Intermipants

It procs often enough to be effective. I tested it to make sure and it makes a big difference in keeping mobs stunned or feared.

I literally just posted this build at the same time that you asked this question! Yes, you can build a very effective stun tank - see my build in my flavors of tank post that I just put up two mins ago To make it work reliably you need to put the disorient proc in cloak of fear. Happy to discuss the build if you like.

Ahoy Homecoming! I’ve recently been experimenting with tankers and the different ways they can be played. I took the secondary effect of the tanker primary (slows, mez, damage etc.) and combined them with a secondary that accentuates those effects to build various different types of tanks. Couple of caveats on the builds - I made sure that they were sturdy enough for tank basics (i.e. holding aggro without dying) and then I skewed them to accentuate their secondary effects and so they’re not min/maxed and some of them lack damage. However, all of them are more than capable of tanking at +4x8 if that’s the kind of thing you like to do. Also, there are purple sets etc. in the builds but I found that they’re not really necessary and can be substituted for less expensive sets that do the same thing just slightly less effectively. Finally, I love procs in some of my damage powers for tanks and so some of the builds are choc-a-bloc with procs. Thanks to the great Homecoming community both in the forums and in game for all the advice and help you’ve given with the builds. If anyone has any other flavors of tank that they’d recommend please let me know! Here’s the experience I’ve had so far: Mez Tank Powersets: dark armor / energy melee Goal: reduce incoming damage by stunning everything Build priorities: resistance; stun magnitude; endurance management Being surrounded by people staggering around never gets old, and that’s as true in City of Heroes as it is down the pub. The combination of oppressive gloom and the disorient proc in cloak of fear guarantees that all minions and roughly half the lieutenants are stunned instantly. Everyone else can be stunned with a quick energy melee bash. This tank was very durable and highly effective and great fun to play (I took it all the way to Tier 4 incarnates). There were some downsides though: (1) stunned mobs are difficult to cluster tightly; (2) the stun effect doesn’t switch on until level 20 with oppressive gloom; and (3) endurance is something that you have to stay on top of – getting ready for a Synapse TF was like an 800 lb chain smoker limbering up for a marathon. I actually installed a chair near my SG entrance just for this character. I really enjoyed this one and I’d recommend it for any control freaks and dominators (like me) who also like a bit of tanking. Here's the build I used for Disorient Express: Damage Tank Powersets: fiery armor / fiery melee Goal: reduce incoming damage through arson Build priorities: resistance; accuracy, recharge, endurance (the holy trinity of damage dealers) Absolutely nothing subtle about this one - just glorious amounts of enormous damage. I love playing this tank – although it’s probably the least sturdy of the tanks it can still hold its own, can manage aggro well, and the damage level is really nuts. It works equally well on teams, solo, and in farms if you like that kind of thing (I do enjoy the odd bit of farming here and there). Downsides are that you have to keep an eye on your green bar and get ready to heal and it’s quite expensive compared to the other builds. This is now my go to for soloing and it can pretty much solo everything (I sometimes like to take my time soloing TFs so that I can read the dialogue and as a brief aside if you haven’t already done it I’d highly recommend taking your time on the Aeon SF, it’s really well written and hilarious!) Love playing this tank and I’d recommend it for any soloists, farmers, or blasters who fancy some red hot tanking action. Here's the build I use for Emberno Fantastico: Slow Tank Powersets: ice armor / ice melee Goal: reduce incoming damage by slowing everything to a crawl Build priorities: defense; -recharge; -slow This tank was just ok for me - I felt ice armor was a bit unpredictable and could be great for a while and then everything could go catastrophically sideways in a hurry. This character benefited from “micro-kiting” where you cluster the mobs and then step about ten feet away from them and wait – with all the slows it takes them so long to reach you that some will have died of old age, others will have retired to a nice seaside community, and the rest will have been killed by your teammates. The slow effect was good but the unpredictable fragility of the tank and the ongoing endurance issues put me off a bit. I think I could’ve slotted better to manage endurance but I never really got into the groove with this one and just like in real life I stopped caring and gave up at 50. Here's the build I used for Disco Dancefloe: Regen Tank Powersets: willpower / dark melee Goal: sluice away incoming damage in an endless torrent of regen and healthy superfoods Build priorities: smash / lethal resistance; typed defense; regen; HP This is the vegan yoga instructor of City of Heroes. In the two weeks I spent leveling this character I lost 20lbs, started wearing hemp trousers, and discovered the meaning of the word bespoke. I initially had trepidation about this build because I thought I’d get knackered by the alpha strikes but it actually turned out to be extremely sturdy and was the second toughest of the tanks I built. The damage was very weak (the build isn’t very balanced) but it could easily tank on teams at +4x8 and while there wasn’t anything particularly unique about it I really enjoyed playing this one. I’d recommend this for anyone who still has vague memories of playing a regen scrapper in the early days of live and being unkillable. Here's the build I used for Bamboodoo: Tanker’s Tank Powersets: invulnerability / staff Goal: just be really really tough Build priorities: resistance; defense I thought that my willpower tank was going to be difficult to beat in the sturdiness stakes. How wrong I was! This tank was ridiculous! After level 30 my green bar barely moved at all and when it did I thought there was some kind of problem with my vision. This could tank everything and by the time I reached 50 I had stopped paying attention to my green and blue bars. The only downside to this build is that it removes all jeopardy from the game. Admittedly I didn’t run anything on hard mode but everything else didn’t scratch the paint. I’d recommend this for anyone who wants to run a tank but is deathly afraid of the ignominy, disgrace, and enormous humiliation that comes with occasionally faceplanting. I actually really enjoyed this one particularly because I find the staff moves endlessly entertaining. Here's the build I used for Kendo Barbie: My final planned tank is an electric / electric sapper although I don’t really have high hopes for it given my experience with sapping on other ATs. Thanks for reading, and again if anyone has ideas for other tanker flavors I’d love to try them!

One way of thinking about builds is to look at the predominant secondary effect of your attacks and pick a primary that complements it. Disorient is the secondary effect of EM and dark armor is the best complement to that because it offers a stun aura in Oppressive gloom as well as the possibility of a second stun aura once you put a disorient proc in Cloak of Fear. Add in the stun from stalagmites from the earth epic pool and you have a tanker with soft capped resists that is capable of stunning all minions and lieutenants. Once you add on the disorient effect from all of your EM attacks bosses are stunned too. Downsides are that it is very endurance hungry and the stun effect isn’t really switched on until you get oppressive gloom around lvl 20. Once you get it though the effect is immediate.

Thanks everyone, I’ve got the cable coming round this week to take a look because a lot of things are glitching here, so it’s definitely a problem on my end. Thanks for all your help! Hopefully back on soon.

Hi Ultra, thanks for the suggestion. I tired that but had the same issues - constant mapserving and crashing. I’ve been playing since 2019 and have never had any problems but the game is unplayable for me now unfortunately. I’m going to check all my hardware again today to make sure I’m not missing anything.

I've had the exact same problem. It started about a week ago and I mapserve so frequently that it's almost impossible to play the game. Nothing else is impacted on the laptop. I've messed around with the settings but to no avail. It would be great if someone could provide some help towards fixing it.

Yep, my first two are in Posi 1 as well - City Hall steps and City Hall corridor

Like all cities Paragon City has its traffic black spots - specific locations where accidents are concentrated that result in serious injury and occasional team wipes. Across the career of your character these are the places where you're most likely to find yourself frantically chugging inspirations as chaos erupts around you. My top 3 nominations for Paragon City traffic black spots are: 1. The seemingly benign steps of City Hall in Atlas Park 2. The notoriously treacherous strip of carpet in City Hall that lies just outside the M.A.G.I. room 3. The first left turn inside Frostfire's lair What are your nominations for places where a full tray of inspirations can evaporate while you come to terms with the inevitable and think to yourself that you should really try to remember the name of the nurse in the hospital?

Frostfire ice halfpipe room - is there anyone who hasn’t slid down that halfpipe?

This is a great question op! Really thought provoking. Corruptor went from my least played to my most played AT because I discovered that it has the greatest flexibility of any AT - I actually make use of multiple builds on my corruptors for different situations - they can solo, farm, and team well. So my goal with a corrupter is to be able to do everything well. Ambitious eh? 😉 Also, if you’ve never played a fully kitted out fire/kin you haven’t lived. 😄.

Woops, just realized that's the expensive build. Here's the budget one that's just as good tbh. This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.2.17 https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn Click this DataLink to open the build! Orbito Expensive: Level 50 Magic Controller Primary Power Set: Gravity Control Secondary Power Set: Sonic Resonance Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Speed Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Lift -- Thn-Acc/Dmg(A), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thn-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7) Level 1: Sonic Siphon -- EndRdx-I(A) Level 2: Gravity Distortion -- SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprWiloft-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(13), SprWiloft-EndRdx/Rchg(13), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(15), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprWiloft-Rchg/Dmg%(17) Level 4: Sonic Barrier -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(17), RctArm-EndRdx/Rchg(19) Level 6: Sonic Haven -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(19), RctArm-EndRdx/Rchg(21) Level 8: Crushing Field -- TraoftheH-Acc/Rchg(A), TraoftheH-EndRdx/Immob(21), TraoftheH-Acc/EndRdx(23), TraoftheH-Immob/Acc(23), TraoftheH-Acc/Immob/Rchg(25), TraoftheH-Dam%(25) Level 10: Hover -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 12: Fly -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A), BlsoftheZ-Travel/EndRdx(27) Level 14: Kick -- Empty(A) Level 16: Disruption Field -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(27), EndRdx-I(29) Level 18: Gravity Distortion Field -- BslGaz-Acc/Hold(A), BslGaz-Acc/Rchg(29), BslGaz-Rchg/Hold(31), BslGaz-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(31), Lck-%Hold(31), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(33) Level 20: Sonic Dispersion -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(33), RctArm-EndRdx(33), ResDam-I(34) Level 22: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), StdPrt-ResKB(34) Level 24: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(36), Ksm-ToHit+(37) Level 26: Wormhole -- Stp-Acc/Rchg(A), Stp-EndRdx/Stun(37), Stp-Acc/EndRdx(37), FrcFdb-Rechg%(39), ExpStr-Dam%(39), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(39) Level 28: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(40) Level 32: Singularity -- SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprOvrPrs-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(40), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(40), SprOvrPrs-EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprOvrPrs-Rchg/Energy Font(42) Level 35: Indomitable Will -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 38: Liquefy -- ShlBrk-%Dam(A), AchHee-ResDeb%(43), TchofLadG-%Dam(43), BslGaz-Acc/Rchg(45), BslGaz-Rchg/Hold(45), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(45) Level 41: Mind Over Body -- UnbGrd-Max HP%(A), UnbGrd-ResDam(43), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(46), ResDam-I(46) Level 44: Psionic Tornado -- OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg(A), OvrFrc-End/Rech(46), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End(47), OvrFrc-Dmg/End/Rech(49), EndRdx-I(49), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(50) Level 47: World of Confusion -- MlsIll-Acc/Rchg(A), MlsIll-EndRdx/Conf(47), MlsIll-Acc/EndRdx(48), MlsIll-Conf/Rng(48), MlsIll-Acc/Conf/Rchg(48), MlsIll-Dam%(50) Level 49: Tactics -- GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx(A) Level 1: Containment Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 1: Swift -- Empty(A) Level 1: Hurdle -- Empty(A) Level 1: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(7), Mrc-Rcvry+(9) Level 1: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(9), PwrTrns-+Heal(11), PwrTrns-EndMod(11) Level 12: Afterburner ------------

Hi, I started a grav/sonic as a concept build too because the combo of powers look great together. I wound up loving it and took it all the way to 50. My build caps smashing resistance and focuses on ranged defense and energy which gets to a decent amount. It's very survivable at the moment. Those defenses can be pushed higher by putting a purple set in world of confusion and winter's bite in lift. What this build can do: 1. Look really nice 2. Survive well at range 3. Provide loads of AOE and ST control 4. Provide great buffs and debuffs for the team 5. Look amazing What it can't do: 1. Damage. Like a gentle mist on the mountain slopes you'll be able to softly erode mobs over time. 2. Damage. Really, you're gonna need a team. Oh, and something to note - I left out propel because I really don't like that power because it takes too long to animate and I'm not big fan of the clutter. I know others love it though. This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.2.17 https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn Click this DataLink to open the build! Orbito Expensive: Level 50 Magic Controller Primary Power Set: Gravity Control Secondary Power Set: Sonic Resonance Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Speed Ancillary Pool: Psionic Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Lift -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(3), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(5), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(7) Level 1: Sonic Siphon -- EndRdx-I(A) Level 2: Gravity Distortion -- SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprWiloft-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(13), SprWiloft-EndRdx/Rchg(13), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(15), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprWiloft-Rchg/Dmg%(17) Level 4: Sonic Barrier -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(17), RctArm-EndRdx/Rchg(19) Level 6: Sonic Haven -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(19), RctArm-EndRdx/Rchg(21) Level 8: Crushing Field -- TraoftheH-Acc/Rchg(A), TraoftheH-EndRdx/Immob(21), TraoftheH-Acc/EndRdx(23), TraoftheH-Immob/Acc(23), TraoftheH-Acc/Immob/Rchg(25), TraoftheH-Dam%(25) Level 10: Hover -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 12: Fly -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A), BlsoftheZ-Travel/EndRdx(27) Level 14: Kick -- Empty(A) Level 16: Disruption Field -- EndRdx-I(A), EndRdx-I(27), EndRdx-I(29) Level 18: Gravity Distortion Field -- BslGaz-Acc/Hold(A), BslGaz-Acc/Rchg(29), BslGaz-Rchg/Hold(31), BslGaz-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(31), Lck-%Hold(31), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(33) Level 20: Sonic Dispersion -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(33), RctArm-EndRdx(33), ResDam-I(34) Level 22: Tough -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), StdPrt-ResKB(34) Level 24: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(36), Ksm-ToHit+(37) Level 26: Wormhole -- Stp-Acc/Rchg(A), Stp-EndRdx/Stun(37), Stp-Acc/EndRdx(37), FrcFdb-Rechg%(39), ExpStr-Dam%(39), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(39) Level 28: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(40) Level 32: Singularity -- SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprOvrPrs-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(40), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(40), SprOvrPrs-EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprOvrPrs-Rchg/Energy Font(42) Level 35: Indomitable Will -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 38: Liquefy -- ShlBrk-%Dam(A), AchHee-ResDeb%(43), TchofLadG-%Dam(43), BslGaz-Acc/Rchg(45), BslGaz-Rchg/Hold(45), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(45) Level 41: Mind Over Body -- UnbGrd-Max HP%(A), UnbGrd-ResDam(43), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(46), ResDam-I(46) Level 44: Psionic Tornado -- OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg(A), OvrFrc-End/Rech(46), OvrFrc-Acc/Dmg/End(47), OvrFrc-Dmg/End/Rech(49), EndRdx-I(49), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(50) Level 47: World of Confusion -- CrcPrs-Conf(A), CrcPrs-Conf/Rchg(47), CrcPrs-Acc/Conf/Rchg(48), CrcPrs-Acc/Rchg(48), CrcPrs-Conf/EndRdx(48), CrcPrs-Conf%(50) Level 49: Tactics -- GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx(A) Level 1: Containment Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 1: Swift -- Empty(A) Level 1: Hurdle -- Empty(A) Level 1: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(7), Mrc-Rcvry+(9) Level 1: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(9), PwrTrns-+Heal(11), PwrTrns-EndMod(11) Level 12: Afterburner ------------

First rule of Monkey Fight Club, don’t talk about monkey fight club.

Totally agree with fire/kin. Out of the 100s of alts I’ve made three stand out in my mind for really memorable “wow” damage - elec/shield stalker, thugs/time MM, and fire/kin corruptor. Of those the MM and the corruptor hit so quickly and consistently hard that it made me feel like I was playing a different game. Of course a lot of the alts were built for purposes other than damage but those three were eye wateringly good for me. Honorable mention to mace scrapper, you could really feel the thump with that fella. Oh, and ice blaster too. Crikey, kind of diluting my original point the more I ramble on here. Fire/kin is great for damage. I’ll stop now.

I always think of hitting level 50 as the start of the second half of the journey because there’s so many cool things to do once you start getting your incarnates - one arc I love is the DA story, I’ve done that on a load of my 50s. If you’ve really invested in a character it’s also possible to start challenging yourself with solo task forces, GMs, and the like, I enjoy seeing what the limits are for each character.

I’ll build it out in Mids and then when I play it and certain powers or slots don’t fit my style I’ll adjust accordingly. I respec all of my characters multiple times and I also use multiple builds for the ones I really enjoy and so by 50 I’m really confident they’re a good fit for me.

Glad to see you're having fun with the Disorient Express tanker build!

Love the replies everyone! The fire/fire blaster comment really made me laugh! Might have to give it a go 🙂

Ahoy Homecoming! Haven't posted for a while but I thought this would be an interesting question for you - what is your suggestion for the best lazy boy AT/combo of powers i.e. what contributes the most with the least effort? (Bit like my teenage son except without the contributing bit) Sometimes I'll be dragged into watching a crappy TV show for the sake of my marriage and on nights like these I'll log into COH and split my time between pretending to watch TV and being quite crap at helping a COH team. To that end I rolled up what I think may be the best toon for playing COH when you should really be concentrating on something else: Illusion / Force Field controller. I went straight for the leadership pool and invisibility and at level 9 my most damaging attack is brawl. Maximum contribution minimal effort. What am I missing? Is there an AT that can contribute even more by doing even less? What do you think?

All of my toons have pun names. Favorites include: Disorient Express (dark/EA tank) Loaded Dishwasher (DP/SR sent) Deep Fat Friar (spines/fire brute) Winds of Uranus (ill/storm troller) Kendo Barbie (katana/SR tank) Dr. Whooligan (thugs/time MM) Grave Disturbance (zombies/kin MM) Dexter's Privates (mercs/ff MM) Urgent P (water/time blaster) And my main is Amish Instant Elvis (elec/shield stalker), no pun but really makes me laugh

I’ve got a corruptor that’s dedicated to playing in first person and I’ve done dfbs and a few TFs I know really well on it. I also don’t use the map on this character so it feels like I’m really in the city. It’s not easy. 😃 One of the great things though is you really notice the amazing detail the devs put into the city - posters for movies in the cinema etc. The other great thing is you really appreciate the effort and imagination other players put into their costumes and the full force of the costume designer really hits you. I really love your idea of not knowing what you look like. I’m gonna try that next!

I have a dark/energy tank that’s all about aoe stuns. The build and discussion is in the thread below. Great fun to be surrounded by reeling drunk people - it’s also great fun in the game 😉

Depends on the mission, I skip to the end if I’ve done it loads (how many times can you rescue Dr. Francois without being thanked?) or if the story is really good and I want to get to the next bit (I need to put more slots in patience) but I mostly enjoy romping through and smashing the place up a bit.

I’ve been using my two teenagers (fully slotted for self-absorption) and my travel power to get the “drive ingrates one billion miles to places you don’t want to go” badge.