Natural Blasters need a new Secondary

This has been particularly an issue for me when I've been rolling Archery and Dual Pistols blasters. There just really isn't a good option for a Natural training-based character. I was thinking of something that combines some of the utility Devices with some of the melee attacks from other Secondary power sets to build a set geared toward characters who are more equipment or training-based, like the many enemies who can fight in hand to hand. The powers could include:

- A few strong melee attacks, punches and kicks, probably including stun and knockback effects, perhaps based on the Fighting pool
- A Stealth effect
- Build Up and Aim effects
- A cone fear power
- Conserve energy, or something like it

To be honest, I don't play Blasters much (But when I do, I have a...Blast! Hahaha)

Puns aside, yes, this has been suggested many times and the devs have plenty of "Natural" melee sets to take from to make "Martial/Strength/Body/Chi/Whatever Manipulation"

Super Strength
Martial Arts
Street Justice coming soon
Fighting Pool

We'll probably see something like it at some point. It's certainly been suggested enough.

Since Blaster secondaries are manipulation based instead of straight up melee based it would have to be a mixed set.

2 straight up melee attacks
1 PBAoE
1 ST immob
Build Up (Aim comes from Primary)
1 buff power
1 Mez attack
Tier 9 power could be either another strong attack or a status effect ala Flash Freeze.


That said, I've been clamoring for a 'Natural' secondary for literal years!
I also fully expect we will get something in the store before this time next year.

It kind of seems like you were describing energy manipulation there. Not precisely, but it covers most of the bases. Indeed, what's wrong with EM for a natural blaster? Just minimize the effects on the punches and they're fairly plausible apart from total focus, while any self buff can be explained in the same way an inspiration can. Heck, I'd actually say EM is a better natural set than devices.

It's been suggested. Just like it's been suggested that they fix the useless parts of Devices. >.>

I'm hoping for the option to just turn off power effects (no colors) then energy fits natural powers for the most part and is what you're looking for. Asking for martial arts or something wouldn't be much different.

I am waiting for a Martial Arts seconday, although they would have to come up with something to use for the ranged T1 immobilize.

It would mean that I have an argument to get Dual Pistols as an ancillary for Scrappers.

I'd really like a martial arts themed Blaster secondary. Give it good solid melee attacks that don't glow or involve elemental damage plus a couple of gadgets and self buffs. Until we get that I find coloring bright Energy Melee a very dark color makes the glow almost invisible and works reasonably well for a natural attack set, but I'd rather have attacks that look like martial arts instead of big heavy "brick" style punches.

Street Justice could provide a few interesting options for a natural secondary. I don't know a ton about the set, but it seems like it'd have a few fun blaps. Throw in Caltrops and maybe smoke grenade, possibly a Focus Chi/Build Up style move,

Power boost's description is outdated. It no longer affects KB magnitude. Other than that, EM has one KB power, and it's a single target one. It hurls *a guy* across the room, which is only disruptive if you spend all your time using it on people and don't kill any of them. As a 'get out of my face' tool it's extremely useful, but there's certainly no requirement to use it enough to be disruptive (and it's not a damage tool, by level 4 you should have at least three other powers that are more useful as attacks).

I think Positron is not at home with the idea of Blasters getting /Dual Blades or /Martial Arts.

I'd rather see these sets get put to the vote.

Then take EM and don't use power thrust? Or do use it and chalk it up to your powerful hands, a trait that would actually be quite useful for an archer. You could exercise some level of imagination and say that instead of doing the little power thrust shunt move, your character is doing some kind of throw. The engine will never support an actual throw animation so it's basically as close as you're going to get anyway. I'd also point out that if you set it to bright em and use a very dark color, or set it to dark em and use a very light color, the effects will be at least as minimal as those of either martial arts or street justice given the same treatment.

My 2 thoughts on the issue:

* Any new secondary needs to be put together from powers that are not stolen from blaster primaries. We've had enough of that. Umbral Torrent and Will Nerfination can kiss my grits.

* Melee damage powers are high on cool factor and high on fun factor. They are also highly redundant with any blaster primary, if they lack utility, and can lead newbies and casuals into bad builds.

These two issues shouldn't be huge obstacles to designing a new secondary, really, but they're important in my view.

==========

Re: Natural Archer

Is there any concept or gameplay reason you couldn't go another AT with Trick Arrow instead? Blasters aren't always the best idea for concept. Or gameplay.