts,
Posted on: 2011-06-07 17:45 in Defenders
Level 8-11
I can see now how difficult soloing will be on this toon. My three secondary archery powers deal no damage. I can only face enemies my level and it takes a while to take down any LTs.
I did play on a team today with a bunch of trigger happy blasters and I felt useful. Zero strategy involved, but my debuffs seem to be useful to the team.
I took Hasten at level 10 because 2 of my 3 primaries, glue and poison arrow, take too long to recharge. Those two items are very helpful in terms of mitigating damage I take and the amount of damage I can dish out.
I did play on a team today with a bunch of trigger happy blasters and I felt useful. Zero strategy involved, but my debuffs seem to be useful to the team.
I took Hasten at level 10 because 2 of my 3 primaries, glue and poison arrow, take too long to recharge. Those two items are very helpful in terms of mitigating damage I take and the amount of damage I can dish out.
Soloing on my TA/a at low levels pretty much forced me to team. Anything that was remotely credible meant a faceplant on my end. Each of the big three debuff sets get good -tohit debuffs fairly early. Even if Hurricane comes a little later for Storm, it gets Gale, Snow Storm and Freezing Rain by level 8. I probably like TA more than most, but it's rather under performing early and might be the worst primary to start. I was happy whenever I got a new TA power. Ice Arrow is great for soloing even if it's numbers really need to be buffed.
Case in point.
Freeze Ray
Cast: 1 second
Recharge: 10 Seconds
End Cost: 6.864
Duration: 11.92s Held
Ice Arrow
Cast: 1.83 second
Recharge: 18 Seconds
End Cost: 8.528
Duration: 11.92s Held
Now, Ice Arrow does affect recharge times, and movement, but I just don't see why it has lesser numbers in everything outside of duration and that's the same. What does -recharge and -movement matter for 10 seconds when the default hold duration is almost 12?
EDIT: Out of the box you can perma hold something with Freeze Ray. Ice Arrow needs decent slotting to do the same.
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Originally Posted by Amy_Amp
EDIT: Out of the box you can perma hold something with Freeze Ray. Ice Arrow needs decent slotting to do the same.
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The Devs have to be aware that whatever controls they give defenders, controllers will get them and they don't want to see controllers overpowered.
On Topic:
I barely ever soloed my TA and feel so much better for it. Bull, horns, team. I love playing one and teaming with one.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
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I don't think the impact of a credible Ice Arrow is that different than what controllers have now. I think it's far more important for the defender though.
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Originally Posted by New Dawn
The Devs have to be aware that whatever controls they give defenders, controllers will get them and they don't want to see controllers overpowered.
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Level 11
I used the 2 slots in Hasten, which now has 3 Recharges in it. While firing it really helps the two slow primary arrows: poison and glue. Man, is it nice to have those two powers more often. I can handle LTs much easier - yes, it takes forever to kill them, but I'm not getting my butt handed to me either.
I passed on Ice Arrow and I'm already reconsidering it. It would be nice to have an LT stuck in a block of ice while I whittle away at the minions.
(edit) I realized that I had been writing acid arrow when I meant to write POISON arrow - I corrected that in previous posts. (/edit)
I used the 2 slots in Hasten, which now has 3 Recharges in it. While firing it really helps the two slow primary arrows: poison and glue. Man, is it nice to have those two powers more often. I can handle LTs much easier - yes, it takes forever to kill them, but I'm not getting my butt handed to me either.
I passed on Ice Arrow and I'm already reconsidering it. It would be nice to have an LT stuck in a block of ice while I whittle away at the minions.
(edit) I realized that I had been writing acid arrow when I meant to write POISON arrow - I corrected that in previous posts. (/edit)
I love haste. It's my ketchup. I worked to having as many debuffs recharging to around 20s as possible. I would cycle debuffs in turn the right amount so I don't waste duration or alternative opportunity by stacking debuffs what couldn't be stacked. Acid arrow is already beneath 20s that but it has a small aoe so if used as soon as it was up again, a different area of mobs would be targeted. 20s would be the average group to group duration that I looked for, often mobs were destroyed quicker but that's just great anyway. TA comes home on helping a team take out lots quickly without an anchor requirement.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
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Is there a place that shows which debuffs are stackable? I keep firing Flash in hopes that it stacks and will further hinder the enemy's accuracy. I pray especially hard with an orange LT is coming at me in slow-mo thanks to the glue patch. |
Originally Posted by New Dawn
I love haste. It's my ketchup. I worked to having as many debuffs recharging to around 20s as possible. I would cycle debuffs in turn the right amount so I don't waste duration or alternative opportunity by stacking debuffs what couldn't be stacked.
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This site is a little outdated, but it should still work:|
Originally Posted by Level
Is there a place that shows which debuffs are stackable? I keep firing Flash in hopes that it stacks and will further hinder the enemy's accuracy. I pray especially hard with an orange LT is coming at me in slow-mo thanks to the glue patch.
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http://tomax.cohtitan.com/data/powers/
Check the specific power and it should have a note saying it doesn't stack, like on Targeting Drone:
http://tomax.cohtitan.com/data/power...argeting_Drone
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Thank you, Neggy Z. Well, according to Red Tomax's Guide to City of Heroes, NONE OF THE TA POWERS STACK FROM THE SAME PLAYER. Good to know; I've been wasting arrows (endurance) on this.
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Originally Posted by Neggy Z
This site is a little outdated, but it should still work:
http://tomax.cohtitan.com/data/powers/ Check the specific power and it should have a note saying it doesn't stack, like on Targeting Drone: http://tomax.cohtitan.com/data/power...argeting_Drone |
You mention its taking ages to kill lieutenants. I would suggest getting blazing arrow ASAP. It will really help.
I personally prefer skipping fistful of arrows in favour of blazing arrow. Once you get enough recharge you get a pretty good chain going in snap ---> aimed ----> snap ----> blazing. Rinse repeat. And IMO the damage and range of fistful is pretty poor compared with your other attacks.
Life is one big practical joke that we as the human race have yet to see the punchline to. Once you work that out the rest is easy.
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Disruption Arrow fires a pet, then later it fires another pet. The powers from each pet add together because they aren't coming from the same source. Yes it was about endurance conservation because back in the day of legacy stamina I went staminaless, was one defender where going staminaless could be done, then they lowered the cast times effectively increasing my eps but between not wasting effects and good end management was still good, just not as good.
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Originally Posted by Level
Thank you, Neggy Z. Well, according to Red Tomax's Guide to City of Heroes, NONE OF THE TA POWERS STACK FROM THE SAME PLAYER. Good to know; I've been wasting arrows (endurance) on this.
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He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
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This I did not realise. Good to know
| Disruption Arrow fires a pet, then later it fires another pet. The powers from each pet add together because they aren't coming from the same source. Yes it was about endurance conservation because back in the day of legacy stamina I went staminaless, was one defender where going staminaless could be done, then they lowered the cast times effectively increasing my eps but between not wasting effects and good end management was still good, just not as good. |
Life is one big practical joke that we as the human race have yet to see the punchline to. Once you work that out the rest is easy.
Level 11-12
Thanks to Ace_of_Hearts' post about Blazing Arrow, I did a quick respec and dropped the multi-target arrow. I was able to handle the LTs much much easier this time around.
I haven't picked a power yet at 12 but will next time I log in. I guess I'm at the travel power stage in my development - going with Flight, so that means I'm taking Hover next. I'll be one of those hovering archers from now on.
Unless, of course, I get some good advice otherwise.
Thanks to Ace_of_Hearts' post about Blazing Arrow, I did a quick respec and dropped the multi-target arrow. I was able to handle the LTs much much easier this time around.
Would you want to be starring this down?
I haven't picked a power yet at 12 but will next time I log in. I guess I'm at the travel power stage in my development - going with Flight, so that means I'm taking Hover next. I'll be one of those hovering archers from now on.
Unless, of course, I get some good advice otherwise.
Yeah I've blown respecs on one thing in early levels that had to be rid off, but really that attack hits 5 at a time, so I would of looked at its potential damage to group and kept it. But you may be soloing or small teaming.
What might be nice if assuming you do 8 man teams, soak in what sets they have and what problems occured fighting enemies. Sometimes a problem exists that TAs need help in knowing how to solve. If you have issues just say anyhow.
He will honor his words; he will definitely carry out his actions. What he promises he will fulfill. He does not care about his bodily self, putting his life and death aside to come forward for another's troubled besiegement. He does not boast about his ability, or shamelessly extol his own virtues. - Sima Qian.
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Not to hijack this thread, but I'm on the same journey as the OP so since you offered....|
Originally Posted by New Dawn
Yeah I've blown respecs on one thing in early levels that had to be rid off, but really that attack hits 5 at a time, so I would of looked at its potential damage to group and kept it. But you may be soloing or small teaming.
What might be nice if assuming you do 8 man teams, soak in what sets they have and what problems occured fighting enemies. Sometimes a problem exists that TAs need help in knowing how to solve. If you have issues just say anyhow. |
I picked up and then dropped PGA as I didn't find it to be useful at all, you would think that -DMG would be awesome, but so far (and I'm only level 12 mind you) it's not.
Everything I read shows it to be slotted with just Recharges, should I do something else?
Also, to the OP "Level" keep posting!!!!
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The only other thing worth slotting is the sleep and that's really for solo play, or purples. It's really used for the -dmg so that's why it just gets the recharges,
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Originally Posted by Robert_B
Everything I read shows it to be slotted with just Recharges, should I do something else?
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I guess what I meant to ask is do TA's normally take this power or is it skip-able? it doesn't seem to do much ATM but that might change as I get to higher levels.|
Originally Posted by Amy_Amp
The only other thing worth slotting is the sleep and that's really for solo play, or purples. It's really used for the -dmg so that's why it just gets the recharges,
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Is this power considered a "must have" in my arsenal?
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I took it on my mind/ta troller and then respec'd out of it but that was more because my primary is doing a top-notch job of controlling mobs so reducing any incoming damage is not much of a factor. A solo 'fender may find it more useful or a small squishy team with limited controls or no tank but IMO its definitely skippable
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Originally Posted by Robert_B
I guess what I meant to ask is do TA's normally take this power or is it skip-able? it doesn't seem to do much ATM but that might change as I get to higher levels.
Is this power considered a "must have" in my arsenal? |
Life is one big practical joke that we as the human race have yet to see the punchline to. Once you work that out the rest is easy.
I tend to use PGA when facing large groups. In those situations, the damage debuff is much more noticeable. Acid Arrow, on the other, there's a power that's good solo or on teams.
Also, TA starts out slow but really opens up as you gain levels. Good luck!
Black Tanager 50 MA/SR Scrapper
Steel Brigade 50 Inv/SS Tanker
Will Scathlocke 50 TA/A Defender
I'd love a new update on Silk Fletcher.
By the way, TA gets so much better when you get oil slick arrow. Also, selecting tech or magic origin means you can light it with your inherent power.
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I went Tech with mine so there are no worries there, also, I tend to play with a Fire troller so.....................
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Originally Posted by Doughboy
I'd love a new update on Silk Fletcher.
By the way, TA gets so much better when you get oil slick arrow. Also, selecting tech or magic origin means you can light it with your inherent power. |
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I'll reconsider that Arrow as I raise my difficulty settings....
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Originally Posted by Davester
I tend to use PGA when facing large groups. In those situations, the damage debuff is much more noticeable. Acid Arrow, on the other, there's a power that's good solo or on teams.
Also, TA starts out slow but really opens up as you gain levels. Good luck! |
Ooh, glad I found this thread.
I actually ended up taking Flash Arrow last, I just didn't think it did much. It's basically Smoke Grenade from Devices with different graphics. I took ALL the powers in TA eventually.
Recharge, recharge, recharge. 3 slotted Hasten is a must with this set.
Acid Arrow and Disruption Arrow will really make teams melt mobs. I think Disruption Arrow is pretty much my second favorite power in the set, behind Oil Slick.
Thank goodness the powers team fixed Oil Slick after all these years.
It's a team-oriented set like most defender primaries. You CAN effectively solo mob groups once you are high level, by using EMP, glue, disruption, acid, oil slick, then light the oil slick with blazing arrow if you have enough endurance, but really, it is more fun using it on teams.
I always have Assault and Tactics running on mine too. Anytime a defender can handle the endurance, you should grab those powers. I can see rad, sonic, and maybe storm skipping Leadership but even my sonic has Assault.
TA and Traps are kinda sorta similar - lots of debuffs that require massive recharge.
My new Youtube Channel with CoH info
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Sorry I've been away from this post, but I found playing the TA/A defender to be soooo tedious. However, I'm not giving up. I hit 12 [edited: I had originally posted level 13] and took Acid Arrow and immediately slotted it with a recharge. I'll keep you posted.
I've been fumbling around these forums for the past few weeks reading builds and guides and trying to find a new toon that I could play until 50 (and possibly retire from the game). I may have finally settled on something difficult that requires patience and strategy: Trick Arrow/Archery Defender. I have created The Silk Fletcher on Virtue, and for the sake of posterity (and that I like the sound of my typed-voice) I am chronicling her ascent. The build intrigued me because of the 7 AoE debuffing primaries and 3 AoE secondaries. That and Hawkeye was one of my favorite supers growing up. I didn't make a Mids' build yet (at least not all the way to 50) because the final product is usually nothing like the building process. When I do make one, I'll post it.
I chose Flash Arrow out of the gate because of its ToHit Debuff; this may be a strong power later on; it looks promising. We're saddled with Snap Shot and it's not terrible (very fast recharge rate), but the damage is pitiful.
Level 4 I picked up Aimed Shot to add another Archery attack to the mix. I should note that I am rocking Sands of Mu, Nemesis Staff, and Blackwand as well. Thank you Veteran Rewards!
At level 6 I picked up Glue Arrow, which is awesome. Slows down everybody you're gonna fight solo and reduces their recharge rate too. It too has a slow recharge rate, so I'll have to slot that up in the future. I've got two level 10 recharge IOs in it as of this writing.
I passed, again, on the Power Pools at level 8 and went with Poison Gas Arrow. I've had the chance to use it twice since this post and I LOVE IT! I can begin to see how this toon will really help a team of anywhere from 2 to 8 players. A scrapper plus Silk Fletcher would run well.
I'll keep you posted as she climbs.