I have a Plant/Kin named "Flora the Explorer." She was started as a designed duo with an Elec/Shield scrapper. It really was a wonderful match . . . the scrapper would run in to grab the aggro (Shield is great for that) and gather the group into a tight bunch. Then I would hit them with Seeds+Roots+Fulcrum Shift. Then he would smash them with Lightning Rod or Shield Charge to wipe out the group.
With Speed Boost, his AoE attacks came up fast. Since he was drawing the aggro, I didn't get killed much. I found a key to my effectiveness was Invisibility from Super Speed+Celerity Stealth IO -- it let me get in the right position to get almost the entire group with Seeds.
Currently, Flora still gets pulled out fairly often. On teams, I usually float overhead, playing "throw out some controls, then buff-bot" playstyle. She has both Superspeed+Stealth and Fly/Hover.
I'm going to keep that build, but I have plans on breaking one of my "principles of controller builds" and making a S/L softcap build -- just because this build looks so very nice. One advantage of Plant is that there are three powers that can easily be skipped depending upon your secondary: Entangle, Spore Burst and Spirit Tree. On Kinetics, I dislike IR -- I find it annoying to have to recast every few minutes. And Repel can be fun but is certainly skippable. With five skippable powers, it is easy to fit in the Fighting Pool and Maneuvers without having to trade off other important powers.
Plant is a little bit weak on Single Target Damage, so this build has Seismic Smash. It tries to take advantage of the strengths of Plant and Kinetics without trade-offs to get added defense. I hated having to spend 3 extra slots on Boxing, but that's really the only "mule" power. So, here's the build I'm working towards as my second build for Flora -- I'm not there by a long shot, but it sure looks nice:
Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
Plant-Kin Softcapped S-L: Level 50 Mutation Controller
Primary Power Set: Plant Control
Secondary Power Set: Kinetics
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Stone Mastery
Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strangler -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(3), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(3), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(5), HO:Nucle(5), Dmg-I(27)
Level 1: Transfusion -- Nictus-Heal(A), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg(7), Nictus-Acc/Heal(7), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen(9), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(9)
Level 2: Roots -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(11), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(11), Posi-Dam%(13), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), GravAnch-Hold%(43)
Level 4: Siphon Power -- Acc-I(A)
Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15)
Level 8: Seeds of Confusion -- CoPers-Conf%(A), CoPers-Conf/Rchg(17), CoPers-Acc/Conf/Rchg(19), CoPers-Acc/Rchg(19), CoPers-Conf(21)
Level 10: Super Speed -- Clrty-Stlth(A)
Level 12: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Knock%(15), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(17), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(37)
Level 14: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 16: Siphon Speed -- Acc-I(A), Acc-I(21), RechRdx-I(27), RechRdx-I(36)
Level 18: Vines -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(23), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(23), BasGaze-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(25), EoCur-Acc/Hold/Rchg(25)
Level 20: Speed Boost -- EndMod-I(A)
Level 22: Tough -- RctvArm-EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(37), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(37), RctvArm-ResDam(40)
Level 24: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(31), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(31)
Level 26: Carrion Creepers -- Posi-Dam%(A), ImpSwft-Dam%(33), HO:Nucle(33), HO:Nucle(33), RechRdx-I(34), RechRdx-I(34)
Level 28: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(34), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(36)
Level 30: Increase Density -- S'fstPrt-ResKB(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(46)
Level 32: Fly Trap -- ExRmnt-Dmg/EndRdx(A), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg(36), ExRmnt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), ExRmnt-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(39), HO:Nucle(39)
Level 35: Transference -- P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(40), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(40), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(42)
Level 38: Fulcrum Shift -- Acc-I(A), RechRdx-I(42), RechRdx-I(43), Acc-I(50)
Level 41: Fissure -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(43), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(45), Posi-Dam%(46)
Level 44: Seismic Smash -- KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(45), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(45), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(46), HO:Nucle(48)
Level 47: Rock Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48)
Level 49: Earth's Embrace -- Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Numna-Heal/Rchg(50), Numna-Heal(50)
Level 50: Nerve Radial Paragon
Level 50: Pyronic Partial Core Judgement
Level 50: Reactive Radial Flawless Interface
Level 50: Clarion Core Epiphany
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Containment
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(31)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(29), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(29)
Code:
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LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
And just another point for clarity. It's not a squishiness issue or even an effectiveness issue; for whatever reason I've never found the character "fun" so I'm looking for other perspectives on the combo to see if it helps.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
I can only say that I would build a plant/kin exactly like that. In fact my earth/kin is as identical as is possible. I love it. Soft capped to s/l, perma hasten, and in your face SMASH. This plant kin with the higher damage immob and fulcrum shift would be downright sick. As would a dark/kin for similar reasons!
Lewis
Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan
Quote:
Part of the problem that I'm not all that fond of my Fire/Kin is the combination of limited control and squishiness. Sure, great damage, but I find it frustrating to die too often (admittedly, I usually solo on her). Kinetics has virtually no defense or mitigation, so you have to rely upon the primary for protection. Plant can generate that protection with the Seeds+Roots combo AND Creepers drawing aggro AND Vines. Fire pretty much has Flashfire and Cinders. |
Originally Posted by MentalMaden
And just another point for clarity. It's not a squishiness issue or even an effectiveness issue; for whatever reason I've never found the character "fun" so I'm looking for other perspectives on the combo to see if it helps.
|
Why else to like a Plant/Kin? It is a unique combo of very good control plus good damage. I love confuse effects in part because so many people don't like it and Confuse usually lasts longer than other types of control. Plant is also unique in that it has the most interesting pet and the unique effect of Creepers. I found that invisibility really made my Plant/Kin a lot more fun to play, since I can use more strategy on how to use Seeds. I play mine solo sometimes, and I let Twoey do some tanking and herding by leading him into battle while invisible.
But most of all, I liked the name.
I did a pretty good job at making the costume fit, too.
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
Quote:
you basically outlined why ive never been fond of playing kin, its not the poeple asking for sb its the lack of protection it offers that ive found unappealing|
Originally Posted by Local_Man
Part of the problem that I'm not all that fond of my Fire/Kin is the combination of limited control and squishiness. Sure, great damage, but I find it frustrating to die too often (admittedly, I usually solo on her). Kinetics has virtually no defense or mitigation, so you have to rely upon the primary for protection. Plant can generate that protection with the Seeds+Roots combo AND Creepers drawing aggro AND Vines. Fire pretty much has Flashfire and Cinders.
Why else to like a Plant/Kin? It is a unique combo of very good control plus good damage. I love confuse effects in part because so many people don't like it and Confuse usually lasts longer than other types of control. Plant is also unique in that it has the most interesting pet and the unique effect of Creepers. I found that invisibility really made my Plant/Kin a lot more fun to play, since I can use more strategy on how to use Seeds. I play mine solo sometimes, and I let Twoey do some tanking and herding by leading him into battle while invisible. But most of all, I liked the name. I did a pretty good job at making the costume fit, too. |
ive currently only tried to play it on corrs but i may try it on a troller at some point
Quote:
My Plant/Kin is definitely my favorite Kinetics character. The good control lets me use the great Kin buffs in relative safety. Plus, Plant has decent damage, too. Fire/Kin has good damage, but gives up some control. Ice/Kin, Elec/Kin and Earth/Kin all have good control, but lack damage. Ill/Kin has synergy issues and a lack of AoE damage (but decent single target damage). Plant works best near melee but not in the middle, so it is best to be at the edge of the buffs. I found good maneuverability to be pretty important.|
Originally Posted by Necrotech_Master
you basically outlined why ive never been fond of playing kin, its not the poeple asking for sb its the lack of protection it offers that ive found unappealing
ive currently only tried to play it on corrs but i may try it on a troller at some point |
I also have a Kin/Elec Defender at 50, and I've started several other Kinetics characters. The Defender was designed to be an endurance drainer (but Elec control is better). He basically plays like a buff-bot who throws out attacks every now and then. But I must admit, the combo of Fulcrum Shift+Power Boost+Thunderous Blast+pop a blue+Transference+Short Circuit is pretty impressive.
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
MM,
Btw, 30 controllers at level 50 is impressive! I only have 24. I do have a few doms at 50 tho.
Anyway, congrats! I need to stop slacking.
Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan
Quote:
Oh no not 30 controllers, that was close to 30 50s overall and a good number of them are controllers. (I worded the OP terribly) I believe its like 10 controllers.
|
Originally Posted by UnicyclePeon
MM,
Btw, 30 controllers at level 50 is impressive! I only have 24. I do have a few doms at 50 tho. Anyway, congrats! I need to stop slacking. |
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
Oh. Now I feel like I should probably get out of the house more. Tho I do go dancing 3 times a week, so its not *all* tv dinners and video games.
Lewis
Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan
Heh, nah you are alright, Lewis. At one time I was on a pretty fast pace and probably could have had that many if I stuck with it but that has slowed down a lot over the last year and a half. Most of my crew have been around since the beginning and we've dwindled our playtime down to probably a quarter what it used to be and I'm not doing as much "off time" playing as I used to. Plus with Incarnate stuff, there is something else to do besides turn right around and roll more alts unless new sets come out (darkness woot!) etc.
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff
Yeah, the new issue will lead to the creation of 5 controllers, 4 dominators, and 1 brute. It would be 6 controllers, but I am showing restraint. I mean, I am pretty sure you can smell the restraint on my breath.
But then again, dark miasma (dark affinity) has been a controller secondary that I have wanted since the beginning. And a new control primary? Heck yes.
Lewis
Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan
Heh.
Well, unfortunately I've only gotten back to Photokinthesis relatively recently. I think he's in his mid thirties, so I really don't have anything to contribute in terms of a final build. I originally played a lvl 39 Plant/Kin and a lvl 39 Plant/Storm during one of the Beta level bumps and I found the Plant/Storm sooooo much more flexible/durable that I focused on Viridicane and got her to 50 while her sibling Photokinthesis just kind drifted along getting played for a bit every now and then.
For me, a lot of the fun in Plant/Kin lies in playing /Kin again (my main and first 50 was Mind/Kin). As Local said, Plant/Kin has better control than Fire/Kin, and playing the Plant/ side effectively doesn't take a ton of your time up the way a lot of other primaries do (Creepers help enormously), so I have some time to deal with the frenetic pace of playing an effective /Kinetic.
I think Plant/Storm is still my fav Plant/ combo simply because it's got such a HUGE bag of tricks, but Plant/Kin is certainly a lot of fun to play.
Be honest, Argentae, you just wanted to share your BA names for your characters and that's why you posted. It's ok, they are pretty wifty so I totally understand :-P
Heh. Thanks?
I actually had more in game time yesterday than in a long while... My 10 year old son and 9 year old daughter really got into it and created the "Improbables" SG on Triumph. Had a blast playing with them, very labor intensive, but fun. My son's getting into the base design thing so I dusted Viri off, ported her to Triumph and ran some missions with them to start stockpiling some prestige for him to play with.
Also spent some time on Beta playing with Dark Controller and Dom sets, as well as MM Beast summoning. Very much enjoyed all of the above, though /Dark Assault is a bit meh.
I still plan to get back to the Plant/Kin at some point, 1.5 levels to FS! :-)
Arg
As most of you know I'm an unapologetic control(ler) freak so of course it's the AT that is represented most in my 50s. I have my stable of 50s close to the 30 mark now and for the most part I'm pretty equal with the love I give to them. Though many are now +3, there are still plenty more to go, but I do intend to have all of my 50s incarnated in some capacity. I'll at least pull them out every once in a while for a TF, missions, trials etc. Need or want a particular AT, powerset, or combo? Just let me know and I'll grab it. Bottom line: I never mothball a character. While I admit to having some favorites, I really do love them all. Except one: my Plank/Kin controller. The poor thing has sat virtually untouched and neglected for quite a long time since she hit 50. I hate the combo and that makes no sense to me. I have a plant/fire/fire dom and a fire/kin/fire controller both of which I absolutely adore and love playing any chance I get. Marry the two together and it produces something that for whatever rhyme or reason I hate.
So I'm issuing this challenge to you, the control forum regulars. Let me see that build that will make me fall in love with this combo again. Only a few requirements or notes on the build.
1. I do team almost exclusively and rarely solo so please include buffs/team oriented powers. This will be intended to run iTrials, TFs, content, etc. Exemping down isn't really that huge of a priority.
2. No PvP IOs or Purple damage IOs. I am a marketeer and have plenty of Inf, but I'm also an altoholic and this character isn't high enough priority to warrant that kind of inf. Purple control and other rare-ish sets are OK though.
Other than that have at it. And yes that even means all playstyle and build philosophies are ok. Even though I'm vocal on the soft capping v. recharge/recovery debate I'm willing to consider all options equally. Use any APP/Patron/Pools/etc you want. Maybe I just need to look at this character from another angle, because on paper I should love it and it doesn't deserve to sit there all dusty and alone.
It's in your hands. Have at it. Make me love again!
(Oh and please don't post just the data chunks, some of us look at this stuff at work and may not have access to Mids.)
@Mental Maden @Maden Mental
"....you are now tackle free for life."-ShoNuff