SilverAgeFan

Hmmmm... what would you think of a Kinetic Melee/Electric Armor/Weapons scrapper?

Keep the electric armor customization set to "bright" but pick an almost black shade to reduce the effects. And if you have the origins pack, maybe add a combat sparks aura to him/her.

I build intuitively (sans Mids or any other tools) to get over a minimal threshold of survivability. Without this, characters just become too tedious to be fun.

What is my criteria for this threshold?

- I can solo missions, bosses on at even level, with whatever inspirations I have at hand without faceplanting so many times that the travel back from the hospital has me /ragequitting

- I can play on a tf PuG, even a speed tf (but not record breaking usually) without being the one fingered for slowing the team down

After that, I build intuitively to flesh out character concepts as they become more refined in my mind. Sometimes that means playing into my character's AT, sometimes against it. A few will bump up against some of the caps--at least they feel like they do as I don't run the numbers myself but based on how the perform feels parallel to some labored min-maxers. But ultimately, nearly seven years on, I'm still building for that "gee whiz" artsy feeling. And I love it!

For some reason, the thread title made me think of the 1930's usage of the word


*shrug*

How about a weird inside out take on the movie Seven? Instead of the seven deadly sins, perhaps celebrate the seven virtues of CoX?

One more set of hopes I know won't be in this pack, but IS animal related:

- Antlers as a head detail
- Animal skin helmets--think fantasy novel cover versions of druids and shaman with wolf, bear, deer and lion heads on their head
- Shoulder (and other body) details made of various animal trophy bits. Think Kraven the Hunter's lion head or Hercule's lion skin cloak

But these packs have only so many parts in them. And when my expectations get too far afield from what has already been teased at (in this case one feline and one avian themed set) I tend to get wildly disappointed.

So this is my remedy.

Hopes:

- Animal run equivalent of [Ninja Run]
- Fur and feather details for gloves, boot tops and shoulders
[edit] - a new hope: A burrow then erupt from the ground costume change emote.

Speculation:

The set will EITHER:

- Have two full sets, one feline and one avian inspired plus the reptile feet

OR

- Be a diverse sprinkling of animal parts, a majority of which will go in the monstrous head and feet categories

EITHER WAY

- Based on prior disappointments, I am currently not expecting any of my hopes to be part of the pack. My speculations will be more on target. So my one remaining hope is that it include at least enough elements that amuse me long enough that I'm not at all upset about the price.

FWIW, I AM already liking the new cheetah pattern that's been shown regardless. First element that has me saying "Yup. I can find a use for THAT."

Make sure you unlock your alpha slot before beginning or it will all be for naught! (You probably know that--but it would suck to put in the time, commit to a tf and then find out midway through!)

Once you've unlocked, identify which of the four first tier alpha slot enhancements you'd like to craft and look at its recipe.

You will need to do either an LGTF, ITF or STF/LRSF to get the components and remember that components = 4 shards. So that is one guaranteed haul. If you are able to squeeze in two requisite TF's, you will most certainly get the last four shards to craft whatever else you need to make your first enhancement. A task that can easily be accomplished in half a day if you have the day off and want to commit the time.

You can min max with sets if you choose. But personally, I tend to feel my way through them. I grow concept builds. And sometimes these builds are full of holes.

My approach:

Maybe one character doesn't move fast enough (especially prior to non-inherent fitness).

Maybe one character is a scrapper but in concept should be able to take a hit more like a super man or woman, and therefore could use some more resistance and defense.

Maybe another character, though not regen, should be "healthier" than normal and needs his or her health to be restoring more quickly than it does.

Basically, especially if already playing at 50, identify what feels off about your character, either concept-wise or simply based on play experience.

Then take a look first at just one or two powers you'd like to throw a set in eventually. In your example: melee damage. Take a look at the sets available. As you already asked: which one's go up to 50? What sort of set bonuses exist? +10% on regen? Okay. Does that fill a hole in your character? Or amplify them in a way you think you might appreciate?

Also notice that many sets with proc inventions can only have that proc slotted once. So if you are trying make the most of bonuses that kick in only when all six pieces are slotted in one power, know that you'll only be able to do this once for any given set with a UNIQUE proc in it. It's usually in the top tier where you find resistance bonuses for either toxic or psionic damage types.

Lastly, remember the "rule of 5." The game system will only allow your character to get up to 5 bonuses of any type. So you can only get a damage boost bonus from five different sets. Slot a sixth set with yet another damage bonus and the lowest of all six will be eliminated.

Overall, I tend to diversify. It helps make my squishies less squishy. My tanks do more damage. Certain characters more fleet of foot. Etc. etc.

It certainly can be overwhelming if you try to min max it and the thought of spreadsheets or hero builders turns you off. But know that you can swim through the system quite fluidly, further realizing your most super supers and making feasible some more oddball builds without once opening up a hero building aide. I do it all the time. Concept builder. Role player. Never power leveler. And I feel no need to min max with the system. It's quite enjoyable actually.

But start small and nibble at it. No need to memorize which sets have a six slot bonus that really helps your controller with status protection. You can always ask. Or simply give it time and you'll discover some of the goodness that is out there.

Good luck Sam and have fun with it should you take the plunge. It really is hard to do anything wrong in this game. Honest.

I've been watching some of the videos that are showing up on climate change sights. It's pretty unreal what the folks in Queensland are going through. Small streams and drainage ditches turned into class 5 rapids, washing away entire parking lots full of cars as if they were bits of wood. Absolutely amazing.

Stay safe and find high ground, good people of northern Oz.