A couple of things I'd look at doing (and bear in mind I have minimal experience with DP):
1.) Look at switching some slots around. If you mainly solo, do you really need 3 slots in Deflection Shield and Insulation Shield? You have as many slots in Supressive Fire (minor damage disorient) as you do in Dual Weild (your main single target attack at this level). If you are having problems with endurance, Stamina should be 3-slotted. The enhancements you slot will have a big imact, too . . . if endurance is a problem, an END reduction in an attack would help out (at the expense of whatever else you'd have in there though. Tradeoffs).
2.) Right now if you are using level 20 DOs you are getting 15% out of each enhancement (well, not for DEF, but for ACC, DAM, etc). When you slot level 25 SOs at level 22, you'll get 38% out of each enhancement. That's a pretty big jump in power. Gutting it out will solve *some* of your problems.
3.) But you don't have to wait, really. You can use a technique called "frankenslotting" to get greater-than-+3 SO-level power *right now*. Here's how: use set IOs for their enhancement value, not their set bonuses. For example, I'm guessing in Dispersion Bubble you might have 1 END and 2 DEF slotted right now? So 1 END level 20 DO is giving you 15% and 1 DEF level 20 DO is giving you 9%? A single level 24 DEF/END IO will give you +11% DEF and +19% END. If you use 2 level 24 DEF/END IOs from 2 different sets you won't get any set bonuses, but you'll get pretty much the same enhancement value as from using +3 SOs in the same amount of slots . . . and they will never expire or degrade in value.
Or take your TAOE powers. I'm guessing you have at least 1 ACC, 1 DAM, and maybe some other things in there? If you replace 1 ACC and 1 DAM with 1 ACC/DAM/END and 1 ACC/DAM, you'll have about 35% ACC and DAM (basically +2 SO level) with a whopping dollop of 15% END thrown in for free! Let's say your other two slots were a DAM and a RECH. Slot 2 DAM/RECH and you are at +3 SO level. You can do even *more* tricks with powers that take ranged sets; especially at level 25, many triple IOs are available, giving +16%/+16%/+16%. Replacing 1 dam and 1 rech with 2 DAM/END/RECH IOs is a great way to deal with endurance problems. Since your attacks could benefit from extra ACC, DAM, END, and RECH, using triples can effectively allow you to 7 or 8 slot your powers. You can get in some extra END reduction without skimping on damage, accuracy, recharge.
The key to frankenslotting is to do it on the cheap. Place patient bids for recipes and salvage, and craft them yourself. Don't go for expensive IOs, you aren't looking for set bonuses, just value for money. Don't be in a rush, Rome wasn't built in a day. It does take a bit of up-front INF to use this strategy, but the IOs never expire.
3.) Consider using tip missions to earn Alignment Merits which you can use to purchase expensive IO recipes. Three of the top of my head that would help out your situation would be the Kismet +acc (actually +to-hit, which is better) the Performance Shifter chance for +End, and the Miracle +rec unique.
4.) The Recieved the Atlas Medallion accolade badge will give you +5 end. You can earn it at your level, but you might need some help for the warwolves and vampires.
Just a couple of ideas, let me know if you have any questions about them!
FF is a team oriented powerset, a lot of the powers only help teammates, which of course makes it harder to solo.
FF contributes only defence buffs and no damage or offensive buff/debuff. That makes it harder to solo.
Even at 50 you'll be safe as heck solo but not exactly a legendary AE farming offensive machine.
I suggest you team, keep the blasters and scrappers alive so they can kill huge crowds and shower you with XP.
If you don't mind rerolling, you could consider a FF mastermind. All the bubbles, and the pets do decent damage.
Alternatively traps has a ton of defence and a lot more offence.
As noted, if you're solo'ing a lot, take those slots out of the teammate bubbles for now. They're of more use in your attacks and in Stamina and Health.
Young_Tutor's advice about stepping up to SOs and frankenslotting are
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Hi everyone, been wanting to try a FF primary for a while now and was talked into DP as the secondary and it fits conceptually into the characters bio/etc. Ive gotten myself up to lvl 21 and its been rough w/o a team, i'll post the build i have so far in a moment. What i was wondering was if anyone would be so kind as to show me maybe a decent leveling path ? I dont know anyone to plvl so i have to grind out the low n slow way grabbing any teams i can find. And barring that, maybe a build to aim for taking in account as im not 50 yet.
I've tried reading the forums and slotting on FF as well as power picks vary wildy. But any lvling advise would be greatly welcomed. I tend to burn through end like a thirsty man and water in a desert. Should i continue on or try a different at/powerset for it?
Thanks,
n_n
(this build is by memory i think i actually have 1 slot in stamina where this doesnt and the lvls picked are wrong as well )
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.93
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Helpme!: Level 21 Technology Defender
Primary Power Set: Force Field
Secondary Power Set: Dual Pistols
Power Pool: Speed
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Deflection Shield -- Empty(A), Empty(3), Empty(9)
Level 1: Pistols -- Empty(A), Empty(5), Empty(9)
Level 2: Dual Wield -- Empty(A), Empty(3), Empty(11)
Level 4: Empty Clips -- Empty(A), Empty(5), Empty(7), Empty(19)
Level 6: Insulation Shield -- Empty(A), Empty(7), Empty(11)
Level 8: Hasten -- Empty(A), Empty(15), Empty(15)
Level 10: Swap Ammo
Level 12: Dispersion Bubble -- Empty(A), Empty(13), Empty(13)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Bullet Rain -- Empty(A), Empty(17), Empty(17), Empty(19)
Level 18: Repulsion Field -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Suppressive Fire -- Empty(A), Empty(21), Empty(21)
Level 22: [Empty]
Level 24: [Empty]
Level 26: [Empty]
Level 28: [Empty]
Level 30: [Empty]
Level 32: [Empty]
Level 35: [Empty]
Level 38: [Empty]
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 10: Chemical Ammunition
Level 10: Cryo Ammunition
Level 10: Incendiary Ammunition