Rudra

There you go, @Wravis. Two times it was said. And I highlighted the part where @DrunkFlux is commenting that the power doesn't factor at all. @DrunkFlux's comments were that Storm Cell and then Category 5 are rarely relevant. Their activation time and burst is lacking. Except for Category 5 where I did the comparisons. Category 5 applies its damage faster than eight of the other Blaster primaries' T9s. (Edit: It may not apply its total damage faster, but it does apply damage faster. I guess sooner is the better word.) So its activation time is not an issue. It applies its damage before even the powers @DrunkFlux says (s)he prefers for doing damage soon. I'm not arguing full damage here. I'm arguing against the garbage that the power has no effect on a battle because the mobs die before it can do anything, when it actually affects the targets before eight other T9s. (Edit again: It even has a shorter full cast time than multiple other T9s.) You two can change the goal posts all you want. Can Category 5 affect the fight before things all die off? Yes. Is it a factor 'at all' in a fight? Yes. So drop the garbage and just admit what you want. You want the damage squeezed into a smaller time frame because you can't get full damage to apply as quickly as you want. Not this garbage that it can't affect the fight at all because its activation time is too long.

Except I'm fine with Archery. And Ice Blast. Because they don't take forever to do anything. You're wrong. Sorry buddy.

So I am correct and the claim that Category 5 cannot affect the fight is bullshit and the complaint actually is that Category 5 does its damage over time instead of one lump sum or over a very short period of time. So drop the garbage about Category 5 not being able to affect the fight and be honest with what you want. An upfront damage attack that you can use for uber maximum damage at all times!!!! so you can keep going with the current meta instead of finding a way to make it work with the current meta.

Okay, and where is your proof? I provided mine.

Correct. With Inferno, it deals all its damage 2.643 seconds into its animation. (Edit: Actually, it takes Inferno 10 seconds to do its full damage. 1.833 seconds for initial burst + 8.1 seconds of DoT for 9.933 seconds of time rounded off to 10 seconds.) However, you claimed: And you can obviously fit Category 5 in just as easily, more easily in many cases, to have any effect in the fight.

Same can be said of pretty much every other T9 listed in the scenario @DrunkFlux posits.

Did I? You said: And what I compared? Was the cast times and how long into the animation you have to wait before damage is applied. Also: No, it doesn't. Read the linked page. It does some of its damage at 1.833 seconds into its animation. Then it does the rest of its damage over the next 8.1 seconds.

Water Blast: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.water_blast.geyser&at=blaster Geyser has a cast time of 2.93 seconds as compared to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Geyser applies its damage 1.833 seconds into its animation as compared to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Geyser has an accuracy of 1.4 as compared to Category 5's 2.0. Sonic Attack: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.sonic_attack.dreadful_wail&at=blaster Dreadful Wail has a cast time of 1.97 seconds as compared to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Dreadful Wail applies its damage 0.567 seconds into its animation as compared to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Dreadful Wail has an accuracy of 1.4 as compared to Category 5's 2.0. This is a power I will accept as outperforming Category 5. Radiation Blast: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.radiation_blast.atomic_blast&at=blaster Atomic Blast has a cast time of 2.93 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Atomic Blast applies its damage 2.067 seconds into its animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Atomic Blast has an accuracy of 1.4 to Category 5's 2.0. Psychic Blast: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.psychic_blast.psychic_wail&at=blaster Psychic Wail has a cast time of 1.97 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Psychic Wail applies its damage 0.567 seconds into tis animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Psychic Wail has an accuracy of 1.5 to Category 5's 2.0. I can also agree that this power performs better. Ice Blast: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.ice_blast.blizzard&at=blaster Blizzard has a cast time of 2.03 seconds. Blizzard applies it damage at 0.833 just like Category 5. Blizzard has an accuracy of 2. just like Category 5. I would call these two equal. Energy Blast: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.energy_blast.nova&at=blaster Nova has a cast time of 3.0 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Nova applies its damage 1.833 seconds into its animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Nova has an accuracy of 1.4 to Category 5's 2.0. Electrical Blast: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.electrical_blast.thunderous_blast&at=blaster Thunderous Blast has a cast time of 2.93 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Thunderous Balst applies its damage 2.367 seconds into its animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Thunderous Blast has an accuracy of 1.4 to Category 5's 2.0. Dual Pistols: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.dual_pistols.hail_of_bullets&at=blaster Hail of Bullets has a cast time of 2.47 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Hail of Bullets applies its damage 0.2 seconds into its animation to 0.833 seconds for Category 5. Hail of Bullets has an accuracy of 1.4 to Category 5's 2.0. Dark Blast: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.dark_blast.blackstar&at=blaster Blackstar has a cast time of 3.0 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Blackstar applies its damage 1.833 seconds into its animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Blackstar has an accuracy of 1.4 to Category 5's 2.0. Beam Rifle: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.beam_rifle.overcharge&at=blaster Overcharge has a cast time of 2.9 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Overcharge applies its damage 1.833 seconds into its animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Overcharge has an accuracy of 1.4 to Category 5's 2.0. Assault Rifle: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.assault_rifle.full_auto&at=blaster Full Auto has a cast time of 2.5 seconds just like Category 5. Full Auto applies its damage 0.3 seconds into its animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Full Auto has an accuracy of 1.35 to Category 5's 2.0. Archery: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.archery.rain_of_arrows&at=blaster Rain of Arrows has a cast time of 2.0 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Rain of Arrows applies its damage 1.8 seconds into its animation to Category 5's 0.833 seconds. Rain of Arrows has an accuracy of 1.0 to Category 5's 2.0. There, every Blaster set between the two posts. And Category 5 outperforms most of them for how long it takes to cast, when it applies its damage, and the likelihood of its damage being applied when it activated.

The discussion was about Storm Cell. Not about Cat 5. If you want to talk about Cat 5 too? You like Meteor? Okay, how's this: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.storm_blast.category_five&at=blaster https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.seismic_blast.meteor&at=blaster Meteor has a cast time of 2.57 seconds. Category 5 has a cast time of 2.5 seconds. Meteor starts applying damage at .5 seconds into the animation. Category 5 does so at .833 seconds into the animation. Meteor has an accuracy of 1.0. Category 5 has an accuracy of 2.0. So Category 5 is 1/3 of a second slower in applying damage than Meteor, has double the accuracy so it is much more likely to do its damage when it hits, and has the faster cast time. What about Fire Blast? Okay: https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=blaster_ranged.fire_blast.inferno&at=blaster Inferno has a cast time of 3 seconds to Category 5's 2.5 seconds. Inferno does not apply its damage until 1.833 seconds into its animation as compared to the .833 seconds of Category 5. Inferno has an accuracy of 1.4 as compared to Category 5's 2.0. I can do more comparisons if you want. So please, go on and tell me about how bad Category 5 is compared to the oh so much better powers you would rather use.

Could also make some exclusive Hero and Villain arcs too. Edit: For instance, maybe a villain-only arc from Arachnos to investigate why so many of their operations were not only compromised, but shut down in response to the Sgt. Schorr arc. Why use character villains? Same reason Marshall Brass uses the characters to investigate Dr. Aeon. They need a free agent to go and avoid revealing their involvement and vulnerability. Or perhaps they need a not known Arachnos member to infiltrate Wyvern as a "rogue" (only pretend) to investigate how Sgt. Schorr pulled off those missions.

And my point is that if the mobs are melting that fast, what does it matter if you pop Storm Cell or not? Use your other attacks until you need Storm Cell. If I pop Rain of Fire and everything dies before it starts? Okay, I didn't even need to use that power at all. If I pop Build Up and the target dies before I can use my next attack? Then I didn't need to use Build Up. Not every attack or buff or debuff needs to be fired when you're just fighting opponents your team can eat before anyone can even blink. Some powers are not needed as often as others on some teams. That does not mean those powers need to be changed. Can you give me a reason other than you can't fit Storm Cell into your sequence while on a high damage team to change Storm Cell? Can you even give me a reason why every power in a power set needs to be able to be used efficiently in every fight? Some powers are best reserved for when they are needed. Other powers can be used as much as the player/character wants in every situation.

Dumb question: How does someone camp Adamastor? He can only be summoned once per hour. And if you know when he was last summoned, you can be there for the next one. I'm missing something, so please explain it to me.

Capes and wings are currently mutually exclusive since they both take the same costume slot. So that statement is false. (Edit: And it was specifically the cape and wings options working with the Ghost Widow hair I was asking about with the tangling issue.) That doesn't mean any developer is going to want to put their name on something they know clips. Depending on the severity of the clipping. Look, I'm not against Ghost Widow's hair being made available to players. Just like I'm not against players getting access to long skirts. However, at least for the skirts, the current devs have shown us just how bad the clipping is. And hoooooooo boy is the clipping seriously bad for those. Which is why they won't release them to us players. If the devs find out that the Ghost Widow hair does not interact with other player options as badly as the Live devs said and so decide to give it to us? Great! I don't play on the other servers. So I have no idea how the Ghost Widow hair does or doesn't work for players on those servers. All I am saying is what was previously told to us.

That very statement also applies to the need for using Storm Cell on a regular basis while on a high damage team. Not really. It comes down to the fact it does not mesh perfectly with the current meta of "uber maximum damage at all times!!!!!!". When the spawns melt before the team? The extra oomph from Storm Cell isn't necessary. When the spawns are able to stand up to the party? It's a great time to use it.

And after the OP, no one said Stealth was a better power than Energy Cloak. Out of combat defense is only a non-benefit if you only choose to fight everything you come across. For players that like to sneak their missions, it is very much a useful benefit. All I am saying is that Stealth is not as bad as you are making it out to be.

What difference does it make if the player is on a Blaster? You use your attacks and blast the targets. If it takes time you don't want in order to use some abilities, then you don't use those abilities until they are actually needed. You can still slot your attacks for damage. You can still floor stomp everything in your path. And then when things bog down, you cut loose and utterly annihilate your foe(s). (Edit: Though honestly, a 2.03 second cast time is not actually that long. And would likely work just fine even on high damage teams on Hard Mode content. Or on +4/x8 runs where multiple spawns are in close proximity to each other.)

Is there anything (else) in particular you are looking for?

Life support works just fine. Look at the Terra Volta respec trials. Most players make routine forays out of the reactor room to get the shield, otherwise their health keeps ticking away just for being in the room. Conversely, it could work like that arc I can't remember the name of. The one where you have the two missions to click the glowies, which can only be used once, to heal your NPC ally in their fight while you run around doing your part of the mission. For example, one has you running around destroying the new, improved Vampyri chambers, but you also have to click glowing canisters to heal... Riptide(?) in his fight against the Big Bad until you can get there and take over. Well, make it so that the players can't reach their NPC ally so they have to keep hitting the NPC ally's life support glowies and fend off the waves of enemies trying to reach him/her. For instance, a field hospital where the NPC is being treated, has lost its primary (only) generator, and the players are stuck running around restoring/providing power to the field hospital's improvised trauma center tent, while still fending off waves of enemies. Just a thought.

If you are on a high damage team like that, then you don't need the time setting everything up. Add your available damage, buffs, and/or debuffs to the mix and keep going. If you run up against a Monster class foe or something else that slows the team down? Then open up with your full power. I'm glad there is a set that plays differently, that isn't trying to be Fire Blast Redux. It can still mesh well with the current meta for team play, you just have to focus on doing what you can instead of trying to be the star eating everything on the map.

If you are trying to stealth a mission for any reason, the out of combat bonus helps keep you stealthed against other spawns even when a mob or spawn sees you and throws attacks your way. Provided they miss. If you're using Stealth and you're hit and you've flown past that group that sees you? You are now in combat and very likely to be seen by every other spawn that will now shoot at you, at your reduced defense value, making stealthing the mission pretty well impossible. It's the difference of having full health when you get to your target or being almost dead from everything that blasted you as you passed making you wonder why you didn't just murder everything on the board in the first place. Niche? Yes. The absolute tiniest possible benefit? No. Edit: And if you are playing up through the levels? Then its not so easy to soft cap your defenses with Energy Aura until later in levels. Low to mid levels, sometimes even into some of the higher levels, when you are playing up through the content, you aren't likely to have soft capped defenses.

There is no clipping with the hair? No tangling with cloaks or wings? If the cape-hair works fine, then yes, it would be really nice to have. If there are any issues with it, then I don't see the HC devs releasing it to the player base who have access to more athletic attacks like that jumping kick from Martial Arts, Jump Kick from Leaping, and so on.

Pretty sure there are still no base pathing beacons. So those events would be a lot less exciting than you think since the mobs would never be able to move.

The model is a tanker rather than an Age of Sail vessel because it was built in 1932. Well past the Age of Sail. https://archive.paragonwiki.com/wiki/Paragon_Times/20041201 (For clarification, while ghost ships are normally attributed to Age of Sail vessels, they are not limited to such. Though stories about modern vessels are less well known than Age of Sail ones, they are available. You can find some with a quick online search. [Edit: Though modern ghost ship stories tend to be more mystery or weird breakdowns than ghostly.])

In the "Seek Shadow Hunter" mission from The Magician, when you choose to fight Shadow Hunter, his weapon keeps shifting to the stowed position even as his hands remain in the combat position. This happens frequently during the fight.

That would be feasible. Eliminate the event sound effects (introduction music, howl, and thunder; as well as closure effects) so as to avoid possible confusion during the annual Halloween Banners event when it is launched, and those in zone that for any reason do not notice the Ghost Ship event notice in their chat window will still be very aware of the event if in the zone. Without compromising anyone's ability to do anything in the zone. (I still want to be able to place Echo: Dark Astoria fog in some of my bases though.... Not to fill the entire base, just the sections where it is thematic, like my maze.)