Diantane

Now why didn't I think of that?? Thank you for that suggestion.

Only one controller was a vet. The rest were low level (less than 12). They just can't do much damage so that greatly extends the time it takes to complete a +4 Frostfire.

I'm currently hosting with 'Frostfire a ice/fire sentinel. Led one team through the Hollows to Frostfire (got to level 19) yesterday evening. Then led another team through the Striga Isle arcs (Peebles took most of the time), By the time we got to Lars Hansen, I had out leveled the area. We only did a street mission and then Lars told me to take a hike (got to level 30 after 5.5 hours straight). Next I will start Provost Marchland @+3 at about 6:45 pm EST today. Hope to see ya and anyone else that wants to tag along,

Thank you!

Since I'm not getting a well rounded team most of the time, I diagnosed the problem and think another guide would be helpful. Like when I ask for a DPS player, which stands for (Damage Per Second), but refers to an AT that does heavy damage (Scrapper, Brute, Stalker, Blaster. Sentinel, PB, WS, Soldier and Widow). I asked for DPS last night (and even DAMAGE) and ended up with 5 trollers. This just doesn't work (did Frostfire with 5 trollers once, and it took us 2.5 hours to complete the mission). We ended up not getting that far last night. I ran into a room while cloaked, full of baddies and the team didn't follow. Instead they figured they could skip that room and took the elevator upstairs. This team seemed to be filled with children and I chose not to lead them anymore and logged. I'm sure that you would love to level your controller, but filling up a team with them will level you very slowly. The very most controllers you want on a team is two, but preferably just one that is experienced with the game. Then a healer, defender, dedicated tank (takes the alpha and pulls critters from weaker players) and the rest DPS. That would be a well rounded team and would steamroll through missions. Sometimes the team will get wiped over and over again. The problem here is the player, not the archetype. I have had teams that steamrolled through the same mission @ +3 or 4 so I know that it is possible. Most players will quit the team to look for an easier way to level/play. But a few stay and fight to complete the mission. Thank god there are true warriors still playing. Even a defender can be a "warrior." I have taken the alpha (the first to run in and agro the group), with Sentinels and Defenders (and do this over and over throughout every mission). It's because of my high level of gaming experience just like so many others. The funny thing is that many players think they can level faster on an easier team (+0 or 1) I have even seen teams that started Frostfire @ +0. Frostfire, himself would be "gray" in the end. This would be extremely boring to me. If they stayed with my team, they would be a much higher level when we're done. I usually start a brand new character and 6 to 7 hours of fun later I'm in my low to mid 30's just doing arcs.

I also made a arsenal/pain troller (Painful Control) on Excelsior. It worked pretty well, but when teams were not protected by themselves or others, I was mostly just a healer and had little time for control. That's why I made an arsenal/thermal (Thermal Artillery) so I could give the team some resistive defense as well as healing/buffs and debuff.

I clicked on the link. but don't see any link to download mids. Why is this so hard?

There are a couple websites that list it, but both are garbage and not updated for (years?) Nowhere can i find a download link.

...it's really nothing new. Its the same powers we have always had with new names. Plus some powers came from different archetypes. Like a dominator getting Cloaking Device and Targeting Drone.

Our team walked into a room with two groups. I put the group on the left to sleep so we can concentrate on the group on the right while the other group takes a a nap. Then some idiot throws an aoe at the sleeping group and both groups wipe the team - UGH !

If you want to fight from your "mount," play Lord of the Rings Online. When you get to level 65 you get a Warsteed. Then you can fight on it - fun.

I've been hosting teams since shortly after the emulator started. Do this nearly every day and for several hours straight (retired Vietnam Era Navy Vet). I run arcs (storyline missions with merits and badges). I find them interesting. I always solo them before I host the first team so that I can learn the story. Recruiting is something that you have to do constantly. This is because the the average player will do one to three missions and then take a break from the game for a few hours to days. Sometimes I get L50 vets that stay for the entire arc (even a long one like "Provost Marchland" which lasts 4-5 hours depending on the team). Generally run them at +3, but this is governed by the team. Some players complain that this is too high and that I should lower it. Then there are other players that say this is too low and I should raise it. You can tell when there are constant wipes or the team is "steamrolling." Because of the recent update there are "a lot" of Arsenal Controllers and Dominators. If you're not careful, your team will have 4 to 6 of them. This never works as it takes too long to complete a mission (little to no DPS). After you say something like "LF3M" you can add whatever the team needs. Like LF3M - DPS or LF3M TANK or LF3M - HEALS. We call these teams PUG's or Pick Up Groups, but you do have some control on what you get. As I have done some arcs over a hundred times, I get to know every part of them very well. Like warning the team that the next section has two groups. As soon as you enter the room there is one group right down the middle of the columns, but be careful as there is another group to the right just as you enter the room. Most "uneducated" teams will run straight for the center group and the other group comes from behind to wipe the team (this is on the Agent Watkins arc). There is another mission on Agent Watkins that is INSANE. The artificial intelligence of the critters are far different then other arcs/missions. There are 4-500 Freakshows in this mission (the second largest indoor map in the game (first is Atta in the Hollows)). The last room usually wipes the team (except for me, because I know what to expect and hang back). Then I explain to everyone why this happened and ask if they would like to know how to beat it or let them try again on their own. SPOILER - This room has three levels or tiers. You walk in on the second level. If you stay there you will most likely die; as Freaks jump up from the bottom and jump down from the top and overwhelm the team. The secret is to run straight to the top level. From the entrance, turn right and run up the ramp. Then clear them out so they can't jump down. When you finish this level you'll come down a ramp to the second level platform. Do not stay there and fight as they are still jumping up from the bottom. Instead immediately run to the other side of the room (past the entrance) and get on the second level bridge. Then clear that level out. When you finish, run to the other side of the room again and go down the ramp there to the bottom and work your way to the other side. Then click on the desk and the mission is complete! A few "bad: players will click on the desk to end the mission, but this kills the excitement and a lot of XP. Plus hospitalized players can't get back in to work off their debt. Note: Lower level players will gain a few levels in this mission on double XP. Its like Frostfire on drugs - lol. I have done this at +4 several times if I play a defensive tank (didn't train a lot of the weak secondary attacks - just taunt) or a ForceField Defender If I play this defender we play every arc on +4 except Provost Marchland. The AV's are too hard even with a team full of L50 vets. We have tried and failed many times (even with P2W tools). If you see a call for a team on "Look for Group" that has this format, you'll know it is me: L32 BLUE 3/8 "Provost Marchland" Arc Team LF3M See you ingame!

No, this isn't a mod. My capacity for inspirations has been about 50 over what you see on your character. Mostly break frees and rez's. The answer? Just mail yourself a bunch of inspirations. You can have up to 100 emails which mostly went unused until I started doing this. This works with all of your characters since they all have access. If I get an extra rez or whatever, I mail it. If you die and don't have a rez, just check your mail 🙂

You're in a PUG Team and you come up to a mob and then everyone just stands there and waits for someone else to make the first move. Because of this, I always take the alpha regardless of which AT I am playing. Yes I die more often or lose a lot of health, but at least the team moves on. In order to keep things going, I'll even try to pull other mobs into the fight when it starts to die down. Its amazing how many PUG tanks will also just stand there. When I play a tank I just run and jump into the middle of them and start taunting. Even my attacks have a taunt enhancement in them.

LOL. I've play a regen sentinel several times. The have a revive power. Coupled with the always on and quickly healing absorption, you can rez and go directly into combat like nothing happened.

I always check my teammates info

I've been playing computer games since the Apple II was released in 1977. So I have a lot of experience playing RPG games (over 45 years - currently 68). I've practiced not dying in every game I've played. In COH there are several ways: 1) if you are a ranged fighter or support, distance is your friend. If a foe tries to get within melee range of you, simply back away from them or move to a different part of the room. Hovering is better if there is room above you. Plus hover adds to your defense. 2) If you are a melee fighter, keep an eye on your health. If it gets below 50% and you don't have a heal or resprite, move away from the area to rest. 3) If most of the team dies and the rest of the foes are after you, go into an elevator or out the exit. Wait a second and then you can come back in as they will be running back to their spawn point. 4) Don't just fight until you die. You can't do any DPS if you are dead, but will do a lot more if you are still alive. 5) In combat, I rarely stay in one place. I constantly move so the enemy can't get a fix on me. 6) Buy resprites from the nurse for those "Oh crap" moments. When you take them in that emergency, leave the area and fully rest before beginning again

I've hosted teams on arcs for years. When I play a support character, I don't need any inspiration except for break frees and rez's. So I try to give the others to the DPS players. It can rarely get delivered. I get the message that they are full. Had spoken with several players about this and I'm mostly told the same thing. They never use or even buy an inspiration. The only time they need one is when they die and need a rez. If none is in there, they either combined them or bum a rez or one to combine from he team members. If the entire team wipes, we go to the hospital. When I'm at the nurse buying replacements, the other team members run past her. Seems that most new players get the double XP from the P2W gal so they don't even buy enhancements (just add the slots for when and if they reach 50 🙂

Well it seems that every player that makes a tank seems to think it is a scrapper with more armor. The primary and secondary powers are split 50/50. This makes for a very low DPS AT

Sometimes a new player wants to skip the newbie levels and a higher level can get them to 15 or 20 fast. I'd be willing to help out with that if I can. But you ever see players in LFG looking for an AE farm wanting to be a sitter? I interviewed a few of them. That's how they level their characters. They never actually play them. They just make a new character and have a 50 farmer level them to 50. Then they start over and see how many 50's they can make. By leveling them, there is no gratification. Its just a waste of your time. I wouldn't want to help out a player like this.

I agree with you. but again those blasts must be slotted with debuffs (its why a defender has those enhancements available to them). I made a defender once that could cap all damaging attacks, but that wasn't a high DPS character - just an experiment (Kin/beam). The reason a defender was even added to the available AT lineup was to provide the buffs and debuffs or heals. Not for doing damage. They "can" do damage, but its very weak compared to primary DPS AT's.

If you are slotting those dark blasts with tohit debuffs, then you are correct, but slotting them for damage would be a waste of enhancements and slots. However you are spreading out your defender's duties (jack of all trades, master of none). A primary defense defender or a primary debuff defender would be much more powerful. Its called specialization.

Players seem to think that a tank does incredible damage. I see players with several low tier, weak secondary attacks up front. Made an Invul tank one day and a player asked me if I had Super Strength. That is a very popular cookie cutter build. Does it do a lot of damage? Not compared to a scrapper or brute where those same attacks are their primary powers. A tanks main job is not doing damage. There are lots of others on your team that do way more. Your job is to protect your teammates from taking damage. To attract and absorb, deflect or mitigate those attacks. The more damage you take from others, the better. When I make a tank the first attack I train is taunt (the main power of a tank). You see a boss headed for a no defense blaster? Taunt them away towards you. Sure, those attacks have taunt built in, but do players slot them for taunt? Nope... damage. They are misled. So when starting a new tank your focus should be on your defenses and only your defenses (your PRIMARY powers). Also add the fighting pool powers tough and possible weave if you are not resistance based. When a team first sees a large mob, they always hesitate (waiting for someone else to make the first attack - the alpha). This is when the tank is supposed to just jump into that mob and pull all of that damage to your TANK. Then the others can safely go in and eliminate those foes. Of course a healer's primary focus should be healing the tank. If the tank dies, the rest of the team will lose their main defense. The best team will also have a "defensive" built tank, a dedicated healer (no blasts), and controller or defender with lots of debuffs/buffs (no blasts). The remaining team should be your DPS. Unfortunately you rarely see this.

Love this reply - thanks! I'm not rushing to 50. Another player had suggested not using 2X and I went back to life without that. Was able to do more missions, more contacts that I missed before (over running the content). Hosted teams in the Hollows to do all of the arcs (not just Wincott and Flux). They get increasingly tougher, but mostly enjoyable. One difficulty is deciding which alt I want to use the incarnates with for my first experience. Not a grinder, yes, but I'm talking farming with a rad/fire brute (that is grinding that I tried and didn't care for). Doing the storyline arcs is not grinding to me and I really enjoy them, but the most difficult part is finding and playing new arcs. Tired of playing the same arcs over and over again. Like Lockhart, Agent Watkins, Roy Cooling, Provost Marchland (have done all these over 80 times). One day I did the Provost arc three times @ 5 hours each on three alts. Not a badge collector (collect them all). I do find exploration badges because it allows me to go to other places fast using the Long Range Teleporter accolade. This has changed gameplay a lot. No longer do I have to "find" the base portal to train. Now I go to the entrance of the next mission (don't go in). Then cast the accolade and select my base where I have a trainer, quartermaster and nurse. When I'm done I exit the base and I'm back at the mission entrance again. Amazing.

Thanks for the supportive replies (got a few), but most replies were just garbage as usual. For the answers I did get I don't understand most of it.