Frozen Burn

Yes, you can have a random Generic Hero pop up as a captive and they will of course have their own Bio if the player right clicks on them to read. BUT you still have to give that hero a "name," unfortunately. So, you will have to use "Beleaguered Hero" or "Captured Hero" or "Newbie Hero That Got In Over Their Head." 😄 As for power sets that are tough, anything that debuffs can be a challenge. Use a mix of damage types so that one will at least find a hole in whatever random player's build is. Psi and Toxic are the least resisted. But Neg, Fire, Ice are also good to have as well. And as Ankylosaur alluded - it needs to be fun. Hard, difficult, and challenging is all good - if it has a purpose. Being stupid hard for the sake of stupid hard only markets to niche players. But if you there is a story reason for the increased difficulty, then that can appeal to a wider player base. 🙂

I've seen this happen occasionally when converting. It will change the level in the conversion window, but the actual level of the IO remains the same in your tray - at least, it always has for me.

Ah! I was looking in mids which gives it 150%. Shame on me for not going to CoD instead. Thanks!

@Snarky @Uun Rain of Fire does not need accuracy. While yes, there is an accuracy check, it has a base value of 150%. Most powers have a base of 75% and need at least a single "SO's-worth" of Acc in it to get it to 100%. Any global +Acc you may have from your build will increase ROFs 150% even more... so, slotting Acc in RoF is overkill. If some extra Acc happens to land in it from a set - great. But I have a single Res Debuff proc in mine and is sitting at 231% Acc and have no issues with mobs not getting hit, even end-game incarnates.

I hate Respecc'ing. As so many of us do. And I do not blanket respec just because of a new update. I only do if it is warranted on a toon I am playing because a power changed or etc. I have SO many toons with builds that still have their T9 primary and secondaries at lvls 32 and 38, respectively - I never updated them when they switched level availability of powers. I still play them and enjoy them. Only if i think I'll Ex down a lot with them, do I respec them to get more Pri/Sec powers earlier. And actually, in doing this on a couple, I've been able to tweak their builds and actually make them better. But anyway, again, a respec ONLY happens when it is truly needed - not just because an update happened. Only if that updated affected a specific toon, do I respec them.

You're using a much outdated version of Mids. They no longer use the .mxd extension and use the .mbd instead. And that also means you probably have an older database of numbers, powers, and sets, too. You should download the newer version here: https://midsreborn.com/. However, the site seems down at the moment - maybe maintenance? But it's an easy install.

I don't recall it happening on any of the newer content - like what HC has released. It seems to just be selective missions here and there - Yin is a memorable one as practically every mission does it. It doesn't happen on praetorian arc missions - at least, mostly. One or two may squeak through? But certainly not all of them. So, it's not a "Going Rogue" issue for our Inspire tray to go rogue. 😄 I know I have seen it in various random one-off places - a single mission in an arc or TF here and there (Yin being the exception (maybe others too) having all missions in that TF doing it). I've been dealing with the jumping tray for so long, I just automatically move it back without taking note of when and where it happened. But perhaps, I will start taking note now. And perhaps, it may be an issue with certain maps?

Yes, the live zones were changed with updated textures/geometry (Atlas, RCS, and DA) and progression of story/lore (Faultline, Galaxy, RCS, and DA)... the Devs COULD have not created the Echoes, and just put all badges/plaques back in a proper place for continuing on with existing accolades and such, but for some reason, they didn't at the time - too time consuming? or too difficult for changing lore with new zones? I don't know. But eventually, they did change up the Echoes of Atlas, Faultline and RCS so you didn't have to go there any more for explore badges and plaques for the accolades. However, we still do need to go to Echo: Galaxy and Echo: DA. Before the game shutdown, ALL zones were going to get the geometry overhaul to Praetorian standards like they did with Atlas. I don't think they'd create an Echo of all the zones just because they updated the look or changed buildings around. That's why I don't think they'll make an Echo of Mercy. If they do - great! More badges! ...i hope. But I don't see a real need for it. They ACTUAL need is to just revert the zone back to the way it was so you get that progression with the story of Breakout and fighting your way through muck and mire to get to the safety of Archnos' fort. 🙂

There is no content in Echo Zones. So, if you make an Echo: Mercy... the whole vibe and feel of the old Zone (which I *DO* prefer to the current version and wished they revert back to like @Lockely stated) it is all still lost because you can't play through it. All you get is a chance to make 9 new badges - 8 explores and an accolade for getting them all. Now, I love me some badges and always want more.... but I really don't see a purpose or use for an Echo: Mercy. The existing Echo zones were created since they held badges/plaques tied to accolades and there was no room to move them into the newer version. Eventually, some were moved out of Echo: Atlas and Echo: Faultline... but starting an Echo just to create new badges, I don't think it will happen. But if it does... great - more badges!

Yes... that means purchasing multiple packs over time. But if you're poor and don't have billions or even hundreds of millions inf lying around to take advantage of the law of averages (like what this thread is about), then it doesn't matter about the long run. One or two losses can devastate a personal economy. I've experienced opening up 4 packs in a row (across a couple toons because Inf was split) and I received NO enh in any of those packs. It took me a long time to recover from that (I'm a casual player). Yes, with long trends over time, you will break even if not net more. But it's a rich-person's game. You have to have the inf reserves to cover your losses until you get the windfalls. Yes, it CAN be efficient, if you don't mind waiting for a lowball bid to go through (sometimes they never do and you have to up it), and also know which salvage to convert to, and hope the market doesn't get flooded and the price drop on your sales, etc, etc, etc. But still.... That's a lot of time and effort to get 1 IO for the same 100 RMs you just spent converting and marketing that you could've just walked up to the vendor and purchased. Yes, savvy people may make some extra inf that way. But many people just want easy way to get the Winter IO (Which is what this thread is all about and why I suggested buying directly with RMs). There is no shame in just spending that 100 RMs on a direct purchase from the vendor for a Winter Set IO - you're roughly breaking even until you build up enough reserves you can play the Pack Roulette game. ....Now ATOs, is a whole other story. Most definitely, convert the RMs and sell the salvage on market as you can get all 12 of your ATOs for roughly 400-500 RMs (depending on AT), and probably have significant cash afterwards.

Absolutely not - at least not in my experience. Catalyzing and unslotting to sell a Superior Version does not make you come out ahead - Superior versions are going for 20-25M each. Maybe they went for more previously, but not now. And all the other tradeable items i usually get are team inspires - worth nothing. Candy Canes - worth little to nothing, but can save up to buy a Winter's Gift IO and sell, but they don't go for much either. And then there's all the non-tradeable things you get as well - so can't get any Inf back from those. Occasionally, I do get 25 Reward Merits which are added to others to convert into other Winter Event IOs, not converted to inf. Unslotters and catalysts are all kept as I need those anyway. Only when you get 2 enhancement in a pack do you turn profit. If you get none - you lose big. Getting one - you basically break even. Besides, I don't sell the enh's anyway - they will always be used. 🙂

I have not. But that is a great suggestion. I have Hasten on Auto. And I know there are key binds that can switch Auto-fire between multiple powers, but the moving ring just really annoys me for some reason. A bit of OCD maybe?? I dunno. I wished it didn't bug me so. My SR/Shield toons with clickable mez shield, my Ninja Blaster with clickable sustain power, and other similar toons, all have those powers on Auto-Fire and I hate having to manually click Hasten. I so wished I could get over the bouncing ring on my trays - it looks like I'm trying to play ring-toss at the fair! 😄

I knew those cops were dirty! Never trust the PPD! Down with the Man! 😄

It is far cheaper to buy Winter Set IOs with 100 Reward Merits than to purchase off the AH. The prices on the AH are too ridiculous. I NEVER purchase them from there. I am not a farmer and inf doesn't come in truckloads for me like it does for others. But I do play lots of content and collect the Reward Merits. Even if you convert the 100 Reward Merits to inf, you still may not get enough to buy the Winter IO or can still only get 1 max - so, might as well make it easy on yourself and just buy it straight from Merit Vendor. And if you have 25 million to buy the Winter Pack - you may not get an IO at all. This has happened to me often. This last time, I had 75M, so I bought 3 packs. I got 2 IOs from the first. 1 from the 2nd. And none from the 3rd. So it all ended up making the 3 I got worth 25M each. 😞 Sometimes you get lucky, and other times not. When inf is tight - gambling and losing is very painful. If you're rolling inf, the loses don't hurt as much. Take advantage of the Weekly Strike Targets (WSTs) - the selected Task/Strike Forces and Trials that will earn you double Reward Merits. Run story arcs (through contacts or ouro) - they can be quick and the RMs will stack up. Hami Raid - typically, they'll run through 3 times in a session - that's 160 RMs or 120 RMs + a HO... either way, that's 1 Winter IO for ~30 mins of work. Good luck!

Hi. I have a Seismic/Martial that I absolutely LOVE! It's a fun combo to play and can be quite devastating. Attached is my build. I tend to stand in melee range and maneuver accordingly instead of bouncing around jousting in and out of melee and range. Regarding KB>KD.... Ki Push is all about the slow animated KB. To put a KB>KD proc in it is a travesty. The power acts as a pseudo-hold while your foe slowly flies away. This not only gives you time to deal with other foes while they fly away, but also while they try to run back to you. Keep the KB. Meteor (your nuke) has massive KB. But if done right, you will kill everything with it and KB>KD proc is not needed - even at +4, and if anything survives, you can easily finish them off. Click Seismic Force (BU), cast Meteor, and during the 5 secs for it to land, Upthrust, Burst of Speed to center of mob, Dragon's Tail, and then Meteor lands destroying all. So, a KB>KD proc is not really needed. I always embrace KB anyway (and yes, I play Tanks, Brutes, and other melee ATs and still don't mind it). Do not be afraid of it in this case. 🙂 My build is a "pricey" build if you bought everything off the AH, but I didn't do that. I spent very little influence on it comparatively. I also am not an AE farmer and Inf doesn't grow on trees for me. I bought most everything with Reward Merits and using drops. I play a lot of content and use the Reward Merits to buy what I need. This is how I fund ALL my builds and they are all high-end "pricey" builds. Regarding Inner Will... I have issues with this power. I love and hate it. I love what it is and does, and many people love and use it. But for me.... I can never click it when I need it and it ends up causing me more damage and problems than it's worth. For example: I'm in my attack chain. Then I realize a power isn't going off because I'm mezzed. I'm delayed in noticing because of Defiance too - T1 & T2 Primary and T1 Secondary can still be used when mezzed and they are part of my attack chain. By the time i realize that i am in fact mezzed and go to click Inner Will, that power doesn't go off and I try to click it several times thinking i miss-clicked. Then I realize, it's not activating because I'm no longer mezzed. But now, I'm lower on health, in a poor position in the mob, and I have to triage what's going back on, all due to futzing around with a power that wouldn't activate. .....so FOR ME.... It's so much easier to take a break free insp that will activate and protect me no matter what and let me keep on fighting. But it still serves as a good heal when below 50%. ....And that is why I have it as a last power pick unlike so many other people. 🙂 Ruby Fu - Blaster (Seismic Blast - Martial Combat).mbd

Hi. Here is mine. This is back before they changed the level of when you get your powers (so back when T9s of primary and secondary were lvl 32 and lvl 38 respectively). You can take all the powers much earlier now. But slotting would be the same no matter when you choose the power. This is one of my favorite Brutes to play. Very sturdy and powerful, and lots of fun! Meowsie - Brute (Savage Melee).mbd

Here you go... @icehero I decided to redo the build to take powers earlier and change up from Resistance-based to Defense-based. Here is what I'm running with now.... Deadly Nock - Blaster (Archery - Tactical Arrow).mbd

I am the same way - gotta have a good concept and costume, or I won't play it no matter how good it is. But given that... with Time being so versatile, pick which Control set you want to play and develop a concept around that utilizing Time. As twozero stated - Grav/Time is great and a classic combo and can easily fit a concept. Illusion/Time is another - a master illusionist could certainly also control and manipulate time, right? (Plus, Time helps to get perma PA more easily) Symphony/Time - music is set time and time signatures - a natural combo! Earth/Time - Time is marked by the rotation of our Earth and it spinning through the cosmos - certainly has to be a concept there somewhere. Dark/Time - controlling time can be a dark forces thing - a witch/warlock tapping into unnatural forces Arsenal/Time - can go with the "Terminator" plot of a machine coming back through time to right a past event? Or "Cable" the cybernetic soldier going back in time? Or someone unique who discovered or stole a time distortion device? Mind/Time - easily conceived a mentalist could also warp time - look at Dr. Strange! These are just of the ones off the top of my head. Good luck!

Time is very versatile and will go with any set on any AT that takes it. Just pick what appeals to you and play! 🙂

I completely understand the point and how this works, and how it affects people like me. Yes, the reward is greater IF you defeat things to use it. But you clearly aren't understanding our point as @Rudra is trying to help explain. If it's been a long time since I've logged in a character logs in and are maxed on patrol XP - you can't get more from the explore. If me an d friends are done for the gaming session, and I want to catch up on explores, yes, I get patrol XP, but it means nothing since I log off for the night and I might not ever see that toon again for days as I rotate through alts depending on what me and my team does. Yes, there is a brief window where it does reward more when you swing by one on a way to a mission - but it's a one-off and defeats the Devs stated purpose that they want us to "explore the zones" in the middle of our game play. No one ever will say, "Hey team. Hold up while I collect a bunch of explore badges to get more patrol XP!" And no team will wait. And yes, for those people who play the same character repeatedly day after day and session after session, will see a great benefit from it. There is no argument there. But many of us others who rotate through alts - see little to no benefit at all from this change. ...again, MY point is... the new system is biased towards some and not others, when it used to be equal and fair across the board. It doesn't matter the benefit greater, if not everyone can partake in it equally like previously.

Not really. Others have agreed with my sentiment also. I have a ton of alts and limited game time like so many of us. I rotate through my alts, whether low or high level. At the beginning of my play session, I'm full of patrol xp - so finding explores while I wait for friends / SG-mates to log on does me now good. Doing it at the end of game play is pointless, because the next time i log on the toon, they'll be full of patrol XP anyway. So, the only option for some of us to take advantage of the new reward, is to stop in the middle of teaming to go badge hunt - no one wants to do that. Again, some will benefit and some of us will not whereas before, it was even across the board for all. I'm glad you like it and works for your playstyle, but it doesn't change that fact that it is now biased towards some and against others. And changes like that - whether it's against "niche" players or not, is not right, especially when the "system" was equal to all before and it wasn't broke and didn't need "fixing."

I know before I even make the toon. I'll have a build planned out and 99.9% of the time I stick with it all the way to lvl 50.

I was on a all hero TF prior to the release of co-op Striga and Todd almost died from AOEs prior to freeing her. Once she was freed, we could no longer affect her. This never used to be the case. It used to be she was unaffected by anything until she was freed, and then only NPC foes could damage her.

Hey. Since you mentioned me, I thought I would offer some suggestions. 🙂 Completely understand about doing a patron arc to get Scorpion Shield. But a lot of times, people will advertise they are running the final mission and you can just join for it and get the badge without running the arc yourself. You would have to be a vigilante, rogue, or villain, though. Otherwise, your only other option for a defensive shield is the Ice epic pool, and to get Ice Shield, you'd have to take another power in the set first - another reason why Scorpion Shield is so attractive - you don't have to take another power to get your shield! Anyway, attached below has some edits that I came up for you.... Being Archery vs DP (from my build you started with), I imagine you'll be at range a lot more than I am with DP where I am in melee mostly. You will probably be jousting a lot so you'll want to focus more on ranged defense and Scorp / Ice Shields do very little for you in that regard. Given that (and your wish to not do patron arc), I dropped Scorp Shield and picked up Choking powder for 5 slotting Winter Hold set for the ranged Def. Moved lots of slotting around. Got rid of devastations and Apocalypse for the HPs, and switched some slotting around to get Thunderstikes and the Winter Ranged set for more ranged Def. Slotted up maneuvers. Dropped Mighty Leap and gave you Super Jump instead since you were maxed on your 4 pools. This allows you to take Combat Jumping later on (instead of Blinding Powder) for more Def and another LotG +global rech. Reversed your sets in Fistful of Arrows and Explosive Arrow - FA can better use the Ragnarok Chance for KD proc and EA will be better suited for the Overwhelming Force KB > KD proc. This will make both AOEs KD instead of one of them having enhanced KB. Added a +Stealth IO to your sprint so you'll have complete invisibility. This brings you up to the soft cap on Ranged defense and should do you well, even for the times you pop in and out of melee to quickly use your sword attacks. Night Strike - Blaster (Archery - Ninja Training).mbd

As others have stated, depends on AT. Always set to solo bosses. But generally, I'm set at +0 or +1 and x3. If the toon has really great AOEs, I'll up it to x6 or more, depending. Sometimes, I'll up it to +2. But otherwise, it's just a slog-fest trying to get through a mission with anything too high. That's why I'll also have AV setting set to EBs. I care more about getting through the story (with a bit of a challenge) and moving to the next story arc to experience it. I am in no rush to get to 50. When an incarnate and level shifted, I am generally +3 or +4x8, depending on AT and build.