Noob needs help with fire/shield cost

Ok, so I'm kind of a noob (been playing for a few months) and I don't have endless billions to spend. I wanted to make a fire/shield scrapper because I wanna be able to AoE really well for solo missions while still being helpful to a team. I heard that it was one of the most "fun" ATs to play.

Problem. I'm cheap. Last decent build I checked out would cost 2 billion influence at least. I can barely afford that, especially after fully decking out my KIN/Reg scrapper. (I didn't pick it because it was broken, just because I thought it looked cool and wanted to give KIN a chance).

So the best build I could come up with on mid's hero designer without breaking the bank was this one below.

I thought it was pretty good for approximately 640 mil instant buy. =[

But the 2 bil one slaughtered me.

Is my build still decent? Are there cheap ways for me to improve it? Is there another AT that's cheaper but just as rewarding?

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

fireshield: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Blaze Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Fire Sword -- P'ngS'Fest-Acc/Dmg:30(A), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/EndRdx:30(3), P'ngS'Fest-Stun%:30(5), P'ngS'Fest-Dmg/Rchg:30(15)
Level 1: Deflection -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:50(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg:50(3), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg:50(11), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(17), RedFtn-EndRdx:50(40), RedFtn-Def:50(43)
Level 2: Battle Agility -- RedFtn-Def:50(A), RedFtn-EndRdx:50(7), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(13), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:50(15)
Level 4: True Grit -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx:50(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam:50(5), TtmC'tng-EndRdx:50(7), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg:50(17), TtmC'tng-EndRdx/Rchg:50(43), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(43)
Level 6: Combat Jumping -- EndRdx(A)
Level 8: Breath of Fire -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(9), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(11), Posi-Dam%:50(29), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(31)
Level 10: Build Up -- AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg:50(A), AdjTgt-Rchg:50(13), AdjTgt-ToHit:50(21)
Level 12: Super Jump -- Jump(A)
Level 14: Active Defense -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(46), EndRdx(46)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Sciroc-Acc/Rchg:50(A), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg:50(19), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(19), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg:50(21), Sciroc-Dam%:50(34), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(37)
Level 20: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff(A)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- TtmC'tng-EndRdx:50(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx:50(25), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(25), TtmC'tng-ResDam:50(50)
Level 26: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:50(A), RedFtn-EndRdx:40(46), RedFtn-Def:50(50), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(50)
Level 28: Grant Cover -- DefBuff-I:50(A)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(31), RechRdx-I:50(31)
Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- Mako-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), Mako-Dam%:50(33), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(33), Mako-Acc/Dmg:50(34), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:50(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg:50(36), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx:50(36), Sciroc-Dam%:50(36), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(37), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg:50(37)
Level 38: One with the Shield -- TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx:50(A), TtmC'tng-ResDam:50(39), TtmC'tng-EndRdx:50(39), TtmC'tng-EndRdx/Rchg:50(39), TtmC'tng-ResDam/Rchg:50(40), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:50(40)
Level 41: Char -- Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(A), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg:50(42), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(42), Dev'n-Dmg/EndRdx:50(42)
Level 44: Melt Armor -- UndDef-DefDeb:50(A), UndDef-Rchg/EndRdx:50(45), UndDef-DefDeb/EndRdx:50(45), UndDef-DefDeb/Rchg/EndRdx:50(45)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(48)
Level 49: Assault -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Sprint -- Jump(A)
Level 2: Rest -- IntRdx(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Efficacy-EndMod:50(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg:50(23), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg:50(23), Efficacy-Acc/Rchg:50(27), Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx:50(27), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc:50(29)

It's not that dumb a question is it? =[

Getting to 45% defense is not too expensive and is very important. Defense is your primary method of surviving. At 45% (melee+ranged+AoE) you ensure most critters have the minimum chance to hit you.

INF shouldn't be too much of an issue unless you are trying to get purple sets or PvP IOs. Use any character level 25+ to farm alignment merits, then use those to buy a Luck of the Gambler global recharge which should sell for 100 million. I haven't checked the market in a while, so other inventions may be worth buying too. Repeat that ten times or so and you will have more than enough for a build.

I posted a Fire/SD build in someone else's thread that should meet your requirements for a relatively cheap build. It is still on the first page at the time of posting this. The OP's name is Of Doom.

The thread Syntax is talking about is here: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=264598

You can probably finish the build with less than 1Bil, but then you need to take out LotGs and some other expensive stuff and use regular level 50 IO's.
As Syntax pointed out, need tier 4 spiritual alpha for recharge and destiny ageless for end cost.

Oh, and take out the enzymes too, those are expensive. Sure the build will suffer, but if you can't be bothered farming Hero Merits and playing the market, that's the way!

I've been running trials with it and 800m spent on the build (using IO's to fill LotGs and stuff) and it's working fine. Not how well I wanted, but its pretty good. Eat a purp and I can tank almost anything, hitting mostly all the time, etc.

Active defense on auto is a ******* blessing.

Here's a build for you that won't break the bank:

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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Blaze Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Scorch -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(3), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(3), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), T'Death-Dam%(39)
Level 1: Deflection -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(7), EndRdx-I(13)
Level 2: Battle Agility -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(7), EndRdx-I(13)
Level 4: Cremate -- T'Death-Dam%(A), T'Death-Acc/Dmg(5), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(5), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(9), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 6: True Grit -- Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx(A), Mrcl-EndRdx/Rchg(15), Mrcl-Heal/Rchg(15), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mrcl-Rcvry+(37)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(46)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(17)
Level 12: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(17), RechRdx-I(40)
Level 14: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(43)
Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(19), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(19), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(21), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(21)
Level 20: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff-I(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(50)
Level 22: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 24: Weave -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(25), EndRdx-I(25)
Level 26: Incinerate -- T'Death-Acc/Dmg(A), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx(27), T'Death-Dmg/Rchg(27), T'Death-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), T'Death-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(29), T'Death-Dam%(40)
Level 28: Maneuvers -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(31), EndRdx-I(31)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(33), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), Mako-Dam%(39)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(36), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(36), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(37), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 38: Grant Cover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 41: Char -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(42), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 44: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(45), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(45), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 47: Fire Ball -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg(A), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(48), Det'tn-Dmg/Rng(48), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50), RechRdx-I(50)
Level 49: Super Jump -- Empty(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(11), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(11), P'Shift-End%(40)


(use the tips below to afford those LoTGs and the miracle/numi) For incarnate I'd go Reactive Radial, Cardiac Alpha and Ageless Destiny.

The best advice I can give you is:

-The Dos and Don'ts of IO'ing a character-

Don't buy any crafted enhancement.

Don't buy the item you are looking at for the "buy is nao!" price.

Don't buy uncommon or rare salvage on the Market. (unless it's super cheap)

Don't buy on Friday, Saturday or Sunday (crazy inflation)

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Do buy Recipes and craft them yourself at the university. Recipes often go for half, and often even far less than half, of a crafted enhancement.

Do Bid for slightly less than the going price and wait. I think it's Fulmen's sig that says "If you didn't let your bid sit for 24 hours, you didn't actually try to buy anything."

Do check salvage prices before you buy! Some items are cheap, some are not. Just because circuit boards are going for 500,000, doesn't mean they are actually worth that much. It probably means people are screwing with the markets, or the "buy it nao" crowd are driving up the prices.

Do buy all/most expensive salvage with AE tickets. I can point you towards some great maps for AE ticket farming if you want. You will save hundreds of millions doing this. Go to AE and spend 8 tickets on a random roll for your commons. I think it's 80 tickets for an uncommon and those aren't random. You can choose exactly what you want. Rares go for 540 AE tickets, but again, you can choose exactly what you want.

Do look for recipes at off levels. If the level 50 recipe is going for 20mill maybe the level 43 is going for 3mill. The difference in enhancement value is negligible, but the savings are great. Lower level enhancements also have vastly cheaper crafting cost.

Do use Alignment merits to but the super-expensive items like LOTG. For twenty minutes a day you can run 5 tip missions. Do 5 today, 5+ the alignment mission tommorow, and you get an A-merit. If you're really serious you can run multiple characters a day to multiply your rate. A LoTG 7.5 costs 2 merits. So you can get one in less than a week. Run 2 characters and you can have 2 in a week!
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Quick money making tips:

The easiest way to make money for a beginner is to farm AE tickets, do random bronze recipe rolls, learn what's valuable, craft it, and sell the crafted enhancement. It doesn't take a lot of time and you can fund your entire build this way.

Use the A-merit tip from above to get some of the great 1 merit wonders. The Kinetic Combats that only cost 1 merit sell for >100m crafted.

Buy two of every recipe you are looking for. Craft them both, slot one, sell the other for big profit.

Head over to the market forums and ask for some friendly advice on marketeering.

"Work" an item. For a while about a year back I was getting in the habit of buying Obliteration triples, crafting them, and selling them for about double what I paid. I capped a character's influence doing that.

Hope that helps some!

Check this thread: http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=216944

Great advice. I figured out that making the enhancements was vastly cheaper, but yah I'm pretty impatient and I'm always trying to sell things on the auction house. I more or less have a solution to money problems, though. I made an AE farmer. xD

Anyways, thanks for the advice. I'll look into the builds posted above. I've got another project I wanna work on too.