Frozen Burn

Welcome back to the game!! Despite the Blaster vs Sentinel decision, there are things to consider when deciding between Dual Pistols or AR.... AR is cone heavy and lends itself better to staying at range while DP is more PBAOE / mixed playstyle. So, depending on your playstyle preference that will impact your choice there. Both are viable and can be successful either as a Blaster or Sent in end game. Given AR lends itself better to staying at range - it does have M30 grenade, Buckshot, and Slug that KB which can be useful. However, they won't entirely help with being swarmed as you sometimes can get with certain mob types. Blaster secondaries have a wide variety of tools, controls, and damage powers to deal with swarming mobs, but you'll have to be comfortable with being armorless until you get up in levels and get your epic shield and/or Fighting, Leadership, or other pools for more defenses - as well as slots for getting those Def/Resist set bonuses. Blasters can be built to be very survivable which is why I hate the term "glass cannon" - they are not as fragile as they used to be back in the day. Blaster deaths are usually by player error / misjudgment. So, I prefer to think of them as "living on the edge of a cliff" - you're fine doing your thing as long as you don't mess up and walk off that cliff plummeting you to your death. 😄 AR/Devices Blaster is a classic combo and can be devastating to pull mobs into your ambush of trip mines and gun drones - so much fun! ...but can be slower gameplay. AR/Energy is also classic and has great melee tools and stuns for those pesky swarmers, and boost range really helps the cones. Sentinel secondaries (armors) can help you stay alive, and some might have some PBAOE powers to help (like Bio, Rad, etc), but you're still faced with attacking foes at point blank range with cones and blasts. That's not a big deal, but for some, it may be. Dual Pistols lends itself to being up close to mobs due to the nuke being PBAOE. Then targeting a foe near you with Bullet Rain, it's like another PBAOE despite it being a Targeted AOE. (And Executioner's Shot (ST) just looks awesome at point blank range - especially when it really is the kill shot. 😄) Pretty much all Blaster Secondaries can greatly enhance the Melee / PBAOE playstyle of DP. I would stay away from /Devices as it lends itself to being at range and ambushing. Sentinel Secondaries will of course offer you your shields with things for being up close and personal with mobs. Some things to note about Sentinel vs. Blaster when choosing.... Sentinels are considered (by the Devs) as "ranged scrappers" and they are based off that model. So, given that... Sentinels, while they have vastly improved in recent years, still have a lower damage modifier versus a Blaster. Sentinels have a lower target cap than Blasters. Sentinels have a shorter range on their attacks than Blasters. ....the shields / armors are the trade-off. Personally, for me... I have a Beam Rifle/Rad Sentinel. It's a beast and I took Provoke for taunting so i can tank - and i do. It's that sturdy and good. But I still prefer my Blasters. 🙂 I kill faster and AOE more mobs, and I am just as survivable (even though you're living on the edge of cliff). I tend to blap with my Blasters, so the shorter range of the Sent is not an issue for me. But I have friends who play nothing but Sents and love them to death. So, hopefully all this will help you with narrowing down your choices. here are some of my DP builds that I Blap with: DP/Mental - a PBAOE juggernaut DR/Ninjitsu - a Melee kill machine DP/Sonic - complete with Fold Space to bring more into PBAOE range! Kiska Nikolaevna - Blaster (Dual Pistols).mbd Phantom's Sting - Blaster (Dual Pistols).mbd Johnnie Hertz - Blaster (DP-Sonic).mbd

Wow. Seriously? Having a bad day? Need to vent more? lol 🙂 Sorry if my posts crawled under your skin for whatever reason. 🙂 However, you're missing the main the point - Axes and blades, despite having other costume effects that might suggest otherwise, still do lethal damage - which still fits as they are at the core a bladed weapon. Clubs and maces that have fancy effects, still, at the core, do smashing damage. Wanting the extra / secondary energy, fire, ice, etc damage on top of the primary lethal or smashing holds no argument here as we're talking straight up smashing damage (all clubs) versus lethal damage (all blades). Otherwise, each costume piece would have to have it's own powerset depending on whatever secondary effects it might appear to have - and yeah, I wouldn't hold my breath for that. I stated in my first post - I'm no Dev. I have no clue what it takes to create a set or rework one which is why is stated I "feel" like it would be easier. So, obviously, of course, without a doubt, feeling something might be easier clearly has no weight. Duh. Don't really have to point that out. However, in general, reworking things tends to be more buggy than just creating something new from scratch. This is just common sense knowledge. But, in this case I could absolutely be totally wrong. Just giving us new costume options for holding clubs in the Dual Blades set? Ok, fine, whatever. Yeah, that would be easier than creating a new set - i would imagine, i really have no clue as I'm not a Dev. Maybe it's not? But it's also not optimal as again, we're faced with bludgeoning items in a lethal set, like with TW having lethal items in a smashing set. Many people posted how they didn't like that, and with OP also adding in that they wanted DB to be reworked and renamed to accommodate this request for dual clubs, it makes sense to create a new set (dual clubs) that does smashing - so it then makes us all happy we have it, we all have a new set to play with, and it helps us all to not have to suspend our disbelief as much. Versus... just new weapon skins on an old set and we have to suspend our disbelief even more. I'm not knocking yours or anyone's opinions here as I want Dual Clubs too! I was just offering a different solution to reworking an existing set by giving us something new that could make all parties happy. Don't like it - totally fine and valid. But personally, I'd rather have a new set to play with instead of respecing my DB toons for whatever changes happen in the rework - you know there will be some - and this adds to the overall "easier" for not just Devs, but for us players too. And if it's just adding clubs and maces to Dual Blades costume editor? Well, fine - but others can enjoy it, I won't. Peace.

Yes, Titan Weapons does this - smashing damage even though you can wield a sword or a blunt object. And this has always bothered me every time wield my TW sword. But just because there is precedent in this one case, doesn't mean we have to rework DB to accommodate. Still, I feel it's easier to just create a separate Dual War Mace/Club set - everyone gets what they want.

Love the idea of dual batons! But, I don't think we need to rework Dual Blades to achieve it. As you stated, DB is is for bladed weapons, and lethal damage. Reworking to add in clubs, would be smashing damage, but a powerset can't switch damage types by switching a costume part. And dual batons should not be doing lethal damage. Also, just changing the set name to "Dual Wield" is too vague and can open a can of worms we may not want or need to. "Dual Wield" also means Dual Pistols or dual wielding anything else down the line - dual wielding ARs or Beam Rifles?? 😄 It's very muddy conceptually. Instead, let's just make a Dual Mace/Club set for smashing damage and leave DB alone with it's lethal damage. While I am no Dev, I would think it would be far easier to create a new dual wielding club set based off War Mace vs. reworking Dual Blades to incorporate what we want here. This would also be a cleaner and clearer path to move forward with the existing game.

I have a Savage/Bio Brute and love it - I can imagine a Bio/Savage Tanker would be just as awesome and fun.

Hi @DeathKitty. Welcome to the forums! I think your build will work fine. Clearly, it is working for you, and that is all that really matters. There are many ways to build and be successful. I have similar stats to yours, but a little more on the S/L/E, a little more on the resists, and a lot more on the HPs because I don't like doing the multiple proc thing, so that allows me more set bonuses. (My build below, in case there is anything you want to glean anything from it.) I play similarly to you as well - always in the middle of a group to leverage PBAOEs and melee powers. The only thing I noticed on your build is that you have too much endurance. Blaster's sustain powers (Metabolic Accelerant, in this case with /Atomic) are really good and that you do not need to do normal end management building as you do with other toons. You can safely drop the miracle + recov... it's totally not needed in your build and you can use that slot elsewhere, or I personally would put a Preventative Medicine + Absorb proc in that slot. That proc has saved my life many times. You could probably also drop the End Mod slot out of Stamina and just only have the proc there. Use that slot to put in a Shield Wall +5% Resist or the Reactive Defenses +Scaling Resist IOs. Even better if you can get both into your build somehow. Divine Radiance - Blaster (Radiation Blast).mbd

I am curious, as I am not fully understanding your reasoning here.... You don't like the incarnate system - got that, and that is perfectly fine. 👍 But when you turn 50, you are not an incarnate. All you get is your final 3 slots. Nothing more. You can just be a regular, non-incarnate toon but at level 50. Yes, you'll continue to earn XP and get incarnate threads and empyrean merits with veteran levels, but you do not have to do anything with them and can ignore them (as suggested above). You can play as normal like at lvl 49, but with 3 final slots for your build. So, what's really wrong with being "50" and just taking your final 3 slots? ...again, just curious. 🙂 ...maybe you don't want the final 3 slots for your builds? ...don't like the number 50? 🤣

To me, they are masks. Full masks. Like the two I own: But of course, the Carnie masks are magical, unlike mine. 😄 So, whether they are porcelain (or other material - hard and thick paper mache like mine) and being fragile, it is inconsequential as the magic would protect it. That same magic would also keep it on the user's face so it's not easily torn off by someone just walking up to them - the mask wants to be worn and bonds with the user - but yes, can still be torn off with great force (similar to the wooden mask in Jim Carey's The Mask movie - they had to really tug and pull to remove the mask from someone). Also, any limitations of the static mask do not seem to be an issue for me. Field of view is fine/normal, if not enhanced by the dark psychic magic of the mask itself - this is noted by the solid colored eyes on all the Carnies' masks. Mouth doesn't need to move as you can still hear what is being said, and frankly, it's more creepy and daunting to a foe to not see the mouth moving. Which also leads me to not buy into the mask becoming the wearer's skin / whiteface with makeup. Additionally, supporting mask not being absorbed into the wearer's face - each mask is pretty much identical across all carnies - same expression, same look, same makeup across all minions, LTs, and bosses (with maybe a few exceptions for the top brass). Also, when Desdemona puts on Vanessa's mask, she is truly wearing the mask that looks just like what was on Vanessa's face - not a morphed version of Des' face + mask. For these reasons, I believe they are truly masks worn, and not absorbed. And yes, there is still individuality from the user wearing the mask, but the souls within the masks influence, corrupt, and mostly take over the wearer. We kind of learn about how this all works in Madelaine Casey's arc "Upon the Psychic Plane" and the pendant she was wearing. I think stronger willed people can resist and retain some of their individuality whereas weaker willed people are completely overtaken.

Yes, you can. After each arc is complete, you return to your normal Primal self so your Resistance or Loyalist designation does not stick. Although, you do get credit towards badges. So, no, you are not locked into choices like you would if running as a lowbie in Praetoria itself. And yes, if you are running the arcs through Praetoria, you can lock yourself out of arcs as some choices will kill off contacts and you can't then do them later. But by running through Ouro, you don't have that issue as everything is a "flashback." However, the best way to run the arcs is via a couple different characters. You can via 1 character, but it's a little cumbersome and you will definitely have to turn off earning XP at times so you don't out level contacts. But it's still more immersive to run them at level through Praetoria than to run them all as a flashback through Ouro. Good luck and have fun!

@GM_GooglyMoogly, I have always found your posts to be fair, impartial, and spot on for when things go awry and a thread needs locking. You've also partaken in fun discussions and brought some humor too. I don't think you need to change anything at all, from what I've seen. Keep up the great work and thanks for doing it! You and the other GMs rock! 🙂

Nova Praetoria at [-4579.2 38.0 565.7].... there are 2 trees floating above the ground.

Nope, I get the proposal, but again, rearranging power order doesn't inject life into the game or those early levels - it's the same content but you'll just more easily walk through what you've already called too easy / not challenging. And you did state "Usually when I play this game it's about testing out a build idea." Hence, my response: at lower levels you'll walk through anything you do and at upper levels, you're basically the same as you would be anyway. So, while I do respect your opinion and suggestion - there doesn't seem to be much use or value for this system other than the cosmetic gimmick that ALSO does present an unbalance at the lower levels. Most certainly! 🙂 Clearly, I like the content, where as you prefer more of the systems (AE, arena, building, etc). Both are valid. And it's not that I don't like your idea - I'm neither for or against it. Within the paradigm of the HC server, you've yet to come up with a reason for this idea other than "I'm bored with low level content" and "I want a new gimmick" that might make the HC team actually take the idea seriously. And yes, the suggestions forum is exactly for what you did. I am fine with your suggestion and respect your opinion as stated above. But please also realize, I am just trying to help you find what you want because it is very unlikely that the HC team will implement let alone even entertain your idea. I am only trying to assist you by explaining some of the possible reasoning as to why HC might not entertain your request, and also help you by pointing you in a direction of other servers that would do / currently do what it is you are suggesting so that maybe you can find the enjoyment you seek. I am sorry you feel that someone pointing you in a direction that may help you get what you want is "out of line." When I see someone trying to put a square peg into a round hole like you are here, I want to help - even if that means directing them to another server where they may get to enjoy the type of gameplay they are seeking. Good luck to you. 🙂

People ignore the content because like you said, they've played it for 20 years. But new content, new zones, new mobs... that would engage people. Maybe not you, but it is something new vs. just rearranging your powers. And you are also assuming everyone burns through the low levels and ignores it, when no, not everyone does. I love the lower levels and have friends that also love them. We read through the stories still, even though we've done them for 20 years. Yes, this is a game, and creating more stories, more mobs, more zones, more enhancements DOES do more the the gameplay as it can create new challenges and experiences. It may not be the build testing gameplay you like, but it does in fact enhance and grow the gameplay. And what you are suggesting in your premise IS throwing cosmetics at it and really does nothing for the gameplay itself. You are suggesting cosmetically rearranging your powers - and that will only make the low level content (that you already hate and avoid) easier and does nothing to enhance the game experience itself. Normal content can be challenging, depending on your AT, power picks, how you slot your character, and your difficulty settings. The game is balanced around all this. Allowing higher tiered powers to be available at the low levels changes that balance, and only makes things easier. And you already claim there is no challenge in normal content, so your suggestion just makes it even less so. I too love testing out weird builds, character concepts, and such. But your OP still doesn't present itself with a viable testing arena. If you take your upper tier powers in the low levels, and you mow through already easy mobs at the lower levels - that tells you nothing in testing your build. And if you fight upper level mobs (meaning you're higher level too), well, that also tells you nothing because you have all the powers you would have anyway no matter the order you picked them. But whatever the case, even if this is purely for playing around with a build idea and ignoring content - that's not what Homecoming is about. Homecoming is about the content. Again, there are other servers you can go to right now that will allow you to do what you are suggesting - just pick your powers as you see fit right from the start. Go check it out there.

No need to be snarky or assumptive - and I am not set in my ways - I am open to new ideas and alternative things but only when I think they are good ideas, and what you proposed isn't. Sorry if that isn't what you want to hear. I get that you're bored of low end content and want something - anything - to make it more palatable for you. Nothing wrong with that. But I don't see your premise as a viable option - 1) for the many technical reason listed above; 2) for the Developer's philosophical reasons also stated above that it would go against; and lastly 3) rearranging power orders isn't really giving us anything "new" except a way to cheat at the lower levels. If you're bored with low level content, then volunteer to be a Staff Writer for the Dev team and create more story arcs for us. Bring in new content. That is what we need. Create a whole new zone and backstory with new mobs. Trying to rearrange existing powers isn't new, and as I stated, is just overpowered. (And again, there are other servers out there where you can go and play that way.) Even if what you suggested was implemented, you'd still get bored because the content was the same, and I'd wager you'd get bored even faster since that same content would be a walk in the park and provide very little challenge if any at all due to your higher tiered powers. Edit: Additionally, you do not have to grind to get IOs or sets to play this game - the game is still based off of SOs (except maybe Hard modes). You don't even have to touch the IO system. But really, they aren't a grind and are easy to obtain. There are many threads on how to do so easily and on any budget.

As in your OP example, having Fire Imps (or any pet) at lvl 2 is overpowered. So is a blaster or other ranged AT having their Nuke at lvl 2. Or melee ATs having their T9 "god-mode" powers at lvl 2. Low level critters do lower damage and have lower HPs compared to higher lvl groups that dish out higher damage, have higher HPs & defenses and for when these types of powers that come later in your build are unlocked and needed. It is completely overpowered. And I don't see this as "mixing it up" or "giving us something new." I see this as a way to just freeform your character and cheat the game. I believe there are other servers out there that allow you to do this sort of thing right from character creation, if you really wanted to try it.