Yomo Kimyata

"the proper way to use reward merits" I respectfully disagree. No such thing as a "proper" way, and it is in no way a problem. You can spend them all on large inspirations, if that's what floats your boat. Using them to buy recipes or ATOs is totally legit. There may be a "most efficient way to translate merits to inf", but I don't see how offering other choices of conversions is a "trap"?

I'm down with this. I've repeatedly said the only way I'm likely to engage in PvP is if everyone has the same tool set (think Atari's Combat). At lvl 10, "optimal" builds will be very similar and very easy to achieve.

That was a topic in the Suggestions forum, which is what sparked my question here. I'm opposed to any vendor buying and selling the same item, as that puts really hard floors and ceilings on things. Why would you suggest a direct influence conversion? And what would you suggest that conversion be? I noted that due to the salvage seeding, rare salvage is capped at 1mm and floored at 5k (assuming you neither overpaid nor dumped). Would you think something like 5k is appropriate for the vendor to pay? It seems the free market on rare salvage splits the difference, and I suspect that the free market on merits would do the same.

Do you think that would be a good thing, bad thing? What sort of trading range would you expect to see? What other impacts (e.g., converter prices) would you expect to see?

Since you can buy merits now for 1mm a pop, let’s see what else to use as a benchmark. Devs have seeded rare salvage at 1mm. Where can you sell rare salvage at a guaranteed rate? 5k. That’s a big spread, but the fair market seems to split the difference. Maybe they should make merits directly tradeable on the AH? It’s an interesting thought experiment as to where the clearing rate would be.

Ha! I had the exact same thought process, and ended up picking stalker for the same reasons. My feel for Praetoria is that it's a lot less cartoony than either Hero or Villain, so I wanted to pick something that also felt more "real", power-wise. I ended up going with a Savage Melee/Electric Armor stalker named Nervous Breakdown, with powers that stem from, well, his name. I only got him to level 5 before parking him for other projects, but this reminds me to dust him off. Good luck!

The best are when Crey tanks suddenly cast speed boost on themselves and run to the next zone.

I'm not sure I see the problem. If your friend wants to spend her merits on whatever she wants, what's the problem? That she's not getting "fair value" that she would get if she figured out the single most profitable item, converted to that, then sold it, then used the proceeds to buy whatever it was that she wanted to spend merits on in the first place? I'm a huge net user of converters, but I would rather see them removed entirely from the merit vendor than for them to be seeded in the AH. There are so very many ways to make inf in this game, the least of which is just playing it however she wants to play it. If she needs inf, have her send me a PM and I'll send her whatever she needs.

I've leveled Staff/Bio to 50 on scrapper, tank, and stalker; and to 40 on brute. All my builds basically play in Body/Offensive, and look to maximize melee defense, recharge, and s/l resistance in that order. My observations are that based on normal play (scaling up to +4/x8 by 50), things are about as expected with tanker, brute, scrapper in terms of survivability (decreasing) and damage output (increasing). The scrapper is the weakest one of the bunch, as its damage output hasn't made up for the lower resists. The tanker was a pleasant surprise, and thanks in part to ATOs has great resistance without even trying, but has the hardest time with AVs in terms of damage output. My stalker, however, I consider to be the shining star. Damage output is so great versus mobs that surviving isn't really even in question, since in this case the best defense truly is a strong offense. I attribute part of this to the power of a very strong single target chain as well as a strong AoE chain. I haven't run them against pylons, so this is anecdotal and entirely my opinion.

I’ve got a Staff/Regen brute in his mid 40s. A few comments: You’ll need to be careful with this combo. Long animation times with a clicky defensive set means sometimes you will buy the farm mid-spin before you can heal. You’ll learn when you need to preemptively heal. I went with melee defense (don’t have the build in front of me, but at or near soft cap). Lots of Obliteration and Kinetic Combat sets. This was a low budget build. Regen benefits a lot from recharge. There are three staff powers that will slot a knock back recharge proc: EotS, SR, SS. I’d try to fit one into each of them and it may help. I think I went with frankenslotting DP, IH, and reconstruction for heal/recharge. I don’t get a lot out of Heal IO set bonuses. It’s a fun build! Enjoy!

I’m definitely in the minority, but I’m not a big fan of incarnate powers. One reason is balance — I think they make the game way too easy. Another reason that’s a lot harder to support is thematic — there are just too many “god-level” heroes running around Rhode Island. That opinion being expressed, some additional thoughts: Alpha is a cool concept. Wouldn’t mind seeing additional alpha abilities added. Destiny is way overpowered. Lore is ok, but if I wanted pets, I’d run a pet class. Seems unbalanced by faction. Would love to see some generic hero supports that aren’t enemy factions but that would probably be a lot of work. Judgement is misspelled. That always bugs me. Also, if I wanted ranged AoE, I’d play a ranged AoE class. Hybrid might be overpowered, but I forget about it all the time. Interface seems fine. Generally, when I level to 50, I run the Mender Arc to unlock Alpha. Run lvl 50 content (including DA arcs for incarnate salvage) until I’m at Alpha Tier 3 or 4. Then I usually shelve the character and work on something else.

Sounds a lot like Old Man Winters who I had on Live, except I went with war mace and the shillelagh.

I think this was something I was working towards, but I got distracted: Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7 https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer Mister Binx: Level 50 Science Tanker Primary Power Set: Bio Armor Secondary Power Set: Staff Fighting Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Leaping Hero Profile: ------------ Level 1: Hardened Carapace (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) (43) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (43) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (43) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (45) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (46) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime Level 1: Mercurial Blow (A) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff Level 2: Precise Strike (A) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Damage/RechargeTime (3) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (9) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (42) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (42) Superior Gauntleted Fist - RechargeTime/+Absorb Level 4: Guarded Spin (A) Obliteration - Damage (5) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge (5) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge (7) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (7) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (9) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage Level 6: Adaptation Level 8: Inexhaustible (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod Level 10: Environmental Modification (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed (11) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (11) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge Level 12: Evolving Armor (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (13) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (13) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (37) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP Level 14: Ablative Carapace (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal (15) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance (15) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime (34) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime (34) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance (34) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb Level 16: Eye of the Storm (A) Armageddon - Damage (17) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge (17) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (23) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge (27) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance (33) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge Level 18: DNA Siphon (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Accuracy/Recharge (19) Touch of the Nictus - Chance for Negative Energy Damage (19) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage (21) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage (21) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage (23) Fury of the Gladiator - Chance for Res Debuff Level 20: Staff Mastery Level 22: Kick (A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge Level 24: Tough (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (25) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (25) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (27) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime Level 26: Weave (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (50) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge Level 28: Serpent's Reach (A) Apocalypse - Damage (29) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge (29) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (31) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Recharge (31) Apocalypse - Damage/Endurance (31) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge Level 30: Taunt (A) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage Level 32: Parasitic Aura (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime (33) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Recharge (33) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge Level 35: Innocuous Strikes (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage (36) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance (36) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (36) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (37) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (37) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown Level 38: Sky Splitter (A) Hecatomb - Damage (39) Hecatomb - Damage/Recharge (39) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (39) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Recharge (40) Hecatomb - Damage/Endurance (40) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge Level 41: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO (42) Recharge Reduction IO Level 44: Combat Jumping (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed (45) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) (45) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage Level 47: Genetic Contamination (A) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage (48) Superior Might of the Tanker - Damage/Recharge (48) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (48) Superior Might of the Tanker - Damage/Endurance/Recharge (50) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (50) Superior Might of the Tanker - Recharge/Chance for +Res(All) Level 49: Super Jump (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%) Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty Level 1: Gauntlet Level 1: Prestige Power Dash (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Slide (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Quick (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Rush (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Surge (A) Empty Level 1: Sprint (A) Empty Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) Empty Level 2: Health (A) Miracle - +Recovery Level 2: Hurdle (A) Empty Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End Level 1: Combo Level 1 Level 1: Combo Level 2 Level 1: Combo Level 3 Level 6: Defensive Adaptation Level 6: Efficient Adaptation Level 6: Offensive Adaptation Level 20: Form of the Body Level 20: Form of the Mind Level 20: Form of the Soul ------------ | Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1549;707;1414;HEX;| |78DA6594594F135114C7EF4C07CB5204CAD24241CA5AB60EADFAE01A2282264A234| |94D7C9C4CEA1426D6964CFB808F26E2F26A4C7C71FD027E07BF84EB071054F67D73| |3C9DF3A799A493B4BF73FFF7DC7B96B97712F313BE4F371F8F09C9773DA3E7F3DA5| |D3DFBC0B0BCC99469645386A0A72661E60B86151E37B3F35E1A87D9459B30D24636| |6FA8E3664EBB63CDE85933A55DB31EE6AC101C1246C630D464414FA7B51BE6CC6CC| |1CCCE88DAE95C2EA39E0CAB9D5172CE30EEFB1C73CAD0E748F7B357CE4A195A2EAD| |DD333319FFE49C99522775AB30AB25F462468F82948D4ABF8D1EFA938AB9DA15E2A| |C4788B8228602247410B730DE668EEC32A37BCCD52E81C716E2B32C44A322D6BAB0| |1DED273D511C3F79017CCAAC7CC61C7C0EBE60AED35A0FD67A0E6547538EC063E6A| |97FA0CDAC149CCB36D551C175D89B647BD916DE97ECB7455A156B9EAA66C9D1AA9B| |C07A66A4817940BE35F0AD410F7CE8810F3DE8DD67EE936F2D72AE5D64EDF412F89| |BD9F507FC0B2E3337A9DE3AF4BEEE02E7597F11BCC46CB9CC6CBBC20C2F300F296E| |03E236BC62CD1FE47DFD2BB2F3FE9AD09BA6ABD86B8CC75B14B711BD92E95836A35| |7CDD8DB435A00F507507F10F507517F1BCE8042BEADF06D455FA3E86B147D8DA3AF| |7B1437847A43231CAB3D0AAACC33A3600C444E1BB4B60367AD23CFDA31F5A09335B| |9133D0E27395638C1DCA775DDE853F71B3E673D6FC177E07B66EF07F023F380D6F6| |21DFBE7E8ED91F0107C04166640844BEDDD497018E2B0D0C0B3EE7600BCD0DF3BEF| |2307A36721B776C937944B5A988AD7E616DF42BF80DFCCE8CFF007F3203B47F0CBD| |8A85586B575C77D5A6470C2AA59B6F0F95CDC6CA94789972AE4C395FA64C9529D34| |AE90B212447A9AA2FDD7B7BB99A6625F7ECAA5BB9454644112B655E6B6EE535BF83| |5F2DA5D8F6A2CB5E72D9BBC5EF06EC1D97BDE7FA9E6CBBEECB4ED13E59EBB2FF034| |1E91794| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

I have two alts that deal in the PvPs, but I only log in with them once every week or two. But I generally book a billion or so each time I log in.

As soon as you can afford them.

My Beasts has no personal Attacks. You’re telling me it gets better?

Actually, I just cannot stand the aesthetics of redside. Especially the Arachnos bases. Hurts my eyes. Red and black do not make a good experience for me, but YMMV!

You cannot self deal. If you are offering an item at a price and bidding on the same item ON THE SAME CHARACTER at a lower price, all is good. If you are offering an item at a price and bidding on the same item ON THE SAME CHARACTER at a higher price, you will not sell your item until someone else comes in with a higher bid than yours. It's an effective way to lock down a market. Generally, you are better off using two characters for something like this.

Repeat error

My rule of thumb is that if I can get any rare IO that cost me less than 500k to produce or buy, I can expect on average to net 3-5x that after taxes. It's difficult to spend more than a few converters at "rare" without ending up with something worth over 4mm.

Maybe it's a tanker thing v. a brute, but pre-combos, I spend what feels like hours but is only minutes hitting trolls (or missing them, even worse!) for a few points of damage. I'm sure she'll get better.

But do you pronounce it "neesh" or "nitch"?

I'm a terrible MM player. I have a Beast/Traps, Merc/Time, Necro/Traps, and Necro/Kinetics and the Beast is head and shoulders above the rest of them.

I recently started a Fire/Dual Blades as part of a separate project. It’s just awful. I’m only at lvl 15 but it’s the worst combo I recall playing.

Minutes? But I can’t wait that long!