Returning player seeking build critique for Fire/WP

Hello, everyone. I have been away from the game for a while due to real life obligations, and there's so much that I need to get caught up on. Such as which IO set bonuses are most desirable and the best way to get them. I also know very little about the Incarnate system, other than the fact that it sounds incredibly interesting.

Ok, so about the character. Fire/Will Power scrapper is currently level 27, and I've been playing him with my brother's 28 Super Reflexes/Fire tanker. We both prefer to focus on AoE attacks, but love having enough attacks to deal with single targets, as well. After seeing him reach the softcap for positional defense, I began to wonder which set bonus direction I should take my own character.

I played around with Mid's (excellent program, by the way) and attempted to find a way to get as close to the soft cap for typed defense as I could. I appreciate any and all criticism, though constructive is preferred. I do enjoy this character very much, but I'm seeking ways to tweak him and squeeze out as much performance as I can.

Thank you all in advance.


Build follows:
__________________________

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Scorch -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5)
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GA-3defTpProc(17), Dct'dW-Heal(17), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(21), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(21)
Level 2: Fire Sword -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(7), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(7)
Level 4: Fast Healing -- Dct'dW-Heal(A), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(25), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(36)
Level 6: Cremate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(9), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(9), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 8: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(11), Zephyr-ResKB(13)
Level 10: Indomitable Will -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), GftotA-Def(29), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(31), GftotA-Def/Rchg(31)
Level 12: Mind Over Body -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(13), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(15), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(15)
Level 14: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Rise to the Challenge -- Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(37), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(37)
Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(37), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Oblit-%Dam(42)
Level 20: Quick Recovery -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(42), P'Shift-EndMod(42)
Level 22: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(23), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(23), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25)
Level 24: Build Up -- HO:Membr(A), HO:Membr(48)
Level 26: Incinerate -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(27), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(27), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(29)
Level 28: Heightened Senses -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), GftotA-Def(31), GftotA-Def/Rchg(34), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(34)
Level 30: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), GftotA-Def(34), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(36), GftotA-Def/Rchg(36)
Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(33), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(33), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 35: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(48)
Level 38: Strength of Will -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-EndRdx/Rchg(39), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(39), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 41: Physical Perfection -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(43), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(46), Dct'dW-Heal(46), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(46), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 44: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), GftotA-Def(45), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(45), GftotA-Def/Rchg(45)
Level 47: Focused Accuracy -- Rec'dRet-Pcptn(A), Rec'dRet-ToHit(50), HO:Cyto(50), HO:Cyto(50)
Level 49: Resurgence -- EndMod-I(A)
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(19), RgnTis-Regen+(19)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(43), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(43)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1440;654;1308;HEX;|
|78DA6554596F125114BEC3CC94A5508A48A1941DBA0814A8CB8B0F9A68AD5121A29|
|8D6BD413AD249084C18A2F6D1B824EA9B9AF8607CF5D11FA4FE059777173CCCF9A0|
|EADCCCE49B39F73BCB77CECCAD3D58F77E38FBF0A490664E779AA6B9DD68F59B86A|
|1F5D55AB3ADB7C46839E98E8EEDDB35ADA369A50D5DEBEFF1F3FED6BA7657EB9A5A|
|694BEF748CDE7DAD2FBCF55EAF53AA6A4D43EFB67DD6CB86DEDE1DD09B7FBCB5A3F|
|5CD5DDD0858EFE7BAF77453BFA377F4C15EE08CA1B74AA77A3B94A8690E2861842A|
|59A4FB9153600D655127C828C2710978995169306E8EB892C55544981EE28A983D2|
|C0BB14C7851B2F0E0056095F1B1132E145FAAFF1B6F0A79A690E72A71658EEF9011|
|2F827859C47B421C15F154C473C1DF85781EC40F3BB9E3A378CE8F0ECBDFF389D1F|
|B99F11A11DC9C5376873847CCC59850802AE31671A7C19DCEB07E6F927126014C33|
|5722AE8F730BDF9096B84E16BFA45AD5F8A1260775B91AE333E204D84B0DFCE00A7|
|33F19977F017F03878C87044FE006F906D1BDE01BECBD06BE6494891382821014CC|
|A1F239288940C153E286B916297C9C40914519F89CF6E63185794C218AAE4731851|
|8A67293B80BC8B9800E27D0E1343A9B46A715E2C6C18D839B06370B4E163E2F889B|
|440D49D49042CE146A48A1A606B528032D9982B0FCCBC0DB4EFE13467116D193A51|
|410BD59424FDED34857B83E75053DCEA3B7ABAF80F8725731DB32661DA03C05682B|
|405B11DA8AD05684B62B546F09DCD23B8A1B54C4DA5BE0319EC1186F51DC0ABEB44|
|A8A357DF1D05FC7FE42B2BEBE6FFB1687B4C9590E9C079E60955F6D5EDFFFF6FA4F|
|6F1E7A63CAE404A16BE4955426E7C4306FDBADD82C6B36CB119BE5A8CD52B559EAC|
|AE4AC41FDEE5931FA3BAC4AFE00EBACD530|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

You definitely want typed defense on a Willpower. It already has a good amount to the exotic types in Heightened Senses, and will never get close on positional defense (plus slotting for positional defense makes Heightened Senses a worthless power)

First off, have you checked the price of the Gladiator's Armor 3% defense you have on that build? That will cost you: 2 billion influence (or more) 35 Alignment Merits (which will take you the better part of 2 months to earn), or 60 Empyrean Merits once you hit 50 and can start doing trials. In my opinion, that IO is not worth what you have to spend to get it.

Second, why the Doctored Wounds in Fast Healing, HPT, and Rise to the Challenge? Yeah, they're cheap, but slotting 3 Numina's in there will provide set bonuses that are more useful to a WP (Regen and Max HP). And make sure all 3 of them have Heal enhancement. The EndRed/Rech you have in Fast Healing and HPT are completely useless, as neither power will ever need to recharge and they don't cost endurance. I like using Numina's Heal, Heal/End, and Heal/Rech if I'm 3 slotting.

And since we were talking about typed defenses, you need more E/N defense. S/L defense is nice, but you already have a good amount of resistance to those types, and you'll be lucky to have 8% resistance to E/N the way you are slotted. I'd replace the Obliterations in Fire Sword Circle with 4 Eradication (nets you 1.8% more max end, 3.13% E/N defense, and 2.25% Max HP), you can fill in the last 2 slots with whatever you like (I use 2 Scirocco's Dervish if I'm not full on 10% regen bonuses from elsewhere). The other reason you want Energy defense is end draining enemies. Theyu pop up surprisingly often and they'll do a number on you if you can't avoid their attacks, they'll hurt with little resistance, and they'll bottom out your end bar in short order.

The Blessing of the Zephyrs you have in Super Jump are pretty much useless. You don't need the KB protection, and you are only getting 0.63% defense to E/N/F/C fror slotting all 3. Is that really worth spending 3 slots and that much cash on?

Honestly, I would swap Body Mastery for Pyre Mastery. You can use the hold and single target blast to get an additional 9.75% E/N defense for only 9 slots (not counting the default slots). Which is over 1% defense per slot, a better return than you're getting anywhere else in the build. Slot 2 Basilisk's Gaze and 3 Thunderstrike in Char, and 6 Thunderstrike in Fire Blast. That also opens up Fireball, and you did say you want AoE.

2 Rectified Reticle in Build up will give you an additional 1.88% S/L defense.

I wouldn't slot Strength of Will that much. I'd move the Steadfast Res/Def into it and call it good. That frees up some slots to put into HPT. I would use those slots to put 3 Numina's and 3 Aegis in it for some additional F/C defense. (I mean, it seems incongruous that you use fire but get your butt kicked by it )

Your defense powers are slightly overslotted. LotG +Recharge, Def/End, and Defense will get you in good shape with them (you won't really notice the 3% or so enhancement you lose, it translates to about 0.3% defense). You can use the slots you saved to add some more enhancement to your attacks. Kinetic Combat is great for set bonuses, but it kind of sucks for enhancement values. A lot of people like using the Mako's Bite 4 piece, I like Crushing Impact Acc/Dam/Rech, it's cheaper and you get better Acc/Dam/Rech, and being Willpower, the EndRed isn't as important. I also like using the Kinetic Combat KD proc, it goes off surprisingly often and is a good source of additional mitigation. (it's also much cheaper than the rest of the set)

That's about all I see without actually opening the build, hope it helps. Your build isn't that bad, just in need of tweaks and had some inefficient slotting.

This is exactly the kind of insight that I was looking for. I will definitely implement all of these suggestions and I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops.

Thank you very much, ClawsandEffect. You've helped me immeasurably.