roleki

In my opinion Gravity/ kind of sneaks up on you, being rather vanilla prior to Wormhole, then you get Singularity and it all comes together. Whatever holes Grav has in its control chain are addressed by that crazy hateball.

I don't even know what shape or form it would take, but it sounds like what we need are farms geared towards blasters and defenders or whatever. I guess that would be a whole crapload of Clockwork Gears?

I agree that of the two, my Rad/Fire is a far better farmer than my Rad/Bio. The weird thing is, the Rad/Fire has higher S/L def and comparable S/L resist relative to my Rad/Bio, so it can do pretty much any farm I want. That said... Rad/Bio is MUCH more survivable outside of AE. I made the mistake of soloing Bobcat with my R/F (like I did easily with my R/B) and got mailed back to the hospital in six pieces.

I kind of said the same thing earlier and was accused of taking things too seriously. I honestly don't care UNLESS people make the same mistakes repeatedly after being advised of a more optimum approach.

Even then, there can't be THAT many complete noobs on HC. If there are, I agree, it's kind of a crime to PL a rookie who is still figuring out basic game mechanics, let alone how to drive without killing everyone.

CoH does have a great community; even great communities still generate sewage.

Way to handwave a good 1/3 of the community so you don't have to use a search filter. ETA: the devs created the search filter, so it should be something you use repeatedly, or else you are not using the AE the way the devs intended and should leave.

@Frostbiter has the right of it; things about to get CHEAP soon, so if you can hold off at all, do that. As for divining what vidyacards are "good" - while not a perfect yardstick, Passmark's videocardbenchmark.net/high_end_gpus.html has a decent roundup of modern hardware ranked by performance numbers in Passmark's own suite of benchmarks. So like, if you go to that page and Ctrl+F to look for a vanilla 1050, you'll see it scores a 4756; then look up the 1660 ti, and it gets an 11587 (more is better) for about 100.00 more. Sure, there's probably some fudge around the edges, but its a pretty good bet the 1660ti is a better card. From there - and this is the most important part - do some research on the 1660 ti (or whatever card you're thinking of) and other cards that have similar scores or price points. Keep in mind that some retail systems are locked to that one OEM SKU, so, research the other system components too.

Is there such a thing as playing too much? Congrats on finding your main.

I've got the Scrapper version of this, and Defensive Sweep is an MVP. I use it as the cooldown for other attacks, and basically you only get hit when the attack comes from range or when you're mopping up the straggling bosses from the last 4 or 5 mobs you mowed through.

That's a great idea; if I go Maneuvers, I can keep the LotG sink and free up slots for both Tar Patch and Deceive. I guess I have developed some bad build habits, where I get so used to auto-grabbing Boxing, Tough and Weave for the UGuard endurance discount and LotG spot, Maneuvers never even crossed my mind. This is going to be great 🙂

Plant/Storm sounds interesting; I was doing a plant/...something in live when my oldest was born and i didnt have time to play anymore. I might have to try that out. And @Nemeroff I only have mine up to 39 and it's done all wrong but I still strongly recommend Ill/Dark. Stuff is happening EVERYWHERE on screen!

Personally (personally) I like CoH just the way it is; as someone else said, to my mind it's like a snapshot in time. That said, in the city spaces themselves it would be neat to have more variety in NPCs/vehicles/spaces - kids, dogs, ambulances, bikes, street vendors, taco trucks, so on and so forth. It would also be interesting to have a 'museum' built in the fashion of Wentworths (open to walk into, visible from outside) where current leaders in given stats could have 'statues' of themselves commemorating that achievement; like say, whoever has accumlated the most XP debt or healed the most damage or whatever on the server, kind of like leaderboards but a little more fitting in a town that has a 70' statue of a guy holding a planet outside City Hall. Stuff like that.

If people want an auto-50 button that's fine by me, but if an auto-50 button arrives at the expense of AE farming it becomes decidedly less-fine-by-me. I farm to level up my alts and use the inf I earn during that process to pay for their builds; having an instant 50 is useless if I still have to put in 40 hours of door missions and ITFs to acquire IOs, and that's only 40 hours assuming the cost of IOs/salvage doesn't skyrocket due to fewer being dumped in the AH. This thing, it isn't broken. The fact that we are even here 15 years later should be a good indication that it's not broken. The fact that every month's funding goal is met in minutes should be a good indication that it's not broken. The fact that min/max nerds, surly farmers, RP zealots, wide-eyed PUG seekers and various other citizens with time to kill can ALL find value in launching this particular executable should be a good indication that it's not broken. Let's not break it trying to make it perfect for one community demographic or another.

Yeah, it seems I have made an error in not picking up the Patch. As you suggested, I'm either going to have to lose a recharge sink (GI/SI/Afterburner/Fireball) or drop Hover, which isn't a HUGE loss stat-wise but I do love taking hover on controllers. Hrm. Maybe I can make up for the lost LotG+ in another power?

So on live I mostly ran controllers, wound up with 50s in Grav/Kin, Fire/FF, Ice/TA, Ill/Sonic, and Mind/Storm, and found something to love about all of them. On HC, I've recreated the Grav/Kin, Fire/FF and Ice/TA, and currently have an Ill/Dark at 39. I know that once I have that one fleshed out, I will get the itch to try something new... any suggestions for what to try next? I don't mind repeating a primary or secondary, but would prefer to stay out of FF as I've already done invincible fire imps and wrung as much amusement out of that set as I think exists. Anyone have a favorite I haven't mentioned?

I See, I wondered because most /Dark builds I looked at had minimum slotting in Tar Patch, and I thought maybe it just wasn't that good (though I don't throw a lot of slots at Ice Slick and it's one of Ice's most important mitigators, so the concept should have dawned on me). Now I have to figure out what power to drop in favor of Patch and what powers to gut in order to slot it up. I was supposed to be leveling my rolled Ill/Dark last night but spent most of the time doing PI radios on test... Ill/Dark is a blast to play, just the right amount of chaos and stomping, wish I had rolled one before now!

Eh, here's my first stab at an Ill/Dark; having never played /Dark before, I just kind of guessed what the useful powers would be and then jimmied everything for recharge so as to get perma-PA. I would imagine that it's far from an ideal build, what with no Deceive and no Tar Patch, but I've been running it around on the test server and I haven't found myself struggling without them, so... maybe not that bad of a first stab? Edit: holy dogcrap, how are the top three export options of the official build tool not keyed to the official forums?? Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.5 https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer Honcho: Level 50 Technology Controller Primary Power Set: Illusion Control Secondary Power Set: Darkness Affinity Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Ancillary Pool: Fire Mastery Hero Profile: ------------ Level 1: Spectral Wounds Dcm-Acc/Dmg(A), Dcm-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Dcm-Dmg/Rchg(5), Dcm-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(13), Dcm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), Dcm-Build%(40) Level 1: Twilight Grasp SphIns-ToHitDeb(A), SphIns-Acc/ToHitDeb(3), SphIns-Acc/Rchg(5), SphIns-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(13), SphIns-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(23) Level 2: Blind SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprOvrPrs-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(7), SprOvrPrs-EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(15), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(31), SprOvrPrs-Rchg/Energy Font(34) Level 4: Fly Flight-I(A) Level 6: Flash SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprWiloft-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(7), SprWiloft-EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(15), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(31), SprWiloft-Rchg/Dmg%(45) Level 8: Darkest Night DarWtcDsp-ToHitDeb(A), DarWtcDsp-ToHitdeb/Rchg/EndRdx(11), DarWtcDsp-Rchg/EndRdx(11), DarWtcDsp-ToHitDeb/EndRdx(25) Level 10: Howling Twilight RechRdx-I(A) Level 12: Group Invisibility LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 14: Hover Frb-EndRdx(A), Frb-Fly(50), Frb-Stlth(50) Level 16: Shadow Fall Rct-Def/EndRdx(A), Rct-Def(17), Rct-EndRdx/Rchg(17), Rct-Def/Rchg(36), Rct-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(46), Rct-ResDam%(48) Level 18: Phantom Army ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), ExpRnf-Acc/Rchg(19), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(19), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(21), SlbAll-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), SlbAll-Dmg/Rchg(25) Level 20: Hasten RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31) Level 22: Fade LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(42), LucoftheG-Def(42), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(43) Level 24: Boxing Acc-I(A) Level 26: Spectral Terror GlmoftheA-Acc/Fear/Rchg(A), GlmoftheA-Acc/Rchg(27), GlmoftheA-EndRdx/Fear(27), GlmoftheA-Acc/EndRdx(36), GlmoftheA-Dam%(40) Level 28: Soul Absorption Prv-Absorb%(A), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(29), Prv-Heal(29), Prv-Heal/Rchg(36), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(46) Level 30: Tough UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(A), UnbGrd-EndRdx/Rchg(37) Level 32: Phantasm ExpRnf-Acc/Rchg(A), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(33), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(34) Level 35: Weave LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(37), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(37) Level 38: Dark Servant UnbCns-Hold(A), UnbCns-Hold/Rchg(39), UnbCns-Acc/Hold/Rchg(39), UnbCns-Acc/Rchg(39), UnbCns-Dam%(40) Level 41: Fire Ball Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(42), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(43), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(48) Level 44: Fire Shield UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(45), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(45), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(46) Level 47: Superior Invisibility LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 49: Afterburner LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 1: Brawl Empty(A) Level 1: Containment Level 1: Prestige Power Dash Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Slide Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Quick Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Rush Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Surge Empty(A) Level 1: Sprint Run-I(A) Level 2: Rest Empty(A) Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift Run-I(A) Level 2: Health Mrc-Rcvry+(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(48) Level 2: Hurdle Jump-I(A) Level 2: Stamina EndMod-I(A), PrfShf-EndMod(34), PrfShf-End%(50) Level 50: Assault Radial Embodiment Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany Level 50: Seers Radial Superior Ally Level 50: Reactive Core Flawless Interface Level 50: Ion Core Final Judgement Level 50: Agility Core Paragon ------------ ------------ Set Bonus Totals: 2.25% Max End 12.5% Enhancement(Max EnduranceDiscount) 106.3% Enhancement(RechargeTime) 72% Enhancement(Accuracy) 152.6 HP (15.01%) HitPoints 13.5% JumpHeight

This is just me, but I have noticed other folks standing around with similar pool selections so maybe they did the same... I went for the Energy Mastery pool, and took Focused Accuracy, Physical Perfection, and Superior Conditioning; that allowed me to get better ROI on generic +Recovery/+Regen IOs by sticking them in the default Health/Stamina slots instead of procs, then dropping those procs as I acquired them into the slots afforded me by Perfection/Conditioning. Better base recovery/regen allowed me to focus on frankenslotting for Dam/Rech in my attacks, until I could afford to properly slot them with ATOs. The Pool powers gave me more ToHit and Recovery/Regen, and my powers did more damage more often thanks to frankenslotting, so it was like having set bonuses without having paid for them. Oh, also recommend grabbing the Atlas Medallion; that can be done fairly quickly and the extra End goes a LONG way when set bonuses and procs start firing off.

And you would know! 🙂 I'm not sure what the deal is on Cave Jam; it has plenty of things to kill (there are two spots in the map which are worth nearly half a VL each) but it doesn't drop nearly as much stuff as the Con maps (which are still awesome).

I had assumed the delimiting factor was enemy rank, apparently it's just REALLY bad luck on my part.

Seriously? I must REALLY be getting RNG screwed because if I run Cave Jam solo 4/8 it never gives me bosses, and I never get purples out of it... and I am talking, I went from VL50 to 100 in that map doing just that. Soon as I have a camper at the door, though, purples start dropping like they do on Comic Con maps.

The Ill/Dark I am rolling towards has a bonus-driven 106.25 recharge rate that pops to 176.25 with Hasten and 246.25 at the peak of Ageless. (Tested all this on pineapple) . I have perma everything, but to get there I had to slot things weirdly, like to nab recharge bonuses buried 5-deep I had to 5-slot a power I might only have slotted for 2, and to get the 4th and 5th LotG I had to take SI/GI and I normally would have skipped one or the other of them. I was going to post the build here the other night but apparently I am using the wrong builder (Pines) for that?

One last thing, if you have a dude at the door in these missions (and it's your dude), check his pockets. I know it's random, but to me it sure seems like the dude at the door gets better drops than the character doing all the gruntwork. Also and to Odhinn's point, I farm quite a bit, and my approach has always been that the accelerated inf/xp is the reward, the random drops are just bonuses. I figure, I would rather be pleasantly surprised when a nice recipe drops than disappointed that I am NOT getting them. Besides, in the grand scheme of things, you're racking up scads of inf... if you don't get a drop, you can just buy someone else's!

I am wrong here! Please ignore! Check to make sure you're actually killing bosses. No bosses, no purples. If you ARE beating on bosses, just be patient. I've had many days where I've not seen a single purple, then got like 4 in the space of two missions. It really IS random, even if it sometimes feels like it is not.