tidge

In my case I get the boost 25% of the time, and I can keep it from triggering by activating other powers should e need to. The non-proc boost is active 50% of the time. I also don't stand in doorways not attacking. We've butt heads on this before, so I know there is no changing of minds on this point. 🙂

Dark has Aim. I have a Dark/Time, and use Chronos (at level 10) as The "Build Up", and added Aim late in the build (level 47) since I didn't really have any other options I felt would be as useful with only a single slot. This is a "concept character", so it ends up with a couple of attacks that I wouldn't normally recommend (Arcane Bolt, Repulsion Bomb) although they serve their purposes (to pick Run of Protection, and to hold a couple of set bonuses). Chronos is available about every 21 seconds if everything is clicking, with a 90% chance of triggering a 5 second extra Build Up (Gaussian's %proc), so it is on auto-fire. I have Aim to fill the gaps if I feel I want it and Chronos isn't in play. There is one peculiar slotting choice: I have the Kismet Accuracy (really ToHit) in Maneuvers. The power has to be toggled on to get the Kismet bonus, and I really only use this to add to the Snipe damage (from the +ToHit) during Fast Snipes (when Chronos hasn't already maxxed it out). I forget where I had that slot before (maybe in Health or Stamina? maybe in Mystic Flight for some extra Defense?) I don't doubt that this build could be taken in different directions, but I like where it is.

"It depends" is a good answer. The only places I look to include %procs on Blasters are: when the %damage is part of a set I want to use anyway if the 6-piece set bonus isn't really that great (compared to a 5-piece set bonus), I will add another %proc (but only to AoE and Snipes) if the power (typically secondary) has some secondary effect in addition to damage that suggests franken-slotting (e.g. Life Drain from /Time) I will also typically forgo any sort of set bonus for cone attacks, but this depends on what other bonuses you are getting from other powers. For example, with Dark/, I like to franken-slot the Umbral Torrent T2 attack to boost Range/Acc/Damage with 2 slots of HO and Overwhelming Force KD, and then add 3 %damage procs. Boosting the range of cones improves the number of potential targets, and more targets means more potential %proc damage. To be clear: I typically don't try to add %procs to single-target attacks because usually the set I've chosen to slot is providing enough recharge that it is seriously hurting the %proc chances in that power... and it is rare that I consider the chance of maybe doing some more damage (via a %proc) to a single target to be more valuable than investing that extra slot in some other power.

If you are using one of the builder programs: Forum Export. Your first stop should be the Marketplace forum, we can turn that 20 Minf into serious Inf in no time!

This is one of my least favorite aspect of the MM primaries: If I could ask for ANY other change, I'd like the upgrade primary powers to be able to also accept the IOs which contribute to henchmen/pet auras: defense/resistance/et al. I can make lemonade from the concept that there is practically nothing worth slotting in those powers, but I HATE having to sacrifice precious henchmen slots to cover the defensive issues that the henchmen have (especially the T1 and T2 henches). EDIT: I am also annoyed of course about the MM Endurance penalties, but I put this in the (shrug) category.

Reactive Defenses is the only Defense set that I go out of my way to 6-slot. I just cannot defend against the Endurance Discount and the +Recharge. The next closest defense set that I consider multi-sloting is Shield Wall (because of boosting), but that is usually 'broken' by adding LotG +Recharge pieces. I didn't open your specific build, so I don't know what you did with Build Up, but I see a lot of builds that appear to ignore this power. Personally, I always try to 6-Slot it with the Gaussian's set (for the set bonuses) , but I have a couple of very tight builds where the equivalent power choice only has the Gaussian's %proc and a common Recharge piece. Typically this is a long-recharge power which will always be at the 90% ceiling for trigger the %proc no matter how much Recharge you cram into it.

What are you hunting for? The posts above seem to make the assumption that it is strictly for XP (level appropriate). If you are hunting for defeat badges, there is some advice in the badges sub-forum. You can of course, combine both level-appropriate XP and "defeat X" badges, although the "defeat X" are easier if you circle back to them at a higher level. I will note however that there are some mechanisms to "circle back" and still get decent rewards at low (exemplared) level. For example, on the Blue side: It is possible to take Aaron Thiery's Atlas Park arc to collect defeats of the Wolfs and pop into Perez Park to fight Hellion Bosses at essentially the "correct" level for decent XP/Inf/drops.

The first SSA story "Who Will Die?" has a solo-player payoff, that depends on if you did the missions as a Hero or a Villain, so I don't really recommend concluding that one as a team. The first Chapter of "Who Will Die?" has a couple of somewhat annoying (short) timed components of missions that will frustrate team members not ready for them... which has made that first story the de facto "run it by myself, for myself" arc. I've run most of them with teams, I try to do this just to introduce other players to the content.

I really like this question, as I've been on a kick of playing low-level TFs with +4 (on 8-man PUGs). Without doing any math, for me the "breaking point" is usually when I see the AoE power that I was so proud of franken-slotting is missing more than half of the targets.

If no other class can slot Mastermind ATO, I don't know how the discussion about game-balance around IOs is relevant to that question. That is a question about Mastermind balance, and not enhancement sets. Full disclosure: if my Dominators could two-slot the Mastermind ATOs (in their pets) they absolutely would... but I don't think such a discussion is valid for whatever this thread is.

This is just my opinion, but I have always thought 4-slotting a defensive power with four LotG to be overkill: Accuracy Bonuses come along from other places (like Very Rare sets) Enhancement Diversification is a thing, such that the 'extra' Defense is usually quite diminished relative to using the slot somewhere else If there is some other benefit that you really want (lower Endurance cost, faster Recharge) then I suggest either Boosting the Shield Wall pieces, or franken-slotting (and using fewer slots) Obviously: builds for niche content may want/need those specific accuracy bonuses, but I think there are other ways to get Accuracy (or +ToHit)

No.

The MM henchmen is a completely different sort of balance issue separate than any effect of slotting. Just because there are IO pieces which can be slotted for henchmen's defenses doesn't make it relevant for this thread. Can we just lock this thread? Even before the MM discussion it wasn't much more than simply asking for harder mode.

Can you guys fit in the power picks for Group Fly as well?

I would vote "No" on a Thugs build for a first Mastermind... only because the different attack options (and the way they will behave) from the Thugs may be a little more chaotic than a new MM expects. I'd suggest a primary where all the henchmen/henchpets have all-range or all-close, and get used to ordering them around.

This is the Stalker forum, so the primaries don't offer Confront (or Taunt). I understand your choice for Parasitic Aura... but I feel like I've got better slotting choices in my /Bio than using Mocking Beratement (a set I like, BTW). I'd like to leverage Parasitic Aura more for the -Damage, but: The long recharge time of the power doesn't make it particularly viable (except to possibly "time" it against upcoming attacks from certain GMs and AVs) in most fights Stalkers should concentrate on murderizing enemies... and /Bio offers another PBAoE (DNA Siphon) that helps to that end more effectively The slots for a T9 have to come from somewhere, on my /Bio I have them in the earlier Primary attacks (plus things like Build Up and the Secondaries) YMMV, of course. I've enjoyed the discussion, because normally the point of discussion around Stalkers is whether or not to take Placate. 🙂 As I wrote: I have one stalker with Provoke, but my general opinion is that for non-Tanks and DPS-oriented builds that aren't Brutes trying to take aggro (apart from just doing damage) offers low return on the investment than simply attacking.

Two good pieces of advice not to be missed: I'm all about not overslotting Recharge and Regeneration on a level 50 build. Almost all level 50 builds should not have the Endurance issues characters often face when leveling. I don't play solo at +4x8, but I find that when I join a PUG that does, I find that inspirations, teamwork and strategy generally overcomes lack of defensive softcaps.

On my build (Spines/Bio), I only have 2 extra slots (beyond the initial slots that come with a power pick) at 38 and above. I've invested all of the other slots in earlier power picks. One of those two 38+ slots is in Hasten, my actual lvl 38 power pick. I could have Hasten earlier if I wanted, but this character has a concept that required Fly as a travel power, and even there I delayed that choice until lvl 14. I don't really miss Hasten at lower levels. This is just my opinion, but the tools that a /Bio Stalker needs to excel are all available at-and-before level 32. As far as aggro... I enjoy having/taking aggro on many of my characters... but waiting for a T9 secondary for a Taunt effect means (to me): I won't consider it a "core" part of the character, as it won't be available for most content By the time (in levels) I could have it, other PUGmates who actually specialize in Taunts had better have a better Taunt than my Stalker. I do have a /SR Stalker with Provoke (Presence pool) at level 20 with 6xMocking Beratement. That character's defenses are high enough (except for AoE) at low levels that I the Taunt can actually help by keeping aggro from other squishies (when other PUGmates don't have Taunts). If I didn't want Unrelenting for the /SR Stalker, I probably would have skipped Provoke, but to be honest I'm not sure what I'd do with that character's 3 extra power picks and 10 extra slots.

I only have /SR and /Bio Stalkers, but I can definitely see Invuln, Shield and EA being strong. I enjoy my /Bio slightly more than the /SR, but it is a "tighter" build (as was mentioned)... with the tradeoff that I don't sweat certain things (Recovery, Regeneration) and get some extra offense.

On my /Bio Stalker (primary is Spines), I found that DNA Siphon is a very nice, nasty PBAoE with this slotting. It is an effort to bump up its Accuracy (see also set bonus) while relying on Global Recharge to keep the %proc chances at the ceiling... and also not ignore that it is a key element of Survivability. By itself, it isn't much of a damage dealer, but with the %procs it is quite good at softening up large spawns. The following are simply offered as another player's alternate choices: I typically invest fewer slots in Defense powers than other players, and it is rare that I put extra slots in Health & Stamina when a primary or secondary offers Regeneration and/or Recovery options. I also don't solo ITF at +4x8. Level 28: DNA Siphon (A) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50 (39) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Healing: Level 50 (40) Touch of the Nictus - Chance for Negative Energy Damage: Level 50 (40) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage: Level 30 (40) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage: Level 50 (42) Scirocco's Dervish - Chance of Damage(Lethal): Level 50 I should note that my /Bio also has this slotting for Boundless Energy (slotting on Ablative Carapace is 6xPreventive Medicine) Level 4: Boundless Energy (A) Panacea - Heal/Endurance: Level 50 (11) Panacea - Hea/Recharge: Level 50 (13) Panacea - Heal/Endurance/Recharge: Level 50 (13) Panacea - Heal: Level 50 (15) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance: Level 50 (15) Endurance Modification IO: Level 50 So I only have this slotting in Health & Stamina: Level 2: Health (A) Miracle - +Recovery: Level 40 Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End: Level 50 While leveling up, I found myself using the Efficient Adaptation, but with the level 50 build I don't use it. I'd like to do more with Parasitic Aura than simply a single Recharge, but it comes too late (as a secondary T9) and has (IMO) mediocre slotting opportunities on top of the long inherent recharge.

You can always add a 6th slot for a common Range IO (boosted to 50+5). If you are running with Sprint on all the time, and constantly fighting, and already have the +End accolades, I suggest: Slotting Sprint with an End Reducer Slotting an alternate (prestige) Sprint with the Stealth piece (if you want it) I still feel like you are way past the point of diminishing returns of the Recovery slotting. Consider common IOs boosted to 50+5. One of my Bane builds also runs hot, but Cardiac took care of it completely at 45+. For lower level content I simply turn off toggles or cycle attacks at a slightly slower pace.

I agree that slotting Obliteration in Hot Feet (at level 8 ) doesn't strike me as a good thing. Perhaps it's there as some sort of compromise? IIRC it has a rather poor %proc rate. It does feel like this build is specifically chasing set bonuses from Obliteration, as it shows up in places I wouldn't expect it. I admit: On my concept Fire/Psi/Psi Dom, I have Hot Feet (also at level 8 ) but it is a power I don't really like that much... I often forget that I have it toggled off most of the time. It's only in my build as a place to slot a set bonus and because there wasn't a comparable power (at that level) I felt would help the build more. The only other comments I'll make on the Fire/---/--- build; There may be too much focus on +Recovery, YMMV. Blah blah blah Perma-Dom-Endurance-refill fishcakes. I have only the default slots in Health and Stamina. I grok the defense bonus from 6-slotting Fire Imps with Expedient Reinforcement, but I stop with 4-slots of Expedient Reinforcement and add the Soulbound Allegiance %BuildUp

I don't want much, as I'm pretty happy playing with the game as is, but since you are granting wishes: Can I please have some Enhancement sets which scale levels 10-50 (preferably Very Rare, but PVP would be accepted) for Fear and Taunt powers? With some specific suggestions: Fear: I'd like to have the set include a %proc similar to Contagious Confusion, so that single-target fears can have the possibility of hitting multiple targets. Single target fears are IMO, not particularly useful so adding such a %proc would increase their utility across more content. Folks that like AoE Fears can also get utility from such a piece. Taunt: While I like the set bonuses that come with Mocking Beratement, I feel like a Very Rare set that offers MOAR +HP, +Defenses and +Resists (not S/L) would offer MOAR synergy with the characters that choose to take Taunts and multi-slot them. Taunts can come at odd points in a build, some need accuracy, so a lvl 10-50 set would be appreciated. If these are too much to ask for... I'd be happy with the Fear request being filled.

If you are satisfied with your attacks, I suppose you could do worse than CT: Offensive. It looks like you could slip in a 5th LotG +recharge piece if you wanted by using a different pool power. There are some other things in your build that I'm not crazy about. I won't call for a pogrom, but I will mention: I think Hasten is taken too early in the build. If that's where it fits, I understand... it's just that I've found on almost all my builds that it is a net negative (burns too much Endurance) to have Hasten below a certain level, and that it isn't as important for low level content (where most available attacks already have short recharge times) I'm not crazy about the slotting of Stamina and Health. TLDR: My experience has been that if a build is really on the margins such that those choices for both Regeneration and Recovery are truly impactful, there is almost certainly something else I can do with the build to improve performance.

I didn't intend to start a red v. blue debate... decades ago I had a decent card from the company I will no longer buy from, and I was quite disappointed by my last experience. When I am replacing video cards, I rarely go close to the cutting edge... if I had spent more time searching user experiences (and not tech reviews) I could have saved myself a LOT of grief.