Storm/Psy thoughts and questions

Hello there!

So I started to play my lvl 50 Storm/Psy Def. again and wanted to see what other people's thoughts were.

* What APP (Epic pools) did/would you get?
* Which Alpha/Destiny powers did you go for?



Right now I have the Electric Mastery APP mainly for the Power Sink +end power. But I realize that if I got the Ageless destiny then I wouldn't need Power Sink (for the most part I'd assume).

The Alpha is kind of making me wonder...go Cardiac for extra end. help? Sure that's nice but none of the other buffs from Cardiac mean much to me.

Vigor then? More Acc is nice, still gives help with end. reduction and healing as well (I will have O2 Boost).

But maybe Spiritual for more recharge and let Ageless be my main end. help?

Or another one to increase the debuffs of Freezing Rain/Hurricane? Hmm, options, options...



Edit:

Oh and my basic power layout that I'm thinking of now is:

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.958
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Secondary Power Set: Psychic Blast
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Teleportation
Power Pool: Flight
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: O2 Boost -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Mental Blast -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Subdue -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Psionic Lance -- Empty(A)
Level 6: Steamy Mist -- Ksmt-ToHit+:30(A)
Level 8: Freezing Rain -- Empty(A)
Level 10: Super Speed -- Empty(A)
Level 12: Hurricane -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Hasten -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Telekinetic Blast -- Empty(A)
Level 18: Maneuvers -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Will Domination -- Empty(A)
Level 22: Tactics -- ToHit-I:50(A), ToHit-I:50(23)
Level 24: Vengeance -- Empty(A)
Level 26: Tornado -- Empty(A)
Level 28: Psionic Tornado -- Empty(A)
Level 30: Recall Friend -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Lightning Storm -- Empty(A)
Level 35: Scorpion Shield -- Empty(A)
Level 38: Psychic Wail -- Empty(A)
Level 41: Web Cocoon -- Empty(A)
Level 44: Web Envelope -- Empty(A)
Level 47: Focused Accuracy -- Empty(A)
Level 49: Fly -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
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 -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A)

You can disregard the Mace Mastery APP right now; again was just looking at things. And I might swap Fly for Hover...not sure...

Incoming wall of text:

Obviously the best APP choices and incarnate choices depend heavily on your play style. Personally I enjoy playing a very high survival (soft capped defense to range, and capped resistance to Smash/Lethal/Energy) high recharge build. In addition to Storm's generally high endurance cost (which aren't helped by high recharge) I run tactics, maneuvers, tough, weave, steamy mist, hover, and charged armor. For endurance management I find that nothing works as well for me as conserve power (I just burn through endurance too quickly for any of the endurance granting powers to be much use). Thus my choices were Power of Mu Mastery. But since I could hit the 75% resistance cap from smashing, lethal, and energy with Charged Armor (rather than just smashing and lethal with Temp Invul) I went with Mu Mastery. At various points I have seriously considered taking both Conserve Power and Power Sink, but I think my endurance use is manageable at this point.

As for Alpha slots, I went Cardiac because, as mentioned, I eat through endurance like no other (having high recharge doesn't help there) and the resistance benefit allows me to hit the cap. Before I changed to playing a survival build I used to use Spiritual for the increased recharge.

As for Destiny, the only thing that can slow me down is getting mezzed, so I went with Clarion so that I can now survive virtually anything without having to carry a tray of purples with me. Depending on the team, or if I know I'm fighting low mez mobs I will often out Clarion for Rebirth as a panic button to keep me and the team alive a little bit longer to get everything under control.

Unfortunately, given your post, I don't think any of that will be particularly helpful to you in making your decision, so here are some thoughts to aid with that.

Absolutely make sure you have a recovery power outside of Incarnate abilities. Storm likes its endurance and you may occasionally exemp, or have need of a particular destiny for an incarnate trial. If you take a recovery power at level 41 then you can have it available as low as 36 (That's the Eden Trial, the Numina TF, Stutter, and 2 respsec trials) as well as just generally teaming with friends. So that means not psychic, mace, or soul mastery. As I've said I find Conserve Power works best for me, but if you find Power Sink gives you enough endurance, then stick with it.

If you earned to drawn to the lure of permanent mez protection, or additional defense/resistance, ageless is certainly a fine choice for a destiny power, and that does then free up more options for your alpha (and the recharge certainly doesn't hurt). But I think the alpha impact is less than the destiny impact, so I would pick the destiny power you want first, and then pick an alpha slot that compliments it.

In terms of choosing an alpha to increase debuffs in FR and Hurricane, in most situation you won't see significant changes because either 1) the buffs are so massive already that more will have no noticeable impact (in the case of hurricane if you have it slotted you are likely already flooring many things chance to hit) or else 2) The debuffs are resisted so strongly that a little bit more still won't be significant.

Thanks for the reply!


It seems I'm always 'stuck' between what I want and my laziness/playstyle.

I would like a toon that has softcap'd def to range/etc and high recharge (like your build) but I can't stand taking tough/weave on another toon...ugh...more toggles


As far as destiny powers go, I almost always have at least 2 per toon. A t3 clarion (perma t3 one) and then the other one that I want for that toon.

Mainly taking clarion for UG runs and/or just in general to help with mez's. So I'd have t3 clarion and most likely a t3 or t4 ageless.

That leaves me to wonder what my build will be like...go for the softcap'd def or no? hmm...

I wish I knew what other powers are coming in the power pools in i24...might make things easier (or harder!).

Time to transfer the toon to beta and test things!

Well here's a (somewhat) quick build that I did. Very generic; was just seeing what it would take to get to 45% ranged softcap (only have using 1 purple or pvp IO (I have the 3% def pvp IO proc atm and that's why I'm using it in the build)).


Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.958
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

PossibleStormForeseer: Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Storm Summoning
Secondary Power Set: Psychic Blast
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Teleportation
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: O2 Boost -- Mrcl-Heal:40(A), Mrcl-Heal/EndRdx:40(39)
Level 1: Mental Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(7), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(9), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(9), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(15), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(17)
Level 2: Subdue -- SDefendersB-Rchg/Heal%:50(A), SDefendersB-Acc/Dmg:50(3), SDefendersB-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(3), SDefendersB-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(5), SDefendersB-Dmg/Rchg:50(5), SDefendersB-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(7)
Level 4: Super Speed -- Zephyr-ResKB:50(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(34)
Level 6: Steamy Mist -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(36)
Level 8: Freezing Rain -- Achilles-ResDeb%:20(A), Posi-Dam%:50(43), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(43)
Level 10: Psionic Lance -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(11), Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(11), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(13), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(13), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(15)
Level 12: Hurricane -- FrcFbk-Rechg%:50(A), DarkWD-Slow%:50(46), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx:50(48), DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx:50(48)
Level 14: Maneuvers -- RedFtn-EndRdx:50(A), RedFtn-Def:50(31), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg:50(33), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx:50(33), RedFtn-Def/Rchg:50(33), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:50(34)
Level 16: Telekinetic Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(17), Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(19), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(19), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(21), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(21)
Level 18: Tactics -- GSFC-Rchg/EndRdx:50(A), GSFC-Build%:50(27), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg:50(29), GSFC-ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:50(29), GSFC-ToHit/EndRdx:50(31), GSFC-ToHit:50(31)
Level 20: Will Domination -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:50(23), Thundr-Acc/Dmg:50(23), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx:50(25), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg:50(25), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:50(27)
Level 22: Hasten -- RechRdx-I:50(A), RechRdx-I:50(36)
Level 24: Hover -- Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx:50(A), Zephyr-ResKB:50(34), LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(39)
Level 26: Tornado -- OvForce-Dam/KB:50(A), OvForce-End/Rech:50(36), OvForce-Dmg/End/Rech:50(37), OvForce-Acc/Dmg/End/Rech:50(37), OvForce-Acc/Dmg/End:50(37)
Level 28: Psionic Tornado -- Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:50(A), Posi-Acc/Dmg:50(39), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx:50(40), Posi-Dmg/Rchg:50(40)
Level 30: Vengeance -- LkGmblr-Rchg+:50(A)
Level 32: Lightning Storm -- RechRdx-I:50(A), EndRdx-I:50(50)
Level 35: Power Sink -- Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx:50(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Rchg:50(40), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc/Rchg:50(43)
Level 38: Psychic Wail -- EndRdx-I:50(A), Dmg-I:50(50)
Level 41: Charged Armor -- GA-3defTpProc:50(A), Aegis-ResDam:50(42), Aegis-ResDam/EndRdx:50(42), Aegis-EndRdx/Rchg:50(42)
Level 44: Electric Shackles -- Lock-%Hold:50(A), Lock-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:50(45), Lock-Acc/Hold:50(45), Lock-Acc/Rchg:50(45), Lock-Rchg/Hold:50(46), Lock-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold:50(46)
Level 47: Conserve Power -- RechRdx-I:50(A)
Level 49: Recall Friend -- Zephyr-ResKB:50(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
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 -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+:40(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- P'Shift-End%:50(A), EndMod-I:50(48), EndMod-I:50(50)
------------
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 10.5% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 10.5% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 10.5% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 10.5% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 10.5% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 10.5% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 10.5% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 10.5% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 8.5% Defense(Melee)
• 7.25% Defense(Smashing)
• 7.25% Defense(Lethal)
• 11.63% Defense(Fire)
• 11.63% Defense(Cold)
• 27.88% Defense(Energy)
• 27.88% Defense(Negative)
• 6% Defense(Psionic)
• 34.75% Defense(Ranged)
• 12.56% Defense(AoE)
• 2.5% Enhancement(Held)
• 44% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 10% Enhancement(Range)
• 8% Enhancement(Heal)
• 46.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 21% SpeedFlying
• 95.38 HP (9.38%) HitPoints
• 21% JumpHeight
• 21% SpeedJumping
• Knockback (Mag -12)
• Knockup (Mag -12)
• MezResist(Held) 2.2%
• MezResist(Immobilized) 2.2%
• 22% (0.37 End/sec) Recovery
• 2.84% Resistance(Fire)
• 2.84% Resistance(Cold)
• 26% SpeedRunning

Code:

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|MxDz;1474;693;1386;HEX;|
|78DA7594494C136114C7BF994EA95D68D9CA5EA020148AD616B99BB0190D358D786|
|F6AF92893944E33D32672F4E0C508919327D7B85E3C0808D19337354AB8EBCDB3CB|
|C5F5521FF3FE02C9C4499BDFCC7BDF9BFFFF7DCBA42F4D059E9EBE7C4A28C1C962C|
|EB2B253724196E6A5E94EE70A7A5ED015CE1896A55F2CCAB98A612ECD18A6B4A434|
|3D9489FC1B9C9DA82E2C24EC7C76AEBAB46494F452E1207B3E572AC8F944C65ACE2|
|FEAF9EC040955842F6318C5C45C59CAF9907D3B2B7334D85AD4CB7EFB79A6A81716|
|2B4DF6FD05599465C3ACE42ABA51EA982EEBF9C4A4619AD5324966D3D56C9ADE28C|
|DE576323548FFABAAC05553C4194588982686A699AF0F726E719790D244DD4DE691|
|7BE02D66F036B3E10EF30DD52AA855B65C764C7D063E676A1BE03AB36E93394033E|
|68227D747D58E453F30AF11DC0AE7DC6D7413A1F161C5CEAD50CEC375AAE7153D34|
|6B22BECD7EE21BCCB714F6C297173DF9D08B0FBD05D053003D05D1D32AD5FA59DBE|
|5BFC27E8EBF649E78016E331BC9483D8F75D787D85F4F90D917007DA09F19AD67BE|
|A35784E031048F0DF0D8048F4DF0D8028F2DF0D84CBA8DD06D7CC45E3A9F30BB1F8|
|00F993D8FC1FBCCF77B5306DD66E8B642B715BAEDD06D876E2774FB49378C75098F|
|726C00F452AE8D736A1BD6318A751DC2DA5DA7C70ED6D63A76B10FC0A3FFE10ED57|
|4718DAB6B8BB586D69931AC776C13F3431E223C5644A0B946F5BDD867BDF09A8A32|
|2D92E8B777704DED5F63AFB115667C95B9ABF219DAAB1F445D2AC2AC50FD30F6CAF|
|018FB1D1967DD912438C6AC527A14F33EFA87DF7DEC37F81DFC81FDF613FCC5FC14|
|102281BE12E861907A4D2296C43C776BFB67997E7489B823927444528EC8494764D|
|C11997544CEED4578366A196DFFCB20143BEB6DD83FEFB5CF3ECA2A87B35F0F47CE|
|F297E98B63D4B78388AADCC059ECC39A807F010B65FCDE|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

I'm curious on how people slot Freezing Rain, Hurricane and Lightning Storm....lots of options.


Yes I know I don't have Lightning Storm or Psy. Wail slotted properly again, was seeing how much it took to get to 45% rng def. So I can definitely take out some of the rng. def so I can slot Psy. Wail and LS properly.

I'd probably take the Lockdown set out of the APP ST hold....either that or take slots out of Maneuvers. Or possibly both. I know I don't necessarily need 45% (could live with 38-40%) so that I can slot other powers better so....

Thoughts?

Personal Preference:

Lightning Storm: Decimations 5x, Last slot fills out End/REch woes
This power bleeds blue, IMO it's strength is in having multiples out for added damage.
I've seen some interesting proc use in it tho. But you would give up either DMG/END/RECH.

Freezing Rain: Rech/End first, Damage PRocs next.
This is another power that I find I want up often and less endurance expensive.
Not so much for it's damage potential but it's debuff awesomeness.

Tornado: Franken slotting
Dam/Endx2, Dam/REch x2, KB-KD proc, End/REch

But then I am almost always not building for capped defense or such so take that into consideration. I am certain there are better slotting ways for paticular set bonuses but personally I think all 3 are great powers and deserve to be used as frequently as possible rather then as set mules, YMMV.

FR: I like to team and fight AVs, in which case Saga's advice holds except the Achille's heel is better than a damage proc. I actually slot 2 end/rech/slow an end/rech and rech from undermine defenses, achilles and a damage proc.

LS: 5 Apocalypse, minus the pure damage +hold proc (devastation)

Hurricane: 4 Dark Watchers (no proc or rech/end). Endurance discount isn't as high as I would like, but I run hurricane sparingly and have cardiac alpha. Unless you pin enemies against the wall for long periods of time, FF in Hurricane is wasted.

My guide has a pretty good explanation of how various procs work in those powers if you're interested. (Haven't gone back and covered the purchaseable procs yet, since I still need to post lightning Storm, but within the next three years )

Cool thanks all. I wasn't sure if procs were good to put into FR or not.

Will see what I come up with soon after I move slots around!