Erratic1

That was my point, because the thread has ignored that can be the motivation and broadly labelling chasing Def as a bad thing. So yes, it is condescension.

I shouldn't...and I know I shouldn't.... The condescension and, "Concept is king, min-maxing is bad" bit that's been going on is tiresomely uninformed. Yeesh...where to start? The Human Torch never, ever, not once gets mowed down by bullets. To the extent you see them fired at him in comics the bullets melt then flash away presumably into vapor. Somehow it is okay for however man Superman clones to be running around with Super Strength and Invulnerability but a Blaster builds to make Council bullets as effective against them as they are against the Human Torch and its min-maxing*. Concept is king? Maybe the blaster is supposed to be using his powers conceptually to avoid ranged attacks. *Memetic drift and all, but the term people really are looking for, which later generations of gamers lost apparently, is "twink" or power gamer. 'Min-max' is merely a method of squeezing out performance along a desired course, be that to maximum power gaming or fitting a concept within limited resources (slots and powers). But hey, dont let me dissuade you from what you were discussing.

The simple math tells you there has been no massive decline in damage. Single target damage is untouched. Aread damage, for the most part, only takes a hit when you fully saturate the area with targets, and even then the initial targets are taking full damage, just the overcap targets are taking reduced and that still leaves you at more damage than on live. Energy Melee has good single target, though some do not like one of its area attacks (its fine, just a matter of if you are going to use your stored Energy Transfer effect on it). Super Strength's Foot Stomp is the only area attack in the set, but it has increased damage compared to other AoEs and you can (and should) take Cross Punch as a second AoE from the Fighting Pool. Battle Axe is a world of fun. I like SJ's area attacks even if on the whole the damage output of the set is strictly mid-range.

The amount of nerfing has been vastly overstated. Say on the order of calling a 10 mph wind a hurricane.

I did. Just logged the character out. Will see where she is tomorrow.

Character was level 40.

There is that too.

Have a character I created before the last patch, and parked her in Vanguard base in front of Lady Grey, and after four days of not logging in on the character (because I have been focused on my newly created character from the last patch), I popped on here to find that the timer has pretty much not increased and is nowhere near completion. And this is not the first time this has happened with Day Jobs. What gives?

You're asking if I am going to have to update the picture, right?

The entry at City of Data (Power 'Gamma Rays' (Temporary_Powers.Temporary_Powers.Radiation_Control_GammaBurstDebuff) reads: Contaminated Combining Positrons and Negatrons has resulted in a small explosion and gamma rays that will weaken the target, as well as have a high chance to knock back, confuse and stun them. Affected foes will also become temporarily repel all negatrons and positrons that come near. Not sure if that only means the target cannot be affected or if they radiate an exclusion zone around them.

I thought proc damage was flat and not modified by outside effects. I may need to ask someone who procs damage.

He has Fury set to 0. Move it up to 85 and Greater Psi Blade hits for 471.

They mess up anyone without sufficient +Hit or Accuracy.

Got a Street Justice character who manages, without Hasten, to hit some nice numbers in crowds: He doesn't have Hasten but does rely on Force Feedbac. Granted, he would not be able to that on a GM or boss.

Boy, it really does add a chunk, doesn't it?

No, they won't. You've no reason to wait for someone to run in, but should be dropping it on groups before people arrive. Moreover, because of the delay, if you immediately use Upthrust, it goes off at the same time. And there is no end of hilarity of dropping a Meteor on a group in a small room.

See the thread a few posts down:

So long as you only have one accident in a 6 month period.

Is this not like saying auto insurance is providing little value if you're not in an accident?

Yep. It is the most annoying thing about the powerset. You don't dare put it on auto as you'll miss the best opportunities to use it. And only impacted the AoEs when doing damage beyond a certain number at that.

Fair enough.

Consume Psyche mostly. The set has 5 toggles and an Auto, so no clicking there. The rez....well, you shouldn't be clicking that often. That leaves Consume Psyche and Psychokinetic Barrier. Set the last to autofire since you want its buffs always.

Have you 3-slotted damage?

Check the Tanker forums where the claim is now that Brutes should have been improved. You'll find some of the same people who said Brutes were fine just months ago.

Awesome. So thanks to you and @Lazarus. Means I don't have to do build contortions, just slot sufficient recharge or reach global recharge which is not particularly high. Thanks to both of you again.