[The Brutiest Brute to ever Brutalize]

5 minutes ago, hakurr said:

I stand corrected it has been a couple years since i played my War Mace toon i just don't remember it doing that.

 

It is very tight range (like multiple guys right up on you).

[The Brutiest Brute to ever Brutalize]

4 minutes ago, hakurr said:

War Mace has Shatter that is not ranged and does only ST damage

 

I am certain I was not stranding around in combat waiting for the power to cycle in the  combat log below:

 

 

Mid's says Shatter has an arc of 45 degrees.

[The Brutiest Brute to ever Brutalize]

1 hour ago, Lanark1027 said:

 

You just mean because it's a more active/clicky secondary? Or more difficult to slot?

 

More the slotting.

[The Brutiest Brute to ever Brutalize]

Resistance sets certainly work on a Brute, but I would not say they are a better option over Defense and layered sets (Bio, Rad, Inv). Elec is a good set for Brutes--my first Brute was Dark/ Elec.

 

As goes set pairs, there does seem to be some covering of weaknesses between damage and armor sets of like theme, but I have never let theat drive my choices. In fact, I've never made a mono-themed character. All have mixed sets.

 

While Rad is a good  armor set, you might lean towards one of your other choices as it strikes me as somewhat easier to mess up on than the others.

 

Dual-Blades is the only offensive set I've never done much with and the rest are fine. Do whichever you want, though for raw <POW!>, Fire, Super Strength, and War Mace (and Battle Axe) are more satisfying.

 

FWIW, my signature Brute (if one of half-dozen may be considered signature) is SS/Bio.

 

 

[Looking for end-all be-all tank for completion]

On 3/6/2024 at 9:11 PM, Azari said:

I’m curious about invuln on scrappers. It seems uncommon. You enjoy it? Energy/invuln seems like something I’d enjoy. invuln is just cool.

 

Back in the day, DM/Inv was a Scrapper standard for mini-tanking. 

6 hours ago, Infinitum said:

 

In fact it's probably a little too strong - which is why I predict a gentle nerf at some point in the future.

 

I'll believe it when I see the much predicting proc nerf.

 

5 hours ago, Zect said:

When you have this kind of layered, well-synergized defense and offense that is unlikely to be neutered by any single foe, and when you have high values in all three variables of the Tanker Equation (survivability = mitigation * healing * dps), you have the best armor set in the game. However, bio is not an afk set. You might need to press a button every now and then to live.

 

Yep, the clicks are important. Besides, I thought Stone was the acknowledged toughest set.

[For Fun - Tanker Challenge Dark/Stone]

9 minutes ago, SeraphimKensai said:

It actually uses all black on the chest/legs/head. otherwise the gloves/feet/shoulders have a mix between black and a dark dark blue/purple. Otherwise the power colors give a dark dark blue/purple and a dark green. I think it looks like that from the picture because the setting sun.

 

No love for the fashion joke, eh?

[For Fun - Tanker Challenge Dark/Stone]

18 minutes ago, StriderIV said:

Did you just color it all black to have this shadow look?

 

He colored it all black because black is slimming. 

[Is there really a massive proc nerf just around the corner?]

2 hours ago, ZemX said:

I'm just waiting for someone to notice that the top three DPS spots in that data belong to Brutes... not Blasters.

 

Yeah nothing to see here folks.  Just the supposed top damage dealers of the game being eclipsed by a few meatheads with anger management issues. 🤪

 

A few meatheads in a nigh optimal situation of not having to move while running (potentially) more procs than the ranged dandies when usually it is the ranged ATs which get to just stand still and dps. 

 

Note to self: Start new Brute tonight named Count Procula

[Is there really a massive proc nerf just around the corner?]

46 minutes ago, Videra said:

Procs are not 'overtuned', they are not an issue. If you blanket nerf procs - which is what is liable to happen if an 'Aprocalypse' were to come to pass - then suddenly you have successfully made the gulf between Fire Blast and everything else even bigger.

 

Something which could be dealt with by adjusting other powers upward, Fire Blast downward, or both.

 

Nerf proc ain't happening, but the "problem" advanced is easily dealt with.

[Is there really a massive proc nerf just around the corner?]

Oh gee, the usual suspects indirectly talking about ATs they admit they don't play and what is right and proper for them. 🙄

 

If there were any urgency to nerf procs the nerf bat would have swung by now. At this point the idea of a proc nerf is about as credible as Anastasia surviving the murder of the Russian royal family. I still have no idea what is thought to be gained by radically shifting the functioning of tons of players that would drive this supposed cataclysmic shift in the upper tiers of the game.

 

So the perpetual fear of Tanker players, that the, "Bad Old Days" will return is at best a fever dream of overanxious minds.

[Martial Arts Scrapper: Settling on a secondary]

3 hours ago, One IV All said:

 

This does sound fun, and like a boss killer haha. That was my question, if I'd be able to fit in TWO attacks in the span of EC's +crit window.

 

You will (possibly) get one crit by attacking from stealth. That sets up the 2s window of boosted crit chance. Getting two attacks in that time seems dubious to me given the cast/animation times involved. Testing it on the Test Server is probably worthwhile.

[Martial Arts Scrapper: Settling on a secondary]

1 hour ago, SomeGuy said:

So if you slap the scrapper ATO2 in that attack, and it activates, you now have a 83% chance to crit for your next MA attack. If you can fit another attack in that window...lol. You can bump that up to 86% with the ATO1 somewhere. Enjoy!

 

So the Ninjitsu opening would be with Eagle Claw from stealth, enjoying a 65% base chance (can be increased) to crit, then follow up with a second attack which enjoys a boosted chance to crit. 

 

Not quite the joy of openning with AoE crit, but not shabby.

[Rad/SS]

8 minutes ago, Ashford said:

Eh, with SS rad would be clunky. It works best with shield, invuln, but my personal best in slot for SS would be electric as it can be easily capped with a tanker and SS is very endurance hungry.

 

 

Endurance  hungry is an argument in favor of Rad Armor, not against it. Moreover, there Rad has a +Rchg power, another thing which benefits SS.

[Fighting Synergy, in-game statistics]

On 4/5/2024 at 6:45 PM, Jacke said:

 

I've got a build for a Invulnerability / Super Strength Tanker I'm still levelling.  Doesn't need Tough, so I went with Boxing + Kick + Weave + Cross Punch from the Fighting Pool.  Cross Punch with both buffs from Boxing and Kick in the build (just the base slots on them) on a Tanker is a brutal AoE attack.  On a Controller with Containment, whoa.  😼

 

Given Super Strength is shorted on AoE damage, taking Cross Punch is well advised, regardless of AT. Heck, I took Cross Punch on my Electric/Radiation Melee Tanker over Proton Sweep.

 

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

2 minutes ago, Infinitum said:

Is herding even a thing anymore? Serious question.  Not intending to belittle your point. 

 

I think it is relatively rare--certain maps and situations.

 

Been doing it in solo play on my latest Tanker because at a certain point it is faster to merge groups of foes and be hitting everyone with the occasional AOE than mostly relying on single target attacks on separate spawns (driven by damage per endurance considerations). He's not the first Tanker I've taken that approach on.

 

I'm sure there is a sweet spot for difficulty setting and herding, but mostly playing it by ear as opposed to methodically figure out what it is.

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

Just now, ScarySai said:

 

They were indeed nerfed.

 

But the reasoning was certainly not valid.

 

Or at least dubiously suspicious given the need to protect Blaster/Scrapper team viability due to what has been stated to be edge cases has not translated to a similar need to protect Brutes, especially given hard mode content being introduced where for damage Blasters, Scrappers, and Stalkers are better choices, and you'd NEVER want a Brute taking for you.

 

But that last point will be pooh-poohed as a minor portion of the game WHILE IT WAS ALSO THE CASE that Brutes outperforming required sufficient buffing as to also not the majority of situations.

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

3 minutes ago, Wavicle said:

correction: it only makes a difference if you have your difficulty at x3 or higher. 

 

Additional correction: In the hypothetical that you ignore actual gameplay where lower Armor values makes herding a greater risk for certain ATs and the fact that dumpster diving has long history in game (as does farming).

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

1 hour ago, laudwic said:

 

The even shorter version:

 

Tanker if you predominately team

Brute if you predominately solo.

 

Correction: Brutes if you solo...only solo targets and not groups (majority of content).

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

1 hour ago, tidge said:

Buffing Tankers was not a swing of the nerf bat at Brutes.

 

I did not say or suggest it was. The discussion at that point was about how Brute damage caps were nerfed in regards to Blasters/Scrapers.

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

8 minutes ago, Infinitum said:

If anything it's more likely to have tankers nerfed slightly to help Brutes fit better and bring the tanker edge cases down. 

 

I would genuinely like to see the Brute ATO changed to fit the AT better and Fury made to be 100% of capacity. 

 

I think I would prefer at this point something off the Damage/Survivability axis. I doubt any change to damage or survivability has much room to thread the needle of player satisfaction and moreover, playing around with another AT is how this ball of wax got rolling in the first place. Change brutes in a way that does not directly change their damage/survivability compared to Scrappers/Stalkers/Tankers.

 

Tie it to one-tenth their Fury value as a percent chance for some effect (or amplification of an effect of the attack) when dealing single-target damage. But what? I have no idea (because its time to be unconscious).

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

3 minutes ago, Infinitum said:

Plenty is a stretch - it's mainly edge cases loaded with procs.

 

Its not as bad as it's being portrayed, but it is an issue. 

 

Is that edge bigger than the alignment of planets and stars required for "certain Brute combinations" to outdo  Blasters and Scrappers?

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

29 minutes ago, Infinitum said:

It was proven that certain brute combos were out damaging scrappers and blasters even with none of the risks those two faced. 

 

That's why Brutes were nerfed. 

 

And now that we have plenty of Tanker combos out damaging Brutes while also being tougher...well, clearly that is only right and proper.

[Why is Kinetic Melee still bad?]

2 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

I think I really need to make a scrapper to make a good call on it as I really don't play stalkers or brutes very often.

I guess I need to figure out a character conception for a kinetic scrapper.

My first go at KM was a KM/Shield scraper back on live. I kept hoping things would improve all the way to level 50.

 

It's why I have only attempted KM twice since (a Brute on Homecoming stuck on his low 40s and my current Tanker).

[Why is Kinetic Melee still bad?]

Have not had a lot of time to play, so character is only at 27. Playing solo is mostly fine, but there is a bit of humor from pre-activating an attack then using [F] to run up to a target so in theory you arrive and make the attack--he runs up, starts waving his hands about, and not infrequently gets hit before he deals damage. To be fair, I could beat mobs to the (literal) punch by using either of the T1 or T2 attacks, but I love the thought of the bad guys confronted with a hero taking so long to make an attack they just pull out their weapons and whack the hero.

 

In groups I am more focused on AoE attacks to try to keep foes focused on me (need to slot a KB->KD converter in Repelling Torrent), so slow solo attacks are less of a concern.

[Were Brutes that Badly Nerfed?]

4 hours ago, Snarky said:

Soooooo…….  Glad you like Brutes

 

This is the “entire Brute nerf” in one sock

 

The perspective from a former Brute ( now mostly Blaster/some Corr) player;   “Some whiny Scrapper players showed formulas that indicated on edge cases with certain powersets Brutes could do more damage than Scrappers.  The Devs rewrote Fury so it was easy to get and impossible to peg the bar to the top”

 

Brutes used to have to use tricks to build and MAINTAIN Fury.  Constantly fighting and agroing mobs.  It was glorious. Now….yawn. 
 

To add insult to injury now Tanks out damage Brutes.  Tanks and Scrappers both got great ATOs and one of the Brute ATOs is only useful if you are do bad a player you keep crayons next to your game so you have something to eat. 

 

Waiting for Snarky to break out in song...

 

Now and then I think of all the times Brutes got screwed over,

But had us believing it was always something we had done.

 

And I don't wanna live that way,

Trying to reach maximum fury.

I just had to let it go, 

And you won't catch me hung up on some AT that I used to know.