megaericzero

I dabbled in that a little. The human-focused options give a base damage bump to the human form; the nova-focused options give a base defense buff to the nova form; and the dwarf-focused options both give passive taunt auras as well as extra armor-esque passives that benefit both dwarf and human. All-in-all, though, I was too afraid to make every power just "this passively makes this form/power better." The other powers are also intended to trend towards making a "fuller" version of the forms, presuming human to be controller-esque, novas to be blasters with their epics CCs, and dwarves to be tankers with their epic debuffs. I tried to offset having more click powers to slot by making them usable in both human and shapeshifted forms (depending on which version of the ancillary you took) rather than having different versions for each.

Thanks for answering. A follow-up question: is it not a problem then that Vigilance's endurance discount is exclusively for having teammates - and scales to higher values faster with more - when larger teams are the same factor that makes it less likely to be relevant? Sure most other inherents get drowned out too but the other teammate-reliant ones add potency directly in combat attributes in most cases.

Are teams usually hurting for want of a Defender(s)'s endurance? Genuine question; I solo and don't play Defenders. Like mid-ish level range I guess because of the (lack of) end management options but at the extremes ...? (EDIT: Which is to say I would assume the answer is "no" because low levels just don't have enough things to drain their endurance unless you're clicking literally every power you have at that point and high levels have enough endurance management that they're firing off everything from cooldown without worrying about endurance, but that's why I ask.)

Update the nav with new objectives as they become relevant (or once all others are completed), especially in the case of missions that the wikis list with the "it doesn't say but this is secretly a defeat all" disclaimer. Even if it's as general as "further question mooks," "arrest remaining wrongdoers," or "leave no witnesses."

A power effect that unique could be the inherent for an archetype unto itself. So it doesn't step on Tankers' toes, maybe a single-target bodyguard to personally protect someone? Call it... like... Defender... Sentinel... Guardian?

I'm generally inclined to agree with you on any of these threads calling for a magic staff or spellcasting blasts to be a set instead of power customization. This eldritch blast, though, (assuming its visuals aren't spellcasting circles by default or some other shenanigans) seems no worse than Dark Blast already is. DB mentions several times in its power descriptions that you are connecting to the Netherworld and using its power for your attacks. For instance, Tenebrous Tentacles: "You can create a cone shaped rift to the Netherworld that allows its native creatures to slip their oily tentacles into our reality. These creatures will snare all foes within range, Immobilizing them while the tentacles drain their life and reduce their chance to hit." Still not as neutral-sounding as Chaotic Blast or other names that were suggesting in response to Cedd's other threads/posts but neutral enough compared to Magic or Sorcery, I think, given DB has existed since launch.

Non-epic-archetype primary/secondary sets generally only have 9 powers; additional ones are usually sub-powers of something else (eg: Swap Ammo). This one seems fine, thematically, if only because visuals are not listed. Other than the tier 1 power stating "moderate magic damage", the set as a whole could be drawing on eldritch energy through tech like Doom 2016, or mutation. The bigger question is: what does this bring to the table besides being Dark Blast 2.0?

Some more icon replacements: This one changes the Staff Mastery toggles' icons (Form of the Body/Mind/Soul) to the standard "damage buff", "recharge buff," and "recovery buff" (since there is no "endurance discount") symbols. It also color-codes them red for damage, violet-ish for recharge, and blue for endurance. The pack includes their 1-2-3 stack icons, with chunky text that has the same color-coding. staff-form-icons.zip Similarly, this pack replaces Bio Armor's Adaptations with the normal "defense buff", "recovery buff", and "damage buff" icons with similar color-coding to Staff Mastery's icons. I wouldn't normally color powers' symbols differently from the rest of their set but I think the mutual exclusivity and special, integrated nature of these toggles (as well as Dual Pistols' Swap Ammo) merit a sparing exception. bio-armor-adaptation-icons.zip Since Fiery Embrace adds fire damage to attacks, I've appropriated Dual Pistols' Incendiary Ammo icon as an "adds fire" icon. And since Fiery Assault's Embrace of Fire used to be the same power, I've included a replacement for it as well, though its effects aren't actually the same. fiery-embrace-incendiary-icon.zip Just as well, this will give the Envenomed Blades power in Martial Assault the Chemical Ammunition icon from Dual Pistols. The gold icon should replace the actual power that goes into your tray. I saw in the files that there's one with a green droplet but I don't have a Martial Assault Dominator so, being unsure of when/why that is used, I've included a green-tinted version of the biohazard symbol for it. envenomed-blades-toxic.zip This one changes the Assassin's Focus icon to have the inherent palette and the "buff" arch overlaid (underlaid?) on the Assassin's Strike symbol. assassin-focus-strike-icon.zip And for anyone who photoshops their own icons, here's rips of the "ammo", "incendiary", "cryo", "chemical", and "poison/blood" symbols. They're not perfect but they should get the job done when overlaid on a clean power button; just shift their hue to match the power set you're applying them to. (They're red so that their hue value is 0°; there are 1x1 black pixels in the corners to help align them properly.)

FWIW you can target allies through enemies and vice-versa. When there's a mismatch between your target and who the power can effect (trying to attack an ally or buff an enemy), if their target is valid, you will activate the power on that entity instead. So if your demon prince is aggroed to the AV and you target the prince to buff them, you can actually queue attacks and debuffs while still targeting the prince and your character will use them on the AV instead. It's also useful in the reverse if you want to buff/heal whatever teammate a boss is attacking.

Uun said "add Taunt plus you have to add taunt aura" then listed dropping Blinding Powder for Taunt but also adding a taunt aura to another power, which read to me as them thinking armor sets have both Taunt and a taunt aura. My mistake if I'm misreading their post.

Taunt goes in melee sets, not armor.

No, no; you're good. Don't be sorry. The discussion and flow of ideas is good.

I would've assumed that's something that Kheldian/Nictus patron pools wouldn't offer is the shapeshifting. They're already templated for each archetype.

Random thought because of that thread about HEAT transformations, as someone mentioned ancillaries: Peacebringer and Warshade epic pools. The big question: why? - they already have a humongous list of powers that covers all power set types. My reasoning: a character can only have one epic pool. This lets us create "branches." Still why? So characters can choose to "master" a shapeshifting style - human-only, biform, or triform. That said, I am very inexperienced with PB and WS; my highest is like mid-30s. I'm putting this out more as food for thought/discussion: Peacebringer Mastery Human specialization. (All powers are suppressed/inaccessible while in Nova and Dwarf form.) Stellar Glow (PBAOE) Ally/Self Heal, +Heal Responsiveness Neutron Shackles (Ranged AOE) Foe Minor Damage-over-Time (Energy), Immobilize, -Fly Light Prison (Ranged) Foe Moderate Damage (Energy), Hold Light of Reason [Toggle] Self +Protection (Disorient, Hold, Sleep) Fusion Core [Auto] Self +Damage Mefnanim Mastery Nova specialization. These powers can be used in Nova form as well as human form unless noted otherwise. Neutron Shackles (Ranged AOE) Foe Minor Damage-over-Time (Energy), Immobilize, -Fly Bright Nova Comet (Snipe) Foe Superior Damage (Energy), Chance to Knockback, -Defense Meteor Shower (Location AOE) Foe Moderate Damage-over-Time (Energy), -Defense Light Prison (Ranged) Foe Moderate Damage (Energy), Hold Particle Duality [Auto] Self +Defense (Ranged, Area), +Protection (Fly) (Suppressed outside of Nova form) Kurukt Mastery Dwarf specialization. These powers can be used in Dwarf form as well as human form unless noted otherwise. Stellar Glow (PBAOE) Ally/Self Heal, +Heal Responsiveness Speed of Light [Auto] Self +Recharge, +Movement (Suppressed in the air) White Dwarf Impact (Melee Cone) Foe Minor Damage (Smashing/Energy), Disorient Solar Prominence [Auto] Foe Taunt; Self +Regeneration (per foe) (Suppressed outside of Dwarf form) Transfer Essence (Melee) Foe Extreme Damage (Smashing/Energy), Chance to Disorient; Self Damage Kheldian Mastery Shapeshifting specialization. Stellar Glow (PBAOE) Ally/Self Heal, +Heal Responsiveness (Usable in human and Dwarf forms.) Neutron Shackles (Ranged AOE) Foe Minor Damage-over-Time (Energy), Immobilize, -Fly (Usable in human and Nova forms.) Bright Nova Comet (Snipe) Foe Superior Damage (Energy), Chance to Knockback, -Defense (Usable in human and Nova forms. White Dwarf Impact (Melee Cone) Foe Minor Damage (Smashing/Energy), Disorient (Usable in human and Dwarf forms.) Light of Reason [Toggle] Self +Protection (Disorient, Hold, Sleep) (Suppresses in Nova and Dwarf form.) -- Warshade Mastery Human specialization. (All powers are suppressed/inaccessible while in Nova and Dwarf form.) Gravimetric Field (Location AOE) Foe -Movement, -Fly, -Jump, -Resistance Nictus Corruption (Ranged Cone) Foe Confuse Gather Darkmatter Self +Special Veil the Mind [Toggle] Self +Protection (Disorient, Hold, Sleep) Graviton Core [Auto] Self +Damage Hulnanim Mastery Nova specialization. These powers can be used in Nova form as well as human form unless noted otherwise. Nictus Corruption (Ranged Cone) Foe Confuse Dark Nova Ray (Snipe) Foe Superior Damage (Negative), Chance to Knockback, -Recharge Starless Night [Toggle] (Ranged AOE) Foe -Tohit, -Damage Gather Darkmatter Self +Special Void Body [Auto] Self +Defense (Ranged, Area), +Protection (Fly) (Suppressed outside of Nova form) Ruktur Mastery Dwarf specialization. These powers can be used in Dwarf form as well as human form unless noted otherwise. Gravimetric Field (Location AOE) Foe -Movement, -Fly, -Jump, -Resistance Infinite Density [Auto] Self +Resistance (scales w/ missing HP) (Suppressed in the air) Gravitational Slingshot (Melee Chain) Foe Moderate Damage (Negative), -Recharge Accretion Disk [Auto] (PBAOE) Foe Taunt, -Tohit (Suppressed outside of Dwarf form) Black Dwarf Maul (Melee Cone) Foe High Damage-over-Time (Smashing, Negative) -Recharge Nictus Mastery Shapeshifting specialization. Gravimetric Field (Location AOE) Foe -Movement, -Fly, -Jump, -Resistance (Usable in human and Dwarf forms.) Nictus Corruption (Ranged Cone) Foe Confuse (Usable in human and Nova forms.) Dark Nova Ray (Snipe) Foe Superior Damage (Negative), Chance to Knockback, -Recharge (Usable in human and Nova forms.) Black Dwarf Maul (Melee Cone) Foe High Damage-over-Time (Smashing, Negative) -Recharge (Usable in human and Dwarf forms.) Veil the Mind [Toggle] Self +Protection (Disorient, Hold, Sleep) (Suppresses in Nova and Dwarf form.)

Interesting suggestion! Hero patron pools are periodically suggested and everyone dances around Longbow, Paragon PD, Wyvern, etc. Maybe Kheldian and Nictus could be two of the four. The PPD already has a PB branch. This would even put the Epic back in Epic Power Pool.

On the whole, I agree with Caltrops being problematic for a melee character. If I had to guess, the idea might've been that - given the game's AI - it would should give Stalkers an "I need breathing room" power because the mobs become largely concerned with fleeing from the prickly floor. Minor tangent: had Stalker secondaries been designed differently from COV launch, I would've assumed they'd be more like Ninjitsu. That is to say, in addition to dropping their taunt aura for Hide, that their tier 7 and 8 powers would be more CC/utility instead of raw damage mitigation. So in place of Caltrops you'd have fire with a less-potent Bonfire, ice or elec with a sleep, energy with a stun, dark with click version(s) of Cloak of Fear / Oppressive Gloom, etc. -- FWIW, Alchemistic and I have postulated a Tanker-Brute version of Ninjitsu here (Alch) and here (me).

@Greycat please help me understand why the suggestion subtracts from HEATs. The suggestion was purely cosmetic, so characters would play 100% the same way they do currently. And, at least as far as I can tell, no one said to take away the current squid and lobster forms. What if I want to play a budding Kheldian who has trouble getting their form up so only partially transforms? Or a wizard who stole a Nictus' powers, becoming a Warshade whose forms are ghostly outlines around their still-humanoid body? I agree with you wholeheartedly on the mechanical stuff - Voids should've remained a threat, a level requirement would be fine as a bar/filter so new players can't hop right into such a complex archetype without knowing, etc. What I need help seeing is what's lost by adding more freedom for players to express themselves. The Epic (story) and gameplay of HEATs would be untouched. That's what they are, right - the story? (Unrelated but if you were saying in your earlier post that SOA were originally gender-locked, slight correction: they weren't, at least not by full release. The campy official trailer for them had the Longbow drill sergeant narrator cite that fact. Also, the live forums had a field day with the huge model blood widow, nicknaming them Widow Thunderthighs.)

Because in this thread kelika2 said: 😜 For no specific archetype: (this is mostly a joke) Luminous Blast and Umbral Blast proliferation Gleaming Bolt Shadow Bolt Glinting Eye Ebon Eye Proton Scatter Gravitic Emanation Gleaming Blast Skulk Luminous Comet Moonray Phosphorescence Dark Detonation Neutron Push Shadow Blast Luminous Detonation Essence Drain Dawn Strike Quasar Luminous Aura and Umbral Aura proliferation Shining Shield Gravity Shield Incandescence Absorption Thermal Shield Orbiting Death Reform Essence Veil the Mind Light of Reason Eclipse Quantum Shield Shadow Cloak Essence Boost Stygian Circle Restore Essence Inky Aspect Light Form Stygian Return Luminous Melee and Umbral Melee Proton Punch Shadow Strike Glowing Strike Shadow Smite Radiant Strike Gravity Maul Inner Light Glimse of the Void Solar Flare Siphon Essence Taunt Taunt Incandescent Strike Consume Essence Pulsar Sunless Mire Transfer Essence Gravitty Well Luminous Affinity and Umbral Affinity Stellar Glow Shadow Grasp Glowing Touch Gravimetric Field Share Essence Starless Night Relight Stygian Dawn Light of Clarity Veil of Shadows Radiance Obfuscate Glowing Aura Unchain Essence Gleaming Aura Starless Void Fusion Boost Dark Extraction Luminous Manipulation and Umbral Manipulation Neutron Thrust Gravimetric Snare Glowing Strike Shadow Strike Inner Light Orbiting Death Radiant Strike Gravity Maul Conserve Energy Sunless Mire Photon Seekers Glimpse of the Void Boost Radiance Consume Essence Boost Range Shadow Pit Incandescent Strike Gravity Well Luminous Assault and Umbral Assault Gleaming Bolt Shadow Bolt Radiant Strike Shadow Smite Neutron Push Ebon Eye Glinting Eye Gravitic Emanation Boost Radiance Overshadow Solar Flare Engulf Incandescent Strike Essence Drain Luminous Comet Moonray Gleaming Blast Gravity Well

That's who first came to mind when I read the OP. My second thought was some form of minimal visual tell - the Dwarf fists as gloves and the Nova tentacle-shoulders as pauldrons - along with the tendril outline and tell-tale flame eyes that come with using PB/WS powers. I also like ScarySai's suggestion about Jojo; presumably with the form floating behind and slightly higher than the character model, with both the human and kheldian models performing animations during attacks.

Perhaps a Grant Cover-style power to draw a parallel to Dispersion Bubble? Paired with the tier 9, it could move this set towards being a partial support-hybrid armor set. You could keep a taunt effect so mechanically the set still has a taunt aura and thematically because enemies see you're the force field "generator" and thus see you as a priority target.

Count me in on the opinion that Energy Aura could get there by having Force Field's visuals, though I do want to express: 1) Full points for fleshing out an entire set. It has its own feel in the reverse-Hand Clap and tier 9 powers. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing this set added. 2) Thank you for recycling Force Field's shields' names, including the internal name for Detention Field's icon - Refraction Shield. It shows a high level of care, attention to detail, research and love for the parent set.

Thank you. 🙌 I have nothing to add to the thread topic but it's incredibly vindicating to hear I'm not the only one that feels that way.

Here I thought you meant Daddy Longleg and his Long Arms of the Law going up against Domestic Terrorist and his cronies, the Bondage Brigade. Glad you cleared that up. 😛

FWIW the zone maps also have lines drawn to show the geysers' intended trajectory. (Not saying things couldn't be better.)

Thanks! The icons are largely from Titan Weapons; I just copy-pasted them. You're more than welcome to link to your post! In fact, I did in the OP as well.