Grey Pilgrim

Patches of fire are always kind of tricky. I hear you on the name, too.

What you suggest isn't too different from what I've been wanting out of Burn from Fiery Aura for a long time as well. That power has the same fear effect problem, which makes it not very useful for a Tanker (AR has enough other tricks that I don't mind it as much, though).

It'd be nice to see both powers tweaked that way: make it an attack with a to-hit requirement. If it lands, the DoT is applied. Adjust the damage, DPE, recharge, etc. as needed. I think most would be happy with that change-up, even if it'd make it less useful on AVs (as I'm sure the damage would reduced for this change).

So ironic, given your name.

I have to give my Ice Tanker a roll with power customization, actually. I didn't really like how covered up he got either, but you can make it so your ice is pretty clear (you just can guess at the shape of the armor around you: it is otherwise translucent), and you'll be able to see your costume, etc. pretty well. A friend of mine had an ice defender that switched up like this, and I appreciated it. I like the ice shields they handed out, but not how they changed up my look.

Well, Shield CAN feel squishy (well, squishy for a tank)... if they can get through your defenses, that is. So the mobs to be aware of are Nemesis, Devouring Earth, and Cimerorans. Nems are interesting, as you can be fighting them just fine in a team and suddenly run into trouble when Vengeance gets stacked enough that they can hit you frequently through your defenses. Same for those quartzes or whatever that DE throw down: you want to destroy those ASAP, as that will let any DE in the area hit through your defenses. Cimerorans are only an issue if they manage to debuff you to low levels.

There are ways around those issues... being aware of your defense levels is the biggest thing. Grab Tough to help curb damage that comes through, more regen, or Aid Self. Popping One With the Shield preemptively is also key... if you're on an 8-man team and Vengeance is really stacked, you will survive if you hit OWTS quickly enough. If you wait until you're in the red... not quite a guarantee. For Cimerorans, just get out of melee range for a few seconds to shed all the def debuffs.

Other mobs will be pretty easy, which is why those three groups stand out (there are some Praetorian mobs that debuff defense, but I didn't notice them as much for some reason). Carnies were no issue at all, and Rikti are laughably easy... I hardly got singed on the couple of raids I was on with my Shield Tanker, and I helped out fellow raiders around me with my defense aura.

Probably the biggest thing I missed on my Shield tanker was a heal for when things went south. Other than that, it should be tougher than Ice Tankers, I would say (though Ice can handle things going bad a bit more easily).

I always feel bad when I'm scrapping and I see a squishy being attacked. Sometimes you can help by running in and attacking, but it's usually not enough. I try to maintain scrapperlock/scrapperfocus, but it's still hard... always makes me wish I was a tank.

I don't think any AT has anything major to fear. Some adjustments may need to be made, but there is far too much doomsaying about ATs and Going Rogue. I think Scrappers and Brutes have pros and cons that can balance out as well.

Also, having more HP means Healing Flames heals more damage, correct? It says it heals a percentage of your health, so that's how it should work. So more HPs means you can absorb and heal more.

I go for all the +hp from IOs and accolades that I can, and it does help quite a bit: more HP for any Tanker is going to help a lot. It can help more squishy characters like Blasters, too, but you notice it the most on Tanks.

Anyway, a few more thoughts. I tank just fine for the ITF with my Fire/Fire, and can fight the mobs on the Cim wall just fine the few times I've done it solo (so a lot of damage without support). So a Fire/Fire should be able to run the ITF if set up right. Also, while defense debuffs are going to hit you with full force on a Fiery Aura tank, it's still worth getting that defense. It'll keep some of those debuffs from hitting you (against defense or another debuff) and help you last longer. The Cimerorans generally have to take a few swings at my Fire tank before his defense starts going down, and that would not be the case if I did not slot for defense. When I'm fighting another type of mob, it's nice that they don't always hit, either. To use the ITF for an example again, it sure is nice while fighting all the Nicti. I have some slow resists, but it's even better for you if you can dodge the slow debuffs.

Ummm, what? I thought it was ridiculous when all it did (pretty much) was stun the foe. You smash a huge hunk of metal on the opponent's skull, and there is an entirely appropriate "thunk" to the power. Fits for me.

You could maybe argue some of the weaker powers should lose the slight ripping sound to them, as not all customized maces have a tearing edge, but you'd probably get as many people disliking any changes BAB made as like the changes. Which is why they are loath to change things like that up.

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Elec/ really should be more solid against the Rikti, at least for absorbing damage. Those capped elec resists and higher S/L resists will be handy, there. As for damage, Fire damage is nice against the Rikti, as they don't resist it. For that setup, Fire as a secondary is better than Elec, I guess.

Wait, what? How did you pick off anything at range on a Stalker? Do the Patron ranged powers do enough DPS to do that? Or did you pull one of them from range?

I know the ranged trick can work, as that is what we did on the all Kheld ITF to clear the Nictus around Romulus, but I didn't think that was an option with Stalkers.

Did you just have bad luck with your defense not saving you from the crystals? Or did some of the non-defensive stalkers forget to get out of range? Heh.