Human-Only Warshade guide

Hey, ladies and gents...

I'm finally on my Winter Break from school for the next couple of weeks, and I'm in the process of updating my i16 human-only WS guide to be i21-friendly...

Is there anything that anyone who is currently playing human-only warshades would want me to make sure and include in the guide?

And, for the more experienced (veteran) forum members out there (Dechs, Micro, Bill, etc., I'm looking at you!) would want to add to that?

I'm wanting to make this guide as comprehensive as possible. I also want to set it up in a way that will allow me to more easily update it as new issues are released and changes to Kheldians are made.

Thoughts?

"Alien"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades The way you play changes your IO slotting..

C'mon.... Nothin'?

Where's everybody at? :P

"Alien"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades The way you play changes your IO slotting..

You'll probably be getting some posts here by the more well known forumers at some point within the next few days, but I've got some input based off my (very little) experience playing a human-only warshade...

First things first, I'd like to point out something that Dechs actually mentioned to me while I was looking for input on my build, and thats that if you get enough recharge to make hasten and eclipse perma, then you shouldn't really need to go with the spiritual alpha. I'm using the musculature, and I'm doing pretty dang good, with a very high damage output.

Another thing I'd like to point out is that the best slotting you can get out of eclipse is two nucleolus hami-os and two recharge IOs, gives you the most bang for your buck, and saves slots.

Something I've noticed as well is that taking dwarf form for set holding powers is also something that is a viable idea for a human only warshade, and is something I had done for awhile during the period of time that I was getting my build ironed out.

Anything else though....I'm not entirely sure. I've really only been playing a WS as human only for about a week or so now. Hopefully you get more posts by people who know more than I do!

Thanks for the input!

TwoHeadedBoy may kill me for this, but I'm a bit of a "purist" when it comes to referring to "human only." My thoughts have always been that if you're human only, you're human ONLY. If you are using Dwarf form (even if it's just for set holders or the mire), you're a bi-form Warshade--not a Human-only.

Human Only = Human only
Bi-Form = Human + Dwarf or Human + Nova
Tri-Form = All three forms chosen

With that said, I don't think I'll be able to (with a "clean conscience," so to speak) include builds for bi-forms in a guide that's meant specifically for "human only" builds.

However, I highly value input from THB when it comes to WS's, and have consulted with him about updating this guide prior to creating this thread.

Thanks again for your input!

"Alien"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades The way you play changes your IO slotting..

That's because it's both a playstyle AND a build choice. Kheldians are unique in that they have various forms they can take, whereas a blaster cannot take another form.

I see where you're coming from... You see taking Dwarf form on a Kheldian just like taking another power (like boxing) on a Blaster.

I see it as taking another "form." Hence, the terms "Bi-form" and "Tri-form." Regardless of whether or not you only use 4 powers or one power (like mire) in that form you picked, it's still another form you've taken.

A form, to me, is like another entire toon. That's why Kheldians are unique. They, unlike any other AT, offer you the opportunity to play "three toons in one," so to speak. The forms act as basically a whole other powerset with its own powers, its own rules governing it (such as damage modifiers), and its own "playstyle possibilities."

So, the moment you decide to pick Dwarf form or Nova form, you've not only added a myriad of new possibilities of how you can play your toon (and what you can do with it set-wise), you've also completely changed your build possibilities--such as "set muling."

My guide is specific to human-only because I believe human-only play has its own unique possibilities for playstyle, which is much different than the playstyle possibilities for a bi-form and a tri-form. That is why there is differentiation between forms for Kheldians as well as differentiation in builds.

Other ATs just have different builds--we have forms to further complicate things... Which leads me to my final point: When are you going to make a bi-form guide, man? :P

btw, thanks for the input for the guide! I'm still pounding away at it right now.

"Alien"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades The way you play changes your IO slotting..

I agree that it's a playstyle choice, but I just happen to believe that it's also a build restriction.

I've always felt that a stone tank that doesn't actually take granite (just for the hell of it) is decidedly playing a "different playstyle," but he (to me at least) is choosing to not pick the definitive power for stone tanks. Conversely, if you pick a "definitive" power for a Kheldian (a form), that decides whether or not you are human, bi, or tri. You may not PLAY like a bi-former (playstyle choice, obviously), but technically you ARE a bi-former if you have 2 forms. The form may be for looks, it may be for set mules, it may be because you like to pull aggro if the team's tank dies, or it may be because you just did't know what other power to pick--but, the bottom line is, you have two forms, which makes you a bi-former.

I feel like what you're saying is the equivalent of me calling my Widow a Fortunata because... I just like to call her one--not because I actually picked any Fortunata powers.

Since she has one build that is a widow build and another build that is a fortunata build, what is she? Widow or Fortunata?

I say she's a Widow when she's on her Widow build and a Fortunata when she's on her Fortunata build. She may play like a Fortunata (Not sure how you could do that, but whatever), but if she has picked Widow powers, she's a Widow.

THB may not ever use his Dwarf form, but the simple fact of the matter is he picked Dwarf form. Sure, he can call himself a human-former because that's how he plays. He can call himself Rip Van Winkle if he wants. That's his right as a CoH player.

However, I think it's a bit strange to create a guide for "human only" and then tell people that in order to "properly" play a "human only" Warshade, you have to pick one of the other forms... That's a bit backwards.

I realize we're arguing semantics here, but that's just how I feel.

"Alien"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades The way you play changes your IO slotting..

Back to the topic at hand...

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlienOne Hey, ladies and gents... I'm finally on my Winter Break from school for the next couple of weeks, and I'm in the process of updating my i16 human-only WS guide to be i21-friendly... Is there anything that anyone who is currently playing human-only warshades would want me to make sure and include in the guide? And, for the more experienced (veteran) forum members out there (Dechs, Micro, Bill, etc., I'm looking at you!) would want to add to that? I'm wanting to make this guide as comprehensive as possible. I also want to set it up in a way that will allow me to more easily update it as new issues are released and changes to Kheldians are made. Thoughts? "Alien"

I noticed in your guide that you said range was good in the teleport powers. I agree with this, but I know some people place "Blessing of the Zephyr: Knockback reduction" or the "Slow resistance" IOs from the universal pools. This is something worth mentioning, It's greatly helpful to not get knocked down OR avoid 20% of that incoming slow movement shackle.

____________________________________

On terms of I21 stuff, I'd make decent mention of the new alpha slot "Agility" It provides a 45% boost to endmod, and a 33% boost to Defense Buffs and Recharge (Core Side.)

Out of the Human-formers I've played with (THB*cough) I see a common string of high defenses, along with prema-eclipse. I think that Agility would be a great mention because it gives more defense (closer to softcap), more recharge (so u might be able to drop a mule or two for better power picks) and finally Endurance Modification.

With all of those toggles running a higher recovery rate would be nice to have (fitness: Stamina) and it would help with stygian circle too. On my 'Shade I get annoyed when circle doesn't give me as much endurance as I had hoped.

When it comes to Spiritual, I wouldn't take it on my warshade. In all three boosts (core side) I only find one benefit, the recharge.

The healing? I'll take this straight from your guide:

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlienOne Stygian Circle: Ahhh... Stygian Circle. This power, coupled with Eclipse, is what makes Warshades "awesomesauce." No real need to slot for health in this power, as the inherent heal percentage from it is still twice as high as your endurance recovery percentage, even with Performance Shifter slotted. You really want this power as early as possible in your build. Really. Essence Drain: Essence drain can be a great "emergency" power to have for a tiny surge of health if you don't have any dead bodies on the ground for stygian circle, and if you're out of inspirations. But, if you're picking it for the heal, you're going to be disappointed when comparing it to the power that is Stygian Circle. I usually only recommend Essence Drain for "I don't like to team--I prefer to solo only" people.

I don't see why you need more healing enhancements.

The stun? Things die way to fast for me to need them to be stunned longer, and that's without running orbiting death (I don't have enough recovery yet for it.)

For my 'Shade, Agility would be my Go-to alpha. Every attribute helps me in some way.

As for interface, Reactive Radial is insane. fire damage over time, and a resistance debuff = more bodies.

Destiny, I'd say clarion would be notable.

Now, I really don't want sound like the confusing lawyer who was arguing his case before a judge, and after much talking he said to the judge,

"Your honor. Do you follow me?"

The judge replied,

"Oh, I follow you. But, if I knew where we were I'd leave you where you stand."

Ok...moving on then...try to follow me.

I have never read nor heard of anyone who has focused entirely upon Nova and Dwarf forms refer to his/her build as "Bi-Form."

Have any of you?

But, if the matter pertains to "play-style (i.e. what you USE)," as one camp is arguing, and not "power selection (i.e. what you CHOOSE)," as the other camp is arguing, then it would be acceptable for one to affirm,

"I am a Bi-Form Kheldian."

Someone would then ask,

"Oh, are you Human/Dwarf or Human/Nova?"

To which you could reply,

"Neither. I am a Nova/Dwarf."

This affirmation does present some difficulty, for all of us realize that one would have to shift THROUGH that pesky human....FORM... to get to the other two FORMS (hmmm...1+2 = 3). But, I suppose that this could be explained away for although one is shifting into and out of human form that does not mean he/she is USING it...or does it??? Additionally, 7 slots would have to go SOMEWHERE so I suppose that Health and Stamina could get the slots.

I understand the different perspectives of each camp but, for what it's worth, I have always thought of these things more like AlienOne,

"Human Only = Human only
Bi-Form = Human + Dwarf or Human + Nova
Tri-Form = All three forms chosen"

I hope that your guide is going well AlienOne.

As long as Alien Ones guide clarifies what his version of Human Form is I couldn't give a toot. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out.

I could never play anything other than Tri form myself, the fun is in the flexibility, the win is in the flexibility. I really couldnt do it.

Well, my guide's always clarified it as "human only," but... I guess there's two ways to skin a cat when it comes to definitions...which reminds me of a phrase I heard once:

"It depends on what the definition of 'is' is..."



Thanks for all the input, guys... I took some time off today to go see the first 6 minutes of Batman and Mission Impossible IV, so I'll get back into it first thing tomorrow morning.

"Alien"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernus_Hades The way you play changes your IO slotting..

By the way, Alien, the level 53 AV soloage (linked in my signature) was done on a "pure" human build, no forms taken for mules... Just sayin'.

The reason I speced out of that build and into my current one that picks Dwarf for set mules is that it helped me reach a build goal (softcapped s/l defense) in one power choice that would have taken three power choices to reach on a pure human build. My current build actually has more useful human powers, higher defense, and more recharge than the "pure" build I was previously using, meaning that taking dwarf lead to me getting more out of my strictly human form play style (I literally don't even have Dwarf or any Dwarf powers in my tray.) Just thought I'd put that out there for your consideration.

I'm a lover of secondary effects. Initially I made a Mind Controller to level with before finding Taunt control in Tankers. In most peoples guides they don't emphasize on secondary effects enough. What the effects can do? How do they work? Why is it the powerset has them? Not just for personal performance either but also for helping a team mate do their thing better.

One could from one guide have the option to make different types of Kheldians rather than a go solo some 53 AV type Kheldian. Khelds aren't everyones main so with them being a alternative plaything to some people, cheaper, alternative multi-playstyle options could be on the table. If you can't make your Kheld all the way good at a particular goal you can atleast make it useful towards a team effort or something.

Gravimetric Snare as an example could be superslotted and be more useful than a Trick Archers Entangling Arrow yet it's skipped. A lot of people maligned Trick Archery for years but some of that was short sightedness in my book. In 2006 whilst almost every single person would of gave up at the thought of a STF with a Scrapper, 6 Blasters and 1 Trick Archer, I most definitely would of thought "Why not? Both plausible and different". A WS that is an alt, which is never going to be given the 2 billion to do greatness for itself could very cheaply offer the potential for teams to be flexible on how they overcome obstacles. A 10:1 Immob:rechg ratio being gold in Gravimetric Snare, do damage with that as well and it as a power is at its sweetest. A Warshade with that becomes a useful duct tape Trick Archer. (I am not one for finding x powerset for a team or give up). If I think of a plausible way for an MoSTF to be done with an all Kheld team then someone would have a superbly slotted Gravimetric Snare, if I tried to build an all Kheld team for an STF I can almost guarantee that I would have the only Warshade with it, which could be disagreeable if I am on a Peacebringer because I can almost guarantee that I am the only Peacebringer with Group Fly XD.

Don't see how that is relevant/on topic but I just wanted to point out that taunt is just as effective as Grav Snare. I have had specs that included it but found that it just was not worth the slots. Provoke is infinitely more useful and it's the one power I miss more than anything in my current build because it serves the purpose of allowing human form to tank, keep AV's in place, and pull mobs for buffs. If you have a choice between Snare and Provoke, Provoke wins every time in my book.

As soon as someone posts on this board saying "Hi, I'd like to play a Warshade because I think they are AWESOME at immobilizing single targets! Anyone have any advice on how to calculate immobilize ratios? This is my primary build objective!" I will send them your way. That interest is a niche I have yet to encounter in game or on the boards though. Alien already gives a rundown of powers and what they do in his guide, I don't think he ever said he planned to remove that section.