drgantz

Thank you everyone for your advice. All of your advice was excellent and helpful. After reading it all, I decided that Fire/Temp is best for my playstyle. I'm enjoying that toon so far.

I play Excelsior because it has the largest population, which is better for grouping. I've noticed a lot of lag. Sometimes when I'm in an instance, lag gets so bad that I almost can't move. I wonder if Everlasting might be a better server because with less population, there might be less lag. Does anyone think that Everlasting is a better server?

Thank you for your response. I also like ranged. I read your Fire/Temp build and it looks good. It is basically a build without the Temp melee attacks, which I like.

For a while, I've been thinking about which is better for a Fire themed toon. I welcome any comments. Fire Manip has some AOEs which are ok. Both have a useful toggle. Fire Manip has a T9, Hot Feet, which I don't usually take. I don't think that it is very useful and I must be on the ground to use it, so I can't be a hover blaster. Temp Manip has a T9, Time Lord, which I think is great because it improves recharge. Now, I can use my Fire Blast abilities more often. I can now use Blaze, Blazing Bolt and Inferno more often which should be better than the dmg abilities from Fire Manip. What do you think?

Thank you everyone for your responses. I wanted to make a Natural Stalker, who got all of his abiliities from training. I was planning on making an StJ/SR Stalker, but preferred the MA animations, so was thinking of this idea for an MA. After reading your responses, I decided to go with the StJ.

I've read several posts in which people said not to play MA Stalkers, but I had some ideas. Since they don't get AOE, I was thinking that Cross Punch from the fighting pool might give a good AOE. I read in Homecoming Wiki that Eagle's Claw gets some bonuses for Stalker. I didn't understand it well. I believe that Stalkers get an AOE disorient when using Eagle's Claw. Does anyone think that an MA Stalker might be a good idea, or should I stick with StJ Stalker?

Thank you for this post. For a while I was trying to decide on a Secondary for an NA Def. I used /Water for a while. After reading this, I'm going to use /Sonic.

I've never forgotten a toon, but I have made the same AT and Powersets for different toons. I've done this because I couldn't decide on a name, costume, background story, or something else, so I made several.

I'm thinking Spines/Bio, colored black.

I mostly plan to group and only PVE. I know that Brutes get a Def bonuses with Storm Kick. In a different post, someone said that WP is one of the weaker sets on a Scrapper. I've also read several posts saying that Brutes got nerfed.

I usually begin with either a backstory or a punny name, and then choose the powers. I try to make a good power combo, but always stay within character conception. I really hate it when someone chooses a power combo which has no conception but is simply to make the most powerful. One thing that really gets me is when someone makes a Natural MA with no backstory, but can fly.

Thank you everyone for your replies. My toon will have a plant theme. I've read some good comments for both Sonic and Dark. Both are good thematically. I made two toons just to test them.

I've read many posts about NA/Sonic so I'm guessing that it is the best. Are any of the other Secondaries as good? I'm thinking of Water or Dark. I mostly plan to group in TFs and other grouping activities. I only PVE. I don't PVP. The toon will have a nature theme, so I care about appearance.

I think that it is unusual that Kat is S while BS is C. DB is A. I've read other posts that Kat is better than DB, but I don't understand why DB is so much better than BS.

I've read that Def is better for Scrappers while Res is better for Brutes and Tankers. I've seen several posts saying that SR is great for Tankers. Why is it so great, since it is Def?

Are there any ATs in which BS is better than Kat?

Martial Combat, the Blaster Secondary should have punch options instead of kicks, just like MA. Many people who choose DP want a cowboy theme, and punching would be good for that, and other themes.

I mostly plan to group in TFs and other groups. I only PVE. I don't PVP.

Elec Blast used to be very weak, but an update greatly improved it. If you plan to use it as pure range, you will seriously gimp your toon. The reason is that one of Elec's great abilities is draining endurance. This will weaken your opponents. Of course, this is only useful if you drain them entirely. I don't know if this is true or not but someone told me that you get a large dmg bonus after you drain all of their end. Short Circuit from Elec Blast and Power Sink from Elec Manip are your two main drainers and they are both PBAOE. I run in quickly and hit them with both and then run a distance and hit them with distance attacks. Most other Elec attacks also drain, but not much. I don't always do this. Sometimes I just distance attack, especially if it is just a bunch of weak trash mobs that won't last long. I prefer Elec/Elec. Some people prefer Elec/Energy because Power Boost will greatly strengthen the End Drain.

I was told that by itself, DP is low dmg but with procs, it is good dmg. What do I need to give DP good dmg? Is it IOs? Which IOs or whatever else, are good?

I'm surprised that WP is at the bottom. When HC first became public, many said that it was awesome. Is it at the bottom because it is great for Brutes and Tankers, and not so great for Scrappers?

I'm sure that many people don't understand the Concealment Pool. Which power is best for regular sneaking, such as through a mission? How do improve stealthing? Is it by using IOs? Are there other ways? Which IOs are good?

From the comments, it appears that dark/dark is good but tricky. I'm guessing that it is great if you play and build it well, but that is difficult.

Thank you everyone for your advice. Everyone's advice has been awesome, but I especially like this one. I've often heard that MC was one of the best DP secondaries, but something always felt wrong when I played it. I'll try it this way.

For a while, I've thought about making a Cowboy Theme, or a Dirty Harry homage. I thought of DP/MC but I didn't think that the MC attacks looked right for the theme. I recently thought of making DP/Temp and skipping some of the Temp melee attacks and then taking all Fighting Pool powers. I think that Cross Punch would be a good themed attack. I've read that taking both Boxing and Kick would enhance Cross Punch as well. Does this sound like a good idea, or is it a waste of powers?