Fireheart

But I have already defeated all of your minions. I've foiled your dastardly plot. And I'm in the process of defeating You! Why should I stop now? I'm on a roll!

Be Well!
Fireheart

In my experience, the Strength of the human-form PB is that he is Flexible. He can do a little bit of everything (without resorting to Power-Pools) and do it relatively well.

You can Blast, and you have both Single-target and AoE attacks. Later in the build, you pick us some powerful melee attacks that allow you to Scrap - a little. And you have Shields, to give you some protection while you do it. Later still, you get a PBAoE and TWO nukes. You also have a Dull Pain clone, a Reconstruction clone, and a fairly unique ranged Heal Other. Finally, Light Form is your 'temporary god-mode'.

You have Other powers, which I find situational and unsuited to My playstyle, but which you may enjoy.

The other main strength of a Peacebringers, in general, is that they are self-contained and consistent. A Warshade's power fluctuates and depends on the availability of nearby bodies, while a PB needs no external factor to make him powerful. Every attack and ability is going to precisely as strong as the last time you used it.

The play-style that works for me, is to mix it all up. Blast at range, Scrap with the 'leakers' that make the mistake up running up to melee with you, Toss out the occasional 'fill-in heal', change ranges and Blast again, and if you see a tasty-looking pile of enemy, dash in and drop a Nuke on them. If you consider the Tankers and Scrappers to be line-of-scrimmage specialists, while the Blasters and Defenders do their thing from the rear-echelon, the human-form PB is the utility mid-fielder who keeps an eye on everything that's happening and fills in the breaks as needed.

Solo, it's more of the same, basically a 'Blapper', with the addition of shields and self-heals.

However, that brings up another issue - Kheldians are Much Stronger when they are on a team. A Peacebringer's inherent team-buff Balances his team. Low-damage teammates, like Tankers and Defenders boost a PB's Damage output, so a trio, with Tanker, Defender, and PB makes the PB a 'real Blaster'. Low-resistance teammates, like Scrappers and Blasters boost the PB's damage Resistance and making them even tougher. Teaming with a Controller gives the PB some Mez Protection and teaming with another Kheldian gives Slow/Recharge resistance.

Warshades are Reinforced by their teammates, getting Damage from Scrappers and Blasters and Resistance from Tankers and Defenders, while the effects of Controllers and other Kheldians remain the same.

Finally, and perhaps Best, as a pure Human-form Peacebringer you actually have enough slots to enhance all of your powers!!

So I see no reason not to go with a human-form Peacebringer, enjoy the full-featured ranged attack-chain, but Also take the melee-range attacks, to help deal with the inevitable.

Be Well!
Fireheart

You might look/post on the Brutes Forum, for responses from the people that live and breathe Brutes. This place may be a bit too... "General".

Be Well!
Fireheart

I feel like I should explain my choices, RE Willpower in the build framework I posted. It's been my experience that, for the first 6 levels or so, Tankers don't need very much from their Primary. Between 'Beginner's Luck', the relative weakness of the enemies, and huge buckets of Hit Points, a Tanker is entirely tough enough for the regular content.

Willpower, I've heard described as "Regeneration on Cruise-control", precisely Because it's it's all about 'hugER buckets of Hit Points', plus the resistance and defense to protect those hit-points. So, as an experiment, I ran a Tanker to 20 without the toggles... And he survived just fine.

Oh, except Indomitable Will - that one is necessary asap, to protect you from KB and Mez.

No, I did not jump into the middle of +4x8 spawns or try to go toe-to-toe with GMs. I certainly didn't try to survive in some level 50 farm. Just ordinary content at +1x2. Between greens in HPT and Fast Healing, I had enough hit points and regeneration to thrive.

And, Yes, about level 20, that all started to change and I was Grateful to pick up the defensive toggles!

That character is now 30-something and gleefully dives into a Sea of minions, so he can slice them up. WP/DB is a lot more fun with Inherent Fitness - that took a bit of the build-tightness off of it.

As always, your mileage may vary, but you may find that High Pain Tolerance makes Mind Over Body less of a priority.

Be Well!
Fireheart

I might start off like This and then fill in the blanks.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Natural Tanker
Primary Power Set: Willpower
Secondary Power Set: Energy Melee
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping

Hero Profile:
Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Barrage -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Fast Healing -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Bone Smasher -- Empty(A)
Level 6: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 8: Indomitable Will -- Empty(A)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- Empty(A)
Level 12: Quick Recovery -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Whirling Hands -- Empty(A)
Level 18: Mind Over Body -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Rise to the Challenge -- Empty(A)
Level 22: Heightened Senses -- Empty(A)
Level 24: [Empty]
Level 26: [Empty]
Level 28: [Empty]
Level 30: [Empty]
Level 32: [Empty]
Level 35: Energy Transfer -- Empty(A)
Level 38: Total Focus -- Empty(A)
Level 41: [Empty]
Level 44: [Empty]
Level 47: [Empty]
Level 49: [Empty]
------------
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run

Despite what he said in the OP, none of those are from the (Re-)Design thread.

Be Well!
Fireheart

That's a reasonable position.

On the other hand, Barrage is actually a misplaced Tier 2, in EM. The poor thing has been nerfed and massaged and nerfed again, before the Devs arrived at the current state.
Boxing actually doesn't lag far behind, compared to Energy Punch (which also does less damage than Barrage). The issue is that E-Punch has an Energy damage component, to compound with the basic S/L of punching somebody in the stomach. So, it not only does a bit more damage overall, but it's Non-Smashing/Lethal damage, while Boxing is all plain-vanilla S/L.

However, as a result of Using Boxing, my Inv/EM main has room for Assault and Tactics, like in the framework I posted.

Be Well!
Fireheart

That looks good, Finduilas. My only argument is that, if you Must take Boxing (and you really should) then you should slot it and Use it.

I swap it in for Energy Punch, even though that means I give up a little damage. Saves a power-pick, which I can use for some 1-slot power.

Finally, I subscribe to CMA's observation that a Defense-built Invulnerability Tanker really has no use for Unstoppable, so they don't have to suffer the crash. Your experience may differ.

Be Well!
Fireheart

I suggest you take some time to read a good guide on Fire/Fire, like this one: The Wall of Fire

That will help bring you up to speed on the current state of Fire Tanking. Approach it as if you were a new-guy and didn't know anything, then analyze it from the perspective of your experience, finally Try Stuff Out!

And Finduilas knows his stuff, too. Still, it's Your character and it may need tweaking, to better fit your individual playstyle.

I find it useful to create an initial build that is All SOs and focus on getting it relatively balanced for level 20-30. After that, Powers and Slots are all about extra Fun! and ways you can leverage your strengths against the nastier bad-guys.

Once the SO build is done, I use that as a minimum model for what my IO build needs to accomplish. I use Set bonuses to help balance and add the custom effects I want to have. Finally, I try to keep my mind on the practical and what I can afford - I don't lust after Purples or PvP Enhancements. An 'Ultimate' build is nice, but I prefer one that is fun to play and which I didn't have to sell a kidney for.

Be Well!
Fireheart

Yeah, you've got some things mixed up, alright. The most important power in any Invulnerability build is Temporary Invulnerability (even though it's no longer 'temporary' as it's now a toggle.) You need to get that First!

So, read these Guides: Invulnerability and the Defense Soft Cap
and: Invulnerability Tanker, the First 20 Levels

These are both very tightly focused on making the most invulnerable Invulnerability Tanker. I'm not really rich enough to go that far and I'm a lot 'looser' by nature, anyway.

Try this starting 'ladder' instead.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.952
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Inv/Energy/Energy: Level 49 Natural Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Energy Melee
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Temp Invulnerability -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Barrage -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Dull Pain -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Bone Smasher -- Empty(A)
Level 6: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 8: Unyielding -- Empty(A)
Level 10: Taunt -- Empty(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- Empty(A)
Level 14: Fly -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Whirling Hands -- Empty(A)
Level 18: Invincibility -- Empty(A)
Level 20: Resist Physical Damage -- Empty(A)
Level 22: Resist Energies -- Empty(A)
Level 24: Assault -- Empty(A)
Level 26: Tough Hide -- Empty(A)
Level 28: Tactics -- Empty(A)
Level 30: Tough -- Empty(A)
Level 32: Build Up -- Empty(A)
Level 35: Energy Transfer -- Empty(A)
Level 38: Total Focus -- Empty(A)
Level 41: Conserve Power -- Empty(A)
Level 44: Physical Perfection -- Empty(A)
Level 47: Weave -- Empty(A)
Level 49: Resist Elements -- Empty(A)
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Gauntlet
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Health -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- Empty(A)

Seriously. Different style than usual, too. I like it!

Be Well!
Fireheart

LOL!

Be Well!
Fireheart

What's that splash of yellow? Is she playing hide-the-canary again?

Be Well!
Fireheart

Then there's the Other Barbarian Gloves...

They are also not 'gloves', but a cool armored Bracer that matches the Barbarian Shoulders... Only one flaw... No Matching Boots!

Somebody dropped the ball.

Be Well!
Fireheart

Heck, it's Only 200 miles away... and I've Only got 4 Mid-Term Projects due... and... What am I saying?!?! I can't afford to go, either.

... Which may be one of the many reasons why My face is not up on Titan, despite using them to track all 160+ of my toons.

Be Well!
Fireheart

True, but that will just confirm that the top of the dress is held on with glue-stick.

Be Well!
Fireheart

SUPER dress, DeeDee!

Looks like you're going to need to upgrade the 'realism' of those arms and wings a bit. Face is nice, hair is getting there, torso is fine, though it's a bit 'softer focus' than the dress, so that might cause 'dissonance' for the viewer.

This just keeps getting better as you work on it! Yay!

Be Well!
Fireheart

I'm afraid DeeDee is right, the shells in your bandolier do make him look like a serious chain-smoker...

Perhaps more texture and/or a different coloration would make them look more like shotgun shells, or rounds for your BFG.

Be Well!
Fireheart

Pass

'Orange Slices' and Chocolate-covered Pretzels.

Be Well!
Fireheart