Mindrivet

THIS IS FAR FROM COMPLETE OR BALANCED This is more of at brainstorm! The minions would be as follows: Tier 1: Summon Soldier Ants - Default Attack: Bite - Deals damage and applies -Res on the target. Upgrade: Sting - Deals damage and applies -Recharge on the target as they are slowed by the venom. Final Upgrade: Pheremones - Each attack will put a stacking "increased damage taken" debuff on the target. Additionally, the Soldier Ants can use an AoE acid spray attack that applies -Res on the targets hit in a cone. Tier 2: Summon Praying Mantis Default Attack: Severing Pinch - Deals damage and causes bleeding to a single target. Upgrade: Sweeping Slash - Deals damage in a cone, while also inflicting bleeding. Final Upgrade: Diving Slash - The mantis takes flight to dive bomb the target location, upon landing all nearby enemies take damage and receive -Recharge as they are knocked off balance. Tier 3: Summon Spider Queen Default Attack: Spider Spit (ranged attack) - Deals damage and inflicts poison and a -Res debuff on the target. Default Attack: Hatch Eggs - the Spider Queen summons several pseudopets that engage the enemy dealing moderate damage. Upgrade: Web - applies an effect on enemies similar to the Web Grenade skill Final Upgrade: Broodmate - the Spider Queen summons a temporary pet, one of her many suitors. He will fight until time expires or he dies. This is just a very rough idea of a power set focusing on -Res, -Recharge, and summoning additional pets passively (some could be psuedopets). I feel like insects (and arachnids) are a classic mad scientist weapon, we need this. *I posted this because my friends encouraged me to, I was just musing to myself* Apologies if this is not where this goes, but I don't see any suggestion category.

Plant/Marine also sounds low-key like a mastermind and I play those too much so it works for me.

Thank you all, going with Plant Marine it sounds pretty fun

Fascinating, thanks for the suggestion

The toggle damage is mud pots from Earth? It looked minor to me initially

Not particularly as the goal would be to use the taunt to cluster them up and destroy them.

Marine does notable damage? Interesting. Or is it just boosting the plant abilities mainly?

Lads, its in the title. Let us brainstorm some good secondary AoE powers for Controller (ideally) or Dominator (will do as well). Having a taunting pet sounds amazing and I want to make use of it with some powerful AoE! Incarnates and such are allowed in the brainstorm but note I have never hit level 50 so don't expect me to know anything about that part of builds. Storm seems nice for Lightning Storm as always, but what are some less obvious answers? Or obvious ones I didn't think about lol

I appreciate the thought you all put into this.

I designed two characters to use these powersets but haven't really "used" them yet as I am not sure how they will fare. Ice seems like a no brainer but it does have significantly less -recharge on most attacks over psionics, perhaps I am undervaluing those -10% and -20% speed changes ice attacks give. I do fear that it will end up being less damage than most sets and without the CC to make it worth it. Arsenal seems great but I worry about the lack of AoE. I have an Assault Rifle blaster that I love of course, but he has access to the grenade, flamethrower, and full auto. Arsenal gets none of these. Perhaps I understimate how AoE doesn't matter for illusion because of mind control and PA? Also, where is the synergy in this combo? I feel the rifle doesn't bring anything that illusion lacks other than some -Def and moderate damage. I have never taken an illusion dom to 50 for reference. Its pretty new other than some pet projects I poked around with. I would love to be wrong about these two! Just newbie eyes at a very complex game.

Behold, Ophiocordyeceps the zombie fungus mastermind. Thought you might appreciate.

Good to know but what about +4/8 or group content?

Normally I run mercenaries but honestly I am really tired of Serum and managing that. Plus, they don't have much "pizzazz" with their attacks. So here I am branching out... I want to be able to solo AVs or +4/8 relatively easily. With the AI changes and enemies running around like crazy its less appealing to do bots but Entangling Aura might solve that from nature. I don't know of course which is why I am here. Can an expert give me a run down on how each of these performs solo AND how they perform in groups? Merc was great for groups with abundant AoE and I did enjoy that. What experience can I expect in all aspects of the game with these three combined with Nature?

That is awesome. I am playing the Bloodtide Corsair, similar theme. Marine abilities are blood red.

I appreciate that. I didn't realize +Def was terribly important for mercs, they have pretty good resist after all. Learning experience.