Fireheart

Curious - what two slots does it free?

Be Well!
Fireheart

How about if we hear from someone who has actually Played a purely Human-form PB?

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!!

If you chose to add the Dwarf-form, then you're not a 'Human PB', but a bi-form Human/Dwarf, which is still a Fine choice! If all you want is Mez protection, invest in a stock of Break Frees.

Now, as to this 'suitable for farming' question, I'd say that's entirely a matter of playstyle and other choices. Pick an enemy that is weak to Energy damage and build the right team, and you may be able to farm yourself crazy. Not being in the least bit interested in farming, I can't advise you, there.

Be Well!
Fireheart

PS: To assuage any curiosity you may feel, here is the build I'm currently using for my Human PB - he's only up to level 32.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.703
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Starlight Saint: Level 50 Natural Peacebringer
Primary Power Set: Luminous Blast
Secondary Power Set: Luminous Aura
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Gleaming Bolt -- Acc(A), Acc(3), EndRdx(5), Dmg(21), Dmg(40)
Level 1: Incandescence -- ResDam(A)
Level 2: Glinting Eye -- Acc(A), Acc(3), EndRdx(9), Dmg(21), Dmg(40)
Level 4: Gleaming Blast -- Acc(A), Acc(5), EndRdx(11), Dmg(23), Dmg(40)
Level 6: Shining Shield -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(7), ResDam(7), ResDam(13)
Level 8: Radiant Strike -- Acc(A), Acc(9), EndRdx(13), Dmg(34), Dmg(43)
Level 10: Essence Boost -- RechRdx(A), Heal(11), RechRdx(29), Heal(34)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- DefBuff(A)
Level 14: Proton Scatter -- Acc(A), Acc(15), EndRdx(15), Dmg(34), Dmg(43)
Level 16: Luminous Detonation -- Acc(A), Acc(17), EndRdx(17), Dmg(37), Dmg(45)
Level 18: Incandescent Strike -- Acc(A), Acc(19), EndRdx(19), Dmg(23), Dmg(45)
Level 20: Hurdle -- Jump(A)
Level 22: Health -- Heal(A), Heal(37), Heal(43), Empty(50)
Level 24: Stamina -- EndMod(A), EndMod(25), EndMod(25), Empty(50)
Level 26: Reform Essence -- RechRdx(A), Heal(27), RechRdx(27), Heal(37)
Level 28: Glowing Touch -- RechRdx(A), Heal(29)
Level 30: Solar Flare -- Acc(A), Acc(31), EndRdx(31), Dmg(31), Dmg(46)
Level 32: Quantum Shield -- EndRdx(A), ResDam(33), ResDam(33), ResDam(33)
Level 35: Photon Seekers -- Acc(A), Acc(36), EndRdx(36), Dmg(36), Dmg(46)
Level 38: Dawn Strike -- Acc(A), Acc(39), EndRdx(39), Dmg(39), Dmg(46)
Level 41: Light Form -- RechRdx(A), ResDam(42), RechRdx(42), ResDam(42)
Level 44: Build Up -- RechRdx(A), ToHit(45), RechRdx(48), ToHit(48)
Level 47: Conserve Energy -- RechRdx(A), RechRdx(48)
Level 49: Thermal Shield -- ResDam(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- EndRdx(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx(A)
Level 1: Cosmic Balance
Level 1: Energy Flight -- Flight(A), Flight(50)
Level 10: Combat Flight -- Flight(A)
------------

They drain you, so you drain them Right Back!

Plus, Plasma Shield resists Energy damage.

Be Well!
Fireheart

I can only speak from my own experience and it's not like I've done a ton of research on the matter - other than leveling up a half-dozen Fire Tankers, of whom one is 23 and two are 30. However, my SS/Fire Brute is my one L50 Villain.

Still, here is how my experience goes...

You're fighting a bunch of enemy and, since you're the Tanker, you're in the middle of the spawn, or you've got them bunched up in a nice pile, and you're giving them all the benefit of a beat-down. Unfortunately, since you're a Young Tanker, you really aren't all that bulletproof yet and you don't have Stamina or SOs, so out of the corner of your eye, you're watching your Green Bar melt away, which wouldn't be so bad, if your Blue Bar wasn't melting Faster! And, for some reason you don't have an Empathy Defender in your back pocket...

So, your Blue Bar has passed the final third, on the way to de-toggle hell and your Green Bar is down to half... But that's okay, because you are a Fire Tanker! And, better still, you've still got 3-4 live enemies within 20 feet (!!!) who have been laughing their butts off, because they think you're a gonner and they'll get to watch you face-plant.

So you hit Healing Flames > Consume! Sa-whishawhisha! > Fooosh! Then throw your head back and laugh like Superman, because your Green Bar is full and so is your Blue Bar, and every enemy (that you hit) within 20 feet (!!!!!!) has contributed to your resurgent strength. And they're all going {O.O} and OMG! and 'We are sooo Doomed!' as you turn and tear into them some more.

Now, the Problem comes when, a little while later, you're in the same sort of situation, but Consume hasn't recharged, yet... That's when it helps to have 3-4 blue pez in your Inspiration bar, just to tide you over until the next time Consume can turn you from panting loser to invigorated winner in 3 seconds.

FYI, I ran the first few missions in Montague's Midnighter arc last night, solo, set on +1x2, with the now L14 Fire/Dark Tanker from the build above, and I did not die even once.

**Granted, I had one small advantage - being Magic Origin, I had everything 2-slotted with Owl Talismans, from Yin's Market, so I have better than +60% Accuracy. I highly recommend it!

Be Well!
Fireheart

Um, golly! That is definitely a good looking... navel.

Only flaw I see is that her legs are too short for the rest of her.

But, heck, I'm not an artist, really... I'm a massage therapist.

Be Well!
Fireheart

Granted, he is Not intended for Iron-man play, so you'll want to adjust the mid-level and late-level power picks to suit. However, those first 12 levels are critical to your future survival.

Be Well!
Fireheart

I think this is a demonstration of use #6969 for Duct Tape - Restraining a Villain.

Be Well!
Fireheart

I believe they're discussing Kheldian Pr0n.

Be Well!
Fireheart

Be Well!
Fireheart