BS/SD Brute

I recently came back to the game after an extended hiatus and since I couldn't remember how to play my old characters I figured I'd start up a new one.

Really like the theme of a BS/SD Brute, so figured I'd give a shot at making it work. Since I don't see any guides or posts on BS/SD I understand it's probably not super amazing. Regardless I'm primarily looking to make it work.

Here is the build I am working on:


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.95
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

BS/SD: Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Hack -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(3), Dmg-I(3), Dmg-I(13), EndRdx-I(25), EndRdx-I(39)
Level 1: Deflection -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(7), ResDam-I(9), ResDam-I(15), EndRdx-I(17), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 2: Battle Agility -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(7), DefBuff-I(9), EndRdx-I(15), EndRdx-I(21)
Level 4: Slice -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(5), Dmg-I(5), Dmg-I(13), EndRdx-I(25), EndRdx-I(40)
Level 6: True Grit -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(46), ResDam-I(46), Heal-I(46), Heal-I(48), Heal-I(48)
Level 8: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(11)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(11)
Level 12: Air Superiority -- Acc-I(A)
Level 14: Hover -- Flight-I(A), Flight-I(40), DefBuff-I(50)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(17)
Level 18: Whirling Sword -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(19), Dmg-I(19), Dmg-I(21), EndRdx-I(31), EndRdx-I(37)
Level 20: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(31), DefBuff-I(42)
Level 22: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(23), RechRdx-I(23)
Level 24: Afterburner -- Flight-I(A)
Level 26: Disembowel -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(27), Dmg-I(27), Dmg-I(29), EndRdx-I(31), EndRdx-I(34)
Level 28: Grant Cover -- DefBuff-I(A), EndRdx-I(29)
Level 30: Taunt -- Acc-I(A)
Level 32: Head Splitter -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(33), Dmg-I(33), Dmg-I(33), EndRdx-I(34), EndRdx-I(34)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Acc-I(A), Dmg-I(36), Dmg-I(36), RechRdx-I(36), RechRdx-I(37), RechRdx-I(37)
Level 38: One with the Shield -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(39), Heal-I(39), Heal-I(50)
Level 41: Superior Conditioning -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(42), EndMod-I(42)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(45), EndMod-I(45)
Level 47: Focused Accuracy -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(48), EndRdx-I(50)
Level 49: Combat Jumping -- EndRdx-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Dmg-I(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Heal-I(A), Heal-I(43), Heal-I(45)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(43), EndMod-I(43)

I slotted these with IOs since I'm not up to speed on Enhancement Sets.

I don't like Parry, while it seems good at low levels at high levels it looks like a DPS reduction, so I skipped it. Slash again wasn't needed for a high level rotation, so I skipped it. I took all of the SD powers since they're all good, and all have at least some benefit regardless of what you're doing.

I like to fly, so that was a given, plus the Hover has a defense bonus, and Air Superiority is additional crowd control especially at low level. Afterburner is for actual travel.

I took Hasten because it used to be a beast and still looks OK. I'm not sure if it's possible to make it permanent anymore, but I'm assuming someone has figured it out.

Combat Jumping was taken as the last power as I didn't have anything else to take there and it has a defensive bonus.

I went with Energy Mastery, which I understand isn't considered all that good. I liked the bonuses from Physical Perfection and Superior Conditioning since this is an End hungry build. Focused Accuracy was taken to save me from AccDebuffs, which I understand are pretty harsh with such slow, powerful, attacks.

Did I setup my slots correctly, or are there any suggestions to improve this. I would like to remain on the Blue side, and avoid any Darkness powers for theme reasons.

Parry is fantastic and unless you're capped on melee defense(which might be possible with SD, I've never played it), I would recommend it every time.

Also, I could be mistaken, but I don't believe Combat Jumping and Hover can stack, it's one or the other. Unless someone would like to correct me.

Welcome back

The reason there are no Brute BS/SD posts is because BS/Kat was only just proliferated with i21 - 2 weeks ago.

Parry provides a +15% Lethal/Melee defence for 10 secs which is a HUGE bonus for a Melee toon.
It recharges in 3 secs (with no other bonuses) and can be effectively stacked twice for a short lived +30% Melee def.
Keeping this in your attack chain may reduce DPS (Ive never tried working our DPS chains) but the enhanced survivability should not be overlooked.

Hover and CJ CAN be used together.

I personally enjoy the Energy Mastery options on my melee toons (whether Brute or Tank or Scrapper) as all my toggles drain my endurance big time and the extra is really good (especially at the later levels when Carnies/Malta come more into play).

I STRONGLY recommend you take the Fighting pool.
Kick vs Boxing = either really. I liek to take Kick so I can slot the Force Feedback +Rech.
Tough grants +11.25% S/L Res without any slots and as a Def toon you need some extra Res (you get ~15% from Deflection and True Grit) for when you do (and you will) get hit.
Weave is a +3.75% Def to ALL (inc Psi) which can get to almost 6% when slotted.

Not sure if you are aware of the defence soft-cap.
This is 45% Defence. (NOTE: Incarnate Content has a much higher softcap [69%] as they are much harder than regular foes and have higher Acc/ToHit values)
At this point a +0 foe only has a 5% chance (minimum allowed) to hit without any kind of buff (or debuff on you).
The same foe will still have a 5% chance to hit even if you have 100% Defence. For another example in DND rolling a 20 on a d20 is always a hit. This is a 1/20 chance which is also a 5% chance.

Higher level foes CON +1, +2, ..., or foes with +Acc/ToHit or when you get Def Debuffed will have an easier time to hit you.

SD is a Positional Def set (Melee, Ranged, AoE).
This is differrent to say Energy Aura which is a Typed Def set (Smashing/Lethal, Cold/Fire, Energy/Neg Energy, Psi).
If you can get to 45% for all 3 Positions thats fantastic.

Id recommend looking in the Scrapper forums for a BS/SD build. Most will be with IO Sets and they can really help a toon out.
The Def/Res values should be fairly similar between Scrapper/Brute.
The only real differrence will be the attack sets damage, the HP you have and the Epic/Patron options.

Thanks for the tips.

I'm a little confused by the Positional vs Typed Defense. Do they stack?

For example if I have 15% Lethal Defense and 30% Melee Defense, would that mean I have a 45% Defense against a Lethal Melee attack?

After looking into what you get from Fighting, I think I'll swap it in. Swap Kick for Air Superiority, then remove Slice (since rotation won't need it) to add Tough, and Combat Jumping for Weave. I'll take Fly late for a real travel power over Afterburner.

Played around with some of these sets, and I think I get the gist of it now. Geeze a lot of math to make this work right. I've no idea if its even possible to achieve the amount of Influence in game to set this up.

Here is what I settled on:


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.95
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

BS/SD: Level 50 Mutation Brute
Primary Power Set: Broad Sword
Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Hack -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Deflection -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(7), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(9), GA-3defTpProc(9)
Level 2: Battle Agility -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(11), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SW-ResDam/Re TP(13)
Level 4: True Grit -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(19), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(21), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(21), Numna-Heal/Rchg(23), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 6: Kick -- FrcFbk-Rechg%(A)
Level 8: Build Up -- GSFC-ToHit(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(25), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(25), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(27), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(27), GSFC-Build%(29)
Level 10: Active Defense -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 12: Parry -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(31), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Mako-Dam%(33)
Level 14: Hover -- HO:Enzym(A)
Level 16: Against All Odds -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 18: Whirling Sword -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Dmg(33), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(33), Oblit-%Dam(34), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(34), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34)
Level 20: Phalanx Fighting -- DefBuff-I(A)
Level 22: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(36), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg(36), Aegis-Psi/Status(36), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(37), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(37)
Level 26: Disembowel -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(39), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(39), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(40)
Level 28: Grant Cover -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(40), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 32: Head Splitter -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(42), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(42), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), Oblit-%Dam(43)
Level 35: Shield Charge -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(45), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Oblit-%Dam(45), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(46), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 38: One with the Shield -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(46), S'fstPrt-ResKB(48)
Level 41: Superior Conditioning -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(48), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(48), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(50), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(50), P'Shift-End%(50)
Level 47: Taunt -- Zinger-Acc/Rchg(A)
Level 49: Fly -- Frbd-Stlth(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Dmg-I(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 2: Swift -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Heal(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(13)
Level 2: Hurdle -- HO:Micro(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(15), P'Shift-EndMod(15), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(17), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(17), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(19)

It should be capped for Melee/Ranged/AoE which I think might be overkill with Parry. Endurance is in good shape with 3.76 recovery and only 1.11 usage with everything turned on.

If anything I think the build might be too optimized and not really playable until you get everything in order. Opinions?

Defense bonuses carry tags as well, to specify what styles of attack they work against. Each Defense bonus applies only versus attacks whose tags match one or more of its own. There is one additional type of Defense bonus called Base Defense, or DEF(Defense), which applies against all attacks regardless of tagging.
Every time an attack is made against a target, the game checks the target's total Defense bonus against each of the attack's tags separately. Once the game has those separate totals, it uses only the best one in its calculations that determine whether the attack hits. The important result of this rule is that, for any given attack, Defense buffs only stack when they all have one of that attack's tags in common.
Example: Deflection Shield gives a Defense bonus against Melee Attacks, Smashing Attacks, and Lethal Attacks. Glacial Armor gives a Defense bonus against Energy Attacks and Negative Energy Attacks. A Tanker with both these buffs is ambushed by a nasty Council Vampyri who tries to hit her with Siphon Life. That power is tagged as a Negative Energy Attack and a Melee Attack. Our Tanker will only be protected by one of her two Defense buffs. Lucky for her, it will be whichever is larger.

source: http://wiki.cohtitan.com/wiki/Defense

Correction:

Quote:

Example: Deflection Shield gives a Defense bonus against Melee Attacks, Smashing Attacks, and Lethal Attacks

Deflection Shield grants (for Brutes) +11.25% Melee Def only - there is no S/L Defense.
It does grant +11.25 S/L RESISTANCE.

I think what EJI was getting at is IO Sets Defense bonuses now give 2 seperate bonuses.
Melee = S/L
Ranged = E/NE
AoE = Fire/Cold

This is different to the +Def your POWERS gives you.

Whichever Def the IO Set provides it gives half that for the linked Defense as well.
Example: Mako's Bite 6-slotted give +3.75% Ranged Def and +1.88% E/NE Def.
Touch of Death 6-slotted gives +3.75% Melee and +1.88% S/L Def
Kinetic Combat 4-slotted fives +3.75% S/L Def and +1.88% Melee Def


I think you have overslotted Stamina.
I have a SD/BA Tank (but yes he is IO'd to the gills) and I only 4 slotted it with the PerfShif EndMod, EndM/Rec, EndM/Acc and %End.
I also use the Numina++ and Miracle+.

In terms of cost - Tip Missions are your friend (level 20+).
You can do 5 a day. After the 10th you grind for a special Tip mish that you can run on that same day. If you confirm your alignment (ie: as a Villain do 10 Villain tips) you get 50 Merits. The every other time you confirm your alignment (10 Tips + special tip) you get an Alignment Merit. These are VERY good.
Two A.Merits can purchase ANY Recipe except Purples/PvP's. This includes the Numi/Miracle uniques and things like the Luck Of the Gamble +Rech and Quad IO's (Oblit +Acc/Dam/End/Rec) which can be VERY expensive on the markets.
Depending on the Tip mission and your toon a lot of them can be done in under 5 mins (some take longer).
Some prefer to get a Unique via A.Merits and sell it for early cash to help with the leveling costs. The Miracle/Numi's often sell for 250Mil+ (market prices do vary). This will also help with the majority of your IO's.
Once you have some liquid cash use ur A.Merits for your toons IO's.

I havnt opened your build but a little quirk with Mids and the ForceFeedback +Rech.
When you put this in a power it is auto-activated. This means when you have it in kick it will show the +100% rech automatically. Make sure you click the green button on Kick to deactivate the +Rech as it is not a 100% on power (only when you hit with Kick there is a 5% chance for the +100% recharge and it only lasts for 5 secs).

If you want more Def look at changing the Crushing Impacts for Touch Of Death (Melee) or Mako's Bite (Ranged).
Sciroccos Dervish gives AoE Def at 5-slots and also awesome EndRed.
Eradication gives Ranged Def at 3-slots and AoE at 6-slots (plus a large +MaxHP and some +MaxEnd).
Oblits are good but suffer from poor EndRed. Options options options

I also saw you have both the ShieldWall and Gladiator's Armor uniques - these are PvP IOs so will be VERY VERY VERY expensive (and I mean over the 2 Billion INF cap each expensive).

Parry, if you keep it going, will be like running on a 4th tier purple inspiration (Amazing Luck). Mid's only shows it stacking 3 times, but I've had it stacked 4 times before. And you can slot it for Defense Sets which will boost that defense boost with each stack.

In other words, if u slot it for defense and keep it stacked at least twice, it's worth 2 of your defense toggles.