Without_Pause

My default builds until HC were using only level 25 common IOs and even during HC that took time to add in anything not common. I've played hundreds of hours of level 50 content with those common builds.

For Rad: RA, 1 end, 3 heal, 1 recharge(maybe) RI, 1 end reduc, 3 tohit debuff. AM: 3 recharge. EF, 1 end reduc. Maybe some recharge. 8 second recharge isn't exactly terrible. Mutation: 1 recharge. Anything more and you are taking Fallout. LR, 1 end reduc, 0-3 slow. CC, 1-2 acc, end reduc, up tp 3 holds. EM Pulse, similar to CC. You might want some recharge in there.

Aim is still useful to making sure Kin hit. The bigger synergy is how much DP plays in melee.

You can slot out a build of common IOs for the cost of a single attuned IO, but attuned IOs is what I use these days. I swap them out as I go along as needed. At one point I didn't care what bonus I got from some crappy attuned IO as any bonus was better than none. Even non-full sets worked as I would just frankenslot anyway. Eventually I learned enough to more properly slot out a character. Granted, I still like rework a build in Mid's around 4+ times before I consider it "finished."

/sonic might be one of if not the only place where a Corr isn't better. Cast times are better come Page 4 as well.

DB/ea. I feel like Claws needs less recharge while DB needs more for me to pull off the needed combos. /sr has a higher base recharge, but in decent enough sized mobs, /ea can win out. Plus, /ea offers -recharge so in essence it offers a greater net change in recharge between you and the mobs. (I see lightpunch added this before I finished) Savage/ice. Yes, it is better on a Brute, BUT, Savage is offense heavy with lacking mitigation. /ice adds in a def based set and the ability to keep mobs around you with the -speed which will be nice for all of the DoT action you are bringing. Both sets are end friendly and Savage brings its own +recharge which again pairs nice with the -recharge /ice offers. StJ/stone. Stone is one of the best overall armors. StJ is a rather well balanced set in terms of ST, AOE, mitigation. StJ has maybe(I forget) the second best cast times outside of specific attach chains. The biggest issue for its AoE is the size of the AoEs. /stone adds in a damage aura to help fill in that hole. Global: Without Pause

You want a Brute for Savage. Fury + DoT = love.

This is the way. Level 25 Commons either crafted or bought via the market as the market for them is bad and thus they can be had for cheap. You can also work on the IO crafting memorization badges so you can skip on needing the recipe and the crafting cost is lower. My default until recently was just slotting level 25 commons until level 50. I've use those common builds for level 50 content and felt fine. Now, I certainly would add in some one off IOs and such as needed since it allows me to do things like 2-slot Stamina, give great bang for buck return with Def/Resist, or add in a proc to an attack. D/R is less desired in a slot as you pimp out a build so yay damage procs.

Do note, I feel like soloing +4/x8 has a bit of an asterisk with it. Yes, I have a brute who can do it, and even pre level 50, BUT, there are certain maps which are all sorts of "Hell no." This says nothing about can it be done at a tolerable rate as well. Sure, you could if you wanted to do that setting with a Ice/ff controller, but dear lord why?

Is something which can solo at +4/x8 obsolete? Asking for a friend.

IIRC, it is a bit bugged in how well it interacts with procs. Some people 6 slot it with procs.

ST Hold and ST Immob with Arcane Bolt. There's no need to dip that heavily in pool attacks.

I don't see there being an advantage to a farming server. There would be no real perk for farming there as one could simply transfer elsewhere once they were done being farmed or farming themselves. Plus, I dual box farms. Why do I need to be encouraged to move to a separate server so I can still farm by myself?

The shields from Sonic will still make Jack tougher as well. Now add in the -res, and I would much rather have that. Sonic Siphon adds 22.5% -res to a single target for a controller. No, not really sexy at all, but it is at least something. Toss in Arcane Bolt and you at least can have a fairly early attack chain.

Ice/ff would be worse since there is no -res.

I question the usage of "every time." Last I checked the population was only trending downward. With fewer players, players are seeking more and solo solo options. Have you even tried to find consistent teams on the lower pop servers? I have and can spend hours on said server and get maybe one instance of a non-50 team being announced in the LFT channel. This isn't to say their are that many level 50 teams running either.

I was down around the 12 minute mark on my Rad/fire depending on how on top of my game I was trying to be. I know I can be faster, but I just haven't put in the effort to do so, and taking a break from the game anyway.

If you have a level 50 build, then it isn't a blank slate.

What do you have right now?

Will it get better? Yes. WP outside of debuffs is quite good. It might help to open up Mid's and put your build into it and post it. I'm not saying you can't get to 50 on SOs because you absolutely can, and the build will be decent enough. However, the usage of SOs in CoH has essentially past, IMO. Adding in a few select IOs can be rather beneficial even if you need to be cheap since you lack funds or know how to slot IOs. Once you hit level 22, you keep opening up better options for IOs. Level 27 is the best range until you can slot level 50s. I can't recall what diff setting I had at level 23. Some builds just bloom early enough to where +0/x3 is fairly easy to take on where others would still be at +0/x2. Getting CU at 32 will help simply because that thing cranks.

I don't sell converters for 70K. I use them to convert other things and make even more than the 70K. If I'm not making a million/converter as an example, that's a bad deal on my end.

And a dedicated graphics card. I don't how much percent wise one wants to avoid Intel, but any time I have asked in support about whatever computer I am using to run the game, I am reminded that CoH isn't kind to Intel. However, I can have issues with the game running smooth with a SSD drive and 16 GB RAM, but using an integrated graphics card on my work laptop. Less than my non-SSD and 8 GB RAM personal laptop mind you, but yeah. I even put the settings on minimum for the crappier one and can still have issues depending on what map and what is going on. I eagerly await the day my personal laptop finally decides it die just not too eagerly as I prefer not spending the money.

Once the both players get some mezzes going things will smooth out. You basically mezz the annoying stuff, then debuff and slow anything else, and drop AoEs on them. Redside is fine if mobs sizes are sane. At least in terms of soloing, x8 can be a genuine pain in the butt higher up due to end drain and the sheer mass of Psy.

Four of the 6 TFC TFs and the Shard TFs all could use a revamp. Even some of the better ones still make me go, "But why?"

Yeah, I do the big mob map which is in a tunnel and no stragglers. A single pass gets me to 22. If nothing else that's an easy and nice thing to do for just about any character although hitting 27 would be the ideal in terms of IO slotting options for level 30 sets. TA has been a nice find. I'm still hellbent against longer animations so when I get back around to things I'm curious about Dark/kin controller. The only long animation is really a before battle cast anyway.