How Vital is Granite armor?

I've been working on a Stone Stone Brute and I've been toying with the idea of skipping Granite Armor. Mainly because I can't make a Crystal Granite Armor. Everythign else I can fit to his theme.

How important is Granite armor? Can I still be successful if I skip it?

With IO's yes, you'll still be plenty survivable. Your giving up great resists tho.

Skipping granite...while maybe..maybe you could still build a tough toon..its utterly idiotic. There is nothing a graniteless stoner can do that many many other sets cant, without the penalities in Stone Armour (the entire set I mean).
If you are not going to take it..roll something else.

Um..Willpower? Well maybe not cap psi, but since it has psi resists...and also 'sicker' regen. With the added bonus of not looking like a moving turd? As well as being able to jump..and use travel powers.

Daaaang, Hyper, that's a hella-nice stone/fire.


On my stoner, I went for resists and run speed, just to be contrary. It works pretty well, although the confuse/terror hole makes it pretty useless on iTrials. (sigh)

I'd rebuild it, but I got that great name....




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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Mountainheart_I23_1: Level 50 Magic Tanker
Primary Power Set: Stone Armor
Secondary Power Set: Super Strength
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Rock Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(3), GftotA-Run+(3), SW-ResDam/Re TP(13)
Level 1: Jab -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(11), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(31), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(36), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 2: Punch -- FrcFbk-Dmg/KB(A), FrcFbk-Acc/KB(13), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31)
Level 4: Stone Skin -- Aegis-ResDam(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(5), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(5)
Level 6: Earth's Embrace -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(7), Numna-Heal/Rchg(7), Numna-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(17), RgnTis-Heal/Rchg(37), RgnTis-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(45)
Level 8: Rooted -- Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(9), Numna-Heal/Rchg(9)
Level 10: Haymaker -- SMotTanker-Rchg/Res%(A), SMotTanker-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), SMotTanker-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), SMotTanker-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), SMotTanker-Dmg/Rchg(43)
Level 12: Recall Friend -- Jnt-EndRdx/Rng(A)
Level 14: Teleport -- Jnt-EndRdx/Rng(A)
Level 16: Brimstone Armor -- Aegis-ResDam(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(17), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25)
Level 18: Crystal Armor -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(19), GftotA-Run+(19)
Level 20: Knockout Blow -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), FrcFbk-Rchg/EndRdx(21), FrcFbk-Dmg/EndRdx/KB(21), KinCrsh-Dmg/EndRdx/KB(40), KinCrsh-Acc/Dmg/KB(46)
Level 22: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(A)
Level 24: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 26: Mud Pots -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), Erad-%Dam(27), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(46), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(46)
Level 28: Rage -- GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(29), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(29), GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx(34)
Level 30: Tough -- Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx(31)
Level 32: Granite Armor -- HO:Enzym(A), HO:Enzym(33), HO:Ribo(33), HO:Ribo(33), Aegis-ResDam(34), Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(34)
Level 35: Weave -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(36), GftotA-Run+(37)
Level 38: Foot Stomp -- Armgdn-Dmg(A), Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(39), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(39), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(40), FrcFbk-Rechg%(40)
Level 41: Electrifying Fences -- Ragnrk-Knock%(A), Ragnrk-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Ragnrk-Dmg/Rchg(42), Ragnrk-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Ragnrk-Acc/Rchg(45)
Level 44: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), GftotA-Run+(48)
Level 47: Minerals -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), GftotA-Run+(50)
Level 49: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50), RechRdx-I(50)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A), Run-I(37)
Level 2: Health -- Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(15), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(23), Mrcl-Rcvry+(23), RgnTis-Regen+(25)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(15), P'Shift-End%(43)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Void Core Final Judgement
Level 50: Reactive Radial Flawless Interface
Level 50: Cardiac Core Paragon
------------

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I have a friend. She rarely enters Granite Form even when we would duo stuff at +4/x8 (me on a scrapper typically not a buff/debuff character) and when she does in all probability the foo has hit the rotary oscillator in a big way. Catch is she is a Stone/Stone tank and not a brute, but she certainly spends most of her time running around NOT in Granite Armor. Will you be as tough without Granite, no but considering what scrappers and brutes can "tank", tackle solo and otherwise do silly scrapper tricks with IO builds I can't imagine it isn't possible to make a very capable, hardy brute without Granite (much as Hyperstrike posted). Might you be more min/maxed going with Willpower etc.. again maybe but if you want Stone no reason to think one can't make something quite capable.

Doomguide

Is Agility the best choice for an Alpha incarnate for Granite armor? It gives +end, +recharge, +defense, and +movement.

the dmg debuff is easy to overcome with fury

the run speed debuffs arent too bad to overcome

on my dark stone brute i also got tactics in order to alleviate the confuse problem so the only hole he really has is psi and terrorize

below is the build i use, i built my toon to be in granite 99% of the time

some of the build is a bit hashed together since i had him 90% finished on build before i ever started using mids but it really works for me


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

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Necrostone: Level 50 Natural Brute
Primary Power Set: Dark Melee
Secondary Power Set: Stone Armor
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Smite -- Cloud-Acc/ToHitDeb(A), Cloud-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(3), Cloud-Acc/Rchg(3), Cloud-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(5)
Level 1: Rock Armor -- GftotA-Run+(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(5), GftotA-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 2: Shadow Punch -- Hectmb-Acc/Rchg(A), Hectmb-Dmg/Rchg(7), Hectmb-Dam%(9), Hectmb-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Hectmb-Dmg(11)
Level 4: Stone Skin -- Aegis-ResDam/Rchg(A), ImpArm-ResPsi(11), Aegis-ResDam(13)
Level 6: Earth's Embrace -- Dct'dW-Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(13), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(15), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(17), Dct'dW-Heal(17)
Level 8: Teleport -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 10: Siphon Life -- Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(A), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(19), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(19), Dct'dW-Heal(21), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(21)
Level 12: Taunt -- Zinger-Dam%(A)
Level 14: Mud Pots -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(23), EndRdx-I(23)
Level 16: Rooted -- Dct'dW-Rchg(A), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(25), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(25), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(27), Dct'dW-Heal(27), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(29)
Level 18: Recall Friend -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 20: Long Range Teleport -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 22: Shadow Maul -- Armgdn-Acc/Rchg(A), Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Armgdn-Dmg(33), Armgdn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Armgdn-Dmg/Rchg(34)
Level 24: Dark Consumption -- P'Shift-EndMod/Acc/Rchg(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(34), P'Shift-Acc/Rchg(34), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(36), P'Shift-End%(36)
Level 26: Soul Drain -- Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(A), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Oblit-%Dam(37), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(37), Oblit-Dmg(37)
Level 28: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(40), RechRdx-I(42)
Level 30: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), RedFtn-Def(42), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(45), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(45), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(46), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(46)
Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- GravAnch-Acc/Rchg(A), GravAnch-Immob/EndRdx(39), GravAnch-Hold%(39), GravAnch-Immob/Rchg(39), GravAnch-Acc/Immob/Rchg(40), GravAnch-Immob(40)
Level 35: Gloom -- Dev'n-Hold%(A), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(50), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50), Dev'n-Acc/Dmg(50)
Level 38: Granite Armor -- LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(A), Aegis-ResDam(42), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(43), Aegis-Psi/Status(43), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(43), LkGmblr-Rchg+(45)
Level 41: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 44: Tactics -- GSFC-ToHit/Rchg(A), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(46), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx(48), GSFC-ToHit(48), GSFC-Build%(48)
Level 47: Minerals -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 49: Vengeance -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Fury
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A)
Level 50: Nerve Partial Radial Revamp
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- RgnTis-Regen+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(29), Mrcl-Rcvry+(31)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%(A), P'Shift-EndMod(31), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(31)
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you do realize you can have mulitple builds on the same toon right?? What I have generally seen stoners do, is to have one build for Granite Armor, and a second build for non-Granite Armor, the non-Granite Armor build being used for when leveling down for a SF/TF or using Oro. Its no joke that Stoners with Granite Armor are among the toughest, if not toughest critters around( granted a price is payed for it)

I am only emphasizing what has been said already for the most part...but...

Taking Stone Armor and not taking Granite Armor, is something akin to running Regeneration and not taking integration and/or fast healing. You are talking about forsaking the linch pin of the power set for looks. I can get behind a concept character...and I understand you want a very specific look...but Granite Armor is not a reason to take Stone Armor...it is the reason to take stone armor.

Based on what you're wanting to accomplish...the penalties are so high to get the right look from the powerset you're playing...this concept should maybe sit on the vine and ripen a bit longer. Maybe a powerset will come out with the right look later that will more closely fit your desired aesthetics and your desired result.

I know many people who have built 2 builds for their stone tanks...but keep in mind that's investing 2 toons worth of influence on 1 toon because you don't share the IOs between builds. That would solve your aesthetics and function issue, however, if it were me personally...I might wait and play that concept card later when I have something that better suits it. Stone armor is not a friendly set to play if you're not as hard as granite and, you better possess some very mighty MIDS build-fu skills. Otherwise your end result might likely be something you're not inclined to enjoy. Especially if you're talking about iTrials on this toon...

I have seen Stone tanks in Granite Armor get dropped by mobs throwing rocks in a TPN iTrial...seriously...without Granite...how well do you think you'd fare?

...

*checks to see if he misposted this thread in the tank forums*

Out of curiosity. If it is THE lynchpin of the set. How am I supposed to get to level 38 without it?

I've got a 47 Dark/Stone Brute. Granite was a game changer. Before it, I was barely at soft cap with a bunh of buffs thrown around. With it, I'm softcapped to 4 positions, and nigh res capped on everything. I respecced and kept Rock Armor and Minerals basically for fighting Carnies and even then I spen more time in Granite than out of it. Getting to 40 (I really feel you need to 6 slot Granite to get the most out of it), I was the brute that couldn't stay up. After 40, I pretty much only faceplant when I quit paying attention and that's mostly due to me not being finished IOing his build. For concept, whatever goes but if you want to be a concept character and effective you have to find a way to make Granite work with your concept. It is a crucial part of how /Stone works and changes the set from meh on survivability to OMFG how did I play this set without it.