Frozen Burn

On a team, they aren't your mobs - they are the entire team's. On a team, the tank's role is one of control - keep the mobs from looking at your teammates. Gathering/herding can be a part of this to leverage gauntlet and your ranged taunt to make foes look at you easier - but again, that is your role to control the mobs in that way, so your teammates can do their part, - defeat them, buff/debuff, add further control, etc. If you want them to be "your" mob only - then solo. 😛

Yep, I know this is what people do and I know some can get the badge - but also, I know from first hand experience that you also may not, despite how many attempts you do. Statistically, you'll get it eventually, but just how long is the question. For me, the RNG seems to hate me and it took over 40 tries (120 GMs), and that's only on my main badger so far. I have many alts still need several that they just can't seem to get. There is a theory/rumor - and as far as I know it's only a theory/rumor - that the trial scans the league member's defeat badges and "pulls a nightmare" GM from that list of badges. So for instance, if no one on the league has defeated Deathsurge and has that badge, then there is no possible way for Deathsurge to spawn in the trial as a nightmare - so you would need members of the league that collectively have defeated all of the required GMs for a chance to get them all. I don't know if that is true or not (would be nice if someone could confirm/deny) - but it would be cool if so, as it fits with the story! But if not, then it truly is a crap shoot on getting all 16 of them.

Ah, yeah, thought you meant leading a team. You are correct. But some have a hard time getting the mentoring badges because they hate/refuse to lead a team, so that is where I brain went and made the suggestions. 🙂

When I was playing consistently, it would be several months before I would see a purple drop. 😞 The RNG hates me.

There are occasional farms of just the first part on Torchbearer too. I've seen 20+ runs happen and not everyone get the badge and people give up because as you say, it's tedious and people can't stand to continue doing it after too long. Then they wait for the next attempt and pray Lady Luck is on their side as they dive into tedium once more. lol I think it took my main badger 40+ attempts to get the badge. I have 30+ other alts that still have not gotten it. 😞

I lump that in my statements: "some of the iTrials badges are the most difficult to get as it takes an entire league to be coordinated and on their game. There are strategies for all of them." 😄 Most definitely, The Really Hard Way is among the toughest, so are Avoids the Green Stuff, Avatar Assassin, Preservation Specialist, and even Loves a Challenge can be tough as it relies on very fast healers to overcome Anti-Matter's disintegration quickly. But if we're talking hardest to get, I still stand by my statement of Dreamwalker / Dreamkiller being toughest as it's pure luck to get. 🙂

The most particularly nastiest badges to get are the ones that rely on a team, or especially an entire league, to do something to earn it. While yes, the traditional TF "master of" badges can be tricky... PVP badges that require many people can also be difficult because people rarely set them up. But I think some of the iTrial badges are the most difficult as it takes an entire league to be coordinated and on their game. There are strategies for all of them, but there is one in particular that is extremely difficult and it is really like winning the lottery if you get it: Dreamwalker / Dreamkiller - Defeat all of Malaise's possible nightmares at least once during the Minds of Mayhem Trial. There are 16 of the buggars and you only get 3 per trial. Duplicates don't count and there is no guarantee you'll get one that you haven't already defeated in a previous trial. You can do 100 attempts still may not get the nightmares you need for the badge. Again, truly like winning the lottery with this one.

It doesn't just have to be farms or +4 ITFs... All you need is one other person or even easier, an alt account and invite them. So if you're just hanging out working on something in game (costume, building an AE arc/mission, crafting, marketing, etc) or just hanging out in Pocket D dancing with DJ Zero - invite an alt account and start building up time. 🙂 You can also invite your alt account, set an ouro mission so you don't auto-log, then walk away and go eat dinner, watch TV, go to bed, wake up the next morning with your badges. 😄

I would say my Ice/Fire/Fire blaster has tons of devasting AOEs. And if you're talking square footage coverage as well, with 2 rains (and one being your nuke) and bonfire (w/KB>KD proc) - I can affect a great area or devastate a small one. Also, my DP/Mental has devastating AOEs - built it to be a PBAOE juggernaut.

Ice/Fire blaster was my first ever blaster when the game first came out and has been my Main and Namesake ever since. Blasters are my favorite AT and I like all the sets and combos thereof. But Ice/Fire is one of the most fun and survivable combos you can have. Lots of damage and AOEs and plenty of control for survivability. I solo and farm at +4x8, including incarnate content. I took Fire Mastery as well. With Freeze Ray, Bitter Freeze Ray, and Char, you can perma hold an EB or 2 bosses simultaneously and burn them down. But most people hate Bitter Freeze Ray because of the animation - it's improved a lot over the years and is not as bad as it once was. Ice blast has a lot single target damage and of course, your holds for control. Fire Manipulation begs for you to be in melee range and that's where you get most of your AOEs. So, I hope you're ok with fighting in close range. Just build up your defenses as best you can - you don't need to be capped. With the control and damage you have between the sets, you'll be very survivable. I see a lot people take /Fire and do not want to be in melee range and they deal very little damage comparatively - it's such a waste and you might as well have chosen another secondary that leans towards staying at range. So... triple thumbs up - do it! It's a BLAST! (pun intended) 😄

Just the Celerity +Stealth IO is not enough to get you completely invisible. That IO + Shadow Fall stack to make you completely invisible. Shadow Fall also provides some Def and Resists and then is of course, great for set bonuses, if you want. But it's also a great mule for the Def/Res specials: DEF Karma = KB Protection Kismet = +ACC Gift of the Ancients = Def/+Runspeed Reactive Def = Scaling Resist Bonus Luck of the Gambler = Def/+Global Rech Shield Wall = TP Prot/+5% Res (All) RES Steadfast Prot = KB Protection Steadfast Prot = REs/+3% Def Impervious Skin = Status Res/Regen Impervium Armor = Psi Res Unbreakable Guard = +Max HP Aegis = Status/Psi Res Gladiator's Armor = TP Prot/+3% Def(All)

I will always choose a blaster over any other AT. And a Defender over a Corrupter. My blaster secondaries for Storm = /Ice, /Fire, /Martial, and /Temporal. For a Defender, can't go wrong with Storm/Storm for the theme. But Elec/Storm would fit thematically too.

I'm a fan of the Silver Surfer too. Any Energy Blast AT will do. Grav/Energy Dom certainly will work. Energy Blaster with secondaries of: Atomic (cosmic energy), Energy, Temporal Energy Sentinel with Secondaries of: Invuln and Energy would be my top 2, or maybe Rad (cosmic energy), possibly even SR, WP Peacebringer is a possibility, but the sound effects would a detraction to me - but they are aliens which Silver Surfer is. And definitely would need the Rocket Board, but you'll have to be okay with it being red - can't change its color. 🙂

As others stated, a posi TF is not a good judge of the build and what it can do - you're too low level for all the goodness you'll get to. however, going by concept-wise, I don't think an Elec/Traps controller is Mr. FF'ish anyway - it's a little more Dr. Doom to me with the lighting and control. To go back to your original thinking of a Beam/Atomic Blaster, maybe go a Beam/Rad Sentinel instead? You'll get your gadget and a decent armor set to make you sturdy. Then with Mace or Ninja Mastery, you'll get more gadgets and control.

It is extremely difficult to get both badges in 1 event. You have to be there right at the start as it takes so long for enough Ravers to become Supas before the event timer runs out, and if you can get 50 of them, it's even more difficult to get an additional 50 Ravers. I have never seen it done. Not saying it can't be - It may be possible - but it is EXTREMELY difficult. Most people find it's easier to get the badges in 2 or 3 events. Or 1 event (for the ravers) and then just patrolling Skyway at random times for the gathered Supas. Being an open world event, you will deal with newbies, trolling heroes, and whatever - best not to get panties bunched in a wad for personal sanity reasons. And I was not excusing any bad behavior on the trolling hero cited. But also was just offering the Op some options for collecting Supas as a lot of people also don't know the gathering points afterwards and you can get them even when the event is not going on as it takes a while for them to de-spawn.

There is also the Raver badge for 50 of the glowing ravers before they turn into Supa Trolls. So, perhaps he needed just them as it's so easy to find Supa Trolls running through and/or gathered around Skyway after the rave event. If you need Supa Trolls still, even if you miss they event, check around the tram and the King's Row gate - those are the two places Supa Trolls run to and gather during the event and hang out for quite a while. But yes, open world events will cause you to have to deal with selfish people.

Yeah, this set never had matching gloves or boots.

Hi! Welcome to Homecoming and back to the game! Fire Manipulation is one of the best secondaries out there. It can do a lot of damage, but yes, you have to be in melee range - and you can survive there too! I see SO many Fire/Fire/Fire blasters struggle, run, and faceplant or just deal low damage vs. what they could be doing because they don't utilize the tools given to them in /Fire Manipulation. A triple-Fire blaster can be a PBAOE juggernaut, but you need to be comfortable in melee range. Blasters in general are the embodiment of "A strong offense is a great defense." This includes utilizing your secondary powers (both attacks and controls). And then add on top some decent defensive set bonuses and/or pool powers, and you can be very survivable. Ring of Fire Yes, an immob can be handy as a blaster to keep a pesky melee foe off you, even at higher levels. It does more damage than Fire Blast - so it's worth getting and slotting for damage, if you take it. Because of Defiance and as a T1 secondary, you can use it when you're mezzed (along with T1 & T2 Primaries). I can't tell you how many times having 3 attacks and 1 of them being a control has saved my life while being mezzed. I always recommend taking these 3 powers, especially as you're leveling up. Once you're an incarnate (and if you only play endgame content), you can get Clarion Destiny for permanent mez protection and respec out if you want. Or if you wanted some other Destiny, still having 3 attacks while mezzed is still useful. Fire Sword - great finishing move and great for slotting the Winter's Gift Melee Set for the defense set bonuses. Combustion - lame. This is the only power in the set that is not worth taking, imo. Animation is too long for the damage it doesn't do. Others may disagree. Fire Sword Circle - Great PBAOE attack. Consume - optional power. It's not as necessary anymore now that we have Cauterizing Aura. But I like to take it and slot it for damage as another PBAOE. It's also good for those times when your Endurance gets sapped or drained by enemies. You can quickly refill and get back into the fight without having to wait for Cauterizing Aura to refill your bar. Burn - Great power for slotting and proc'ing. Put it on a foe that's immob'd, or held by Char and let them roast. If you get bonfire, put the KB>KD proc in it to make your foes flop on the ground, drop a burn patch on them, especially bosses and EBs to whittle them down. Casting it also releases you from any immob on you, if you don't have that protection from elsewhere. Hot Feet - amazing power! On paper, it seems "meh" - i used to think that too. but in use, it's amazing. Your foes don't like their feet burning and they run from you - slowly! It's a great defensive power that does decent damage and can hold procs. Foes will still attacks you, so some defense set bonuses and/or pool powers are useful (Fire Armor, Tough, Weave, Maneuvers, Rune of Protection, etc). Highly suggest 6 slotting for damage with one of the -DmgRes procs in it. It has -Fly component to it, which is very handy. Slotting - you are correct, not everything needs to be 6 slotted. Most attacks can be 4 or 5 slotted. You really only 5 or 6 slot for the set bonuses. Many of the Winter's Gift sets and the AT sets have really great defensive set bonuses at 5 and 6 slots. As a triple-Fire blaster, consider this PBAOE goodness while you wait for Inferno to recharge: Cast Bonfire (with KB>KD proc and slotted for damage - without the KB>KD proc, Bonfire is not as useful and does not use deal as much overall damage) While they're flopping on the ground, jump in with Hot Feet, Rain of Fire, Burn, Fire Ball, Fire Sword Circle, Consume (slotted for Damage), Blaze/Fire Blast/Ring of Fire/Fire Sword/Blazing Bolt as necessary between PBAOE powers recharging. Things just melt and die rather quickly. Next mob, Inferno is back Next mob, repeat destruction with Bonfire and your PBAOEs. Leadership Pool - Tactics and Assault are not necessary. Aim and Build Up already give you lots of +ToHit, so Tactics is not really needed and I'd rather take a power that would give me more defense. Also, Aim and Build Up already get you to the damage cap (or close enough), so Assault isn't really needed or that useful for blasters and is a wasted toggle and power pick, imo (it's better for other ATs who are further from the damage cap). Maneuvers is far more useful (especially stacked with Weave, Combat Jumping, etc) and is only 1 power pick to get it too. ...i hope this helps! Good luck!

All ATs have advantages/disadvantages in some regard. Damage ATs are easier for the damage dealt and all the defeat badges. Tanks/Brutes are good for the damage taken badges, but takes longer for the debt and being mezzed badges, similar for other ATs with a defensive set. You'll have to turn off toggles and go in without your shields. While squishies may get the mezzed and debt badges quickly, it can be frustrating to play faceplanting and being put out of action so frequently - you just have to remind yourself, it's all for a badge! Healers can get the healing badges easy, but there are also simple ways to farm that on non-healers once you're an incarnate. Just play what you like. There will be grinding, farming, and a lot time spent on the character no matter the AT or powersets - so best to play a toon you enjoy. I personally prefer collecting badges on my blasters vs. other ATs - you'll get most of the difficult things quickly like: being mezzed, damage dealt/taken, debt paid off, and the defeat badges - and then you'll at least have little farming/grinding to do at the end for the remainder of them. And healing badges can be gotten fairly easily once you're an incarnate with Rebirth.

Always has to fit the character, in my opinion. 🙂 I have many characters that won't cross the line (either way). But if you want your toon to be a complete "badger" and you want all of them... perhaps your marine went "rogue" and off the books to do his own thing being dissatisfied with current leadership's lack of action? Maybe he's working "undercover" for the CIA in counter-intelligence throughout the Rogue Isles? Many badges will need to be earned through Ouroborous, so perhaps he's on a mission to explore "alternate timelines" or "alternate dimensions" where he is rogue-ish? ...just some thoughts for possible plausibility. 🙂 But of course, if it doesn't fit, then it doesn't fit.

For true invisibility, yes you do. Correct. Stealth from the Concealment pool is rated at 55 ft "stealthiness." At 60 ft, you're completely invisible and can literally stand on top of foes and they will not see you. Stealth alone at 55 ft (no IO added on) can get you pretty damn close to foes, but if you're right next to them, they will see you. So, you should still get that IO, which adds 30 ft of stealth radius, making you invis with 85 ft radius. All the armor stealths provide 35 ft stealth radius, plus the IO will give you 65 ft - putting you over the 60ft limit and making you invisible. For PVE purposes, to foes, there is no real difference whether you are 60 ft, 65 ft, or 85 ft radius - there is mostly no impact on the foes. The only caveat are the few foes that have higher perception (like snipers) -- 85ft gets you a little closer than if you had 55 ft or 65 ft, but they will still see you from a distance. Now given all that, the Armor stealths grant better defenses along with the stealthiness, and less of the defense suppresses while in combat, compared to the Stealth power from the Concealment pool. I would opt for the armor stealth over the pool power for that alone. The few extra feet you get from Stealth + IO for the few mobs that will STILL see you anyway, is not worth sacrificing the better defenses you get from the armor stealth powers and will use on the majority of what you will fight.

It's not just rank you have to look at. You can balance an EB/AV NPC character with your power selection for them. I've run into similar as you and while MY character I am trying to recreate has Build Up, Aim, Darkest Night, or other such buff/debuff powers, and even though they are available to NPC in AE... I find it's best to not give them those types of powers because like you say, they'll one-shot the player. You can still make a Tanker NPC and give it powers from the powersets you want - but look at what buff/debuff powers you give them. Critters/NPCs in AE are more like we are and less like Critters in PVE. The powers you give them work similar to the ones we get and not the dumbed down versions critters in PVE get. For example, Invulnerable set's Invincibility... CoT demons get this power (or a version of it), but it is a mere fraction of what we get as players. In AE, the NPC gets our version and it's much stronger - they get more Def and more ToHit than the PVE Critter version. When selecting your powers for your EB/AV NPCs (and even bosses too)... give them the "flavor" you want. Don't just check off every power on the list, even though your character that you're recreating has them. This should help you balance your NPCs. Good luck! PS - I'm also NOT saying to never use those buff/debuff powers - as the story goes, it may be part of that character that they have a super one-shot ability or a massive debuff that you have to be careful of. There are already AVs/GMs in game that have this and you have to avoid it somehow, which is part of the challenge and fun of the game... you just have to warn the player ahead of time with the story that this will happen.

Misha should meet Kiska....

It's just hunting and pecking, trying to find him. If you have the Vidiotmaps pack downloaded, it will show you all his (and Eochai's) spawn points. Just run around to each spot and hope he's there. If not, go back an hour or so later and try again. Also, look out for the "Unusual Activity in Croatoa" zone event announcement. That is usually Jack and Eo fighting up north. Otherwise, it's just waiting, and looking, and waiting, and looking.... 🙂

Yes, of course! ...for those times I am standing in the middle of my Blizzard. But I'm not always, depending on the situation, and I don't always drop Ice Storm on top of my Blizzard either. When I do use all 3 at once, obviously, the slow effect is wonderous. But when I'm at range, the KD of Blizzard and/or Bonfire is very helpful too. But it's really the damage mitigation of the KD that is key. Even when foes try to run, they'll shoot at you. When they're flopping, they don't.