Snarky

maybe....but the game is to outlive them.....

So.... no matter how many examples I show of this Brute can do better than that Tank you will state that as a fringe case. Interesting. Still sticking by my rebuttal point. Tanks are not always better than Brutes.

My Brute can Tank Lord Recluse. You just said some Tanks cannot. Is that enough data. I can do this all night long.

You made a broad statement ranking each archetype. Then you responded that a Inv/Dark Tank is better than a Dark/Invul Brute. and I truly thank you for pointing that out (eye roll) My point was (and is) your broad statement ranking archetypes is, at it's core, indefensible. It is not true. Pointing out the Tank version of my example is tougher than the Brute DOES NOT NEGATE the fact that the Dark/Invul Brute is tougher than many Tanks. Which (please stay with me here) proves that your original statement is incorrect.

As a long time Dark/ Invul Brute player I can tell you for a fact I can out tank a good third of the Tank armor powersets. Thats based on game mechanics, invulnerability, and specific build I do believe rating “Archetypes” without consideration of powersets is about as useful as the description “Ranged” in the character creation screen for Blasters (who almost always perform better at Point Blank based on powers targeting….unless you choose one of the few truly ranged primaries and ….very very carefully cherry ppock a secondary and build for fully ranged)

Yeah…..but my goal is to outlive my …..erm “teammates”

Ooooooh. Lol. I am not trying to “Tank”. I am just trying to survive. Substitute “Tanky” with “Most Survivable”. Unfortunately I cannot use powers like Phase Shift or anything that interferes with attacking. Invulnerability Unstoppable and Rune of Protection are allowed

too many team buffs unfortunately...

why are self buffs better than defense resistance and heals?

Always looking for the odd.... As a thought experiment: What Archetype/Powersets could be made 1) extremely Tanky (at 50/incarnate) 2) damage output is irrelevant (just roll with it) 3) preferably self buffing rather than team buffs (selfish thing, ain't it?) I was thinking Scrapper would be obvious.... Then I started thinking about a Elec or Dark or ? / Invulnerability Sentinel built for Ranged Defense..... Invul has good DDR and you stay at Range as much as possible. Might even grab Unstoppable for the 3 minutes you are forced to be in melee....then back to the hills!

I built mine just to do damage. This is a 2nd rewrite build and I am sure there are a couple more rebuilds needed to approach "the best" Of particular note is it DOES matter the order of PROCs in Char and burn. They fire from right to left in game! This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.5.7 https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn Click this DataLink to open the build! Level 50 Magic Blaster Primary Power Set: Fire Blast Secondary Power Set: Fire Manipulation Power Pool: Flight Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Leadership Ancillary Pool: Flame Mastery Hero Profile: Level 1: Fire Blast -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(3), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(3), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(5), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(7) Level 1: Ring of Fire -- Dcm-Acc/Dmg(A), Dcm-Dmg/EndRdx(7), Dcm-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(9), Dcm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(9), Dcm-Build%(11) Level 2: Fire Ball -- SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg(A), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx(15), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(15), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(17), SprFrzBls-Rchg/ImmobProc(19) Level 4: Combustion -- Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19) Level 6: Rain of Fire -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(21), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(23), Rgn-Knock%(23) Level 8: Fire Breath -- Ann-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(A), Ann-ResDeb%(25) Level 10: Fly -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A) Level 12: Aim -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25), GssSynFr--Build%(27) Level 14: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(27) Level 16: Build Up -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(29) Level 18: Blaze -- SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBrr-Dmg/Rchg(29), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(31), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), SprDfnBrr-Rchg/+Status Protect(33) Level 20: Cauterizing Aura -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(33), EndMod-I(33), Mrc-Rcvry+(34), Mrc-Heal(34), Mrc-Heal/Rchg(34) Level 22: Maneuvers -- Ksm-ToHit+(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(36) Level 24: Tactics -- RctRtc-Pcptn(A) Level 26: Blazing Bolt -- SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsWrt-Dmg/Rchg(37), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(39), SprBlsWrt-Rchg/Dmg%(39) Level 28: Consume -- PreOptmz-Acc/Rech(A), PreOptmz-EndMod/Acc/Rech(36), Erd-Acc/Rchg(36), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), PreOptmz-EndMod/Acc/End(40), OvrFrc-Dam/KB(40) Level 30: Vengeance -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 32: Inferno -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(40), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(42), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(43) Level 35: Burn -- TN:DiaShard(A), Obl-%Dam(43), ScrDrv-Dam%(43), Erd-%Dam(45), Arm-Dam%(45), FuroftheG-ResDeb%(45) Level 38: Char -- TN:DiaShard(A), GldJvl-Dam%(46), NrnSht-Dam%(46), GhsWdwEmb-Dam%(46), UnbCns-Dam%(48), Apc-Dam%(48) Level 41: Fire Shield -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(48) Level 44: Rise of the Phoenix -- AbsAmz-ToHitDeb%(A) Level 47: Bonfire -- Ann-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A), Ann-ResDeb%(50), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(50) Level 49: Hot Feet -- Erd-Dmg(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(50) Level 1: Defiance Level 1: Brawl -- Acc-I(A) Level 1: Sprint -- Clr-Stlth(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 1: Swift -- Run-I(A) Level 1: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A) Level 1: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(11) Level 1: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(13), EndMod-I(13) Level 49: Quick Form Level 10: Afterburner ------------ | Copy & Paste this data into Mids Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1370;669;1338;HEX;| |78DA4D93D94F135114C6CF4CA7225D4428FB5E90C56E50D4F864886C15A59148E22| |B99D04999A4B44D5B0C8A9AF82FF882010AFA24E0F2E4FABFF842D4188DA06F261A| |339E99EF609964E63773CEF9EEFDEEB977922B13BE978907A3A4F8C7337AB1383FC| |6CF92517027F5B4B940F655C5778B84E76FE8D9B4918A4D990503A5C1A3CCDC723E| |9F2B94904AEA5933BF9CD14B662E4BDED95C2E139BCA98E9C592C7799FCB1B46AAC| |6799D31F49451282E9A793FCAEC2A339BAE9BCC9B0B2CD297ECD1EC196E37B39120| |DF976D578AFDB0DCB4A311C5355277857BA0F64CF81C3CF102BC55D16AB4C618E0D| |C23F0E4BA7003F46C8263B644E6535E619C53AF856FC0D36F85EFC0BAF7E00AAB5C| |4E1B2DC5F55D25EAE0DC0138CE51B778718FA84E7DFD39E179B0F182F02238616F0| |8344AD56797136BFE027A79A7AA91A3EA0FA89FE42F2FE657BD6142BDB07517353D| |ACF38B47FF514E78875123B91A89B50BA718B5D2975AC27ADB15B05315BA841AD8E| |D06575915106D600D3EBA1F0ABB317EF0AAE2F43F382D4C80B5ECB7417AD0F0979C| |5EF6DA01D60438D7243D682AF378018D12F60196B95AD6D1AB331BC24D6119ECDF1| |26E837759D5E66CBEE56EFB05EFBD7F84DFB08FFDB2AF03BF111FD887B69EBD74A0| |77D421FEAEF0579778E9DA94FA3278764BB82D7C0C869E80F758D523DA9E4E9E537| |35188305768153D8B1CC24BE4127A1919457E87D127DA3ED14623C84575C5D14497| |E071681ADAA138B8CB6583D2EFC11168869AA0D9E3CFB0F43B7C1DF54F3916434C8| |D7D427D5CCE68FC23D6729FB3C332E6F057788ECB7F11D4FEFFA356BB46725944AD| |58E34C25CF071E73CE6A12E29862F145079E635551280F8FC70611FB51892914844| |BCF4D74E26725A7929C529F9C529F9CD26B215E0966B6A8910DC9FB3FCDD0BF8E| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

It is a good move if you like organized content and/or chatting some of my favorites that Cosmic has re ently added are mini games: Last Man Standing Incarnate trials. This is where your league goes in And the only goal is to survive. There are rules. No tanks/brutes. No flying hiding phase shifting etc. You must be trying to fight and a be trying to complete the goals. All the while trying to drag agro onto your “team mates” lol. Prizes for lasy one standing most spectacular death and dozens of other hilarious categories. Cosmic does these as well as very organized badge and speed runs

Solo endgame is a LOT. I just soloed everything that had to be done pre 50...and it took a long time. We are talking 100s of hours of game play. Thats about 2/3 of the game. I am resting before doing the stuff that is available in the 35-50, 40-50, 45-50, and 50 stuff. Then there is the team stuff, incarnate trials, Task and Strike Forces, regular Trials, etc.

THe two main themes for pro Arachnos / Anti Arachnos go right to the start: Kalinda "You're showing me something about yourself. You're showing me your power, but also your willingness to do what it takes to maximize that power. I sense fantastic potential within you, Character. You could well be one of those special people we seek. Of course, Arachnos is full of people with potential, but not all of those people can survive the brutal politicking and backstabbing that make life within this organization such a unique challenge. Only the Arbiters are immune from such troubles. For lesser lights such as you and I, the best we can do is keep on our guard." Matthew Burke: "I can tell one thing about you already: you're nobody's puppet. That's why you're here with me instead of toadying up to Kalinda. I can get you some jobs and help you make your way in the Rogue Isles. Just remember: you have to decide how much to deal with Arachnos. Don't let them decide for you." After that you just run missions that may or may not be "pro Arachnos" Most often it is a faction of Arachnos you are ...sort of....working for. The Redside story lines have a lot of fluidity in how you read what you are doing. You can act as muscle, a time biding backstabber, a happy opportunist, or a loyal soldier. All in the same arc. Depends on your mindset. There are some story arcs that are very "gangland" as well. You could easily take a Grav Dom ( Family Boss gone rogue) stealing their origin story (special batches of Superadine create Consigliere) There are many subtle threads you can follow through Redside if you wanted to. Pick a villain group, make a splinter group or just be a one person rogue from that group....or a loyal member! Then run Redside content and arcs that fit your nefarious plans.

I just ran mine in a Posi 1 and 2 event with the Cosmic Council SG. Granted this was an exemplared 50. Still.... it did better than I thought it would. These people speed, so the hardest part was if we did not stay together my little squishy Blaster could (and did) faceplant. Highlight was an SG member calling for help getting a bomb in the interior dam on Posi 2. (in Discord "I'm on a bomb, can someone take the agro?") I was the only one near....so I hit aim, build up, fire ball, etc....actually went way better than I expected. Fire does a ton of damage.

First, it is impolite to call people names. While I have completed all content that must be done pre 50 on my "all content character" I have been on a story arc break for a month or so. Will probably start finishing up all the rest of the story arcs soon. But seriously, name calling? I would never do something like suggest people are lazy untalented losers with no zest for life because they are incapable of doing a task. That is because I am the better person....the more Snarky (TM, pat. pend.) person. Seriously though. I have soloed Redside enough to know that there is a LOT of content and you need to turn off experience if you want to experience it all. What do you call "special?" Just the unlockable ones? THen probably not. I have been toying with the idea of leveling a Redsider just doing my favorite arcs, and not turning off experience, well, not much. This would be a "tailored theme run" and I would pick out the story arcs that fit well into the characters personal backstory.

THanks everyone. I am going to stick with Agility for my Dark / Invul Brute. Good advice above, special thanks to Tex. Dark/Invul is a niche case, in my opinion, where super high recharge takes a solid pairing and makes it superb. This is due to a number of factors like long cool down utility powers and simple (small) attack chains because power selections leave little room for attack powers.

I seem to remember that to hit buffs and to hit debuffs are (in some cases) the same mechanic in CoH just a positive or negative value. From my faulty memory...so.... Spiritual Alpha enhances to hit buffs. Does that mean it also enhances to hit debuffs? I realize in this case the powers are affecting self or other, yet the oddness of CoH coding makes me wonder,

I suggest the strongest Dark/Dark I have personally run. (I run a lot of Dark/Dark). A Dark/Dark Brute is incredibly mean and tough, possibly the meanest Brute in the game in my opinion. Not the best, Dark is oddball. Part of what makes it so tough also interferes with agro management which is a Brutes side job Def>Res>Heal. True. Dark has almost no defense and no Defense debuff resistance. So why is it so tough??? Because it changes ALL the rules and abuses the system. Dark has a stealth that Does Not Suppress in combat. What does not see you will mot shoot at you. So you control your agro. Dark has a Stun aura and a Fear aura. If it is stunned or feared it…is not attacking you. Most of Dark’s powers have to hit debuffs. Sooooo that is the “Defense”. Dark has very good resists. Dark has what is probably the best heal available to a melee character. Dark/Dark has a solid ST damage chain and a damage aura. All with an odd damage type that us not commonly resisted Finally…Dark/Dark is cool looking and fun

This The only other thing I might add is the …not subleties…. Of Super Strength is driven by Rage…and the Rage crash is part of the game. Street Justice is a combo system. Pick your poison

I am truly grateful the current Devs continue work on the old CoH. Very good work indeed. The tweaks they have made and the content they have added are amazing Two issues could be addressed; Volume. It just cannot be as much as a full staff of paid employees will generate. Quality; The artistic direction and overall synthesis of the new material into the old is excellent. So many “upgrades and new material” to old games looks like it was dreamed up by one person, created by an overworked team on a deadline, then hacked by management into something they decided at the last minute needed to happen. The continuing added content and improvements to CoH are much appreciated. The fact that they are done with such high quality and style are truly amazing Thank you Homecoming Team!

Is this whole thing another stupid April Fools like the baby you couldn't get rid of? I generally think the HC team does a good job.... but it seems April 1st is just an excuse for them to troll the player base most years.....

Yes…. But since you are not Tony Starknor Bruce Wayne……. Now if you could just mind control people to start playing…. Wait, you are not Mother Mayhem either….

Cosmic Council is a large organized SG. We have a lot of quality players and a schedule of 1-2 events almost every day. Plus a lot of casual play and discussions on Discord: https://discord.gg/DVksJ4N read the Rules and info, if you are interested, then post in Gateway (under public channels) that you agree to the rules and who you want to bring on board. You will usually get a response in a few hours tops. The leadership is most active 6-9 Eastern time. Good luck!

or run an orou arc using "no enhancements"