Fury Flechette

I think colorized dark melee fits a speedster concept very well. The punches animate very fast and would IMO be superior to MA using the punching animations. Plus, you get a heal, which is a very nice to have for SR.

I think any group of 4 needs 1 Ill/Rad Controller, only because you can cheese/tank the States TF with one, without needing a tank. As to the other three, the previous posters had great suggestions.

I'd put in a nod for:

Traps/Sonic Def - no regen for any AV ever
Cold/Sonic Def - debuffs, shields
Rad/Sonic Def - debuffs, debuffs

That group of 4 could do the Khan TF with ease or do the States TF with 4 fillers (having the 4 fillers quit before the start).

I consider this problem fixed. +0 x8 players, no, no on the Axis America map from Unai Kemen. Prior to the patch, I was getting 2 -6 recipes, 1 - 6 enhancements, about 20 salvage.

Today: 15 recipes (2 set, 13 common), 6 enhancements, 48 salvage. That's more than acceptable.

Thanks dev team. And I third (fourth, fifth) the nomination for Archie Gremlin to get Bug Hunter. I'd also recommend EarthWyrm for the badge as well in helping coordinate / consolidate efforts. I also realize it's not a nomination effort, so this is more sentiment than anything else.

Cheers!

Spine burst - Lunge - brawl - Lunge

Lunge at 1
Spine Burst at 2
Impale at 8

Barb Swipe - ugh, never take it. If you have to take a filler power, air superiority (or boxing) at 6 and then you can respec out of it later (or keep it) then wait for ripper at 26.

I've been thinking of rolling a character that can solo the Positron TF as fast as possible. Since, the new ssk rules allow for powers up to 5 level highers than exempted, this TF probably can be done with a lot more efficiency. I'm thinking that a sub 45 minute time is possible.

One of the possible "can opener" combinations I've thought of is a Katana/WP scrapper. -def to deal with those annoying ghosts, +def from divine avalanche, mez protection, innate regen and decent offensive capability.

The only thing that concerns me is what to leave out. In looking over various build possibilities, it would seem that I would have to leave out either Build Up or Mind Over Body. I think the following are required:

Primary - Sting of the Wasp, Gambler's Cut (or Flashing Steel), Divine Avalanche, Lotus Drops
Secondary - High Pain Tolerance, Fast Healing, Indomitable Will, RttC, Quick Recovery
Pools: Hasten, SS

That leaves me with one power pick, and I could either have Build Up or Mind Over Body. I'm leaning on taking Build Up. While I'd miss the resistance of MoB, I'm thinking that Divine Avalanche would make me a pseudo SR scrapper with regen.

I plan to level the character up to 25 and just stop xp. She'll be my Positron soloer. I'm stopping at level 25 only because there's some recipes I'd like at that specific range, and I plan on doing a lot of random rolls with the merits.

Thoughts?

I've seen some niches become less profitable (but still profitable), but i16 has opened up new opportunities. I've done a terrific business in "second tier" recipes - harmonized healing, triage, serendity, ruin, focused smite. Profit margins aren't high, but they sell pretty well. Sweet spot seems to be level 30-35. Thunderstrikes, level 30-40, seem to sell out as fast as I list them.

This will probably change when the folks that are buying these finally get to level 50, but I've also noticed that people are not leveling at the insane rates that occurred with AE. Sure, there's still PL'ing but no more level 50s in 6-8 hours. So, bargain hunting for stuff you can frankenslot your character may be profitable for marketeers for quite some time.

46.2 Smash/Lethal Defense
47.2 Ranged Defense
45.9 AoE Defense
44.0 Energy/Neg Energy Defense

I also de-gimped a few powers (adding accuracy to twilight grasp, giving TT some real damage), but used boxing as a set mule.

Build uses the biggest IO tease in the game, the PvP +3% def IO, but most players would just slot out darkest night, be more than content to have defenses in the low 40s and use the tohit debuffs to cap you.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 50 Magic Defender
Primary Power Set: Dark Miasma
Secondary Power Set: Dark Blast
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Fighting

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Twilight Grasp -- Nictus-Heal(A), Nictus-Heal/HP/Regen/Rchg(3), Nictus-Acc/Heal(5), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen(11), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(23)
Level 1: Dark Blast -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(11), Thundr-Acc/Dmg(13), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(40), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(50)
Level 2: Darkest Night -- DarkWD-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(A), DarkWD-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(3)
Level 4: Gloom -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(7), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(21), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36)
Level 6: Howling Twilight -- RzDz-Acc/EndRdx(A), RzDz-EndRdx/Stun(7), RzDz-Acc/Rchg(36), RzDz-Stun/Rng(37), RzDz-Immob%(43), RzDz-Acc/Stun/Rchg(45)
Level 8: Shadow Fall -- RedFtn-Def/EndRdx(A), RedFtn-Def/Rchg(9), RedFtn-EndRdx/Rchg(19), RedFtn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(25), RedFtn-EndRdx(36), RedFtn-Def(50)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(27), Zephyr-ResKB(37)
Level 12: Fearsome Stare -- SipInsght-ToHitDeb(A), SipInsght-Acc/ToHitDeb(13), SipInsght-Acc/Rchg(15), SipInsght-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(42), SipInsght-%ToHit(43), SipInsght-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Zephyr-Travel(A), Zephyr-Travel/EndRdx(15), Zephyr-ResKB(34)
Level 16: Tenebrous Tentacles -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(17), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(19), Posi-Dmg/Rng(21), Posi-Dam%(37)
Level 18: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 20: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 22: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), P'Shift-EndMod(23), P'Shift-End%(42)
Level 24: Night Fall -- SipInsght-ToHitDeb(A), SipInsght-Acc/ToHitDeb(25), SipInsght-Acc/Rchg(27), SipInsght-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(34), SipInsght-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(39), SipInsght-%ToHit(40)
Level 26: Petrifying Gaze -- BasGaze-Acc/Hold(A), BasGaze-Acc/Rchg(29), BasGaze-Rchg/Hold(31), BasGaze-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(40)
Level 28: Tar Patch -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(29)
Level 30: Maneuvers -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def(31), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), LkGmblr-Rchg+(33)
Level 32: Dark Servant -- Enf'dOp-Acc/EndRdx(A), Enf'dOp-EndRdx/Immob(33), Enf'dOp-Acc/Rchg(33), Enf'dOp-Immob/Rng(34), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob/Rchg(39), Enf'dOp-Acc/Immob(46)
Level 35: Dark Pit -- Stpfy-Acc/Rchg(A), Stpfy-Acc/Stun/Rchg(39)
Level 38: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A)
Level 41: Boxing -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(42), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(43), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(46)
Level 44: Tough -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(45), ImpArm-ResDam(45), GA-3defTpProc(50)
Level 47: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48), LkGmblr-Def(48), LkGmblr-Rchg+(48)
Level 49: Blackstar -- Acc-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Vigilance
------------
Set Bonus Totals:

• 2% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• 2% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• 2% DamageBuff(Fire)
• 2% DamageBuff(Cold)
• 2% DamageBuff(Energy)
• 2% DamageBuff(Negative)
• 2% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• 2% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• 22.6% Defense(Smashing)
• 22.6% Defense(Lethal)
• 14.1% Defense(Fire)
• 14.1% Defense(Cold)
• 20.4% Defense(Energy)
• 20.4% Defense(Negative)
• 6% Defense(Psionic)
• 18.5% Defense(Melee)
• 23.5% Defense(Ranged)
• 22.3% Defense(AoE)
• 2.25% Max End
• 2% Enhancement(Stun)
• 5% Enhancement(Heal)
• 37.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• 3% Enhancement(Immobilize)
• 59% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• 21% FlySpeed
• 87.7 HP (8.63%) HitPoints
• 21% JumpHeight
• 21% JumpSpeed
• Knockback (Mag -8)
• Knockup (Mag -8)
• MezResist(Immobilize) 4.95%
• 14.5% (0.24 End/sec) Recovery
• 20% (0.85 HP/sec) Regeneration
• 2.84% Resistance(Fire)
• 2.84% Resistance(Cold)
• 1.88% Resistance(Negative)
• 21% RunSpeed
• 4% XPDebtProtection

I don't know your play style, but I wouldn't play that build. How familiar are you with fire blast and fire manipulation? I'm guessing, not very.

Here are some things that I would do differently.

1. Take flares. When mezzed, blasters can fire off their tier 1 and tier 2 blasts and their tier 1 secondary power. For fire/fire, that means they can use flares, fire blast and ring of fire. Flares used to be a junk power that no one took anymore, but that's not the case anymore and it's now a very effective attack. Same with ring of fire *if* it's slotted up for damage.

2. Blasters live and die by damage, and they should slot up every attack up to the ED maximum of 95% (or more). You have several attacks (in fact, almost all of them except for blaze and rain of fire) that are poorly slotted for damage, some that are poorly slotted for accuracy, recharge and end redx. I usually aim for 50%+ accuracy, 95%+ damage, 33%+ recharge, 33%+ end reduction, all achievable with either smart IO or SO enhancement slotting. The most irritating thing to a blaster: having the minion or Lt at a sliver of health and able to fire back at you. When you blast something, you want it down for the count.

3. Combustion, hot feet, blazing aura, bonfire - some players love them, I think they're garbage. They're great powers for tankers and controllers who have either the crowd control, defense or hitpoints that can use them to great effect. For blasters, they're an invitation to get a lot of aggro and face plant. On paper, the powers sound great, but in actual practice, they don't work out the way you think they should.

4. It's pretty clear to me that you don't understand how set bonuses work, otherwise you wouldn't 4 slot Decimation, ignoring it's very important 6.25% recharge bonus or overslot powers like rain of fire (which run into ED limits on damage). Also, none of your global bonuses match...you have a little bit of recharge, a little bit of different kinds of defense, some hitpoint bonuses, etc., but none of which combined add up to anything significant. If you're going to spend that much influence on IOs, try to maximize one or two aspects and focus on getting bonuses that give that aspect. For blasters, popular bonuses are ones that grant +recharge, +ranged defense, +smashing/lethal defense, +hp and +recovery. Considering the haphazard way you slot stuff, maybe go with a frankenslotting approach (buy cheap set recipes and maximize their enhancment values)? That would be more effective than what you have and far cheaper.

1. The drop rate is currently borked on live, but a fix is on the way. Synapse hasn't revealed the bug that is causing the low number of drops, but has admitted that it is caused by an old bug that has resurfaced. After the fix, the drop rate should return to normal.

2. AE, especially those with custom critters, give out terrible rewards. I tried a Developer's Choice arc recently and it gave me 71 xp for a yellow conning minion (compred to around 450 xp for a normal, canon mob). The ticket reward for such critters are also substantially reduced. I hate to say it, but if you want a decent number of tickets, you make a custom arc, fill it canon mobs (Council, Circle of Thorns, etc.) of all types (minions, Lts., bosses), and then farm it at +0 level x 8 players, no bosses difficulty.

3. You can still use the market to get what you want.

* Salvage prices have largely crashed, but this makes crafting common IOs much cheaper. There's still a steady and reliable profit to be made by just taking cheap salvage, memorizing a recipe and turning it into an IO that someone wants. I've actually been surprised by the high prices of some of the common IOs on the market.

* There are plenty of market niches, where you buy an uncommon recipe right off the market, buy the required salvage right off the market, craft it and sell the crafted IO for a substantial profit. Crafted IOs can fetch up to 20-30 times the price of the raw recipe. I'm actually not sure why, because anybody can simply just buy the recipe and the salvage and pay the low price themselves. The market penalizes the impatient or those that don't want to craft things themselves.

* With rare salvage prices going up, flipping rare salvage can be profitable again. If you see the last 5 prices as 1.5M, 1.5M, 897k, 1.5M, 1.5M, someone bid on and acquired a piece of salvage at the 897k price. They in turn either used it in a recipe or relisted the salvage to realize a profit (probably listed it at 1.4001M or the like). I personally don't go for this particular approach in my marketeering, but just mention it for the sake of inclusiveness.

4. You can use merits to get what you want. Blue side story arcs for example can yield a surprising amount of merits, and I know some players who essentially farm these story arcs over and over again (boring, but profitable). However, just going for the Task Force Commander accolade can yield you 282 reward merits. 200 of that could be used to buy a LoTG +Recharge (either to use or sell on the market) or you can do 14 random recipe rolls (that's what I'd do).