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tidge

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Posts posted by tidge

  1. 2 hours ago, Crimsonpyre said:

    In hind sight the early game was much harder (which might not have been such a bad thing), getting to 50 was the main goal.

    /umactually

     

    I don't know if it was the *main goal*, but you could only get to lvl 40 in the earliest game.

    • Like 2
  2. On 12/7/2019 at 7:45 AM, Outrider_01 said:

    Yeah yeah, Group Fly is a griefing tool

     

    1. Pull head out of butt

    2. Move said butt to Pocket D

    3. Look for a bird on a truck, villian side just off the dance floor. Name is Null the Gull

    4. ???

    5.  PROFIT!!!  Disable team travel powers.  Yes, you have to do it for each of your toons, but there is no option for the guy with the Group Fly to limit to homself and pets.  No option for a MM power as well. 

     

    But hell, it is really his fault you can't show initiative to solve your migraine of a problem with his power choice.  Not like I can disable 90% of the costumes that are ugly or rip off characters.

    /agree x10.

     

    If you are a player that feels that Group Fly is griefing, go to Null the Gull and make your choices. I've been surprised to see non-MMS take it, but it does offer a pretty fast flight with an excellent amount of control so I can see some appeal for non-MMs.

     

    20 hours ago, Gulbasaur said:

    Provoke is that taunt I took at 50 on my widow that allows me to tank somewhat efficiently and I think the latter powers are pretty decent. The widow alternative is single-target and ain't nobody got time for that. The 5-target taunt is a teammate-saver and I use it all the time of my fortunata. 

    /echo. I have Provoke as the choice of taunt on one of my Night Widow's 'shallow in the Presence pool' builds for the exact reason that it is multi-target option. The Fortunata certainly could use it for the same reason, but she made a different choice:

     

    I've also chosen Pacify (on the 'deep into Presence pool' Fortunata build that has plenty of other means of grabbing aggro), and I will admit that this entry power into the Presence pool is of limited use. If only it would allow Widows to get 'Hidden' status! That being written, there are a couple of situations when I find myself using it:

     

    1) Boss+ fights. The Fortunata build with Pacify is short of perma Mind Link, and Pacify keeps the biggest thing from attacking until I can re-fire Mind link (or whatever else).

     

    2) At low levels because that Fortunata build is going deep into the Presence pool, Pacify is chosen at lvl 14. That build doesn't pick up it's 5th dedicated 'attack' until level 32, so Pacify is used as one more means of slowing down incoming attacks from large enemy groups, if necessary. Often it is not necessary, but I've found it being used against groups like Freakshow which have the chance to self-rez, as the self-rez can really break up the flow of solo combat.

    • Like 1
  3. I will also chime in that the early days of the game (at low levels) were frustrating, the two biggest things I recall:

     

    1) The general slowness of attack chains. This was primarily due to having to burn power choices to get to Stamina, but also because...

     

    2) Delay of a travel power (requiring another 2 power picks) until level 14, which got in the way of picking attack powers.

     

    I remember first getting the Sands of Mu (and at higher levels, a Nemesis Staff) as temporary powers (as mission rewards) and all of a sudden it felt like my character was actually taking the fight to the villains!

     

    I remember doing a LOT of street sweeping because just getting between contacts (and their missions) was extremely tedious. I recently recreated this feel via Ouroboros by turning off travel powers, temp powers, etc. during a low level flashback mission...ee gads what an experience!

  4. 19 hours ago, tafilr said:

    The challenge with answering your question is it's subjective - that is, someone's opinion.  If I say the entire power pool of Presence sucks donkey balls, someone will come around and provide some obscure situational reply to refute.  And maybe they'd be right and I would be wrong.  Or vice-versa. 

    Hold my beer.

     

    I have a couple builds that go wide and deep into the Presence pool and another that is narrow.

     

    The narrow build is simply to get to Unrelenting for the self heal. On high Recharge builds I have found that Unrelenting is available more often than I want a green inspiration. The Preventative Maintenance IO set is a good fit here. I've been a fan of the Medicine pool but Presence is a better 3-power path to a self-heal IMO. YMMV

     

    The deep build includes both Intimidate and Invoke Panic 5-slotted on the way to

    6-slotted Unrelenting. I appreciate the extra control these provide at low levels, and in Mayhem missions both can be used to destroy objects! At higher levels (and larger team sizes) the single-target is less useful, but as a follow-up to the AoE you can get the magnitude needed for bosses.

     

    The two initial choices are very situational, but neither is completely useless and both are fine candidates for single-slotting.

     

    The most truly useless power in the Homecoming configuration is Long Range Teleport. There are so many better options for getting to the zones accessible to LRT that there is no need to waste a power pick on it.

  5. On 11/29/2019 at 12:47 PM, Hedgefund said:

    To really get to the nitty gritty - no regular IO costs 20M, so don't catalyze them.  Sell your crafted IO and purchase it again as attuned.

     

    Note - that's the rational play.  I have to confess that I've got more catalysts than I will ever use so from time to time, I'm irrational to save some time and effort.  Also note I'm using the term "rational" in the context of investments, not psychology so I'm not saying anyone not adhering to this is an irrational person.

    I have to agree. Once you have so many catalysts it actually seems to me like a waste to not use them.

  6. On 11/29/2019 at 1:48 PM, Frunobulax said:

    Do not ever use Catalysts on anything but ATO's

     

    If you want an attuned (what people are calling catalyzed in this thread) IO, simply buy one from the AH.

    The second statement is very good advice; the first is subjective.

     

    You can always sell crafted non-attuned IOs and try to buy back the same IO at the same price, and you may only be out the 'vig'. The vig should be less than the roughly 2.5M inf you might make by selling a catalyst. However: that (approximately current) selling price for catalysts is actually depressed compared to other things that can be made from merits(*) so it isn't irrational to use an accumulated pile of catalysts to convert crafted IOs that are normally farm more than the sales price of the same IO as attuned.

     

    (*)There are many different opinions on what to do with accumulated merits. If you affiliate with one of the schools of thought that you should just convert merits into Enhancement Converters, it shouldn't be hard to convince you that the (current) market for Catalysts seriously undervalues them, and not just because of the auto-attuning.

  7. On 11/26/2019 at 6:31 PM, Myrmidon said:

    Procs

    Numina, Miracle, Panacea - All of those of in health as early as they can be slotted.

    Here is a slightly different take on the (commonly given) advice above: I have quite a few characters that don't run into serious Endurance problems, and so the Panacea proc is more than enough for them, even allow them to run with Sprint on at all times. This is dependent on attack chains and toggles, but if the character has other set bonuses and +End accolades extra Recovery may not be necessary. I will grant that I almost always have 2 slots in Stamina for the Performance Shifter +End proc and another Endurance IO. (I like the movement bonus from 2-pieces of Performance Shifter, but with so many 'rescue' missions I'm seriously considering avoiding all +Movement bonuses).

     

    Similarly for +Regeneration, for characters with sufficient Defense (or lots of HP) I find I don't always need more Regeneration.

     

    On characters with a healing power, I include the Preventative Medicine +Absorb proc there. I agree with the wisdom that PM ought to be slotted either 1-slot (the proc) or 6-slot (for recharge bonus), but depending on the actual power (and build) a second slot to get more Heal and/or Recharge may be worthwhile.

     

    Since this post has been heavy on the healing, here is my general approach to healing at level 50 (and beyond). At endgame I try to have some mechanism by which I can either heal a significant chunk of my health bar, or I have some mechanism such that health can regenerate at such a rate that I don't worry about taking damage. My current favorite approach to the former has been to use the Presence pool to 6-slot Unrelenting (with Preventative Medicine). This isn't a pure heal, but on Defense based builds (which also have the Reactive Defenses Scaling Damage Resistance proc) this works really well. With enough +Recharge it's ready every 3 minutes or so.

     

    • Like 1
  8. 9 hours ago, DougGraves said:

    I have a crab.  I am allowing him to level up to 50, but I mostly play lvl 10-30 content. 

     

    I know when you exemplar down your enhancements get less effective.  Is that based on my level or the enhancement level?  Do I want max level enhancements, or should I slot level 25 enhancements?

    You only want 'max level' enhancements for 'generic' IOs, and once you hit 50: (some) Purple and PVP(*1) IOs. For almost everything else(*2) you should consider having the catalysed version of a set IO.

     

    If you are going to exemplar, generally you want catalysed versions of IO sets. Note that Purple sets 'automatically' exemplar. 'Generic' IOs and PVP IOs will 'auto' exemplar up to the level of the IO. IIRC These should work as low as lvl 7. The 'set' IOs really ought to be catalysed, but they will have lower limits (below which they will not work) and often an upper limit (beyond which the bonuses will not grow).

     

    (*1) I always catalyze PVP IOs when leveling up,  because I spend a lot of time with a character before it gets to level 50. This lets me slot it ASAP. If I want 'more' from a PVP set at level 50, I will just unslot the catalysed version (for use by another alt) and get a fresh lvl 50 version (to boost).

     

    (*2) For non-PVP pure 'proc' IOs, the minimum level is adequate.

     

  9. I find it difficult to give up on 6-slotted Thunderstrike even with the means to opt for far pricier pieces, especially if the attack isn't cut out for procs. I'm always surprised and grateful how cheap that set is.

    • Like 4
  10. I will second Blessing of the Zephyr as a set.
    The (Superior) Winter sets usually offer hefty Defense for 5 and 6 slotting.
    Mocking Beratement is a good choice when seeking Defense improvements (and should be cheap).

     

    I admit that I am disappointed that the Tanker archetype IOs don't yeild more Defense than they do.

     

  11. I haven't farmed a Mayhem Mission but it doesn't take that much effort to collect 25 Hero pelts to be able to use the Port Oakes contact to redo missions. I think the named Hero's from Tip missions also count, as it feels like my most recent Villain got the badge without much extra effort.

    • Like 3
  12. On 11/10/2019 at 9:49 PM, Mister Mass said:

    Apparently the lobby room with the mission door is located underground from the ground level of the building.  Weird.

    IIRC the 'stores'  are (generally) located below the lowest 'floors' of zone maps. It would make sense that lobbies and such follow that design.

     

    I haven't tried this since Live, but it used to be possible to TP Foe Mobs into certain stores because the range wasn't so great.

     

    I don't know if anyone has looked into the map assets. I think the Skyway City 'hole' was fixed on Live (falling, falling, falling) but I wonder if the Red Zones ever got touched up. From memory: Port Oakes buildings used to extend deep below the ground (wasting graphical resources). I know there is still a minor non-intersecting element on the North Shore of CapAu.

    • Thanks 2
  13. MM:

     

    Triage Beacon is skippable, but I respec into it at 50 for 0x8 content. It is for the pets, not for players.

     

    I get a lot of mileage out of Caltrops and Acid Mortar. The Mortar (and FFG) grabs aggro. Caltrops keeps MOB in the area I want.

     

    The power I hate is Web Grenade. It isn't worth slotting. I hate having to take it at lvl 1. It doesn't stick the 'crazy runners'.

     

    I like Seeker Drones, but it is hard to see what they do. I always skip the Trip Mine.

  14. On 11/5/2019 at 2:29 PM, Replacement said:

    Just curious about what the community thought.

     

    I don't mean specific sets - I more mean do any particular ATs suffer greatly by skipping Epics entirely?

    My MM certainly could have skipped an Epic Pool but the extra shield and ranged attack from Mace Mastery was a better fit for making him slightly more 'Tankery'

     

    My Controller opted for all five powers from the Soul Mastery set. She'd be pretty dull at higher levels without those powers.

     

    My Tank certainly appreciate the Ranged attack from the Epic pool, but he didn't really need much else.

  15. Blueside: I find myself missing (because of outlevelling) certain zones. The 'central' candidates are Skyway and Founders Falls. I will go out of my way to get the Store missions from both Brickstown and FF before I outlevel them. The next generation zones like the Hollows, Faultine, Striga, Croatia are all fun, but easy to miss. I will admit that I don't like the Talos Island map: I hate having to zoom in to see the center, and I hate when missions end up in the far flung corners.

     

    The only Hazard zone I avoid is Boomtown. The inherent mess of the zone just isn't for me. The only reason I go there willingly without a mission is by wandering either one of the Sewer Networks.

     

    I like Bloody Bay the most of the PVPzones. Each has a different flavor but that's the one I like best.

     

    Redside: I prefer the designs here, although I try to get out of Mercy ASAP.  I seem to outlevel Nerva without trying.

     

    Gold-side: I love seeing stars at night! If not for Gold arcs I would never have visited the underground outside of instanced missions. The Wards are best experienced by doing all the arcs, but it isn't for every toon.

     

    The Shadow Shard is a place where I have played a bit...but it is dull.

  16. Until a toon gets ToHit/ACC buffs, the Circle of Thorns are very frustrating. After that (and Knockdown) is overcome, they are mostly chumps... Except when hiding their 8 objectives.

     

    I don't mind the villains that phase/MoG/shield nearly as much as I do those that simply flee for the hills at Mach 6: Slag Golems, WarWolves, and CoT Spectres. With enough Perception you can at least track down the Spectres... But those others don't suffer speed suppression like PCs.

     

    The only villain group I actively avoid are Nemesis, because of the Snipers/Comets. For me it is the combination of spotting/sniping from across the map with the AoE damage. In concept I like the challenge (especially for squishies and MMs) but in practice it makes me run through missions faster than I like. I suppose we never got long range spotters that charge in for Melee because it would make farming too easy (a la old school DE swarms).

     

    I enjoy Carnie missions a lot. I like that their different classes have both different looks and different powersets.

  17. I'm happy for those who find a use for the crafting discount coupons. I actually stoped using them because the most I could save (lvl 50 Purples) is only about 200k.  This is a lot of Inf for a toon that is starting out, but it is negligible for anyone selling IOs on the market. I suppose I could consider that Inf to spend on Envenomed Daggers...

     

    My experience has been that the more I craft, the less I need the discount. These specific rewards are among the ones I thought would be the most valuable but in the Homecoming economy are among the least valuable.

  18. On 10/25/2019 at 7:53 PM, Hedgefund said:

    If you think Serafina to be "easy" I tip my hat to you.

    I didn't think Scirocco was particularly easy, and I was surprised by the exterior parts of the ship mission. I didn't try to enter the ship until I had cleared the outdoors, and my first pass was scary (for a defense-oriented toon) as I was being attacked by all sorts of flying heroes as well as multiple gun turrets.

  19. On 10/20/2019 at 1:32 PM, Soulstinger said:

    I would love for all Hostages to be given stealth vision. They already rubber-band like mad and having them drop escort-status repeatedly is incredibly frustrating.

    Amen. I had some rubber-banding in a mission where I could not get the hostage to go through the elevators (this was the 'rescue the Protector' hero mission). I felt like I needed the equivalent of a /stuck command for the NPC... as a Mastermind, I certainly would appreciate such a command for my pets! Even Gravity's Singularity finds a way to get stuck in the darndest places!

     

    I'd also appreciate if the hostages were slightly quicker. It doesn't matter if I have an IO for speed in the Fitness pool, or a global boost to movement rate from IO sets, the inability for civilians to keep up (or for the player to decrease speed, without resorting to Walk) is PAINFUL.

  20. On 10/23/2019 at 5:45 PM, Lost Ninja said:

    I had the wedding band on Live with my DM/Regen scrapper, picked it up around i3/i4 and I think I still had it when the game shutdown

    I want to see the story arc that reveals Stephanie Peebles has been handing out wedding rings to so many players because she is building an army of spouses to do her bidding...

    • Haha 1
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