Linea
-
Posts
619 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Store
Articles
Patch Notes
Posts posted by Linea
-
-
46 minutes ago, Troo said:
Please share,
Mr G's Arc: but it kills (almost) everyone.
Cimmie Test: Grab three groups of Cimmies, make sure to maintain aggro on the 6 bosses, (no offensive powers) for 10 minutes, if you live you pass.
Standard Enemies Cave Test: Cimmies, Arachnos, Longbow, IDF, Carnies, all in a custom group in a cave map of all patrols, if you can hold and clear intersection 3 till it's empty, you pass. I removed that one after I expanded 801, but it should be easy enough to recreate on your own in just a few minutes. You can also test the various factions separately, which may or may not be more difficult depending on the RNG. I just cram them all together and call it good.
AE 801: ... or use just 801 😜. Testing armors is the primary reason it even exists, the secondary being that people asked for more. Start at 801.0, and work your way up. Use the '801 Static' versions if you just want a quick test.
-
3
-
1
-
-
9 hours ago, SomeGuy said:
... did a thing on Brainstorm ... Either way, EA is a power house
Thanks. and yes, EnA is a beast.
-
1
-
-
I thought I saw a 500 or 600 dps Kat/Ena recently, but now I can't find it. If anyone has a build for that, I'd like to see it.
-
4 hours ago, SomeGuy said:
I'd love to head @Linea's opinion of the scrapper version in regards to NOT DYING.
It's really one of those things you just have to do to find out.
I've been running mostly 6 and higher for the last, year? so my feeling for lower difficulties and builds is a bit dated.
Assuming +4x8, Total WAG:
On a DPS build: I'd try 801.0-Static and 801.3-Static, in that order, and call it good with whatever it shakes out.
On an Armored build: I would think at least 801.2, and at most 801.5. I'd start with the 801.3-Static for a quick test to narrow it down for this one.
801.6 will eat you for breakfast. But if you want to try it anyway, try 801.6-Static.
Search '801 Static'. The Static versions are the shortest quickest tests, they aren't comprehensive, but they are predictable and you can narrow things down more quickly than running the longer versions.
-
1
-
1
-
-
9 hours ago, Ston said:
Katana is definitely a top set when it comes to sustained ST dps. They don't know what they're talking about. The AoE clear speed is no slouch either.. my kat/rad could clear trash mobs pretty quickly.
Kat is 'tink tink tink, tink tink tink' instead of 'kthump .... Kthump ... ... ... KTHUMP!'. As a result it's misleading to many people. I generally rate Kat near the bottom of the top third, with several better performing sets, but at the same time it's right up there with the best of them. I rate it highest of the defensive and utility weapons. It's also probably my favorite melee set.
PS: 600 dps is terrific, that's very hard to beat. You should post your build, too. 8-)
-
The combat teleport bind on Translocation isn't bad, I'm addicted to it now, and it's slowly getting forwarded to all the live builds. Actual combat teleport is 10x faster
I didn't even look at D-Syncs. I rarely do. I'll swap them in, but I'm not likely to actually pay for them and put them in the build when built.
-
Here are a pair of alpha pass /Stone based on Angel Hornet conversions.
Angel Hornet Converted to StA
EnM StA ShadowMeld Scrapper - Angel 2J - [i25].mxd
Then Converted to Kat
Kat StA ShadowMeld Scrapper - Angel 2J - [i25].mxd
And the original source file
EnM Ena ShadowMeld Scrapper - 801 - Recharge-T9 ver 2J - [i25].mxd
-
2
-
1
-
-
For alpha testing of generic group make up, I'd suggest older generic maps that spawn much more consistently than the newer map sets. Then once you get your group fairly well balanced, transition it to the newer more erratic mapsets, understanding further adjustments will need to be made. I tend to use smaller old warehouse maps at first, then once I'm fairly confident, I use the troll cave with 99 spawn points, and cruise around checking each spawn. If 99 +4x8 spawns look good, then you probably have the first pass of your group in good shape.
Spawn composition varies by map and spawn point type, and every spawn point will not always be used every time, even if you max out usage.
10+6+4 is 20. I'd guess Your map isn't limiting the top end to 16 like most of the older maps, but instead letting it max out randomly. The only way to know for sure is to spawn it multiple times in test mode. PLEASE do make sure to spawn it and test it +4x8 at least a few times, using test mode. Otherwise you could easily and unknowingly create an absolute horror that no team can run.
MOST of the maps, and particularly most of the older maps are very generic, similar, and boringly predictable. The newest maps are the most diverse and most likely to vary, and even use different mechanics. I can tell from the screen shot that's one of the newer maps. But it should be consistent within that map, once you learn it, understanding there is a bit of randomness tossed in. The fun part here is, the next map in the same set may have completely different spawn points and rules too.
There are a few map sets that I've never been able to use effectively due to map or spawndef odditities, so be aware, there may be a small number of mapsets that just simply won't work for what you want. This is most common in the newest mapsets.
On a similar note, each 801 spawn is intended to test something specific, meet both a maximum and minimum combat time, and some other factors. This also severely limits that number of maps that are 801 compatible, but THAT particular limitation is as much on MY end as it is the map itself. Some maps were originally designed with the intent of being extra easy, low triangle count, etc .... these don't work well for 801. This is most common in the oldest mapsets.
-
MOST AE maps approximately spawn by:
{(Minion, Random Index, Linear 8 to 10), (Lt, Random Index, Linear 4 to 6), (Boss, Random Index, Linear 2 to 4), (Optional EB/AV, Random Index, Linear (probably 4)),} Loop until the spawn is full. Full at +4x8 is usually 16, with 2 to 4 bosses, 4 to 6 lts, and 8 to 10 minions.
EB/AV only spawn if there are no minions, lts, nor bosses.
If you do not have at least 1 minion, lt, and boss, XP is nerfed.
If you are missing minions, then it runs addtional loops on lts and bosses. the same for the other subgroups.
It re-random_indexs for each subset itteration
+4x8 all bosses in a group, you'll get effectively 4 linear groups of 4 bosses, but with 4 random starting indexes, so overlaps are effectively guaranteed unless you have a very high number of bosses in the group. (Random Index, 4 Linear Bosses), (Random Index, 4 Linear Bosses), (Random Index, 4 Linear Bosses), (Random Index, 4 Linear Bosses), done. This can look like (A,B,C,D), (B,C,D,E),(D,E,F,G),(G,H,I,J); and many other similar variations. Overlap is neither guaranteed, nor not guaranteed, but it will be related to the odds of a random index roll landing inside your previous linear selection(s).
This is why 801 groups typically have 120 or more entities, and those entities are carefully arranged in subsets of 4. The subsets of 4 ensure the ratio of Debuff, DPS, Support, Tank mobs within the spawn. It doesn't enfore any exact mob, but it enforces the random statistical ratios.
-
1
-
1
-
-
On 4/9/2022 at 11:30 PM, Snarky said:
I hope it holds up that well for its intended purposes. It was seriously easy to rotate through my attacks. Pop a purple once in a while. Not even all the time and doubt I needed it.
It will for everything outside of Psionics. For the Psionics, use Dual Def/Res or a pair of (Def/Res, Res), and/or the psionic temps, I can't think of all the names, but one I think is an accolade, the other buyable from vanguard, and the rest are scattered around.
You may also need to be cautious of:
The few very high level incarnate trials/arcs if you aren't +3d (59 tohit AND psionic). Once you are +3 you might still have the rare moment, but it should be much easier.
That one mission in Mr G's arc will probably slaughter you, but it slaughters almost everyone. I struggle through it with anything that isn't full psionic armored.
Solo +4x8 801.6 and up will eat you for breakfast, but 801.2 does that for most.
-
1
-
-
7 hours ago, ArchmageMC said:
I don't know a single defense set for a tanker that can cap Resist on a defense set.
Here's Angel Hornet, Lucy Medrano, and Skylark Walker.
Lucy's numbers will vary in differing combat states similar but to a much lesser extent than Angel's vary.
Skylark I let the resistance slip a few points when HP is up, and vice versa, so here numbers vary more widely, and are very similar to Angel's variance. Skylark's valleys get a little hairy every now and then if the timing is off badly.
Spoiler
-
52 minutes ago, Gobbledegook said:
Defence sets definitely seem to fair better as the content gets harder than resist sets or heal sets.
It's a game imbalance. Defense sets can cap defense, ddr, resist, and rdr. Resist sets can cap resist, rdr, lack in defense, and are severely restricted in the amount of ddr they can get.
-
2
-
2
-
-
1 hour ago, Krimson said:
It was just your run of the mill "Sentinels Suck" people.
- Sentinels have their place. I have a sentinel player that joins almost daily and runs either Sentinels or Defenders each day. I run 801 teams up to 7 with a sentinel, and even All Sentinel 801 teams. 6 is safer, but 7 is doable as a team.
46 minutes ago, Snarky said:So.... no matter how many examples I show of this Brute can do better than that Tank you will state that as a fringe case. Interesting.
Still sticking by my rebuttal point. Tanks are not always better than Brutes.
- A Linea built defender is more durable than most tanks, and has more firepower than most blasters. That does not mean defenders are more durable than tanks, nor does it mean that defenders have more firepower than blasters.
- Mirrored builds Brute vs Tank, driven by the same player, the tank should be either easier to build, or more durable, or both. But I'm sure it's possible to create some wonky build where this is not true.
2 hours ago, Snarky said:Which (please stay with me here) proves that your original statement is incorrect.
- Below is a slightly more specific answer ... and after that I just do not have any more time to spare on the subject.
Linea Durability Ratings (Revised)
Anything rated above 2 can tank the majority of official content
Most tanks driven by most players do not even rate 2
Defense Tanks rate 6 to 13
Resist Tanks rate 5 to 7
Heal-Amor Tanks rate 5 to 6
Defense Brutes rate 5 to 10
Resist Brutes rate 5 to 7, but tanks rate higher more easily
Heal-Armor Brutes rate 2 to 5
Defense Scrappers, Stalkers, and Sentinels rate 2 to 6
Resist Scrappers, Stalkers and Sentinels are unrated, but should rate 2 to 3
Heal-Armor Scrappers rate 2 to 3
Veats, Heats, Defenders rate 2 to 5 ... I ran an empath through 2, once and only once. If you want to discount that, then rate them 1 to 5
Some truly exceptional Veats or Heats may rate 6
Masterminds, Corruptors, Controllers and Doms are not far behind Defenders, and rate 0 to 5, but are harder to get to rate higher
Some truly exceptional Controllers and Doms rate 6. I am NOT that player, mine rate 2 to 5
Blasters rate 0 to 4
Regen is Unrated, in this context Heal-Armor means Willpower and Bio Armor
If you want to account for build quality, set all low end numbers to zero
-
3 minutes ago, Snarky said:
I. An tell tou for a fact I can out tank a good third of the Tank armor powersets.
- Brute defense armors built to maximum durability will in most cases rate higher than Tank Resist Armors and Tank Heal-Tank Armors. This is the nature of the game, ATs partially overlap.
- Given Tank Inv/Dark and Brute Dark/Inv both built to maximum durability, the Tank will be more durable if for no other reason than it's easier to build, has a few extra ios, is easier to drive, and has a few more HP.
13 minutes ago, Snarky said:... powersets ...
- If you want to be precise, you'd need an evaluation of every Primary and Secondary combination. I don't have time to go through every armor set, and I definitely don't have time for every primary and secondary.
-
1 hour ago, zenijos10 said:
Is there an underlying mathematic model for these scores or is this just how they feel to you?
It's the difficulty number of 801 I can solo with a given AT, or that I've seen another comfortably team tank without significant buffing.
Standard content is not overly useful to me for measuring potential durability. I've soloed a +4x8 ITF with everything except a petless MM, and that lack was due to lack of offense, not durability issues.
-
Linea Durability Ratings
Anything rated above 2 can tank the majority of official content.
Tanks rate up to 13.
Brutes rate up to 10.
ANY Tank or Brute can rate at least 6. ... The only possible exception would be regen, I just don't see that many regens these days.
Scrappers, Stalkers, and Sentinels up to 6.
I would rate some truly exceptional Controllers and Doms as 6, but in general these will rate lower.
Veats, Heats, Defenders rate up to 5.
Masterminds, Corruptors, Controllers and Doms are not far behind Defenders, and also rate up to 5, but are much harder to get there.
Blasters rate up to 3 or 4.
Defenses Armors rate up to 13
Resist Armors rate up to 6
Heal-Tank Armors rate up to 5
-
6
-
-
Scrapper resist cap is 75% ... if a mob is tossing 1000 dps, you'll take 250 dps of damage. (assuming you build for the resist cap, vs an offensive build)
Brute resist cap is 90% ... if a mob is tossing 1000 dps, you'll take 100 dps of damage. (assuming you build for the resist cap, vs an offensive build)
250 incoming dps on the scrapper / 100 incoming dps on the brute = 2.5 x more incoming dps on the scrapper.
Assuming you stand there and take it without doing anything else about it, the brute will live 15 seconds, while the scrapper will live 5 seconds.
-
3
-
-
As a rule, I do not generally recommend resist armors on 75% resist cap ATs, due to the 2.5x incoming damage issue.
SpoilerArmor Types (Armor Recommendations):
I recommend:
Defense Armor: EnA (Any AT), Inv/ and SD/ as the Tank Alternatives.
Resist Armor: RadA (Brutes and Tanks Only).
Heal Armor: Bio (Any AT, paired with a Defensive Weapon).
Offense Armor: SD, Bio
Defense Armors, Expanded and In Order of Durability: EnA (Any AT, Add Resists, Intermediate), SR (Advanced), SD (Intermediate), Inv (Easy). If you’re not picking EnA, I Recommend Inv. Inv is very easy to learn and drive, and very durable. Once you get your feet under you, then you can pick some of the more difficult to drive armors. My personal Favorites are EnA and SD, but I find myself driving EnA and Inv most often.
These are old builds from the archives, none are offensively oriented, none are proc builds, but they may or may not be helpful:
Kat Rad Brute - Tacidar - Mu 4 (Psi-Tank) - [i25].mxd Rad Kat Tank - Radicat II - Mu 3f - [i25].mxd Kat Rad Scrapper - Radicat-S 3a - [i25].mxd BS SD Scrapper - Hasten 2 - [i25].mxd
-
1
-
-
KM: Nascar Melee. If you can get past the sound effects ...
PsiM: Is very unlikely to perform the way you expect it to.
BS/SD: Yes.
Kat/Rad: Yes. Scrapper 1/3 more damage, Brute 2.5x more peak durability. Pick your preference.
-
1
-
1
-
-
19 hours ago, Without_Pause said:
... EnM/Bio in offensive mode is likely the top one in terms of ST. RadM/FA Brute is the AoE king partly because IG from Rad is super good in how procs work ...
With both primaries and secondaries proc-built for full damage on full tier 4 damage built incarnates.
The other major note would be Stalkers hit high damage much more easily and with less effort, but tend to peak a bit lower than the mirrored scrapper, and trend toward less AoE. But if you want easy relatively high ST dps, Stalkers are a good choice.
SpoilerAssuming Full Tier 4 Incarnates and Full Tier 4 IOs, built for maximum damage ....
Scrappers 600+ dps
Stalkers 500+ dps
Brutes 400+ dps
Tanks 350+ dps
Tanks start tough and tend to spend resources on damage.
Brutes start with both durability and damage, and can then build toward scrapper or tank, but generally not both. But this does make them in many ways the most flexible melee AT. Brutes are also the kings of farming.
Scrappers start with damage, and tend to use resources to increase durability.
Stalkers start with damage, are the easiest to maximize that damage, but don't quiet peak as high as the highest scrappers. Stalkers also tend to lack AoE.
Pylon DPS Megasheet - Kachooman - Google Sheets
-
2
-
-
WARNING: Do not attempt 801.6 and above unless you have tried the lower difficulties and found them too easy. +4x8 801.6 and higher generate 3.5k+ sustained dps, with frequent 10k+ spikes, and rare 20k+ dps spikes. This is 98% Fatal to Solo Unsupported 75% resist cap ATs.
AE 801.6 - Redesign
For those teams that both obliterate 801.5 but also fail 801.7, I'm redesigning 801.6 to better fit between those two difficulties and present a challenge but not a failure.
Assuming you have trounced 801.5 mercilessly, but struggle with 801.7, then search for "801.6" in AE. Have Fun Dying.
Data
tldr: Most Tanks and Brutes built to max durability should be able to solo this, ... but probably can't.
- Armored Squishies Fail Solo - Even my most durable defender only survived 10m +4x8 solo. However, Armored controllers or dominators might do very well using "Control Is Armor", just try not to blink and/or over-aggro.
- Armored 75% resist cap AT Resist Armors - with rdr cap will almost always fail due to 2.5x incoming damage.
- Armored 75% resist cap AT Defense Armors - with rdr cap and ddr cap may pass, but will fail if you let either rdr or ddr fail. The same 2.5x incoming damage leaves you very little room for mistakes.
- Armored 90% resist cap AT Resist Armors - with rdr cap should pass. The builds I tested passed. I was perma-red -50 defense, rdr capped, but survived over 30m. An unlucky TA at the just wrong moment could in theory kill me, but never did. But it would only take one mistake on my part to drop like a rock.
- Armored 90% resist cap AT Defense Armors - with ddr cap backed by above average resists should pass. There were times my resist dropped dangerously, but I still survived. There were other times my defense slipped a little, but resist stayed up, and I also survived those. But If I really messed up and let both slip, I'm sure they could kill me. But Unlike the squishier ATs, I'd have to try pretty hard to let that happen with the tanks. Famous Last Words.
- I did not test any of the Heal-Tank armors, as I expect the majority of those fail in 801.5 solo.
- I removed blinds completely, due to design issues with the AE spawndefs. I should probably add ONE EB encounter back in.
- I removed cannons, x-models, and other Rad/ Snipers completely. Replaced them with more distributed -defense that is a bit less likely to take that first bite. I may need to add ONE cannon back in as well. Cannons are very effective at Alpha stripping defense armor for a few seconds, but then letting go if you recover. The current setup is slower to set in and take a bite, and much less likely to sustain. The downside may be that even minor defense buffs end up being overly effective vs this design, making the missions too easy. If that turns out to be the case I'll add a single EB Cannon back in.
- I had to back off the raw dps to help ensure Tank Resist armors passed. This may or may not need further adjustment either direction.
- I had to rebalance -healing and -healing_received multiple times.
- I had to completely remove benumb and then /Cold altogether due to interactions with the new improved /TA.
- I had to remove /Poison as well due to interactions with /TA.
- I may have removed too much -regen. Currently it shutsdown non-regen sets part of the time, but any +regen buffs from any source kicks regen back in. This may need just a tiny nudge upwards to be more effective vs some non-regen sets.
Files
- Order and Sorting Matter. To be able to use the files you'll need to use the command line to 'type "ic - 6041.bvg" > "ic - 6041.cvg"' while editing the cvg in-game, in order to force the spawndef order. Otherwise it just clumps it all up alphabetically and you'll get erratic undesirable results in the spawns.
- Even done correctly the spawns are a bit erratic as the spawndef isn't setup for this kind of group. It iterates 'Random index, Sequential 4' over and over till it gets 16 entities. This WILL create not entirely intended results.
BA-45a Archer (B) Super_Strength (.1...56...) / Trick_Arrow (....4.6.8.) BA-45b Hunter (B) Super_Strength (.1...56...) / Trick_Arrow (0.2....7..) BB-45j Javelin (B) Beam_Rifle (.1234.67..) / Gadgets (...3.5....) BB-45s Resonator (B) Super_Strength (.1...56...) / Sonic_Debuff (012.......) BC-45i Storm Trooper (B) Super_Strength (.1...56...) / Storm_Summoning (...34.....) BC-61e Shocker (B) Electric_Control (01234567..) / Gadgets (...3.5....) Corporal (B) Mercenaries (012..56...) / Pain_Domination (....456...) DA-53s Disruptor (B) Sonic_Attack (012.45.7..) / Gadgets (...3.5....) Engineer (B) Beam_Rifle (.12.4.6...) / Radiation_Emission (..23..6...) Heavy Gunner (B) Beam_Rifle (.12.4.67..) / Gadgets (...3.5....) Marksman (B) Assault_Rifle (0.23...7..) / Gadgets (...3.5....) Operative (B) Beam_Rifle (.1..456...) / Willpower (012..56...) Ranger (B) Beam_Rifle (.1234.6...) / Ninjitsu (012..5..8.) Rifleman (B) Assault_Rifle (.123...7..) / Gadgets (...3.5....) Scout Sniper (B) Beam_Rifle (.1234.6...) / Ninjitsu (012.45....) Sergeant (B) Dual_Pistols (.1..4.678.) / Gadgets (...3.5..8.) T-31 Interceptor (B) Savage_Assault (.1234.6.8.) / Gadgets (...3.5....)
-
1
-
I see you're not going for a proc offense build, so ...
- Swap Maneuvers for Cloak: I would normally recommend scrapper EnM Ena ShadowMeld Scrapper - 801 - Recharge-T9 ver 2J - [i25].mxd However, with this version that breaks the build for non-overload play. This build was intended as always overload, but with 45 defense backup (+Shadowmeld and Energydrain on top of that) when not in overload. The swap drops 45 to 44, which is not good. You could in theory make up for that by always using energy drain, but I don't consider it ideal. IMO, You'd have to almost completely rework this to make anything usable out of it without cloak.
- Swap Weave for Cloak: EnM Ena Brute - 801 D+ - T9 3L - EF Tactics - [i27].mxd The brute variant I'd most recommend is not Psionic certified, but with EF it can pseudo AoE taunt, and has more AoE to help make up for EnM' lack. It also has Tactics to deal with Blinds. As well as an extra slot for a psionic proc to punch through Resist-T9s. Also BU is slotted to maximum proc chance to also punch through Defense-T9s.
- Swap Weave for Cloak: EnM Ena Brute - 801 G - T9 3L - GLM DN Tactics - [i27].mxd This version is Psionic certified, and is one of the most durable brutes you'll find. However, you lose offense, Aoe, and pseudo-taunt capability as the price. I originally did this version first, then scaled back on the durability for the above version instead.
Note: None of these are leveling builds, even if I may or may not have leveled with them.
Spoiler-
1
-
1
-
They are around. If they ever got their two primary debuffs increased to 15' radius instead of 8', no one would every play anything else. 😜 They are very effective, just in a smaller radius than most would like.
As an aside: I have to nerf the crap out /poison in 801 to keep them from completely obliterating their victims. Poison and Cold both. Which means I suspect they are nicely effective in PvP, but I don't pvp.
-
2
-
-
That was a long time ago. That may have been before perma-snipes, or it could be level and slotting options and level 35 power overcrowding. Or it may just not have made enough difference in dps. I vaguely recall trying different builds, and the snipe version only being a minor difference. It's worth retesting now, a lot of things have changed.
-
1
-
analysis paralysis halp. secondary for a SS brooot
in Brute
Posted · Edited by Linea
Any of those three should be fine. A Pair of Very lightly armored /RadA brutes won my ITF contest with considerably less armor than I would have ever put on a build. But also keep in mind those were two extremely high quality drivers inside those brutes, so your mileage may vary significantly.
Armor Types (Armor Recommendations):
Armor Types (Armor Recommendations):
I recommend:
Defense Armor: EnA (Any AT), Inv/ and SD/ as the Tank Alternatives.
Resist Armor: RadA (Brutes and Tanks Only).
Heal Armor: Bio (Any AT, paired with a Defensive Weapon).
Offense Armor: SD, Bio
Defense Armors, Expanded and In Order of Durability: EnA (Any AT, Add Resists, Intermediate), SR (Advanced), SD (Intermediate), Inv (Easy). If you’re not picking EnA, I Recommend Inv. Inv is very easy to learn and drive, and very durable. Once you get your feet under you, then you can pick some of the more difficult to drive armors. My personal Favorites are EnA and SD, but I find myself driving EnA and Inv most often.
Notes:
Heal: Regen
Heal/Defense/Resist: Bio, Will
MRA: Nin, SR,
MRA/Res: SD,
Resist: DA, ElA, FA, Rad,
SLE: EnA, Ice
SLE/Res: Inv, Stone
SLE/Vec: Ice,
Psionic (in order): Dark, ELA, WP, Rad