Character Concept VS Min-Maxing troubles

Hello everyone! Okay so I don't usually post very often I much rather read up on stuff in hopes of figuring out my next fav character to play.This is going to be a long post but I really would love some help. Right now though Im really really stuck cause I have this character concept I really really like but Im torn cause I am also a min-maxer and I think the character concept doesn't lend itself to any powerhouse set ups that are very strong together.

I do the whole IOing to death in whatever direction s/l, recharge whatever the powerset feels I think it needs while trying to keep the powers I really enjoy using.

I thought Id ask your guys what powers together do you think best represents my characters concept and from their I suppose I'd try to find that balance that'll keep me happy with him gameplaywise. I really wish I could find another power combo as powerful as my maxed out plant/psi dominator AND have powers that really represent the character without going so far off to be like saying these fire powers are actully ice or somthing THAT broad of a swap for imagination.

The concept in a nutshell is about a young man who was a courier in dark astoria befor the darkness came. The darkness came took his life soul away but his latent powers that were in him ressurected him back from the dead befor his soul was taken. Now he has the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead and astral beings from other planes. He keeps his title as a courier but now he does it for astral beings and the living alike. Good, evil messages whatever he delievers them between the two, its just in his nature whatever.

I don't like playing scrappers/tanks/brutes/veats/keldians/stalkers. Things that I really love in gameplay is the ability to actully defeat boss targets quickly and effectively. AoE is more of an afterthought.

Dominators are my absolute fav archtype but I also really love time manipulation for its really pretty graphics and how it seems to go with his concept but I cant figure out that primary thatll fulfill that combo of wooo. Anything fire power based I find so boring because everyone uses fire powers it seems lol that and the only melee fire power I like visually is incenorate.

*facepalm* Im so OCD on this. Controllers don't meet up to the damage I like also despite /time being my top concern I really like time manipulation, but Im all ears for another Dom that matchs a plant/psi without it being plant/psi lol.

What powers archetype can I roll with that make the most sense and have the powerhouse feel? Keep in mind min-maxing with IOs. It flips some archetypes around like blasters with 45% s/l defense whatever as an example.

Isn't there some Dark Control set in the pipeline?

I know you said no fire, but a fire^3 Dom or mind/fire/fire would fit the concept and be extremely lethal. You could give the fire effects a dark tint and explain that the brush with death left your character able to access Hellfire or Soulfire. Firey assault almost plays entirely at range, and embrace of fire let's you melt spawns faster. Rise of the phoenix will really play to your deathless concept.

Dark/Ice/whatever you like best Blaster.

Dark is kind of self explanatory.
Ice can easily be the cold that people often associate with ghostly encounters.

From a min-maxing PoV, this combination is pretty solid. Dark has the only self heal of any Blaster set as well as Knockback, Hold, To Hit Debuff, and Immobilize. Ice has slow movement, - recharge, and - damage to further mitigate the weaknesses of the Blaster AT.

I know there are builds floating around the boards for this combination that pair it with /Electric as the APP. You might also want to consider switching to villain to pick up Mace Mastery and get Scorpion Shield for the S/L/E Def at 35. Really IMHO, your Ancillary/Patron pool can be whatever fits your concept or has the powers you like best.

Im looking at dark/ice blaster now too and I like how it has so many fun tricks and stuff that it can do but I dont think it has the damage I like. Dark/energy blast seems fun, Im liking the numbers in mids though I know in game the enemies resist a lot of energy I think.

Does anyone have experience with a dark/energy blaster in the itrials? Energy can be made up for a lot of concepts I suppose. I only leveled 1 blaster to 50 and that was a assualt/psi and that was a looong time ago. Blaster sounds excting!

For the part of your post that Stone quoted: The phrasing implied that melee characters (and Kheldians?) weren't good at single target damage. Stone wasn't insinuating that only melee characters are good at ST damage.

Edit- By the way, your concept seems strikingly applicable to a potential Warshade back story, maybe with some additional elaboration. Just putting that out there.

Edit 2- grammirz

It sounds to me like you want a Dark Miasma/Sonic Blast Defender.

You'll have your dark concept covered, with a nice pet, plus you can deliver your "message" by force if necessary via Sonic Blast. On a Defender you will melt bosses because of the high -res from Sonic blasts(plus Tar Patch). You will also be relatively safe as you can floor your enemy's chance to hit you and will have one of the best heals in the game(provided it hits when you need it). The heal combined with Howling Twilight will also provide you with a hefty chunk of -regen for Elite Bosses/AV's.

If you think a Defender won't do enough damage for you, you can always go with a Corrupter, although you'll lose a lot of the damage/safety gained through your Defender magnitude debuffs. I think either AT when min/maxed with IO's will suit your needs nicely.

No real ideas on AT and such beyond my reflexive SCRAPPER RAWR or maybe DM/(SR or fire)/soul brute.

But I strongly recommend you put a stealth IO in something you'll run all the time like CJ or maybe sprint for ghostiness.

Dark Blast/Time Corruptor would be among my first recommendations for sets that are currently live. It should be very survivable. Not the best at killing a boss specifically, but after the changes to Dark, not bad at it either. If you end up using IOs, Dark Blast's immobilize can take the Chance for Hold purple Immobilize proc AND the Chance for Knockdown Ragnarok one, which can be slotted into a power with about a 4 second recharge. This is among the most Controller-y you're going to get for a Corruptor/Defender blast set. Add Power Boost and suddenly this this thing should be fighting incarnate enemies without a scratch.

Psychic Blast/Dark Miasma Corruptor is another possibility. I have one of these I like a lot, mainly for the HUGE range on the attacks (I have Cardiac slotted now and have 120ft range on all of my blasts. Incarnate content is like, "What death patch?" And some enemies can't even get close enough to shoot back on some of their attacks, especially with cones. )

Dark/Energy Blaster is another one. Color the Energy side brilliant white. Not sure about its ability to deal with bosses but overall it's very nice.

Time/Sonic Defender!

Gives you the pretty graphics you love and really Time Manip can fit so many different themes that doesn't even include the ability manipulate time (I have one concept who uses Time Manip as a Telekinesis ability).

Sonic gives the deathly wail, kill bosses, AOE is an afterthought!

For me, concept comes first, and then I mix/max that concept to it's utpmost performance.

I don't know how I could enjoy myself if I prioritized performance over playing a character with the concept I want.

Oh well thanks everyone! So far Im enjoying dark/energy a lot Ill get back to this topic if it doesnt live up to the itrials as much as I like.

Illusion controller - the phantom army are spirits
can you do ill/dark yet?