Harrow

Since balance changes are on the table for Homecoming, I'm wondering what weak/underperforming power sets could use some tweaking. Personally, Dual Pistols would be my #1 pick. Everything about it looks and feels fantastic, but the lack of Aim or a snipe really hurts its damage and I wonder if a damage boost to a couple of its heavier-hitting powers could help make up the difference a bit.

Aha, thanks for catching that! I didn't think about that.

I barely played CoH when it was originally live (I bought it on release but only played a couple weeks for some reason), but I've been playing on Homecoming since it opened and I'm in love. This is the kind of MMO experience I've been looking for recently and I'm having an absolute blast. I have no intention to stop anytime soon.

For the most part I'm already playing this build with these sets, and it feels pretty good and fun to play. But I'm curious if there are things I could do to tweak or improve it at all. One of the major questions I have is whether it's worth it to drop something so I can squeeze in Suppressive Fire. If so, what should I drop? Executioner's Shot, maybe? Thanks for any feedback you have! 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 (39) 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) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (46) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (46) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance (50) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (50) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection Level 18: Afterburner (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed Level 20: Executioner's Shot (A) Entropic Chaos - Accuracy/Damage (21) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Endurance (21) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Recharge (42) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Endurance/Recharge (43) Entropic Chaos - Chance of Heal Self 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 (39) 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 Level 49: Soul Transfer (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty 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) Empty Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) Empty Level 2: Health (A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery Level 2: Hurdle (A) Empty 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 ------------

Made some updates to shift sets around and try to squeeze in a little more recharge. I also dropped the Flight pool (since it's not in-theme for a Black Mage to fly) and grabbed Teleportation instead, which should be interesting. Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962 http://www.cohplanner.com/ Click this DataLink to open the build! Black Mage: Level 50 Magic Blaster Primary Power Set: Fire Blast Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation Power Pool: Teleportation Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Ancillary Pool: Electrical Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Flares (A) Entropic Chaos - Accuracy/Damage (3) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Endurance (3) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Recharge (5) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Endurance/Recharge (5) Entropic Chaos - Chance of Heal Self Level 1: Chilblain (A) Accuracy IO Level 2: Fire Ball (A) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage (7) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Damage/Recharge (7) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (9) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (9) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (11) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Recharge/Chance for Fire Damage Level 4: Teleport (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance (29) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range Level 6: Rain of Fire (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage (11) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance (13) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge (13) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (15) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy) Level 8: Maneuvers (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (19) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (21) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance Level 10: Frigid Protection (A) Miracle - +Recovery (17) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb Level 12: Aim (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff (15) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge (31) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge (31) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge (31) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge Level 14: Recall Friend (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 16: Build Up (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff (17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance (23) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge (25) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance (25) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance (37) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up Level 18: Blaze (A) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage (19) Superior Defiant Barrage - Damage/RechargeTime (27) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (33) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (34) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (48) Superior Defiant Barrage - RechargeTime/+Status Level 20: Ice Patch (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 22: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO (29) Recharge Reduction IO Level 24: Boxing (A) Empty Level 26: Blazing Bolt (A) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Damage (27) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance (33) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Interrupt/Range (33) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Interrupt/Recharge (40) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 28: Shiver (A) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Slow (42) Pacing of the Turtle - Damage/Slow (43) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Endurance (43) Pacing of the Turtle - Range/Slow (43) Pacing of the Turtle - Endurance/Recharge/Slow (46) Pacing of the Turtle - Chance of -Recharge Level 30: Tough (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) (37) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (39) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance (39) Aegis - Resistance (39) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance Level 32: Inferno (A) Obliteration - Damage (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge (34) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge (36) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (37) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (50) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage Level 35: Weave (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (40) Kismet - Accuracy +6% Level 38: Frozen Aura (A) Lethargic Repose - Accuracy/Recharge (40) Lethargic Repose - Endurance/Sleep (42) Lethargic Repose - Accuracy/Sleep Level 41: Shocking Bolt (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage (42) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance (46) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance Level 44: Charged Armor (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance (45) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge (45) Aegis - Endurance/Recharge (45) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge (46) Aegis - Resistance Level 47: EM Pulse (A) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Recharge (48) Razzle Dazzle - Endurance/Stun (48) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge (50) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Endurance (50) Razzle Dazzle - Stun/Range Level 49: Surge of Power (A) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty Level 1: Defiance 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: Sprint (A) Empty Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) Empty Level 2: Health (A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery Level 2: Hurdle (A) Empty Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod (23) Endurance Modification IO ------------

Well, one thematic concession I made on purpose was taking Fly and Hover. Black Mages don't get Float--that's a White Mage thing--so I should actually probably be going with Teleport instead. I might make that change if I can learn how to work better with Teleport as my main travel power. I'm trying to strike a nice balance between theme and usability, I guess. Would you recommend taking Fire Blast instead of Flares? As for ice attack powers, I'm sort of comfortable using ice mostly for utility and having most of my offense through fire, sort of like a Black Mage in Final Fantasy XIV. But if slotting up Chilblain would be useful, I'll go for it. When it comes to incarnate stuff, I also plan to take Pyronic Judgement so I can pretend it's Flare.

I made a Fire/Ice Blaster with a Final Fantasy Black Mage costume and I'm trying to plan out a good build for him. So far I've skipped melee attacks (just for the theme), but I'm not opposed to grabbing one or two if they'd be super useful. I'm trying to maximize my defenses without sacrificing too much in the way of damage. Any advice at all would be appreciated! Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.962 http://www.cohplanner.com/ Click this DataLink to open the build! Black Mage: Level 50 Magic Blaster Primary Power Set: Fire Blast Secondary Power Set: Ice Manipulation Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Ancillary Pool: Electrical Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Flares (A) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Damage/RechargeTime (3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (19) Superior Defiant Barrage - RechargeTime/+Status Level 1: Chilblain (A) Accuracy IO Level 2: Fire Ball (A) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage (7) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Damage/Recharge (7) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (9) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (9) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (11) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Recharge/Chance for Fire Damage Level 4: Fly (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 6: Rain of Fire (A) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage (11) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance (13) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge (13) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (15) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy) Level 8: Hover (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (19) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (21) Luck of the Gambler - Defense Level 10: Frigid Protection (A) Miracle - +Recovery (17) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb Level 12: Aim (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff (15) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge (31) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge (31) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge (31) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge Level 14: Afterburner (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed Level 16: Build Up (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff (17) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Endurance (23) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge (25) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - To Hit Buff/Recharge/Endurance (25) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Recharge/Endurance (37) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up Level 18: Blaze (A) Entropic Chaos - Accuracy/Damage (27) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Endurance (33) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Recharge (34) Entropic Chaos - Damage/Endurance/Recharge (48) Entropic Chaos - Chance of Heal Self Level 20: Ice Patch (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 22: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO (29) Recharge Reduction IO (29) Recharge Reduction IO Level 24: Boxing (A) Empty Level 26: Blazing Bolt (A) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Damage (27) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance (33) Sting of the Manticore - Accuracy/Interrupt/Range (33) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Interrupt/Recharge (40) Sting of the Manticore - Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 28: Shiver (A) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Slow (42) Pacing of the Turtle - Damage/Slow (43) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Endurance (43) Pacing of the Turtle - Range/Slow (43) Pacing of the Turtle - Endurance/Recharge/Slow (46) Pacing of the Turtle - Chance of -Recharge Level 30: Tough (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) (37) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (39) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance (39) Aegis - Resistance (39) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance Level 32: Inferno (A) Obliteration - Damage (34) Obliteration - Accuracy/Recharge (34) Obliteration - Damage/Recharge (36) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (37) Obliteration - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (50) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage Level 35: Weave (A) Luck of the Gambler - Recharge Speed (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Endurance (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (40) Kismet - Accuracy +6% Level 38: Frozen Aura (A) Lethargic Repose - Accuracy/Recharge (40) Lethargic Repose - Endurance/Sleep (42) Lethargic Repose - Accuracy/Sleep Level 41: Shocking Bolt (A) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage (42) Thunderstrike - Damage/Endurance (46) Thunderstrike - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance Level 44: Charged Armor (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance (45) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge (45) Aegis - Endurance/Recharge (45) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge (46) Aegis - Resistance Level 47: EM Pulse (A) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Recharge (48) Razzle Dazzle - Endurance/Stun (48) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Stun/Recharge (50) Razzle Dazzle - Accuracy/Endurance (50) Razzle Dazzle - Stun/Range Level 49: Surge of Power (A) Steadfast Protection - Knockback Protection Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty Level 1: Defiance 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: Sprint (A) Empty Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) Empty Level 2: Health (A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery Level 2: Hurdle (A) Empty Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End (21) Performance Shifter - EndMod (23) Endurance Modification IO ------------

I noticed there are some really cool blast attack animations hanging out in Mastermind primaries and Dominator secondaries that I think would make a great basis for full-fledged blast sets (Blaster/Sentinel/Corruptor primary, Defender secondary). Specifically: The insect and bird-themed blasts in the Mastermind's Beast Mastery set. A couple of these also show up in the Dominator's Savage Assault secondary, but I think they could make a cool blast set as well. I'm especially a fan of the Call Ravens animation. Shuriken throws from the Dominator's Martial Assault set. These are rad as hell and I could imagine a pretty awesome ninja-themed Sentinel using them. Earth attacks from the Dominator's Earth Assault set. Ranged earth attacks are really cool, especially the ones that summon huge spikes of rock from the ground. This one's a bit more far-fetched, but what about a Telekinetic Blast set? It could be based on animations similar to Kinetic Melee, maybe with the Controller/Dominator Gravity power Propel thrown in. Just some thoughts I had. I think those are really awesome animations and I'd love to see them get more use, especially as the primary focus of a power set.