Leo_G

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Brutes are not imbalanced when it comes to basic solo functionality (except where compared to Scrappers wherein they maintain virtually identical damage while maintaining a significant survivability advantage thanks to the insurmountable issue of higher base hit points). Brutes only become noticeably imbalanced when their caps are actually considered because they're capable of overshadowing or equalling both Scrappers and Brutes in every single way at the same time.

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I always thought Brutes were a bit too much. With their good mitigation caps, their higher than anyone else's damage caps plus the ability to boost their damage to nearly scrapper levels with a little work. They simply have to deal with the annoying bar pushing them on and on.

I wouldn't suggest nerfing Brutes, per se. But they need a disadvantage and I think it should be that bar. A blessing and a curse. If I were thinking of changes, I'd give certain abilities -fury debuffs that either directly lower fury or slows down it's generation or speeds up its decay. You could link it to certain debuffs or controls or whatever would be balanced...

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Either way, I've never really seen a problem between the two of them. Stalkers get more ST damage, control, and control over damage variability, but lose AoE damage and survivability. None of those values are particularly large compared to what it is opposed by, so it's balanced quite well, especially considering the near direct comparison of powersets.

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So we're in agreement. There is really nothing wrong with Stalkers. With Going Rogue, I doubt their team spot will be in any more danger than it is now vs Brutes.

It's a shame that more players don't make Stalkers though. They really do have quite a unique playstyle from the other melees and vs AVs, their crit rate can make them quite the dmg dealers on full teams.

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The reason Stalkers have less HP is to balance the fact they have passive stealth, less aggro grabbing abilities and higher critical hit potential. Seriously, they have 2x the crit chance of scrapper with the potential to ramp it up to over 6x the crit chance on teams plus 1-2 controlled crits as well. 50% crit chance on AoEs already cements the fact that Stalkers trade HP for crits. It's a fine trade IMO.

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Honestly, both of those situations are assuming worst case for Scrappers. In best average case, Scrappers are going to be managing 10% crit rate, if only because minions die so fast and a number of the more commonly used Scrapper attacks have superior crit rates. This is actually tied with the absolute worst Stalker case, though, keep in mind that Stalkers have a lower damage modifier than Scrappers. Assuming best cases for both, Stalkers have nearly three times the crit rate as Scrappers (10% compared with 31%) with the ability to guarantee a few of their crits as well (though the actual DPS loss thanks to having to resume stealth or activate Placate often makes this an even trade) which, incorporating base damage scalars, actually makes Stalkers substantially better at dealing damage simply because they've got a better functional multiplier. Of course, if you look at the hit point disparity, it's actually rather well balanced considering.

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So you're pretty much just agreeing with what I said?

Also, point against Scrappers: I find they overkill-crit about as often as they don't so it's like half those crits aren't even on the radar. Stalkers on the other hand, often frontload a controlled crit to balance out those occasional overkill-crits. I won't even bring up the double assassin strike...

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So...

Looks like MA and SS are getting variant animations. Think it might happen for other sets eventually?

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Stalker - Assassination - not so much the inherent but more of the base survivability of the AT here. It's a pretty sick joke to give them blaster base hp and hp cap and then give them regeneration as secondary.

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Why even comment if you're not going to talk about the inherent?

The reason Stalkers have less HP is to balance the fact they have passive stealth, less aggro grabbing abilities and higher critical hit potential. Seriously, they have 2x the crit chance of scrapper with the potential to ramp it up to over 6x the crit chance on teams plus 1-2 controlled crits as well. 50% crit chance on AoEs already cements the fact that Stalkers trade HP for crits. It's a fine trade IMO.

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Considering how hair-trigger people are about any little thing in this game (A kill-all?! The nerve! Enemies wearing purple?? I HATE PURPLE! Enemies actually killed my Tanker?!! CHEAP! 1 STAR, JERK!), no thanks. It would only add another level of needless complication onto a straightforward quest system. Plus, I would fully expect such a system to be griefed. Devs nerf your favorite powerset? Go mark every single in-game arc as 1 star!

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I'm cynical too, but that's a bit of a stretch. The legitimate reviews always outweigh the knee-jerks. Works for AE, can work for the real thing.

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What's a knee-jerk?

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New animations need to be made. It's as simple as that. The technology to swap them obviously exists, as Martial Arts and Super Strength will be allowed to swap animations, presumably with animations of the same duration and timing.

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Question: Did they actually say you could swap the animations? Or could this possibly be adding powers that 'resemble' the current sets' powers that gray out the similar power once choosen?

I ask because what alternate animation can you really choose for powers like Foot Stomp, Hand Clap and Hurl?

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Yes, that's right; Power Colorization, because that's what it is.

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Was someone implying it was anything different? And just to nit-pick, I'd call it 'Color Customization' as Power Colorization would imply we've been shooting black, white and grey blast for the past several years.

To further nit-pick, even if someone on the boards was implying that this was power customization, it can be argued that it is because we'll get to choose alternate animations for Martial Arts and Super Strength.

As for the suggestion, I doubt we'll ever get a set-less power selection options. Powersets just don't blend well because they aren't the same power but with different animations/fx bagged in separate sets. You can look at any armor set as a testament to that (Can you say Electric Armor but skip Conserve Power for Dark Regeneration?)

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Burst dmg is better for stalkers than dps

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I'll play Dark Melee for that, thank you


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Except that dark melee does have good single target burst damage, for stalkers. I've got 2 DM stalkers at 50, I would know.

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Did you mean to say DM doesn't have good ST burst damage for stalkers?

Because I've seen posters crunch the numbers and having the damage rival EM's. Compared to the other sets I've played (Elec Melee, Dual Blades, Spines), DM feels the burst-iest in ST dmg.

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Burst dmg is better for stalkers than dps

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I'll play Dark Melee for that, thank you

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Not like ElM wasnt copyed from claws or anything >.>

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Personally, I think it has to do with the electricity. You crouch down with nothing from your fist and then electricity starts jumping from your hand and then *CHIDO...* I mean *BOOM!!* It's like you're actually charging an attack.

Claws isn't so bad but it just looks like you're crouching there waiting.

I'm sorry to keep posting. I'm annoyed, really...

Seriously, Broadsword is a downgrade from Katana. The animations of BS are just that horrid. Whoo, I'm going to swat at you with a metal stick!1!! Just need to give the set a fly swatter custom weapon and you're set.

The assassin's strike would have to be ridiculously spectacular to make up for it. But it's not like they can't do that (looks at Electric Melee).

Now if they ever make a Big F$#&ing Sword set, I hope they actually make the animations using more body movement to convey a weapon with weight.

...that and Scythe Melee...

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Does that mean Cold Domination is just Force Field with debuffs?

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I wasn't aware Cold Domination had a repulsion bubble and Force Field had a +HP buff and stealth aura.

They aren't the same but Katana/Broadsword is barring animation. If you're a numbers freak, the recharge, damage and endurance costs are lower on Katana while Broadsword's is shifted up.

Just to be thorough, they both have: ST weak attack, ST weak fast attack, taunt, build up, +def buff attack, moderate damage cone, PbAoE attack +DoT, knock-up attack, knock-down narrow cone (and an Assassin's Strike for Stalkers)

I feel cheated, really. Everyone else gets new sets (two in some cases) and yet Stalkers get a reskin of a set they already have. They haven't really had any 'new' sets either (the other melees got Shields tho)...

But you know what? Go ahead. Do it. Then after that, there won't be any other sets left to port but the good ones. Ice melee/armor, Fire melee/armor, Axe and Mace. The next time they throw a dart, they can't miss.

Heck, even Stone melee/armor, while thematically inappropriate, would still be amazing with its controls.

PS: Headsplitter ain't all that. It's a narrow cone with only a 50% chance to crit from hide....

Wow, this [censored!] sucks...

Thanks for the info!

When making the arc, I didn't want to put AVs in it because I thought they would ruin the ability to solo the arc. Perhaps I could scale up one of the EBs to an AV and then just put a disclaimer in the accept text that the AV is in there.

As for the work arounds, the idea was basically a genocide mission where most of the targets are running for their lives (it's a villain arc) or weak enough to swat them down with ease (and en mass). You know, bad guy stuff...but there is no underling setting to make them quickly killable so perhaps the fear option might work. There would be heroes trying to stop you but you kill them too.

I'll try using that work around but is there a way to spawn no enemies and on a map and just have these escorts/boss spawns?

I've been working on an arc and I've got the meat of it down and polishing the dialog. One thing I'd like to know:

-Can you make enemies not attack? Or run away after attacking?

I ask because these enemies aren't really fighters, they're citizens you have to kil-erhm, defeat...There are suppose to be patrols with aggressive versions but it breaks immersion (and alot of the dialog I made) when these non-violent targets stand and fight.

Other question if you have time to answer:

-Do EBs scale to team size? Do they change to AVs? Do AVs downgrade to EBs when solo?

Thanks for any answers.

I remember suggesting that a while back but rather than land near the enemy, you land back where you started. So the attack would have been essentially a 30-40ft ranged attack with your body as the projectile.

Then I learned projectiles are the particle effects and those were hard-baked into the powers

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I invited 6 people to a Manticore TF this afternoon-invited everyone I could find, took everyone who wanted to come- and it was mostly level 50 defenders and controllers.

I present to you: A Data Point.

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So when I take my Stalkers blue-side, then I won't have trouble finding TF teams?

February 8, 2010 2:31 pm eastern time...

If we get more than just the list of preset colors (red, blue, green,yellow, etc) and can choose from the pallet like costume colors then a 'match color' feature might not actually match the colors anyway.

Energy melee is a mix of red and white so visually looks like pink. Sonic is just white (or gray) so if you matched them both red, sonic would look darker.

Anyway, a feature like this wouldn't be too bad though. I never actually use it though. I always tinker with shades and hues to get what I want.

So you anywhere near completing this build? Or you expecting it to fall out of the sky and impregnate you? Because I'd totally let that build do that to me...

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lol today was interesting...i learned alot though, check out this new build fully socketed spent some good influence, but i think it was worth it

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/3075/69497824.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4392/75983501.jpg

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3122/63176698.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]not too bad, your build is ED compliant, now its time for you to learn about invention sets and really unlock your power. some people might be surprised with flurry and whirlwind, but if they work for you, run with it.

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NO!

No no no no nonono....I wouldn't suggest going into invention sets just yet. I would suggest learning the tools in the game to start understanding basic power attributes first.

For example: you have Temporary Invulnerability slotted for recharge when it already recharges quite fast. You have stealth slotted for defense when it has a very small bonus to defense (therefore slotting for it gives a small bonus as well).

There are in game tools to see just how much resistance, damage or recharge a power has so start educating by knowing what your powers can do.

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How about if you don't do IO's at all, and use the game like it was initially designed? The game can be much more challenging then.

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No no they want more challenging. I propose they remove all of their enhancements and run on the highest difficulty. That should be more challenging.

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Shattering your elbows and fingers because you find golf too easy is probably a good idea too.

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Playing a different game rather than trying to rewrite the rules of golf for everyone is another more intelligent option.

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Worked for Jordan.

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This = not right


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It's a great example of Vahz aggression.

It's not a good example of any other kind.

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My point was that it's not even a good example of that since I can supply endless screenshots of that not happening. This may very well have been a "one-off" bug that was saved precisely because it was so unusual, but is now being trotted out as universal proof that mobs are insufficiently aggressive.

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here's 2 more "one-off"'s

one-off one

one-off two

I have 22 more one-offs if you'd like me to post those, too . . .

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You do realize their backs are turned. They don't have eyes in the back of their head even if you killed one of theirs before resting.

Also, even if the mobs did have eyes in the back of their heads, it wouldn't make the game any more challenging. My stalkers kill guys without being noticed all the time. If enemies started auto aggroing, my stalkers would just have to do what they always have planned:

DM = Touch of Fear one, placate the other
Dual Blades = either continue the Empower or Sweep combo or jump back and 1k cut everything
Elec melee = kill everything

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I don't need eyes in the back of my head to know someone's 5 ft behind me . . . especially if they shoot lasers from their eyes and are intent on dragging me to jail AND it's my one and only job to guard the fort.

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You do if you're fighting my guys. And those eyes need x-ray vision and thermal as well as little mouths on them that shout announcements of every thing they see.

My stalkers are that hardcore sneaky...and my scrappers are smart and my blasters are conservative and my doms are (for the most part) sane. Oh, and they have super powers. If they can manage to kill/detain someone without alerting the schmoe with his back turned who's texting his GF about how boring it is guarding a warehouse, they will.

If you don't like it, go take provoke. Or just hop around slinging insults at the enemy a-la-spiderman.

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This = not right


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It's a great example of Vahz aggression.

It's not a good example of any other kind.

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My point was that it's not even a good example of that since I can supply endless screenshots of that not happening. This may very well have been a "one-off" bug that was saved precisely because it was so unusual, but is now being trotted out as universal proof that mobs are insufficiently aggressive.

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here's 2 more "one-off"'s

one-off one

one-off two

I have 22 more one-offs if you'd like me to post those, too . . .

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You do realize their backs are turned. They don't have eyes in the back of their head even if you killed one of theirs before resting.

Also, even if the mobs did have eyes in the back of their heads, it wouldn't make the game any more challenging. My stalkers kill guys without being noticed all the time. If enemies started auto aggroing, my stalkers would just have to do what they always have planned:

DM = Touch of Fear one, placate the other
Dual Blades = either continue the Empower or Sweep combo or jump back and 1k cut everything
Elec melee = kill everything