Mastermind Questions from a new-old player.

Back after a Looooong absence.

I currently play a Demon/Thermal MM and I'm fairly new to the whole build thing so I have a few questions.

I have read that my power set can't soft cap defense. So what should I be focusing on as far as my build goes? What's the most important, least important thing to worry about?

Secondly, I tried to help some people take down the seed of hamidon in First Ward, but my demons couldn't reach him, as he is a flying monster. How am I as a MM supposed to contribute in missions that require flight?

I've read up on keybinds for MMs (the numberpad binding stuff), and plan on setting that up shortly.

Any other tips or tricks I should know about?

You can go one of 2 ways for your own survival as /therm...either build up your own resistances with tough + epic armor + ember demons resist OR get as much defense as you can without giving up too much of the other bonuses you need/want(weave/maneuvers/scorp shield/hover or CJ)

For therm you cant get enough +rech for your potent(though long recharging) debuffs.

If you really want your demons in the fray the only real option is to get group fly..maybe have tactics to offset the -acc to the pets and nearby allies. Though these days everyone runs leadership so no one may even notice the difference....and a flying demon dance party sounds so damn cool now I think about it...

On a side note tactics is a good idea anyways since both your major debuffs can potentially miss.

Thanks for the response!

Currently I have the first three powers in the leadership pool (+dmg,+acc,+def)
I also just picked up hover. I was thinking of dipping into the fighting pool to pick up weave.
So I'm glad to hear that I'm at least on the right track.

Want about IO set bonuses? Should I be slotting for defense on those since I thought I read somewhere damage bonuses from the set don't apply to the pets?

The defense bonuses are usually stacked to affect the mastermind, so that when the mastermind draws aggro, the potential damage has to do a defense check before being allocated to the pets. You will get some resistance from the Ember Demon in his resistance aura to mitigate incoming damage as well.

I built my Demons/Thermal for recharge so that Forge, Heat Exhaustion, and Melt Armor are on a shorter recharge.

I repeat myself, but be careful after level 32, your ember demon and demon prince will burn through endurance since their non-damage powers are NOT affected by endurance reduction in pet damage IOs.

I really like the chill mastery power pool I selected. Flashfreeze has its uses, more than I anticipated.

I usually take tactics for my mastermind because of the Confuse protection

@ BlissfulChaos
The -ACC was removed from group fly. It's a June patch, even though it still says it.

@ Frigid_Ice_Queen
As you can see some players have recently asked about the same build. I posted up some numbers regarding what the pets have to offer you in those threads.

Your also going to be limited in how much resistance you will be able to pick up. I think this might be one of those instances where slotting 2 heal IOs from Numina and 2 Aegis resistance IOs ( maybe the status one from the set ) in the Tier 2 pets will give you some decent resistance and a decent heal along with some set bonus numbers. Then just slot 2 pet IOs.

Basically I'm thinking that maybe with a decent recharge as Psylenz mentioned and a mid range defenses in the 20s along with some resistances you might be able to pull off a safe build. Your not going to be doing 4/8 settings but I think you could do 0/8 or 1/8 at 50.

Of course if you incorporate Incarnate powers, then once you get Barrier you will be Defense capped and Resistance capped for 2 minutes as it lingers away, even the linger will help as it stacks with what you got already. I have no clue what the linger numbers are, but would like to know myself. I might have to test some of that out to see.

I try not to look at Incarnate powers when making a build but instead only to bolster a build I already have. So basically in this case Barrier would help you do 4/8.

Again not every build can do 4/8 regardless how they are slotted sometimes.

also killing seedlings around the seed of hamidon grant a [bouyant membrane] temporary group fly power which costs 0 end to run and can be bought from the various seed hunters for a small inf cost

You do know about bodyguard mode, right? If you are in the fray with your pets, and they are set on defensive/follow, then they will automatically absorb a portion of any damage you take. My MMs find it downright difficult to die with the pets in bodyguard mode...

Stating the obvious from another new-old player...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulmens The plural of anecdote is not data.

Im looking for the newer numberpad keybinds for all the pets can anyone help! Please! :-)