Steam/GvE Jump packs as replacement travel powers?

Straightforward question here, but I just HAVE to justify a post with at least a paragraph.

I have a character I've always pictured using "Artificial" methods of travel, jet packs for the most part.
Obviously raptor packs are somewhat inconvenient as they run out and, honestly, the Steampunk pack and especially the GVE pack are just cooler looking an have a more unique way of getting around. My previous problem with them had been that the GvE pack was extremely limited to the point it really didn't serve as a travel power, more just something to add vertical movement to, say a ninja runner or super speedster, more of a supplement to a proper travel power.

Having heard about the Steampunk pack's ability to combine with the GvE pack and seeing it's jump speed does increase with ninja run and sprint,My question is: could I make a character solely with those powers and get around at something reasonably approaching the same speed as my teammates? or do the jump packs fall just short of satisfactory?
I don't need to win any races, necessarily, I just need to keep up with everyone else.

I do it all the time.

Eh... They still expire pretty fast - and really are, honestly, more vertical movement still.
Sprint +Ninja/Beast run +Swift, though, generally works for people wanting to skip a travel power.

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Not unless combined with ninja run or beast run. Even those only come close to a true travel power (ok, besides flight). There is also down time where both the Steam/GvE packs aren't available, and the GvE only increases vertical movement or flight.

Triumph: White Succubus: 50 Ill/Emp/PF Snow Globe: 50 Ice/FF/Ice Strobe: 50 PB Shi Otomi: 50 Ninja/Ninjistu/GW Stalker My other characters

Firstly, I had a character who used Hurdle + Combat Jumping as his travel power BEFORE we had either of the jump packs. His performance and speed in getting to missions was entirely acceptable. Now, with Ninja Run and two jump packs, this is completely a non-issue for me. I have MANY characters who skip a travel power.

As for the Raptor Pack expiring, you're aware you can buy a new one any time you want for just 10,000 inf, right?

yeah, but that's annoying and the Raptor pack looks like crap.
Okay, I actually ran around and got good speed with ninja run+GVE pack+Steampunk pack timing extender

Raptor pack is ugly, but if you're redside you can get the goldbricker pack, and that one looks pretty cool.

The only travel powers I ever take anymore except for concept reasons are Teleport on a Stone Armor alt for Granite work, and/or Superspeed with a Celerity Stealth proc. for a one button very good stealth (that also stacks with other stealth powers too ) on a toon that already had Hasten.

The Ninja/Beast run + sprint thing works just fine, esp. now that Inherent Fitness gives you Swift and Hurdle automatically. A second slot in swift or sprint, or a few run speed boosts from sets like the GotA 7.5% global, Perf Shifter, Aegis, Regen Tissue, Gaussians, etc. can get your speed up to near unenhanced Superspeed. My Stone tank shows 69.21 MPH in game. That is with assorted 9 speed boost set bonuses and a 2 slotted swift though, so he can move well in Granite.

In addition to the Raptor I carry a crafted Jet Pack or the free Raptor from the for safeguard mish as a backup in case I forget to renew a purchased Raptor and run dry in a mission. Some set boosts affect all movement including flight too, at LvL 50 on just about every alt that uses a Raptor I am almost at the fly speed hard cap with a Raptor alone. But both Steam Jump and/or GvE pack will STACK with a Raptor, giving me hard capped flight speed if I really want it. You can use them seperaty in sequence as either one will do it.

In fact, since the revisions to flight speed a while back, at pretty much any level a Raptor is very close to the Fly Speed Hard Cap for that level. Activating Steam Jump or GvE Jump in addition Will put you at the hard cap for your current level. Just tested this in game at unenhanced swift on levels 15, 26, and 35.

Before the flight speed changes the GvE was a very noticable boost. I thought of it as lighting my afterburners. Stacked with regular fly too.

Having said all that My First Vet Power Purchase, after the new store goes live, will be the ability to take a Real Travel Power at level 6. Will save a power pick on so many toons that do use Fly etc. for concept reasons.

Jak

I don't actually get why people work so hard to skip travel powers, unless it's entirely for concept reasons. But practically speaking, it's easier to take a travel power than it used to be since inherent fitness, and virtually all of my builds will benefit from combat jumping, hover, or hasten, and usually I take TWO of those powers. Plus superspeed and a cheap jump stealth IO in sprint makes stealthing a snap, which is very useful. Almost infinitely useful for me, virtually all my characters have some manner of stealth. ^_^

If my fly pack runs out of time in a mission, I pull up the /auctionhouse interface, buy the fly pack recipe and its components, then I call out my portable crafting table and make a new one.

None of my 3 main 50s have a travel power. Narry a problem...

I've been taking travel powers less now that we have Beast/Ninja run, inherent Fitness, etc. Just the other day I was leading a team with my MA/SR scrapper and using Ninja and the Steam, then switching to the GvE if it ran out before I wanted it to - and more than once I was actually the first at the door. Might be worth noting I took Air Sup for her just because it's usefull though.

If my toon's concept fits with having travel power X then I take it; if not, then I just don't. There's no "working hard" to not take one.

Heh, I have a character who's a "Human Build" Who can run almost 70mph with all of the boosts I've put into her. She can also jump about 3 stories (almost 4). And that's without combat jumping.

It was a toy build though, I just set it up so that I could do that, most of her sets aren't that conductive, fun though.

Run speed bragging? 88.87 mph here. Sprint+Swift+Quickness+Ninja, and a few carefully chosen IOs.