I failed at Blasters

Blue_Centurion · 12-02-2011 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boppaholic

If you're only looking to play as team support, you should make a corruptor or defender. You'll likely offer much more in terms of support and DPS that way. I recommend a fire/cold corruptor. With a high end build you could triple stack sleet's effects. Perma benumb/heat loss is absolutely sexy. And you'll still be a beast at single target and AoE damage (double scourge for sleet and rain of fire iirc).

I have issues. I have always hated corruptors, and wanted a Blaster redside (I only played redside for 3+ years) I have only come Blueside for 2 main reasons. I migrated from Freedom to Virtue, ans in my experience redside virtue is much less played than redside freedom. this may part of the whole change in the game however, ot just related to any one server. Also, villains are now crawling over blueside. I would rather have the (sliht) damage boost from being a Blaster than all corruptors powers. and I hate buffing/healing others. its selfish, and I know it, and i hate it. And I fail more miserably at it than I do at being a blaster. So, i tank on my Brute mostly. I'll eat agro for an entire team before I buff anyone. Or, with my Blaster project, throw out pain to cover any 2 other members rather than try to buff/heal.

Arcanaville · 12-02-2011 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jibikao

Dark Blast has become my most favorite blaster set! Dark Blast has like everything you need. Hold, knock back, tohit debuff, heal and decent damage and decent range.

I am leveling a Dark/Mental (Vampire theme from True Blood) but Dark/Energy sounds like another excellent combo because of power boost.

I am pretty sure power boost affects Tohit Debuff right?

Last I checked Power Boost still boosted tohit buffs, so it should buff tohit debuffs as well, since its all just Tohit Strength.

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Kioshi · 12-02-2011 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jibikao

Dark Blast has become my most favorite blaster set! Dark Blast has like everything you need. Hold, knock back, tohit debuff, heal and decent damage and decent range.

I am leveling a Dark/Mental (Vampire theme from True Blood) but Dark/Energy sounds like another excellent combo because of power boost.

I am pretty sure power boost affects Tohit Debuff right?

Yup it affects tohit.

My Dark/Mental is a witch, she's redside. I started loving her when I had 3 cones at level 12 - and the hold is great, low cast time, almost the same damage as life drain and only in 3 ticks, so doesn't take forever like the tier 1 immobs

- I'm liking it way more than Dark Blast on a Corr.

Jibikao · 12-02-2011 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kioshi

Yup it affects tohit.

My Dark/Mental is a witch, she's redside. I started loving her when I had 3 cones at level 12 - and the hold is great, low cast time, almost the same damage as life drain and only in 3 ticks, so doesn't take forever like the tier 1 immobs

- I'm liking it way more than Dark Blast on a Corr.

Oh I agree. Dark Blast is way better on Blaster than on Corr. Corr version feels more like a mini-dominator with no Aim and an almost-useless nuke.

I am surprised I haven't seen that many new Dark Blast Blaster. It is really THAT good.

Too bad I usually don't have the habit of creating another toon using the same powerset or else Dark/Energy sounds like another awesome combo. Imagine power boost will give you almost double tohit debuff, healing and longer hold. Gah!!!! I need to stop regretting. :P

Dark/Mental is great with 3 cones and you can never go wrong with Drained Psyche. I actually skipped Shockwave. LOL I think 3 cone is good enough and I almost never go melee distance. I put +stealth in Hover and I start the battle with Aim or Build up + knock back, scream and TT. Most minions are dead within 5s and they are immb and even if my TT doesn't hit, I am hovering in sky for more survival. +stealth is critical in Hover because I need to get closer to line up knock back without getting hit first.

I am lvl 42 now and I took Weapon epic. I enjoy Surveillance's debuff. Pam in True Blood uses a rocket launcher in season 4 so I want to get that rocket launcher. :P

What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.

Grouchybeast · 12-02-2011 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue_Centurion

I came up with Fire/Psi.

Fire/Psi is nice for soloing. I soloed a Fire/Psi Blaster to 50, and it was a pretty smooth ride.

BTW, my main is a Fire/Ice Blaster, which I play as a hover blaster, only really using the ranged control powers from the secondary.

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Blue_Centurion · 12-02-2011 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grouchybeast

BTW, my main is a Fire/Ice Blaster, which I play as a hover blaster, only really using the ranged control powers from the secondary.

That play experience says good things about Miladys Knight 's analyzation of a Dark/Ice Blaster. I will work on leveling one at least to around 30 this weekend.

SerialBeggar · 12-02-2011 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jibikao

I actually skipped Shockwave. LOL I think 3 cone is good enough and I almost never go melee distance.

I've come to the conclusion that the best way to use Psychic Shockwave, is not to run into melee for it. It is more of a "get off of me" attack. Using Fire/MM as an example, the attack pattern that works for me is:

1) Fireball into the crowd
2) Fire Breath into the crowd, who are now beginning to move
3) slight reposition to adjust for the scatter, Psychic Scream into the crowd
4) by this time, 2-3 enemies have closed in to melee you usually, so now is when you use Psychic Shockwave
5) optional, do a Drain Psyche
- the actions of #4 and #5 could be swapped depending on how damaged you are from the retaliatory response and how much more you think you'll be getting
6) if any enemies are still in melee with you (like the bosses), by this time Fireball should be recharged, so Ctrl-Tab to targetnearest and Fireball them
7) if the scatter was too wide for your 2 cones or several were maintaining their range, Ctrl-Tab to grab a target, then forward jump over the group to reposition yourself, then do a Psychic Scream
8) use your single target blasts to clean up any runners
9) if necessary, use Aid Self to top yourself off

I have found that with Frozen Armor from the Cold Mastery epic, I seem to be getting hit with mez less often than my other Blasters who use different epic pools. While I have some +def set bonuses to add to it, but I'm nowhere near soft cap. Cold Mastery also has a self heal in Hoarfrost. I usually forget to use it, but that's me.

Teams are the number one killer of soloists.

boppaholic · 12-02-2011 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue_Centurion

I have issues. I have always hated corruptors, and wanted a Blaster redside (I only played redside for 3+ years) I have only come Blueside for 2 main reasons. I migrated from Freedom to Virtue, ans in my experience redside virtue is much less played than redside freedom. this may part of the whole change in the game however, ot just related to any one server. Also, villains are now crawling over blueside. I would rather have the (sliht) damage boost from being a Blaster than all corruptors powers. and I hate buffing/healing others. its selfish, and I know it, and i hate it. And I fail more miserably at it than I do at being a blaster. So, i tank on my Brute mostly. I'll eat agro for an entire team before I buff anyone. Or, with my Blaster project, throw out pain to cover any 2 other members rather than try to buff/heal.

I didn't recommend fire/cold corruptor so you would be a buffer/healer. You would be a debuffer. Likely killing mobs faster than you would as a blaster while having more survivability. Don't take the shields if you don't want them. To me they are lotg mules. Look at the powers you want from cold domination and then look at any blaster secondaries. You would like what cold had to offer more. Don't like cold? Storm, dark, and sonic are good debuff sets too. For the playstyle you described, you should be fire/cold corruptor. Or be a control based toon

Miladys_Knight · 12-04-2011 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue_Centurion

That play experience says good things about Miladys Knight 's analyzation of a Dark/Ice Blaster. I will work on leveling one at least to around 30 this weekend.

Here is an "El-Cheapo Slap Dash Build I threw together.

The powers aren't in any particular order they are just the ones that I would take.

I like to have 1 melee attack in case something manages to get in my face. You can substitute Moonbeam slotted with Thunderstrike for Ice sword.

You can also substitute the frankenslotting in Life drain for a set of Thunderstrike.

Doing either of those things will put you at the effective softcap to ranged attacks with your defense, set bonuses, and to Hit debuffs against even cons, if you open with Umbral and follow up immediately with Tenebrous Tentacles.

The build as is, is a couple % under the softcap for ranged including the debuff values. 4 A merits will get you the Numina's and the Miracle uniques. You can pick those up at minimum levels if you run a few tips while leveling up.

The rest of the stuff you can get pretty easily by just rolling 10-20 thousand tickets worth (that's filling up on tickets twice, a matter of 3-6ish hours with this toon while it's SO'd if you don't have a ticket farmer to use) of bronze in the 30-34 range. You should be able to roll most of what you need and then sell your surplus to buy the rest.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
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Click this DataLink to open the build!

El-Cheapo Slap Dash: Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Dark Blast
Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Concealment
Ancillary Pool: Electrical Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Dark Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Chilblain -- Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(A), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob(39)
Level 2: Gloom -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 4: Umbral Torrent -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg(A), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(15), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx(17), SipInsght-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(17), FrcFbk-Rechg%(19)
Level 6: Aim -- AdjTgt-Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(19), RechRdx-I(21)
Level 8: Ice Sword -- Mako-Acc/Dmg(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx(21), Mako-Dmg/Rchg(23), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Mako-Dam%(25)
Level 10: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 12: Tenebrous Tentacles -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg(A), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(27), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rng(27), Det'tn-Dmg/Rng(29), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(29), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(31)
Level 14: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(31), RctvArm-EndRdx(31), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(33), S'fstPrt-ResKB(33)
Level 16: Build Up -- AdjTgt-Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(33), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 18: Abyssal Gaze -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(34), Lock-Rchg/Hold(34), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(36), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(36), Lock-%Hold(36)
Level 20: Weave -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), GftotA-Def/EndRdx(37), S'dpty-Def/EndRdx(37), Ksmt-Def/EndRdx(37)
Level 22: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff-I(A), DefBuff-I(39)
Level 24: Super Speed -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 26: Life Drain -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(40), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(40), Dct'dW-Heal(42)
Level 28: Shiver -- TmpRdns-Acc/Slow(A), TmpRdns-Acc/EndRdx(42), TmpRdns-EndRdx/Rchg/Slow(42), TmpRdns-Rng/Slow(43)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(43), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 32: Stealth -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 35: Invisibility -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 38: Static Discharge -- Det'tn-Acc/Dmg(A), Det'tn-Dmg/Rchg(45), Det'tn-Dmg/Rng(45), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), Det'tn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rng(46)
Level 41: Shocking Bolt -- Lock-Acc/Hold(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg(46), Lock-Rchg/Hold(46), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(48), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(48), Lock-%Hold(50)
Level 44: Charged Armor -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(48), RctvArm-EndRdx(50), TtmC'tng-ResDam/EndRdx(50)
Level 47: Grant Invisibility -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 49: Phase Shift -- RechRdx-I(A)
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Mrcl-Rcvry+(13)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(13)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run

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Blue_Centurion · 12-04-2011 02:56 AM

Nice Milady's Knight, thx. I have been experimenting with more Blasters over the last couple days. A dark/Mental I parked in the low 40s, a new Dark/Ice I started, a Dark/Dark I started. For all the reasons that have been discusssed above I am going with Dark/Ice as my main. Mental lost out because even though it has a nice cone I have to close to get more goodness out of the set. Ice has goodness I can use at range, allatime. The ranged 1st attack on ice is only 50 ft (compared to Dark's 80) but Dark has a build up only a Blapper could love. Ice Patch and Shiver are wonderful tools, and they can be employed constantly. Thanks for all the help.

Nyx · 12-04-2011 06:05 AM

If you want a nice, solid, surviving blaster take Dark/Mental, or Dark/Energy

Dark by it's nature has -tohit, an aoe imob, knockback, a 3 mag hold, and a self heal. My attack chain is... Dark Blast+Gloom+Abyssal Gaze+Drain Life. I use the tentacles and the knockback to remove enemies or imob them.
Mental is good because of Drain Psyche, Subdue, and it's other tricks, but energy will boost things.

Although a tank mage is fine and well, seriously my blaster has become my favorite next to my dom

Jibikao · 12-06-2011 12:18 PM

By the way, Radiation blast is pretty good too. That mag 3 stun in Cosmic is so handy when it comes to soloing.

I have a Radiation/Device. I figure I can at least stack two stuns (Taser) but having no Build Up is really weird... ugh. I can't make up my mind on /device yet. I need to see how Gun Drone is.

What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.

B_L_Angel · 12-08-2011 10:48 PM

Wanted to pop in and say thanks to Milady's Knight and Another Fan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Another_Fan

Another Fan's very nice rough draft of a build

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miladys_Knight

Milady's Knight's excellent description of the problems facing blasters, and how ice mitigates them.

Milady's Knight, thank you, that was a wonderful job of laying out the problems blasters have as an AT, and the post really helped me order my own thinking about how to deal with them.

Another Fan thank you for that build. It was the inspiration for the dark/mental blaster I made on Monday. A blaster that has been more fun than any I have played so far. Once I start to IO her out I think she will be a real monster of a toon.

Bloodspeaker · 12-09-2011 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jibikao

By the way, Radiation blast is pretty good too. That mag 3 stun in Cosmic is so handy when it comes to soloing.

I have a Radiation/Device. I figure I can at least stack two stuns (Taser) but having no Build Up is really weird... ugh. I can't make up my mind on /device yet. I need to see how Gun Drone is.

My original "Favorite Blaster" has been nrg/nrg for a long time. I suspect rad/nrg will eventually overshadow that at least a bit. Nothing says "pie in the face" like a range and power boosted Cosmic Burst.

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Malakim · 12-17-2011 06:05 PM

I've now played COH for 7+ years. I've plenty of blasters in that time but never had one over 35 until around year 6.

I've certainly failed with blasters far more often then I've succeeded (I have 1 at 50+incarnate and another at around 45). I've only succeeded when I had enough defense to not get squished 3 seconds into any battle. A good stream of purples helped too. I kinda also had to build my blaster (DP/MM) to be more for farming. With that mentality, a blaster can farm and do many things beyond what they're typically capable of.

But hey, if you're having fun, you're not really failing at COH at all.

Malakim

-Playing since COH beta and still love the game!

NecroOmNomNomicon · 12-18-2011 02:41 AM

Chu is right bout dat dere buddy!

"Look, personally I just want a new issue to feature changes that don't cause a mass exodus of players..."
Issue 17: We Didn't Break Anything!
How to suck at CoX
Literally the Best Build Ever: Years in the Making

Blue_Centurion · 12-19-2011 09:51 AM

Thank you for all your replies. And Necro, my wife just busted up when she saw your name. speaking of my wife she has 4 characters in the cities now. (New player) Her 4th, a write-up of a character she started in D&D 2nd ed many years ago, is a Tank. And that means I can run a Blaster safely with her! Hers is a Willpower/Dual Blades. Mine is a Dark Blaster/Mental. Very fun. We is at 22 and she is happy.

Having so much fun running with her that I bit the bullet and made a Fire/Mental to run when I'm by myself. I'll let you know how that goes lol.

NecroOmNomNomicon · 12-21-2011 07:43 AM

I thought of it when I played DotA a lot more and ALWAYS put the item "Necronomicon" in my builds. It's a pretty convoluted thing to type but I still like it, I'm glad someone else laughed.

"Look, personally I just want a new issue to feature changes that don't cause a mass exodus of players..."
Issue 17: We Didn't Break Anything!
How to suck at CoX
Literally the Best Build Ever: Years in the Making

Blue_Centurion · 12-21-2011 12:15 PM

She still wanders by my desk (now days later) going Necro om Nom Nomicon...

Comicsluvr · 12-22-2011 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades

Spines/Electric or Spines/WP are very good.

Something else you may not have considered is an Ice/Ice dom or even a Plant/Thorns dom.

Both of these have you lock everything down and slaughter them at your ease.

I have a Plant/Thorn Dom in the early levels and even starting out she was both fun and survivable. Dom builds quickly, the early attack chain cycles fast and the later stuff just looks like acres of fun.

My first hero was a Blaster and I lamented the character just like you're doing now. After 5 years I now have several blasters and still love the AT. What were your sets? If you don't mind I have some (hopefully) sage words of advice:

1) Don't solo all the time. We all do it, yes, but Blasters can act like force multipliers in a team where others are taking damage, holding aggro, locking down the enemy and so forth. Soloing on a tricked-out Blaster is fun but on a team it's a rush.

2) Don't build to flavor of the month...build to your style. I tried Blapping and hated it even though the character was pretty good at it. Now all of my Blasters have a good melee suite but they're built for ranged mayhem. All of the Primaries play differently so you have to test-drive them.

3) Don't be afraid to try something and then discard it if it doesn't work for you. I currently have just about every flavor of Blaster you can try. Some are still lowbies, some are Incarnates. I go for themes so the fire/fire and ice/ice came first. I'm not fond of Energy Blast on teams (the KB seems to anger the melee types) but they're great solo. Not everything works for everyone.

Good luck.

"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"

Thorndragon · 12-22-2011 06:43 AM

yup , i run a eng/eng blaster as a blaper. primary is all range and knockback, but if thay get close the secondary melee rocks . if you are a big melee type you can play a eng/eng blaster , just remember stay at range let them come to you. then THUMP !