Dark Armor the new Nemesis Plot?

*facepalm* Seriously, have you read ANY other threads about Dark Armor in the past two years or so? (i'm asking partially because i could swear you made a similar comment in a similar DA thread about a year ago, and it was pointed out as being just as wrong then.)

Anyway, i will agree that Dark Armor starts out somewhat squishy at the lower levels, but as it levels up it keeps acquiring more and more tools to counter this. Dark Regeneration does have a high end cost, so without the ToE proc it can be tricky deciding when to use it. Still, i find my Dark Armor users perfectly playable if slightly squishy against small numbers of hard targets without IOs, but devastating with them. i usually haven't found the end cost difficult manage except for DR's, but then i haven't used Cloak of Fear either. With Tough alone DA is pretty durable and does well against masses of enemies when paired with AoE heavy offensive sets.

With the no fade or pulse options used and the right colours it doesn't obscure most costumes that much, but it still makes you look shrouded in smoke, so dark toned costumes can be harder to make out. Back before power customization every Dark Armor user ended up looking like a smog cloud, so that was a pretty valid issue back then.

i rarely play on Freedom myself, and i hadn't played DA for a while because i'd already leveled up several DA users and had moved on to new sets that i hadn't played as much.
Recently i remade my first 50 with the sets he should have had back in 2004 if Staff Fighting had existed back then and Dark Armor didn't sound like chorus of dental drills all. the. freaking. time. without. end.
Even after the armor toggles stopped being mutually exclusive the sound was an even bigger deal breaker for me than the endurance costs.

Probably have not read any other threads on dark armor in the past 2 years or so.
I restarted playing less than a year ago.

It might have been me who posted it, or just another black murky cloud - we all look alike

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

I might be alone in this but after going the Brute route on melee for so long; damage auras just don't do it for me on Scrappers. Except /Electric.

If you do decide to take it... see if there's a power selection spot you can hold for it in the late levels.


[Obsidian Shield and Dark Embrace would be the only two armor toggles I would keep running throughout combat at the low levels; toggling on Murky for specific mobs (looking at you Freakshow and Clockwork).

Drop the stealth toggle once in combat.

You may be able to keep the damage toggle on if you do this. And if you do this, I would keep to your lower END cost/ST attacks]

On noob buster [fire/dark scrapper] i have it, i find damage auras as one of those must have powers on a scrapper. Of course with the damage aura, i didnt pick CoF as an active power but rather OG.

First question: Are you slotting your attacks for endurance reduction?

Heh, probably not enough, I'm thinking.

He's only level 27, and the slotting order doesn't reflect current slotting, but this is his Final SO/Vanilla IO build;

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.956
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Prince Cai-Long: Level 50 Magic Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Staff Fighting
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Ancillary Pool: Body Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Mercurial Blow

• (A) Damage Increase IO
• (3) Damage Increase IO
• (40) Damage Increase IO
• (46) Accuracy IO
• (48) Accuracy IO

Level 1: Dark Embrace

• (A) Resist Damage IO
• (5) Resist Damage IO
• (9) Endurance Reduction IO
• (36) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 2: Precise Strike

• (A) Damage Increase IO
• (3) Damage Increase IO
• (23) Damage Increase IO
• (42) Accuracy IO
• (43) Accuracy IO
• (46) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 4: Murky Cloud

• (A) Resist Damage IO
• (5) Resist Damage IO
• (9) Endurance Reduction IO
• (36) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 6: Guarded Spin

• (A) Damage Increase IO
• (7) Damage Increase IO
• (7) Accuracy IO
• (43) Accuracy IO
• (43) Defense Buff IO
• (50) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 8: Staff Mastery
Level 10: Obsidian Shield

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection
• (11) Resist Damage IO
• (48) Resist Damage IO
• (48) Endurance Reduction IO
• (50) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 12: Eye of the Storm

• (A) Damage Increase IO
• (13) Damage Increase IO
• (13) Damage Increase IO
• (21) Accuracy IO
• (25) Accuracy IO
• (39) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 14: Combat Jumping

• (A) Karma - Knockback Protection

Level 16: Dark Regeneration

• (A) Healing IO
• (17) Accuracy IO
• (17) Accuracy IO
• (25) Endurance Reduction IO
• (37) Endurance Reduction IO
• (42) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 18: Serpent's Reach

• (A) Damage Increase IO
• (19) Damage Increase IO
• (19) Damage Increase IO
• (23) Accuracy IO
• (37) Accuracy IO
• (40) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 20: Cloak of Darkness

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
• (21) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 22: Super Jump

• (A) Jumping IO

Level 24: Boxing

• (A) Accuracy IO

Level 26: Innocuous Strikes

• (A) Damage Increase IO
• (27) Damage Increase IO
• (27) Damage Increase IO
• (31) Accuracy IO
• (37) Accuracy IO
• (40) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 28: Tough

• (A) Resist Damage IO
• (29) Resist Damage IO
• (29) Endurance Reduction IO
• (34) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 30: Death Shroud

• (A) Accuracy IO
• (31) Accuracy IO
• (31) Endurance Reduction IO
• (50) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 32: Sky Splitter

• (A) Damage Increase IO
• (33) Damage Increase IO
• (33) Damage Increase IO
• (33) Accuracy IO
• (34) Accuracy IO
• (34) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 35: Oppressive Gloom

• (A) Accuracy IO
• (36) Accuracy IO

Level 38: Soul Transfer

• (A) Disorient Duration IO
• (39) Disorient Duration IO
• (39) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 41: Conserve Power

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (42) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 44: Physical Perfection

• (A) Endurance Modification IO
• (45) Endurance Modification IO
• (45) Healing IO
• (45) Healing IO

Level 47: Confront

• (A) Taunt Duration IO

Level 49: Kick

• (A) Accuracy IO

Level 2: Swift

• (A) Run Speed IO

Level 2: Health

• (A) Healing IO
• (15) Healing IO
• (46) Healing IO

Level 2: Hurdle

• (A) Jumping IO

Level 2: Stamina

• (A) Endurance Modification IO
• (11) Endurance Modification IO
• (15) Endurance Modification IO

Level 1: Brawl

• (A) Accuracy IO

Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Slide

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Quick

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Rush

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Prestige Power Surge

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Sprint

• (A) Run Speed IO

Level 2: Rest

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 1: Combo Level 1
Level 1: Combo Level 2
Level 1: Combo Level 3
Level 8: Form of the Body
Level 8: Form of the Mind
Level 8: Form of the Soul
------------

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Ehhh, I can verify that it's a big black fuzzball. I started a Dark/Staff Tanker last night because I just have to see Claws' build in action. Now admittedly, my character costume is nearly pure black, but from what I could see the fuzzball pretty much just replaced my model entirely. Even the staff was hidden.

It looks kind of cool, though. The staff is invisible but the motion effects aren't, so it looks kind of like the fuzzball itself is lashing out with long strikes.

With standard builds (of just basic IOs or SOs) I find a 2nd accuracy slot in attacks to be a waste since such builds, even on teams, will at most face +2 foes. Anything higher and you're better off just frankenslotting to get around 60% Acc or so.

Also, the standard +res toggles are cheapest when compared to any other powerset's toggle armors (Dark Embrace/Murky Cloud/Obsidian Shield cost 0.104 END and toggles like Focused Fighting or Temporary Invul cost 0.13). In short, you're wasting slots on a 2nd END redux on those armors...1 works dandy. Slot for 3 resist though.

Unless you absolutely need it, 1 -KB IO is sufficient if you're trying to save slots.

You've got Dark Regeneration underslotted. Healing slotting is absolutely last thing you'd slot in the power after getting some Acc, max END redux slotting and some rech slotting. This power costs 33 END, and every % of reduction will more likely help you than any other redux in the build. Soul will also reduce it further.

But the main goal to reducing DA's endurance woes is to build so you don't need to click Dark Regen every time it's up. You'll run dry no matter how you slot your attacks in that instance. Maximize your resistance, add some defense, use control effects to your advantage, whatever you do, just make it less frequent to use.

Lastly, if you're aiming for light IO bonuses like the -KB, use a Blessing of the Z as you get KB protection from just choosing a travel power. 2 slot Super Jump and/or Combat Jumping and you can get some +def along with that. Other IOs you should aim for are Performance shifter to replace 1 END mod IO in Stamina, one or both +recovery uniques for Health, Theft of Essence +END proc for Dark Regen. That set of 3(4) IOs will be all you need to cover Dark Armor's endurance. Then the rest (your primary) can be build around for its own function, not to make DA function better...although that could be an option...

Hmm, it might work like Energy Aura...Energy Cloak was changed too since toggling that power made you perpetually invisible (like...totally unseeable...no aura or anything). Now, you're fully visible after initiating combat but your stealth is still there. What I'm saying is, perhaps you have to start combat and you'll be visible?

There is an option is the editor to make CoD not turn you into the dust bunny of doom.

Certainly not enough. You should be aware that each single target attacks costs roughly one endurance per second. Area attacks will cost far more. Compare that to DA's heaviest toggle (Death Shroud or Cloak of Fear) at 0.52 base. Adding recharge enhancements to attacks increase that endurance per second.

Endurance reduction is percentage based, so it will have the greatest effect in attacks rather than toggles. I often skip slotting endurance reduction in my toggles while I level up to make room for it in the attacks.

No, as I mentioned in my post, it stays a fuzzball when attacking. And Energy Aura's cloak isn't a 100% alpha the way Cloak of Darkness is, whether in combat or out.

Yes, but the post I responded to was talking about default.

Please do read on a bit further so I don't have to repeat myself; I acknowledged that I had forgotten about Willpower. Still, that's just three armors (Willpower, Electric, and Dark) for the four melee classes that give psi resistance. The rest are sitting ducks when they get hit by psi (sure, there are a couple armors whose schticks are NOT getting hit, but if the mob does get in a hit, you certainly do feel it).

I thought I conceded this point, and missed the response last time through. I agree and visa versa - I have a few toons that look awe inspiring in mids and turn out flakey. Great example is an ice/time corr. Unbeliveable stats - to hit debuff - defense debuff -
defense buff - slow - stackable holds - healing - all the bells and whistles - but over all performance - to me - mediocre at best - and yet, it's a hoot to play.

Peace

It's good with some auras. Try it with "Bats".

Thing to consider:

On a tank, when solo, you will probably spend quite some time standing in the middle of a big group of mobs whilst you wear them down.

On a Scrapper, you will probably kill the mobs quickly, or they will kill you first.

I guess I'm saying: probably not.

I know some people go Spines/Dark for the damage auras, but I would consider this a very specialised build.

Yes.

City of Data has proven that a damage aura is a huge chunk of your total damage output.

Also, consider this: Every bit of damage that Death Shroud does is damage that you don't have to use a primary attack power to deal. Thus SAVING you endurance in the long run, because it costs more endurance to use an attack than it does to run a damage aura.

I suspect you're not slotted for end reduction enough.

A trick I use: Learn what damage types the enemy group you're fighting uses and shut off whichever armor you don't need. Example: If you're fighting Redcaps you won't need to run Murky Cloud because there is nothing Redcaps do that deals Energy, Negative, Fire, or Cold damage.

That doesn't always work though, especially on newer enemy groups.

What happened to me with my scrapper is, I played him and played him and played him and one day the endurance problems just disappeared. Experience with the character will make you more efficient with your attacks. Don't use AoEs on a single target, and don't use big, high cost attacks when they only have a sliver of health left. Sometimes waiting until a weaker attack is recharged is a better idea.

Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately.

0.o

Are you joking?

You've been able to run the toggles simultaneously for years now. Did you just come back after an extremely long break?

Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately.

This is what I did, and it solved all of the endurance problems my Dark/Dark Scrapper was facing. I know some feel it's a great power for the defence debuff, but it's RIDICULOUSLY expensive and the "fear" part in Cloak of Fear ain't worth a crap - low inherent accuracy, low magnitude, short duration.

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

Yes.

Warning: Prolonged exposure to Ouroboros can have unforeseen results.

I won't bemoan others for advancing slotting in damage auras, but I tend to agree on the premise that

-If it's a Tanker, damage aura's are critical because the foe will be around long enough for more than 6 tics to go off, which will be equivalent to a tier 1 attack on everything.

-If it's a Brute, damage auras are magnified by Fury, also for both Tankers and Brutes, these taunt.

-If it's a Scrapper, and the focus is primarily ST.

I'd tend to go by feel though. If you feel damage aura's doing a lot for you, then slot and use them more and if you don't, don't. I don't feel they do as much on Scrappers so it depends.

*shrugs* I've read this many of times but tend to ask just how much that damage actually matters. Like I said, if the foe does quickly, in a few hits, just how much damage goes off before the enemy is dead? Getting off a tier 1's amount of damage in the time it takes to defeat the foe *IF* they stay in range is considered 'huge'?

Your endurance is literally going into 3 powers: Death Shroud, Dark Regen and Cloak of Fear. It's only ridiculous if you try and use them all all the time.

And the fear is certainly worthwhile. It's my mitigation and 'stay where you are while I line up my AoEs' offense on my Stalker. It's just like Death Shroud in that, if you want to get good returns from it, you have to slot it. And with temps, pools or hybrid, I'm sure there's something you can use to stack magnitude as well. Beside that, it has a nice little ToHit debuff for those that aren't capped for defense like the rest of us.

Anyone else find it really sad that this should ever be called "a trick?" I mean, honestly, this should be common sense.

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