I also prefer to keep my opponents at more than arm's length. However you WILL get rushed...it's just how it works. Knowing this you can prepare with a few things:
1) Take Energy as a Secondary. Power Thrust has massive KB to keep foes off their feet and out of your face.
2) It also has, Aim, Power Boost and Boost range.
3) Devices is a fun Secondary. Lay down Trip Mines a d 'Trops, fire and watch the enemy TRY to get to you.
4) The Immob in Penumbral Grasp from the Dark Manip set is very useful.
5) Energy as a Primary means more foes on their butts which = fewer of them shooting at YOU.
Good luck and blast away!
"Comics, you're not a Mastermind...you're an Overlord!"
Both those last posts were right on the money I think. Plus I/Oing certain builds for ranged defense is....interesting.
I came up with a concept and thankfully there is a powerset that meshes well with it, and does the job we are talking about. Dark Blast/Energy Manipulation. Right from low level you get a range 80 Cone that knocks peeps to $&^% and gone. Another cone comes in soon after. Shorter range, but it immobilizes them. Also get a real nice ST high damage hold. I still am looking a AR/Nrg/Munitions. But it is hard for me to take guns in a Super game. Especially when the animations for energy and Incarnate powers do nothing for the concept.
I think Energy is important as a secondary because of the utility powers. They work well to unobtrusively supoort the primary powers. Whether I need to buff the secondary effects, fight at much greater range, or Conserve Power I have many good tools from this set to keep me happy at Range.
I have leveled the Dark/Energy to 23, and it is playing well. I'll keep you updated with my final I/O plan and ...gulp.... results.
I play my Beam rifle/Energy blaster at range. I really like the combination. Its straightforward and easy to play. The character is about level 40 now give or take a level. I know that beam isn't all the popular but the combination is a ton of fun.
I think any Blaster can be fun, if you can keep pouring out damage without a problem. I have a bad bad problem once I close to melee, because of my Brute mindset. I am having more luck with this Dark/Energy than my previous builds. Dark is not one of the 1st suggested Long Range types, but it has a few things going for it. If you do not take the nuke or play for that strategy, there are lots of powers in it that scream stay at range and circle mobs in the "shark's circle" technique. Also used by Richtoffen's flying circus in WW1. Most of the powers in Dark Blast are very good for a Long Range build. The immob cone is a little weak for it. I would have preferred a Dark Ball blast hitting 16 at range 80. Oh, and could I get a -res on that. :-) But at least the Immob is useful for the strategy as a last ditch effort to stop a minion zerg swarm. It also is useful in dungeon crawling/bldgs/etc where the range is not super long. doubles up nicely with the KB cone. And when teams don't want KB it's my only AoE at lower levels. Currently at 30. Just ran the Posi 1 & 2. Team was a little uncoordinated on 2, lot of deaths, but having fun overall. I cannot wait to finish the MID build I started on it, 50, and slot it in. I've never played a ranged soft-cap character and I am looking forward to it.
Things are going to get in your face whether you like it or not. You can use kb to keep mobs off you, you can move, or you can make them pay. I included all 3 in this build that softcaps your ranged def.
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.953
http://www.cohplanner.com/
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Level 50 Technology Blaster
Primary Power Set: Dark Blast
Secondary Power Set: Energy Manipulation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Munitions Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Dark Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:31(3), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:31(3), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:31(5), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(5), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(7)
Level 1: Power Thrust -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:31(7), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:31(9), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:31(9), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(11), Mako-Dam%:31(11)
Level 2: Gloom -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:31(13), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:31(13), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:31(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(15), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(17)
Level 4: Build Up -- RechRdx-I:31(A)
Level 6: Aim -- RechRdx-I:31(A)
Level 8: Umbral Torrent -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:31(25), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:31(27), Posi-Dmg/Rng:31(27), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(29)
Level 10: Moonbeam -- Mantic-Acc/Dmg:35(A), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx:35(17), Mantic-Acc/ActRdx/Rng:35(19), Mantic-Dmg/ActRdx/Rchg:35(19), Mantic-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(21)
Level 12: Tenebrous Tentacles -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:31(21), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:31(23), Posi-Dmg/Rng:31(23), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(25)
Level 14: Super Speed -- Zephyr-ResKB:31(A)
Level 16: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:31(A)
Level 18: Abyssal Gaze -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:31(29), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:31(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:31(31), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(31), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(33)
Level 20: Bone Smasher -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:31(37), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:31(40), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:31(42), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(42), Mako-Dam%:31(42)
Level 22: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx:31(A)
Level 26: Life Drain -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:31(36), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:31(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:31(36), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(37), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(37)
Level 28: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:31(A), HO:Cyto(50)
Level 30: Energy Punch -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:31(33), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:31(33), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:31(34), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(34), Mako-Dam%:31(34)
Level 32: Blackstar -- Dmg-I:30(A), Dmg-I:30(43), Dmg-I:30(46)
Level 35: Boost Range -- RechRdx-I:31(A)
Level 38: Total Focus -- Mako-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Mako-Dmg/EndRdx:31(39), Mako-Dmg/Rchg:31(39), Mako-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:31(39), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:31(40), Mako-Dam%:31(40)
Level 41: Body Armor -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A)
Level 44: Cryo Freeze Ray -- Lock-Acc/Hold:30(A), Lock-Acc/Rchg:30(45), Lock-Rchg/Hold:30(45), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:30(46), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:31(46), Lock-%Hold:31(50)
Level 47: LRM Rocket -- Posi-Acc/Dmg:31(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:31(48), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:31(48), Posi-Dmg/Rng:31(48), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:31(50)
Level 49: Conserve Power -- Empty(A)
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+:31(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- EndMod-I:31(A), P'Shift-EndMod:31(43), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc:31(43), P'Shift-End%:31(45)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Of the three, learning when, how and where to move will do more for your blaster than anything else.
Thank you. I am narrowing it in. I definitely think backing into "normal" long range from my original convcept is helping me a lot.
I realize this is probably a dead thread based on Blue's other post today but I have a Perma Hasted hover Arch/Em with S/L capped Def and Super Speed with a stealth proc. Far and away the best of my 4 Lvl 50 blasters. Unless you are over-aggroing getting rushed does not happen. You get to position unseen then ...
What does happen every 24.7 seconds from a range of 100 feet or less is Boost Range - Aim - BU - RoA - Fistful (at 90-100 feet this cone is huge) - Explosive Arrow.
With Assault running that is about 1200 points arriving on target in about 3 seconds from the first report.
Clean up the one or two remaining Bosses with you 3 ST. Treat Fistful as a forth ST attack whenever you need to, as it does about the same damage as your T1.
Occasional even spawns wipe on just RoA and Fistful.
It IS pretty much cheating outdoors, if your opposition can't fly.
The limiting factors are the Aim/BU everything else recharges much faster. On a steam roller team just RoA every 16 sec and fill in the rest with multiple Fist and Explosive. You can alternate Aim and BU if you have time. Even without Boost Range, Fistful is boosted to 70 feet with 5 Posi Blast and a Range IO.
Indoors can be a lot more interesting which is why I went S/L instead of ranged Def.
If I didn't like my Tank so much this would be my main.
Jak
I am VERY jealous of Archery. I may still end up with a Elf, although I will probably on run him with my wife's D&D inspired character.
It is my hope that sometime in the future power animations make the full move to any animation for any power. Yes, I know sometimes this will be awkward, with time lag, etc. still, if I want to use a .1 sec animation for every power and wait for the cycle to finish, then thats my character design problem, not Coh's. Then I could take the archery set and use Energy Blast animation on it all, and I would use rad's/force mastery's throw the glowing ball animation for Rain of Arrows. It would be EPIC. Ah, maybe someday. But that is the great thing about CoH. This is a little outside the park today, and probably not going to happn next year. But the game is moving into more and more customization. I have high hopes. Until then I have my grumpy little Dark/Energy Wizard lol. (and a heal...)
Quote:
You should just record it so everyone can see for comparison. Alternatively, demorecord it if you can't video record smoothly.|
Originally Posted by Demetrios Vasilikos
before you decide, Id like to offer you the chance to see my blaster Bentley Berkeley in action. He is on Virtue, and even if you have to roll a fresh toon on the server Ill be happy to take you along on something to show you what blasters when well run can do.
If you do have something like a nice high end brute to bring all the better. Can run a fast 4 man 3rd respec jacked up to X8 to have some fast fun. ill be on BB all day just shoot a tell if you want. |
Video demonstrations have the advantage of removing qualitative language from comparisons. Performance isn't good or bad, it just is when you're seeing it instead of reading about it.
Of course, its not going to be representative of the kind of performance someone will have leveling up a blaster, but it will show what kind of performance can be built up to if you really try.
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A Sonic/Ice blaster is based on range.
Your Primary AoE powers are mostly cones so wider is better. You have 2 sleeps and access to another as your epic.
Shriek Ranged, Minor DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe -Res
Scream Ranged, Moderate DoT(Smash/Energy), Foe -Res
Howl Ranged (Cone), Medium DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe -Res(All)
Shockwave Ranged (Cone), Minor DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe Knockback, -Res(All)
Shout Ranged, Heavy DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe -Res(All)
Amplify Self +To-Hit, +DMG
Siren's Song Ranged (Cone), Minor DMG(Energy), Foe Sleep
Screech Ranged, Minor DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe Disorient, -Res(All)
Dreadful Wail PBAoE, Extreme DMG(Smash/Energy), Foe Disorient, -Res(All), Self -Recovery
Only your Nuke is a PBAoE.
Look at the benefit of your Ice powers:
Power Level Effect
Chilblain Ranged, Moderate DoT(Cold), Foe Immobilize, -Recharge, -SPD
Frozen Fists Melee, Moderate DMG(Cold/Smash), Foe -Recharge, -SPD
Ice Sword Melee, Moderate DMG(Cold/Lethal), Foe -Recharge, -SPD
Chilling Embrace Toggle: PBAoE, Foe -Recharge, -SPD, -DMG
Build Up Self +DMG, +To-Hit
Ice Patch Location (PBAoE), Foe Knockdown
Shiver Ranged (Cone), Foe -Recharge, -SPD
Freezing Touch Melee, Minor DMG(Cold), Foe Hold
Frozen Aura PBAoE, Foe Sleep
I do not take Frozen Fists and only use Ice sword as an IO mule.
Chillblain immobilizes and slows helping you stay at melee.
Chilling Embrace slows and -dam helping you stay at range and if they close you get hit less and for less damage.
Ice patch they flop and can't reach you.
Shiver - see chilling embrace but from range.
Frozen touch - so you can back away.
I'm in the process of respec'ing my blaster that is actually focused on ranged damage and ranged defence.
The power combo is AR/Eng
The highlights of the toon are:
Ranged Def: 42%
Recharge: 174%
Full Auto recharge: 16s (with boost range - 127ft)
LRM Rocket recharge: 65s (with boost range - 240ft)
Judgment choice: Cryonic Radial Final (range 120ft)
Boost Range recharge: 18s
Alpha choice: Musculature Core Paragon (MOAR damage)
Interface choice: Reactive Radial Flawless (MOAR damage)
I equipped the toon with a full set of ATO (all catalyzed) which provides another 10% boost to range. So actually the above values are slightly higher than what I've posted but don't have Mids to support it just yet.
Basically with those ranged bombs you thin the mob so much that by the time they come near you there's usually only a single boss (maybe two if you're soloing x8) and they have 15% health left which is no problem for any of your remaining attacks. The recharge for Full Auto is quick enough that once you've cleaned up the mob its ready for the next fight.
I've played AR/Eng for a long time and I think it's a fun and very effective blaster. The above stats are from my most recent respec which is still in progress and haven't fully enjoyed just yet.
Oh for reference here are the stats from the ATO set that'll account for the missing numbers in the Mids build.
- Two enhancements improves the Accuracy of all your powers by 15%.
- Three enhancements improves the Range of all your powers by 10%.
- Four enhancements improves the Damage of all your powers by 4%.
- Five enhancements improves the Recharge of all your powers by 10%.
- Six enhancements increases Ranged Defense by 5%.
- Six enhancements increases Energy and Negative Energy Defense by 2.52%.
Code:
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I realize this is an old thread, but:
Quote:
Shame on this board for letting this pass unchallenged.
|
Originally Posted by CrashPositron
... Psi blaster. Most of the powers have really long ranges compared with others and most critters don't have much Psi protection.
|
Beaten it to death all ready. I have no more time for the lameness of blaster psi or the people who skip Carnies and Robots.
-Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein.
-I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. - Galileo Galilei
-When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty. - Thomas Jefferson
Long as this thing keeps bobbing up Necro I will say I am still searching for my ranged toon. The concept shifts to try to find the right thing, I get close, and experiment, and.... yeah. Dark Energy is okay, where I left it with Blasters. But after coming back to it I realize the KB is just not gonna work. I have been trying a Psi/Mental Dom, not sure I like that either. I may try a medium range build of Fire/Psi Blaster, but am unsure on it. In truth, I may not be cut out for the squishy lifestyle, even though my Blasting is getting more proficient. I have been having good luck on a Elec/Elec/Mu Scrapper and can rain down PBAoE destruction and take whatever comes at me. It still leaves a void where my ranged concept is though. I will let the ideas cool and percolate as I badge on my main for awhile.
How much protection is it to fight at range 100 as opposed to range 80? Do you get one extra attack before your assailant is on top of you? And what happens when you're indoors and can't get far away from your opponents? Do you hide around the corner and refuse to contribute at close range? I would say that as long as your opponents are mobile and able to close with you, long range is a poor defense. What you need it the ability to keep your opponents outside of melee range, even if you end up fighting at 40 feet. Yes, you need knockback!
I admit that I have deleted every Blaster I've ever made in favor of Defenders and Corruptors. But, I do have an Empathy/Energy Blast Defender that has all of his attacks and his heals/buffs slotted for range. His normal attack chain is just single target attacks (Power Bolt, Power Blast and Power Burst and an occasional Sniper Blast thrown in) which keeps his melee teammates from screaming at him. The only thing that he gets aggro from is the one target he's got pinned helplessly to a distant wall, so this play style is quite safe.
So, if I were making a Blaster who really wanted to fight at range and use his melee secondary attacks only as a last resort, I would try Energy/Energy. You can choose how close your opponents get. If the team can't control aggro, which is when Blasters usually start to faceplant, your Energy Torrent can turn the knife fight back into a gun fight you can win.