Lockpick

I have a BS/EA and I do have Parry. Parry is great during the leveling process especially if you plan to tackle TFs solo. At 50 it may not be as good because your defense can be relatively high, but in my build it helps soft-cap my melee defense and I have a set which provides bonuses I want.

Some good points here especially with regards to Ninjitsu having fewer must take powers. I'm playing a StJ/Ninitsu now (only L13), but my build has me skipping Caltrops and Smoke Flash. I'm actually planning to take Placate on this guy because I have extra powers available. Ninjitsu does have the KB hole you need to solve, but it is an easy fix.

Sorry, I had to jump in after seeing this "never going to be tough comment" despite this thread being old. Stalkers can be very tough with many being able to soft-cap defenses and get 50+% resist to S/L.

Claws is not very strong on Stalker due to lack of Spin. Here is a Claws build with Ninjitsu, so you can look at some slotting for Claws. ────────────────────────────── Primary powerset: Claws Secondary powerset: Ninjitsu Pool powerset (#1): FlightPool powerset (#2): SpeedPool powerset (#3): FightingPool powerset (#4): LeapingEpic powerset: Soul Mastery ────────────────────────────── Powers taken: Level 1: Strike A: Touch of Death: Accuracy/Damage3: Touch of Death: Damage/Endurance5: Touch of Death: Damage/Recharge11: Touch of Death: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance15: Touch of Death: Damage/Endurance/Recharge17: Touch of Death: Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 1: Hide A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed46: Shield Wall: +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)46: Reactive Defenses: Scaling Resist Damage48: Karma: Knockback Protection Level 2: Slash A: Superior Assassin's Mark: Accuracy/Damage3: Superior Assassin's Mark: Damage/RechargeTime5: Superior Assassin's Mark: Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime11: Superior Assassin's Mark: Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime13: Superior Assassin's Mark: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime15: Superior Assassin's Mark: RechargeTime/Rchg Build Up Level 4: Ninja Reflexes A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed34: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance37: Luck of the Gambler: Defense40: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance/Recharge Level 6: Assassin's Claw A: Superior Stalker's Guile: Accuracy/Damage7: Superior Stalker's Guile: Damage/Recharge7: Superior Stalker's Guile: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge9: Superior Stalker's Guile: Damage/Endurance/Recharge9: Superior Stalker's Guile: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge13: Superior Stalker's Guile: Recharge/Chance to Hide Level 8: Build Up A: Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: Chance for Build Up Level 10: Fly A: Blessing of the Zephyr: Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 12: Hasten A: Invention: Recharge Reduction33: Invention: Recharge Reduction Level 14: Danger Sense A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed34: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance39: Luck of the Gambler: Defense40: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance/Recharge Level 16: Kuji-In Rin A: Invention: Recharge Reduction Level 18: Focus A: Superior Winter's Bite: Accuracy/Damage19: Superior Winter's Bite: Damage/RechargeTime19: Superior Winter's Bite: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance21: Superior Winter's Bite: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge21: Superior Winter's Bite: Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime31: Superior Winter's Bite: Recharge/Chance for -Speed & -Recharge Level 20: Kuji-In Sha A: Amyloplast Exposure48: Amyloplast Exposure Level 22: Eviscerate A: Hecatomb: Damage/Recharge23: Hecatomb: Damage/Recharge/Accuracy23: Hecatomb: Recharge/Accuracy25: Hecatomb: Damage/Endurance25: Hecatomb: Chance of Damage(Negative)31: Touch of Death: Chance of Damage(Negative) Level 24: Boxing (Empty) Level 26: Shockwave A: Positron's Blast: Accuracy/Damage27: Positron's Blast: Damage/Endurance27: Positron's Blast: Damage/Recharge29: Positron's Blast: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance29: Positron's Blast: Chance of Damage(Energy)31: Force Feedback: Chance for +Recharge Level 28: Tough A: Steadfast Protection: Resistance/+Def 3%33: Gladiator's Armor: TP Protection +3% Def (All)45: Unbreakable Guard: +Max HP45: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance45: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance46: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime Level 30: Kuji-In Retsu A: Membrane Exposure43: Membrane Exposure Level 32: Weave A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed34: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance39: Luck of the Gambler: Defense40: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Endurance/Recharge Level 35: Moonbeam A: Apocalypse: Damage/Recharge36: Apocalypse: Damage/Recharge/Accuracy36: Apocalypse: Recharge/Accuracy36: Apocalypse: Damage/Endurance37: Apocalypse: Chance of Damage(Negative)37: Gladiator's Javelin: Chance of Damage(Toxic) Level 38: Shadow Meld A: Membrane Exposure39: Membrane Exposure Level 41: Blinding Powder A: Coercive Persuasion : Confused42: Coercive Persuasion : Confused/Recharge42: Coercive Persuasion : Confused/Recharge/Accuracy42: Coercive Persuasion : Recharge/Accuracy43: Coercive Persuasion : Confused/Endurance43: Coercive Persuasion : Contagious Confusion Level 44: Combat Jumping A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed48: Luck of the Gambler: Defense Level 47: Super Speed A: Blessing of the Zephyr: Knockback Reduction (4 points) Level 49: Burnout A: Invention: Recharge Reduction50: Invention: Recharge Reduction ────────────────────────────── Inherents: Level 1: Assassination Level 1: Brawl (Empty) Level 1: Sprint (Empty) Level 2: Rest (Empty) Level 1: Swift (Empty) Level 1: Hurdle (Empty) Level 1: Health A: Panacea: +Hit Points/Endurance17: Miracle: +Recovery33: Numina's Convalesence: +Regeneration/+Recovery50: Preventive Medicine: Chance for +Absorb Level 1: Stamina A: Performance Shifter: Chance for +End50: Power Transfer: Chance to Heal Self Level 10: Afterburner Level 49: Quick Form Level 47: Speed Phase

I recall the SwitchFade build when he first posted it. I had taken his build and put it in Mids and posted so other palyers could easily see it. He sent me a message asking me to remove the build, which I did. I'm not sure why, but he seemed upset (not at me for posting his build, he was polite to me). I later posted a separate build that was based on his build, but I made some adjustments for my play style. Anyway, DB/EA is a great build. Frankly, every build I have done with /EA has been great.

I like defensive builds and I like set and forget secondaries, so SR and EA would be my first choices in your list. Unfortunately, I don't like click Mez protection, because you can't use Hasten on Auto, so I would be going EA. I have the following Street Justice Stalkers at Level 50 with full incarnates and all have soft-cap defense. Street Justice / SR - My 1st Stalker to 50. Street Justice / Invuln - Don't sleep on Inv because you can soft-cap most positions (except Tox and Psi) and get high resists. Street Justice / EA Street Justice / SD These were all played (not power-leveled), so I have some experience with the sets (16 L50 Stalkers). EA was my smoothest play through by far mainly due to the Endurance mitigation from Energize and Energy Drain. All these builds suck End and I pretty much took Energy Mastery on all of them. I actually was planning on making another StJ / EA when I came to the forums and saw your post. I won't say you are nerfing your character by skipping the Fighting pool, but it might be hard to hit soft-cap without it.

Thank you!

Is AR better on a Corruptor or Defender? Planning to go Time for the second power set.

I doubt I am missing the OPs point, since I am the OP. 🙂 My point was simple which is to have low, mid, and high content each week. That way all levels can participate. There are 18 low level based (based on my assumption of low level, which is 25 and below) content, so it would be simple to make sure low level content is available each week. I'm not sure why you would want 8 tiers like you have; seems excessive. I would also suggest the WST doesn't have to be just TFs. Maybe they could add Oro content, SSAs, and contact arcs if it helps the rationalization effort.

I don't know that you have to guarantee maximum level compatibility, just do some rationalization to make it more even. My thoughts were around the categories of Low (25 and below), Medium (25 to 35), and High (35+). In This scenario it is the mid-level that has fewer TFs. I suppose it depends on where you consider the cut-off for Low, maybe 20 is better, but based on the content it seems like some rationalization can be done even if it does not perfectly align every week. Low, 25 and Below: 18 Mid, 25 to 35: 9 High, 35+: 20 Week 1 The Rule of Three (Positron, Level 8-15) Dam Hero (Positron, Level 11-16) Beast of the Mountain (Virgil Tarikoss, Level 15-20) Week 2 The Praetorian Offensive (Tin Mage Mark II, Level 50) Alpha Strike (Apex, Level 50) Explorers and Exploiters (Dr. Quaterfield, Level 40-45) Week 3 The Fall of the Clockwork King (Synapse, Level 15-20) The Legend of Ruladak (Sara Moore, Level 44-50) Pirates of the Skies (Silver Mantis, Level 20-25) Week 4 Time's Arrow (Imperious, Level 35-50) The Saga of Faathim (Justin Augustine, Level 44-50) Temple of the Waters (Operative Renault, Level 25-30) Week 5 Ms. Liberty TF (Ms. Liberty, Level 45-50) Future of Freedom (Lord Recluse, Level 45-50) Abandoned Sewer Trial (Mairenn MacGregor, Level 38-50) Week 6 Citadel's Children (Citadel, Level 25-30) Beast of the Mountain (Virgil Tarikoss, Level 15-20) The Eden Trial (Woodsman, Level 39-41) Week 7 The Lady Grey TF (Lady Grey, Level 45-50) The MegaMech Cometh (Ernesto Hess, 25-30) Pirates of the Skies (Silver Mantis, Level 20-25) Week 8 The Lady Grey TF (Lady Grey, Level 45-50) The MegaMech Cometh (Ernesto Hess, 25-30) Pirates of the Skies (Silver Mantis, Level 20-25) Week 9 Following Countess Crey (Manticore, Level 30-35) The Sky is Falling (Admiral Sutter, Level 20-40) The Fire and the Flames (Mortimer Kal, Level 20-40) Week 10 Market Crash (Ada Wellington, Level 40-50) Temple of the Waters (Operative Renault, Level 25-30) The Kheldian War (Moonfire, Level 23-28) Week 11 Soul of the Woodsman (Numina, Level 35-40) Chasing Fool's Gold (Dr. Aeon, Level 35-50) A Tangled Plot (Katie Hannon, Level 30-34) Week 12 Terra Volta Respec #1 (Jane Hallaway, Level 24-33) Tree of Thorns Respec #1 (Sparcetriel, Level 24-33) Terra Volta Respec #2 (James Harlan, Level 34-43) Tree of Thorns Respec #2 (Trepsarciel, Level 34-43) Terra Volta Respec #3 (Richard Flagg, Level 44-50) Tree of Thorns Respec #3 (Ractespriel, Level 44-50)

Market is fine, leave it as is.

My suggestion is to update the WSTs to have content that allows all levels to participate each week. Currently the WSTs are: Ms. Liberty TF (Ms. Liberty, Level 45-50) Future of Freedom (Lord Recluse, Level 45-50) Abandoned Sewer Trial (Mairenn MacGregor, Level 38-50) I am playing a lvl 29 Scrapper, so cannot participate. My suggestion would be to either revamp the WST to have low, mid, and high content OR look at the current WST and add an extra option.

Thank you. I ended up going with HM on a character, so will see how it goes.

Thanks for the reply, but I'm not really looking for build advice. Just trying to figure out if the 14.9% discount is worth the equivalent of 1 +END IO.

Cross-posting from Stalker forum as there seems to be very limited interaction there. My stalkers tend to burn END, so I usually go with Energy to get Superior Conditioning and Physical Perfection to slot +END IOs. Psionic has Harmonic Mind with allows the slot of the +END IO and provides a 14.9% END discount. Any of you number crunchers out there have an idea of which might be better? I instinctively assume Energy is better because you can slot 2 + END IOs, but the discount in HM also seems good and you still get 1 + END. Plus Psionic Lance is better than Laser Beam Eyes and you only need 2 power picks with Psionic, but 3 with Energy. (I need a ranged attack from each Epic for slotting purposes). I hope cross-posting like this is not against the rules, if so, please let me know and I will delete it.

My stalkers tend to burn END, so I usually go with Energy to get Superior Conditioning and Physical Perfection to slot +END IOs. Psionic has Harmonic Mind with allows the slot of the +END IO and provides a 14.9% END discount. Any of you number crunchers out there have an idea of which might be better? I instinctively assume Energy is better because you can slot 2 + END IOs, but the discount in HM also seems good and you still get 1 + END. Also, I assume Psionic Blast is better than Laser Beam Eyes.

Most Value: City of Heroes - I can't even begin to calculate the hours I have played. Skyrim - Over 2,100 hours and counting. Civilization 5 - Over 400 hours, the one more turn mentality was killing me. Freecell Quest - Over 650 hours, if you like Freecell this is a nice little game that you can play while watching something Max Payne 1 & 2 - Not sure how many hours but really enjoyed both of them; couldn't really get into 3 though Least Value: Cyberpunk 2077 - Spent 2.4 hours in game and couldn't get into despite loving Cyberpunk Red Dead Redemption 2 - 92 minutes, same as Cyberpunk I really need to try those 2 again...

Agrred, and I usually solo it if I feel my character can do it, because I can finish in 60 to 70 minutes and I have been in bad groups that are 90+.

I would suggest changing the order of the WSTs, so that the Task Force Commander Task Forces are one after the other. This way a character can get TFC within a 5 week period.

So, I'm interested in what QoL features are missing? From my perspective when CoH was Live it had many more features than newer games that came out. Only game I have seen that has the character description for others to read.

Once you create the T2 Agility Radial Boost and select info the header description is different from the main description. Header states End and Def, main states Recharge and Def. Should be End and Def.

Good intel, thank you! I tend to use my merits for Converters for conversion roulette, Winter IOs, and Purple Recipes. Never thought purples would be so low, but to be fair I do check the purple price before using merits. If the price is over 20 million and I want the purple NAO I just use merits. That being said, I look at it slightly different. Merits are free and I can earn 200 merits a day by doing a Hami raid and a TinPex, so I will typically run that content until I have all the purples I need for a character and then go back to normal marketing.

Agreed, I think Thunderstrike is underrated. I usually slot it for the ranged defense but the other bonuses are all useful.

You could also consider a DP / Ninja Training Blaster. Equilibrium did have a sword fight at the end. Although my DP / MC character is an Equilibrium / 97 Steps homage character.

I'm actually playing my 2nd DP/MC now. I skipped Burst of Speed on both. Well, I had it on my 1st one, but never used it so respecced out of it. My 2nd DP/MC I went down the Inner Will and Rune of Protection path and am finding it quite good. Both were built for 45%+ Range and S/L, so survive pretty well. I still get a kick out of Ki Push and then shooting the baddie as he flies through the air.