PPD & Resistance Epic Powersets

PPD & Resistance Epic Powersets
”Round two, maniac. Let's finish this.”
”That's it blueberry. You're going down.”
The Foreword

From the moment the first beta-testers laid they eyes on the power gauntlets and energy fields of the PPD, from the moment they heard the rattling assault rifles and the thunderclap-like power fist impacts of the Resistance, there was, somewhere in there, a thought.

I want to play with those toys.

Over the months, there were a few suggestions for turning either group into an Epic Archetype, Praetoria’s first. It’s yet to happen. Mind you, most of them tended to be Soldier of Arachnos clones. But the idea remained.

And because I’m a glutton for punishment, here is my take upon them. But, you see, I don’t believe either set really deserves an epic archetype of its own. But… what about an Epic Powerset? This way the amount of combinations skyrockets, from two to however many secondaries and ancillaries the archetype in question has, and old things can be played in new ways.

And with that thought, because I do not do things by half-measures… well. Here we are.

A word of warning. Long read ahead.

Mechanics: Picking one of the following powersets locks the player into the relevant morality and storyline. The player does not receive the option of going to the Tutorial, the choice of starting morality, or Praetor White as a contact. Instead, the player receives a side-specific starting contact, whose arc will take them to level 5, as well as the status of a Powers Division member, and a costume slot. The contact will also have a few missions during the character’s stay in Praetoria, show up to a chat before entering the Rift Enclosure, and also offer another arc, Unfinished Business, available once the character reaches level 30. The contact’s dialogue will change depending on the character’s progression along the Power/Crusader and Responsibility/Warden lines.

Dedicated to every fan of Praetoria and every hater of Knockback.

For the sake of readability this suggestion has been spread into multiple posts. Quick links:
Top (you are here)
PPD Force Gauntlet
Resistance Officer
-Resistance Fighter
-Resistance Heavy Hands
-Resistance Heavy Barrel
Ancillary Power Pools
Whatnots, Whatifs, Questions and Answers

PPD Force Gauntlet
”We didn’t ask for your help, Powers.”
Archetype/Set: Corruptor Primary, Defender Secondary
Origin: No limitation
Requirements to unlock: Complete “The Rift Enclosure” from Provost Marchand (either ending)
Starting Morality: Praetorian Loyalist
Starting Location: Precinct Five, Elyssian Avenue, Nova Praetoria

Storyline:You’ve carefully modified your standard issue PPD equipment to better protect Praetoria’s citizens, or better punish its enemies. Your work finally received the recognition it deserved, but not the one you wanted – you’ve been forcefully recruited into Powers Division, effective immediately. Now your old friends think you’re a power-hungry traitor, while your new allies see in you an upstart to knock down a few pegs. Will you continue the fight, whether they want you or not? Will you embrace your new power, whatever the cost? Or will you fall, and fight the system that turned its back on you?
Starting Contact: Investigator Brass – until recently, your direct superior in the PPD, Brass is one of the few people sympathetic to your situation. He keeps in touch with you, and isn’t above cutting through red tape to secure the aid of a Powers member he can trust.
Starting Mission: A raid on a suspected Resistance sympathizer turns bad when a Syndicate group is uncovered. The day is saved only thanks to your powers. After a week’s timeskip, you are summoned by Brass, but word got around fast, and the PPD are acting strangely hostile towards you…

Playstyle: Support your team from the very thick of the action.
Weapon of Choice: Force gauntlets.
Special Mechanic: Plasma Amplifier – You may upgrade your Force Gauntlets to give yourself the option of overloading them to the point where the weapons generate devastating plasma bolts for a short while. When the appropriate power is activated, all PPD Force Gauntlet attacks will, for a brief time, set their targets on fire, dealing a guaranteed strong Fire DoT and inflicting a guaranteed strong regeneration debuff. They also receive different graphical and sound effects for the duration.

The Powers

Bonus Power – Force Brawl (replaces Brawl)
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 0,83s cast – 4s recharge
Effect: Moderate Smashing/Energy (3:2), 10% Mag 2 stun, Special(Fire DoT, -regen)
A quick punch from your Force Gauntlet deals little damage, but has a chance to stun its target.
Animation/FX: Alternating left/right punch with yellow Force Gauntlet VFX and SFX. Leaves the FX on. Same animation as PPD NPCs. Same animation as Brawl.
Note: Force Brawl is not Brawl, and will cause redraw with all non-PPD powers. Considerably stronger than Brawl, very End-cheap but not free.

Power Tree – Corruptor
-Force Blast – Ranged, Minor Smashing/Energy, % KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Bolts – Ranged, Moderate Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Maul – Melee, High Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Burst – Close Cone, Moderate Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Screen – Toggle, Self +Res(Smashing/Lethal/Energy), +Prot(Hold/Sleep/Stun)
-Safeties Off – Click, Self +ToHit, +Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Shockwave – PBAoE, Minor Smashing/Energy, %Stun, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Wave – Melee Cone, Superior Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Volley – Close, High Smashing/Energy, %Stun, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)

Power Tree – Defender
-Force Blast – Ranged, Minor Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Maul – Melee, High Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Bolts – Ranged, Moderate Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Screen – Toggle, Self +Res(Smashing/Lethal/Energy), +Prot(Hold/Sleep/Stun)
-Force Burst – Close Cone, Moderate Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Safeties Off – Click, Self +ToHit, +Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Shockwave – PBAoE, Minor Smashing/Energy, %Stun, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Wave – Melee Cone, Superior Smashing/Energy, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Force Volley – Close, High Smashing/Energy, %Stun, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)

Detailed Power Information

-Force Blast
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 1s cast – 4s recharge
Effect: Minor Smashing/Energy (3:2), 20% Mag 0.67 KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
A quick blast from both gauntlets that deals light damage but has a good chance of knocking a target down.
Animation/FX: Quick cast from both hands. Same animation as Energy Blast. Same as Force Blast used by PPD NPCs.

-Force Bolts
Type: Single Target –80 ft range – 1,4s cast – 6s recharge
Effect: Moderate Smashing/Energy (3:2), 10% Mag 0.67 KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
Fires a quick volley of force energy bolts at your target, dealing moderate damage and possibly knocking it down.
Animation/FX: Quick series of five bolts from raised left hand. Same animation as Gloom. Same as Force Bolts used by PPD NPCs.

-Force Maul
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 1,5s cast – 10s recharge
Effect: High Smashing/Energy (3:2), 30% Mag 0.67 KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
A slow but powerful overhead strike with your Force Gauntlets, dealing good damage and with a good chance of knocking the target off its feet.
Animation/FX: Overhead smash with yellow Force Gauntlets active. Leaves Force Gauntlets FX active. Same animation as Haymaker/Bone Smasher. Same as Force Maul used by PPD NPCs.

-Force Burst
Type: 45o Cone – 40 ft range – 2.37s cast – 16s recharge
Effect: Moderate Smashing/Energy (3:2), 60% Mag 0.67 KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
You charge up and unleash a burst of force energy in a wide cone in front of you, hitting multiple targets. This attack deals good damage and has a high chance of knocking foes off their feet.
Animation/FX: Bring hands low, charging up, then up and forward to unleash the attack. Same animation as Twilight Grasp or Electron Haze. Same as Force Burst used by PPD NPCs.

-Force Screen
Type: Toggle – Self Only – 2.67s cast – 10s recharge
Effect: 12.5% (Defender)/ 9.375% (Corruptor) Resistance (Smashing, Lethal, Energy), Mag 2 – Mag 4,6 Protection (Hold, Stun, Sleep)
A number of careful adjustments to your force screen grants you additional protection against Smashing, Lethal and Energy attacks. The screen will also make you harder to disable with Stun, Hold or Sleep powers.
Animation/FX: Tapping of keys on inside of left gauntlet, followed by the “power up” animation as the shield activates. Uses same graphics as the PPD NPCs’ shields.
Power Customization: Light Screen (force field only flashes when power is activated), Reactive Screen (force field flashes when power is activated and when the player flinches from damage), Heavy Screen (as Reactive Screen, but also flashes now and then). All three can be colored using the Bright palette. The default setting is a yellow Reactive Screen.

-Safeties Off
Type: Click – Self Only– 1,17s cast – 120s recharge – 20s duration
Effect: +ToHit, +Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
You may briefly overcharge your Force Gauntlets to the point where they will be capable of firing plasma bolts instead of normal force energy. For the power’s duration, all of your Force Gauntlet attacks will ignite their targets, dealing Fire damage over time and reducing the target’s regeneration rate. This bonus damage scales with enhancements normally.
Animation/FX: Slam fist into palm as power activates. For the duration, there is a red force field aura around the character’s hands. All Force Gauntlet attack VFX and SFX for the duration are replaced with plasma bolt ones, as used by the T.E.S.T. and IDF.

-Force Shockwave
Type: 15ft PBAoE – Self Only – 1,23s cast – 14s recharge
Effect: Minor Smashing/Energy (3:2), 40% Mag 0.67 KD, 50% Mag 3 Stun, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
Smash your Force Gauntlets together to create a radial shockwave that only deals minor damage, but has a good chance of leaving your enemies disoriented and knocked down.
Animation/FX: See above. Same animation as Hand Clap/Thunder Clap. Same as Force Shockwave used by PPD NPCs, but larger FX to correspond with larger area.

-Force Wave
Type: 90o Cone – 7ft range – 1,67s cast – 16s recharge
Effect: Superior Smashing/Energy (3:2), 30% Mag 0.67 KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
Charge up and unleash a tremendous amount of force energy in a short cone in front of you, dealing great damage and knocking down enemies.
Animation/FX: A short chargeup followed by a quick shove forward of the arms that unleashes the energy. Modified Force Bolt/Fire Cages animation. Similar to Force Wave used by PPD NPCs.

-Force Volley
Type: Single Target – 40ft range – 2,07s cast – 10s recharge
Effect: High Smashing/Energy (3:2), 30% Mag 0.67 KD, 75% Mag 3 Stun, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
Fires a powerful volley of force energy bolts at a single target, dealing high damage, as well as possibly knocking it down or leaving it disoriented.
Animation/FX: Take half-step forward, leveling right arm at target while it visibly charges up. Fire rapid volley of powerful-looking bolts. Based on the alternate animation for Flares/Blazing Bolt.

The Appearance
Costume:A PPD Force Gauntlet character does not have any costume limitations. In addition, a PPD Force Gauntlet character receives access to several unique costume pieces, such as the PPD Large glove, the PPD Large shoulder pad, and the PPD Barrel chest detail.
Power Customization: PPD Force Gauntlet, as an epic set with a preset source, does not allow the recoloring of its powers.

Resistance Officer
”Woo! Stop the clock, it’s time to rock!”
The Basics

Archetype/Set: Mastermind Primary
Origin: No limitation
Requirements to unlock: Complete “The Rift Enclosure” from Steven Sherridan (either ending)
Starting Morality: Praetorian Resistance
Starting Location: Resistance Base, Underground Nova

Storyline:Life in the Resistance is hard and unpleasant. The gloom, the damp, the constant threat of becoming ghoul chow or running afoul of a PPD kill-team. But just when your skill and powers catapult you into the role of a leader of a small cell, word comes down that Calvin Scott wants more people infiltrating Powers Division, and your name is topping the list. But when you get the first taste of life topside, when you see your allies through the eyes of your enemies, will you remain loyal to your cause? Will you betray what you fought for in the name of power and glory? Or will you decide that, if everybody can’t live this well, then nobody will?
Starting Contact: Spanner – One of the men loyal to you first and the Resistance second. After saving his life, Spanner becomes your second in command mostly by self-appointment – whether you want him or not. Unfailingly loyal, Spanner believes you know what’s best for Praetoria – or, if it’s more important, what’s best for you. Note: Spanner is only the starting name. His name may be changed to any name currently held by the henchmen you have access to under the appropriate dialogue option. His character model will update to the appropriate henchman the next time you log in.
Starting Mission: An everyday mission turns into a desperate struggle for survival, caught between PPD on one side and Ghouls on the other. It is only your powers, skill with weapons and inspirational leadership that lets the survivors escape with wounded and vital information. You’re put on a fast track for promotion, with Spanner electing himself second in command due to his wealth of experience with Praetoria, both under and above ground. All too soon, word of your actions reaches the ear of Calvin Scott…

Playstyle: Fight shoulder to shoulder with your henchmen.
Weapon of Choice: Dual plasma pistols.
Special Mechanic: Kit Upgrade – As you and your team gain experience, you will upgrade your weapons to better deal with the threats you will encounter. Most Resistance attacks made under the effect of one of the two Kit powers deal extra Energy damage equal to half the attack’s base damage. If both Kit powers are in effect, the extra Energy damage is equal to the attack’s full base damage. This damage is affected by enhancements normally.

Bonus Power – Power Brawl (replaces Brawl)
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 0,83s cast – 4s recharge
Effect: Minor Smashing, Special (Minor Energy)
A hard pistol in a strong hand makes for a good bludgeon. A hard pistol, in a strong hand, with the power cell overcharged, makes for an excellent one.
Animation/FX: Alternating left/right pistol whip. Resistance energy punch glow on striking fist and swoosh SFX. Same animation as Brawl with pistols out.
Note: Power Brawl is not Brawl, and will cause redraw with all non-Resistance powers. Considerably stronger than Brawl, very End-cheap but not free.

Power Tree – Mastermind
-Snap Shots – Ranged, Minor Lethal/Energy, -regen, Special (Energy)
-Aimed Shot – Melee, Moderate Lethal/Energy, -regen, Special (Energy)
-Resistance Fighters – Summon Resistance Fighters
-Veteran Kit – Ranged, Issue Improved Kit
-Overcharged Shots – Ranged AoE, Moderate Lethal/Energy, -regen, Special (Energy)
-Resistance Heavy – Summon Resistance Heavy
-Inspiring Leadership – PBAoE Team +To-Hit, +DEF (All), +Prot (Fear)
-Resistance Heavy – Summon Resistance Heavy
-Elite Kit – Ranged, Issue Superior Kit

Detailed Power Information

-Snap Shots
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 1.20s cast – 4s recharge
Effect: Minor Lethal/Energy (1:1), -regen, Special (Energy)
Snap off a few quick shots from one of your pistols. The plasma bolts deal minor damage and slightly reduce a target’s regeneration rate. Upgraded pistols will increase the amount of Energy damage you deal.
Animation/FX: Aim one pistol or the other, fire off three shots in quick succession. Modified Pistols animation. Same FX as Snap Shots power used by Resistance NPCs.
Power Customization: Choose from the default Soldier (modified Thugs/Pistols) and Ace (modified Dual Pistols/Pistols) animation. No color customization.

-Aimed Shot
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 1,67s cast – 6s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal/Energy (1:1), -regen, Special (Energy)
Carefully aim one of your pistols for maximum damage. The well-placed plasma bolt deals moderate damage and reduces a target’s regeneration rate. Upgraded pistols will increase the amount of Energy damage you deal.
Animation/FX: Aim one pistol or the other, pause a moment to take good aim, fire single shot. Modified Pistols animation. Same FX as Aimed Shot power used by Resistance NPCs.
Power Customization: Choose from the default Soldier (modified Thugs/Pistols) and Ace (modified Dual Pistols/Pistols) animation. No color customization.

-Overcharged Shot
Type: 15ft AoE – 80ft range – 1.67s cast – 12s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal/Energy (1:1), -regen, Special (Energy)
Charge up and fire both of your pistols to cause an explosion at the point of impact, causing moderate damage and reducing the regeneration rate of multiple targets. Upgraded pistols will increase the amount of Energy damage you deal.
Animation/FX: Bring pistols together as they audibly charge. Fire a bolt that explodes. Modified Dual Wield animation. Same FX as Overcharged Shot used by Resistance NPCs.
Power Customization: Choose from the default Soldier (modified Thugs/Dual Wield) and Ace (modified Dual Pistols/Dual Wield) animation. No color customization.

-Inspiring Leadership
Type: 60ft PBAoE – Self Only – 1.67s cast – 240s recharge – 90s duration
Effect: Team +To-Hit, +DEF (All), +Prot (Fear), double strength on self, own pets.
You give a rousing shout, driving your allies to give their best. Affected allies will be more accurate and harder to hit, as well as more resistant to fear. You and your pets are much more used to working together, and receive much greater benefits from this power.
Animation/FX: Punch the air, while giving off a shout. Uses the alternate animation for Aim/Build Up, and the Centurion shout VFX/SFX. Only ongoing FX is the generic defense/tohit buff graphics. Can be performed with pistols out.

-Veteran Kit
Type: 30ft AoE – 50ft range – 1.3s cast – 6s recharge
Effect: Issue Improved Kit
Equip yourself and your loyal soldiers with improved equipment. Your henchmen will gain extra attacks and defenses, while your weapons will now fire bullets coated in energy fields, the better to punch through PPD force fields with.
Animation/FX: Pull out a power cell from the belt and toss it to the lucky henchman. Same animation as Equip Thugs/Equip Mercenaries. If performed with pistols out, quickly hand off one pistol to the other hand.
On being taken, grants the following power:
-Improved Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
You’ve secured improved equipment. Armor plates keep you alive, salvaged Clockwork circuits make your powers easier to use, and refurbished military hardware makes your attacks deal extra Energy damage.
Note: This power cannot be slotted.

-Elite Kit
Type: 30ft AoE – 50ft range – 2.03s cast – 10s recharge
Effect: Issue Superior Kit
Kit out your team in the very best equipment available. Your defenses will be improved further, while your henchmen receive top-of-the-line equipment that allows them to perform even more attacks. The energy fields surrounding your bullets will be twice as powerful
Animation/FX: Tap a few keys on inside of left forearm. Pause to admire left forearm as it charges up with blue energy. Thrust left arm out at designated henchman to direct the teleport. May or may not have a projectile involved. Can be performed with pistols out – but without aiming the left pistol at the henchman.
On being taken, grants the following power:
-Superior Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
You’ve secured superior equipment. You’re protected by the finest alloys, your weapons use the latest in death-dealing innovations, and the weirdest works of Neuron and others like him help you use your powers efficiently.
Note: This power cannot be slotted. Effect stacks with Improved Kit. Icon stacks with Improved Kit too.

-Resistance Fighters
Type: Location – 60ft range – 1.20s cast – 60s recharge
Effect: Summon 1-4 Fighters
Calls to your side loyal Resistance Fighters. Fighters start out as Recruits armed with simple salvaged military rifles, but can be better trained and equipped. You can only summon one Fighter at a time to start with, but that number rises to two at lvl 6, three at lvl 18, and, finally, four at lvl 24.
Animation/FX: Raise right fist into the air, quick gesture, short wave forward. Think military hand signals “move up!”. Uses the Resistance NPCs’ walk sound (jangling buckles). Can be performed with pistols out.
Note: The Fighters’ level does not drop below your level minus two.

-Resistance Heavy
Choose one of the following. You may not pick the same one more than once.
-Resistance Heavy Hands
OR
-Resistance Heavy Barrel

-Resistance Heavy Hands
Type: Location – 60ft range – 1.20s cast – 90s recharge
Effect: Summon Heavy Hands
Call a Resistance Heavy Hands to aid you in battle. The Heavy Hands is a melee powerhouse that wrecks his opponents with his own fists, backed by energy fields and a powerful, industrial-grade exoskeleton.
Animation/FX: Raise right fist into the air, quick gesture, short wave forward. Slightly different signal than Resistance Fighters. Uses the Resistance NPCs’ walk sound (jangling buckles). Can be performed with pistols out.

-Resistance Heavy Barrel
Type: Location – 60ft range – 1.20s cast – 90s recharge
Effect: Summon Heavy Barrel
Call a Resistance Heavy Barrel to aid you in battle. The Heavy Barrel is a ranged combatant that uses his powered exoskeleton to carry around a powerful autocannon.
Animation/FX: Raise right fist into the air, quick gesture, short wave forward. Even different signal. Uses the Resistance NPCs’ walk sound (jangling buckles). Can be performed with pistols out.

The Appearance
Costume:A Resistance Officer character does not have any costume limitations. In addition, a Resistance Officer character receives access to several unique costume pieces, such as the Resistance Harness and Armor and Resistance with Holsters belts, Resistance Wrapped Helmet hood and Resistance Armor backpack.
Weapons: A Resistance Officer character uses a pair of plasma pistols as weapons of choice. The default model can be recolored as normal. Select Dual Pistols models can be used, but only very high tech looking ones – at present, Celestial and Maelstrom pistols only.
Power Customization: Resistance Officer, as an epic set with a preset source, does not allow the recoloring of its powers. Some powers allow alternate animations.

Resistance Fighter
”Slammin’!”
Rank: Henchman-1 (“Minion”)
Range Preference: Adaptive, will close to melee if target is near and try to stay there unless it runs.

Powers - Standard:

-Power Brawl
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 0.83s cast – 8s recharge
Effect: Minor Smashing, Special (Energy)
A quick punch, dealing Smashing damage. Upgrades to your equipment will make it deal extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: Exactly like Brawl. Only gains the Resistance SFX and VFX when upgraded with one kit or the other.

-Burst
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 1.67 cast – 4s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal DoT, -Def, Special (Energy)
A quick burst of fire from your assault rifle, dealing Lethal damage and reducing a target’s defense. Upgraded equipment will coat the bullets in an energy field, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: A series of shots. Grey tracers without kits, blue with kits. Same as Burst used by Resistance NPCs.

Powers –with Veteran Kit

-Improved Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
Your equipment has been improved. You are more survivable, your attacks cost less endurance and deal extra Energy damage.
Note: For purposes of buff icon stacking, stacks with Veteran Kit.

-Single Shot
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 1.20 cast – 6s recharge
Effect: Minor Lethal, -Def, Special (Energy)
A single shot from your assault rifle, placed to reduce a target’s defenses. Upgraded equipment will coat the bullet in an energy field, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: A single blue tracer shot. Same as Single Shot used by Resistance NPCs.
Note: Minor damage. That’s not a typo. Single Shot’s DPCC is worse than Burst’s on purpose. Resistance Fighters have to be balanced against other Mastermind henchmen one on one from 1 to 11. As a result, Burst is balanced against other attacks on its own, but Burst + Single Shot is balanced vs, say, Pistols + Dual Wield after figuring in the extra 50% Energy damage. To compensate, Single Shot’s defense debuff is stronger.

Powers – with Elite Kit

-Superior Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
Your equipment has been perfected. You are even more survivable, your attacks cost even less endurance and deal more extra Energy damage.
Note: For purposes of buff icon stacking, stacks with Elite Kit.

-Heavy Burst
30o Cone – 50ft range – 2.67s cast – 20s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal DoT, -Def, Special (Energy)
A long burst of fire that can hit multiple targets, dealing lethal damage and reducing defenses. Upgraded equipment will coat the bullets in an energy field, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: A lot of blue tracers going every which way in the target’s general direction. Same as Heavy Burst used by Resistance NPCs.

Appearance Notes:
-Standard: Resistance Recruits, basically. Right forearm is armored but no shoulder armor. The rifle has a normal magazine, not a power cell.
-With Veteran Kit: Amongst other fun stuff, both hands now armored, right shoulder armor. The rifle receives a stock and a bigger, power cell magazine.
-With Elite Kit: Both hands armored, receive the resistance back piece. The rifle receives a top sight and a technological doodad next to the barrel with wires leading in.
-With both: Have both the right shoulder armor and the back piece, as well as assorted holsters, pouches, goggles and whatnot, though not grenades and no left shoulder armor. Rifle has both upgrades.

Naming Note:
The default naming of Resistance Fighters is Resistance Recruit. However, they are renamed if upgraded. Any instance of the word ‘Recruit’ in the henchman’s name gets replaced with Fighter if the Veteran Kit is applied, Veteran if the Elite kit is applied, and Commando if both are.

Animation Notes:
-Summon: The Fighter fades into view, running in from off-screen with rifle drawn, moves as if pulling charging handle, falls into combat pose.
-Dismiss: The Fighter mock salutes (fingers to temple, arm thrust) with his free hand, then runs off-screen, rifle drawn, fading out.
-Veteran Kit: The Fighter catches the power cell in his left hand, admires it for a moment, then loads it into his rifle where the magazine goes, then moves as if racking a charging lever. Meanwhile, is enveloped by a blue glow. Same SFX as Equip Mercenary.
-Elite Kit: The Fighter looks around in alarm as he’s surrounded by PPD teleport FX, then over his glowing arms, then leans back, letting the feeling of being upgraded consume him. Looks over newly upgraded arms, then strikes a pose with his gun.

Resistance Heavy Hands
”Ooh, here it comes! Here comes the pain train!” Rank: Henchman-2 (“Lieutenant”)
Range Preference: Always tries to close to melee.
Note: Most Heavy Hands attacks deal extra Smashing rather than Energy damage.

Powers - Standard:

-Armor Plated
Type: Auto - Self
20% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +20% Max HP, Mag 2 KB Prot.
You are covered in heavy metal plates that make you difficult to injure or knock down.

-Heavy Burst
Type: 40o Cone – 40ft Range – 1.67s cast – 10s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal, -Def, Special (Energy)
Fire a short-ranged but intense burst from your arm-mounted cannons to deal Lethal damage to and debuff the defenses of enemies in a cone in front of you. Upgraded equipment will coat the bullets in an energy field, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: Aim arms at opponent. Fire an innacurate spread of bullets from guns on your arms. Tracers are gray, blue with kits. Same as Heavy Burst used by Resistance NPCs.

-Power Punch
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 0.83s cast – 3s recharge
Effect: Minor Smashing/Energy (1:1), 20% Mag 2 Stun, Special (Smashing)
A solid punch from your exoskeleton-aided hand deals Smashing and Energy damage and may disorient the opponent. Upgrades to your exoskeleton will increase the amount of Smashing damage.
Animation/FX: Quick alternating left/right punch, with glowy hand FX. Uses Brawl’s animation. Same as Power Punch used by Resistance NPCs. FX persists after use.

-Pummel
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 1.2 cast – 5s recharge
Effect: Moderate Smashing/Energy (1:1), 20% Mag 0.67 KD, -Spd, -Jump, Special (Smashing)
A strong overhand punch that deals Smashing and Energy damage and will leave your target dazed, slightly slowing their movement, and may even knock them to the ground. Upgrades to your exoskeleton will increase the amount of Smashing damage.
Animation/FX: Raise empowered fist. Drop on opponent. Alternates left/right. Same animation as Super Strength’s Punch. FX persists after use.

Powers –with Veteran Kit

-Improved Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
Your exoskeleton has been improved. You are more survivable, your attacks cost less endurance and deal extra Smashing damage.
Note: For purposes of buff icon stacking, stacks with Veteran Kit.

-Power Slam
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 1.5s cast – 9s recharge
Effect: High Smashing/Energy (1:1), 30% Mag 0.67 KD, 30% Mag 3 Stun, -Spd, -Jump, Special (Smashing)
A powerful two-handed overhead strike that deals a large amount of Smashing and Energy damage and will daze your target, considerably slowing their movement, and also offer a good chance of stunning or knocking them down. Upgrades to your exoskeleton will increase the amount of Smashing damage.
Animation/FX: Bring hands with energy glow over head. Slam opponent. Same animation as Haymaker/Bone Smasher. Same as Bone Smasher used by Resistance NPCs. FX persists after use.

-Hurl Debris
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 3s cast – 16s recharge
Effect: Superior Smashing, 60% Mag 0.67 KD, 30% Mag 3 Stun, -Fly, Special (Smashing)
Wrecked cars, broken masonry, loose furniture – thrown with enough strength, anything is a weapon. Pick something up and throw it at an enemy, knocking them out of the sky, off their feet, and out of their senses. Upgrades to your exoskeleton will increase the amount of Smashing damage.
Animation/FX: The Heavy Hands leans down to pick down a random piece of debris (Propel code) that fades into existence next to his feet, then throws it at some poor foe. Slightly slower, more powerful looking animation than Hurl. Animation resembles Hurl/Hurl Boulder, but the first stage is the “lean down to pick up crate” NPC idle animation rather than the pulling rock out of ground one.

Powers – with Elite Kit

-Superior Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
Your exoskeleton has been perfected. You are even more survivable, your attacks cost even less endurance and deal more extra Smashing damage.
Note: For purposes of buff icon stacking, stacks with Elite Kit.

-Demolish
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 2.67s cast – 12s recharge
Effect: Superior Smashing/Energy (1:1), Mag 0.67 KD, 60% Mag 3 Stun, -Spd, -Jump, Special (Smashing)
Use the full power of your exoskeleton to deliver a devastating strike to your enemy, inflicting great Smashing and Energy damage, knocking your target to the ground, likely stunning it, and leaving it dazed, severely slowing it. Upgrades to your exoskeleton will increase the amount of Smashing damage.
Animation/FX: Whole-body wind up before bringing both charged fists down on top of your target’s head. Animation similar to the War Walkers’ Ground Slam, sound similar to Energy Transfer. Unlike Total Focus and Knockout Blow, the Heavy Hands’ feet never leave the ground. FX persists after use.

-Bulldoze
Type: 15ft PBAoE – Self Only – 2.1s cast – 20s recharge
Effect: High Smashing/Energy (1:1), 60% Mag 0.67 KD, -Spd, -Jump, Special (Smashing)
You smash the ground with enough force to create a shockwave that damages and knocks down nearby foes. Affected targets will be dazed, considerably slowing their movement.
Animation/FX: Raise fist in the air. Punch the ground, creating a shockwave. Animation similar to Foot Stomp’s alternate animation (slower fist raise, quicker slam), sound similar to Energy Transfer. FX persists after use.

Appearance Notes:
-Upgrades make armor heavier, arms bulkier, more powerful looking.
-With Veteran Kit, the Heavy Hands looks about like the NPC model.
-Elite Kit adds a backpack power source for the arms. Possibly with something neat, like, oh I don’t know. “Bunny ear” power cells that fold up when in combat mode (same tech as IDF Heavy Trooper backpack). Another possibility are heavier boots with pistons on the sides.

Animation Notes:
-Summon: The Heavy Hands fades into view, doing a purposeful, menacing slow walk in from off-screen, then loudly smacks an armored hand into an armored palm.
-Dismiss: The Heavy Hand mock salutes (fingers to temple, arm thrust), then runs off-screen, fading out.
-Veteran Kit: The Heavy Hands catches the power cell in his left hand, admires it for a moment, then affixes it onto his right arm, makes sure it’s secure, gives a practice punch or two, then nods to himself in satisfaction. Meanwhile, is enveloped by a blue glow. Same SFX as Equip Mercenary.
-Elite Kit: The Heavy Hands stands back in surprise at being surrounded by PPD teleport FX, then looks at his glowing arms, then balls his fists and leans back, letting the feeling of being upgraded consume him. Tests his newfound power by slamming a fist into the ground, leaving a crack, then strikes a pose.

Resistance Heavy Barrel
”It’s bang-thirty!”
Rank: Henchman-2 (“Lieutenant”)
Range Preference: Range only, will never close to melee.

Powers - Standard:

-Armor Plated
Type: Auto - Self
20% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +20% Max HP, Mag 2 KB Prot.
You are covered in heavy metal plates that make you difficult to injure or knock down.

-Sweep
Type: 120o Cone – 7ft Range – 1.67s cast – 12s recharge
Effect: Minor Smashing, 50/75/100% low KB, 0/25/50% Mag 2 Stun, Self Afraid, Special (KB, Stun)
The heavy cannon makes an excellent club in hands strong enough to wield it. A wide sweep of the weapon can catch multiple enemies, dealing minor damage, but can push enemies away. Upgrades to your exoskeleton will not improve damage, but will increase the chance to knockback, and give a chance to disorient.
Animation/FX: Pull back a bit, then swing the cannon’s large body towards the enemy. Smack.
Note: The attack may puts a short-duration Afraid on the Heavy Barrel, should the AI be smart enough to only move far enough away and not run aaaall the way across the map.

-Snap Shot
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 1.67s cast – 5s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal, -Res, Special (Energy)
Fires a single armor piercing round from your heavy cannon. The round deals good damage to a single target, and may shatter the opponent’s armor, reducing their resistance. Upgrades to your cannon will coat the round in an energy field, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: Quick blast from the cannon. Tracer is grey by default, blue with either kit. Spent shell ejects automatically moments after firing. Same as Snap Shot used by Resistance NPCs, slightly faster animation.

-AP Round
Type: 5o Cone – 80ft range – 2.33s cast – 20s recharge
Effect: High Lethal, -Res, 40% Mag 0.8 KD, Special (Energy)
Fires a high density SABOT round at hypersonic speeds. The round can punch through multiple targets in a very small cone, may knock the targets down, and will shatter armor, reducing the targets’ resistance. Upgrades to your cannon will coat the round in an energy field, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: Bigger blast from the cannon. Tracer is grey by default, blue with either kit. Spent shell ejects automatically moments after firing. Same as AP Round used by Resistance NPCs.

Powers –with Veteran Kit

-Improved Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
Your cannon has been improved. You are more survivable, your attacks cost less endurance and deal extra Energy damage.
Note: For purposes of buff icon stacking, stacks with Veteran Kit.

-HE Shot
Type: 15ft AoE – 80ft range – 2.33s cast – 15s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal/Smashing, -Res, 20% Mag 0.8 KD, Special (Energy DoT, -Regen)
Fires a high explosive round from your autocannon. The explosion deals smashing and lethal damage and may knock enemies down. Upgrades to your cannon will upgrade the payload to a plasma explosive, causing an Energy Damage over Time and reducing the targets’ regeneration rate.
Animation/FX: Explosive blast from the cannon. Spent shell ejects automatically moments after firing. Same as HE Shot used by Resistance NPCs.

-Impact Shell
Type: Single Target – 80ft range – 2.33s cast – 8s recharge
Effect: High Lethal, -Res 40% Mag 0.67 KD, Special (Energy)
Fire a heavy solid slug at a target. The round deals high lethal damage and stands a good chance of knocking the target down. It also will shatter the target’s armor, reducing its damage resistance. Upgrades to your cannon will coat the round in an energy field, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: With a deep bass boom, fire a blue tracer shell at your target. Spent shell ejects automatically moments after firing. Really, the Heavy Barrel is not creative for animations.

Powers – with Elite Kit

-Superior Kit
Type: Auto – Self
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +10% EndRed, +Special(Energy)
Your cannon has been perfected. You are even more survivable, your attacks cost even less endurance and deal more extra Energy damage.
Note: For purposes of buff icon stacking, stacks with Elite Kit.

-Air Burst Mortar
Type: 15ft AoE – 80ft range – 3.03s cast – 30s recharge
Effect: Moderate-Superior Lethal, Special (Energy)
Fires a single low velocity mortar round from your advanced cannon. The round detonates in the air, showering your enemies with a pattern of hypervelocity shrapnel precisely calculated to inflict the most damage. This power deals more damage against tightly clustered enemies. Upgrades to your cannon will coat the shrapnel in energy fields, dealing extra Energy damage.
Animation/FX: Spoke too soon. The Heavy Barrel crouches down a bit to handle recoil better and tilts his cannon up, then lobs a single slow shell in a gentle arc, then spends a moment watching it fly. The shell explodes about 2/3 through the arc, ideally (if the tech allows) turning into several cone-shaped clusters of very quick-moving shrapnel, one for each target hit. The shell has a thick blue tracer, each shrapnel is a blue bullet tracer. Spent shell ejects automatically moments after firing.
Mechanics: The power attempts to hit every enemy within 15’ of the targeted enemy, up to 16 maximum. Every enemy that is hit receives one tick each of Lethal and bonus Energy damage, and spawns a pseudopet, Shrapnel. The Shrapnel pseudopet only lives long enough to fire off a 7’ radius five-target PBAoE, also called Shrapnel. Anybody hit with Shrapnel (including the original target) receives a second tick each of Lethal and bonus Energy damage. Assuming all attacks hit, but the Shrapnels do not overlap at all, each target will be hit for two ticks of damage of each type. If somehow all sixteen targets are within 7’ of each other (I’d like to see that happen), each target will be hit for six ticks of damage, each type. Thus the sliding damage scale of Moderate to Superior.

-Shockwave Detonation
Type: 15ft PBAoE – Self Only – 2.1s cast – 20s recharge
Effect: Minor Smashing/Energy (1:1), 50/75/100% Mag 0.67 KD, 0/25/50% Mag 3 Stun, -Spd, Self Afraid, Special (KD, Stun)
The great quality of your weapon lets it survive this defensive tactic undamaged. Detonate a special shell inside the chamber to create a radial shockwave, knocking your enemies to the ground, stunned, giving you time to move to a better position. Affected targets will be dazed, considerably slowing their movement. Upgrades to your exoskeleton will not improve damage, but will increase the chance to knockback, and give a chance to disorient.
Animation/FX: Turn your weapon skywards, then bring it down onto the ground, rear first, releasing a circular shockwave. Stand back up. Cycle action, manually ejecting the spent shell.
Note: The attack may puts a short-duration Afraid on the Heavy Barrel, should the AI be smart enough to only move far enough away and not run aaaall the way across the map.

Appearance Notes:
-Upgrades make armor heavier, arms slightly bulkier, gun more advanced
-Might even lose the trademark helmet and/or facewrap when not upgraded.
-With Veteran Kit, the Heavy Hands looks about like the NPC model.
-Elite Kit adds a secondary power cell mounted in the small of the back, and a targeting uplink doodad over the right goggle. Possibly heavier boots with pistons on the sides.
-The cannon gets larger and more advanced-looking as upgrades accumulate. The Elite kit notably bulks out the part underneath the right forearm, because it looks weird with it so empty there.

Animation Notes:
-Summon: The Heavy Barrel fades into view, doing a purposeful, menacing slow walk in from off-screen, cannon drawn, then loudly cycles the action, striking and holding a pose.
-Dismiss: The Heavy Barrel mock salutes (fingers to temple, arm thrust) with his free hand, then runs off-screen, cannon out, fading out.
-Veteran Kit: The Heavy Barrel catches the power cell in his left hand, admires it for a moment, then attaches it onto the side of his cannon. Taps a few keys above it, nods to himself in satisfaction at the diagnostics, falls into combat pose with gun low. Meanwhile, is enveloped by a blue glow. Same SFX as Equip Mercenary.
-Elite Kit: The Heavy Barrel looks around in alarm at being surrounded by PPD teleport FX, then looks at his glowing cannon, raising it, letting the feeling of being upgraded consume him. Cycles action in the cannon, strikes a pose.

Ancillary Power Pools
”Missed me?”
After completing your starting contact’s “Unfinished Business” story arc (lvl 30+), you unlock an appropriate Ancillary power pool. These follow the same rules for selecting pools and powers as normal Ancillary or Patron power pools. You may select a different Ancillary or Patron power pool if you prefer, but they will not benefit from your set’s special mechanic.

PPD Force Mastery

Power Listing
-Force Barrier – Toggle, Self +Res(Smashing/Lethal/Energy)
-Force Amplifier – Click, Self +Damage, +To-Hit, +Special
-Force Cage – Ranged Hold, Sleep, -Rech, -Spd, Special (Fire DoT –regen)
-Impact Bomb – Ranged AoE, High Smashing/Energy, %Stun, %KD, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
-Summon Battle Orb – Summon Battle Orb, Ranged Minor Damage (Energy), Heal

Detailed Power Information

-Force Barrier
Type: Toggle – Self Only – 2,67s cast – 2s recharge
Effect: 25% (Defender) / 18.75% (Corruptor) Resistance (Smashing, Lethal, Energy)
Further improvements to your force screen make you even more resistant to Smashing, Lethal and Energy damage.
Animation/FX: Similar to Force Screen set on Light, but with different shade and added Invulnerability-like sparkles.

-Force Amplifier
Type: Click – Self Only – 1,17s cast – 240s recharge – 12.5s duration
Effect: +Dam, +Acc, +Special
….it’s a Power Build Up clone, all right?
Animation/FX: Normal power up animation, with PPD aura moving up and down arms.

-Force Cage
Type: Single Target – 80 ft range – 2,17s cast – 24s recharge
Effect: Mag 3 Hold, Mag 4 Sleep, -Recharge, -Speed, Special (High Fire DoT, -regen)
You can entrap an enemy in a delicate Force Cage. Your mastery of your Force Gauntlets ensures that attacking a trapped enemy will weaken the cage, but will not break it completely. The cage will also constrict the enemy’s movement with a layer of force netting. If used while Safeties Off, instead of a Sleep, the cage will burn the target with a constricting web of plasma.
Animation/FX: Two-handed casting animation. Same animation as Heal Other/Fortitude. Same as Force Cage used by PPD NPCs.
Note: Despite not causing damage, the power is typed Ranged Energy

-Impact Bomb
Type: 15ft AoE – 80ft range – 2.50s cast – 32s recharge
Effect: Superior/High Smashing/Energy (3:2), 100/75% Mag 0.67 KD, 100/50% Mag 3 Stun, Special (Fire DoT, -regen)
You can charge up your Force Gauntlets to unsafe levels to unleash a devastating Impact Bomb. Although slow both to use and to recharge, it deals Superior damage to its target, and is very likely to stun and knock it down. Other enemies near the target will be hit for High damage and have a high chance of being knocked down or stunned as well.
Animation/FX: After a brief charging up of your Force Gauntlets, unleash a powerful bolt of force energy at your target. Same animation as Bitter Freeze Ray/Thunderous Blast. Similar to Impact Bomb used by PPD NPCs but more visually and aurally impressive chargeup, projectile and explosion.

-Summon Battle Orb
Type: Location – 60ft range – 2,03s cast – 300s recharge – 90s duration
Effect: Summon Battle Orb
You teleport in a Battle Orb that has been programmed to obey your commands and support you in battle. The Orb is armed with plasma weaponry for self-defense and caries medical supplies.
Animation/FX: Tap a few keys on the inside of your left gauntlet. Uses the same animations as one of the IDF NPCs of the same name.
The Battle Orb has the following Powers:
-Plasma Blast – Ranged, Minor Energy, -Regen
-Plasma Spray – Ranged, Cone Minor Energy, -Regen
-Tactical Uplink – Auto, Owner Only minor +ToHit, +Defense(All), +Perception
-Deploy Stimulant – Close, Ally Heal
-Resuscitator – Close, Owner Only Resurrect
Should the Battle Orb’s owner fall in battle with it out, instead of exploding, it will drop what it’s doing and head to the owner’s location and attempt to resurrect him or her. This takes several seconds, and won’t be interrupted by the Orb taking damage, but being mezzed or the Orb dying will. If successful, the player is brought back with half health (enhanceable) and endurance. The Resuscitator’s cooldown is longer than the Battle Orb’s lifespan.

Resistance Pistol Mastery

Power Listing
-Fusillade – Ranged Cone, Moderate Lethal/Energy, -regen, Special (Energy)
-Survivor – Auto, Self +Res(Smashing/Lethal), +HP, +regen
-Power Slam – Melee, High Smashing/Energy DoT, %Stun, Special (Energy)
-Stun Bolt – Ranged, Moderate Lethal/Energy DoT, Hold, Special (Energy)
-Tracer Fire – Ranged Location AoE, Minor-High Lethal/Energy, -regen, Special (Energy)

Detailed Power Information

-Fusillade
Type: 60o Cone – 60ft range – 1.83s cast – 16s recharge
Effect: Moderate Lethal/Energy (1:1), -regen, Special (Energy)
Fire several spreads of plasma projectiles from your specially modified pistols. The damage may only be moderate, but the spreads can hit multiple targets. Upgraded pistols will increase the amount of Energy damage you deal.
Animation/FX:
Raise both pistols. Fire several inaccurate spreads of bullets. Same animation as Thugs/Empty Clips. Same as Fusillade power used by Resistance NPCs.

-Survivor
Type: Auto – Self Only
Effect: 10% Resistance (Smashing/Lethal), +10% MaxHP, +50% Regeneration
You’ve survived some of the worst two different worlds could throw at you. As a survivor, you are innately more resistant to physical damage, and your hit points and regeneration rate are increased.
Note: Unlike High Pain Tolerance, the Max HP component is fully enhancable, mostly because it’s only half as strong to start with. As for the math. A tri-factor shield on a Mastermind is 27.5%. On a Blaster, Body Armor is 8.75%, while Temp Invulnerability is 21%, 2.4 times as strong. 27.5/2.4 is about 11.4%.

-Power Slam
Type: Single Target – 7ft range – 1.50s cast – 12s recharge
Effect: High Smashing/Energy (1:1), 30 % Mag 3 Stun, Special (Energy)
By overcharging the power cells of your pistols, you may perform a devastating overhead strike that deals good Smashing and Energy damage and has a good chance of stunning your target.
Animation/FX: Bring hands with pistols out overhead. Blue glow on hands. Energy smack. Same animation as Haymaker/Bone Smasher. Same as Bone Smasher used by Resistance NPCs, but the FX does not persist.
Note: Yes, this is different than the Heavy Hands version. There, the power comes from the powerful exoskeleton, here it’s from the energy discharge.

-Stun Bolt
Type: Single Target – 80ft Range – 2.57s cast – 32s recharge
Effect: Moderate Energy DoT, Mag 3 Hold, Special (Energy)
Using modifications based on Clockwork technology, charge up and fire a particle bolt from one of your pistols. The bolt will electrocute a target, dealing moderate Energy damage over time and rendering them helpless. Further upgrades to your pistols will add extra Energy damage, front-loaded.
Animation/FX: Twirl a gun as it audibly and visibly charges, take aim, fire off a electrical bolt. Target is put in the “tasered” animation, with electricity sparking and grounding. Same animation as Executioner’s Shot. Similar FX to the Particle Stunner power used by Praetorian Clockwork.

-Tracer Fire
Type: Location AoE (15ft) – 80ft range – 2.40s cast – 32s recharge
Effect: Minor-High Lethal/Energy (1:1), -regen, Special (Energy)
Thanks to your highly modified pistols, you may fire several clusters of special tracer bolts into the air. Tracer bolts have limited self-targeting capabilities, and will seek out and descend on targets in the designated location on their own, but their accuracy leaves something to be desired. This power deals more damage against tightly clustered enemies. The tracer bolts will reduce their targets’ regeneration rate, and may even be fired without line of sight to their targets. Further upgrades to your pistols will increase the amount of Energy damage dealt
Animation/FX: Quickly fire multiple spreads of blue plasma tracers into the air, which home on the target area and descend haphazardly. Same animation as Bullet Rain but no ghost image.
Mechanics: The power spawns a pseudopet also named Tracer Fire at the targeted location. The Tracer Fire pseudopet attempts to hit every enemy within 15’ of itself, up to 16 maximum. Every enemy that is hit receives one tick each of Lethal, Energy and bonus Energy damage, and spawns a pseudopet, Tracer Fire 2. The Tracer Fire 2 pseudopet only lives long enough to fire off a 7’ radius five-target PBAoE, also called Tracer Fire 2. Anybody hit with Tracer Fire 2 (including the original target) receives a second tick each of Lethal, Energy and bonus Energy damage. Assuming all attacks hit, but the Tracer Fire 2 do not overlap at all, each target will be hit for two ticks of damage of each type. If somehow all sixteen targets are within 7’ of each other (I’d really like to see that happen), each target will be hit for six ticks of damage, each type. Thus the sliding damage scale of Minor to High.

Whatnots, Whatifs, Questions and Answers
”Kudos if you read all that.”
-Why the no customization? Have you seen the complaining about Kheldians and SoAs not getting it?
I have, and I agree with the Devs’ decision to not give it to them, especially the Kheldians, whose power comes from a strictly defined source.

That said, there are two reasons I don’t think these sets should receive color customization.

The first is the lore reason. The source of powers for both these sets is defined by canon and has its own powerset. However, when both sets make explicit references to the player modifying his powers, it is a much weaker reason than for Kheldians (who use their natural powers) or Arachnos Soldiers (who show immense skill using the equipment they are issued).

The second reason is more severe. It is currently impossible to customize inherent and epic powers. Even with the ability to colorize the force and plasma blasts fired by the main powersets, you’d still be stuck with blue Impact Bomb and Force Brawl and Fusillade. As anybody who matches epics to power colors can tell you, it’s a pain. Should that change, I’d reconsider.

-Wait. Female minions?
That’s, as always, the devs’ call. I’d like to see the option to make some of your Fighters (and by extension, Spanner) female. As long as the fact isn’t forced on the player. Perhaps one day. Ideally, you’d just use the Powers Customization screen to pick the ratio of males to females you want, but I don’t think that’d work at present.

-So if the player and his pets and starting contact are Resistance members… do they speak in the Resistance slang?
Depends on who and when is the way I see it. The pets respond to commands in a Resistance fashion, much like their mobs when aggroed. Spanner uses a mixture of plaintalk and resistance slang – just enough to sound like a member, but easy enough on the players and the writers. He does however insist on calling the player character Boss – the player gets the option of asking him to stop, in which case he offers up several increasingly unwieldy alternatives, until the player admits that Boss isn’t so bad.

As for the player character, that depends entirely on the player. Early in Spanner’s arc, you have to meet up with Spanner and Ricochet before splitting up for a mission. You have to talk with Ricochet, who gives you a barely understandable briefing. The possible answers are “…what?”, which will make Spanner translate for you afterwards, or to slang right back at her, trading a few lines back and forth before reaching an agreement while Spanner utters a series of increasingly more incredulous “..What? What?! WHAT?!”. At that point, you explain the plan to him – and through the lines you pick, to the player.

Incidentally, if the latter option is taken, the introduction with Ricochet is even more confusing than usual, because you can cant right back at her, upping the ante until she eventually admits she has no idea what you are talking about and sends you to talk with Jack Hammer.

-Does the PPD character get to interact with his or her (briefly) coworkers?
One hopes. They don’t show up that much (mostly the first two missions), but the Bioware approach to causative narration can do wonders – whether, after having the narration provide his personality, you react to finding a wounded coworker with “Down again, Doe?” or “John! Please tell me you’re all right!” or something more neutral in-between does wonders to retroactively establishing relations between the two of you. The better to dash them later on.

-The PPD Force Gauntlet set has very high DPA melee attacks, a devastating melee cone, and an armor toggle that grants mez protection! Why would anybody ever play another set?
See below.

-The PPD Force Gauntlet set takes forever to get to the good powers, requires you to stay in melee to do any appreciable damage, has crappy AoEs and lacks a nuke! Why would anybody ever play this set?
See above.

-How does a Resistance Officer compare to a different Mastermind type?
-Level 1: You have one of two similar attacks, that are comparable to the attack any other Mastermind can take for a start. Incidentally, if you want a Mastermind that doesn’t attack, the Resistance Officer is not for you. You are arguably weaker than a different Mastermind of your level.
-Levels 2-5: You have a single minion that is comparable to the one minion available to another Mastermind, and an attack. You are roughly equal in power to a different Mastermind of your level.
-Levels 6-11: You have two equipped -1 minions, the same as another Mastermind. Their attacks are weaker than those of a comparable minion, but because of their 50% bonus Energy damage and extra HP, they compare on equal terms. Your attacks are 50% stronger than those of another Mastermind. You are a bit stronger than a different Mastermind of your level.
-Levels 12-23: You have two, later three equipped -1, later -2 minions, the same as another Mastermind, that compare on even terms. Your attacks are still 50% stronger, in addition, your equipped lieutenant (which is balanced around the 50% bonus damage)is slightly stronger than a different Mastermind’s equipped lieutenant. You are considerably stronger than a different Mastermind of your level.
-Levels 24-25: Your attacks are still 50% stronger, and you have an extra -2 minion, but other Masterminds have two -1 LTs which are, together, stronger than your lone -0 one. Depending on your playstyle and the competition, you may or may not be weaker than a different Mastermind of your level.
-Levels 26-31: Your attacks are still 50% stronger, and your two LTs are -0 whereas another Mastermind’s are -1, but they cannot currently match up to the power of another Mastermind’s equipped Boss. You are noticeably weaker than a different Mastermind of your level.
-Levels 32+: Your upgraded minions now outdamage their competition for ST damage but their AoE attack, even with the 100% bonus Energy damage, is weaker. That same 100% bonus damage and 20% bonus HP lets your still -0 LTs wipe the floor with their equivalents both in ST and AoE damage, though they still don’t quite measure up to the sheer output of the upgraded Boss. However, the +100% bonus Energy damage on your own attacks lets you pick up the slack damage wise. Depending on tactics and opponents, you oscillate from slightly weaker to slightly stronger than a different Mastermind of your level.

-Bored much?
....yeah.

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

A good question. Let me give it its due consideration, and some counter-points.

-Weak argument: Because Resistance only has one powerset, and the PPD has two already. Three would only make it worse.

-Stronger argument: Because the set doesn't work when paired with a Manipulation secondary. Fully half of the powerset (Maul, Wave, Shockwave and Safeties) should be excised and moved to a PPD Force Manipulation set. This would mean that A: you would have to lock down both your primary and secondary to be a "proper" PPD character and B: You would have characters running around who somehow can only use one or the other functionality of the force gauntlet. Both A and B were something I wanted to avoid.

I personally believe Kheldians should no more have the ability to color their powers than a Green Lantern characte should.

As for where is it said? The names of the powersets and powers, for one.

Gotta disagree here. Luminous gives absolutely no indication of color. In fact:

luminous (ˈluːmɪnəs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
—adj
1. radiating or reflecting light; shining; glowing: luminous colours
2. (not in technical use) exhibiting luminescence: luminous paint
3. full of light; well-lit

Colors. Plural.


Umbral, you may have a bit more leeway with, given that it refers to the absence of light, though if you wanted to go that route, they shouldn't be purple in the first place. So they already broke that line of reasoning when they added them.

Probably not the best argument, given the existence of the Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Indigo, Black and White Lanterns. Sure his powers may always been green, but it's not a case where everyone who has a power ring's powers are green too.

@Oathbound & @Oathbound Too

...all of which have different powers, different strengths/weaknesses and different lore. My point stands. If anything, it's strenghtened.

What point would that be? That you THINK it should be that way? Well thats cool and all but I think they should have custom color tints. PB's should have a "bright aura" choice like a lot of the current shield do (fire shield for example) and WS should have the dark aura option.

As far as this thread goes its pretty interesting. It must have took some time to write this up. Good job.

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