S33k3r

No one can be told... Exactly what the Matrix is...

I have a Fire/Fire/Fire Blaster, and took Rain of Fire -- it looks really good "on paper". But then, like everyone else, I began to "enjoy" the scatter effect caused by the inherent fear in the power (yay). I do have a chance for knockdown proc in the power, but everything I have since read -- some of which I have experienced -- has made that less optimal than I would have considered. This brings me to you folks, Blaster Experts: Is there a way to retain Rain of Fire's AoE goodness, using just enhancements? If so, can you please offer me some suggestions? FYI, this is a level 50 build, so I am not concerned with exemplaring the character. I specifically want to keep Rain of Fire for it's AoE capabilities, having taken ALL the AoE damage powers in the Fire Primary (I'm Fire/Atomic/Fire). Thanks!

Before the issue 27 changes, I played a Fire / Tactical Arrow Blaster. After the changes, I have mothballed it, and am trying a different build. I have far more experience with Corruptors/Defenders and Controllers; more recently with Tankers and other melee types. Can you please assist me? Assume expense is not a problem, and Thanks! Notes: Defenses are low; I have a different build that focuses more on defense/resistance, but this one has done well so far. I am interested in better defenses, always, but not at the cost of damage or recharge. I can currently cast a fully pumped Inferno every 39 seconds or so. Even Rise of the Phoenix is available every 75 seconds or so, and neither of those includes using Burnout. I am focussing on AoE attacks. So I am not looking for better single target damage. This is a team build and is expected never to solo. Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.1.25 https://github.com/Crytilis/mids-reborn-hero-designer Incendiary Effect: Level 50 Mutation Blaster Primary Power Set: Fire Blast Secondary Power Set: Atomic Manipulation Power Pool: Sorcery Power Pool: Concealment Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Speed Ancillary Pool: Flame Mastery Hero Profile: ------------ Level 1: Flares (A) Superior Defiant Barrage - RechargeTime/+Status (3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Defiant Barrage - Damage/RechargeTime (5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (5) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (7) Superior Defiant Barrage - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime Level 1: Electron Shackles (A) Decimation - Chance of Build Up Level 2: Fire Ball (A) Ragnarok - Chance for Knockdown (7) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance (9) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge (11) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range (11) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance Level 4: Mystic Flight (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 6: Rain of Fire (A) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown (13) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage (15) Positron's Blast - Damage/Endurance (15) Positron's Blast - Damage/Recharge (17) Positron's Blast - Damage/Range (17) Positron's Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance Level 8: Fire Breath (A) Artillery - Accuracy/Damage (19) Artillery - Damage/Endurance (19) Artillery - Damage/Recharge (21) Artillery - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (21) Artillery - Accuracy/Recharge/Range (23) Artillery - Endurance/Recharge/Range Level 10: Ionize (A) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge (23) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge (25) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge (25) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge (27) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance Level 12: Aim (A) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge (27) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Recharge (29) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge (29) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance/Recharge (31) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance Level 14: Stealth (A) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) (31) Shield Wall - Defense (31) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 16: Beta Decay (A) Achilles' Heel - Defense Debuff Level 18: Maneuvers (A) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage (33) Reactive Defenses - Defense (33) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance (33) Reactive Defenses - Defense/RechargeTime (34) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance/RechargeTime (34) Reactive Defenses - Endurance/RechargeTime Level 20: Metabolic Acceleration (A) Numina's Convalescence - +Regeneration/+Recovery (34) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance (36) Numina's Convalescence - Endurance/Recharge (36) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Recharge (36) Numina's Convalescence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge (37) Numina's Convalescence - Heal Level 22: Assault (A) Endurance Reduction IO Level 24: Tactics (A) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up Level 26: Blazing Bolt (A) Apocalypse - Damage (37) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge (37) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (39) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Recharge (39) Apocalypse - Damage/Endurance (39) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 28: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO (40) Recharge Reduction IO Level 30: Spirit Ward (A) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb Level 32: Inferno (A) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Recharge/Chance for Fire Damage (40) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage (40) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Damage/Recharge (42) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (42) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (42) Superior Blaster's Wrath - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 35: Bonfire (A) Ragnarok - Damage (43) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge (43) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (43) Ragnarok - Accuracy/Recharge (45) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance (45) Sudden Acceleration - Knockback to Knockdown Level 38: Rune of Protection (A) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) (45) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance Level 41: Fire Shield (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (46) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (46) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP (46) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance Level 44: Rise of the Phoenix (A) Armageddon - Damage (48) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge (48) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (48) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge (50) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance (50) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage Level 47: Super Speed (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%) Level 49: Burnout (A) Recharge Reduction IO (50) Recharge Reduction IO Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty Level 1: Defiance Level 1: Quick Form 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) Celerity - +Stealth Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Health (A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance (13) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration Level 2: Hurdle (A) Jumping IO Level 2: Stamina (A) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod Level 50: Assault Core Embodiment Level 50: Agility Radial Paragon Level 50: Pyronic Radial Final Judgement Level 50: Clarion Radial Epiphany Level 50: Degenerative Core Flawless Interface Level 50: Banished Pantheon Radial Superior Ally ------------ | Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1561;726;1452;HEX;| |78DA6594CB4F135114C6EF74A6940205DA42791628EF47195A4051C047788A4082A| |06EC9D80E3A496D9B763076E9DE8D3171A1283E160A0B37A22EFD5B8C4BC3C3D7C2| |B8A8A7733E18924E02BF3B67CEF79D736EEFCCF2FD998AF7F30F2E09C9339DD0B2D| |9F529FA6FEA99D2E54D53338D5452D0E55B48C6F464DCD0CC4CAE6D7663438F992E| |0A3720777D554BDED6E3EA9C91D159DF7DFC646D339D4E654C75552BA8C96E7D594| |B1AE9CD047B57ACA45209752D9589E9999CD7BA5948DE33B2C62D236198B92A2BB2| |A46B713D93BD63A4CB383DADEB71DF6CDA88A97309EDAE4E96855AB97A6A294C7F9| |7C5F195770AA7224454110E014A4CC501CACC128539D677A215628BD0A388298204| |3F69CCC1F91F84C5D23DF023B3EC13F899F9B84B0859623F7982A0C8629AE0849FF| |3AB6CE555C0AF127E95F0AB865F35FC66082E685DB2D38AF914D0C9AC29015DCC40| |29739C6673B35671BFE13902DBCCFA57E04B66E36BE62C659743530E4D2334CDD03| |443D3028D871AF4F0CC0ECF22CFD77215AC952C4E502F55D897AA2FA4F32BC24B3A| |2FC79CDE5F9CDF76001E823F98A19FE0117392FCFCD0FA6F728DD03566C72AB8065| |E6776DE60FAA86E2D7AA90D15F6D92DFC14AB43AC6E87E79A2F1C79EC7D4398639D| |83A0CAEC1E02236094D94E7E4DEC27350D708D1EF0119D9120CE5C709FE7B94277A| |DA8D5BACDB19EA7E03366DF16F81C7CC17C4B6887B67D98EBF78F80A3E01966F82C| |F88DCFFF13EAA58BB552D730FB8583D478D02D76E8B69767907B0B9B1354C4E06FC| |E19FC0BFE61EE1206D0C3C039AE31741E1C072798D149F002B383F64AC57EA84DEC| |E7080811415F11EC5B146C564EBDB379BA4448397E65F3F9C5FE93A7F9FEA2CC485| |1245A1419298A8C164596EC8AF492F11C2BCAC97743485696BB9ABE06E865BF8C9E| |4221E1CB7068C72429842FC345DEE983D3F9BD3CF9D1E9D843AEFA8E7EFA2866FF1| |7B0D71D35F67AD76FAFE7EAECF5F74E7BFD1F3E2BF524| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

If a Blaster is a master of all damage, what is the point of a Scrapper -- what niche do they fill? During the days of live I simply didn't play blasters. I'd play a Defender and then Corruptors once they became available. I also played Controllers and Dominators. But I truly hated being in melee, especially on a squishy archetype. So why do I have to be "incentivized" to play in melee? Why can't I just play at range? Why are the powers in the Blaster Archetype set up to force them into melee? I have learned a lot about how to play the game since it has been back, and there are changes to it that have made some things very easy. I'm even enjoying melee archetypes. But if I want to melee, I'm going to use a melee archetype, and leave the face planting to others who want to play blasters in melee. Because it doesn't matter how much damage you are capable of, the bad guys don't care when all you can do is lie there and inspect the carpet/take a dirt nap.

"After the game shut down, several new Blaster secondary sets were developed (eg: Tactical Arrow, Atomic Manipulation, Plant Manipulation), but these sets were generally quite overtuned in the crowd control department, whilst also lacking in incentives to get into melee range - both of these factors contributed towards the sets being a tad too safe." I debated as to whether or not to respond in this thread, and finally decided I should at least try to get my voice to be heard. So here I go... I disagree with the range changes to Tactical Arrow, and specifically take issue with this phrase: "whilst also lacking in incentives to get into melee range". Why does a Blaster need to be incentivized to get into melee range? Either a player has fun playing his blaster there and can pick a different set, or a player never wants to be in melee range and chooses their powers accordingly. Said another way: Back in live, I never considered playing melee sets because I had trouble seeing around the melees, and I hadn't tried the melee-focussed archetypes. This resulted in fear of insta death if I were in melee -- with lots of confirmations on my Defenders, Controllers, Corruptors, etc. It wasn't until the game returned that I tried Tanks, Brutes, Stalkers, and Scrappers. So my question is this: Why does game design insist on getting blasters into melee range? It just seems dumb, especially when there are so many, other melee archetypes. Because I know if I play a blaster, I do not want to be in melee. Please do not reduce the ranges on Tactical Arrow. Thank you.

Why is it considered a good thing for Blasters to be forced into melee range? I mean, if I wanted to play melee, I'd play a Brute, Scrapper, Stalker or Tanker. I too would ask that the ranges on Tactical Arrow not be nerfed. I used to avoid melee -- and melee ATs -- like the plague. since CoH has been back, I have learned to play melee. And I still feel the same about blastes: They need all range options and NOT to be forced into melee.

Is there a way to get this again if you have already completed it?

Ran this last night using this document as a reference -- along with some help. That document is nicely thorough! This was particularly helpful: "For the raid leader: Balancing the teams is important to keep rewards well spread across all participants. Most important of course is to have a level 50 leader for each team. After that, distribute every AT equally across the available teams. (For example, no team should have 2 Masterminds if any team would be left with 0 Masterminds.)" Thanks, Eda!

"Very interesting. Since I'm an Auto-issue contact, you should never see my IDontKnowYouString. Ooh, it makes me feel a bit naked." I am playing on a Mac (64-bit) This occurred after I teleported into the RWZ via the Lady Gray Taskforce -- via LFG Borea did not have a problem with my character -- only Levantera The issue persisted until I zoned out of RWZ and then zoned back in again (via base portal) This was reported here per GM's suggestion. Thank you!

First, thank you for your kind response. Second, do you have any suggestions on with what I should replace those Impervious Skin Status Resistance pieces, or the additional Psi resist pieces? Third, I'd forgotten I removed HamiOs except for the movement powers, in game; I have updated Mids to reflect that. Fourth, if I understand HamiOs correctly, they will exemplar down with you, where a level 50 movement piece would not. Further, Sprint can take leap and running sets, so the Hamio there adds to both. Swift adds to Flight and Running, not that I currently have a flight power. Hurdle only applies to leaping, so I would make the change there, except for the whole Exemplar thoughts, above. Here is the build, in its current form, including incarnate content. Please let me know if you have further suggestions, and thank you again! Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7 https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer Level 50 Magic Brute Primary Power Set: Savage Melee Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Leaping Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery Hero Profile: ------------ Level 1: Maiming Slash (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage (19) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance (48) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge (48) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge (48) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (50) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal) Level 1: Deflection (A) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance (31) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance (42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 2: Shred (A) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Recharge (3) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (5) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (5) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (7) Superior Brute's Fury - Recharge/Fury Bonus Level 4: Battle Agility (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (31) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (34) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (37) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) (40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 6: True Grit (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (13) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance (40) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (43) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime (43) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (45) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance Level 8: Vicious Slash (A) Hecatomb - Damage (9) Hecatomb - Damage/Recharge (9) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (11) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Recharge (11) Hecatomb - Damage/Endurance (13) Hecatomb - Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 10: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 12: Kick (A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge Level 14: Tough (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (15) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance (15) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance (17) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance (17) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) Level 16: Super Speed (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%) Level 18: Rending Flurry (A) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage (23) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/RechargeTime (45) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (46) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (46) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (46) Superior Unrelenting Fury - RechargeTime/+Regen/+End Level 20: Phalanx Fighting (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (23) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage Level 22: Taunt (A) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage Level 24: Weave (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (25) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (25) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (29) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (31) Gift of the Ancients - Endurance/Recharge (50) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 26: Maneuvers (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (27) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (27) Gift of the Ancients - Endurance/Recharge (29) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (42) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (43) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 28: Blood Thirst (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 30: Against All Odds (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 32: Savage Leap (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage (33) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance (33) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (33) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (34) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (34) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown Level 35: Shield Charge (A) Armageddon - Damage (36) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge (37) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance (37) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage Level 38: One with the Shield (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (39) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime (39) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (39) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime (40) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP (45) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance Level 41: Superior Conditioning (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End Level 44: Physical Perfection (A) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb Level 47: Combat Jumping (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 49: Active Defense (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Dash (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Slide (A) Celerity - +Stealth Level 1: Prestige Power Quick (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Rush (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Surge (A) Empty Level 1: Fury Level 1: Sprint (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Health (A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance (7) Miracle - +Recovery (19) Numina's Convalesence - Heal (50) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery Level 2: Hurdle (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End Level 1: Blood Frenzy Level 50: Agility Partial Core Revamp Level 50: Mighty Judgement Level 50: Degenerative Core Interface Level 50: Knives of Vengeance Core Ally Level 50: Clarion Radial Invocation Level 50: Melee Total Core Graft ------------ | Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1532;698;1396;HEX;| |78DA6D94594F135114C7EF74A694D21DE8062DD85268A7C5DABA242A1A8D2C264A0| |D09D1576CE0D28E36D0B468E4D1073F832F2EA0F8A051125FFC10AED1EF819AB8A0| |4FF530E74F87A44EDAFCEE3DF7FEEF59EE9929DD99726F5FBC7B4E28AEC95AB9D95| |CB8D0B8B526EDA572C558147B8F83FE11D3B850923529F3F3E5DBE50A26315E9892| |CB72A5494B5543D696F6A7A2676E75B5969FAF4BB9E431873346A5BA66AC547CE66| |C56969764A35935EAEEFD799D16A3D37563313FBD221B95F58552B9B9261BEB1C55| |844219A7FFF38CC0D3B28B65425113BD15E6912A68803798C59BCCB76EA2626A551| |1A7415C13433A31AD09BD5F31F7E8419EBF203F0AEFB52B1BAAB966DB049F30B5A7| |E016B3EB19F31DF95159ABA91A9F37646726BA99A9CBBC371D64BFEF4963873FFB4| |F5E7323B6F42F9E67FF80BBCC71E47045E7ABDAD33AC66CE65A771ACC307B7430CB| |74E79849123A592B9C39AE938D6C2E8E45B8EEF13E956C1EE4E409B35F2FFC7B11A| |7FF04E7E23FCAF18D90C687B37D836C7B49750D20CF805B336D210F73DCCB3CEC03| |FD6080F9896AD487FBEB435DFB51D77ED435F44335F98AFC04E13BD8E41C348A270| |CDF61E823D0471CCC18CE19EA6216D10F01D246A18D423B00ED00F6C670868E33B2| |B8DB6D8A6510B10CA2C61F2997B8D98C2D1187ED35ED1BC63D0E3FE09C0F3D041F8| |18F99890D7093F999CE4B429B3CC9F98E9C024F8313CCD419F02CF30B6947A11D45| |EF8DFD06D16B63E8BDF45FF41EEEDC191022835EC9DC476F912D075B6E87F787A87| |E79D4208FBA7C20BF05D80AA8414C6BBFDFF4A347643B2C05ADFD1E53F3B2CF62C7| |AE631D96E31D9619EBA4D6ECC1D50982A68A390DCB64534C85D34FEF365B5A3B3DE| |D6F8450A0F866D9542581EFC225AE55EF55CEBB788DF9F53FFAEF076DA8A74C5B51| |EE86C884F175DD1A9F0F5BE39D9435DEEAB3C66F92D6F81F73F4DF0C| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

This is my build, a little updated. Thanks for your build, too! Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7 https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer Level 50 Magic Brute Primary Power Set: Savage Melee Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Leaping Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery Hero Profile: ------------ Level 1: Savage Strike (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage (19) Mako's Bite - Damage/Endurance (48) Mako's Bite - Damage/Recharge (48) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge (48) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (50) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal) Level 1: Deflection (A) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance (31) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance (42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense (42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 2: Shred (A) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/RechargeTime (3) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (5) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (5) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (7) Superior Unrelenting Fury - RechargeTime/+Regen/+End Level 4: Battle Agility (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (31) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (34) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (37) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All) (40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 6: True Grit (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (13) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance (40) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (43) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime (43) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (45) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance Level 8: Vicious Slash (A) Hecatomb - Damage (9) Hecatomb - Damage/Recharge (9) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (11) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Recharge (11) Hecatomb - Damage/Endurance (13) Hecatomb - Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 10: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 12: Kick (A) Force Feedback - Chance for +Recharge Level 14: Tough (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (15) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance (15) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance (17) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance (17) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) Level 16: Against All Odds (A) HamiO:Ribosome Exposure Level 18: Rending Flurry (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage (45) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance (45) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (46) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (46) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (46) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown Level 20: Phalanx Fighting (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (23) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (23) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage Level 22: Taunt (A) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage Level 24: Weave (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (25) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (25) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (29) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (31) Gift of the Ancients - Endurance/Recharge (50) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 26: Maneuvers (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (27) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (27) Gift of the Ancients - Endurance/Recharge (29) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (42) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (43) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 28: Super Speed (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%) Level 30: Blood Thirst (A) HamiO:Membrane Exposure Level 32: Savage Leap (A) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage (33) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Recharge (33) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (33) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (34) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (34) Superior Brute's Fury - Recharge/Fury Bonus Level 35: Shield Charge (A) Armageddon - Damage (36) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge (37) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance (37) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage Level 38: One with the Shield (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (39) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime (39) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (39) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime (40) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP (50) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance Level 41: Combat Jumping (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 44: Superior Conditioning (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End Level 47: Physical Perfection (A) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration Level 49: Active Defense (A) HamiO:Ribosome Exposure Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Dash (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Slide (A) Celerity - +Stealth Level 1: Prestige Power Quick (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Rush (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Surge (A) Empty Level 1: Fury Level 1: Sprint (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Health (A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance (7) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery (19) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb Level 2: Hurdle (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End Level 1: Blood Frenzy ------------ | Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1460;673;1346;HEX;| |78DA6D94594F13511886CF74A640A1A52D5028D0826C6DA7C54A5D1205C544012FA| |48684C45BD2C0A11D6DA069D1C8A517FE066F5CC025314649FC1BAED1FFE192B85F| |D58F795F96A44E3A79E67CE7BCDF36DF347F6BC6BF73E9F67965B45D2C176AB5A50| |BD51B1BDA9B2F149D65B57B35CB1D758D4B795DD63ABB58B859287211C3C68C5ED5| |6B35D92A39BABCB2B754AD0BEBEBE5EC6245EB9580FB38E7144B1BCE5A31E8AEE67| |56145576B25A7E2DF5B5764B377B6E22C6767D774B5B8B9942FD436747513594525| |9584DCCF528A57DDAB5605394B7514C16325D221AF81B9EBE06BBFD070B5A68ACB4| |3DC5203B6306929BBCB70CFD811F0B9C43170D66BF82DD7E60990EDA01524436053| |187C23714C682DD382FF012F38D4028E5E36DDB349C67B2B1A2FE3797F60CFCFDC9| |23FB14EFF227F83E3ACE18A8D57B5AB6D4E78DCBD962499025B6D320DFA33E0B008| |7DD02A5F067DF288AD0DB9A8B63B38678A2DC09A023D88DBCEF8EDCC33740AB5848| |E23BFF75253D06D625D05A70596A95E485FC3CC357C0FFD1ABF4F3E008F3E24B7C8| |6DF083F8EB640E9DEC6B17FBDAC5BE763793DF4D972F255E84F5456AA8C5925A7AD| |8EB1EFA89D24F94FA18FD0D3481B90818166D2FB5BDD4F651DBC7B331FAB0E923CD| |773C22DA7EF6B5BF1F3DDA91FCE2CC2F3E891EBD12DB20630C6EE1DC916DF211F91| |81C7A423E053F4A8F86D9DFE1D3A877E40C39494E81A367C973E027D18E513BC699| |4B70E6129CB9C41FCEED5F30676306BAA5B6146B4BB15E9FBCE80C6D99BB9C3BB16| |569CB4E43FB4EE24EB007139C9398B5FF9DCB4F2E956EB04C58FBDFB30C31FCE71A| |4E9D68B09C6CB0CC1D78AACF1FDE9D42360B16B7C566B80A5F48BE7158EA9F5BF7F| |F2B9441C5D7039BC71842AF9AAEA22F1D9FB1FEF21FDDB7C336F64C270FB2FB07E5| |67CC97| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

What follows is my current build plan for a Savage Melee / Shield Defense Brute. Could those of you with more experience at building and playing Brutes please offer any insight/advice into making my build better, or even provide play advice for these sets? Thank you in advance for any help you may provide! Build goals: 1) Survivability; opponents typically faced will be using Energy, Psi, and Smashing/Lethal 2) Damage 3) Recharge Villain Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7 https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer Level 50 Magic Brute Primary Power Set: Savage Melee Secondary Power Set: Shield Defense Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Leaping Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery Villain Profile: ------------ Level 1: Savage Strike (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (25) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 1: Deflection (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed (31) Luck of the Gambler - Defense Level 2: Shred (A) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage (3) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/RechargeTime (3) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime (5) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (5) Superior Unrelenting Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (7) Superior Unrelenting Fury - RechargeTime/+Regen/+End Level 4: Battle Agility (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (31) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (34) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (37) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (40) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 6: True Grit (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance (40) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (43) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime (43) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (45) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance Level 8: Vicious Slash (A) Hecatomb - Damage (9) Hecatomb - Damage/Recharge (9) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (11) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Recharge (11) Hecatomb - Damage/Endurance (13) Hecatomb - Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 10: Hasten (A) Recharge Reduction IO Level 12: Boxing (A) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge (13) Mako's Bite - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 14: Tough (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3% (15) Impervious Skin - Status Resistance (15) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance (17) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance (17) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All) Level 16: Against All Odds (A) HamiO:Ribosome Exposure Level 18: Rending Flurry (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage (45) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance (45) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (46) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (46) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (46) Superior Avalanche - Recharge/Chance for Knockdown Level 20: Phalanx Fighting (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (21) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (23) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (23) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 22: Taunt (A) Perfect Zinger - Chance for Psi Damage Level 24: Weave (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (25) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (29) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (31) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (42) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 26: Maneuvers (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (27) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge (27) Gift of the Ancients - Defense (29) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (43) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed Level 28: Super Speed (A) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%) Level 30: Maiming Slash (A) Touch of Death - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance (50) Touch of Death - Damage/Endurance/Recharge Level 32: Savage Leap (A) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage (33) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Recharge (33) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (33) Superior Brute's Fury - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime (34) Superior Brute's Fury - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge (34) Superior Brute's Fury - Recharge/Fury Bonus Level 35: Shield Charge (A) Armageddon - Damage (36) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge (36) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge (37) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance (37) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage Level 38: One with the Shield (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance (39) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime (39) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance (39) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime (40) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP Level 41: Combat Jumping (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance (42) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge (42) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge Level 44: Superior Conditioning (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End Level 47: Physical Perfection (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance (48) Doctored Wounds - Endurance/Recharge (48) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge (48) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge (50) Doctored Wounds - Heal (50) Doctored Wounds - Recharge Level 49: Active Defense (A) HamiO:Ribosome Exposure Level 1: Brawl (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Dash (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Slide (A) Celerity - +Stealth Level 1: Prestige Power Quick (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Rush (A) Empty Level 1: Prestige Power Surge (A) Empty Level 1: Fury Level 1: Sprint (A) Empty Level 2: Rest (A) Empty Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Health (A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance (7) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery (19) Miracle - +Recovery (19) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb Level 2: Hurdle (A) HamiO:Microfilament Exposure Level 2: Stamina (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End Level 1: Blood Frenzy ------------

Bio seems too clicky for me. I don't really like how it seems to need to be played. Thanks for the suggestions on Radiation and Shield!

I had never tanked before -- I *despised* melee. Back in the days of live, I played a LOT of defenders, but eventually settled on Controllers as my favorite Archetype. Then that changed... I have a very consistent play group, so I felt like I could give tanking a try and, if I tanked, well, I'd be with my friends and roll something else. One of the group, when he found out what was up, suggested I try an Electric Armor tank; I paired that with Dark Melee, thinking the -to hit of Dark would make it even tankier... I *love* the build. It even exemplars decently. But now I'm stuck. I still am pretty ignorant when it comes to tanker primaries, and I kind of want to try something else. Can anyone suggest another set, similar in play to Electric Armor? And, with that suggestion, any Melee sets I should avoid pairing / must pair with that set? Beter yet, if anyone has suggested builds, I am open to them as well. Thanks!

You wouldn't be willing to share your build for the Bio / Dark tanker, would you? 🙂 Thanks!