LiquidBandage

You're right, you don't understand what has been said. Not once have I complained about the change. I asked if there was information from the HC crew regarding why this change was made. I wanted to understand why they deemed it a necessary change, what problem it corrected or what benefit they thought it would provide.

No, I do not relish having to dedicate three (iirc) power choices in a Pool just to get the benefit of Stamina so the rest of my powers could shine a little brighter. I did appreciate that having to make that choice to put my other power choices in perspective. I could build towards a sine wave performance profile or a steady flat curve. Now that it (Stamina) is a built-in power, I take it semi for granted and instead focus on the next goal on the horizon.

It is somewhat humorous that there are "dead" levels at all. I am going to have to put on my Old Man overalls and yell at "those damned kids" to get off my lawn because I remember having to dedicate a Pool choice to get Stamina by level 20.

In isolation, that makes a lot of sense. Wanting freedom to pick powers from your Primary/Secondary to help fuel your concept. I would counter their argument with: Make all powers (secondary and primary) available starting at level 1. Let the character concept drive the evolution of the powers. If a mangled Cronenberg beast emerges, that's what respecs are designed to correct.

I appreciate the pointers to relevant discussions, thank you. I was more focused on if anyone knew if any of the official Homecoming people had a declarative statement on why they were enacting this change, not just hard details of what was being changed. I was interested to grapple with their rationale behind the change.

Regarding the Quality of Life changes in today's update: Can someone point me out to the discussion that covers how/why this change was enacted? If none such thread/discussion exists, what is the theory/need that is addressed by this change?

These changes just mean I will be pushing my Sonic Res & Thermal Rad characters more often.

I'd consider a couple options. Option A - Beam/Devices Blaster You can keep Disintegrate DoT on him to suppress Regen a bit, plus it enhances the damage of your other Beam attacks Willpower has typed defenses instead of positional, so powers like Smoke Grenade & Toxic Web Grenade are more likely to land The constant application of -Perception (from Smoke Grenade) will eventually pay off if you stay at range (preferably flying) Leviathan Mastery has Bile Spray (ranged Toxic), and you can pick up Toxic Dart from the Experimentation pool Pick up the Diamagnetic Interface Incarnate to further suppress regen The stealth from Field Operative will help you choose when to engage Option B - Bane Spider You have some powers that already deal Toxic damage, you can supplement with the Bile Spray (Leviathan Mastery) & Toxic Dart (Experimentation) if you want Cloaking Device lets you pick and choose when to engage Surveillance is a great debuff (it is positional and has no typed component) to prime your big attacks You have some great built in defenses that you can tailor to your liking Option C - Force Field Defender Detention Field to put him in time out over in the corner Personal Force Field for the moments you don't have him in Detention Essentially play the "I can do this all day" game and force him to admit defeat and give up voluntarily (kinda dangerous game to play though)

Pretty much, yeah (radiation as a contingency). The character was originally conceptualized as a massive -Regen machine for encounters like Hamidon or AVs. When in a group that is chewing through mobs I typically fire off a Accelerate Metabolism & Radiant Aura for whomever happens to be nearby (for procs and whatnot). Then if we are engaging a fresh group, I fire off a Lingering Radiation to impact as many as possible. Then I cycle through Disintegrate/Lancer Shot/Penetrating Ray/Charged Shot. I usually try to cycle through targets instead of burning down since the group usually AoEs their hearts out. Typically I try to target bosses/elites first so power activations are less likely to be wasted on almost dead targets. When dealing with clusters of mobs that won't instantly evaporate to the group's AoE I prep with Disintegrate then cycle through Lancer->Penetrating Ray->Charged Shot to spread Disintegration DoTs and follow up with an Overcharge. I dumped Cutting Beam from my build because I don't enjoy the sfx. And maneuvering to land the narrow cone of Piercing Beam can be a hassle, so I reserve that for long fights or if I see Disintegrate spread really early in an engagement. In essence, I am focusing on single target and relying on Disintegrate DoT procs to do my "AoE".

I run a Radiation/Beam Defender and mobs die so quickly (buckets of -regen) I only ever use the anchor powers on AVs. If I spend time to actually apply an anchor (for example, to a Cyclops) it is dead before I can fire off an attack, so I don't bother unless the team scatters and it is just a few players going up against the baddie. It really helps to have the anchor powers and at the same time you have to make judgement calls on when to use them effectively.

Luminous Blast (Peacebringer) & Luminous Aura (Peacebringer) I can fly, I can heal other people, heal myself, rez when I die. And I would have way too much fun just lighting off Photon Seekers to see who I subconsciously deemed an enemy. Not sure if I would go incognito with a human form only or go full squid/lobster and flaunt it. And since I am an alien, I'd try to see if I could fly into space. I wouldn't need a travel pool power since my choice is baked into the set.

That's partly why I built a Ice/Poison Corruptor with four single target holds and two macros for targeting problematic mobs. It is great when I can roll with a group that is just plowing through groups and no one really notices that the problematic ones were just held to death every time. 🙂

I Hate (with a capital H) fighting against mobs that suppress Perception to the point where you can't see anything (enemies disappear). So for the most part, I hate playing against Arachnos for that reason (I really do like the design of all the other mobs in their organization though). I am not asking for help or advice about how to overcome it, I just really do not like the binary nature of Perception (you either see everything or you see nothing). I like the variety of challenges provided by each group, it helps foster the sense that you cannot craft an invulnerable character. Thus you are encouraged to team up with others to spread the load and/or trade off on who is leading the charge vs supporting. I don't know if I actually have a favorite group.

I can address your quandaries from my perspective. There are many methods to form groups for content. One of the hallmarks of critical thought is evaluating what lead you to a certain conclusion. What is my bias? How does it affect how I look at an ecosystem? In general, I do not care for players that speed run (and/or stealth to objectives to TP everyone). Yes, it is a valid tactic and it can greatly save on time, but the people that are left behind are just superfluous baggage and it is not a fun feeling. Not all characters are geared or capable to withstand multiple aggro'd mobs (like a speed ITF) and will just faceplant. So they have to stealth or just sit at the door. So I categorically ignore any calls for speed runs. All too often I see people ask in chat channels "Is anyone running X?" because this person wants to run X content. This assumes that there is a mythical group out there, partially formed and just waiting for you to ask in an open channel to join them. No, no group is just waiting around for someone to ask to join. If you want to do X content, get a group up off the ground yourself (and it sounds like you have tried and failed before, hence the post on the forums). Part of the challenge of playing this game is tackling content with other characters that are not perfectly suited for the encounter and you find a way to adapt. Sometimes it is a non-optimal combination of AT/powerset and other times you are just under manned. Just simply overmatching content with Incarnates or purpled out enhancements can get the job done, but not everyone can do that on the character they are playing. What I would suggest is this: Be verbose here on the forums about making runs on X content. Outline what you think would work best for how you want to approach the run (archetypes, powersets, power effects/debuffs, a certain type of Incarnate ability, etc) so people can more closely align to what you have in mind. Set up a time to do it, and be available to either make an attempt or help people learn how to tackle the content (win or lose). Be persistent, be consistent. If you build a reputation for being a leader (and not just someone that drags others through content), people in game (or wherever you congregate on Discord) will more readily heed your calls to run X content when you ask. Also, on a side note, when I log in, I spend a little time paying attention to chat (groups forming, people asking questions, etc), but once I start tackling content, I do not pay attention to chat (other than TEAM chat). So the absence of feedback when calls are made does not mean that no one is interested, they could just be otherwise occupied. (and this is where a presence on the forum or Discord would help with visibility)

If you are interested in tanking the big blob (which you have mentioned you aren't), aim for Lobster and not Lightform. The HP pool and periodic heal are the only things that really matter in that role. If you want to melee, do NOT use Lobster form (you can't fly on your own or use a jetpack). If you want to pew pew, any build should work fine. If you want some independence wrt not getting mezed, pick up Rune of Protection from the Sorcery pool. In general, Incarnates can really help. The Diamagnetic (regen debuff) or Degenerative (max HP debuff) are helpful. And of course your Lore pet. As for other AT types: I really like my Ice/Poison/Mu Corruptor for stacking single target holds and debuffs. I can roll out four single target holds and we chew through Mending mitos. I also enjoy my Pain/Water Defender. It can MT heal and provide a group augment via World of Pain And for higher tier debuffs (vs any mito or the big blob) is a Radiation/Beam Rifle Defender that specializes in -Regen

It might be a judgement call, but a character with Assault Rifle or Beam Rifle (Corruptor or Blaster) might be a soft intro into the genre. While you're leveling up, he will get to see a lot of other people's builds/costumes and that might inspire him to make something more adventurous. This might be a suggestion for further down the road, but consider a Mastermind (Mercenary/Thug/Robot/Demon). This choice can either be micromanaged to the n-th degree or it can be a fire & forget thing. Either way, pets can act like ablative armor and make play a little more forgiving. This is definitely not a first character choice though (can be too complex). There is so much that a player brings to their own concept that it is really important that they make the choice themselves. Even having a little back story (even if it is just in your head) really helps. And when a duo can feed off each other like that it can really lift/carry a team experience. I hope you both get to experience that kind of fun together.

Also, Inv/Dark/Mu Mastery Tank is tons of fun. The experiences of diving into large packs is the closest I have come to the old old days of dumpster diving. If you like Brutes, this will be right in your wheel house.

It has helped me to answer a few things. Do I want to be able to tank (aka Lobster)? Do I want to pew pew in squid form? Do I want to run toggles for survivability? Do I want to run a perma-X power? Do I want to melee and range and be good at both or just have the other for niche cases (or to mule enhancements)? Answering these types of questions will inform how you build. You will probably want few or no toggle powers if you run squid/lobster frequently. You will want Haste and many set bonuses to ramp recharge for the perma-X. etc, etc. There are so many power choices and build options available to the class that it can be really easy to pick powers that make your objectives murky. What I did with my PB was this: I wanted a shape-shifty alien that fought crime and essentially never be seen in 'human' form. So beyond the basic squid/lobster powers, I chose click powers that augmented capabilities in the shifted forms then a few powers to mule enhancements. Fully slotted out, it had all of the purple sets and made it a really effective character that could be a Blaster or Tank as the need arises.

Invulnerability is a great set for learning tanking (how to tank and how build a tanker). It is a very forgiving set. One of the best things you can do while leveling is to level with a friend that is playing some sort of support. All tanks can be rough to play in the early game. Learning your strengths/weaknesses and how to spot what is/isn't dangerous to you is part of the fun of the AT. Plus tanking really gives you perspective on how the team dynamic really affects your effectiveness (buffs on you & debuffs on enemies). Once you "figure it out" and get hooked, you'll make many more Tanks and Brutes. And Defense vs Resistance tanking can really be a different experience. HEATs are a real mixed bag. You really have to have a plan/vision going in, otherwise a "I'll just pick powers as I go along" approach will end up in a mediocre blob of 'meh'. The class really shines if you build towards some objective(s).

This is my suggestion: A ForceField Defender - You only have to buff your teammates every handful of minutes with shields. Your natural instincts to get in close to battle will still be valid as your big bubble will help defend other teammates. This is a soft introduction into support and you have plenty of other power choices to dedicate to offensive things or pool powers. There is a lot of flexibility here. This set is exceptionally strong in the early game as most characters don't have a lot of Defense. A Gravity/Sonic Controller - The pet casts holds, so that augments your CC capabilities. Propel is loads of fun. Lift is interesting to use and it is CC. The sonic component is where this kicks into high gear. It encourages you to play with other melee characters so you can anchor your -RES power on them. Liquefy is a massive boost to damage output for a team. And your shields/bubble help with survivability with little active monitoring on your end of things (like ForceFields). One thing I did with my build of this was to take the fighting pool to get Cross Punch. Then I took the Earth Mastery epic pool to get the foot stomp and melee hold. My guy would run into melee and scrapper-lock with the best of them (until he ran out of END). You can play it close and dangerous or you can stand off and do the standard ranged stuff (holds/immobilizes).

The "pvp server" is no different than any of the pve servers except for the gradual population shift/consolidation. There are a lot of really experienced leaders on indom that run pve content regularly. These people are excellent communicators and get leagues moving with purpose (iTrials, Hamidon, MSR, etc). The reason they have not migrated to higher population servers is that Indom is their home. If you want them to lead, you have to fill seats with your butts.

This is what I did on Live, what I have done here the past few years, what I have done in all other games: I post a LFM style message in a global channel. When The team fills, I post a message in those global channel(s) that the team has filled or is no longer looking or has been canceled. I try to do this in a timely manner to stave off more needless tells to join the team. The UP arrow is useful for this if communicating in more than one channel. If I receive more tells than spots available, I also try to send tells to those people if it is just a couple people. If it is more than that, I try to do my best to respond, but there comes a point where trying to keep track of who you talked to is more effort than is worth your time (just let the "full" message you posted in the global channel do the work). If I plan to run the content more than once, I try to let the ones who did not get on the team know of my intentions (so they know to look for my recruitment message again relatively soon). If I get a tell minutes after the team has started doing whatever it is I recruited them for, I let it slide until there is a lull in the action to fire off a quick "sorry, full". There are many ways to have a chat window configured. Sometimes it can be way to cluttered with channels and it is hard to track what is going on in a flood. Sometimes a very restricted channel selection can remove a sense of when a message was posted (i.e. no other traffic to give context as to when a message appeared). And not everyone is paying 100% attention to chat at all times, so it is understandable when you get mis-timed responses. I am forgiving to those that recruit because they are the ones making the effort to herd the cats. Sometimes I am the cat. Other times I am the herder. I try to make no assumptions about how or why someone will respond to my request for players. If the content can accept players from both sides, I try to make it clear that the team is red or blue or to send a tell when they are in X zone. If the content is level limited, I try to list a minimum level in the request for players. I also try to use a full name for the intended content in my initial request with an abbreviation in parentheses. Then subsequent requests just use the abbreviation (this reduces chat clutter and helps inform people of what the acronyms mean). Doing these simple little things removes confusion and garners more focused responses and eliminates useless noise responses.

In a general sense, there is no reason to watch someone that is just streaming a game. And by that, I mean that when a streamer has no interaction with viewers, doesn't talk and doesn't have a camera (or v-tuber || don't ask || ), all they are doing is streaming their game play. Watching something like that has no value other than getting a sneak peek at the title to see if you would maybe want to play it yourself as you noted. With a slightly wider view of what streaming provides, there is value there. There are streamers out there that provide a lot of gaming content adjacent to the game itself that can enhance the experience. For example, last year when Cyberpunk 2077 released, I did not have a computer that could support play, nor did I have a PS or XBox. Two accomplished streamers that I follow took different spins on the roleplay aspect of the game as the experience unfolded. They elevated the experience beyond what you could get from peering over someone's shoulder as they played the game. One streamer took notice of the absurdity of the flavor text on a weapon mod and rolled with it to influence his character's actions. The other streamer latched onto a relationship with an NPC and used that as their character's motivation in the universe. Both displayed exceptional competency in "playing" the game, but they added their own extra elements to the play through that made it a mercurial experience. It becomes entertainment because it would just be a game if all they did was play the game. There are also other streamers that are just technically strong at identifying game mechanics and understanding how to attack the problem to solve it (play it better, faster, etc). It can be an educational experience to see how they go about their business. And depending on the streamer, they might actually talk through their though process to help viewers understand. It can also serve as a check on your assumptions about how you would accomplish things. Not all streamers go to those lengths, so you have to find the content creators that provide what you seek. Viewership numbers or buzz on a streamer is not an indicator of quality content unfortunately. I often have a stream open on another monitor while I do other things (play my own game, work, whatever). Sometimes it is background noise. Other times I am actively paying attention.

I haven't played since early Feb, but the Hamidon raids on indom have always had an exceptional EMP to cover the main tank. It has always been a team effort. Great tanks, great healers/buffers/shielders.

Those buffs last 60 seconds (longer for the mez protection). Exit the mission via any method and go beat up whatever you see first. I see others also complaining about being in a low level zone. That shouldn't matter. Beat up whatever you see first. If it is an XP thing (being over leveled for the zone and the denizens not providing the XP juice when you squeeze them), use your Long Range Teleport power to travel to a zone that has juicy mobs to thump for 55+ seconds. And I don't want to hear about how LRT can't get you to where you need to be because you (1) don't have a travel power or (2) haven't spent the time to find a single exploration badge. I've completely unlocked the entire LRT at level 2 just to prove it can be done and it is fairly easy, so that excuse won't fly. There is also a free power people can get from the P2W vendor (listed under utility iirc) that gifts you three medium to large inspirations on a not unreasonable timer. Use those on the regular and you won't care as much about the boon you get for leveling.