Dark/Dark controller or dominator?

I bet this question has been asked....billions of times already, but I've been meaning to try out a dark/dark troller or dom. As a player who usually plays melee types, I've been interested in trying out some of the more range and control ATs, but when it comes to dark/dark, it's a hard choice. I already have a dark/dark corrupter and I've come to enjoy him on his trip to 50, and the new dark sets look awesome. But it really comes down to which one is more useful? Dark assault or darkness affinity? Is one better at solo'ing than the other? Which one is more effective on a team? I've been juggling these two options for a bit and I figure I might just ask to forum which one is preferred. So, which dark/dark do you guys like?

I'd say Dark/Dark Dom, here's why,
1) w/o a doubt, a D/D Dom would solo much better than a controller
2) Dark Assault is a very solid Assault Set
3) Dark Assault does have some nice melee options, if thats what you like
4) If you've alread done Dark Miasma, DA won't bring you much new, they replaced FS and PG with two powers with super short durations and long recharges

Dark/Dark Dominator is definitely a blast to play, both solo and teamed.

I think Dominator would be a better transition for you to move away from Melee types - Controllers can be really hard to gauge your contribution to the team if you're not used to them. The Dominator will give you a couple of good melee attacks and solid damage output, along with just as good (and with IO builds for perma-dom, arguably BETTER) control as the controller. Sure, you miss out on buffs/debuffs to a large degree, but someone's got to do the killing, right?

In all honesty, Dark Control has some sketchy synergy with both Dark Affinity and Dark Assault. I say this because the sets have a number of mechanics to be aware of.

Dark Control has a primary Cone Fear, and a primary PBAoE Stun that you absolutely want to be using. As such, opening at range is the obvious way to do this, and then closing into melee. BUT...

Dark Control, for a Controller, wants to stay at some level of range afterward, seeing as their AoE Immobilize is a Cone. But, Dark Affinity wants to stay close to all their allies and Soul Absorption is basically a PBAoE as well.

Dark Assault wants to stay in melee, flat-out. And Dominators don't need (And generally skip) AoE Immobilizes. However, Darkness Assault does get a Cone AoE, thus that is to note.

In the end, Dominators and Controllers do not compare. Apples to Oranges. Or Bananas.

Darkness Control's damage is fairly average for a controller set, and Darkness Affinity offers no out-of-norm damage steroids. Haunt is actually somewhat worthwhile on Controllers, Dominators don't care for it as much (as the pets can die easily and their damage is 'there' for Dominators. It's not a bad power but it's not something you'll be using as often as a Dominator).

Darkness Assault is one of the best Assault sets in the game for damage, so that would be it's major perk.

In the end, decide between great support versus great damage. Both control very well with Fearsome Stare and Heart of Darkness.

Just a note on the pet thing, both Haunt and the wolf are decent powers, but I only use Haunt when fighting EB's, AV's, or tough bosses, its not something i would go out of my way to perma on my Dark/Dark Dom. But like the above poster stated, pets for dominators are frosting on the cake.

to give you an idea here, plant control, long regarded as a decent set, Flytrap was infamous for watching you die and doing nothing at one point, it wasn't until Plant was ported to controllers, that flytrap actually became more than a semi-companion pet, but even before the Flytrap buff, Plant Doms were regarded as decent

hey was trying to be modest ;-), my plant/thorn was my first dom back when Cov went live,and my second red 50
its actually interesting comparing Plant vs. Dark

-def vs. -to-hit secondary effects - prefer -to-hit

Cone Confuse vs. Cone Fear, - prefer Cone Confuse, but I do like the Cone Fear

PBAE Sleep vs. PBAE Stun - PBAE Stun hands down

Carrion Creepers vs. Haunt - Like creepers better, but haunt is not bad either

flytrap vs. Wolf - ignoring Fx and sound, i like the wolf better, even with the upgrades flytrap has gotten

spirit tree vs. possess - ST confuse hands down

targeted AE hold vs. location AE hold, i like the location Ae hold much better

yes while I realize dark does get a cone immobilize, to me the ST & AE immobilizes and the ST hold are about the same, I will also admit, the only reason any of Doms have an immobilize is for the set bonuses, and most of them don't have it( as mentioned, immobilizes aren't really needed 99% of the time),

Seeds of Confusion beats EVERYTHING in Darkness Control. In fact, that one power is worth EVERYTHING Darkness Control has. Well, maybe not quite. Fearsome Stare IS a super power, but Seeds of Confusion is ludicrously powerful.

If it wasn't for Fearsome Stare, but yeah. Seeds of Confusion is worth more than you can imagine. Roots is also twice the damage of most AoE Immobilizes, Carrion Creepers is nasty with damage procs, and you can skip mostly everything else so lots of room for other powers.

Plant Control only REALLY needs it's ST Hold, Seeds of Confusion, and Carrion Creepers to perform.

Darkness Control needs most of it's kit.

Yeeeeep.

Haunt is just garbage compared to Creepers, in the end. But yeah, not really in the mood to comparative set debate. Plant is just leagues superior. Darkness Control only really has Fearsome Stare, and Heart of Darkness is 'good'.

I'd argue both sets are well rounded, with plant having the edge
with domination up mobs resisting confuse is much less of an issue
also in cases where domination may not be an option, you do have vines and carrion creepers

I'd argue the -to-hit secondary effect on the dark sets, is one of the better secondary effects, and you do have a choice of fear, stun, or hold mobs

Both are strong sets,

back to the OP

I would go with dark/dark dominator. Not because it is better, but because the Life Drain in Dark Assault gives you a heal which you do not get in other Dominator sets.

So dark/dark dom is more unique among doms than dark/dark controller is unique among controllers.

Yeah, Carrion Creepers is like Haunt. Worse, even. Needs a buff.