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The thing people seem to be missing with /Nature is Overgrowth. It can be trimmed down to 70s or less, and lasts for 60s. That's some decent +dam, +tohit that likely can be made perma. My Nature/Dark defender is godlike between the perma Wild Growth (similar resists as Faraday Cage, but no mez) and the near perma Overgrowth. Sure MM's (and everyone else) doesn't get the Platinum Standard that is Defenders, but it's still very decent. Adding Wild Growth to Demons gives them near capped Resists and strong Regen, and the Nature cone-heal is the best in the game (Dark requires a target and heals reactively). If I didn't already have a Demons/Thermal, I'd definitely check out Nature. It's an OP set, for sure (like /Time). While defense will be tricky, there's so much regen, absorb and heal, that it might make it a moot point. Mezzing is still an issue, of course, and that can be sticky (that's where defense really shines). EDIT: actually, defense (could be argued) is taken up with the -ToHit toggle Spore Cloud (17% with four Dark Watchers, ~24% when Power Boost is active for 15s). While Amp Up is a great MM power, it realistically can only be perma on 1 pet/player at a time. If it wasn't such a "plant the flag and defend it" kind of set, it'd be better. Nature only has the one target-patch-drop heal/recovery thing, which is fairly skippable (or take it to mule something). I like it, but it's not mandatory. I might try an Elec Affinity MM, as when I play-tested the set on the beta server, I was thinking it'd be a better MM set than Defender/Corrupter. It's far too busy to pair with a set that requires attention (e.g. blast set to do damage/debuff). MM's don't require a lot once the pets are up and buffed, so MMs have lots of time to dedicate to Electrical Affinity. Like most things, it comes down to play style. Thermal is VERY FORGIVING, and it best for new players, Nature is very powerful, and is best for more experienced players; Electrical Affinity is best for micromanagers (MMs!) - they won't get bored!

I don't play my Demon/Thermal as much anymore (not an MM fan, in general), but when I get the MM urge, it's Demon/Thermal all the way! Here's Xyrxi's build:

However, on my Street Justice/EA Stalker, the numbers are accurate:

On my Brute, the numbers seem a bit off, but there's so many variables. I have the following screen-grab, showing what I mean: So I have the correct Incarnates, that match what I have in-game; the level of the IO's is consistent (I have them all Attuned, anyway); so here is my Psi Melee/EA brute, with only Kinetic Shield on (S/L/E defense). I'm looking at the mids numbers and comparing to the in-game buff from Kinetic Shield. Kinetic Shield Mids In-Game Smashing 17.95% 21.55% Lethal 17.95% 21.55% Energy 2.65% 3.17%

Sure thing:

Ah, I did not know this. Then I'd take Zapp, as it probably has a quicker activation (moonbeam seems sluggish for a quickform snipe). I could be wrong there, too. Although, the extra damage proc (Cloud Senses) might make up for it.

I just saw this thread in your .sig, so I thought I'd check it out. Good stuff, but what I found was I usually only want/need one type of inspiration in bulk and thus would convert. Nine times out of ten, I need reds. I keep a small number of other "potentials" (e.g. break-free's on non-mez protected toons, a purple or two on all, never any yellows or greens; I turn off rez and oranges). I keep rez's in my e-mail (about 20 or so), so I have them at any time across all my characters. That all said, I use a BIND chain to convert everything to REDS. I disable Tier 1 completely, but include it here for those who may (for whatever reason) still want/use Tier 1. I've posted this before around the forums, and it's become second nature for my right-hand/mouse-hand to extend the thumb to the NUMPAD 0 (big key). Change it up, obviously, for your needs:

If you are only taking the snipe in Mu Mastery, you might be better off with Moonbeam, as it hits significantly harder, and can be proc'd out more (if you chose to go that route).

You REALLY, REALLY need to test this on the test server. You might just be surprised. Just form my testing, it was like night and day. I tested against a +4 (54) Ravager in Dark Astoria (I was level 50, zero incarnate stuff).

I downloaded 0.0.10, installed it, ran it. Selected bonus wizard, and it told me my character had to be level 50... ok, so I loaded up a build (Stalker, Ice/Bio) that I made in db 20.2605, though your AI db is 19.1021 (shouldn't be too much of an issue?). I tried to run the bonus wizard and got an Unhandled exception: So I cleared the slots (via "Clear All Enhancements") and tried again, but got the same error. I'll be following this, as it's an amazing idea!

I love theory-crafting and a lot of this is done with interaction with other people via the forums. The default color schemes feel like they were quickly slapped together, without regard for anything really. So I found a nice scheme that I use, and have two small requests / wishes. 1) Ability for users to save/load their own color schemes to a specific directory (I've lost mine because I purged/updated mids so many times...) or save it in the users folder (e.g. Documents on windows); and 2) Add or revamp the default schemes. Maybe prune them down. Here is my favorite scheme (so far): = Much easier on the eyes, IMnsHO. JSON insert text (for those who do that):

I, too, have recently made an Ice/Bio (on test, but created one on live, as well). I am looking at what is more efficient: Proc'ing the HELL out of Freezing Touch, Mostly-Proc'ing™ it, or just 5 winters+1 proc. On test, it sure feels like 4 procs is a sweet-spot, but it could just be RNG (since default recharge is 15s, the 3.5ppm's will miss more often, if my estimation is correct). Definitely proc-out DNA Siphon! Way too good not to do this on all those PBAoE heals (dark's, rad armor's, bio's). It's a very hard-hitting damage attack that heals and gives endurance (thanks to a theft of essence). Here is my first stab at a build (not super survivable, but it's a stalker, not a tank). Pictures for the lazy (like me): The MIDS Build: EDIT: went into Mids' DPS calc (CTRL+Z) and did the automagical chain for each (one with procs x4, other had 1 proc & WTO): Freezing Touch with 4 damage procs + 2 hecatomb (Dam, Dam/End) = 205.09 dps Freezing Touch with 1 damage proc + 5 Sup Blistering Colds (all but Acc/Dam) = 173.90 dps This is the calculator's automagical attack chain, I only flipped Freezing Touch, so everything else is the same.

Game icons (Google Doc): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uHUi6BWFTYj4wbfGBs3LjZL88Fym6B-8EwDr18YZcY8/edit#gid=852710698 Incarnate Pets (Google Doc): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tmuk9Jf-NxhSE2P1RB6wRtn-qUDvwqpV_10B9QAAinE/edit#gid=652000662 ACCOLADES: CUSTOM FONTS: My Movement stuff: Also, clicking on certain NPCs walking around Atlas (or wherever) will give you some feedback, based on what letter their name started with: All of the $variables that I've found: GET OUT OF MISSION/TEAM: /teamquitinternal or /requestexitmission 1 POPMENU BADGE CHECKER! /macro B "popmenu badgelist" (badgelist.mnu in CoH\data\texts\English\menus\) As Seen in this thread: Multiple Monitors (that are not the same resolution)? Dual Boxing? No problem! Save your UI and macro them so you can change monitors! @@ SAVE WINDOW parameters/options: /wdw_load, /wdw_save_file <path>, /wdw_load_file <path> /macro_image Brawling_ComboLevel1 w1 "wdw_load_file w1.txt" (this is my smaller UHD monitor) /macro_image Brawling_ComboLevel2 w2 "wdw_load" (this is my main, 32" 2K monitor) /macro_image Brawling_ComboLevel3 Map "wdw_load_file map.txt" (I customized my UI making the map huge, hiding most of my bars, etc. so I can vidiot-map badge/plaque hunt) Once you have your UI set for that monitor, use the /wdwsavefile <path\name> and plug that into whichever macro. I like the Brawling Combo buttons, as they're nice big "1" "2" and "3" One key INSPIRATION CONVERTING via SPAM!

Or you can use the \k costume change window and they're in a drop-down. Granted, if there's one or two you really like, using a /macro is probably best.

I find it far more efficient to bind the window to a key, so I can pop it open/close at anytime. Not the monitoring window, mind you, but the Combat Attributes one (I leave Defense and Resist expanded, and shrink the window to fit, so I can see my defenses at a glance). I use the PERIOD key: /bind . "toggle combatnumbers" I also MACRO the incarnate window, drag it to the same place on my UI (that I use throughout all my alts): /macro i "toggle incarnate" Because both of those windows are cumbersome to get at quickly.

I ran across the nested quote thing in /macro and /bind, but I just used quotes within quotes, if I recall correctly. Guess the email system may handle things differently.

I have a dual-monitor setup, the game is windowed/maxed on the 2K, 32" monitor (yes!) and my smaller, 24" monitor, is where I keep other things open. One of those things I keep open is a TXT file (via Sublime 3) that has all my CoH "notes" - and among those notes is a page I call "Task Force Spam" Task Force Spam is the fancy copy-paste /LFG (or other server-centric TF channel) information I use when forming Trials and Task Forces. Here is a sample (times are my own PUG estimates, edit/add as you see fit): The progress bar is a nice touch, and all the above ASCII characters translate fine with the default font (though, I've changed mine to see Il differences as well as ¡ and i differences).

My pleasure! (Obviously change the global and amount as you see fit):

I knew we kept you around for a reason! (Thanks, Bopper!)

That's been removed in the tanker patch. That sucks. Back to mostly-useless T1's...

I was conflating two things at once, and it was confusing. I mean for when I do +4 content; without level-shifts taken into account. So if I am doing a Numina TF, for instance, or similar, but set it at +4. Not a good day for me being clear, that's for sure! The 39% accuracy mids setting I stole from (I believe, but could be wrong) @Bopper (totally sounds like something he'd do). He had all kinds of math and reasoning behind it (well, it made sense whatever it was, because I went in and changed mine).

Probably need to put your name in quotes (because of space): /macro $ "emailsendattachment "@Captain Amazing" Cash-Dump 1000000 0 0 "Cash from $name." See if that's it.

Incarnate levels. Those "broken" defenses are because 45% is not the softcap when mobs are 54. I generally try to aim for 59% for +4's. I'm not a "mostly proc" kind of player. Damage will be handled by my team (I usually team with 7 others, or in league play). If I need to do damage, I'll bring a damage AT. Even at 37, my Dragon's Tail is up every 5-6 seconds, so AoE is "not bad" because of the recent changes to Tank AoE's. It's a great mitigating power with KB-KD proc and for how often it's cast (which I thought was not good for procs?). So far, in leveling (started in Praetoria, 1-14 or so, then PL'd to 37 and started blue-side content, TFs, etc) I use Rad Therapy as an AoE damage/heal/end and it's up between 22-33s depending on +recharge (and Beta Decay), which is nice. Hitting 4-5 dudes gives me full heal, full end (though I don't need end, I discovered, with how Gamma Boost is slotted). It's a great power for that. Dark Regen heals for a LOT before enhancements (30% base?), so it WANTS to be proc'd out. It also has a 30s recharge vs. 60s for Rad Therapy. Proc'd out AoE powers that have quickish™ recharges (whatever they do) are good (30s is ideal, as the 2.5ppm if only using global rech). No, but Thunder Kick is necessary for the -Resistance debuff it places on the mob, so it's getting spammed, too. I get your point. If I keep it 1-slotted (an accuracy or something), I can use the slots and maybe pick up Ground Zero and proc it out (it would do almost twice the damage that Rad Therapy does, since I have heal/end in 2 slots, but it would recharge in 30-45s vs. 20-30s). Kind of long, and I actually use Rad Therapy when I need health, or if I see I'm not needing it, then I spam it every time it's up. So I am limiting my use ("hey, will I need a heal in about 10s? or should I hit this now?") Correct and not correct. I am not needing it for acc (much at all)* and is there for Fear and Confuse resist (takes them both over 100%), as well as +perception. Nice to have for a 1-slot throw-away, late-game power. *also note: incarnate stuff requires slightly better accuracy for +4's and such. In Mids, I set my global accuracy from 75% (default) to 39% (I believe @Bopper suggested this somewhere) - that way, when I see acc above 95% (soft-cap) I know I'm good. Anything over is a buffer for debuffs (acc and/or tohit). It's padding. The reality will be: I don't run the toggle unless there's confuse or fear potential happening (or I get blinded). Yeah, I'm finding out I don't have any endurance problems whatsoever. So I'll likely do the +damage. I'm also choosing Degen more and more (used to be 100% reactive radial). I do like how you, in the same critique, call out my having too much resists and defense THEN say Barrier to finish reaching defense and resists! (I do love that). 😉 Good criticisms, to be sure, but I think my playstyle is old school tanking: herd the map, constantly spam DoTs (where available) and Taunt to juggle the over-capped mass of herds. I may revisit trying to add back in Ground Zero... or another AoE (epic/ball lightning)... prob. an epic, as it's TAoE, and that's more options and juggle-taunting... I did this with some +3(?) crey earlier today. Massive herd of them, I dropped. Rad Therapy just wasn't up fast enough (well, I was doomed from the start); but I like to push my limits on tanking, and to me, that's grabbing massive herds that all the CC and Damage dealers drool over to debuff (rains), immobs, nukes, etc. Sure they ALL aren't hitting ALL the mobs, but each hits their cap, and there's overlap. It's a wonderful thing to see over 40 mobs evaporate in a single herd-pull. ...then there's the kheld... (or anyone who still knocks BACK). ugh.

OK, so Particle Shielding was toggled on... missed that, but since it's perma, I'll likely bind it to my side movement keys: /bind a "+left$$powexecauto Particle Shielding" and /bind d "+right$$powexecauto Particle Shielding" Since Hasten will have the forward key already: /bind w "+forward$$powexecauto Hasten" And I usually reserve the backward key for my Destiny slot: /bind s "+backward$$powexecauto <whatever I pick>" Speaking of which, what do Rad Armor tanks usually pick for incarnate slots? Alpha: Spiritual Core = perma Hasten, buff to regen/healing OR Cardiac Core = help with End and small resist buff (meh) OR Vigor Core = some end help, some regen help (leaning towards Spiritual, but if endurance is an issue, Cardiac) Interface: either Reactive Radial or Degen Radial Judgement: probably SMASH THE GROUND BOOM UP YOU GO AWESOMSAUCE! just because! (yeah yeah, Ion and Pyro... did I mention SMASH THE GROUND AND UP YOU GO! ?) Destiny: always the hangup... Ageless to solve end OR def debuff res/fill-end-bar, Barrier for +Def, or Rebirth for Regen/2-min heal, PLUS incan for many uses in iTrials (always craft a T1 incan) Lore: everyone takes BP core (except farmers, BP radial) Hybrid: Support Core to top off defenses, Melee Core to top boost/cap resists & regen, or assault for damage? Not sure yet, I'll figure out what I need by 50, I'm sure. I do want more recharge (duh), better end management, and more regen always helps...

I was posting and replying to @Sovera in another thread when Rad Armor came up. Long story short, I didn't like my Rad/Psi Melee tank, but that might have been because Psi Melee turned me off (especially after the "fix" to Greater Psi Blade), but also that I didn't slot/build as best I could. So it got me to thinking: maybe I'll do a Rad/MA, since MA (Storm Kick) really makes resistance-based sets viable (in my opinion, obviously). So I made a toon (sitting in Nova P. now, waiting to level up) and this is the build I have planned thus far: Not sure how it will play out, but I like the idea of proc'ing Radiation Therapy and making it not only a decent heal/end source, but a solid PBAoE. Hopefully this will work. Because Rad Armor is a slot-heavy set, I had to skip or 1-slot/power-pick some things. I skipped Ground Zero (see Rad Therapy) and Meltdown (I always skip the T9 armor, in general). I also left Tactics 1-slotted (end+5). I didn't get as much +rech as I'd like, but Hasten is only 12s off perma (132s) w/o any buffs. From the Mids' totals, it looks decent enough; neither screen-grab has incarnates or any other buff than bare toggles (no mob-scaling, etc): _____ ___(w/o Storm Kick/ATO, just sitting with toggles on)_____________(with Storm Kick/ATO on, and toggles)_________ Slotting looks like this (so you don't have to d/l the build if you don't want): Comments welcomed and encouraged! Thanks to @Sovera for the spark to start this!