Harrow

I wonder if they could use the power customization system for this. You can customize the animations for a lot of powers--maybe they could add animation customization for the Sprint power that could let you use the ninja/beast run poses?

Ideally GMs would have a way to flag your character as having already been reviewed and approved, for situations where something isn't a violation but looks enough like one that it might generate multiple reports. EDIT: Never mind, someone addressed this already. Great!

The issue with cosmetic microtransactions in City of Heroes is that cosmetics are a huge deal in this game. They're the main reason to play for many people. Locking new and exciting cosmetic options behind paying real money would have a real negative effect on the game in a way that it doesn't in many other games with microtransaction costumes. I do wonder how far they can go on donations. Homecoming currently has no issue at all reaching donation goals extremely quickly. If those goals were raised because they're now paying people to develop new content, would they still consistently reach those goals? If so, that seems like a great solution, but it might not last forever. But there are some great things funded primarily through services like Patreon, so maybe that could work for running a small MMO passion project like this? --- As for what I want to see, I think everyone pretty much covered it. New costume pieces. New story arcs. New zones to explore. New power sets and archetypes. I'm not too invested in seeing incarnate stuff expanded but I wouldn't mind it.

I think it would be a good idea to publish some guidelines for enforcement, perhaps with examples of what is and isn't acceptable. Even outside of characters who are inspired by a comic book, movie, novel, or game character, there's a huge number of copyrighted characters out in the world that many players might not even be aware of and nothing original under the sun. Having some sort of hard guidance for what is and isn't against the rules would help calm some anxiety about the policy. For example, let's use a character I don't have anymore (I actually already redesigned him to be more original just for my own sake when he started to become my main). Right when Homecoming launched I made a character who was designed to resemble Joker from Persona 5, and named him the Phantom Thief. Would that have been too close? He didn't have the same name, but he was a dark-haired character in a black trenchcoat with red gloves and a name that made clear reference to something from Persona 5--but the term "phantom thief" is also a character archetype in fiction that just happened to be used as a term in Persona 5. That might seem like an intentionally complicated example, but it's one that actually could have happened had I not already redesigned and renamed him. But knowing how the ruling would work in cases like that would probably help clarify how this will be enforced.

This is what I do for my Dual Pistols/Dark Corruptor and it's working out pretty well. Granted I don't solo too much, but I'm doing respectable damage in groups on top of providing that sweet, sweet Dark Miasma support. Procs are great with this set.

Yes and no. The raw damage is fairly middle-of-the-road. The slotted damage has a lot of options. Off the top of my head, my three primary attacks are slotted something like: Pistols: Achilles' Heel, Lady Grey proc, Shield Breaker proc, Thunderstrike (A/D, A/D/E, D/E) Dual Pistols: Force Feedback proc, Impeded Swiftness proc, Explosive Strike proc, Thunderstrike (A/D, A/D/E, D/E) Executioner's Shot: Force Feedback proc, Apoc proc, Lady Grey proc, Thunderstrike (A/D, A/D/E, D/E) The additional options for slotting that you don't have with more conventional Blast sets allows you to get a lot of benefits. It's the same reason that Ice Blast traditionally out-performed Fire Blast single target at 50 (I'm not sure if this is still true with the Sniper changes). Those are good points. When I made that post, I hadn't really gotten into slotting procs yet--I was thinking mostly about set bonuses--but since then I've started loading up my main attacks with procs where I can and I can see it making a difference. With powers this eclectic, you do end up with a lot of options to slot procs that other blast sets couldn't, so that's a pretty cool benefit.

Does DP's Hail of Bullets count as a "rain" effect as well, since it does its damage in separate chunks over its duration? Or does it only check for Scourge once?

Yeah, definitely a newer OS. My home computer can run Pine's 2.22 just fine--it didn't even ask me about .NET 3.5, despite it running Windows 10 and me never explicitly installing it--but trying to run it on my work computer (which also runs Windows 10) seems to require .NET 3.5, and I don't have the admin permissions to install it. For now I'm just using version 2.21, which for some reason works just fine and doesn't ask for .NET 3.5, but that means I sometimes run into builds I can't open/import. It's not a huge deal, since I only really screw around with it on my lunch break, but I was curious why the previous version runs fine but the newer one doesn't.

Dual Pistols' damage just can't stack up against most other blast primaries. It's a ton of fun and has its strengths (loads of AoE, great animations, some versatility with different ammunition types), but not only is its damage on the lower side, it also lacks Aim or a snipe. If I had my way, I'd say it needs a damage buff all around to make up for not having Aim, but I'm not sure if it's really on the team's radar for balance changes. That said, I still main a Dual Pistols/Dark Miasma Corruptor because it's just so damn fun. It's a perfectly good blast set, especially combined with something that piles on debuffs that let you do more damage. Time Manipulation is a really popular combination with it for that reason (and also because both sets like to be in PBAoE range).

I think Dual Pistols definitely needs a (relatively small) global buff to its damage, just to make up for not having Aim. Incidentally, some build gurus in my SG helped me work out a better version of this build, and I've been running it for a few days. It's been working out really, really well for me. My personal damage doesn't necessarily go above "just okay," but I have great defenses (focusing on smashing/lethal/energy instead of positional), good burst damage, and awesome debuffs. Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962 http://www.cohplanner.com/ Click this DataLink to open the build! Scarlet Shadow: Level 50 Magic Corruptor Primary Power Set: Dual Pistols Secondary Power Set: Dark Miasma Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leadership Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Pistols (A) Superior Scourging Blast - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Scourging Blast - Damage/RechargeTime (3) Superior Scourging Blast - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (5) Superior Scourging Blast - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (5) Superior Scourging Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (7) Superior Scourging Blast - RechargeTime/PBAoE +End Level 1: Twilight Grasp (A) Touch of the Nictus - Healing (19) Touch of the Nictus - Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration/Recharge (19) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Healing (43) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration (43) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge Level 2: Tar Patch (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 4: Darkest Night (A) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff (7) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge (9) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Endurance (9) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge/Endurance Level 6: Empty Clips (A) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Accuracy/Damage (11) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Damage/Recharge (11) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (13) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Damage/Endurance/Recharge (13) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (37) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Recharge/Chance for Negative Energy Damage Level 8: Fly (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 10: Howling Twilight (A) Recharge Reduction IO (50) Recharge Reduction IO Level 12: Hover (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (15) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (15) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (31) Luck of the Gambler - Endurance/Recharge (31) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge Level 14: Swap Ammo Level 16: Shadow Fall (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (37) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (39) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (39) Luck of the Gambler - Endurance/Recharge (40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (46) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% Level 18: Afterburner (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed Level 20: Executioner's Shot (A) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage (21) Superior Winter's Bite - Damage/RechargeTime (21) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (31) Superior Winter's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (34) Superior Winter's Bite - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime (39) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 22: Fearsome Stare (A) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff (23) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/ToHitDebuff (23) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge (25) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge Level 24: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO (25) Recharge Reduction IO Level 26: Piercing Rounds (A) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance (27) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge (42) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range (42) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (50) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy) Level 28: Petrifying Gaze (A) Lockdown - Accuracy/Hold (29) Lockdown - Accuracy/Recharge (29) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold Level 30: Boxing (A) Empty Level 32: Hail of Bullets (A) Armageddon - Damage (33) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge (33) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (33) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge (34) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance (34) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage Level 35: Tough (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) (36) Aegis - Resistance (36) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance (36) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance (37) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge Level 38: Dark Servant (A) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff (40) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge (40) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge (42) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/ToHitDebuff Level 41: Scorpion Shield (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (43) Luck of the Gambler - Endurance/Recharge (46) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (48) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge Level 44: Weave (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (45) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (45) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (45) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Recharge (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance/Recharge Level 47: Suppressive Fire (A) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold (50) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold Level 49: Maneuvers (A) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) Level 1: Brawl (A) Damage Increase IO Level 1: Prestige Power Dash (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Slide (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Quick (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Rush (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Surge (A) Empty Level 1: Scourge Level 1: Sprint (A) Run Speed IO Level 2: Rest (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) Run Speed IO Level 2: Health (A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery (27) Miracle - +Recovery Level 2: Hurdle (A) Jumping IO Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod (17) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End (17) Endurance Modification IO Level 14: Chemical Ammunition Level 14: Cryo Ammunition Level 14: Incendiary Ammunition Level 50: Agility Core Paragon Level 50: Void Radial Final Judgement Level 50: Reactive Core Flawless Interface Level 50: Polar Lights Core Superior Ally Level 50: Clarion Total Core Invocation Level 50: Assault Radial Embodiment ------------ ------------ Set Bonus Totals: 10% DamageBuff(Smashing) 10% DamageBuff(Lethal) 10% DamageBuff(Fire) 10% DamageBuff(Cold) 10% DamageBuff(Energy) 10% DamageBuff(Negative) 10% DamageBuff(Toxic) 10% DamageBuff(Psionic) 6% Defense(Melee) 6% Defense(Smashing) 6% Defense(Lethal) 11.63% Defense(Fire) 11.63% Defense(Cold) 13.5% Defense(Energy) 13.5% Defense(Negative) 6% Defense(Psionic) 13.5% Defense(Ranged) 12.56% Defense(AoE) 10.35% Max End 2.5% Enhancement(Held) 91.25% Enhancement(RechargeTime) 10% Enhancement(Range) 75% Enhancement(Accuracy) 5% Enhancement(Heal) 15% SpeedFlying 116.5 HP (10.87%) HitPoints 15% JumpHeight 15% SpeedJumping Knockback (Mag -4) Knockup (Mag -4) MezResist(Confused) 71.25% MezResist(Held) 71.25% MezResist(Immobilized) 71.25% MezResist(Sleep) 71.25% MezResist(Stunned) 71.25% MezResist(Terrorized) 71.25% 17% (0.28 End/sec) Recovery 40% (1.79 HP/sec) Regeneration 15% ResEffect(SpeedFlying) 15% ResEffect(RechargeTime) 15% ResEffect(SpeedRunning) 23% Resistance(Smashing) 23% Resistance(Lethal) 19.25% Resistance(Fire) 19.25% Resistance(Cold) 9.5% Resistance(Energy) 9.5% Resistance(Negative) 11% Resistance(Toxic) 16% Resistance(Psionic) 0% Resistance(Smashing) 0% Resistance(Lethal) 0% Resistance(Fire) 0% Resistance(Cold) 0% Resistance(Energy) 0% Resistance(Negative) 0% Resistance(Toxic) 0% Resistance(Psionic) 15% SpeedRunning

Bumping this with an updated version. I feel like this character is "just okay" at a lot of things, but doesn't really have any area he excels. What's something I can do with a DP/Dark Corruptor to really make the combination sing (if anything)? Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962 http://www.cohplanner.com/ Click this DataLink to open the build! Scarlet Shadow: Level 50 Magic Corruptor Primary Power Set: Dual Pistols Secondary Power Set: Dark Miasma Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Leadership Ancillary Pool: Dark Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Pistols (A) Superior Scourging Blast - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Scourging Blast - Damage/RechargeTime (3) Superior Scourging Blast - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (5) Superior Scourging Blast - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (5) Superior Scourging Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (7) Superior Scourging Blast - RechargeTime/PBAoE +End Level 1: Twilight Grasp (A) Touch of the Nictus - Healing (19) Touch of the Nictus - Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration/Recharge (19) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Healing (43) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Heal/HitPoints/Regeneration (43) Touch of the Nictus - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge Level 2: Tar Patch (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 4: Darkest Night (A) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff (7) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge (9) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Endurance (9) Dark Watcher's Despair - To Hit Debuff/Recharge/Endurance Level 6: Empty Clips (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage (11) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance (11) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge (13) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range (13) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance Level 8: Fly (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 10: Howling Twilight (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 12: Hover (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (15) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (15) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance Level 14: Swap Ammo Level 16: Shadow Fall (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (39) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage (39) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) (46) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance (46) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection (50) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% Level 18: Afterburner (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed Level 20: Executioner's Shot (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage (21) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance (21) Thunderstrike - Damage/Recharge (39) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (42) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (43) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 22: Fearsome Stare (A) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff (23) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/ToHitDebuff (23) Cloud Senses - ToHit Debuff/Endurance/Recharge (25) Cloud Senses - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge Level 24: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO (25) Recharge Reduction IO Level 26: Piercing Rounds (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage (27) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance (27) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge (42) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range (42) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance Level 28: Petrifying Gaze (A) Lockdown - Accuracy/Hold (29) Lockdown - Accuracy/Recharge (29) Lockdown - Recharge/Hold (40) Lockdown - Endurance/Recharge/Hold (40) Lockdown - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge/Hold (40) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold Level 30: Maneuvers (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (31) Red Fortune - Defense (31) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance (31) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (34) Red Fortune - Endurance (37) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge Level 32: Hail of Bullets (A) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Accuracy/Damage (33) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Damage/Recharge (33) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (33) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Damage/Endurance/Recharge (34) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (34) Superior Malice of the Corruptor - Recharge/Chance for Negative Energy Damage Level 35: Tactics (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff (36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge (36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance (36) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance (37) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance (37) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up Level 38: Dark Servant (A) To Hit Debuff IO Level 41: Dark Consumption (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 44: Dark Embrace (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) (45) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance (45) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance (45) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge (46) Aegis - Resistance Level 47: Soul Drain (A) Obliteration - Damage (48) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge (48) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge (48) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (50) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (50) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage Level 49: Soul Transfer (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 1: Brawl (A) Damage Increase IO Level 1: Prestige Power Dash (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Slide (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Quick (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Rush (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Surge (A) Empty Level 1: Scourge Level 1: Sprint (A) Run Speed IO Level 2: Rest (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) Run Speed IO Level 2: Health (A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery Level 2: Hurdle (A) Jumping IO Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - EndMod (17) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End (17) Endurance Modification IO Level 14: Chemical Ammunition Level 14: Cryo Ammunition Level 14: Incendiary Ammunition Level 50: Agility Core Paragon ------------ ------------ Set Bonus Totals: 14.5% DamageBuff(Smashing) 14.5% DamageBuff(Lethal) 14.5% DamageBuff(Fire) 14.5% DamageBuff(Cold) 14.5% DamageBuff(Energy) 14.5% DamageBuff(Negative) 14.5% DamageBuff(Toxic) 14.5% DamageBuff(Psionic) 12.25% Defense(Melee) 9.13% Defense(Smashing) 9.13% Defense(Lethal) 14.13% Defense(Fire) 14.13% Defense(Cold) 15.38% Defense(Energy) 15.38% Defense(Negative) 6% Defense(Psionic) 21% Defense(Ranged) 17.56% Defense(AoE) 8.1% Max End 2.5% Enhancement(Held) 10% Enhancement(Range) 58% Enhancement(Accuracy) 5% Enhancement(Heal) 83.75% Enhancement(RechargeTime) 28.5% SpeedFlying 116.5 HP (10.87%) HitPoints 28.5% JumpHeight 28.5% SpeedJumping Knockback (Mag -8) Knockup (Mag -8) MezResist(Confused) 31.25% MezResist(Held) 31.25% MezResist(Immobilized) 31.25% MezResist(Sleep) 31.25% MezResist(Stunned) 31.25% MezResist(Terrorized) 31.25% 17.5% (0.29 End/sec) Recovery 10% (0.45 HP/sec) Regeneration 11.75% Resistance(Smashing) 14.75% Resistance(Fire) 14.75% Resistance(Cold) 7.25% Resistance(Energy) 7.25% Resistance(Negative) 5% Resistance(Toxic) 10% Resistance(Psionic) 0% Resistance(Smashing) 0% Resistance(Lethal) 0% Resistance(Fire) 0% Resistance(Cold) 0% Resistance(Energy) 0% Resistance(Negative) 0% Resistance(Toxic) 0% Resistance(Psionic) 11.75% Resistance(Lethal) 28.5% SpeedRunning

Is there a way to bypass needing the .NET Framework v3.5 for this? For some reason, I could run the previous version of Pine's (2.21) just fine on my work computer, but 2.22 tells me it requires .NET Framework v3.5, which I can't install given our version of Windows and user permissions. Is there something I'm overlooking that causes this additional requirement?

Dark Miasma is definitely better than just "playable." Even with Black Hole being kind of a throwaway power, Dark Miasma is one of the best support sets in the game, right up there with Kinetics, Radiation Emission, and Time Manipulation. But like you say, Dark Affinity takes a 9/10 support set and turns it into an 11/10 one.

I tend to like secondaries that do things in addition to damage. Both /Dark and /Rad provide debuffing as well as damage. In my opinion, a /Rad defeder makes enemies melt faster than a /Fire defender because of the debuffing. YMMV. That's why /Sonic is popular, too. Throwing around -res debuffs with every attack is a pretty nice perk.

My main is a Dark Corruptor and I'd make that trade with zero hesitation. Petrifying Gaze is perfectly okay, but I'd trade it for Fade no question, and I couldn't possibly care less about Black Hole so yeah, toss that for Soul Absorption real easy.

I kind of want this thing now >.> Titan Weapon/Kinetics I'd love a "melee support" archetype. Fill in that "Paladin" sort of niche, y'know?

Yeah, Overwhelming Force is unique, so you can only have one of its KB-to-KD IOs. Sudden Acceleration will help fill that gap, though.

I think the reason I'm all right with it now is because DP has several other AoE attacks--I don't really feel like I'm lacking AoE at all with Empty Clips, Bullet Rain, and Hail of Bullets also available. Piercing Rounds working as a strong single-target attack with some bonus AoE if you're lucky is fine by me, just because I wouldn't really want to trade single-target damage for even more AoE, y'know?

Barring some serious rebalancing, yeah, think of Piercing Rounds as a single-target attack that has some bonus AoE damage depending on how enemies are positioned. Believe me, I would love some DP buffs (I personally think it could use a small damage bump all around, nothing huge but just a little to make up for not having Aim), but Piercing Rounds is strong enough as a single-target attack that I think its inconsistent AoE isn't that big of a deal.

It's not too tough, especially with Time Manipulation as one of your power sets. Once you hit level 50, you'll be looking for enhancement sets that offer bonuses to recharge speed (which then apply to all of your powers), as well as certain specific enhancements that also increase your recharge speed for all of your powers (specifically a Luck of the Gambler Global Recharge Speed enhancement). With those and Time Manipulation, it's not too tough to get perma-Hasten or close to it. But don't worry about that until you're level 50 and have a decent amount of influence to work with.

This one is ridiculously cool.

All three of those primaries are excellent. If you're concerned about solo potential, I'd say Time and Kinetics are a better choice than Radiation Emission, but Radiation is incredibly good, too, so you can't really go wrong. Time is just such a good all-rounder, as is Kinetics, and both of them only have one buff you can't use on yourself. Time is especially good at keeping you safe by buffing your defense and debuffing enemy To Hit. For damage, Fire Blast is by far going to do the most of the three you listed. That said, I love Dual Pistols--it's really fun and has fantastic AoE, especially if you're comfortable being in the thick of things. I think I'd go either Kinetics/Fire, Time/Fire, or Time/Dual Pistols from these choices, but those are just the things I personally find the most fun.

I think there are degrees of "underperforming," and given that, I don't think that number seems too high. You have sets that are "underperforming" in that they're not quite as strong as their competitors but are still strong and feel good to play. But then you also have sets that are noticeably weaker than similar sets in a way that can make them less satisfying to play, and those are the ones that I'd consider in real need of attention. If a power set is weak enough that it's noticeable and might make it less fun or satisfying to play, I think that's worth addressing. I don't have nearly the expertise to determine which sets are just kinda undertuned versus which sets are weak enough to be made less fun, but it's worth discussing, I think.

I think a lot of melee cones should be made larger, actually. They're notoriously hard to actually land because most of them are so short and narrow.

This...I know it's unpopular to say, but I agree...Ideally, no set should be able to solo at that level, and if they can, either the baddies need to be more difficult (better option) or the sets should have powers toned down... I know people are going to say, "why are you telling me how to play", but unfortunately, this is one area where your playstyle and mine overlap and can't be separated. If the game is too easy, it's not fun. If I can solo all the content at +4/x8 and still get that AV at the end...it's not fun. (I'm not quite there though). Personally, I'm fine with the idea of some builds being able to solo +4/x8, but I think it should require a good build and a lot of IO (and probably incarnate) investment to get there. If something is soloing +4/x8 without IO sets or incarnate powers, yeah, it's probably overtuned. Honestly, with incarnates, "difficulty" is a ship that has probably sailed, at least until the team starts to create new content that can challenge people with full-on incarnate setups. That said, I am 100% on the "sometimes, nerfs are justified" side of the fence. I know it's always unpopular to suggest, but a game cannot survive on buffs alone. Sometimes, the health of a game relies on significantly overpowered options being brought back in-line. That should go hand-in-hand with underperforming options being improved, too.