Ukase

So, the question is fairly straightforward. What's the best way to get reward merits. The answer is, sadly, like most things in game, "It depends". Best for a level 50 is not necessarily best for a level 12. But the real question is - what do you want merits for? What is it that these reward merits are going to get you that you want them? There is probably a better way to get what you want then to pursue reward merits. For me, a weekly tf with a speedy team is always preferable to a km TF. To each their own, of course. Following that, GM hunting is additive and profitable. Sometimes, you can get 10 or more Kronus in one session, which takes all of 10-15 minutes. Maybe it's longer, but I'm helping to kill, so it may be taking longer than it seems to in my brain. Time flies, and all that. Story arcs for Atlas, The Hollows, Faultline, Striga, Croatoa and RWZ, if you complete the arcs of that zone, you get a 20 reward merit bonus. (with Twinshot's arc being part of the Atlas requirement, this 20 reward merit bonus is probably not worth it.) The Noble Intentions arc by Dr. Stribbling that came in a couple of patches ago is super fast. Maybe 12-15 minutes once you know what you're doing. Certainly faster if you have the lrtp and mission transporters. And that gives 20 reward merits. Properly motivated, a level 1 character on it's journey to 50 can earn about 150 hero merits by the time it gets to 50+3, t-4 in all. Probably more. It just depends on what content you like to do, and how often you play that specific character. Oh, and it probably does matter the server you're on. Excelsior is easy to get merits. When I was on Indom, hami raids were an exercise in patience - of which I have very little. And you could get about 70 RMs killing GMs in fairly short order, every day, if you're on at the right time. I can't speak for the other servers.

Not at all. Ice Mistral's set is in the category of slow enhancements. I'm not sure what's confusing about what I stated.

I think it's not a bug, because it used to take slows (from what Troo posted). Someone decided it shouldn't for some reason. Now, if it said it took slows and didn't, (or vice-versa) that would be a bug for sure. Like @Glacier Peak, I would look to slot the Ice Mistral's % damage in there. Was very surprised I couldn't.

What I asked was that it be able to slot slow enhancements. Never said anything about a set.

I guess I'd call this a typo. Vigilante Tip Mission, "Dragon Embossed Journal" The objectives are to stop Crey Negotiators. There are no Crey negotiators. Just Sky Raiders and Banished Pantheon. So, perhaps adjust the "Stop Crey Negotiators" to "Stop Negotiators" or something like that. You actually have to defeat the Sky Raider and Banish Pantheon that are negotiating.

I've tried to capture it for a screen shot but I wasn't fast enough. I don't know what the range of a t-4 barrier is, but when you're in mini-mode, it looks super tall, and super narrow, compared to the standard sized characters. My character gets the buff regardless...but I'm wondering if I have to toggle off the mini-mode for the folks on the perimeter to cover them with the buff.

So, while working on an ice/ma blaster, it surprised me to discover that Freeze Ray doesn't accept Slow enhancements. I can't wrap my head around the fact I haven't noticed this in the countless hours I've played an ice blaster. But, I also can't wrap my head around the fact that freeze ray doesn't take slow sets. I guess, on the one hand, if you're held by a freeze ray, you're not moving, so you're pretty slow. But, on the other hand, for those npcs that resist holds, like AVs and such, that require a lot of mag, no slows for those scenarios. Probably wouldn't notice it anyway - but still, I think it should allow for slow enhancements.

Well, it's been unnerving, but the past few weeks, I've learned that I'm leaving a fair amount of dps on the table by focusing more on defense and overall survivability. In the back of my head, I knew that, but was okay with it because, as they say, a dead blaster does no damage. But having played roughly the same content with the same AT/powerset combo, only disregarding defense, and just aiming to use damage procs in 3 powers, I'm not seeing a lot more defeats, although, I don't think I'm seeing a lot more dps, either. So, this tool might help me see what my observation is missing. Thanks for the tip!

This part is for his teammates as well as the npcs.

I just use the Celerity:stealth and SS. I have never had any issues with aggro getting to trap door. How many bonus hate points do I get?

I think experience, in game, just like in real life, help things slow down so you can react, or even be proactive more seamlessly. I'm someone who wouldn't mind doing a 4*. I've done one. I was carried through with incans galore on my ice blaster - that I thought was built for it, it wasn't. The idea of not taking frigid protection was just lunacy to me. It didn't stop me from doing damage, but if I could go back in time, I'd have followed more of @loc's outline. It's just terribly hard to trust in a team - unless you know that team. This particular effort I was on, was a pug. Fortunately, they had their 6 core folks, and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. With the right powerset. And the ability to use discord. I think if I did these more, I'd enjoy them more. Heck, from what I hear, you folks knock these out faster than the standard lgtf. I have been playing my 2nd Fire/MC blaster, with a different approach. I've not given any thought to defense. Like none. I still took weave - but that was for the lotg mule. I worked fold space into it...which I'm trying to get used to. I'm tempted to take the procs out of inferno so it will recharge as fast as fold space. That seems like it would do more dps to me. But for now, it's proc'd. And the ridiculous thing - playing it with the same settings, it's been defeated twice. Once in Croatoa by one of those boss Tuatha's who did Seismic smash on me when I was already without greens, and before I got inner will. And the other time (aside from the 3 suicides in the abyss for HPT) was last night in the labyrinth, because I used burst of speed by accident at the wrong time. I don't know that I can abandon my tendency to build for defense. I know I would if I knew who I was going to be teaming with routinely, and they had the right combination of buffs. But until I get that, I think it would be fine either way. So, for me, like most things in this game, the answer is "It depends".

So, I know I can log the various chats that my character participates in. But what about the combat log? Sometimes, something happens in game, and I try to check the combat log, but there's so many things that damned panacea proc is doing, I can't ever scroll up high enough to find it sometimes. Is this possible?

After further review, this place needs a name. Or if it has one, I don't know it.

I thought I would post a follow up. It's just my opinion about MA in particular, at least with a blaster. Reaction time is one of the interesting sustains. I can certainly tell my movement is suppressed, and anecdotally, it's very strange that some mobs pay me no attention at all when my stealth radius is 65 feet and Reaction Time is on. And yet, other mobs do, despite being 65 feet. And I'm not talking about Rularuu seers, or certain longbow, or AVs. And I'm not talking about mobs in the labyrinth. But the cabal witches in Croatoa - some of them see me from time to time. Maybe they have leadership or something, and I'm just blissfully unaware, but I've no memory of them ever seeing any other of my blasters. I am in the habit of turning it off when I'm in zones or instances where mobs are higher than my blaster. Burst of Speed...I initially felt this was a no-brainer to proc. But the results are so inconsistent, I decided against it, thinking Inferno and blazing bolt would be better options for procs. I enjoyed this combo so much, that I made a 2nd fire/ma, Apache Fire. He should hit 50 sometime today. I've gone about building him based on some feedback about builds in general from folks in these forums that are clearly better players than I am. But...I dunno. Everything is in context of being on a team, and for solo play, I remain unconvinced that building for dps is the proper path for me. But for teams, most teams, anyway. And most leagues, the buffs are abundant enough where only rarely does the defense I have come into play. So, I set about just not worrying about numbers, but looking to proc 2-3 powers (which is about 1-2 powers more than I usually do. I like to have one heavy hitter when solo if the build will support it. The problem I ran into with blazing bolt is the lack of damage procs available. Stink of the Manticore, chance for toxic damage. Apocalypse: chance for negative damage And Glad Javelin:Chance for toxic damage. There aren't any other procs to slap in there that give additional damage. So, I thought about using some more stinky manticore to at least get some more ranged defense. But, instead, I used mids to determine how best to get more dps out of it. Everyone keeps mentioning diminishing returns, particularly once you try to slot more than 3 SOs. But - that's still a return. As it stands now, my blazing bolt should hit for 1013.8 if I try to keep the stats out of the red in mids, against a +3. But, if I ignore the redness, I can just go nuts and hit for 1080.9. Accuracy "should" be less of a concern with Combat Teleport. I'm still not convinced this power is worth anything. Positioning? Well...yeah, it has some utility, but on the whole, I've made over 300 characters without it. It doesn't make getting into position any easier or faster, although it might be more clever. And, since you need two of the tp powers to fold space, it probably does have more utility than tp target. But...maybe not. Opinions are going to vary, of course. Eagles Claw is great for procs. The problem is - there are certain npcs where it just doesn't pay to get in melee - like Eochai. That pumpkin patch is pretty rough. So, I haven't figured out how to move in, get the attack in, and move out, without flopping on the ground and taking more damage than I'd like. I'm sure it's possible, but I just haven't been able to get the movement down properly - it's just plain more simple to stand at a distance and blast. I have a similar mindset problem in the labyrinth. I know there are periods of time when you don't get sucked into the center. And I'd like to close in to melee. But my reflexes just aren't very good when trying to use macros and such. Maybe it just takes more practice - but I'm not sure it's really fun to have to practice. Fold Space - I swear, the words "literacy is a pre-requisite" should be splashed on my screen before each power selection when leveling up. I'm just now realizing that Fold Space is an AoE - from my location, not the npc I'm targeting. That explains some of the frustration I've felt with this power - a user error. I can now see a bit more clearly the utility of this when solo, now that I know the range limit. I checked, and it would seem an acc/range is slottable, but doesn't increase the 100 foot area. Sadly, that's consistent, so I shouldn't be surprised. (or if it does increase the area, Mids doesn't reflect this change.) Still, I think I like Fire/MA more than Fire/Fire. My next alt is going to have to be ice/MA. And, candidly, because of burst of speed, I don't know that combat teleport is that critical, because Burst of speed has a greater range, does the same things positionally, and does damage. And I have Aim for increased toHit that dwarfs the wonky to-hit from CT. Anyone have thoughts that might give me something else to think about with regards to MA, Combat Teleport, powers to proc, and Fold Space?

I don't know if you have them counted - but the HEATS have their own contact that provides arcs every 5 levels. Arguably the better reason to play a HEAT. And I think the VEATs have the same kind of set up. These arcs don't show up for non heat/veats in ouro.

If I look at the @apparition post, @Hedgefund makes note of the lack of corresponding rewards for your efforts.

Incarnate XP, I presume. I never noticed, so thanks for that.

My perspective about Fold Space, having used it on a few characters: It's just not that useful. It really isn't, except for cones, as it lines them up rather nicely. But other than that? I'm sure it saves some time. But not enough time to be really worth what you give up. If you like Combat Teleport - which so far for me is probably more useful on characters that don't have burst of speed, then you can position yourself in the midst of the mob, rather than position the mob in your midst. And frankly, super speed is just as good at doing this as CT, but you don't get the wonky tohit buff (that stacks, supposedly). Please bear in mind that I have only used this on a handful of characters and it's just my experience with it.

Okay, so, not many people think like me, I guess, and maybe I should have mentioned this somewhere. Don't talk with Captain Nolan. Like ever. You don't need to. Heather Townsend will speak to you without doing this little toggling off story. When you are ready to start, just go to Dark Astoria and talk to her and begin her arc. Go left from the SG base portal, take the next right, then take the next left, turn right and she's straight ahead. (and if I got that wrong, use the HC Wiki to get her location)

It's not lost on me that while playing this fire/ma blaster, using CT to close in for an Eagle's claw because burst of speed is recharging..that I should probably be playing a scrapper, or a brute. Then the defense/resist numbers the blaster would have to aim for would practically be inherent. Or, as mentioned above, a Sentinel.

I don't disagree with your take here. From my seat however, because I probably have slower reflexes than some of you who have been gaming on much more challenging games than I have, I need all the protection I can get from bad decisions and sometimes inaction, or slow action. And if I'm being really honest, I love it when there's a team wipe, and I'm still standing. Now, I could tell myself if I'd slotted for more dps and less survivability, I might have been able to clobber the npcs before they trashed my team. But I just don't think that's the case. I've seen what a single damage IO does. Not much! I just don't think there's a lot of difference between optimal and average. Maybe I'm wrong.

I can't articulate how much I relate to this. Some teams, particularly the speedy Aeons, I feel like I'm the one that hasn't optimized. And really, I haven't truly optimized. I've just tried to eke out enough defense and resistance to survive, with what I feel is a balance between chaos (dps) and order(survivability) And some teams, I wonder if they even have anything slotted.

Does it matter? I never used them. I mean, you could try and kick something ten times for that proc to fire, but candidly, I'm not using either of those lame attacks in my rotation. Mind you, I have tried them after they made the attacks with some synergy, but I still found them lackluster, even with some slotting.

So, I've got a Shield/mace tank. And it's certainly gone through the task forces. While I do have memories of gasping for endurance as you mentioned, perhaps you left sprint on? Or could the TF leader have snuck in some crazy challenge setting? And my other question would be - are you using the Panacea and Miracle IOs?

I'm sure you mean well, but there is no way I will ever play that game. There's nothing appealing to me.