Inercia

I just wanted to point that your two ^^^ avatars together... me likes.

EDIT: Oh! And bad bad SG leader

Frankenslotting tends to be better in utility powers with diverse effects. My Dark Servant is franknslotted, too as are most powers of my characters.

In the attack powers though, I think some sets give very good slotting of ACC, DAM, RECH and END and also very good set bonuses: Thunderstrike, Crushing Impact are two good examples of this.

Then there are characters whose high-performance relies a lot in the set bonuses: SR scrappers with soft-capped defense come to mind and also fire or dark tankers that do not want to go the Acrobatics route and need a couple anti-KB IOs. I am sure wer all can think ina couple or more examples where some set bonuses really do pay.

Anyway, we are maybe drifting a bit away from the Multi-builds topic.
All in all, I hope (against all hope, probably) that we can copy our enhancements in the second build.

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Yes. Crushing Impact gives better enhancemnt bonuses than Mako's Bite, and costs much less.

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Well, maybe Crushing Impact is cheaper than Mako's Bite, but it is not in any way "cheap". Specially villain-side.
You can end up paying like 2-4 millions for the expensive ones (3 of each 5) and 0.5-1 million for the cheaper ones (2 of each 5). This makes each set of five cost about 11 millions. Multiply that for 5... 55 millions plus salvage plus crafting cost. And the availability is another factor to consider... again, specially villain-side.

PD: I know the set has 6 enhancements, but the last set bonus does not interest me and the aspects I want to enhance in my attack powers are enhanced enough with 5 enhancements.

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Heard of Crushing Impact? Tiny fraction of the cost.

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Sorry, I don't understand. I mean really, no disrespect or anything other here. I do not understand your post but I think is directed at me (for the Crushing Impact reference).

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2- Use cheaper enhancements: common IOs, SOs. This way, your second build will be effectively less powerful than the first, and the resulting feeling will be... disappointment.


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The effect of IO sets is so small you would be pushed to notice any difference.

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I don't agree.
The difference of having or not having five Crushing Impact sets slotted is 25% recharge and 35% accuracy. Definitely I would notice that in my SS/Electric brute.

Knockback protection and stealth are obviously noticeable too.

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From the recent interviews, it looks like you go to a trainer to actiavte (and also swap between) multi-builds. When you do (presumably for the first time), you enter a respec process, which lets you create your second build.

What definately isn't going to happen is that they copy your enhancements. As Standoff says, you'd end up with empty enhancement slots in the alternative build. If anyone can't figure out why that is, they really aren't trying.

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Thinking about it, my guess is that when you activate the dual-builds thing for the first time you should be able to "respec" both builds. Would make much more sense.

The fact of having to get all the enhancements TWICE would be, IMHO, a very bad decision. It would encourage twice the farming. I think it would be better if they implement some way in which the enhancements are transfered to the second build and only those that are not used in none of the two builds are allowed to be sold (otherwise people would use the second build to duplicate expensive enhancements, of course).

The thought of having to buy like ten extra anti-knockback IOs for my fire tanker and all my squishies, several stealth IOs, lots of Crushing Impact full sets... argh, no please!

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Of course, you only "need" to do all that extra farming if:

1) You want to use the second build in the first place, and

2) You want to use uber stuff in that second build

Also, with the new TF/recipe token system coming in I13 it should need a lot less farming to get a specific rare recipe.

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Well, I know I am maybe stretching the meaning of the word "need" and we don't want to argue about semantics (do we?), but I, even not being a PvPer nor a hardcore player (not totally "casual player" either), will be using the dual-build option as will do many players. Most of them I hope (and so does NCNC or they wouldn't be implementing this system).

I am not talking about "purpling-out" two entire builds, not even getting procs and lots of Uniques... just getting standard IOs and some pretty IO sets. Even that may be a chore if you multiply it by 2. Some "QoL" IOs (anti-KB and stealth, for example) are pretty expensive and even difficult to get (specially villain-side) and getting them TWICE to try a different build approach...simply ARGH!

I really would like to try a human-only build for my WS, a solo build for my fire tank, my mind/empath troller and my dark defender... maybe an stamina-less build for my MM... dunno, I think that if I have to get all the necessary enhancements again I will simply not do it, as won't many others. What are the options if you have to get all the enhancements for the new build?
1- Farm. Get lots of inf. Equip your second build with enhancements of the same "quality" as the first build. Farm = boring. Don't want.
2- Use cheaper enhancements: common IOs, SOs. This way, your second build will be effectively less powerful than the first, and the resulting feeling will be... disappointment.

On the other hand... if we have two builds, when we use a respec will it allow us to respec both of them or only the one that is active at the time? So many questions, so few answers...

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From the recent interviews, it looks like you go to a trainer to actiavte (and also swap between) multi-builds. When you do (presumably for the first time), you enter a respec process, which lets you create your second build.

What definately isn't going to happen is that they copy your enhancements. As Standoff says, you'd end up with empty enhancement slots in the alternative build. If anyone can't figure out why that is, they really aren't trying.

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Thinking about it, my guess is that when you activate the dual-builds thing for the first time you should be able to "respec" both builds. Would make much more sense.

The fact of having to get all the enhancements TWICE would be, IMHO, a very bad decision. It would encourage twice the farming. I think it would be better if they implement some way in which the enhancements are transfered to the second build and only those that are not used in none of the two builds are allowed to be sold (otherwise people would use the second build to duplicate expensive enhancements, of course).

The thought of having to buy like ten extra anti-knockback IOs for my fire tanker and all my squishies, several stealth IOs, lots of Crushing Impact full sets... argh, no please!

So...
Fitness and Fighting pools you say, uh...?

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Cheese Control
- Floor Of Fondue (Mudpots, heat DoT)
- Roquefort (AoE Choke/Vomit)
- Animate Parmesan


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- Skeezy Cheeses Which I can't Describe (AoE Confuse)

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Oh! Jeebus! A fellow BtVS fan! I loved the musical episode too.

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Rarist powerset. I don't think I have ever seen any blasters Ice/Dev, Sonic/Dev, AR/Ice.


[/ QUOTE ]I've seen all of those, and have an AR/Ice myself.

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I have an AR/Ice, too.
Ice patch + ignite = fun

My first character was an energy blaster.
After that, everything is hard to play because it takes forever to kill something.

(Just kidding, for if it was not evident enough)
EDIT: mispellings

This sounds very fun.
Is it too late to join?
I have a lvl 50 Mind /Empathy on Defiant.
If possible sign me up as a reserve.

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Obviously I didn't make myself clear.
What I was referring is NOT that players cannot create equal or better content than developers. Creativity is out of the question.

What I meant is that of course developers have thought about the possibilities of the system to be exploited to farm, PL, badge-hunting or whatever and have taken steps to prevent it.

I am sorry if my poor mastery of the English language didn't make it clear.

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Thats not really true either, if you look at the history of things that have gotten ingame and then been exploited by the player base until the loophole is closed.

There's so many players trying different things that the breadth of their experimentation frequently exposes exploits the Devs never dreamt of when designing features.

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One thing is players farming Katie Hannon TF without beating the AV (for example)... and a very different thing is thinking the devs will allow players to create missions designed to be easily farmable. There is a world of difference.

Show some faith in the devs!

Obviously I didn't make myself clear.
What I was referring is NOT that players cannot create equal or better content than developers. Creativity is out of the question.

What I meant is that of course developers have thought about the possibilities of the system to be exploited to farm, PL, badge-hunting or whatever and have taken steps to prevent it.

I am sorry if my poor mastery of the English language didn't make it clear.

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Well good luck to them.
AFAIK this is the first attempt at a modern MMO allowing player content on there servers, I loved NWN and it was my first intro to online gaming but as stated earlier Bioware wouldn't 'host' for you.
Err farming, I imagine these tools will allow you little access to spawn size, enemy lvl (min,liet etc) or spawn density, I would disagree with Val because if the rewards are lesser than 'official' missions why would anyone play them at all. But yes basically abuse is possible and highly likely!!! So what enemy don't resist my dmg type, Who does just S/L damage again, I can kill 15 freaks per 30 secs or 25 hellions for a net gain of X, If I never face a end drain enemy again do I really 'need' Stamina. The questions are endless (And no I'm not available to hire for 'custom' missions)
A lot rides on the success of this IMO (issue 13 mmmm?) this could make it City of Endless Content or just City of Min/Maxers. Who knows which way it will go but as I said earlier best of luck to them glad I'm here along for the ride

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Yes because, you know, any wet-behind-the-ears-player can, in like 10 minutes, think of something that the whole team of developers, who are gaming professionals with years of experience, have not thought in the several months that they have spent developing this feature. Of course.

I am being sarcastic, for if it was not evident enough.

I am of the opinion that believing any of us is more clever than the collective brains of all the developer team is...well... a bit arrogant.

Disclaimer: For the record, even if I am quoting a post from Alphane, I am not impliying the "wet-behind-the-ears-player" or the "arrogant" is him in any way.
Just that what he exposed served me to illustrate what I mean.

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What would you rather do? The same damned boring mission ad-infinitum or a great arc that might not give you quite the same level of reward but a much better gaming experience?

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Better gaming experience IS the greatest level of reward. This is a game, and we play for fun... don't we?

I want to start a new tanker and I am set to use Willpower as a primary. I really want to have Quick Recovery at 12 and a good balanced set against all different kinds of damage.

I am having a trouble with my build though:
Tough + Weave would be great additions for survivality but then I would need Stamina to fuel all the toggles. But then, 6 powers... don't know how to fit them until level 41-44 (too high, I would lose interest before that).
I think if I do not include Tough+Weave I would not need Stamina but... probably my tank would not be very survivable.

I am not decided into one secondary or other, except I know I do not want Dual Blades (dislike), Energy Melee (already have), Axe (dislike) or Fire (already have to 50).
Of all the others I like Super Strenght (already have on a Brute but it is so cool...) and Mace (conceptual reasons for a Thor wannabe)...
I have absolutely no idea how Dark Melee, Ice Melee and Stone Melee are.
I know Dark Melee provides a +End power that could help in making Stamina not needed but the set does not seem very hard hitting.

Any insight for a good secondary and the trouble with Fighting and Fitness pool would be very much apreciated.

OK. I know how these things usually go. If I say that Gravity Control is lacking, I'll probably I will get some answers in this thread telling me that Gravity Control is perfectly fine as it is.

I am OK with that and if you play it and it works well for you then, congratulations.

But my opinion (and I think I am not alone in that) is that it is maybe the worst controller set and (probably because of that) the less popular.

And it is a pity, because I think it is conceptually a very cool set with unique powers and with some very minor tweaks it could be put on par with the other control sets.

My 0.02 inf on how to do it:

Lift. It has worst stats than Mind Control's Levitate. Just copy Levitate stats and we have a deal.

Propel. Just shave between half a second to one second of animation time and we have a very good deal. If necessary adjust damage to compensate.

Switch the levels of Dimension Shift (from 12 to 26) and Wormhole (from 26 to 12). Ok that probably is a major change, but IMHO Gravity Control is very lacking in AoE control for too many levels. Most sets (all?) have some form of more or less complete AoE control at level 12. Gravity has nothing similar to AoE control until 18 and then on a very long recharge. And let's face it, Dimension Shift is the power to skip here (together with all other "enemy phase" powers).

What do you think about that? (Yeah I know, probably kicking a dead horse here).

It seems quite strange to me to find this power in a control set.

Yes, I understand not all sets are created equal... and that is good because diversity is good and all powersets have to have a unique feel but... really... a "healing" power in a control set seems quite weird.

I just wanted to ask for your opinions. Not asking for it to be changed of course just asking if you think it is a good power in the set (I plan to skip it myself).

Aaaaaw... I have just missed to many Saturdays.
What level are you now guys?
I am also feeling that both my psi characters (psi blast /mm blaster and illusions/ff controller) are really not quite to my liking...
Also have a willpower/mace tank, but he is only lvl 12 and probably he is in the wrong server...

Just to add to the controversy:

As it is now, if you need/want lots of "cash" in the game you need to grind/farm/play a lot of hours so: Real Life time = in-game cash

If in-game cash (be it influence or recipes) was buyable through microtransactions, something that many people seem to fear (or so it seems reading this thread), then RL money = in-game cash

Just want to ask why everybody thinks it is fair that the people that have more RL free time to play can have more in-game cash but not the people that have more RL money.
Not saying that I think it should be, just asking what you guys think of that.

On the other hand, somebody said (or implied) there was no need for respecs if you planed your character carefully. Well, I plan my characters very carefully accounting for respecs. What I mean is, in my plan for a character development through the levels I account it will be respecced one or two times at least: for example to pick the three "necessary" fitness pool powers all at once when I reach level 20 instead of playing those 20 first levels wasting 2 power picks on unuseful powers like Health and Hurdle

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Over the many years and now several hundred comics that I have collect I can not once re-call a contemporary story line that ever had time travel with in it. Please if you could point one out I would appreciate it.

Further one of the main attractions of this game is that it is firmly entrenched in science fiction NOT fantasy. The very thought of blurring these lines sends shivers through me. These super-cala-fragalistic fatasmagorical flights of fantasy dilute the core of this game and should be left well alone……………I thank you!!

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Excuse me, what comic-books have you been reading?

To name a few examples of time travel in super-hero comic-books (the first ones taht pass through my head):
- X-Men's "Days of the Future past" one of the greatest sagas in Marvel mutant-verse. And it's repercussions are still rippling now several years later...

- Dr. Doom (Fantastic Four archnemesis) is well known to have a time travel machine he has used on several occasions to visit the greatest mystics of different times to learn the dark arts... and also for some other evil-deeds of course.

- The fact that Captain Marvel is nowadays alive in Marvel Universe is in itself a form of (quite interesting) time paradox.

My meaning: time travel in superhero comic-books is quite usual. I expect to see more of it in CoX, please.

On the other hand, the line that distinguishes science-fiction and Fantasy is very thin and, on occasions, subjective. I say without shadow of doubt that the original Star Wars saga is more of a typical Fantasy story that a science-fiction one.

Burn me as an heretic, but it is.

Don't even know if this post belongs here but...

The other day I was using the Powerset comparison feature of Mid's and I compared scrapper's Fiery Melee with tanker's Fiery Melee. The program told me that all the shared powers in both sets have the same damage (which should not be true).
To clarify, Mid's program told me that Scrapper's Fire Sword has same damage than Tanker's Fire Sword, and the same for other powers in the set.

I imagine this could be a bug in the powers database.

Can any of you check please?

The more I think about the Fire/Dark combo for tankers, the more I like it.

Maybe could be worth to consider if this build could go WITHOUT Stamina.

With Consume and Dark Consumption well slotted you could have their recharge reduced to 90 seconds each, so a +End power every 45 seconds (more or less).

On the other hand, the combo Midnight Grasp (damage + inmob) and Burn could be useful. Pity Midnight Grasp is only mag 3...

And sure it will be easier to hit more foes with Soul Drain on a tank that can herd a bit than on a scrapper.

Also, with Healing Flames and Siphon Life, this tank will sure be hard to kill.

The more I think about it, the more synergies I see.

What Shannon said about having a different "leveling build" than "mid-levels build" than "final build" is a wise advice IMHO. Otherwise, the first 20-24 levels are a pain and very boring if you have to fit 3 powers for Fitness pool and 2 more for travel on a character with 12-14 powers.

Lvl 45 Fire / Fire /Pyre - Angel of Flame. Very fun to play. Can solo. I suppose she is what people would call a "scranker".

Lvl 28 Invul / Energy Melee - Metal Gear. Not fun. Damage is pityful. I have not played him in the last 18 months. I doubt I will.

I am considering the possibility to roll a WP / Mace Thor wannabe, but after playing a fire tank and an Super Strenght /Elec brute, I am afraid I will find the damage so pityful that I will get bored with the character.

Full tanking is not for me I guess...