PLVRIZR

Fire/* and */Fire = Fire/Fire! Leveling one now and yes, it has the inherent disadvantage of being resistance-only based, but once you get to Incarnate level, you can make anything nigh-unkillable and the damage from Fiery Melee is impressive. I had a Fire/Fire on Live and I know my new project will make that toon look like a joke, considering everything we have access to, today, and the improvements in both the armor and melee sets.

Like this? CoH Game Map_Manual_bw scan.pdf

...but it was called "Baumtown". 😉 I have the retail release map to prove it.

Fun times on the Hess team. Finished a +3 in 44 min. Massive herding and carnage, unfortunately my lens cap was on, so no screenies, this time...

Was not on Beta, but bought the retail version on launch...pre-I1. Still have the game manual (and welcome map...with Baumtown, Overbrook, Venice and Woodvale as zones) and remember the monthly subscription. This thread is a reminder that it *was* a different game, geared to keeping you on the "hook". Long slow grinds were the intent. I fondly remember herding entire maps, but don't miss the tanker powers that kept you stationary (literally immovable), as in Rooted (Stone) and Unyielding Stance (Inv). Once I learned that the mutant store was the closest store to the Yellow Line tram station in Steel, almost all my origins became that. Getting safely to those DOs was paramount! No travel power until 14 sucked, big time, mainly because Steel and Sky had separate train lines (as previously mentioned). Finding "friends" to transfer influence was always a crapshoot, but I paid a 10% transfer fee, so everyone won. I guess I didn't make enough early on to recognize the 99,999 limit, because I remember transferring millions, at a time. Did get burned a couple of times... Much prefer the game of today, and its near infinite flexibility.

I'll just post my shield/mace, since durability is your concern. This build, without procs or incarnates, has 60/51/55 positional defenses, with a fairly affordable build (four of the sets are Multi-Strike x 2, Crushing Impact and Perfect Zinger). Hope this helps: https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1857&c=780&a=1560&f=HEX&dc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

I *always* one-slot taunt with the Perfect Zinger psi-damage proc 😆

You're right. Just got my Rad/Axe Tank (Lemme Axe You Somethin) to 50, so off to remake Powder Keg (will probably wind up PWDRKEG, anyway 😆)

Tank. (surprised? 😆) Haven't remade him on HC, but I had a Fire/Fire/Pyre tank on Live that was just ridiculous.

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.7 https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn Click this DataLink to open the build! Level 50 Mutation Tanker Primary Power Set: Dark Armor Secondary Power Set: Kinetic Melee Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Force of Will Power Pool: Leaping Power Pool: Speed Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Dark Embrace (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (5) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (7) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (7) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime Level 1: Body Blow (A) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage (33) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance (37) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (40) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (50) Superior Blistering Cold - Recharge/Chance for Hold Level 2: Murky Cloud (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (9) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (9) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (11) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime Level 4: Kick (A) Accuracy IO Level 6: Obsidian Shield (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (11) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (13) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) Level 8: Mighty Leap (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%) Level 10: Combat Jumping (A) Kismet - Accuracy +6% (13) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed (19) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) (19) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage (50) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 12: Taunt (A) Mocking Beratement - Accuracy/Recharge Level 14: Tough (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (15) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (15) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (17) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP (17) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% Level 16: Dark Regeneration (A) Theft of Essence - Chance for +Endurance (31) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage (31) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance (33) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (43) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (46) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown Level 18: Cloak of Fear Hamidon Origin:Enzyme Exposure (29) Nightmare - Accuracy/Endurance (31) Unspeakable Terror - Disorient Bonus Level 20: Power Siphon (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up Level 22: Oppressive Gloom (A) Absolute Amazement - Stun (23) Absolute Amazement - Stun/Recharge/Accuracy (23) Absolute Amazement - Recharge/Accuracy (25) Absolute Amazement - Stun/Endurance (25) Absolute Amazement - Chance for ToHit Debuff (27) Triumphant Insult - Chance to Disorient Level 24: Burst (A) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage (33) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (37) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (40) Superior Might of the Tanker - Recharge/Chance for +Res(All) (46) Fury of the Gladiator - Chance for Res Debuff Level 26: Weaken Resolve (A) Accuracy IO (27) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff Level 28: Focused Burst (A) Gladiator's Javelin - Accuracy/Damage (34) Gladiator's Javelin - Damage/Recharge (39) Gladiator's Javelin - Chance of Damage(Toxic) (40) Gladiator's Javelin - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge (48) Gladiator's Javelin - Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 30: Concentrated Strike (A) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage (34) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Damage/RechargeTime (37) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (43) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (46) Superior Gauntleted Fist - RechargeTime/+Absorb Level 32: Repulsing Torrent (A) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage (34) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (36) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown Level 35: Weave Hamidon Origin:Cytoskeleton Exposure Level 38: Cloak of Darkness Hamidon Origin:Cytoskeleton Exposure Level 41: Gloom (A) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage (42) Superior Winter's Bite - Damage/RechargeTime (42) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (42) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (43) Superior Winter's Bite - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime Level 44: Unleash Potential D-Sync Origin:D-Sync Conduit Level 47: Darkest Night Hamidon Origin:Enzyme Exposure Level 49: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO (50) Recharge Reduction IO Level 1: Gauntlet Level 1: Brawl

Here's @Xandyr's:

Kick takes the Force Feedback chance for +Recharge proc. Doesn't fire often, but when it does, it's something.

Here's what I run (Electric/Electric/Energy/Ionic...went all in with electricity 😆 https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1730&c=759&a=1518&f=HEX&dc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umbers with one stack of ATO Res. With Incarnates (Resilient Alpha, no inherent DDR so Ageless Radial and Melee Radial) it's just silly sturdy, with a heal and end management... Deals out reasonable damage (for a tank) too. I ran with a 54/8 team last night, three or four missions herding Carnies and was never in danger. Lack of DDR (when Ageless is on cooldown) keeps it from being Inv, SD or Stone top-tier, but he's just a hoot to play.

Yeah, we finished the whole first run and dispatched Clamor in 23 min., so thanks again to Ronin for organizing and Col (who got the LFG star-swap) for actually leading Team 1. As I have said before, if you haven't respec'd your SS tanks, having Foot Stomp (I ran my titular toon, last night) for Yin, or any other exemp down to 25, is absolutely wonderful 😆

...mostly due to lack of DDR. I love my WP/Fiery Melee tank. Actually used him as a fire farmer...to PL my Spines/Fire brute into the primary farming role. He rolls through 98% of all non-HM content, without blinking, but I wouldn't dream of lead tanking him on a +4/8 ITF or 801 AE.

Just dinged 50 with a Rad/Axe and even without incarnates or completely min/maxed sets, can tank 98% of the non-HM content and Battle Axe is a completely different experience, compared to live. I love SS and Battle Axe is probably now my second favorite, well, secondary.

To me, there is nothing in this game quite as satisfying as foot stomp.

I agree with @Erratic1 and Inv for secondary and pair it with Super Strength. Proc out Foot Stomp and put on auto-fire. With Hasten optimized, it's up every 7-ish seconds. Talk about a "fire and forget" follower. I use the same strategy with Inv/SS tanks, following a fire farmer, to shorten map times.

Meet a KR or Ms. Lib?

Yes, we had a great run on Ronin's team, finished in 50 min. with six tanks. Thanks again, Ronin! We even had a TT first timer ding 50 (I believe they started at lvl 46 or 47), so that was the feather in our cap 😁

@Sovera's "Brunker" (Fire/Martial Arts) is probably the best template for damage output and survivability. I made one (Marshall Mayhem) and he's ridiculous. Some will also chime in with procc'd out /RadM and /DarkM. Regardless of primary and secondary, you have several high damage Epic pools, as well.

Pursuant to the previous discussion - not much - but I posed the question as it was not referenced by @twozerofoxtrot in the [excellent] recommendations on incarnates for Rad Armor. I am in the process of incarnating my first Rad Armor (/Axe) tank and will probably take it, just because I'm so used to Inv and Shield armors' DDR. I get that high recharge and keeping the absorb shield(s) up, as much as possible is paramount, but even a non-HM +4/8 ITF is brutal without some sort of DDR, solo. In the absence of being debuffed, a Rad tank with "only" 35% melee defense is still practically unkillable, considering the resistance caps, absorb shield, regen and inherent heal.

What about DDR?

You can use the build I posted and sub Cross Punch for Hurl (but you'll lose the 1.5% E/N Res from Tempest in non-Granite form) and Teleport for Super Jump (which you can also use the slow resist and KB prot). You'll need to drop one more power (FA?) to get Boxing, for the Cross Punch extra bonuses. Also, a reminder that my power selection was pre-I25, so you can now get Foot Stomp much earlier, so shuffle the power selection, for if you ever plan to exemplar down.

My "titular" toon. Combat Teleport and Hasten included. +Res ATO in Haymaker, so not negotiable. Granite included, for emergencies only. I run PLV almost exclusively without. First ever 50 tank on Live. Hella fun. https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1811&c=773&a=1546&f=HEX&dc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ithout GA: With: