i24 /devices 'Cloak' changes

ok, im not bothering to read more. I think I made up my own mind in my OP.

For those that do not understand my issue.

Stealth is an out of combat effect. It does not help my blaster at all. If i want to bypass (stealth through) mobs, I just run past them, AI doesn't even shoot at you! The only 'use' stealth might have is to get in close to mobs, then you could fire off a power that takes 20s or so, to activate, without getting attacked. This is a duplication of a POOL power, what is it doing in my BLASTER SECONDARY? The defense in Cloaking device is not real. Again, out of combat! Defense is worthless when nothing is shooting at you. It is currently a power that makes you transparent. This is a PLAYER effect, not an IN-GAME combat affecting ability. It just makes you transparent to yourself, and other PLAYERS. In itself, being hard to see to other players is a DEBUFF. This power as it sits is a debuff to you, that lies and says it is helping you when fighting, that is my issue with this power.

Now why would I even come here and tell you this because as BOYS, you think being transparent like a assassin or something inherently is 'cool'.. and dislike me for bringing this up... well,

Synapse is putting the i24 blaster fix (regen + recovery) into every blaster secondary set, for those not hearing this before. (THIS IS IN THE FUTURE! NOT IN GAME NOW). After i24 the blaster fix for /devices is in Cloaking Device! This forces any /devices blaster to take that self-debuff to get the +regen and +recovery. Now I did not sign up to be a stalker, I do not want to be invisible all the time, but if I skip this one power, I become so weak the DEVs say I am not really a blaster anymore, I would be GIMPING myself.

No other set is being forced to take a NON-COMBAT power to get this buff.

I have 2 OUT OF COMBAT attacks already and 1 OUT OF COMBAT DEFENSE in my secondary, you people that do not play devices can just shut the H E double TOOTHPICKS up. Obviously Synapse does not play a devices blaster.


So I am gutting all my purples out, selling them etc, I don't care. These blaster fixes, the snipe, the nuke, those are all for OTHER archtypes more than for a blaster, only this regen/recovery boost is the 'blaster' fix. I know he will put that on the damn cloak. I made up my mind my first character is done. I wonder how long the fun will last for my alts.

((devices has been hit with nerfs repeatedly (ED) and NEVER buffed. the SNIPE +acc buff thing in no way makes up for missing BUILD UP + NUKE and having No IN-COMBAT attacks/defenses in /devices when all other sets have these things))

As someday it may happen that a powerset must be nerfed,
I've got a little list — I've got a little list
Of myriad abilities that might well be overpowered
And that never would be missed — that never would be missed!

Gonna try something here, 'cause I think the OP had some valid points which were obscured by her tendency to overstate things.

What I think she meant to say:

Blasters need the i24 survivability buffs to avoid being underpowered.
I agree with this one
For my /Dev Blaster, this means I must take Cloaking Device or remain underpowered.
This one too.

I especially dislike the transparency effect, because it obscures my costume.
I sorta agree with this one.
I work hard on my costumes, they are a fundamental part of my enjoyment of this game. If I can't see them, that character is 'broken' for me.
I sorta agree with this one. I often solo just so I can clearly see my costume without layers of team buffs all over it.

The power's other effects are not strong enough to make up for the costume issue, as the defense buff is too small when suppressed, and stealth isn't needed for my playstyle.
Don't necessarily agree with this one.

I think it's wrong for the devs to add the needed survivability buffs to a power that is a) not that great to begin with and More importantly b) that obscures my character's costume.

I dunno if this discussion is salvageable, but I think it's worth having.

Like I said before, the fade of cloaking device could be changed when it's brought over to the new power. They could probably add a No Fade option to it in power customization with little work. With the name change, it would probably be a good idea anyway, as the power is now presented as training based as opposed to technology based. Then everyone could benefit from the power change, and both those who like the fade and don't would have a satisfying option.

Seeing as the power will be a lot harder to skip now the fade can't be as easily avoided by those that don't like the look of it. Since skipping the power now would probably be detrimental it would be nice to add the graphic choice so players can keep their desired character look and feel. It would be just one extra bit of power customization.

More choice can't hurt, eh?

I totally agree with the OP. On my current build I immediately specced out of cloak for this very reason.

Solution:
When stealth is suppressed, stop the transparency effect COMPLETELY. If it means losing those 1.75% or something combat +Def, then so be it!

This way I can easily tell when it is on or off, my team can see me when it is important (in combat) and I can see myself most of the time (in combat). Out of combat I can turn it off to see myself.

Maybe I'm odd, but in combat I'm not admiring my own character or my teammates'. I'm looking at the enemy. Come to think of it, I'm only "concerned" about how my character looks when I'm in a costume contest. Sounds like a lot of 6-slotted narcissism out there.

Granted, character transparency IS the only valid statement the OP made about CD, in as much as, yes, it does make your character transparent.