Dark Current

I had this done a week ago, but I'm just now getting around to releasing my DEFCON 1 Verdict: Traps goes to the DEFENDER!!! My detailed reasons are in my YT video linked below, but the short version is that while the statistics suggest a tie, the Controller had what I would call (in hindsight) a disqualifying team and therefore his stats are suspect, if not misleading. Overall, the defender provided better defenses while the controller provided superior offense. Now that all 5 levels of DEFCON are complete, all the stats will be combined and analyzed in totem and patterns looked for to answer the big question: who is the superior support archetyped? Is a defender with the better buff / debuff numbers and their arsenal of blasts, better? Or is the controller with their synergy between controls and support? Or are they statistically indistinguishable? Or is 'better' a situational product? Find out in the next video: DEFCON 5 FINAL JUDGEMENT... coming Soon

Thanks, Saw! I agree about character concepts being the foundation for fun. If I can't get into a character, I find it's generally the concept and costume just haven't gelled yet. I wish we had customizable objects beyond weaponry. Or powers you could replace with objects. I'd love the Blackwand to shoot dark blast powers from!

My Reaction and Analysis video of the Vexaris team trials is up!

I sense zero bias in this statement.

Vexaris's stats are almost ready for reveal! In the meantime, here's his Team Trials video: Mission Retrospective Mission 1 (CoT tip, Polar Shift) = 6 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 2 (Malta tip, rescue) = 11 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 3 (Arachnos radio, boss) = 6 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 4 (Nemesis tip, destroy, doppelganger) = 10 minutes with 4 teammates Safeguard (Malta, Carnies, Arachnos with Fall from Grace) = 27 minutes with 4 teammates Total Time = 60 minutes DEFCON 1 Stats Rate = Stat / Minute standardizes for time spent on mission Correlation = reliability of relationship between X and Y of Rate graph Standard Error – primary set comparison using error bar overlap between graphs of the mean rates Composite = Rate / Teammate standardizes for number of teammates Distribution = Box and Whisker plot compares IQR shape and outliers 1. Survivability = Personal Defeats Mission P Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 0 6 4 0.00 0.00 2 0 11 4 0.00 0.00 3 0 6 4 0.00 0.00 4 1 10 4 0.10 0.03 safeguard 0 27 4 0.00 0.00 total 1 60 0.02 0.01 ß AVG 2. Risk = Ally Defeats Mission A Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 0 6 4 0.00 0.00 2 1 11 4 0.09 0.02 3 1 6 4 0.17 0.04 4 0 10 4 0.00 0.00 safeguard 3 27 4 0.11 0.03 total 5 60 0.07 0.02 ß AVG 3. Lethality = Foe Defeats Mission F Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 24 6 4 4.00 1.00 2 41 11 4 3.73 0.93 3 33 6 4 5.50 1.38 4 17 10 4 1.70 0.43 safeguard 85 27 4 3.15 0.79 total 200 60 3.62 0.90 ß AVG 4. Threat = Damage Output Mission DMG out Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 36405 6 4 6067 1517 2 41197 11 4 3745 936 3 31473 6 4 5246 1311 4 29218 10 4 2922 730 safeguard 97492 27 4 3611 903 total 235785 60 4318 1080 ß AVG Personal Damage Output Attack: 1 2 3 4 Safeguard Attack total: Acid Mortar 91 270 164 117 569 1211 Touch of Lady Grey 220 701 210 236 1810 3178 Shield Breaker 51 382 264 414 1175 2286 Caltrops 9 469 379 726 2125 3707 Positron's Blast 33 521 139 779 690 2162 Bombardment 0 470 134 406 415 1424 Impeded Swiftness 0 263 60 337 593 1254 Poison Gas (Gladiator's Net) 468 595 278 440 1322 3103 Poison Gas (Unbreakable Constraint) 968 552 40 339 684 2583 Poison Gas (Ghost Widow's Embrace) 462 777 416 883 1590 4128 Seeker Drones 180 351 534 549 1138 2750 Time Bomb 381 496 76 180 1130 2262 Arcane Bolt 744 1063 731 529 1784 4851 Blind 1346 1425 614 683 1602 5671 Mental Blast 452 985 665 182 1891 4175 Psionic Tornado 984 1853 1487 947 1921 7192 Spectral Wounds 1227 2685 1304 1002 3143 9360 Web Grenade (Trap of the Hunter) 0 0 0 66 63 129 World of Confusion 271 406 113 339 605 1734 Malaise's Illusions 543 618 167 323 1092 2743 Scirocco's Dervish 561 864 261 493 1241 3421 Cognitive Interface 311 336 339 297 860 2142 Mighty Partial Radial Judgement 3946 8489 8286 7832 18139 46692 TOTAL 13245 24571 16661 18100 45581 118158 Pet Damage Output Pet 1 2 3 4 Safeguard Pet Total: Phantasm 4267 3866 4199 3149 11867 27348 Decoy Phantasm 951 1022 273 581 2962 5789 Phantom Army 11909 10314 7687 4832 22175 56918 Spectre Essence 5664 903 2317 2337 13759 24979 Cognitive Interface (Pet) 368 522 336 219 1148 2593 TOTAL 23160 16626 14812 11118 51911 117627 5. Resilience = Damage Taken Mission DMG in Time Teammate Rate Index 1 3117 6 4 520 130 2 1800 11 4 164 41 3 3359 6 4 560 140 4 9696 10 4 970 242 safeguard 8517 27 4 315 79 total 26490 60 506 126 ß AVG Type of Damage Taken Mission: 1 2 3 4 Safeguard Type Total Cold 527 0 0 0 0 527 Energy 0 45 1449 0 472 1966 Fire 283 902 277 6108 252 7822 Lethal 196 852 143 2228 1958 5376 Negative Energy 1122 0 0 0 11 1133 Psionic 226 0 1108 0 5604 6938 Smashing 662 0 46 142 222 1072 Toxic 101 0 337 1219 0 1657 Mission Total: 3117 1800 3359 9696 8517 26490

That was Madness! Reaction Video:

Winning the coin toss in DEFCON 1 Traps, is my defender: Cherie da Bom (Traps / Assault Rifle / Mace) takes off with a bang, unleashing Boom Boom Pow on evil doers and do-gooders alike! Mission Retrospective Mission 1 (CoT tip, glowie, boss) = 14 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 2 (Crey tip, glowie, boss) = 15 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 3 (Arachnos, destroy, waves) = 7 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 4 (Malta, abduction) = 7 minutes with 4 teammates Mayhem (PPD, LB, Positron) = 33 minutes with 4 teammates Total Time = 76 minutes DEFCON 1 Stats Rate = Stat / Minute standardizes for time spent on mission Correlation = reliability of relationship between X and Y of Rate graph Standard Error – primary set comparison using error bar overlap between graphs of the mean rates Composite = Rate / Teammate standardizes for number of teammates Distribution = Box and Whisker plot compares IQR shape and outliers 1. Survivability = Personal Defeats Mission P Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 0 14 4 0.00 0.000 2 0 15 4 0.00 0.000 3 0 7 4 0.00 0.000 4 0 7 4 0.00 0.000 5 0 33 4 0.00 0.000 total 0 76 0.00 0.000 ß AVG 2. Risk = Ally Defeats Mission A Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 1 14 4 0.07 0.02 2 0 15 4 0.00 0.00 3 0 7 4 0.00 0.00 4 1 7 4 0.14 0.04 5 2 33 4 0.06 0.02 total 4 76 0.05 0.01 ß AVG 3. Lethality = Foe Defeats Mission F Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 23 14 4 1.64 0.41 2 46 15 4 3.07 0.77 3 26 7 4 3.71 0.93 4 23 7 4 3.29 0.82 5 88 33 4 2.67 0.67 total 206 76 2.88 0.72 ß AVG 4. Threat = Damage Output Mission DMG out Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 24937 14 4 1781 445 2 41152 15 4 2743 686 3 26942 7 4 3849 962 4 13016 7 4 1859 465 5 83810 33 4 2540 635 total 189858 76 2555 639 ß AVG Personal Damage Output Mission: 1 2 3 4 5 Attack Total: Acid Mortar 94 206 86 166 790 1342 Buckshot 377 575 457 101 1059 2569 Burst 762 316 309 427 1672 3486 Caltrops 471 1534 550 335 4472 7361 Flamethrower 1944 1811 1124 849 3498 9226 Full Auto 3517 6816 5302 3409 11416 30458 Ignite 1152 570 241 280 2317 4560 Flames 288 51 0 53 261 653 M30 Grenade 1318 2262 963 1096 3199 8837 Remote Bomb 159 624 20 115 1165 2082 Seeker Drone 758 804 359 234 1876 4031 Slug 1190 1128 469 612 3115 6515 Sniper Rifle 2000 1097 905 1261 3601 8865 Web Envelope 85 184 85 6 111 471 Trap of the Hunter (Web Grenade) 38 115 0 0 128 281 Mighty Judgement 3170 10502 2495 2061 17136 35364 Mission Total: 10881 46492 31266 9537 26970 125145 Pet Damage Output Pet 1 2 3 4 5 Pet Total: Arachnobot Disruptor 1541 3294 1906 2012 9738 18490 Bane Spider Essence 1772 2825 4241 0 3869 12706 Tarantula Essence 4302 6438 7431 0 14389 32560 Mission Total: 7614 12557 13578 2012 27996 63757 5. Resilience = Damage Taken Mission DMG in Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 5997 14 4 428 107 2 2429 15 4 162 40 3 1684 7 4 241 60 4 3272 7 4 467 117 5 5571 33 4 169 42 total 18953 76 293 73 ß AVG Type of Damage Taken Mission: 1 2 3 4 Mayhem Type Total Cold 283 0 0 0 0 283 Energy 1803 1371 566 0 2908 6649 Fire 249 0 0 473 573 1295 Lethal 0 954 476 2800 940 5170 Negative 3100 0 0 0 0 3100 Psionic 0 0 196 0 73 269 Smashing 562 0 30 0 1077 1669 Toxic 0 103 415 0 0 519 Mission Total: 5997 2429 1684 3272 5571 18953

Let's take a peek under the hood of the mad bomber, Cherie da Bom: along with Vexaris, the master illusionist:

DEFCON 1 is underway! Getting ready for Trap-off between my defender and controller to see who is nastier! The Matchup video: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the Blue Corner, we have my defender Cherie da Bom, a lunatic on the fringe who packs an AR named Boom Boom Pow and a bag full of tricks. Inspired by the Punisher and the Green Goblin. MIDS Build: Cherie da Bom - Defender (Traps).mbd -------------------------------------------------------------------------- And in the Red Corner, is my controller Vexaris, an illusionist who wields the power of a trickster god through mystical artifacts recovered from an ancient temple. MIDS Build: Vexaris - Controller (Illusion Control).mbd

The data thus far indicates: Electrical Affinity - no difference Nature Affinity - edge, controller Time Manipulation - edge, defender Kinetics - clear superiority, controller Only DEFCON 1 remains! Which AT is the superior TRAPPER? Stay tuned!

DEFCON 2 Verdict is in... The Kinetics comparison goes to the CONTROLLER!!!

My reaction to the team trials... DEFCON 2 Stats Rate = Stat / Minute Standard Error – plot means and compare error bars for overlap (no significance) Composite = Rate / Teammate Distribution – plot Box and Whisker and compare IQR shape

Concluding the DEFCON 2 tests with my defender... Chakra (Kinetics / Radiation / Psi) keeps on rolling with a couple of the Best of the Worst and more PuGilicious action. Mission Summary Mission 1 (Arachnos tip) = 8 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 2 (Carnies tip, escorts) = 16 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 3 (Knives of Artemis tip, escort and boss) = 12 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 4 (Circle of Thorns tip, destruction) = 4 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 5 (Council, rescue) = 11 minutes with 4 teammates Total Time = 51 minutes 1. Survivability = Personal Defeats Mission P Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 1 8 4 0.13 0.031 2 0 16 4 0.00 0.000 3 0 12 4 0.00 0.000 4 0 4 4 0.00 0.000 5 1 11 4 0.09 0.023 total 2 51 0.043 0.011 ß AVG 2. Risk = Ally Defeats Mission A Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 1 8 4 0.13 0.03 2 1 16 4 0.06 0.02 3 1 12 4 0.08 0.02 4 0 4 4 0.00 0.00 5 1 11 4 0.09 0.02 total 4 51 0.07 0.02 ß AVG 3. Lethality = Foe Defeats Mission F Defeats Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 16 8 4 2.00 0.50 2 47 16 4 2.94 0.73 3 38 12 4 3.17 0.79 4 9 4 4 2.25 0.56 5 24 11 4 2.18 0.55 total 134 51 2.51 0.63 ß AVG 4. Threat = Damage Output Mission DMG out Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 17597 8 4 2200 550 2 55480 16 4 3467 867 3 36397 12 4 3033 758 4 15607 4 4 3902 975 5 26970 11 4 2452 613 total 152051 51 3011 753 ß AVG Personal Damage Output Mission: 1 2 3 4 5 Attack Total: Atomic Blast 4291 16263 10560 4250 8237 43601 (Obliteration) 595 2014 1053 412 961 5034 Cosmic Burst 770 2319 2235 589 1651 7564 Electron Haze 0 664 372 208 1281 2524 Irradiate 2771 4671 2869 758 4072 15139 Neutrino Bolt 80 187 105 0 143 515 Neutron Bomb 186 1791 1343 195 1250 4764 X-Ray Beam 516 731 202 94 405 1948 Siphon Speed (Impeded Swiftness) 233 193 246 126 252 1051 Mighty Total Radial Judgement 1440 17660 12280 2907 8718 43005 Mission Total: 10881 46492 31266 9537 26970 125145 Pet Damage Output Pet 1 2 3 4 5 Pet Total: Harpy Essence 5010 7123 3866 4521 0 20519 Siren Essence 1707 1865 1266 1549 0 6387 Mission Total: 6716 8988 5132 6070 0 26906 5. Resilience = Damage Taken Mission DMG in Time Teammate Rate Composite 1 5985 8 4 748 187 2 3798 16 4 237 59 3 3888 12 4 324 81 4 3390 4 4 847 212 5 7723 11 4 702 176 total 24783 51 572 143 ß AVG Type of Damage Taken Mission: 1 2 3 4 Mayhem Type Total Cold 0 0 0 0 0 0 Energy 2655 287 130 86 251 3409 Fire 149 50 0 0 2037 2236 Lethal 34 0 3476 2752 504 6766 Negative 0 296 0 322 4897 5515 Psionic 1644 2400 0 229 34 4308 Smashing 290 764 0 0 0 1054 Toxic 1213 0 283 0 0 1496 Mission Total: 5985 3798 3888 3390 7723 24783

Reaction Time!

First up in the DEFCON 2 Kinetics Team Trials... my controller Deimos (Earth / Kinetics / Earth) gets the party started with a couple of the Best of the Worst. Watch to learn why you need to use audio confirmations with PuGs! Mission Retrospective Mission 1 (Malta, boss and glowie) = 6 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 2 (Arachnos, escort NPC) = 8 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 3 (Carnie, glowie) = 11 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 4 (Longbow, escort NPC) = 12 minutes with 4 teammates Mission 5 (Carnies, rescue officers, recruit Overdrive) = 20 minutes with 4 teammates Total Time = 57 minutes 1. Survivability = Personal Defeats Mission Personal Defeats Time Teammate Survivability Rate Survivability Index 1 0 6 4 0.00 0.00 2 0 8 4 0.00 0.00 3 0 11 4 0.00 0.00 4 0 12 4 0.00 0.00 5 0 20 4 0.00 0.00 total 0 57 0.00 0.00 ß AVG 2. Risk = Ally Defeats Mission Ally Defeats Time Teammate Risk Rate Risk Index 1 2 6 4 0.33 0.50 2 1 8 4 0.13 0.25 3 0 11 4 0.00 0.00 4 1 12 4 0.08 0.25 5 0 20 4 0.00 0.00 total 4 57 0.11 0.20 ß AVG 3. Lethality = Foe Defeats Mission Kills Time Teammate Lethality Rate Lethality Index 1 24 6 4 4.00 6.00 2 42 8 4 5.25 10.50 3 55 11 4 5.00 13.75 4 33 12 4 2.75 8.25 5 114 20 4 5.70 28.50 total 268 57 4.54 13.40 ß AVG 4. Threat = Damage Output Mission DMG out Time Teammate Threat Rate Threat Index 1 30271 6 4 5045 7568 2 32299 8 4 4037 8075 3 58663 11 4 5333 14666 4 47442 12 4 3953 11860 5 93463 20 4 4673 23366 Total à 262138 57 4608 13107 ß AVG Personal Damage Output Mission: 1 2 3 4 5 Attack Total: Boxing 79 102 0 86 0 267 Fissure 1724 2796 2595 765 3258 11137 Fossilize 467 1405 1918 2509 3406 9704 Seismic Smash 201 705 1287 406 1634 4233 Stalagmites 131 404 926 612 2341 4414 Bombardment 574 818 1610 1748 3895 8645 Positron's Blast 620 909 1575 1730 3790 8624 Stone Cages 302 1926 930 2178 3214 8550 Stone Prison 421 633 575 970 1317 3916 Volcanic Ground 541 499 862 414 1960 6624 Positron’s Blast 461 206 439 444 797 na Earthquake (Explosive Strike, Touch of Lady Grey) 537 1188 757 981 2058 5520 Quicksand (Impeded Swiftness) 563 722 509 760 1595 4148 Transfusion (Touch of the Nictus) 126 40 143 47 233 589 Volcanic Geyser (Ghost Widow’s Embrace, Neuronic Shutdown) 1181 681 1133 867 2313 6175 Pyronic Judgement 2912 7510 10461 12905 27755 61543 Mission Total: 10841 20544 25719 27421 59565 144089 Pet Damage Output Pet 1 2 3 4 5 Pet Total: Animated Stone 2735 11331 13857 8806 19210 55939 Anti-Matter Particles 5439 0 7350 2242 1883 16914 Builder Essence 4659 0 3364 3450 3025 14498 Dismantler Essence 6580 0 8279 4856 7825 27540 Energy Font 19 424 94 666 1956 3158 Mission Total: 19431 11755 32944 20020 33898 118049 5. Resilience = Damage Taken Mission DMG in Time Teammate Resilience Rate Resilience Index 1 1557 6 4 259 389 2 3773 8 4 472 943 3 2071 11 4 188 518 4 2739 12 4 228 685 5 4845 20 4 242 1211 Total à 14984 57 278 749 ß AVG Type of Damage Taken Mission: 1 2 3 4 Mayhem Type Total Cold 314 0 0 0 0 314 Energy 38 984 152 673 577 2425 Fire 426 119 192 329 210 1276 Lethal 681 0 0 1114 192 1986 Negative Energy 0 0 97 0 120 217 Psionic 0 2104 1508 215 3221 7048 Smashing 98 117 123 408 524 1270 Toxic 0 449 0 0 0 449 Mission Total: 1557 3773 2071 2739 4845 14984