ChrisMoses

I can't really offer commentary on your set IO selections, as I don't have a builder in front of me, nor have I begun slotting IOs - I typically wait until 32 or 37. What I can offer are playstyle suggestions.

Blasters rely on Build Up (Concentration, in this case) and Aim more than almost any other power. You'll want to fit both in ASAP, and give them two recharge IOs a piece.

I'm currently playing this combo at level 30. Everything I've read says to skip World of Confusion unless you just like the f/x aura and/or you want to use it as a "set mule" (simply, to get good bonuses from widely available confuse IO sets). I skipped it at both 28 - opting for Mind Probe, which I had earlier and respecced out (good power, I just needed to fit something else in) and 30 (opting for Super Speed, because... I just didn't want World of Confusion at that point and thought the extra stealth would be nice).

World of Confusion sounds good in theory, but then you learn it only works on minions, which you'll have killed already with Water Burst, Whirlpool, Psychic Scream, and Steam Spray, not to mention Geyser and Psychic Shockwave. Plus the electric APP cone if you really wanna get crazy! It also requires heavy slotting to be effective - I may revisit it with IOs in later levels - I can see its utility specifically as a way to get a heavy Drain Psyche off on a large spawn - But in leveling practice, I don't think (and again, I'm going off of forum hearsay combined with my understanding rather than any firsthand experience) it will be that practical.

Scare seems to be another limited use power - I love the single-target holds on my blasters, but as this is a Fear, I don't know how useful it will be. Maybe if it works on bosses? Will two uses keep them held like a hold does? Despite still attacking them? Does it come with a ToHit DeBuff like many other fears do? Hopefully someone else will chime in, because I'll need the answer myself sooner or later.

I haven't used Aqua Bolt. You'll be able to get the three stacks of Tidal Power easily enough with - Oh, I just noticed you opted for the first blast rather than the second, Hydro Blast. Blasters typically forego the "minor" damage first blast for the "moderate" damage second blast. The only way I ever take the first blast is if I feel like I need a smoother attack chain, particularly vs. single targets. I think having both of the first two blasts will be most effective in early levels, but later on, you may find that Mind Probe fills the need you had for Aqua Bolt. Unless you want the comfort of having another Tidal Power builder that is readily available, I don't see a great need for it myself at level 30. It was almost my level 30 pick, but I couldn't find the justification. That could change, however.

As a blaster, I've never had either the Leadership or Fighting pools. Blasters have such a low AT Modifier for both, I didn't see the point. To up survivability on my other blasters (especially the /Energy ones with Power Boost), I always went with Aid Self from the Medicine Pool. I don't recommend that here, since you have Dehydrate.

The Fighting pool may be more justifiable as a way to get further use out of World of Confusion, plus having some resistance and defense, no matter how small, will help the Heal over Time from Dehydrate. I just think it will be difficult to find the power picks. If one was to attempt cramming in the three Fighting powers, that would likely mean foregoing many other pools (of which I'll address in a second), plus the second early single-target blast (Aqua Bolt, in my scenario described above).

Regarding Power Pools, as a Blaster, you'll need knockback protection. Rather than rely on an IO, I've always opted for Acrobatics out of the Jumping pool. Not only is Super Jump my preferred mode of travel, but Combat Jumping allows for the easiest form of "blapping" I've found, which you'll be doing with Mind Probe and Drain Psyche. When you're hopping into the middle of a mod, it's important to get the eff back out of there quick, and Combat Jumping allows for that.

So... I guess that's all I have to say without a builder readily available. It's a fun combination, one I'm excited to take all the way to the Incarnate limit. I hope you enjoyed my frikkin' dissertation on the subject!

oh, are all of the others just the usual sort of generic, non-arc missions?

I've liked what I heard about it. Going Boom has always been my favorite part of post-32 Blaster play, so now I get to do that more often.

With BU+Aim, it will still take out LTs, correct? I never, ever used my Nuke when both weren't up, so I think it will mean very little difference for me in that regard.

Had a much slower day yesterday... Just soloed a couple of tips.

Now I see where people are saying Water Blast isn't that great for single-target damage. The disappointment certainly cut my night short by a bit.

Thanks for the extra information, everyone.

And Ironblade, I had completely forgotten about the TPN and Underground trials, which I've done once or twice.

I'll be on the lookout for the others.

Oh! I know what happened from the SSA 1 (spoilers! got me), but I don't know how that affected things in-game. Who starts the Sister Psyche TF now? Or the Statesman TF?

They definitely did BViking, thank you!

I don't know how well they go together, but I know I've seen more /Poison Corruptors than I have in a longtime. Water Blast must be doing something right.

This is a good question. Right now, I just have SOs (level 26), and I slotted it one Acc, 2 Heals, 1 recharge.

So I haven't put any damage into it yet. But it will need it eventually, and I'm not certain how to go about doing that (hence putting off IO slotting).

Hi! I've been back in-game sporadically over the past three years, for a month or two each time, but never really gotten overly engaged each time I've made a stop in.

Until now. I can see my Water Blaster possibly becoming a new "main," someone I won't constantly be abandoning to jump to an alt as appropriate teaming levels demand.

So there are a few things that have been added over the past however-long that I just haven't paid any attention to, and I'd like to ask about all of them in one place rather than scour the forums, if you'd be so kind as to indulge me.

1. Power Packs - What do you get from these? I know the ATO enhancements come from them - Are those only level 50? Are their preferred levels of obtaining them?

2. Speaking of ATOs, how good are they? Are they worth, say, replacing a set of Devastations? Or even Ragnaroks?

3. AE Tickets - Are there any limitations on what recipes are available to buy with them? I have a bunch (I'm not above AFK'ing in a mission if someone is offering!), and I've never bothered trying to discover more about them.

4. I've played through SSA 1 parts 1-4 or so. I suppose I should finish that off, but for my own edification, where does SSA 2 begin?

5. What are the level ranges of First Ward and Night Ward? I did all First Ward missions on another character, and I feel like I'm pretty deep into the Night Ward arcs (I'm on the Black Knight contact (the first one, if there is more than one) at level 33 or so). Am I ahead of the game? Will I eventually be closed off from the contacts until a particular level range?

6. Enhancement Converters - This is the big thing, because I have a lot of these and don't really know what they're for. I assume they... convert... enhancements, but ALL enhancements? Could I convert a purple sleep IO to a purple Heal IO? A random nonsense IO to a Miracle +Regen? That doesn't make sense to me, so I need clarifications before I waste something.

7. As of yesterday, I'm leveling a Water/Psy Blaster. I've teamed all the way to my current level, which is 26.5. However, I know that those abundant teaming opportunities won't always be there, and then it will be time to solo. What are the ranges for the zone-specific mission arcs (the ones that don't have you hopping across all zones, i.e., Croatoa, Striga, First Ward, etc)? I know that every contact in Striga and Croatoa offer a mission with a temporary power somewhere in each arc. As a squishy blaster, I love temporary powers. Are there any other zone-specific contacts that follow this model?

8. Incarnates!

As I'm planning on eventually going to the limit with my current character, some understanding is required. One of my playing stints was when Incarnates were introduced, so I know all about BAF, Lambda, and Keyes, plus the Destiny, Lore, Judgement, Alpha, and Interface slots.

I'm clueless about everything added beyond that point, as well as when Incarnate stuff truly begins these days. Can I still not do Mender Ramiel's Alpha-unlocking arc until level 50 (or was that never the case)?

OK, I think that's all of my questions. Thanks for your time and indulgence!

Sylvia is a B no matter what you're slinging at her. Need that -regen.

Also, how many "Tidal Forces" chases have gotten you killed yet? I've died about 5 times, and I'd say that was all due to "I GOTTA GET MAX DAMAGE!" or "Look at that group of Malta over there. They're so smug with their fancy hats... I'm about to ruin their day: Whirlpool! Hydro Blast! Water Bu... Oh, stunned. Oh, dead. Oh man, team, that ambush - It came out of nowhere!"

Really digging my Water/Mental blaster.

I'm not quite sure how to slot Dehydrate yet. Nor Drain Psyche, but I consulted a guide for that one.

I played on and off all day (mostly on) and got to level 26.5 after 4 DFBs, Posi pt. 1, Posi pt. 2, Synapse, 2 DiBs, a small handful of solo missions, and about 4 level 50 Tip missions.

I'm really loving it, but this isn't a good evaluation period. Everyone else is running around with Water as well, and so things are getting torn up in all of the AoEs. I also haven't gone up against my first +2 Rikti boss yet solo yet (that's where Blasters always show their frustrating sides, IMO - solo against bosses that mez).

I'm trying to figure out what makes Whirlpool so much better than the equivalent Rain of Fire and Ice Storm... More damage and a debuff, I'm guessing.

Currently I have all powers except the first, Aqua Bolt, which I replaced with Mind Probe as I leveled. I've now replaced MP with Psychic Screem, to have yet another AOE, but the awkward cone and animation may ultimately doom it back out of my build.

A whole lot of fun, if nothing else.

I was also able to get in. The Last Leviathan lives!

The server went down and is back up, but I don't see no water blast in the store!

Definitely going with a blaster, I just don't know what secondary set to use.

I'd go with Water/Elec if I didn't already have an Ice/Elec Blaster. And I'm played /Energy to death. Played /Fire and /Ice to 50 and was disappointed in both secondaries the entire way.

Maybe /Psy, just because I haven't played it much, but I already feel like I'm scrapping the bottom of the blaster secondaries barrel.

So excited for Water Blast. It's beautiful, and I love blasters, but still haven't played one with a "crashless" nuke.

I just have to decide what secondary I'm going with... I've already got the name and costume created and ready to go.

I want it so bad.

I think I'm going /Psy, just because it's a set I haven't played much. I've played /Energy more times than I can count, have a 50 /Elec, 50 /Ice, and 50 /Fire, so... The only thing left is Devices (pointless for Water re: no snipe) or /Dark, and Dark just looks awful to me (but I haven't played it - Am I wrong?).

is there anything I'm forgetting?

Infinity is where I started because it had the coolest name.

It still has the coolest name.

I ran it twice last night. Got one Acc/Dam and one KB-KD Proc.

I was the Thief and then the Hacker in Casino Heist. It was great that the Hacker role included a limited temp. stealth. Both roles were rather simplistic.

I agree that the fights in the warehouse could have been spiced up, but there isn't anything wrong with them.

Time Gladiator was slightly less interesting, and I thought that the AV fights were actually kind of difficult (but each time we went in, we were light on buffs/debuffs). The first time, none of us knew what to do with the Incite the Crowd temp; it seems obvious enough, but it just popped up on some players' bars, and we didn't know what it was for at the time.

The second time, we got the God-King-whatever AV, but I'm not certain we got the badge.

I'm still a little unclear about the full operation of the event, but I thought it was interesting.

I don't know why so many are so peeved about needing to run the content repeatedly. Isn't that pretty much par for the course for the best rewards? I certainly remember running 2-3 Incarnate Trials a night on 3 or 4 characters across a one-month span to unlock those rewards. Is it the limited availability of the event that puts a greater demand on this? I just don't really worry about it that much...

The sets should become tradeable though. I just wonder if it's too late, considering that the set doesn't have a level range; I wonder if that would prevent it.

Speaking of the set, some people were complaining about it, but I think it's great, based solely on my one reading of the bonuses, that is. It's a way to get knockback protection (albeit with all 6 pieces slotted) into a damage power! It just allows for more options, which is never a bad thing.

I'd give the event a B.