Overconfidence

That's . . . quite an odd build if you don't mind me saying so (Placate at 28?).

From a regen perspective I think you need to pull Dull Pain and Instant Healing into the build much earlier. They're a big part of your damage mitigation. Aid Other looks a bit lonely in there by itself as well. If you were going on to get Aid Self I could sort of understand it (though not really for a regen) but certainly at 30 you've got much more important choices to consider (like Dull Pain and Instant Healing <hint, hint&gt.

I'd be very interested to see your slotting as well.

Just got my Bruiser and he seems to have some unexpected mez protection. Officially it seems he should have Fear, Confuse and Placate protection, but I've so far confirmed Sleep protection and he seems to have Immob and Hold protection as well. Am I imagining this or can someone confirm it?

It might. If you've been offered the first mission of an arc then that counts as an open arc even if you don't accept the mission (at least it used to).

...that after 356 hours
51 contacts
84 story arcs
3 inf, 3 damage and 5 debt badges
(plus far too many Shivans and Warburg Nukes)
my Claw/Regen Stalker Serpena has completed her much delayed slog to level 50 completely solo.

I know that's not earth shattering but right now I'm very happy

Right, what next...

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I might have used slots a little badly though (getting a team for Tera Volta is not easy), basically I have my PFF 3 slotted (all running 25 SO def buffs), the two small team bubbles both 2 slotts (also fitted with the 25 SO defe buffs) and then the Dispersion Bubble 5 slotted (4x 25 SO def buffs (59%) and one 25 SO endurance cost reduction (just to try and keep my endurance up while i wait for stamina).

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Well, you probably didn't need to 3-slot PFF just yet and the team bubbles will benefit from a 3rd slot each but there's not much wrong there. The one thing I'd suggest is changing the 4th Def Buff to a 2nd End Red in Dispersion Bubble - it shouldn't have a noticable affect on your defence and will help out your endurance issues.

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I will slot crush for more damage this afternoon to see what happens, GDF is fairly useless to me at this stage as it has one slot and costs way too much endurance with too little effect. Though slowly it seems that my toon is finally finding a place for himself

[/ QUOTE ]
GDF does indeed need 6-slots to really be useful, but will repay your investment (imo, of course).

Have fun

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I'm currently playing a lvl 15 Grav/FF (my first char ever) and the skills like lift, crush, grav dis, propel and then personal bubble and the melee bubble. Other skills are Hover and Fly.

Any good advice on how to optimise on this char? It works fairly well in a 2 man team (2nd being a scrapper) since I really do very little damage and ok'ish holds on the enemy. However I can't really go out and solo much

Any help would be greatly appreciated

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Soloing any Controller is a long haul to be honest, but cheer up, you've picked a high-damage power set which makes things easier!

General tips: Slot Grav. Dist. for recharge and holds (Acc/Rech/Rech/Hold/Hold/Hold) but slot Crush as an attack (Acc/Dam/Dam/Dam). As suggested above get into the Fitness pool and pick up Stamina asap. Later on, don't forget Gravity Distortion Field (AoE Hold) and Dispersion Bubble (Mez resist). But life will continue to be awkward solo until Lvl 32 when you get your pet I'm afraid. (Oh, and just in case, always, always, ALWAYS, mez your targets first to get Containment damage. I'm sure you do anyway .)

Actually I seem to remember that pet-like powers are affected by powers like Aim that are running when they are summoned, but of course you only have 10 seconds to both lay the mine and have it go off in order to benefit.

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Im fairly certain that the set bonuses don't carry over between forms, unless someone has other info?

Is there in general good and exhaustive info about how the set bonuses stack? I hear that same %-bonus (like +12% something) will stack only up to 5 times.

[/ QUOTE ]
That's essentially it - the exact same bonus will stack 5 times, so you can get get, for example, 5 lots of +1.88% Health (from whatever sets), 5 lots of +1.5% Health and so on as long as you can find sets to slot.

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Not 100% sure, but I don't think the PB 'pets' (the name eludes me right now, as am on work's PC and don't have hero planner available) carry over into alien form.

[/ QUOTE ]
They do, but since they're too stupid to even follow you round a corner reliably there isn't a lot of point in it.

WS do seem to get more out of a tri-form build than a PB, although it does involve a lot of form changing. PBs have a simpler, less 'fiddly' play-style.

I've been inspired to try an AR/Traps Cor. and I'd like some feedback on my proposed build (intended for PvE). Any and all comments welcome but I'd particularly like to know if I've neglected the slotting in any key powers. Cheers all

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.3.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://home.comcast.net/~SherkSilver/index.html)
---------------------------------------------
Name: Grimnir
Level: 31
Archetype: Corruptor
Primary: Assault Rifle
Secondary: Traps
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Burst==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(7) Dmg(17)
01) --> Web Grenade==> Acc(1) Immob(5) Acc(15) Immob(21)
02) --> Slug==> Acc(2) Dmg(3) Dmg(7) Dmg(15)
04) --> Caltrops==> Rechg(4) Slow(5)
06) --> Swift==> Run(6)
08) --> Beanbag==> Acc(8) DisDur(9) Rechg(9) DisDur(23) Rechg(25)
10) --> Acid Mortar==> Acc(10) Rechg(11) Rechg(11) DefDeBuf(27)
12) --> Sniper Rifle==> Acc(12) Dmg(13) Dmg(13) Dmg(17)
14) --> Health==> Heal(14)
16) --> Force Field Generator==> DefBuf(16)
18) --> Flamethrower==> Acc(18) Dmg(19) Dmg(19) Dmg(21)
20) --> Stamina==> EndMod(20)
22) --> Teleport Foe==> Acc(22) Acc(23)
24) --> Teleport==> EndRdx(24) Range(25)
26) --> Ignite==> Dmg(26) Dmg(27)
28) --> Seeker Drones==> Acc(28) Rechg(29) Rechg(29)
30) --> Poison Trap==> Rechg(30)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Empty(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Scourge==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> Empty(2)
---------------------------------------------

Signing up Force of Will, lvl 50 Grav/FF/Psi.

I'd like to come along please - Force of Will lvl 50 Controller.

I've taken on Aurora Borealis and Luminary as EBs in the last few days and I've noticed a problem in that Placate is not breaking target lock for the EB. So I'd BU/AS/Placate/retreat out of sight and while I waited for everything to recharge they'd come looking for me, or attack me as soon as I showed my face for the next round. Most disconcerting.

Has anyone else seen this kind of thing since I7? It only seems to be EBs that do it (haven't tried any AVs though). Or has it, in fact, always been like this and I've been too wrapped up in myself to notice?

Being strictly a PvE player I didn't intend to bother with Stealth, but since I've just had a, uhm, interesting few missions against the Rikti and their lovely drones I'm starting to wonder. Could I get some feedback on a few points:

1) How effective would it be? I'm not worried if I can't wander up and AS a drone, but would I be able to get noticably closer without being seen, maybe to sneak past?

2) How common is this problem anyway? Rikti Drones are my first run-in with +perc in PvE (at lvl 32). Are there going to a lot more such enemies, or even just a lot of Rikti missions, to come?

3) Can anyone tell me a good place to find Rikti at lvl 32 to test it on?

Finally got tired of trying to work this out myself:

What is it about Assassin Strike that requires the power icon to remain on show for several seconds after use (you know, up under the health/end bars there)? After 27 levels I still haven't noticed any personal debuff associated with using AS (and there's certainly nothing in the power description) so what does the icon signify, if anything?

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I thought the changes with I7 meant that anything over 45% defence was pointless anyway?

[/ QUOTE ]Nope, higher level/rank foes still have higher accuracy, as do foes with ToHit buffs, defence just scales better.

[/ QUOTE ]
Shocked as I am to find myself disagreeing with MaX the following quote from Castle indicates otherwise:
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Debuffs are applied to To Hit, not Accuracy. So, a 30% To Hit Debuff on an AV would result in the AV having (50% - 30%) * 1.5 [Their Accuracy Modifier] or 30% chance to hit someone with no Defense. If you have 5% Defense on top of the Debuff, that would be cut down to 22.5% chance to hit. If you have 20% Defense on top of the Debuff, then the AV's chance to hit would be 7.5%. A Defender with Darkest Night with 3 even level To Hit Debuff Enhancements has a 30% To Hit Debuff.

Lastly, To Hit Debuffs essentially fulfill the function of Defense for everyone the Debuffed target attacks.

[/ QUOTE ]
(Don't have the original source I'm afraid but it dates back to the first announcements about the I7 defence changes.)

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I'm contemplating my I7 respec. FF is my secondary, so I'm already pretty defense based. My question is whether group invisibility is really worth it (Illusion is my primary) as my suspicion is that the small bubbles + the big bubble are already getting near some sort of defence cap.

Right or wrong here chaps?

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Well, acording to Hero Builder (ie: take with a pinch of salt according to taste) Dispersion Bubble with Deflection/Insulation Shield, all three slotted, will give 29% Def so you're still comfortably under the limit. Having said that, it also gives the Def for Group Invis, also three slotted, as about 5.5% so you may feel it's not worth taking just for Defense purposes.

The real world military is synonymous with the use of hi-tech hardware and they're all Natural. Well, Natural Origin anyway. Probably.

Anyway, for my money if she's inventing the stuff herself that would be Tech, buying/requistioning/stealing it is Natural. Of course there are plenty of possible interpretations of any origin, as there should be.

I wouldn't say I'm looking to get a lot more out of human form, just to be able to fire off more than one attack chain without totally draining my endurance. Looking at the posted build again I think I've tried to keep too much of my current build unchanged when actually some more radical surgery is called for.

At the moment (lvl 31) my human form is a kind of buff-bot (Hasten, Essence Boost, Conserve Energy, Build Up) and the idea is to create something more like a boss-killer based around those juicy single-target attacks. Ideally, of course, I'm looking for a balanced tri-form build with each form equally valid and thus equally used (but we all need to dream, right?)

erk ... too ... many ... options ... O.o

Off to the test server it is then. Thanks for the ideas people.

Hi all. I'm thinking of adding Stamina to my PB build, to get more use out of Human form. Does anyone have any comments on the following?

---------------------------------------------
Exported from Ver: 1.7.3.0 of the CoH_CoV Character Builder - (http://home.comcast.net/~SherkSilver/index.html)
---------------------------------------------
Name: Ms Lee respec
Level: 50
Archetype: Peacebringer
Primary: Luminous Blast
Secondary: Luminous Aura
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Glinting Eye==> Acc(1) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(40)
01) --> Incandescence==> DmgRes(1)
02) --> Gleaming Blast==> Acc(2) Dmg(3) Dmg(5) Dmg(40)
04) --> Essence Boost==> Rechg(4) Rechg(13) Rechg(13) Heal(37)
06) --> Bright Nova==> EndMod(6) TH_Buf(15) TH_Buf(27)
08) --> Radiant Strike==> Acc(8) Dmg(9) Dmg(9) Dmg(39)
10) --> Shining Shield==> DmgRes(10) DmgRes(17) DmgRes(46)
12) --> Build Up==> Rechg(12) Rechg(15) Rechg(31)
14) --> Hasten==> Rechg(14) Rechg(17) Rechg(31)
16) --> Swift==> Run(16)
18) --> Incandescent Strike==> Acc(18) Dmg(19) Dmg(19) Dmg(39)
20) --> White Dwarf==> DmgRes(20) EndMod(21) DmgRes(27) EndMod(43)
22) --> Reform Essence==> Rechg(22) Heal(29) Rechg(37) Heal(40)
24) --> Conserve Energy==> Rechg(24) Rechg(29) Rechg(31)
26) --> Health==> Heal(26)
28) --> Quantum Flight==> EndRdx(28) EndRdx(50)
30) --> Stamina==> EndMod(30)
32) --> Photon Seekers==> Acc(32) Dmg(33) Dmg(33) Rechg(33) Rechg(36)
35) --> Restore Essence==> Rechg(35)
38) --> Light Form==> Rechg(38) Rechg(39) DmgRes(43) DmgRes(46)
41) --> Dawn Strike==> Acc(41) Dmg(42) Dmg(42) Dmg(42) Rechg(43) Rechg(45)
44) --> Quantum Shield==> DmgRes(44)
47) --> Solar Flare==> Acc(47) Dmg(48) Dmg(48) Dmg(48)
49) --> Pulsar==> Acc(49) Rechg(50) DisDur(50)
---------------------------------------------
01) --> Sprint==> Jump(1)
01) --> Brawl==> Empty(1)
01) --> Energy Flight==> Fly(1) Fly(37)
01) --> Cosmic Balance==> Empty(1)
02) --> Rest==> IntRdx(2)
10) --> Combat Flight==> Fly(10)
---------------------------------------------
06) --> Bright Nova Bolt==> Dmg(6) Dmg(11) Dmg(34)
06) --> Bright Nova Blast==> Dmg(6) Dmg(7) Dmg(34)
06) --> Bright Nova Scatter==> Dmg(6) Dmg(11) Dmg(36)
06) --> Bright Nova Detonation==> Dmg(6) Dmg(7) Dmg(36)
20) --> White Dwarf Strike==> Dmg(20) Dmg(23) Dmg(45)
20) --> White Dwarf Smite==> Dmg(20) Dmg(23) Dmg(45)
20) --> White Dwarf Flare==> Dmg(20) Dmg(25) Acc(46)
20) --> White Dwarf Sublimation==> Rechg(20) Heal(21) Rechg(25) Heal(34)
20) --> White Dwarf Antagonize==> Acc(20)
20) --> White Dwarf Step==> EndRdx(20)
---------------------------------------------

Looking forward to both with Ms Lee (lvl27 PB with Hess unlocked).

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Is the Defender AT more fun for those who can't keep up with being a Controller?

[/ QUOTE ]
My two penn'orth:

The Defender is more fun for those who want to do different things than a Controller. In my experience they can both find plenty to do but a Def will spend more time worrying about his team-mates than the enemy and vice-versa for the Cont.

I think the problem is that you've chosen possibly the worst available Defender build for you. Not only have you picked both 'knock-back strong' sets but FF is probably the lowest maintenence primary which will contribute to your feeling of not doing enough. My advice: don't bother waiting for 22, retire poor Dark Bubble and try something more interactive like Kin/, Rad/ or Dark/.

From personal experience I can recommend Dark/Dark as a nice build, which can include several controller tricks if you're getting withdrawl symptoms.

Ooh, thought I'd have to miss this (Mother's Day in Dorset). Ms Lee (peacebringer) is just the right level and should have Hess unlocked by Sunday.

What he said, except I tend to open with fearsome stare to try and prevent any aggro. FS>Tar Pit>Tentacles>whatever looks needed. Still lvl26 so no fluffy yet <sigh>.

...but I've just had my first mission as a Kheldian with no Voids/Quantums!





Alright it was a small mission (I think there were 15 bad guys, 20 tops) but I'm still in shock. I'm going to go lie down now.