I'm definitely not an expert on Defenders, but Fire Blast is pretty much always a strong choice in the damage department. Archery also has some nice AoE (yummy... Rain of Arrows!), and Sonic's -Res debuffs would act as a force multiplication for your team (+Damage and -Res are a wonderful synergy!).
Ice Blast doesn't have a huge amount of AoE powers (a so so cone and a patch), but the Tier 9 Blizzard does Blaster damage, which'll blow away any of the other nukes.
I'm sure someone with more Defender-specific experience will be around shortly to give you better recommendations that synergize well with Kinetics (50/50 chance they already posted while I wrote this!).
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Originally Posted by ShadowNate
;_; ?!?! What the heck is wrong with you, my god, I have never been so confused in my life!
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If you're specifically looking for damage, I'd recommend a Corruptor over a Defender. Fire/Kin is always fun, I also enjoy DP/Kin, Archery/Kin, heck just about anything works well with it.
Illusion ... yeah. I'm not exactly known for being *fond* of that set.
Sonic is usually a good set - the drawback (to me) is how awful it sounds. Still, every attack adds some -res (and it can be pretty hefty,) meaning everyone's doing more damage. You can even see it going up on your own DOTs. It will definitely shorten the time it takes to kill groups.
Ice is... almost unfair.
I'm running a Kin/AR on occasion, but I'm odd like that. I wouldn't actually call it a *recommendation.*
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I briefly considered Corruptor but my team is blueside and if I switch characters then I'd prefer to get sidekicked and jump right back in with them as opposed to grinding up then switching sides or *shudder* do Praetoria again which I've done so many times that I hear groaning zombies in my sleep.|
Originally Posted by Psychoti
If you're specifically looking for damage, I'd recommend a Corruptor over a Defender. Fire/Kin is always fun, I also enjoy DP/Kin, Archery/Kin, heck just about anything works well with it.
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Also I'm one of those weird people that honestly enjoys being support. Just want to support AND help the missions go a little faster
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So does the rain power. Fire, Ice, Rad, Dark, and any of the weapon sets will put out solid AoE. Fire and Ice being better on corrs due to scourge.
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Originally Posted by Kitsune Knight
Ice Blast doesn't have a huge amount of AoE powers (a so so cone and a patch), but the Tier 9 Blizzard does Blaster damage, which'll blow away any of the other nukes.
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Seems these same powers keep getting mentioned. If they all are on fairly equal footing damage wise (with pluses here and minuses there) perhaps the deciding factor should be what would synergize best with my group?|
Originally Posted by Amy_Amp
So does the rain power. Fire, Ice, Rad, Dark, and any of the weapon sets will put out solid AoE. Fire and Ice being better on corrs due to scourge.
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Thanks for all the replies by the way. Really appreciate it =)
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Well, after Freedom hits you'll be able to start a Corruptor blueside after the new tutorial. |
Originally Posted by Jimbobillyjoe
I briefly considered Corruptor but my team is blueside and if I switch characters then I'd prefer to get sidekicked and jump right back in with them as opposed to grinding up then switching sides or *shudder* do Praetoria again which I've done so many times that I hear groaning zombies in my sleep.
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You'll also be able to play a Kinetics/Fire Defender then if that sounds fun.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
First off, if you don't want to wait til I21, fire blast is out.
So, as to what synergizes with your group, it sorta depends on level and the build they have atm. If tank isn't lvl 50 and IOed to the gills, then he's probably not softcapped on def... In that case, you'll make him a tougher tank by hanging back and using darks attacks, as they tohit debuff.
As has been said, sonic makes everyone do more damage, but it always strikes me as a tad light on AOE. But it's still a very solid choice, especially vs hard targets.
Ice is another all around great choice, but hit's it's stride later. But, it's got nice damage output, decent AOEs, great mitigation in slows and holds, and it's a less resisted damage type.
Archery is a great set, but don't think it synergizes well with anything else..
Hmm. Thinking about it, I'd go with dark. The AOE stun should make getting into and out of melee range to do you FS much easier, especially if it's stacking with the OG PBAOE stun available to your tank. And later you can drop Dark Pit, then FS, then dropt he PBAOE nuke while you're there.
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OK, I had to respond to this -- since Controllers are by far my favorite AT. The problem you have is that you chose a primary/secondary combo that (a) has some synergy issues and (b) is more single-target focused in the primary.|
Originally Posted by Jimbobillyjoe
My problem with this setup is the Controller part of my character feels useless which made me start looking at Defenders. Instead of running around crowd controlling everything I could be.. yunno.. Killing them instead. Also with our group AoE is a bit light already and while it's fun seeing all these big groups all holding their heads I'd much rather see them just die.
I don't know.. maybe I'm wrong.. I just feel as a Defender we could get through the same content just as easily only do it much quicker with my added offensive abilities. |
If you are the primary controller for a team with Kinetics as a secondary, I would suggest Fire/Kin, Plant/Kin, Ice/Kin, Elec/Kin, and then maybe Earth/Kin. Fire/Kins are known as great farmers, but a team-focused Fire/Kin can be extremely effective providing team-oriented control with AoE damage. Plant/Kin has great AoE control to go with very good AoE damage. My problem on my Plant/Kin is trying to balance my controlling and buffing sides -- I always have more stuff to do than I have time.
As for a secondary for a Kinetics Defender -- a Kin/Sonic team-oriented Defender, combined with teammates with lots of AoE, will cause the foes to melt. Sonic's Resistance Debuffs to go with the damage buffs from Kinetics result in massive amounts of damage. My buddies and I put together a superteam which included a tank to gather aggro, two Kin/Sonics and the rest were AoE controllers, blasters and a scrapper. That team destoyed every bit of content the game offered at the time.
Don't give up on Controllers based upon one build that wasn't exactly ideal for your purposes. Controllers are more varied than any other AT, in that some of them are entirely focused on support, while others can put out lots of damage. (Controllers are Control/Support, while every other AT in the game has at least one powerset focused on damage.)
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
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I would argue that Khelds and SoAs are more varied. Ill/kin is an odd pairing though.
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Originally Posted by Local_Man
Controllers are more varied than any other AT, in that some of them are entirely focused on support, while others can put out lots of damage. (Controllers are Control/Support, while every other AT in the game has at least one powerset focused on damage.)
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Originally Posted by Amy_Amp
Ill/kin is an odd pairing though.
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I was quasi-new when I made him. It was more of a "oooh THAT sounds cool" kind of thing. Is what I get for not doing my research first
It's probably stupid to say but.. even though I'm not responding to everyone I am definitely reading all of these and considering the information in them carefully. Again thanks you guys, this place is soooooo much better than the WoW forums.
I have a friend who insists the Controllers are "the highest-damage AT" when they get to the epic/ancillary levels.
I don't know that I agree, but I haven't really examined the issue. But with the containment bonus (which, frankly, is not especially a strong point for Illusion) high-level Controllers can do quite a bit of hurt. It's possible to have the bad guys holding their head s AND falling over.
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That's the basis for most of my favorite characters. I like a good concept and name and nifty powers more than just a pile of points. Furthermore, I find I like playing with other players who are excited about their characters more than I care what build they're playing, even if there are "holes" in the team. For example, you wouldn't think a Fire/Stone Tanker is necessarily either an indestructible tank nor a damage king -- and you'd be right. But I've had a blast teaming with one recently because the player is so enthusiastic about that particular character. I tell my teammates to play whoever they want and I'll adapt. |
Originally Posted by Jimbobillyjoe
I was quasi-new when I made him. It was more of a "oooh THAT sounds cool" kind of thing.
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Originally Posted by Jimbobillyjoe
Again thanks you guys
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If we are to die, let us die like men. -- Patrick Cleburne
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The rule is that they must be loved. --Jayne Fynes-Clinton, Death of an Abandoned Dog
Defenders are getting fire in I21??? ROCK!
Speed boost, indeed. Pff. Tell those pals of yours that force fields are where it's at. How does SB compare with +35% defense (bubbles plus dispersion field)? Or pinning guys helpless against a wall with your Repulsion Field and watching them wriggle as you blast them to smithereens?
No one has mentioned Energy... it's very fun, especially in combo with FF... once you get skilled at knocking foes into walls or the floor (get hover), an FF/Energy defender adds quite a bit of controller-y type power (and the ability to impart awesome, incredible, indestructibleness on his team members).
But... if you gotta go Kin, it's kinda hard to go wrong with Kin/Sonic.
Well going with all these suggestions, personal preferences, and of course thematic considerations - cuz it's all about the look after all - as well as input from my teammates, I think I've narrowed it down to either a Kinetic/Ice Defender or a Fire/Kinetic Controller. Except now I feel bad about eliminating all the other great choices that you guys did such a good job promoting 
Sonic and Dark were especially tough to eliminate.. bleh need more free time for more alts!
On the other hand I was about to give up entirely on Controllers but ya'll managed to talk some sense in to me on that front so grats lol
Of course now that I'm down to the Final Two the servers are out so I can't play around with them. Oh Fate thine humour is so cruel 
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We are one. Resistance is futile.|
Hey, it's the least we can do for someone who sounds like a regular guy. Actually, four regular guys, judging by your user name.
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Same words my wife said to me when we got married...
Hiya! Long time lurker first time poster
But today I need some advice..
First some background: I currently am playing an Illusion/Kinetic Controller and play 99% of the time with a Dark/Fire Tanker and Ninja/Thermal MasterMind
My problem with this setup is the Controller part of my character feels useless which made me start looking at Defenders. Instead of running around crowd controlling everything I could be.. yunno.. Killing them instead. Also with our group AoE is a bit light already and while it's fun seeing all these big groups all holding their heads I'd much rather see them just die.
I don't know.. maybe I'm wrong.. I just feel as a Defender we could get through the same content just as easily only do it much quicker with my added offensive abilities.
So why do I only need help choosing a Secondary? Well because my group has gotten addicted to Speed Boost and has threatened to go on strike if I lose it so my Defender would be Kinetic.
So what would go well with Kinetic? What would go well with our group? Preferably something with decent AoE.. Or should I just tough it out with my Controller because he will magically begin to shine at 50? Killing groups just takes soooo long...
Thanks in advance =D