DFB support AT?

A head's up about exemping and the value of your enhancements . . . when I exemped from 10 to 5, SO value dropped from 36 to 17. At level 3, it was around 10. Didn't check level 2, but I imagine it was even greater degradation of value. Depending on what power you would take at level 10, it might be worth capping at 8 or 9 to keep most of the value of the SOs intact. Doesn't make sense to add more levels for extra slots if the value of the SO keeps dropping.

For accuracy and to-hit, there's the DFB hydra bonus and the natural lowbie to-hit bonus. You could also slot the kismet +to-hit in combat jumping to help out with all your attacks.

So I think this is the skinny on how exemping affects enhancement value, as calculated by my from the charts on paragonwiki:

http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Exemplar...n_Enhancements

If you lock at level 5, you get the 2 level 1 powers, the level 2 and level 4 power, each with their default slot. You get 4 slots to spread around. Your SOs are full value (38.3% for +3s) for the Hydra level, 30% on the Lost level, 22% on Vhaz level, and 14% on the Hellion level.

If you lock at level 6, when you are on the Hydra level you are getting 31% out of +3 SOs, with that dropping to 24%, 18%, and 12%. Locked at level 7, the numbers are 26%, 21%, 15%, and 10%. Skipping ahead to level 10 you'd have 18%, 14%, 10%, and 7%.

You get more slots, and powers, but the value of each enhancement gets weaker. At level 10, you basically start DFB with TOs that gradually improve to DOs. The higher you level above 10, the more worthless the enhancement value of your SOs become. There's probably a tipping point, that would depend on how valuable your level 8 and 10 powers were. If they are pretty nice it might be worth it to get the extra level and take the hit. If they weren't critical, you'd be stronger to just level lock at a lower level.

Yikes! That IS harsh. You're basically playing unslotted later.

Well, if I'm going to lock at 5 I need to change primaries and get some AE damage in there. Doms are out. Since -recharge will work I want the heavy starter attack not the light one so Defenders are out and Corruptors are in.

Still think Kinetics is the way to go. You get a lot for those two moves Transfusion and Siphon Power.

The good cones all require weapon draw, and that doesn't sound good and certainly not fun paired with kinetics. The AE's don't look that great either with 16sec recharges, few slots, and only four powers. I think I'd say Ice wins. Excellent damage and higher base accuracy than the other early AE powers which means I can slot recharge instead of accuracy. Plus ice is strong vs the Hellions where my enhancements are weakest.

Transfusion Recharge/Heal
Ice Blast Recharge/Damage
Frost Breath Recharge/Damage
Siphon Power Recharge/Recharge

I agree with you about Kinetics having a great 1-2 punch with Transfusion and Siphon Power. I rolled an ice/kin controller and had great fun wrecking faces. Ice Control's AOE get's crap damage, but I've got it loaded with procs and its nearly always up. I don't have to aim or move around so it makes it really easy. Good insight about Ice Blast's greater base accuracy. With the Acc bonus from the DFB trial, you'll be doing well. The scourge effect would be nice on frost breath, too.

The GR starter IOs give 16.7% dam/16.7% recharge plus procs. 2 of them in a power would give 33.4% to dam and rech (before the exemping tariff) vs 38.3% from +3 SO. Are the procs worth the difference in damage/recharge? I'm not sure of the chance to proc or the damage done to really crunch the DPS. The lost %s would be less visible on the first levels, where you aren't getting as much of the raw enhancement value anyway.

I'll look at the GR enhancements vs 5++ SO's when I get them (next month I think) but with Siphon Power I don't think the proc will be worth it vs a % increase to base damage unless it does some crazy damage.

Villain side tends to be all spiders and widows, so I think I'll go healer there. If I remember correctly heals are based on your own HP, right? Even if I was brought down from 50, my +health and +healing sets would probably do just fine. Not that healing needs to be terribly maximized for DFB. So I guess I will roll just one red character and pick the early game powers carefully for DFB. I think I've read that the major hole for SoA's is knock back though... I can't think of anything that can help an ally with knockback except increase density and I don't really want a high level kinetic. I know it's a good set but it monopolizes your time pretty hard and I like free time to attack, and I like being able to rez.

Sent you a PM, if you have some free time this weekend I could roll up a lowbie and run some DFBs with ya! I enjoy weird projects like this.