biostem

Why can't you issue your goto defensive command, then send an attack defensive command once they're where you want them?

Darkness/thorny assault dominator Stone melee/bio armor brute Earth control/nature affinity controller

We're all very experienced players at this point. The notes about role, etc during character creation are for newer or unfamiliar players, and while not perfect, they serve that purpose well enough. I certainly don't have an issue with players making their characters however they like - but if they deviate a bit from their chosen ATs typical functionality, then you'll need to adjust/compensate and work with what you have...

To me, it's about having options. Do some travel powers/pools need love/tweaking? Absolutely! It shouldn't just be about raw performance, however...

I only see corruption, lash, and crack whip. What else uses that animation? Regardless, you could chain together 2 of the animations in rapid succession for an attack. Dark melee, for instance, could be said to only have 3 attacks, with touch of fear and midnight grasp using the "reach out open hand" animation, and having a different effect applied. It then has the taunt and 2 generic PBAoE animations for dark consumption and soul drain...

These 2 statements seem contradictory. Regardless, what it boils down to is that we don't know. Thus, it isn't really productive to hypothesize the other party's true motives...

But if the person wasn't familiar with the ability to freely rename their character and/or thought you were asking them to delete their character, maybe they didn't want to entertain the possibility at all. No need to attribute malice to the other party...

I have to say - the costume creator definitely lends itself more toward tech-type outfits than perhaps any other category, so I'm with you on this...

Why would you come to this conclusion? Is it not just as likely that they don't respond to PMs from random individuals?

TY Obus Form. I'm only about level 40 ATM, so am only using generic IOs. I play far too casually and suffer from too much alt-itis to probably get fully kitted out with IO sets, but I do appreciate the advice. Thanks!

Call it "mixed melee" or somesuch. Instead of a full combo system like dual blades, I'd go with a much simpler "resource" system like street justice's "combo" system. Have it where some attacks finish with the blunt weapon, and others with the edged one. Here's the trick - *every* power is a "finisher", except you need at least 3 of the built-up resource to trigger the effect. The blunt weapon could trigger a stun/disorient or knock effect, while the edged ones apply a DoT or -RES.

Well, stealth from the concealment pool is great for any character that's supposed to be a spy or ghostly, yet doesn't already have access to such a power. Also, check out the costume change emotes, as many of them are really good - such as summoning a murder of crows, raising up your hand to call lightning, or maybe even chugging a potion. You should be able to trigger the command by switching into an identical costume in a different costume slot, if you didn't want to actually change your appearance. Force of Will has mighty leap, which grants you a footstomp-like power, which can be pretty dramatic, and requires no enemies. Presence has Invoke Panic, which is a PBAoE, (so doesn't require any enemies to use) - though having to take 1 other power to gain access to it is iffy, IMO. Otherwise, check out the other emotes available...

I wish they'd allow full weapon customization for these, or at least the fire & ice models...

Not saying it's ideal, but this might be one of those rare cases where pacify might be worth taking...

Maybe also a /target_rank_nearest boss command.

Agreed. I was also thinking in terms of placing toggle debuffs on the stronger enemies in any given group, (and how targeting can be frustrating on a full team).

What I'm suggesting is to be able to use minion/lieutenant/boss/EB/AV/GM as targeting options in binds. If a command already exists, please disregard this suggestion. Your thoughts? Thanks for reading!

I used a bind, something like "targetcustomnext quantum" or something similar, to make sure to pick out any quantum enemies. I'd then be sure to hit them with whatever mez power I had available, (or even just your hardest attacks ASAP). Keeping a luck or similar inspiration handy isn't a bad idea, either.

I doubt they would want to allow or implement any sort of tool that interacts with the game/server without actually using the client. That being said, (and I can understand being sentimental about a name), either try different servers or use modifiers in spelling or other names/words before or after your original/desired name...

I tend to use the "person with unstable powers trapped in a suit to control/focus them" angle a lot. I'll often employ the "person from another planet/dimension whose powers are 'natural' to them" approach a good bit.

The issue with red-side, IMO, isn't so much the "henchman" part - it's not being able to initiate your own schemes. I mean, a skilled creator could probably actualize their villain's own plots via the AE, but beyond that, it's not really about what *you* want to do. There's no option to simply become a business mogul via nefarious means or to work on your own doomsday weapon...

How do you view stone melee? It has the stone hammers, but you kind of create them "on the fly". They definitely have a nice, weighty feeling to them.

Well, I quite like energy aura on my brute. The armor sets were tweaked for Sentinels, so I'm not sure how much different it is than the "base version". Energy blast, OTOH, is another story. Solo, and/or with careful placement of your shots, energy blast is ok, but I feel that the kb effects aren't the best secondary effects available...

Maybe an ice/ice sentinel. I'm not a fan of ice armor, but sentinels being able to stay somewhat at range could alleviate some of ice armor's shortcomings...

Well, there are ways to make differing sets fit within a character's theme. If you're simply talking about having a primary and secondary of the same element, then maybe give these a try: Demons/thermal MM or fire/thermal controller. Dark/dark dominator. Rad/rad brute. Archery/TA blaster.