Shame on Forum For Keeping DM/ElA Secret

For various reasons I didn't feel like working on any of my existing characters. The need to make a Staff Fighting character not being fulfilled because the powerset has not been released, I decided to try out a build which on paper seemed to address the two headaches I have when making and playing a melee character--endurance and healing. So I started a Dark Melee/Electrical Armor brute with no great hope for it to have anything else going for it above my other melee characters.

32 levels later, I have to say I think I was woefully underestimating the potential of the build. Heck, I'm in love. I can't wait to get back home and play the character. He may not be silly unstoppable, but darn if he doesn't stand up to a heck of a beating while dishing it right back.

Why when I search do I find virtually no conversation on this particular combination of powersets?

Yeah, I know DM is definitely short on AE powers and there is much dislike of Shadow Maul. I have also seen some criticisms of Electrical Armor in terms of squishiness (though I certainly have not found that to be the case). Still, I learned to reliably put things in SM's cone (target center of group, take a step back, use SM) back on my Dark/Inv scrapper, DM doesn't do much in the way of AE but Soul Drain backing up Lightning Field does put out some nice damage, and if Electrical Armor is kinda squishy, every 3rd attack being Siphon Life keeps me from noticing. And being able to laugh at Super Stunners and Sapper. . .Priceless!

So what gives?

I thought you said DM/Nrg at first and was going to say something like 'yes that does sound like a great combo' but /elec made me stop and think.

I am making an /elec scrapper at the moment and it seems like it can get some decent survivability so should go quite nice with DM.

I think resist sets are just underplayed compared to defence sets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aggelakis PrincessDarkstar: "RAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH SOMEONE IS *WRONG* ON THE INTERNET!"

On many issues, there's a "forum disconnect" where the conventional wisdom doesn't really match what happens in game - largely because that conventional wisdom was formed in a different era.

Resist-based sets are often viewed as 'squishy' because as you're leveling from 35-50, you're probably running 40% - 60% resists and facing enemies who tear through your defense. In contrast, the same toon as a defense-based armor set would have already capped his defenses and be highly resistant to those defense debuffs.

However, this is merely an issue of peaking later. The defense-based armor sets are as good as they're ever going to get during that period, while the resist-based armor sets just keep getting better as their resist climbs higher and higher. Ultimately, the resist-based armors sets are significantly more durable once you've piled on the IO sets and Incarnate abilities.

Dark Melee is another example. Yes, it has horrible AE. But that doesn't really matter because it also has Soul Drain - essentially a permanent Build Up without a crash. Coupled with AE-intensive epic pools like Mu Mastery and damage auras, this makes it one of the best choices for farming toons.

i love dark melee on my stone armor brute, hes one of my farming toons cause hes so hard to kill lol

I made a DM/Fire scrapper. I know it isnt quite the same, but I can say the synergy of all the self heals to go with fire's not as durable numbers is nice. Two endo recovery powers is also very nice.

it isnt teh uberzt, but it is really tough and can lay a good paced smack down with no downtime. haveing the double recovery tools, and all that self heal allows for more unorthodox slotting. I actually slotted one of the recovery Aoe's up for dmg also, and with some average to high recharge bonuses it is up to use on every spawn, or close. I forget which, but one of the two is actually reasonably good for damage. PbAOE that also recovers half your endo bar? Awsome. It is a perk of the combo, there is no way I would slot it that way outside of this particular pairing.

Also, soul drain+fiery embrace.
Also, soul drain+blazing aura.

DM/elec sounds interesting also. Siphon life + resist sets is always a good fit. I think by the end game, it would be tougher and easier to IO to be tougher then a DM/fire. More traditional though, not that I would see that as a bad thing. I might try this. my only attempt at DM brute was a DM/WP and that got freeging boring by level 30. I think this would keep my attention more.

I admit, I went down one time this past weekend because I was not paying any attention to my health.