tidge

I don't have an unending stream of alts, and I only have a limited number of multi-builds... I write this because it means that I don't need that much Inf. As I play a lot of content that rewards Merits, I usually end up spending the merits on things like ATO or Winter pieces, Purple recipes, and converters or unslotters when I'm out of them (or forget to claim them from email). This isn't me trying to keep Inf out of the market, it is more like me not wanting to bother with the market (to get specific items) at certain times. There are certain things I buy with merits that I know I could get for less (inf, assuming I convert merits->converters and sell those) and I'll keep an eye on some of those... but mostly by using outstanding bids at the prices I've pre-judged to be worth my time and effort.

Any of these sorts of decisions are like half-full/half-empty discussions. There is no foolproof way to avoid potential problems, most instances of leagues (and teams on leagues) having issues are the leaders simply not paying attention, as well as an assumption that players aren't going to grief others (even accidentally) by doing things like making multiple level 50s suddenly lower level (by passing stars, being moved to a different team, whatever).

I just popped in to echo long-past sentiments about how annoying I find it when Microsoft rolls out OS based on calendars and motivated by sales pitches. I understand the business model, but I don't like it. My more recent annoyances with them are varied: I really don't like the UI for Windows 11. To me, it looks like a feeble attempt to an attempt to back off from the tablet/phone idea by about 10%. I've long been annoyed by the default permission structure and near-hidden (and very unclear) approach to the services and processes that run on Windows OS. I can't trust that the Windows team won't just cripple my machines because of the incredibly bad assumptions they make about the hardware being used. The recent flub with the hardware-specific updates for 11, and the not-long-ago 10 update that required more space in a partition than the W10 default come to mind. Seriously, how can they have deployed an update that required more space in a partition that windows sets up by default? I avoid Edge as much as possible. I wish it was possible to completely do without it. As far as underlying hardware goes: I was something of an early adopter of x64 OS... but if I'm being honest, except for some gaming choices (and a single math-intensive application) I think I'd be just fine with x32, assuming x32 apps. My experience with a wide variety of apps used in business, it is almost always the graphics handling (for web display of info) that ends up as the limiting factor.

Terra Volta as a zone has always bothered me... initially because of the internal geography and the sort of random nature of the enemy groups(*1) (even considering the first two respecs)... it just feels like whatever ideas to make it make sense were only considered at the 5% level. The history plaques make less sense to me than almost any other Hazard Zone. There is so little apparent connection between what appears in TV versus what appears in IP that I've always been bothered by it. (*1) Sky Raiders make some sense to me... but only if they are somehow leveraging manufacturing within the zone. I like them in Striga much more. Freaks/Lost/DE just feel like random "who'd appreciate a destroyed zone?" add-ins.

For my Inf, the biggest issue with Speed of Sound is that it does nothing for Jump Height. There are ways to mitigate this, but I find them to be very clumsy for my build preferences. There is simply too much vertical travel, even at smallish distances, such that I always end up regretting taking Speed of Sound as a travel power.

I've had more fun with a Shield Tanker, because of Shield Charge. SR becomes crazy good at surviving. Willpower is fine, but I prefer to use that on other ATs. I can see using it, but other Tanker primaries just do more IMO.

I know this came up in the original thread, so I'm not going to revisit that point here. I get that a point is trying to be made about potential inconsistency, but... Swift https://cod.uberguy.net/html/power.html?power=pool.fitness.quick&at=blaster only increases FlyingSpeed and RunningSpeed, it doesn't need to have reduced Endurance, so as a power it has no need to accept sets, unless someone specifically wants to mule a piece from a set... which you've explained that you want to do. Other sets that take such enhancement pieces have an endurance cost (and must be toggled on). Hurdle behaves the same as Swift. We are amazingly lucky that we can slot Invention sets in Health and Stamina... this is a sort of exploit, but because Green and Blue bars are so critical to game play, I'll read between the lines and write: This is the sort of loophole (to get +HP/+End, etc.) that the dev team is ok with. Maybe they'd be ok allowing more exploits in Swift and Hurdle, but the "prestige" toggles (and Sprint) also can't take Universal Travel sets... but I think it is unlikely. The entire inherent Fitness pool is a weird leftover, with Enhancement sets it is really useful, but the game never really should have such low ceilings on things like travel/green/blue in the first place.

I think this would be an example of the sort of enhancement piece that, if allowed in an inherent power, would devalue power picks. It's maybe not the *best* example of such a piece (see Stealth, KB protection) but it is in that category. Also: Swift doesn't grant flight, so that particular piece should probably just be slotted in an actual power that grants flight.

What pieces do you want to slot in them?

Ah, like the OG Deus Ex?

Being able to slot mules into Swift (and other inherent 'running' powers) would make it trivial to add pieces for KB protection and Slow Resistance (so, not counting Swift, this would be 6 additional free slots IIRC). I don't think the devs are likely to make it that easy (via inherent powers) for players to get such things for a one-time investment in an enhancement piece.

I'm struggling with "overalls"!

My macro/binds: /bind shift+lbutton "powexec_name Combat Teleport" /macro_image "StaffFighting_StaffMastery" "BAMF" "powexec_location target Combat Teleport" /macro_image "StaffFighting_AssassinsStaff" "BACK" "powexec_location Back:25 Combat Teleport" 25' back is usually "just right" for followup ranged cone attacks.

IIRC the only 'nerf' aimed at Brutes was the change to the damage cap (twice? once on Live, once on HC).

For non-armor set ATs, I often plan to 3-slot a travel power with Blessing of the Zephyr; it gives the +4 KB protection, enhances travel speeds and adds a smidge more positional defenses. Infiltration is a convenient power to leverage either Travel or Defense pieces.

Self quoting... I *did* revisit the VEATs, and I pretty much did this... up to the point where I felt like I needed the Mace to improve DPS, and then I just accepted that my character sometimes was clobbering enemies with a mace. What I enjoyed most about this approach is that there is a lot of potential for a gun-wielding character; this is manifest in the large number of enemy groups that use pow-pow guns; Longbow, Arachnos, Family, et al. The leadership and survival buffs available to Hunstman/Banes are excellent!

I find the Yin TF to be extremely variable because of the Freaks/Council that can rez/go untouchable. I've duo-ed it well under 10 minutes with a couple of Blasters, our key was to split up and nuke necessary enemies.

I crave more examples, just in case what's viable for you is also viable for me.

I definitely remember doing a LOT of street sweeping (in Brickstown, FF, and then PI) at certain points. I don't explicitly recall the changes to XP-granted, but I remember debt being a terrible obstacle. I still feel a twinge whenever I see the University in Funders Falls, as that was the area I had done sooo much street sweeping in! Larger spawn sizes was always one of the reasons to spend time in Hazard zones, assuming they wouldn't murder you.

I... guess? The map-herding via Unai was a thing in Issue 1. Kheldians were in Issue 3. To the point made by @Greycat... There wasn't that much of a reason to rush to level 50 in the early days of Live. The biggest motivator for me was the extra power picks and all those extra slots. We didn't even have the same considerations for Enhancements back then.

The *only* reason to rush to 50 was that HEATs got unlocked by having a level 50. Obviously this wasn't a thing *until* HEATs showed up. I'm still not entirely sure what the motivation to rush to level 50 is on Homecoming. I can sort of appreciate a player wanting to see what a full level-50 kit can do, but I've never really bought into the argument that goes like "I'm bored with pre-45 content... so instead I want to run level 45+ over-and-over-again."

Easy check: turn off all aura, do a Takeoff in a PVP zone against some critters and look for the TAUNTED!

Since Penny Yin TF was mentioned.... No matter the AT, when I solo it I do it at +0x1, and rarely engage more enemies mobiles than necessary. My (lvl 50) MMs don't take much longer than (lvl 50) Blasters/Scrappers/Stalkers/Tankers, but they do take longer. I've soloed it with other ATs, but those are the AT I'll choose for a quick 40 merits/Notice/etc. The main source of attributable variation among ATs is due to damage/resistance type mismatches, but the Yin TF has a combination of rez (Freaks) and transformations/untouchables (Council) that can add minutes to any run.

For Soldiers, I almost never take a Patron pool unless I am playing a Crabbermind (because of the final pet). Otherwise I find that the pre-Patron powers can do everything I want and demand all my slots. For the Widows, I usually take a Patron pool because the extra AoE powers tend to help with larger spawn sizes. Mu is the set I prefer, mostly because of the animations.