Local_Man

I use the Ice APP on most of my Stormies. Storm lacks both a self heal and any type of endurance recovery. Hibernate gives you both at the expense of freezing in place for a short time. Add that to the two AoE damage powers, defense based shield and a good single target blast, and the Ice APP is a pretty good set.

On the other hand, Plant is really lacking in strong single target damage. Earth APP's Seismic Smash gives you that strong single target damage and a faster recharging AoE (with very short range). But that Rock Armor is so UGLY. My Plant controllers generally tend to be back-to-nature types, so the armor just doesn't fit. (My Plant/Rad is a 60's throwback, "Pot Holder." Plant/Kin is "Flora the Explorer." Plant/Storm is "Zephyr Lilly," a real type of plant.)

One big advantage to Snow Storm is the -Fly. Roots won't catch anyone a few feet off the ground.

As for Spore Burst? There are too many good Storm powers that I would want to take rather than that sleep power. I have tried it on my Plant/Kin, but I'm not all that crazy about it. Personally, I'm not a big fan of "mule" powers -- I would rather DO something and give up a bonus.

I put a Devastation Chance for Hold proc in Lightning Storm . . . love that proc in there, and it fits theme-wise since the hold is a tesla cage.

Is this a character you already have a 50? And you are looking for an End Game build? Or are you looking at leveling up this character?

This build makes a lot of sacrifices to get a huge amount of defense -- over 51% when the soft cap is 45%. You have a huge amount of Recharge, too. However, I think some of your core powers are underslotted -- some people are willing to do that to get high bonuses, but I prefer slotting the powers to be effective first, then trying to get bonuses as, well, bonuses.

Block of Ice: 4 from the Basilisk set is not enough. I think it needs more Acc/Hold/Rech or Acc/Damage/Rech, depending on what you want out of the power.

No Ice Slick: this is a key power for an Ice controller. Some people think it becomes less useful in upper levels, but I disagree. It is my best opener. Arctic Air needs a few seconds to take effect, and Ice Slick gives you those seconds. Especially for an Ice/Kin, where you want to get "up close and personal" with the foes, Ice Slick allows you do that while they fall on their tails. With capped defenses, maybe you don't need this protection . . . but your teammates do. And what do you do before you get this mega-build completed?

No Shiver: On an Ice/Kin, two AoE slow powers are very useful. AA is PB AoE, and Shiver is ranged. The -Recharge is significant. I would take this over either of the Immobs or quite a few of your pool powers.

Frostbite: I didn't take this power until 30, because it conflicts with Ice Slick. On an Ice/Kin, I would say it is skippable but nice to have.

The only reason to take Chilblain is as a damage power in low levels, or as a way to Immob AVs in high levels. Having a single target Immob when you have an AoE Immob is a waste. If you are a team focused AoE controller not worried about damage, there is no need for this power. Certainly not over Ice Slick. Or Siphon Power.

Arctic Air: This is a power that really needs Frankenslotting. You need to maximize Confuse and EndRdx. The Contagious Confusion proc from the purple Coercive Persuasion set seems like it doubles the effectiveness of this power. A damage proc can be added AFTER maxing out both EndRdx and Confuse.

Kick: Do you actually use Kick as an attack? or just as a mule for some IOs? Because you are already over the softcap, and these slots could be better used somewhere else.

Stamina: Why the Efficacy Adaptor? That IO has no more benefit than a common IO. Why not the Performance Shifter EndMod?

Tough: If you got it, might as well slot it. Less damage is a good thing. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the fighting pool on Controllers, but with your goal for high defense, I can see why it is here. However, you have had to give up too much for it in my opinion.

Glacier: You have only 39% accuracy in a power with a 20% accuracy penalty. If you are going to use it, slot it. With your lack of AoE control (no Ice Slick), Glacier becomes more needed. It is way underslotted. Worry about getting the base enhancements up before that +2 Mag proc.

Speed Boost: Slotting SB for run speed is mostly done to tick people off when they suddenly run too fast. Replace that with an EndMod. And I would take this at 22 or 20, not 30. It is one of the best buffs in the game.

Jack Frost: Needs to be slotted for decent Accuracy and capped damage.

Fissure: I personally think that the Force Feedback proc is a waste, especially on a Kin where you already have a ton of Recharge. Also, this power is a damage power with a chance to stun. Slotting it as a stun is a waste.

Seismic Smash: More accuracy and capped damage.

There's more, but that's all I have time for. Ice is not a very popular controller primary due to the lack of damage, which may be why you didn't get many responses. Not many of us have much experience with it.

Here are my suggestions in light of your comments:

Char: replace one of the holds with a Damage.

Transfusion: Try 2 Acc, 2 Heal, 2 Rech. Don't forget that this is your -Regen for AVs, too, so being able to use it more often is good.

Fire Cages: change the Recharge to EndRdx -- this is one place where the EndRdx is needed. It already recharges quickly.

Siphon Power: I like 2 Acc, 1 Rech. But with Tactics, 1 Acc might be enough -- but I don't use Tactic on my Fire/Kin.

Smoke: It is autohit in PvE, and only needs Accuracy in PvP -- the Accuracy is wasted. Do you use it often enough to need EndRdx? It will generally be used before the fight starts. I would go with 1-3 ToHit Debuffs and that's it.

Siphon Speed: I prefer 2 Acc, 2-3 Rech. Granted, with Tactics, one Acc might be enough.

Stamina: I would three-slot it even with Transferance, assuming you have the slots (and you do if you take two out of Smoke). You can never have too much endurance.

Since you have so little defense, do you really need Maneuvers? I like having Bonfire as a kind of "panic button" and control power, and it only really needs 1 Recharge.

I put 2 EndRdx in Assault usually. It has a continual drain on your endurance.

Psi Tornado: Once you have it, you can decide if you like the Recharge there or would get more benefit from a third Damage.

Overall a very good build -- and very, very expensive. You have purple enhancments from 5 different sets, some of which are amazingly expensive. I hope you have several billion.

Your slotting of Hot Feet and Choking Cloud are exactly what I use. They work very well.

Some cheaper alternatives might be worth considering until you have the infl for that mega-expensive build. 5 Decimation + a hold in Char. 6-slotting Flashfire for 5 Stupify and a Recharge in place of the proc. Posi Blast in Psi Tornado.

If you are looking for Recharge, you could go for 4 Basilisk Gaze and some extra Acc/Hold/Rech in Cinders.

I'm not a big fan of Super Jump for controllers -- I like Fly better. (SJ is better on Scrappers/Tanks/Brutes.) You could replace CJ/SJ with Hover/Fly since Hover will take that expensive LotG. Also, I did not see any -knockback. You will want to slip in a Karma, Steadfast Protection or Zephyr -knockback somewhere.

Fire/Kinetics is a somewhat unique build, not ideal for learning about controllers in general. It is very strong at dealing AoE damage, which is why it is viewed as being an ideal farming character. However, Kinetics offers very little protection, so a Fire/Kin tends to die more often than other controllers. The best use of a Fire/Kin is to kill lots of lower level foes quickly. Also, it does not really mature until late in the build -- after getting Fire Imps at 32, Transference at 35 and Fulcrum Shift at 38, and then getting them slotted up. Because of the damage focus, its main "defense" is a good "offense" -- killing stuff fast.

As a result, it is generally better to build and slot for damage and recharge rather than defense on a Fire/Kin. Your build doesn't really follow that principle. If you intend to play your Fire/Kin only or mostly on larger teams, you would build more for control and recharge, a little less for damage. If you expect to solo or be on smaller teams, you want damage and recharge -- by the time your controls wear off, the foes should mostly be dead.

There are a lot of suggested changes I would have for your build, most of them based on the above. I suggest you take a look at the Guides section for Controllers. My Illusion/Radiation Guide (linked in my signature) has a section in the beginning on some basics for controllers. Then look for the Fire/Kin guides. Those should give you a good idea of where to start.

In general, (a) Recharge is better than Defense for controllers. Why? If the foes are held/stunned/flopping/slowed/confused/sleeping, they can't shoot at you. Plus, you get double damage from your non-pet attacks from Containment if the foe is Held, Stunned, Slept or Immobilized. (b) Small amounts of Defense provided minimal benefits, so getting small amounts of Defense usually is not worth the effort. On the other hand, large amounts of Defense are wonderful, but a controller can't get large amounts of defense without an extensive (and usually expensive) IO build. For most controllers, Recharge provides more benefit than Defense.

I play a LOT of controllers -- the only primaries I have yet to take to 50 are Mind and Grav, and I'm working on them. I have never taken the Fighting Pool on a Controller. I take Leadership on very few. I focus on getting my control and buff/debuff powers, and usually take Hasten to get those control powers to recharge as quickly as possible.

You seem to have a lot of focus on EndRdx. Once you get Transferance at 35, you will not need most of that EndRdx. After level 35, you should be able to drop the EndRdx in most powers other than Hot Feet.

Standard base slotting for control powers is 2/2/2 -- two accuracy, 2 recharge, 2 whatever your mez is (Hold, Stun, etc.); look at that for Flashfire and Cinders. For a team build, you can do the same for Char, but for solo, I like getting some damage in it. Standard slotting for AoE Immob powers is 2 Acc, 1-2 EndRdx. No Immob needed since it recharges much faster than its duration. If you are mostly playing solo, consider taking Ring of Fire slotted as a damage power (1 Acc, 3 Dam) for those lower levels.

Hot Feet needs capped EndRdx, as much Damage as you can fit in and a little accuracy, and a little slow if you can fit it in -- IOs and "frankenslotting" (mixing sets) really helps here. With SOs, I'd go with 3 EndRdx, 1 Acc, 2 Dam.

Siphon Speed could use another Recharge or two.

No travel power until 49? Unless you plan on spending all your time in the AE and never doing missions outside of the building, you will need a travel power sooner than that. AE missions are not the best way to learn how to be a controller in my opinion. Some people get by on the temp travel powers, but there are some nice benefits to the real travel powers.
Drop the Fighting pool, add Hasten and a travel power earlier. Or, you could wait until 28 and take Inertial Reduction for travel.

Health doesn't need 3 slots since you have a heal power. 1 is enough unless you get some of those nice IO procs like the Miracle +Recovery or Numina's Regen/Recovery.

Stamina could be moved to 20. Speed Boost should have an EndMod in it, not an EndRdx.

On Stealth: I wouldn't take it. If you want stealth or even invis, you can add a Stealth IO to travel powers or a Sprint power. If you want full invis, you can combine Super Speed with a Stealth IO. Another option is Smoke. (I have Smoke on my Fire/Kin, but not on my Fire/Rad -- it is OK, but skippable. I mostly use it because I have it, and not because I feel it does a lot of good. But I think it provides more benefit than Stealth, since it is helps the team if you are on a team, and even keeps the foes from seeing your Imps a little while longer if you are solo.)

Standard IO slotting for Transferance is 2 Acc, 2 EndMod, 2 Rech. For Fulcrum Shift, 2 Acc, 3 Rech.

I have the Earth APP on my Fire/Kin. I think it provides the best combo of benefits . . . a short-range AoE that has a chance to Stun, which will stack with the Stun in Flashfire. A very strong Single-target melee attack, something that Fire/Kin needs for tough foes. Defense based S/L armor, and a huge HP buff/heal.

But if you want to stick with the Psi APP set, you need to slot Indomidible Will with 3 Recharge. The main benefit of the Psi pool is IW's mez protection, so you want it up as much as possible. Also, Psi Tornado is a decent AoE damage power with knock up. (I have the Psi APP on my Fire/Rad.)

Frankly, it really depends on the type of team. If you have a "steamroll" team, then you may not get much use out of Wormhole. However, if you have a more strategic team, one that takes it time and plans how to best handle situations, then Wormhole can be wonderful.

Find a Traps Defender to team with . . . Wormhole on top of traps is just sick.

I skipped Thunder Kick, and use Air Superiority for its knockdown benefit. While Cobra Strike is skippable as part of your attack chain, you can stack the stun in Eagle's Claw and Cobra Strike to stun bosses.