Quote:
I have a spines/ice/soul stalker at 50 who's been my pet project last month; build is nearly done, and I'm working on incarnate stuffs.|
Originally Posted by McCharraigin
*snip*
I am only level 10 *snip* Lunge and Spine Burst have one acc and one endurance reducer each. Assassin's Impaler has two endurance reducers and one acc. |
It gets better; a lot better. Low-level Spines blows, and for me the set doesn't really feel complete till Throw Spines is slotted.
Reserve your judgement until SOs, at least; and at lvl 35 you get Energy Absorption and poof, end issues gone. At lvl 10 you are still on TOs, which hardly do a thing.
To smooth out the pre-22 ride, I'd recommend replacing those endurance slots with Damage, so that your fights are shorter. Or, frankenslot with what you can find on the market to get a measure of acc/dmg/end. Combo that with the use of Build-Up, and your lowbie efficiency should go up.
Also; I'd highly recommend getting the Stalker ATO proc (if not the 5 or 6 piece set) and putting it in Assassin's Impaler. The autohide after you use your AS means a reliable, free crit, that will also increase your endurance efficiency.
Hope this helps!
50s:
Grimmloch, Tactically Delicious, Ugly Frankie, Operative Tracker, CryoFurnace, Professional Help, Silver Sphinx, Aries Knight, Tachyon Aegis, Jade Sphinx
Currently building:
Any one of half a dozen alts!
Quote:
Yes, Spines gets A WHOLE LOT better once your level 32 Throw Spine is well slotted. Before that, Spine is probably the most painful set to play with. |
Originally Posted by McCharraigin
Hello all.
I made a Spines/Ice Stalker. I have a name for her my hubby approves of, which is very rare, I love her costume, and am enjoying the set except for one thing..a thing so major I may have to delete her, and I don't want to do that at all. She cannot fight one group without needing to pop a blue. All I have to do is touch Assassin's Impaler and I see my blue bar go down. I am only level 10, but I have a build filled with common IOs so I am green across the board |
Assassin Strike is great but it does cost a lot of endurance. If you can afford, I will highly 6-slot AS as soon as possible with a full set of Stalker Guile. That set truly shines in Assassin Strike because it has awesome +recharge and great set bonuses.
Ice Armor will get a lot better. You'll have two ways to get endurance back Energy Absorption (lvl 35) and Icy Bastion (lvl 38). Ice Armor doesn't start out weaker than other set. Chilling Embrace is a must-have IMO.
One question. Do you use Spine Burst as a ST attack or you only use it if there's more than 3 targets? Spine Burst is a good way to start the fight on a large group. I've seen many people who use aoe attack as a ST attack just because they don't want to wait for ST attacks to get recharged. Well, doing that will cost a lot of endurance. You get better result by just wait a bit for Lunge to get recharged. Your damage output will be pathetic until your Impale is well slotted. Make sure you are not running Sprint or super speed. I see that all the time. That's a huge waste of endurance.
It's tough but a high level Spine is good.
I can't think of any other reason why Spine would cost more endurance usage at low level because Lunge and Barb aren't exactly costly and you won't have enough recharge to use Spine Burst often?
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
Quote:
Spines/Elec scrapper is a totally different beast. Using Assassin's Impaler on a regular basis really does burn the blue bar. Both Spines and Ice Armor use more endurance than the average stalker set. There are levels to look forward to to help alleviate your endurance woes. |
Originally Posted by McCharraigin
I kid you not, my blue bar is suffering like a big dog. I soloed a Spines/Elec to 50 so I know Spines is a a bit of an endurance hog, but I don't recall my problems being this bad, and at this young a level.
Will it get better???? |
Level 17 - Miracle +recovery IO
Level 18 - Performance Shifter Chance for +end IO
Level 27 - Numina +regen/recovery IO
Level 35 - Energy Absorption/Superior Conditioning/Physical Perfection
Level 38 - Icy Bastion
Level 41 - Physical Perfection (If Superior Conditioning was taken before)
I also recommend 3 slotting Stamina until 19 and then add a 4th slot for the PF proc. Respec out what you do not need at a later level. Make sure you do not keep powers like Sprint or Ninja Run active while fighting. It'll get better, guaranteed!
Quote:
New AS will destroy your end bar. It's a thing. It *will* get better.|
Originally Posted by McCharraigin
*snip*
She cannot fight one group without needing to pop a blue. All I have to do is touch Assassin's Impaler and I see my blue bar go down. I am only level 10 *snip* I kid you not, my blue bar is suffering like a big dog. I soloed a Spines/Elec to 50 so I know Spines is a a bit of an endurance hog, but I don't recall my problems being this bad, and at this young a level. Will it get better???? |
Right now you have a combination of weak enhancements and a limited number of slots. Even common IOs are mostly crap at level 10. Run some Death From Below, grab the +Recovery temp and pray for some EndRedux SOs from the AVs. Or just suffer, buy a ton of blue candy, and get some more levels.
Here's where your breakpoints are going to be. At 22 you get SO-equivalent enhancements. This will make a *huge* difference. And then at 35 you get Energy Absorption and your endurance issues will mostly vanish.
New Stalkers are absolutely *beast* for damage output with the new AS, but they pay for it in blue bar. But Spines/Ice is a totally solid combo, it'll get better eventually. It's just going to be a little late-blooming compared to a Scrapper or a Brute.
Thanks everyone for the encouragement.
I have kept on with her, and you all are right, my end usage is becoming easier and easier
She is level 17 now, and can do everything my scrappers and brutes can do...even fought Moxley, not sure if that is spelled right, by myself as Sands had teleported out..not sure why as he was fighting only one group across the room from I, and Fusionette was just standing in a corner while I was beating up this EB.
I did the Midnighter's stuff with no problems, other that my blue bar that is 
In fact, I am happy with performance in everything she has tasted so far.
..Lisa scowls at a memory..Stalkers are ok in the higher levels??? I ask because almost every time I play in the late, late for me that is, afternoon I always hear a Stalker, the same Stalker don't want to name names, pleading for help in the Help channel with her missions because they are too much for her.
I don't want to be that stalker 
And I won't be
I am Stalker, hear me roar
Anyways, thanks for all the help...I am soo appreciative.
And now, I have a date with the Lady Nocturne..or however you spell her name.
I am going to take down her derpy tail
I am.
Lisa.
So don't wait for heroes, do it yourself
You've got the power
winners are losers
who got up and gave it just one more try
***Dennis DeYoung
And I did it!!
I two-shotted Nocturne!!!!
Two attacks is all it took!
No fuss, no muss!!!
Yay!
lisa-Grinning a Stalkerish grin
So don't wait for heroes, do it yourself
You've got the power
winners are losers
who got up and gave it just one more try
***Dennis DeYoung
Come back here and post your reaction once your Throw Spines is well slotted. I think you'll be even more amazed!
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
Do yourself a favor and run 1 DiB to get the end discount. I think it's worth doing on any character.
It's funny, I have a lvl 39 Spines/Ice Stalker and I reaallly suck with him. I was actually on my way here to ask if it gets better. But, I am not a melee player really.
I'm at around 29% defense I think.. is the issue just I haven't tried hard enough to soft cap? Its also possible I just have no idea what I'm doing. The first enemy goes down quickly but the rest of the fight is a total slog, and I have to pop inspirations to stay in the fight at around +1x3.
[QUOTE=Oedipus_Tex;4234036]It's funny, I have a lvl 39 Spines/Ice Stalker and I reaallly suck with him. I was actually on my way here to ask if it gets better. But, I am not a melee player really.
I'm at around 29% defense I think.. is the issue just I haven't tried hard enough to soft cap? Its also possible I just have no idea what I'm doing. The first enemy goes down quickly but the rest of the fight is a total slog, and I have to pop inspirations to stay in the fight at around +1x3.
**************************
1x3 may be your problem....start at default and notch up the difficulty until you are challenged, but don't feel that you suck. Level 39 is when you are finally starting to get all your powers slotted. I think Spines and /Ice both are late bloomers, so keep on until you are in the middle to late 40s, then stand back and look at your performance.
Lisa-Can't believe I am giving advice on Stalkers when my highest Stalker (I have two of them now) is level 18...I do know Scrappers and Brutes though
So don't wait for heroes, do it yourself
You've got the power
winners are losers
who got up and gave it just one more try
***Dennis DeYoung
If you want to do +1x3, then you may need a bit more defense than 29% because you may see +2x3 and that will require inspirations, which is nothing with it. Great inspiration management wins half the battle! One thing you can tell from an "experienced" and an "inexperienced" player is how they manage their inspirations. I am not saying I am "great" but I have quite a few people asking me in the game why my stalker survives so well. Truth is = inspiration usage. :P
When I solo as stalker, I usually just do +2 or +3x1.
Spines/Ice are definitely late bloomer though. Even if you are not dealing as much damage, you are debuffing the hell of their recharge and speed. I can see Spines/Ice as a very valuable teammate on a large team.
What's left is to normalize all Assassin Strikes and improve Stalker's old sets (Claw, MA and EM)! You don't need to bring back the missing PbAoE attack. You just need to make the existing ones better! For example, make Slice a WIDER and LONGER cone.
Hello all.
I made a Spines/Ice Stalker. I have a name for her my hubby approves of, which is very rare, I love her costume, and am enjoying the set except for one thing..a thing so major I may have to delete her, and I don't want to do that at all.
She cannot fight one group without needing to pop a blue. All I have to do is touch Assassin's Impaler and I see my blue bar go down.
I am only level 10, but I have a build filled with common IOs so I am green across the board
Hide has a Kismet Acc
Lunge and Spine Burst have one acc and one endurance reducer each.
Assassin's Impaler has two endurance reducers and one acc.
I am fuzzy as to the names of my secondary...the Ice armor has one endurance reducer and one defense IO.
Hoarfrost has an endurance reducer and that IO that fits into a resistance power but gives global defense...just got off of work and my brain is fuzzy..steadfast protection?
Stamina has two endurance IOs.
I kid you not, my blue bar is suffering like a big dog. I soloed a Spines/Elec to 50 so I know Spines is a a bit of an endurance hog, but I don't recall my problems being this bad, and at this young a level.
Will it get better????
I really don't want to level a delicate Stalker, and nurse it along, only to find it still needs to be bottle fed blues at level 50......
Any advice is welcome.
Lisa-This is my first Stalker.
So don't wait for heroes, do it yourself
You've got the power
winners are losers
who got up and gave it just one more try
***Dennis DeYoung