OneWhoBinds

If this is your first time using /Invul, I suggest a Primary that provides some regular, reliable mitigation itself.

Battle Axe, Dark Melee, Super Strength, or War Mace come readily to mind. Stone Melee too, but that combo will have a lot of endurance management issues.

Claws doesn't help much for mitigation, but the two do mesh well when in the latter levels. Same goes for Dual Blades, as I understand it.

Just remember to take Dull Pain early, and watch out for Psychic enemies.

I, too, went with the "Operative" convention.

I'm currently working on a Hunts(wo)man, Operative Rathbourne.

I've got some plans for an eventual Crab called Operative Zsoldos.

I've got no real plans to try a Widow/Fortunata at this time...

You know, I had a brainstorm earlier. And looking in Mids, it seems my original thought was correct. Whether or not this is as vital as I think it is, I'm not sure, but...

In flat numbers, Energy Aura looks like... well, nothing special, but not bad. But there is one thing that it is missing - something that every other defense set (for Brutes, at least) provides in some fashion.

What is EA missing?

+Damage. Or rather, some way to increase damage output, to overcome enemies faster.

Don't believe me? Look at what the other sets provide:

Dark Armor - A damage aura in Death Shroud, and both Dark Regeneration and Soul Transfer do damage as well.

Electric Armor - A damage Aura in Lightning Field, and the recharge boost in Lightning Reflexes. Recharge Boost = Attacks recharging faster = higher DPS.

Fiery Aura - There are only four powers in this set that DON'T increase a toon's damage output...

Invulnerability - Invincibility not only provides Defense, remember. It's also a To Hit buff. Successfully connecting more often = more damage.

Shield Defense - Do I need to go into this? Increased damage is one of the primary draws of this set! A +Damage boost in Against All Odds and a direct attack in Shield Charge.

Stone Armor - Nothing fancy here, just a damage aura in Mud Pots. And admittedly poor one, but its there.

Super Reflexes - The Recharge boost in Quickness. Once again, that's more DPS for your buck.

Willpower - Okay, this is rather roundabout, but Resurgence provides both +Damage and +Recharge for 90 seconds. Of course, you have to die first...

I'll admit, the boosts in Stone Armor and Willpower are tenuous, but they are there.

Energy Aura has nothing like that. No way to increase damage output at all.

So... do you think some form of damage boosting ability would bring the performance of the set as a whole up?

Keep in mind, these are personal opinions, but here are some suggestions:

Pain Domination - Okay, first off, you left most of your support tools on the floor. This is a mistake. At a minimum, you should work in Soothe (single target heals will save you're pet's bacon very often. And the longer they stay alive, the longer YOU stay alive.) Enforced Moral (Heh, you think your pets won't get Mezzed? Your first encounter with Lost or CoT bosses should be quite the eye-opener) and Painbringer (+Regen, +Recovery, +Dam? This plus Hell on Earth on your Demon Prince is probably the main reason to TAKE this combination!)

Personal attacks - While the Whip attacks are much more useful than other Mastermind attacks, taking all three is a bit much. Especially when there are much better powers from your secondary that you SHOULD be taking. I would personally at least drop Lash. Maybe even Corruption.

Slotting the attacks - Um... you do know how anemic that a Mastermind's personal attacks are, right? The ONLY thing these attacks have going for them is the Resist Debuff. You don't need to slot these up so much. If you MUST take these attacks, I wouldn't have more than 3-4 slots in them.

Provoke - You went to a lot of effort to make what looks to me to be a semi-Tankermind. In my experience, /Pain doesn't make a good Tankermind.

Leadership - You know, all these buffs look good on paper. In practice? Your pets aren't going to stay within you Leadership range. To be frank, these are something you should be investing in only when you've got the room and slots, AFTER you've worked the vital powers in.

IO choices - Woof. Nice to know you don't plan on cheap. Now, I'll admit, I'm unusual in this regard - I never plan for slotting Purple sets. While the bonuses are great, I want a character that comes together before level 47. Furthermore, you're planning for slotting Gladiator sets... which indicates that you have the patience of a stone statue. Good luck getting them, though. Might I suggest planning a build that doesn't involve such high-end gear? Set the IOs to 30 or 35, and work out from there. If you can't get a build that you would play with that, you should go back to the drawing board.

All just my opinion, of course. Take with a grain of salt.

I noticed this after starting up a new character. See this?



No? Let me point out the problem, then:



That's what happened to my Classic Tie. It looked fine when I was building the character, but once I actually entered the game, the tie became the little bit of graphics glitch you see there.

Just throwing that out for other people to watch out for.

Despite what has been said, I found this year's anniversary event much more manageable then last year's. Last year, it was chaotic enough that all I was capable of doing after I logged in was (a) Stand Around, and (b) Die. I was forced to log off after the third time of being unable to do anything until I got the window for teleporting to the hospital.

In fact, IIRC, someone tried to rez me two of those times, and I never even got the chance to accept the rez.

This year... well, I map servered twice, and the game crashed once, but ultimately, I made it through all three hours. From a rewards standpoint, I did excellent: All the Zombie Apocalypse badges, all the RV Hero badges, Caleb, Deathsurge, the Winter Lord, Jack in Irons and Eochai, and I more than doubled my Merits.

For a toon that isn't even 30 yet, this is very good.

On the other hand, I have to chip in that this isn't a really balanced event. The Giant Monsters and the Zombies were okay to fight. But the AVs and DE Monsters? If you weren't 49 or 50, you might as well have been blowing smoke at them. Same for when the level 54 Rikti started showing up. With the rate people were disconnecting, Team makeup and leads were changing all the time, and having a 50 in charge wasn't always possible.

Overall, it was an experience. And one I'm glad only comes once a year, for the shear havoc it wreaks on my computer.

Come on, Devs. Give us hope!

Change Conserve Power in Energy Aura!

...

Hey, I can dream, can't I?

Is this set still underwhelming? Last time I tried it it felt unbelievably squishy for a Brute set.

But I know that they've changed things since then. On the other hand, on paper it looks like they just polished it up and attached a some new bells, to make it look better without actually fixing anything.

So, how is it stacking up these days?

While you're at it... quick question: is Energy Drain an auto-hit PvE? I can never remember...

Got me.

As a rule, I never plan on including Purple sets.

And as for Patrons... I never seem able to mesh Epic pools with certain ATs. It's very rare when I can fit an Epic into a melee toon...

The only issue I have with the current form of Invul, is the heritage issues that hit Scrappers and Brutes.

Yes, Resist Physical Damage is something I want in my build - but it isn't High Pain Tolerance. It doesn't help at all early on. So being forced to take that at level one is annoying as heck.

Additionally, Invincibility is THE linchpin of the set. Once you get it, it's like flipping from night to day for Invulnerability. And on Scrappers and Brutes, that point doesn't come until level 28. That is a long time to deal with a set that just doesn't seem to work right without it.

But hey, you make it there, and even with SOs you will feel neigh unstoppable. Throw in IOs and you can take the "neigh" out of that statement.

I'd just like a critique of this build for my Claws/Invulnerability scrapper. While this is (obviously) an End-game completely IO build, this also shows the order I plan to take the powers (I never plan on doing a respec with a toon if I can help it.)

_-=^=-_

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.621
http://www.cohplanner.com/

Level 50 Science Scrapper
Primary Power Set: Claws
Secondary Power Set: Invulnerability
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Strike -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(3), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(42), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(42)
Level 1: Resist Physical Damage -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(36), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(37)
Level 2: Slash -- C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(3), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(11), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(40), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(40), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43)
Level 4: Temp Invulnerability -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(5), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(5), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(13)
Level 6: Dull Pain -- Dct'dW-Heal(A), Dct'dW-Rchg(7), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx(7), Dct'dW-Heal/Rchg(15), Dct'dW-EndRdx/Rchg(43), Dct'dW-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(43)
Level 8: Follow Up -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(9), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(9), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx/Rchg(15), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(19)
Level 10: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 12: Combat Jumping -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A)
Level 16: Unyielding -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(17), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(17), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(19)
Level 18: Health -- Heal-I(A)
Level 20: Stamina -- EndMod-I(A), EndMod-I(21), EndMod-I(21)
Level 22: Focus -- Thundr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Thundr-Acc/Dmg(23), Thundr-Dmg/EndRdx(31), Thundr-Dmg/Rchg(46), Thundr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 24: Spin -- Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(25), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(25), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(31), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), C'ngBlow-Dmg/EndRdx(40)
Level 26: Eviscerate -- Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Oblit-Dmg(27), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(27), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(34), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Oblit-%Dam(50)
Level 28: Invincibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(29), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 30: Resist Elements -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(37), ResDam-I(37)
Level 32: Shockwave -- Posi-Acc/Dmg(A), Posi-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Posi-Dmg/Rchg(33), Posi-Dmg/Rng(33), Posi-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), Det'tn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34)
Level 35: Tough Hide -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(36), DefBuff-I(36)
Level 38: Resist Energies -- ResDam-I(A), ResDam-I(39), ResDam-I(39)
Level 41: Boxing -- Acc-I(A)
Level 44: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(45), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(45), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), RctvArm-EndRdx(50)
Level 47: Weave -- LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(48), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(48), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(50)
Level 49: Unstoppable -- RechRdx-I(A)
------------
Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Critical Hit
Level 2: Ninja Run

I've heard a lot of advise from others, but it kinda goes both ways, so I'm coming out and asking.

Is it more cost effective to make and slot level 15 common IOs at level 12, than to buy DOs at 12 and again at 17?

How about at level 22? Should I stick with SOs until I can start slotting level 35 IOs, or start moving things to IOs right away?

This is, of course, only about common IOs. Sets I don't usually deal with until a character is in the 40s. (Exceptions being made more on individual powers than on Characters in general.)

And this is for both Red Side and Blue Side toons.

Thanks, all!

I have been attacked inside WWs by an ambush before - but it wasn't by the enemies (Nemesis) coming into the building...

It is also the only time I can recall a SNIPER being part of an ambush.

Now that I think of it, was that a bug, or does that happen on occasion?

If you ever go Blue side, you may also want to take a look at Controllers. They combine Mez sets with buff/debuff sets. The end result is (typically) a low damage AT with high support capabilities.

In my experience, Electric Melee is actually primarily a single target set that happens to do a lot of incidental AoE. The thing is, you can't rely on most of that AoE to be terribly effective. Even moving around to take full advantage of Jacob's Ladder, you probably aren't going to take out all the minions of a large spawn without Lightning Rod.

It's still a fun set to play, make no mistake. And it will chew through spawns faster than several other melee sets. But it's just not really effective for farming.

How do I play?

...

I've never really pinpointed it. I tend to go for survivability and solo-friendly. I have a problem dealing with control sets and support sets, as they tend to necessitate a slower pace and utilizing less reliable tactics to make up for things. I'm not trying to solo AVs or Pylons. Those kind of bragging rights never interested me much. I team when I can, but as I can't seem to build a PUG for the life of me, I end up solo most of the time.

That said... (er... make that rambled O_o;; ) ...I've decided to go with a Claws/Invul. We'll see how that works out.

Hello, all.

My dilemma today is one of matching.

I've never really gotten into the sets of Claws/ and of Fiery Melee/. The trick is... in both cases, I WANT to, I just never seem to stick with a toon using those powers long enough to actually get to the good powers.

So, I'm looking to try one again... but what secondaries complement these sets? I'd rather have some synergy between my Primaries/Secondaries, but not exactly best at seeing what those synergies are.

So... any opinions?

Thanks, all!

Hello all.

I apologize in advance, if this is the wrong place to put this question, but... I don't know where else to ask.

So, I've started a new character - lets call the toon "Morph" - a Dark Melee/Super Reflexes Brute. The idea behind this toon is well, a metamorph. I will be making full use of the Science Pack's option to alter a toons body style, this time.

So, the back story is that Morph here, is an extra-dimensional entity, brought to this world by a Mad Scientist - who Morph promptly ate (absorbed), along with everyone else nearby.

I went Dark Melee for the whole 'extra-dimensional' aspect, and Super Reflexes to simulate Morph 'flowing' out of the way of incoming attacks. Fitness will be a given, just for Stamina... But what kind of Travel Power do you think would be appropriate? I can see arguments for all four of them. I'm not sticking with Ninja Run on this toon...

Thanks for any help!

If got a couple of characters that have built up a good deal of Merits (as in, over 200 each)... It's about time I began using them - but how would be the best way? While I've got some IOs I'm looking for, purchasing the recipes outright looks like a loosing proposition.

So how should I go about trading these merits for something useful?