Mopery

I wish these mmo developers would understand why City of Heroes works where other games fail. I wish I could just write them a letter explaining it all to them, but I haven't a clue. I just know it's a fun game to play. Maybe it's knowing that "My character is Mine, my own, my creation... my Precious." Some people want to be a copy of their favorite comic book character. Some people want to dress as catgirls and hang around Rocket P RD-ing(or whatever). Some people want to min/max until they're bleeding edge DPS and nigh immortal. Some people want to make a cyborg zombie ninja birdman wielding a concrete block on a stick. I mostly play to have fun, and I've never done that catgirl thing(I swear. You can't prove nuthin!). Maybe if they let us have the best of both worlds where we could both play their copyrighted characters and still make our own unique characters who assist those guys and play through their storylines?

Dark Blast will give you some soft controls, make you and your team harder to hit, and comes with another self-heal. Sonic will allow your team to do more damage via -Resists. Beam Rifle will give you some -Regen in Disintegrate. Water will give you AOE Damage, and another self-heal. Pretty much everything else is just a different flavor, but won't add much worth mentioning.

It's a double-edged point.

Here's my take on Illusion/Trick Arrow. It's a few seconds off for Perma-PA but has Perma-Hasten, soft-capped S/L/E, and decent recovery if you don't leave sprint/SS/Tactics on all the time. This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.5.9 https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn Click this DataLink to open the build! IllusionTrick v1.0: Level 50 Mutation Controller Primary Power Set: Illusion Control Secondary Power Set: Trick Arrow Power Pool: Leaping Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leadership Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Spectral Wounds -- Apc-Dmg(A), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Apc-Acc/Rchg(37), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(37), Apc-Dam%(40) Level 1: Entangling Arrow -- EnfOpr-Acc/Rchg(A), EnfOpr-Acc/EndRdx(40), EnfOpr-Immob/Rng(42), EnfOpr-Acc/Immob/Rchg(43), EnfOpr-Acc/Immob(43) Level 2: Blind -- SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprWiloft-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(7), SprWiloft-EndRdx/Rchg(7), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(9), SprWiloft-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprWiloft-Rchg/Dmg%(11) Level 4: Deceive -- CrcPrs-Conf(A), CrcPrs-Acc/Conf/Rchg(27), CrcPrs-Acc/Rchg(29), CrcPrs-Conf/EndRdx(29), CrcPrs-Conf%(31) Level 6: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 8: Glue Arrow -- ImpSwf-Dam%(A) Level 10: Ice Arrow -- UnbCns-Hold(A), UnbCns-Acc/Hold/Rchg(11), UnbCns-Acc/Rchg(13), UnbCns-EndRdx/Hold(13), UnbCns-Dam%(15) Level 12: Super Speed -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A) Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(15) Level 16: Poison Gas Arrow -- SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear(A), SprOvrPrs-Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/Rchg(17), SprOvrPrs-EndRdx/Rchg(17), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx(23), SprOvrPrs-Acc/Conf/Hold/Immob/Sleep/Stun/Fear/EndRdx/Rchg(25), SprOvrPrs-Rchg/Energy Font(27) Level 18: Phantom Army -- ExpRnf-Acc/Rchg(A), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(19), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(21), SlbAll-Dmg/Rchg(21), SlbAll-Build%(23) Level 20: Acid Arrow -- PstBls-Acc/Dmg(A), PstBls-Dmg/EndRdx(46), PstBls-Dmg/Rng(48), PstBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), PstBls-Dam%(50) Level 22: Kick -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A) Level 24: Tough -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(25) Level 26: Spectral Terror -- GlmoftheA-Dam%(A) Level 28: Disruption Arrow -- PwrTrns-EndMod(A), PwrTrns-Dam/Rech(43), PwrTrns-Dam/EndMod(45), PwrTrns-Dam/Acc/End(45), PwrTrns-Dam/Acc/Rech/End(46), PwrTrns-+Heal(46) Level 30: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(31), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(31) Level 32: Phantasm -- ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg(A), ExpRnf-Dmg/EndRdx(33), ExpRnf-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), ExpRnf-EndRdx/Dmg/Rchg(33), SlbAll-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(34) Level 35: Oil Slick Arrow -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(36), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(36), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(37) Level 38: EMP Arrow -- SprEnt-Acc/Hold(A), SprEnt-Hold/Rchg(39), SprEnt-End/Rchg(39), SprEnt-Acc/Hold/End/Rchg(39), SprEnt-Rchg/AbsorbProc(40) Level 41: Scorpion Shield -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(42), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(42) Level 44: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(45) Level 47: Tactics -- RctRtc-ToHit(A), RctRtc-ToHit/Rchg(48) Level 49: Vengeance -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), RctRtc-ToHit(50), RctRtc-Pcptn(50) Level 1: Brawl -- KntCmb-Knock%(A) Level 1: Containment Level 1: Sprint -- Clr-Stlth(A) Level 2: Rest -- EndMod-I(A) Level 1: Swift -- Flight-I(A) Level 1: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Prv-Absorb%(3), Mrc-Rcvry+(5), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(5) Level 1: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A) Level 1: Stamina -- PrfShf-EndMod(A), PrfShf-End%(3) Level 12: Speed Phase Level 50: Freedom Phalanx Reserve Level 50: Portal Jockey Level 50: Task Force Commander Level 50: The Atlas Medallion ------------

I don't know, that woman on the package looks like a mutant.

"Laments about the state of modern society." -Dawn of time through today...

I loved reading the old comics back in the 80's when I was a kid, 1970's Fantastic Four adventures in the Negative Zone were awesome and I hope they bring some of that magic to the screen at some point. Cinema hasn't ever given the F4 the right treatment, and without them you lose the greatest villain in, imo, all of comic book lore: Dr. Doom I've loved the MCU so far, loved the Netflix shows(yes, even Iron Fist), Runaways, The Gifted, Cloak and Dagger, I even liked Inhumans... and I can't wait for more Marvel goodness. If that makes me a fanboy or some other derogatory word in your opinion, then you know where you can shove that opinion: right back up to its origin. I never thought these stories would make it to the big screen with such good production quality. Are they verbatim? No. Have they changed to reflect the times we live in? Yes. Just like all great stories do. Stagnation isn't interesting, it's old and moldy. I'm sure the Babylonians complained when the story of Gilgamesh was altered by someone spinning a new version of the epic, too. Get over yourselves if you're so inflexible and upset that your perfect vision of what the story should have been doesn't coalesce before your eyes, try enjoying that they're happening at all. Hollywood has produced some terrible stuff in its time, modern comic book movies aren't as bad as 90% of previous cinema. Would you rather watch rehashed TV show movies again? No thank you. They were out of stories in the mid-2000's, so Marvel stepped up and said: "Hold my beer." I look forward to Phase 4, and 5, and 6, etc. Excelsior!(RIP Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and anyone else I momentarily forgot)

I started playing City of Heroes within the week it was released after being told about it by an old friend. My first character was a Martial Arts/Super Reflexes Scrapper who I loved to play in spite of how bad SR was back then(terrible until perma-Elude then still not as good as Regen). I played CoH faithfully until 2012. Whenever I got tired of other games, CoH was always there for me. I have always had fun playing it, which I think is what any game's goal should be. If you don't have fun playing a game, then don't play that game. I had just started a two-week vacation when the shutdown was announced, and I had planned on spending as much time as I could playing CoH... instead, I was hit with NCSoft's cruel and spiteful announcement. Try to imagine the people who sold you your most beloved pet sending you an official letter in the mail stating: "We apologize, but we've decided that you're not allowed to have your pet anymore because we still legally own it. In 3 months we're going to come back and take your pet away forever. Just accept that it's the right thing to do and it's the right time to do it, don't bother asking why because there's nothing you can do to stop it from happening. Have a nice day! Sincerely, NCSoft" I felt like a member of my family had been strangled to death while I helplessly watched. I couldn't bring myself to log in again, and I will curse NCSoft until the day I die. It was spring 2019, I had been searching the internet for CoH nostalgia, listening to Lord Recluse's Grandville speech, and suddenly I found a youtube video talking about a hidden server and source code and some serious drama, news that a private server had been running all those years in which I had thought CoH was gone forever. I was pissed to not have been invited to that, but honestly, more than anything, I just wanted to play the game again. Even if NCSoft kills it again, which I know is still a possibility with those donkey felching sons of whores, then at least I got to play my favorite video game of all time one last time. I smoked a fat joint, and enjoyed my afternoon like I had thought I would never be able to do ever again. The only thing I had left from the old servers were my memories of the game back in the early days when the game was much more difficult and a few of my characters had heroic last stands, a couple of which actually succeeded. I remembered a lot, and had forgotten a lot, but I've had a blast these past couple of years. Whichever character I'm playing at the moment is my favorite. I'm an altaholic suffering from altitis so I have literally hundreds of characters across all five servers, although I tend to play on Excelsior.

For roleplaying purposes, I want a rickshaw powered by a Tsoo Sorcerer.

Envenomed Dagger Scrappers can solo just about anything.

As a nerf-herder, I endorse this statement.

Wonky religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good Blaster at your side, kid.

Making builds is time consuming, time better spent actually playing the game. It takes a metric buttload of experience to understand what powers to choose, what sets to slot where, and why you slot those powers the way you do. After making many dozens of builds, and playing most of them, I have developed certain idiosyncrasies in my builds. Sometimes I can't fit everything I want into a build, and it may be difficult to explain to anyone else why I have built the way I do, but to me it makes perfect sense. I would never have learned how to make a build at all if I had not been able to look at various builds posted in the forums, back on Live and here on HC. The ability to read what others have to say about their builds and why they built them that way is important if you want to be able to apply their knowledge and acquire some of your own. I enjoy looking at builds made by other players because I often find myself doing the same basic thing over and over. It's tough to break old habits, which is where observing what others are doing comes in. Sometimes the build another player has made will reveal some mechanics or tricks I've never thought to add to a build, and I'm inspired to rebuild an old character from the ground up. On rarer occasions I can't understand why they have built they way they do, because I haven't actually played the powersets only farmed them up. For instance, I do not understand how to build a Bio armor character at all. I have tried my best and failed miserably, while I have seen others turn Bio armor into godmode. There's just not enough time in this life to master every possible powerset combination... tl;dr - Looking at other people's builds can reveal useful ideas for your own builds.

Wut? Y I got 2 lrn stuff 'n things?!?! 🤪

Apologies per my lack of specificity, I meant up to 5 full sets of each. My hoverblaster has 4 full sets of each, it would be difficult to actually get 5.

Fit as many Thunderstrike and Artillery sets into your build as possible(up to 5 each). Look for any other sets that also give Ranged Defense, get that over 45% and you're golden. My hoverblaster is AR/MM/Force. Not the damage King, but has an assortment of damage types(Lethal, Smashing, Fire, Psi) and 5 or 6 cone attacks. The cost was extremely reasonable(only 1 purple set used, Contagious Confusion for 5% Ranged Defense), don't even think I put ATO's into the build so it's sub-200 mil influence.

At the moment it's my Fire/Earth Dom(Popocatepetl). So much smashy fun, plays like a scrapper but, pardon the pun, dominates. Also love my Thugs/Kin MM(Godfather), Gang War + Burnout + Gang War + Speed Boost + Fulcrum Shift and fuhgeddaboudit...

Yes! Free up those names I want so that someone else can grab them again before I can...

Dark/Plant is a helluva lotta fun!

What if they're away in the military for the next 20 years until they retire and then they want to play the game again on their hypnoflavotronic quantum fantabulator?

The most effective "cheap" build I've made is an AR/MM/Force Mastery, Ranged Defense soft-capped, Hover-Blaster. Thunderstrike and Artillery sets give huge bonuses to Ranged Defense and can be picked up for less than 1mil inf each. I slotted 4 full sets of each set(8 * 6 * 1mil <= 48mil inf). Also a set of Stupefy in Beanbag which are dirt cheap(<4mil for the whole set iirc). Using a set of Contagious Confusion(WoC), a set of Overwhelming force(M30) for even more Ranged Defense gives ~57% Ranged and ~53% Energy Defense (with an AH value around 200mil for both sets). Without these it wouldn't have near-incarnate cap Defense, but would be much cheaper and nearly as effective in most situations. This build is a Cone King, lays waste to groups from a distance(Full Auto, Psi Scream, Flamethrower, Buckshot) and is safe from all but flying melee enemies. I would bet these sets could used to make a similar build using say, Fire instead of AR, and/or a different Secondary for less than 100mil.

That's a whole lotta Dan!