Heraclea

A lot depends on which ATs you do in fact enjoy. I didn't really get into a blaster until I made an electric/electric blaster, which is more melee oriented than most others. Blasters also can be badly endurance bound in the lower levels. Again, electric/electric helps a little there, more so at higher levels. I also had an archery/devices blaster who was my original stealther and the Queen of Halloween. Laying down mines and traps before knocking on the door meant that the mobs that came out would instantly die.

It's a perfect storm. It brought together factors, any one of which might have been enjoyable in isolation and made a better game from a mediocre one. But most of all it's the gameplay, and the game itself. Everybody, including myself, praises the community. But the community is fostered by the gameplay and game mechanics, which helps avoid the kind of drama that makes other communities less good. Mechanics: global friends you can chat with on different servers. Mechanics: the game encourages making friends and playing with them. With a small handful of exceptions, you can bring the character you want to any mission, story arc, or task force. You aren't dead in the water without a 'tank' or a 'healer', The MMO trinity encourages drama because the players who spec to fill those roles can become prima donnas. Mechanics: you generally can bring the character you want to play. The sidekicking system encourages that very thing. Mechanics: this game does loot right. It's personal and private. There's no need to tell the world about your purple drop. Everything can be sold to other players, it isn't 'soulbound' or any such nonsense. You don't have to worry about that necromancer 'accidentally' rolling 'need' on that piece of tank gear. You don't absolutely have to run the same content over and over again until the piece you want drops. These things set it out from the crowd among MMOs.

I have been getting global channels randomly disabled as well. Happened to me tonight while exiting the Ms. Liberty TF. (Grandville was involved there, but it's happened before.)

I think the basic point of failure was that no one was buffing me during the fight, and insps plus my native defenses were just not enough. Ran it again with a different team this evening and got the Master badge. No flying around, no flagpoles, just buffs and spot heals for the tank. This probably is one of the few instances of content in this game where a specific team makeup is needful.

I'd also point out that bio armor is a set like regen that heavily relies on uh-oh click powers. Animation lag does not mix well with combinations like that; this is what got my level 50 fire/energy tanker deleted.

I plan on taking just about everything, but the Fire Sword attacks and Cremate are your bread and butter, especially on a team.

Got that one to level 24. Perceived lack of team utility has gotten her shelved in favor of my fire/regen, who gets her AoE off without a hitch.

RIP Roky Erickson. one of the greats.

Not fond of the set. Animation lag is bad. You cue up your AoE and the team has already killed most of the baddies.

Was reminded that this game was not free from standard MMO drama yesterday. Managed to fail this on the final mission yesterday. Nobody was buffing me as I attempted to tank Recluse with all his towers. Instead, the team expected me to fly around (using the Synapse jet pack), taunt Recluse and then fly behind a flag on a tower. Insps were not enough, and gone by the first try. Had no significant issues with the Patrons. If this is a workable strategy I entirely failed to execute it. Is it a flaw in my build, for maybe not enough range in Taunt? Or was the team's strategy a scatterbrained thing that was doomed to fail?

I never took TP because I am unable to use it, and Fly is a part of the character concept. I understand that the new Sorcery Fly is supposed to fix the problem with teleport; maybe I should look into that. Stealth and Invisibility are for soloing when I'm not running task forces on the character, mostly. When I get the inf I may buy the team teleport power.

I'm sure I will probably get around to remaking my Dark/SR scrapper. The original was my AE baby, levelled mostly in AE content; that isn't an attractive proposition right now. Fighting custom mobs meant being unhittable was at a premium. But this character is already 24-ish and I enjoyed this combination back then, just have to know its limits. This is a pure DPS scrapper.

You will notice that I've capped all the IOs at 40 and gone out of my way to pick up useful sets that go no further than 40. This is deliberate. Actually, set bonuses won't be a high priority for this character. Her goal is to be a task force merit farmer, running stuff like Synapse, Citadel, Numina, and the Striga TFs for merits that will be used mostly to buy stuff that other characters need, and as a source for lowbie salvage and recipe drops that are likewise probably going to others first. I don't really consider Regen a very good fit for Incarnate levels or endgame content. I may just turn off XP at 40 and go for the money, except that level 50 makes that much more. Sets like Shields, Reflexes, and Willpower are much better adapted to the endgame IMO. But Regen s an absolute joy to play in lower levels, so I stick with what works here. Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962 http://www.cohplanner.com/ Click this DataLink to open the build! Maiden Heaven: Level 50 Magic Scrapper Primary Power Set: Fiery Melee Secondary Power Set: Regeneration Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Concealment Power Pool: Fighting Ancillary Pool: Weapon Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Fire Sword -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx:35(3), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg:35(9), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(17), FcsSmt-Acc/Dmg:40(37), FcsSmt-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:40(40) Level 1: Fast Healing -- Mrc-Rcvry+:40(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+:40(3), NmnCnv-Heal:40(42), Mrc-Heal:40(45) Level 2: Cremate -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx:35(5), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg:35(5), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(17), FcsSmt-Acc/Dmg:40(37), FcsSmt-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:40(43) Level 4: Quick Recovery -- PrfShf-End%:40(A), PrfShf-EndMod:40(7), EndMod-I:40(7), EndMod-I:40(45) Level 6: Reconstruction -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+:30(A), StdPrt-ResDam/EndRdx:30(9), HrmHln-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:40(50), HrmHln-Heal/Rchg:40(50), HrmHln-Heal:40(50) Level 8: Breath of Fire -- Dtn-Acc/Dmg:40(A), Dtn-Dmg/EndRdx:40(11), Dtn-Dmg/Rchg:40(13), Dtn-Dmg/Rng:40(19), Dtn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(37), Dtn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rng:40(40) Level 10: Dull Pain -- HrmHln-Heal/EndRdx:40(A), HrmHln-EndRdx/Rchg:40(11), HrmHln-Heal/Rchg:40(13), HrmHln-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:40(42), NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg:40(45), NmnCnv-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:40(48) Level 12: Build Up -- GssSynFr--Build%:40(A), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg:40(15), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx:40(15), GssSynFr--Rchg/EndRdx:40(48), GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx:40(48) Level 14: Fly -- Flight-I:40(A) Level 16: Integration -- HrmHln-Heal/EndRdx:40(A), HrmHln-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:40(19), HrmHln-EndRdx:40(46) Level 18: Fire Sword Circle -- Mlt-Acc/Dmg:40(A), Mlt-Dmg/EndRdx:40(21), Mlt-Dmg/Rchg:40(23), Mlt-Acc/EndRdx:40(25), Mlt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx:40(34), Mlt-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:40(40) Level 20: Air Superiority -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx:35(21), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg:35(23), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg:35(25), FcsSmt-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg:40(43), FcsSmt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(46) Level 22: Stealth -- Ksm-ToHit+:30(A) Level 24: Invisibility -- GifoftheA-Run+:40(A) Level 26: Incinerate -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx:35(27), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg:35(27), KntCmb-Knock%:35(31), FcsSmt-Acc/Dmg:40(31), FcsSmt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg:40(43) Level 28: Instant Healing -- DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx:40(A), DctWnd-Heal/Rchg:40(29), DctWnd-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg:40(29), DctWnd-EndRdx/Rchg:40(31), DctWnd-Rchg:40(46) Level 30: Boxing -- Acc-I:40(A) Level 32: Greater Fire Sword -- KntCmb-Acc/Dmg:35(A), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx:35(33), KntCmb-Dmg/Rchg:35(33), KntCmb-Knock%:35(33), Bns-Acc/Dmg:25(34), Bns-Acc/Rchg:25(34) Level 35: Tough -- ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx:40(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg:40(36), ImpArm-EndRdx/Rchg:40(36), ImpArm-ResDam:40(36) Level 38: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx:40(A), LucoftheG-EndRdx/Rchg:40(39), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg:40(39), LucoftheG-Def:40(39) Level 41: Caltrops -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%:40(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/Slow:40(42) Level 44: Moment of Glory -- RechRdx-I:40(A) Level 47: Revive -- RechRdx-I:40(A) Level 49: Resilience -- GldArm-3defTpProc:40(A) Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Critical Hit 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 -- Clr-Stlth:40(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift -- Run-I:40(A) Level 2: Health -- RgnTss-Regen+:30(A) Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I:40(A) Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%:40(A) ------------

For Heraclea I went Musculature for the Alpha - more damage is always welcome, especially since most of her attacks are single target - and Melee Hybrid, because it looked like it would stack neatly with Invincibility, and add to my core functionality.

Finally managed to find my 2012 Spines/WP build for Betsy Ross. This of course is a scrapper build. There weren't spines tankers in 2012. You may get some ideas for Frankenslotting from it. Definitely doing something very similar with Catrina, especially the Pacing of the Turtle frankenslotting. Betsy was my marketeer and purple Roman farmer in 2012, but even then the Turtle proc was not in high demand and she milked it for all it was worth. Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962 http://www.cohplanner.com/ Click this DataLink to open the build! Betsy Ross: Level 50 Natural Scrapper Primary Power Set: Spines Secondary Power Set: Willpower Power Pool: Leaping Power Pool: Fighting Ancillary Pool: Weapon Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Lunge -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/EndRdx(3), KntCmb-Knock%(7), KntCmb-Acc/Dmg(15), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx(39), KntCmb-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39) Level 1: High Pain Tolerance -- Mrc-Rcvry+(A), Mrc-Heal(3), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(9), NmnCnv-Heal(46) Level 2: Spine Burst -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/Slow(5), Obl-Acc/Rchg(5), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(39) Level 4: Fast Healing -- RgnTss-Regen+(A), RgnTss-Heal/EndRdx(7), RgnTss-Heal/Rchg(9), RgnTss-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(48) Level 6: Super Jump -- Jump-I(A) Level 8: Impale -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/Slow(11), Thn-Acc/Dmg(13), Thn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), Thn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45) Level 10: Indomitable Will -- LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(11), LucoftheG-Def(43), LucoftheG-Rchg+(43) Level 12: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(13), RechRdx-I(43) Level 14: Mind Over Body -- TtnCtn-ResDam/EndRdx(A), TtnCtn-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(45), TtnCtn-EndRdx(46), TtnCtn-ResDam(46) Level 16: Rise to the Challenge -- DarWtcDsp-Slow%(A), DarWtcDsp-Rchg/EndRdx(17), NmnCnv-Heal/EndRdx(17), NmnCnv-Heal/EndRdx/Rchg(36), NmnCnv-Heal(37), NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg(45) Level 18: Quills -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/EndRdx(19), ScrDrv-Acc/Rchg(19), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(23), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), ScrDrv-Dmg/EndRdx(36) Level 20: Quick Recovery -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(21), EndMod-I(21), EndMod-I(50) Level 22: Boxing -- Acc-I(A) Level 24: Tough -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(25), RctArm-EndRdx(25), RctArm-EndRdx/Rchg(40) Level 26: Ripper -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/Slow(27), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg(27), ScrDrv-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), ScrDrv-Dmg/Rchg(31), ScrDrv-Acc/Rchg(36) Level 28: Heightened Senses -- Srn-Def/EndRdx(A), Srn-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(29), Srn-EndRdx(40), Srn-Def(42) Level 30: Weave -- Ksm-Def/EndRdx(A), Ksm-EndRdx/Rchg(31), Ksm-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Ksm-ToHit+(40) Level 32: Throw Spines -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/Slow(33), Dtn-Acc/Dmg(33), Dtn-Dmg/EndRdx(33), Dtn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), Dtn-Dmg/Rchg(34) Level 35: Resurgence -- RechRdx-I(A) Level 38: Strength of Will -- ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(A) Level 41: Caltrops -- PcnoftheT--Rchg%(A), PcnoftheT-Acc/EndRdx(42), PcnoftheT-Acc/Slow(42) Level 44: Combat Jumping -- EndRdx-I(A) Level 47: Targeting Drone -- RctRtc-ToHit(A), RctRtc-ToHit/Rchg(48), RctRtc-Pcptn(48) Level 49: Exploding Shuriken -- Dtn-Acc/Dmg(A), Dtn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(50), Dtn-Dmg/Rchg(50) Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Critical Hit 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 -- Empty(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A) Level 2: Health -- Heal-I(A) Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A) Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A) ------------

Fan fiction and homage characters can also be of very wide inspiration. Yes, I have homage characters that relate to Wonder Woman and She-Ra. On the other hand my next up and coming tanker is Catrina. This is the name given in Mexico to the Posada tintype fancy dress skeleton who's an icon of Day of the Dead. Not a fully original idea, an obvious and intended homage. She speaks Nahuatl, and she's here to Kill Skuls. Probably the richest vein of inspiration for my characters. though, is history and literature. I have had at various stages the characters Betsy Ross, Abe Lincoln, Ranavalona, Madame Nhu (my Arachnos widow), and Giulia Tofana. During the early days of the AE you could get an account wide 'Bard' badge from it. That day, 'William Shakespeare' was born; he was my most successful defender, useful to AV teams, because he was 'the rad'. I've had 'Saint Dominic' and 'Son of Man'. Then there are the literary and mythological characters: Belphoebe, Britomart, Oya Iyansan, Camilla, Mayahuel, Grignr, Witchfinder General, Omphale, Lampito. I didn't start from the ground up making these concepts either. The challenge ever was to embody them in the game.

My earliest punning character, remade on Torchbearer, is Grandma Gnosis. Most of my character names are allusions to history or mythology, though.

You could give the hostage a gray mob guard, one that would be instantly defeated by the player. Make a separate enemy type for them and use a Contaminated.

I've always had a running challenge with myself to see how much backstory I could fit into a very short bio. This one is from 2012, but I still consider it my best effort along those lines.

I have found that you can paste text containing special characters into bios and battlecries, so if you want your character to say Βινεισθη! as a battle cry, you just have to type it in using another program that will let you and then paste the text as appropriate. There is no way to enter them directly in game, but if you get them on the screen at least some of them will appear as intended. There are some handy utilities here.

Do you have access to MS-Paint or a similar photo editing program? I have found that you can capture an image of your character in higher detail from the character select screen by hitting PrtSce like you'd do to take a regular screenshot. This won't take a screenshot on that screen, but it will copy an image of the screen to the keyboard which you can then paste into your photo editor to crop and save.