Quote:
Welcome back. I have a few comments and ideas for you to toss around in your mind.|
Originally Posted by bsides_
I left the game a very long time ago and back then we didn't have Fitness for free.
Well the thing is, I'm stuck at level 20-22 because well, I don't like Fire Manipulation at all (Secondary). It has too many melee attacks, which I don't see myself using (I die at range already, why go melee?). So I got all powers from my primary and got 2 from Fire Manipulation: Ring of Fire and Build Up. What sould I get now until level 26 (for Blazing Bolt) and after level 26? Should I go to another pool? I already have Hover, Fly and Hasten. Any tips will be appreciated. Even if I have to go Fire Manipulation, what would be the best? |
1) The speed of leveling to the 20s has been improved dramatically over the past 2 years. If you really find yourself turned off by /Fire Manip, starting fresh is not a huge chore (you can always keep the Fire/Fire in case you decide to pick it up later). /Mental is a good choice for a ranger as is /Nrg. /Ice or /Devices can be used as well to a lesser extent (well, devices is great for a ranger, but it has certain unique properties that you can either love or hate).
2) While /Fire Manip is best played as a meleer, it is actually not a terrible choice for a ranger. Ring of Fire is the best ranged attack in any of the blaster secondaries. I have a Fire/Fire blaster who just chose Ring of Fire, Fire Sword, Build Up, and Consume. It is a great ranger build. You hit Aim or Build Up, then Fire Breath followed by Fire Ball (I also took Rain of Fire for when I fight up-level enemies). Single target attacks to finish survivors (Blaze, of course, but Fire Sword is also very handy here, then you can follow with your lesser attacks).
3) Some people find that they start dying less when they use the melee attacks. Fire Sword is a great way to speed elimination of a Lt. who is causing issues. Fire Sword Circle is a great help in quickly shrinking enemy numbers. The key is movement. Blasters are best when they move around during most fights and this is key to survive using melee attacks. I have a Fire/Fire blaster who took all but Combustion and Burn from /Manip and only has 4 primary powers (Flares, Ball, Aim, Blaze). Living in near melee range but wiggling around inside the spawn keeps me able to use my melee powers while most enemies end up using range attacks anyway.
4) Teaming is awesome. Having a tanker/brute/MM get enemy attention first greatly frees up a blaster. Having a controller/defender/corruptor/dominator to cripple enemies or empower you is very helpful. Even just a duo, Blaster + aggro control or Blaster + buffer is very potent and can free a blaster to really pump out damage.
5) Blazing Bolt is a fine choice for solo play. I do not personally like snipes, but hitting a target before the fight starts with a big shot of damage is not a bad tactical choice.
Why Blasters? Empathy Sucks.
So, you want to be Mental?
What the hell? Let's buff defenders.
Tactics are for those who do not have a big enough hammer. Wisdom is knowing how big your hammer is.
I am of a very similar mind, bsides. I love blasters for the blasting, and I have yet to make a "blapper." I ran into the same problem when started up my Fire/Fire because, as you say, the secondary is very heavy with the close-range attacks. First off, if you truly "don't like Fire Manipulation," I suggest taking Stratonexus's suggestion and re-rolling. After all, there is no point in playing a toon which you don't really like.
However, if you are married to the "matching primary/secondary powersets" (another thing about which I can highly empathize) then I suggest dipping into some other power pools, ones that you don't necessarily want to heavily slot, but may provide good opportunities for things. Some examples:
- Fighting: Take Boxing and Tough to get you to Weave, which can help your defense.
- Leadership: Take Maneuvers, something else, and Vengeance. You never have to run Maneuvers or Assault/Tactics (which ever you choose), Vengeance is a great power to use on teams, and both Maneuvers and Vengeance provide a great one-and-done slotting opportunity for Luck of the Gambler: +7.5% Recharge.
- Concealment: Not sure if your concept would allow for it, but I have never been disappointed when taking Stealth or Invisibility. I always manage to find them useful.
Hopefully you find something useful!
@Winter. Because I'm Winter. Period.
I am a blaster first, and an alt-oholic second.
here's what i'd do.. It's one small purple inspiration from ranged defense soft cap and Consume is the only melee ranged power and that's only for getting endurance back (yeah i know it's slotted for damage but there's no end mod set that gives ranged defense.. besides at 20% of your end bar per enemy base you only need 5 to fill up)
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.942
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Level 50 Mutation Blaster
Primary Power Set: Fire Blast
Secondary Power Set: Fire Manipulation
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Flame Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Flares -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(33), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(42)
Level 1: Ring of Fire -- HO:Endo(A), HO:Endo(13)
Level 2: Fire Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(5), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(34), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(46)
Level 4: Fire Ball -- Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(5), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(9), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(17), Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(34)
Level 6: Rain of Fire -- Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(7), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(7), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(25), Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(34)
Level 8: Fire Breath -- Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Posi-Dmg/Rng:50(11), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(11), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(25), Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(36)
Level 10: Hover -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(42)
Level 12: Aim -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(13)
Level 14: Fly -- Zephyr-ResKB:50(A)
Level 16: Build Up -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(17)
Level 18: Blaze -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(19), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(19), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(37), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(46)
Level 20: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(21), RechRdx-I:50(21)
Level 22: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(23), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx:50(23), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(37)
Level 24: Assault -- EndRdx-I:50(A)
Level 26: Blazing Bolt -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(27), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(27), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(37), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(42), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(50)
Level 28: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(A), GSFC-Build%:50(29), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(29), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(39), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(39), GSFC-ToHit:50(39)
Level 30: Consume -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(31), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(31), Erad-Dmg/Rchg:30(40)
Level 32: Inferno -- Oblit-%Dam:50(A), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(33), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(33), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg:50(40), Oblit-Acc/Rchg:50(40)
Level 35: Burn -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:30(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:30(36), Erad-Acc/Rchg:30(36)
Level 38: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A), LkGmblr-Def:50(50)
Level 41: Char -- BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:30(A), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:30(43), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg:30(43), BasGaze-Acc/Hold:30(43)
Level 44: Fire Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam:40(A), RctvArm-EndRdx:40(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(45), S'fstPrt-ResKB:30(45), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(46)
Level 47: Melt Armor -- AnWeak-Acc/Rchg/EndRdx:50(A), AnWeak-DefDeb/EndRdx/Rchg:50(48), AnWeak-Acc/Rchg:30(48), AnWeak-Acc/DefDeb:50(48), AnWeak-DefDeb:50(50)
Level 49: Rise of the Phoenix -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Sprint -- Clrty-Stlth:50(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Flight-I:50(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal-I:50(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I:50(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I:50(A)
Code:
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Server -=Victory=-
I'm probably on the other end of the fire/fire spectrum then since I took every Fire Manipulation power and live on PBAoE.
Find teammates. Sonic, FF, Cold and Thermal help your survival big time. So does a tank/brute who can hold aggro.
I pump out enough damage I get warnings all the time from Siege and NS.
Hot Feet, Blazing Aura, Burn, Fire Sword Circle, Combustion, Rain of Fire and Fireball! I skipped Inferno since I hate crashing nukes and I use the pyronic power instead.
H: Blaster 50, Defender 50, Tank 50, Scrapper 50, Controller 50, PB 50, WS 50
V: Brute 50, Corruptor 50, MM 50, Dominator 50, Stalker 50, AW 50, AS 50
Top 4: Controller, Brute, Scrapper, Corruptor
Bottom 4: (Peacebringer) way below everything else, Mastermind, Dominator, Blaster
CoH in WQHD
My Fire/Fire/Fire had three powers that caused significant shifts in playstyle:
First, Hot Feet: it's a PBAoE damage aura with an "afraid" effect. Enemies who get too close to you tend to be distracted into trying to run out of the aura, making you more survivable at melee range.
Second, Fire Shield: this stacks with Tough for a total of 46% S/L resistance, letting you survive even better at melee range.
Third, Rise of the Phoenix. Suddenly, it doesn't matter if you survive or not. Being defeated merely gives you a mini-nuke to use on the enemies around you.
First off I'd like to say this game has the best community ever. I've played a lot of MMOs and this one is my favorite in this quesite. Except maybe that the guides are needing an update for yesterday, but regardless, the attention you guys give for someone in help is really great. And the ingame help channel is also full of great helping people (at least in Freedom, I don't play in other server).
Having said that, thank you all for the replies. I will read each one then will reply about it (editing this post probably).
Hello Blasters!
I left the game a very long time ago and back then we didn't have Fitness for free.
Well the thing is, I'm stuck at level 20-22 because well, I don't like Fire Manipulation at all (Secondary). It has too many melee attacks, which I don't see myself using (I die at range already, why go melee?). So I got all powers from my primary and got 2 from Fire Manipulation: Ring of Fire and Build Up. What sould I get now until level 26 (for Blazing Bolt) and after level 26? Should I go to another pool? I already have Hover, Fly and Hasten.
Any tips will be appreciated. Even if I have to go Fire Manipulation, what would be the best?
Thanks!
The build by now is:
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1,942
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Sugarflame: Level 48 Mutation Blaster
Primary Power Set: Fire Blast
Secondary Power Set: Fire Manipulation
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Flares -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Ring of Fire -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Fire Blast -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Fire Ball -- Empty(A)
Level 6: Rain of Fire -- Empty(A)
Level 8: Fire Breath -- Empty(A)
Level 10: Hover -- Empty(A)
Level 12: Aim -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Fly -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Build Up -- Empty(A)
Level 18: Blaze -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Hasten -- Empty(A)
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: Defiance
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A)