Supernumiphone
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Posts
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Joined
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It's an interesting idea. I've never tried it but now I'm wondering how you'd fare if you were soft-capped and carried a few breakfrees. If you decide to give it a go please report back on your results.
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Quote:The sentiment still remains. Not that long ago I was on a PUG RSF. Yes I still do them. I'm a glutton for punishment I guess. There were two granite Brutes utterly failing to control aggro. They just kept punching the same AV while the other AVs ran around chewing the faces off of the squishies. Once the squishies were down, the AVs ganged up on the Brutes, who now had no support, and yay another failed PUG RSF.Originally Posted by Siolfir
There were also a lot of idiots who thought that playing a Stalker meant "hit Assassin's Strike, run away, come back when rehidden". Some still think that, sadly. You can kindof guess how that leads teams to feel about Stalkers.
So after half the team had quit those remaining decided the mistake that led to the failure of this particular RSF was that there was a Stalker on the team. I kid you not. -
Quote:I mean a stealth power that doesn't suppress the stealth when you attack. This is not like power pool Stealth, which loses all of its stealth when you attack, leaving you with only a minor defense boost. Dark Armor, Dark Miasma, Illusion, Energy Aura, Cold Domination, Storm Summoning, and maybe some others I've missed all have a stealth power that doesn't suppress when you attack. In fact as I said, every AT except Blasters has access to at least one such power.Originally Posted by FredrikSvanberg
Blasters have a stealth power in Devices. I don't know what a non-suppressing stealth power is.
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Thanks for sharing that build, Finduilas. I've been going over and over my own build trying to improve it lately. I didn't know where to make changes but couldn't help feeling it could be better. Looking over your build gave me some good ideas and helped break me out of the box I was stuck in.
My build is considerably more expensive and is tailored to my own peculiar preferences, but I'll share it for what it's worth. I chose to slot the last set of Kinetic Combat in Brawl instead of Boxing, simply because I actually use Brawl when building Fury, and never use Boxing due to redraw. I figure I might as well get some use out of that KD proc. My AoEs are underslotted for end redux, but in my experience the build has enough recovery to fuel them in the majority of situations, including most sustained large-scale fighting. Running low on endurance is rare enough that I'm comfortable just carrying a few blue inspirations for those times when it does happen.
Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.601
http://www.cohplanner.com/
Click this DataLink to open the build!
WM/Dark: Level 50 Natural Brute
Primary Power Set: War Mace
Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Concealment
Villain Profile:
Level 1: Pulverize -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(5), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 1: Dark Embrace -- S'fstPrt-ResDam/EndRdx(A), S'fstPrt-ResDam/Def+(9), S'fstPrt-ResKB(9), ImpArm-ResDam(15), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(25)
Level 2: Jawbreaker -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(3), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(5), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(11)
Level 4: Murky Cloud -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(17), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(46)
Level 6: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 8: Combat Jumping -- Ksmt-ToHit+(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(40)
Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), RctvArm-ResDam(45), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(50)
Level 12: Clobber -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(13), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(13), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), Mako-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(17)
Level 14: Super Jump -- Winter-ResSlow(A)
Level 16: Health -- Mrcl-Rcvry+(A), Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(40)
Level 18: Whirling Mace -- Oblit-Dmg(A), Oblit-Acc/Rchg(19), Oblit-Dmg/Rchg(19), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), Oblit-%Dam(37)
Level 20: Stamina -- P'Shift-EndMod/Acc(A), P'Shift-EndMod/Rchg(21), P'Shift-EndMod(21), P'Shift-End%(43)
Level 22: Cloak of Darkness -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(39), LkGmblr-Def(39), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(39)
Level 24: Dark Regeneration -- Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Nictus-Acc/EndRdx/Heal/HP/Regen(27), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(27), Theft-+End%(29), Theft-Acc/EndRdx/Heal(29), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(40)
Level 26: Shatter -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(31), Erad-Dmg(31), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33)
Level 28: Death Shroud -- Armgdn-Dmg/EndRdx(A), Armgdn-Dmg(36), M'Strk-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(36), M'Strk-Acc/EndRdx(36)
Level 30: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 32: Crowd Control -- Erad-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), Erad-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Erad-Dmg/Rchg(33), Erad-Dmg(34), Oblit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34), FrcFbk-Rechg%(34)
Level 35: Oppressive Gloom -- Amaze-Acc/Stun/Rchg(A), Amaze-Stun(37), Amaze-Acc/Rchg(37), Amaze-EndRdx/Stun(50), Amaze-ToHitDeb%(50)
Level 38: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 41: Taunt -- Mocking-Taunt(A), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg(42), Mocking-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(42), Mocking-Acc/Rchg(42), Mocking-Taunt/Rng(43), Mocking-Rchg(43)
Level 44: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 47: Tough -- RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctvArm-ResDam(48), RctvArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(48), RctvArm-ResDam/Rchg(48)
Level 49: Grant Invisibility -- LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
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Level 1: Brawl -- KntkC'bat-Acc/Dmg(A), KntkC'bat-Dmg/EndRdx(45), KntkC'bat-Dmg/Rchg(46), KntkC'bat-Knock%(46)
Level 1: Sprint -- ULeap-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1: Fury -
I'd love to see a stealth power in the set. I know it wouldn't fit every concept for a martial artist, but right now Blasters are the only AT that don't have access to a non-suppressing stealth power. Make the powerset melee heavy and give it a non-suppressing stealth power. That way those who want to play in close can do so without attracting as much enemy attention.
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Quote:Dark Armor's reputation as an end hog is no longer valid, not that it ever was IMO. Skip the fear aura and put the +end proc in the heal. The remaining toggles have a lower end cost than other sets generally.Originally Posted by Fulmens
Theorycrafting, Dark Armor is good for anything BUT a brute (brutes are end-starved at all times and Dark Armor is the world's worst end hog)
If there is any problem with DA with regards to end it is simply that it doesn't have a +end or +recovery power. However it isn't alone in this, and isn't any worse in that regard than any other secondary that lacks such a power. -
Seeing Bitter Ice Blast not slotted for damage makes me
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Quote:Yeah I have a WM/DA and it's great. I like stacking the stuns to stun bosses, and the damage aura adds to the AoE from WM/. They seem to go together quite well IMO.Originally Posted by Lightslinger
So, any experience with WM/SR or WM/DA?
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I'm a big fan of stealth, especially non-suppressing stealth, on any toon. Including Brutes. I usually go to /DA to get it though since I'm not a big fan of /EA.
If I want aggro AoEs and/or my damage aura do a fine job gathering it. It's also endless fun when a squishy follows you in when you attack, forgetting that you're stealthed and snagging an alpha from a nearby group. Bye-bye squishy! -
All I can tell you is that for me personally I'm not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to softcap. I've seen Fire/Dark softcap builds other people have put together and they are very clearly not anything I'd want to play.
The way I look at it, I just need enough +def so that a single application of Fearsome Stare gives me effectively soft-capped defenses. That way even if I'm mezzed I'm well protected. This approach doesn't work against enemies that resist -tohit or AVs, but the former are rare enough that I'm not worried about them, and for the latter I'm not trying to solo AVs so I'm comfortable relying on my team to help me out.
So like I said, since I'm not trying to solo AVs, I just built for as much +def and +rech as I could get without gimping any of my powers or skipping powers I really wanted. No doubt the toon isn't as resilient as it could be if it was softcapped, but it's fun and effective. It doesn't matter how good it is on paper if it's no fun and you don't want to play it. -
Sonic Resonance is the only one you haven't mentioned. It's a really nice secondary if you're building for +def. You get mez protection and a small bit of resistance to back up your defense. It makes for well-rounded protection. I don't feel as tanky when playing Dark Miasma personally. Mainly it's because of the lack of mez protection. Against some enemies it works fine, but against say high level Longbow with their auto-hit debuffs and mez, I seem to end up mezzed and slowly (or quickly) defeated if I try to rely on the -tohit debuffs and healing.
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Yeah it's really going to depend on what you're doing with the rest of your build. I have mine slotted with four pieces of Basilisk's Gaze. It pained me somewhat to leave the the -tohit and -def goodness unenhanced, but I was trying to squeeze all the +def and +recharge I could out of the build. Fortunately the power has pretty good values for those effects even unenhanced. You don't need a ton of -tohit when you have enough +def.
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The demoralize effect can still be quite valuable when fighting large groups. If you plan on just farming, in which case you'll probably be fighting cherry-picked easy groups, you probably won't miss it. For general teaming it can be useful.
Quote:It made me smile when I calculated DPA for my Spines Stalker and found that a non-crit AS was my second best attack (well third best if you include a crit AS).Originally Posted by Siolfir
And if you happen to care, the DPA for Assassin's Shock, even if it's not a critical, is higher than Havoc Punch's DPA. -
Quote:You might want to look over this thread. I used the information therein to customize the sonic sounds that bothered me the most.Originally Posted by NightshadeLegree
Sonic Blast. For no better reason than I hate the sound effects.
As for sets I won't play...I don't see myself rolling another Energy Blast toon ever. Ditto for Energy Melee. Trick Arrow is highly unlikely. -
Put me down as an alt as well.
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My favorite Corruptor right now is my Dark/Sonic. Built for defense and +recharge, it has a heal, mez protection, resistance, defense, and -tohit, along with the full suite of ally buffs. It's no Brute but is quite survivable while delivering nice damage. My build is a bit pricey but you could do it for less I'm sure, and you didn't specify cost concerns.
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I'm in. I'll bring Dibbledub, a Sonic/Mental Blaster.
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Quote:All of this. I rarely actually play both at the same time but I have done so. If I'm on a team doing Synapse and I think we'll have a hard time taking down Babbage I might log in a debuffer and leave it sitting by the train station, then help out when he spawns.Originally Posted by macskull
Regarding "dual boxing," the reason I generally run more than one account at once is to get accolades (both characters getting kill badges at once = twice as fast as doing it individually), so I can complete lowbie missions easily with a level 50, or so I can PL an alt without having to have someone do it for me.
I've never been as effective as I felt I needed to be when I tried playing two accounts at once. Then again I never used any kind of software solution that would allow me to control two characters with one mouse/keyboard. I've never pursued it because it seems like it would push things into the realm of work instead of fun. -
I'm curious if the OP has put this build together, and if so how it's working out. My WM/DA Brute is built with similar goals but achieved via S/L def and +rech mostly. I'd really like to know how the build put forth here would fare in an ITF or any of the other uses mentioned.
As an aside the +end proc in Dark Regen is really a game changer. It means never having to think twice before firing off the heal in a large group of enemies. I occasionally see my end go up from using it. Never fails to put a smile on my face. -
Quote:This is exactly what I'm doing on my WM/Dark Brute. 32.5% def is the magic number for me because it's one small purple away from the soft cap and it's also around the point where I'd have to start making build sacrifices I'm not comfortable with to take it much further. That much defense on a resistance set with a heal makes it damned tough.Originally Posted by Tonality
It's smarter to aim for around 32.5% defense, and then add some appreciable recharge, HP and recovery.
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Mind/Psi Dom would be good. I'm thinking SS/Willpower Brute might be faster though.
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Quote:I'm not looking forward to Fire Melee. My prediction is we lose FSC for AS and get Fire Breath as the only AoE, which means it will be a single-target set when you get down to it. Probably something similar for Ice Melee.Originally Posted by Leo_G
I'd start waiting on Proliferation. What other sets can we get that don't have AoE? Super Strength? I guess Stone Melee but then we'd have to get Stone Armor too >_>
All I can say is it's painful to wait on Ice and Fire melee and getting my hands on Mace would just be a sin. I wouldn't mind me some Super Strength either but I'd much rather Ice melee. It's right up our ally, tactic-wise, and we'd have, like, the highest damage ice power in the game. It'd be ridiculous.
War Mace would come out close to Dual Blades I'd guess. Whirling Mace would get dropped for AS. Crowd Control is nice, but War Mace still wouldn't be one of the best AoE sets for Stalkers.
I don't see much to look forward to in proliferation really. -
There is very little S/L resistance to be had through set bonuses. With the PvP +3% res IO and some other bonuses you might be able to hit 60% but getting all the way to 90% is an unreasonable goal. It would be easier to build for defense.
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One fun bit about the demoralize is if the mob is defeated but then self-rezzes, the effect goes off after they rez. One more reason fighting freaks is fun.
As for Stalkers' usefulness on teams...the biggest flaw in the AT's design (IMO of course) is that most of their AoEs get removed to make room for AS. Single-target specialists don't scale well. My answer these days is to only roll primaries that still have some decent AoE. Sadly there are only 2.5 that fit the bill. Now that I've got a Spines and Elec at 50, unless I want to repeat myself I'm out of options. My solution to this particular problem was to make a Bane my next Stalker.
My ideal fix would be to simply enlarge Stalker primaries to put the AoEs back in. They would no longer fit the standard 9 power progression but I'm sure it could be made to work. Probably the biggest impediment would be the incredible gnashing of teeth from players of other ATs.
Then there is the general way Stalkers are viewed by others. In my experience they are still viewed as mostly useless, last pick pity spots on SF teams. I see that much less on general mission PUGs, but for SFs and TFs it seems like you're lucky to get a spot if you're playing a Stalker. -
This is a fun SF. I'll be bringing Fuzz Ball, a War Mace/Dark Brute.