MissKyo

Thanks, ClawsandEffect, but no thanks. You may dislike how I've chosen to build the character, and you may think it's "wrong" because it's not the way you did it, but the fact stands that it's a build that works absolutely perfectly for me. Saying "No offense, but..." means that you KNOW that everything following that statement is offensive, and you seem to have worded your post to be as offensive as possible, throwing around words like "asinine" and phrases like "better than yours in every measurable way". I've spent a year and a half on this toon, building and rebuilding and refining it to what I want it to be, and I didn't ask for "help", I simply posted it as something that other people might be interested in seeing. Thank you for reminding me why I never post anything in this section of the forums-because it's the only place I seem to run into opinionated, pretentious players who refuse to entertain the notion that there are multiple ways of building a toon and as long as they work for the person who plays them, who cares if they're perfect?

The fact that you felt you needed to "slap together a build" tells me you don't have a Claws/Willpower scrapper. I don't try to advise people on how to build their Warshades, because I don't have any; I think it's awfully pretentious to think you can just "slap together" a build and say it works when you don't have, and have not played, that particular build.

I actually had no trouble not only tanking the ITF, but stealing aggro from the two brutes who were on the team with me at the time-both of whom expressed surprise that I was able to steal aggro from them at all on a scrapper, let alone a WP scrapper. We had no support at all. I also tanked an LGTF two nights ago, which is less impressive just because psychic damage hardly touches me at all. My Follow Up rarely misses, if ever, and that helps my other powers along quite nicely.

I have tried building this toon out focusing on resistance and typed defenses, and I hated it. It was expensive, clunky, and annoyingly squishy. Now, I die maybe once a night, if that, and since I have a self rez I'm not terribly worried about it. It's an inexpensive build that works for the way I play it.

Well, we went AGAIN today to see the surgeon who's supposed to put in the nerve block...

Only to be told "He's overbooked today and we want to take out time on him because he's a special case, can you come back next Thursday?"

At least this time he got to talk to the surgeon's assistant instead of just the receptionist, but jeez. We're really starting to wish they'd just GET IT OVER WITH ALREADY!

Layla! You're so talented! I'm going to have to get one. Or four. Or twelve. OMG, which character first?! O.o

I already know...

...but I'm not telling. :X

I made my claws/willpower scrapper, Tam Blackthorn, about two years ago, and ever since she hit 50 I've been respeccing, respeccing, respeccing.

After 12 respecs and extensive testing, I can finally say I'm done. I tanked an ITF and then an STF last night. I'm pleased to present to you Tam v. 13.0, her final build!

It's relatively inexpensive-she's cost me over 4 billion influence total, but this build was only about 500 million. I did reuse some of her old enhancements, so that might not be a completely accurate total.

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.93
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Tam Blackthorn XIII: Level 50 Natural Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Willpower
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Leadership

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strike

• (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage
• (46) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance
• (48) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge
• (48) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (50) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (50) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)

Level 1: High Pain Tolerance

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance
• (3) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%

Level 2: Slash

• (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage
• (3) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance
• (45) Touch of Death - Damage/Recharge
• (45) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (46) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (46) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)

Level 4: Mind Over Body

• (A) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance
• (5) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge
• (5) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
• (27) Reactive Armor - Resistance
• (34) Reactive Armor - Endurance

Level 6: Combat Jumping

• (A) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (7) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge
• (7) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (9) Serendipity - Defense
• (9) Serendipity - Endurance

Level 8: Spin

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
• (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (36) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (36) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (36) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (37) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

Level 10: Fast Healing

• (A) Miracle - Heal
• (11) Miracle - +Recovery
• (11) Numina's Convalescence - Heal
• (13) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

Level 12: Indomitable Will

• (A) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance
• (13) Serendipity - Defense/Recharge
• (15) Serendipity - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (15) Serendipity - Defense
• (27) Serendipity - Endurance

Level 14: Super Jump

• (A) Jumping IO

Level 16: Rise to the Challenge

• (A) Miracle - Heal/Endurance
• (17) Miracle - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (17) Miracle - Heal
• (23) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff
• (25) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Recharge/Endurance
• (25) Dampened Spirits - To Hit Debuff/Endurance

Level 18: Follow Up

• (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff
• (19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge
• (19) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance
• (21) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance
• (21) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance
• (23) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up

Level 20: Quick Recovery

• (A) Endurance Modification IO

Level 22: Confront

• (A) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage

Level 24: Focus

• (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (50) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance

Level 26: Eviscerate

• (A) Obliteration - Damage
• (37) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge
• (37) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge
• (40) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (43) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (45) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage

Level 28: Heightened Senses

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
• (29) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
• (29) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
• (31) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (31) Red Fortune - Defense
• (31) Red Fortune - Endurance

Level 30: Kick

• (A) Pounding Slugfest - Disorient Bonus

Level 32: Tough

• (A) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance
• (33) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Recharge
• (33) Reactive Armor - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
• (33) Reactive Armor - Resistance
• (34) Reactive Armor - Endurance

Level 35: Resurgence

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 38: Weave

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
• (39) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
• (39) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (40) Red Fortune - Defense
• (40) Red Fortune - Endurance

Level 41: Maneuvers

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
• (42) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
• (42) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
• (42) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
• (43) Red Fortune - Defense
• (43) Red Fortune - Endurance

Level 44: Assault

• (A) HamiO:Cytoskeleton Exposure

Level 47: Tactics

• (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff
• (48) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance

Level 49: Vengeance

• (A) HamiO:Membrane Exposure

Level 50: Cardiac Core Paragon
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
------------
Level 1: Brawl

• (A) Empty

Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 1: Sprint

• (A) Run Speed IO

Level 2: Rest

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift

• (A) Run Speed IO

Level 2: Health

• (A) Healing IO

Level 2: Hurdle

• (A) Jumping IO

Level 2: Stamina

• (A) Endurance Modification IO

Welcome to the forums and the game, Slick! Is this your first MMO? I'm curious.

Happy birthday, Jan! I hope you're enjoying your London vacation-finally!

It's going to be the first Tuesday of every month, pending my own schedule not being weird again next month...which it shouldn't be (says my calendar). We do our monthly grocery shopping between the 3rd-6th of every month, so I happened to overschedule myself this past week. It happens.

You missed the first league-it was the day before yesterday.

I'll be running it again next month for sure though, hoping for a better turnout.

We had a good run, and got almost all the GMs. We missed out on the Flier since it hadn't spawned, and it took us a darn good while to spawn Deathsurge, but it was a lot of fun! Thanks to all who came out, and I'll be running this again next month (though we'll probably stick with only one run; it took much longer than expected!)

I'm in Galaxy under the statue forming teams already. So far, so good!

We'll be starting promptly at 5:15 EST or when the league fills, whichever comes first.

This will be tonight, but I'll only have time for one run this time around, since I forgot we're going out to dinner. Sorry...

Anyhow, one run should be sufficient to gauge interest and see if this will become a monthly event or not, so for your GM badges, come to Galaxy Girl tonight at 5 pm EST!

We're planning on putting a ramp on the front of the house for Charlie's wheelchair (so he doesn't have to live outside).

Right now, the only people in the house still capable of physical activity is me, so it's an awful lot of work.

DJ Abrahms is coming out on the 14th to lend a hand, and maybe a few other people, so we're turning it into a full-blown event. Instead of a barn raising, we're having a ramp raising!

If you're in the Lexington, KY area, or can get here for that day, we'll be feeding anyone who comes to help and also finding places to sleep for those that need it. I know Charlie will appreciate any help we can get, and so will I! The more hands we can get on this, the less difficult it'll be for everyone involved.

If anyone can plan on being here to help us out, send me a PM and I'll be more than happy to give directions, help work out plans, or whatever you need. Thanks!

I would hold a few gamewide contests, maybe some PvP events, costume contests, and trivia contests.

That kind of inf would go a long way towards getting the Super Olympics off the ground and back in the running again.

An addition:

BE. PATIENT.

Some people are still learning how to run the trials. Don't automatically start swearing or kicking people from the league just because they aren't where you want them to be right when you want them to be there. I cannot TELL you how many leagues I've been on where the league leader/someone else has started calling people names and cussing them out because the person in question:

-did not receive clear instructions
-has never run an Incarnate Trial before
-went afk for a minute to take care of their kids/pets

Be flexible. Expect people to mess up a little bit. We're all only human.

As for the photobombing: especially on teams that go zooming through, getting the pacnades/acids as fast as possible, some of us can't keep up. We either have no stealth, have insufficient stealth, and/or spend so much time running back and forth to the hospital we're not doing much good indoors.

In a situation like this, as long as all the pacnades/acids are still being gotten, who gives a crap if someone wants to be in the cutscene? As long as they don't spring Marauder on the rest of the group prematurely, it's not hurting you or anyone else. If nothing else, they'll get their butt kicked by Marauder and then you have extra Veng bait to buff off of before they hosp.

It's a game. Pull the stick out of your butt and have some fun with it. This is not SRS BSNS.

I sense a lot of invasions in our near future.

Maybe even Warworks invasions?

Hmmmm...

Monthly, not weekly. I don't have the inclination to run weekly events any more, but I'll be happy to do it as a once-a-month thing, unless it REALLY takes off.

I should probably add that for the redside villains, you will need to be playing a vigilante/rogue, OR you will need to swap to a villain. You have plenty of time to get any toons who want the badges from both sides to one of the "gray" alignments (vigilante/rogue) so you can get both sides.

Okay, folks, here's how this'll go down.

On Tuesday, 5/3/2011, meet me in Galaxy City next to the Galaxy Girl statue at 5 pm EST. From there, we'll hunt down all the blueside Giant Monsters (and hopefully get some of the zone events, too, such as the Troll Rave, Steel Canyon arson, strange Clockwork activity in Kings Row, etc.).

Then, once we're done mopping up on blueside, we'll head over to Cap au Diable and spawn Deathsurge, then make the rounds for the other redside Giant Monsters, including the Arachnos Flier if possible.

Then, if anyone's left, we'll head over to Praetoria via Pocket D and get the zone events there.

IF the initial run takes less than an hour and a half, I'll head back to Galaxy City and collect a second league for round 2, in case people can't make it at suck an early time. If no one shows up at 5 pm EST, the time will change to 6:30 pm EST regardless.

So, we'll be taking down:

Blueside: Adamastor, Babbage, Eochai, Jack in Irons, Jurassik, Kraken, Lusca, and Paladin (Not counting Sally because she can be one-shotted)

Redside: Arachnos Flier, Deathsurge, Caleb, Ghost of Scrapyarder

Goldside: The Protest, Draw Out the Syndicate, The Great Escape

Possible additions (if they spawn): Steel Canyon arson, Rikti invasion, Zombie Apocalypse, Supernatural Apocalypse (banner event)

Another one I just thought of. Super Speed + Combat Jumping!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE E!

Another add: any of the Snipe powers that enable me to spontaneously yell "BOOM! HEADSHOT!"

...I like making sound effects.

In my mind, Ninja Run sounds like the hamsters from the cartoon Hamtaro running, which I can't find a video clip of, but which sounds like "baddabaddabaddabadda..."

If I was your friend, I'd want to kick your butt, but I wouldn't be able to, because I'd be laughing too hard...

She smoothed down a sheet of paper on the kitchen table, stared at it for a moment, then picked up her pen and began to write. Someone had to know where she would be-it would break her mother's heart if she left without saying goodbye, and she knew that her dad couldn't take another loss after Emmy's death. They had to know she'd be okay. She tried to keep the note from sounding too ominous, but there it was: they were on the brink of war, and she was going to go try to stop it.

--------------------

Dear Mom and Dad,

I don't know how to tell you this, but in my work for the Empire, I have discovered that Emperor Cole intends to
invade another dimension, "Primal Earth". This dimension's Hamidon is under control and is not considered a
threat. Imagine, a world without fear of the Hamidon! It's a chaotic place, but with a little work and help from us,
that should be no obstacle to turning it into a paradise.

I believe the Emperor intends to transfer our people to that dimension for their safety and protection. However,
he plans to obliterate all of that dimension's metahumans and take over complete control first, and is preparing to
dispatch a large force of War Works to ensure that this happens.

I believe in Emperor Cole and in Praetoria, but I can't stand by and allow so many people to die. Perhaps there is
a way to ensure the surrender of this "Primal Earth", or maybe we can negotiate an understanding with them that
would accomplish the same goal, that of moving our people to a safe home.

Provost Marchand believes that if he can send people over there as "ambassadors", and show them that we're
people just like them, perhaps we can find a way to a better solution, one that doesn't involve all the violence and
horror of war. They believe we are evil and think that we want to destroy them all-I've seen it myself, when I
encountered some of their "Longbow" and "Arachnos". If no one tries to change their opinion, they'll keep
thinking that.

As requested by the Provost, I will be going to a place called "Paragon City" to see what I can do to convince the
people of "Primal Earth" that allowing us to transfer to their dimension peacefully would be of benefit to everyone
involved. The Emperor's plan is sound, but the execution is flawed. We don't need to be enemies with these
people-they haven't done anything to harm us, and if we show them that we mean them no harm, I'm sure they'll be
reasonable about it.

I may not be able to do anything to stop the Emperor's plan, but I have to try. I love you, and I hope I'll see you
again someday. Until then, please keep me in your hearts, and know that I will do my best to be a credit to you
and to the Empire.

Your Loving Daughter,
Saya Leigh Brighton

--------------------

She signed with a flourish, then folded the note in half and wrote "Mom & Dad" on it, leaving it standing up on the table where they'd see it when they came down for breakfast in the morning. Lifting her small backpack, she began to walk out of their apartment when she passed a photograph on the wall that gave her pause.

It had been taken fourteen years ago. She was ten years old, a little on the chubby side, with a long braid of black hair and a bright blue dress that matched her eyes. Next to her was Emmy, eight years old, opening her birthday presents. Saya had been so proud of the necklace she'd saved up all her allowance money for almost a year to buy-a silver locket set with a tiny chip of aquamarine, her sister's birthstone. Emmy had loved it, had worn it from that day on, refusing to take it off even when she slept. It was her good luck charm, she said.

It hadn't given her enough luck to protect her when a few Resistance members had decided to attack a group of police officers patrolling the park near their apartment. A stray shot had hit her in the chest, killing her instantly. Saya didn't remember it happening-she had been through enough therapy to know that she'd blocked the traumatic event from her memory, to keep it out of her nightmares and to keep herself from reliving it.

She lifted one finger, stroked her baby sister's smiling face, so perfectly preserved in the picture. "'Bye, Emmy," she whispered. "Wish me luck, okay?"

Settling her pack on her shoulder again, she slipped out the door.

When she arrived at the rendezvous point under Keyes Island, she spoke with an officer sent by Provost Marchand. He handed her a small wallet, and she checked inside, ensuring that there was a small but sufficient amount of the Primal Earth currency and papers identifying her and documenting her life. A photo on the ID she was issued reflected her face back at her-calm, confident, a little stern. She nodded as the officer explained about the different groups threatening the stability of Primal Earth, making mental notes. Finally, the officer saluted her, wished her luck, and opened the door for her.

Thanking him, she stepped through into a dark hallway. The only sounds were the tapping of her feet on the metal catwalk, the sounds of running water in the pipes, and her own breathing and heartbeat in her ears. This was her last glimpse of home, she thought-not the stars she so loved watching from Tiberian Bluff, not her parents' faces, not her friends. Just the dark underbelly of Keyes Island. She marched swiftly down the spiral staircase at the end of the hall and stepped into a room bathed in the blue glow of a huge, circular portal.

Awestruck, she gazed at the device. Large computer banks stood around it, with busy scientists and technicians checking controls, making notes, adjusting things. Near the ramp that led into the portal, she spotted a few familiar faces, and as she strode towards them she knew she was grateful to Marchand for calling them in to say goodbye.

She stopped in front of Interrogator Washington first, locking eyes with the man and then shaking his hand firmly. He recalled their time together, mentioned the aftermath of Cleopatra's betrayal. She wished him luck dealing with Praetor White and promised that when the time came, she'd do what was best for Praetoria. After all, she thought, how could she do less? It was her home. He clapped her on the shoulder and sent her on.

IVy, the Clockwork robot she'd rescued from Metronome and had reprogrammed so that she could use her abilities to help the people of Praetoria instead of just filing their complaints, was next. "I have helped two hundred and forty five people since we last met, Spectrolite!" she announced, her metallic voice sounding cheerful as always. "Great work, IVy," Saya praised her. She listened to a few messages that had been recorded by citizens who'd been helped by IVy, and felt pride warm her heart. She had given them another resource that would help protect them from the Syndicate and the Resistance. She thanked IVy and told her to keep up the good work, then turned to face Chance McKnight.

A smile creased the old soldier's face for a moment before disappearing into his customary gruffness. "We've been on a very difficult path, haven't we?" he greeted her. He told her that he had been assigned to a special squad dealing with the Syndicate, and she expressed her condolences for his situation. He knew what it was like to lose a family, although he'd at least be in the same dimension as his wife and child. She promised to come back someday and have a drink with him, talk over their experiences. He clasped her hand warmly in both of his, and they told each other to stay safe.

Too soon, she was facing the portal. She took a deep breath, steeled herself not to look back. Her eyes teared up as she thought about those she was leaving behind, but she didn't let the tears fall. She had a job to do.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stepped through the portal, tingling as she passed through into a new world.