Snarky

Aragorn: "Give me your sword." Aragorn: "What is your name?" Háleth: "Háleth, son of Háma, my lord." Háleth: "The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless." [Aragorn stands up and swings the sword.] Aragorn: "This is a good sword, Háleth, son of Háma." [He lays his hand on the boys shoulder.] Aragorn: "There is always hope."

Well, I must be batting for the other side then. To me (just to me. ? !) You are saying Regen is best for teams/leagues because it is hands down so crappy it gets the most boosts from everyone's buffs.

This is the only way I have found to change the 'loincloth drape' on the Tech Knight belt as well. and another belt piece now that I think about it, has an optional drape. One of the oddball cape options may act like this too,. dim memory. Set it 1st thing. If you get deep into the design and decide to slightly tweak the color.... you are linking colors and setting that one piece, then unlinking and doing the rest of the costume over.

I have always gravitated to Brutes. I started Redside. Even after Brute Nerf I still like the AT better. I feel Armors work better on Brutes due to the resistance caps and health levels. In particular Dark/Dark is a slow squeeze to death playstyle. It has some good single target attacks, but it excels at taking a large group and just ruining their day. Not super fast like fire, but super effective. I fear them, I stun them, I have a damage aura washing them, and I am debuffing their to hit all over the place. If there happen to be a giant roomful of mobs? They cant see me, I have a stealth aura. So i will get around to that part of the room when I decide. In the meantime I mezze, debuff, drain and kill everyone in PBAoE of me.

Oh, you want a Damage aura? My main is Dark/Dark. A Damage Aura and 2 Mezze Auras! This Villain build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.4.7 https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn Click this DataLink to open the build! Snarky 2.2: Level 50 Magic Brute Primary Power Set: Dark Melee Secondary Power Set: Dark Armor Power Pool: Sorcery Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Speed Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery Villain Profile: Level 1: Smite -- Hct-Dmg(A), Hct-Dmg/Rchg(3), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), Hct-Acc/Rchg(5), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Hct-Dam%(7) Level 1: Dark Embrace -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(7), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(9), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(9), GldArm-3defTpProc(11) Level 2: Death Shroud -- SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprUnrFur-Dmg/Rchg(11), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), SprUnrFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(13), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprUnrFur-Rchg/+Regen/+End(15) Level 4: Murky Cloud -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(19), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(19), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(21) Level 6: Shadow Maul -- Arm-Dmg(A), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(21), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(23), Arm-Acc/Rchg(23), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(25), Arm-Dam%(25) Level 8: Mystic Flight -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A) Level 10: Obsidian Shield -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(27), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(27), UnbGrd-Max HP%(29) Level 12: Siphon Life -- SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Dmg/Rchg(29), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(31), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(31), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury%(33) Level 14: Arcane Bolt -- SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(A) Level 16: Dark Regeneration -- Obl-Dmg(A), Obl-Acc/Rchg(33), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(33), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(34), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(34) Level 18: Dark Consumption -- Obl-Dmg(A), Obl-Acc/Rchg(34), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(36), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36) Level 20: Cloak of Darkness -- Ksm-ToHit+(A), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(37), Rct-ResDam%(37), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(37) Level 22: Kick -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A) Level 24: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(39), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(39), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(40) Level 26: Soul Drain -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(40), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(42) Level 28: Cloak of Fear -- CldSns-%Dam(A), CldSns-Acc/ToHitDeb(39) Level 30: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(45) Level 35: Oppressive Gloom -- HO:Endo(A) Level 38: Soul Tentacles -- Bmbdmt-Dam(A), Bmbdmt-Acc/Rech/End(45), Bmbdmt-Dam/Rech(45), Bmbdmt-Acc/Dam/Rech(46), Bmbdmt-Acc/Dam/Rech/End(46), Bmbdmt-+FireDmg(46) Level 41: Dark Obliteration -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(48), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(48), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(50), Rgn-Knock%(50) Level 44: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50) Level 47: Rune of Protection -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A) Level 49: Soul Transfer -- RechRdx-I(A) Level 1: Fury Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A) Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A) Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), Mrc-Rcvry+(17), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(17) Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A) Level 4: Ninja Run ------------ | Copy & Paste this data into Mids Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1440;654;1308;HEX;| |78DA6594CB4F136114C5BFE94CAD2D2D2DEF67E5DD02D50A05F11D8322266A13922| |66E9BA68CD85829692191A50BF70A5113E5AD2EF52F72E9C285888A468DC27867CE| |1135D3A4F9F59E7BCFDCFBDD9969FAEE44F0F5957B17945675A998AB54B217CB0BF| |3A6379D9B29E475A55420339B2BDF5EEC4C25533E091B9D74366D164D33392119FC| |6C863C61DE34672B4C8C97EF94CA2A38552A15939952396F9617434E305998B9355| |F989DF93F0AA070CE34A79B2ECF15F2495C32535A2866D3B9CABCD89B65803EF9BE| |577F3E9657C53C4A0DFB95274EF683C60039081E4A804F6D9BE6780DF54547EE2B7| |8F81BF91D0CA4C067B6051EAF1634900B81C16A320C5647C81A70455C3ABCBACE7E| |B5EC57CB7EF5ECB72D555E9ECB7B0AF3D69F061BCF9067C1E673E479705916E3835| |7F9DE405B95C8CFDE7EF66E65EF56F66EFF01EE485515CF58B5C1DC2678648B7C4E| |BE003B5F824BD23B04AF0ABDB2CF6DA83589C2CEA22D23FC13F374FE22F7C0AE7DD| |2023F49750D3D35F474D1D3434F0F3D3DF4AC4B751DCF58B72788FA556F83E6E47A| |77315FEF359B3EE591053570CE86FBF0EBA235D1DFC41DC5B8A3187714E7FDF92C5| |52D98CFDBB282FB1B5F25D7C081757283DC0437C4D5863E5ADB3BE91D3554EC2D68| |C80C51CE15E5ECBB1275E07E1A1D0F708DC187E412B90C1E7D046E4A75379F81EE3| |1814F57D33ADE197BE6BE3DD6EF931678CC7EEA6C6AA40734C5DB4F6F7F0AFB3A3E| |428E9227C0E131F224D82D674AF0BC8984428E7C2C03253967D25EBEEC604BA221E| |C560DB16ED2387857AD76E3E09DB743CB52D75DCA94C172513447D90E1CBCB9543E| |B8949DBF8A47EBD29DA737725584B8F086E6C41FFF753DF138DAA0ABFF904B19762| |9232E65D4A5F823F29F01C5FA0D171DF251| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Dark/Invul This Villain build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.4.7 https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn Click this DataLink to open the build! Snarky: Level 50 Magic Brute Primary Power Set: Dark Melee Secondary Power Set: Invulnerability Power Pool: Speed Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Leaping Power Pool: Leadership Ancillary Pool: Soul Mastery Villain Profile: Level 1: Smite -- SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Dmg/Rchg(3), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(5), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury%(7) Level 1: Resist Physical Damage -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(7), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(9), UnbGrd-Max HP%(9), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(11), GldArm-3defTpProc(11) Level 2: Shadow Maul -- SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprUnrFur-Dmg/Rchg(13), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), SprUnrFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprUnrFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(15), SprUnrFur-Rchg/+Regen/+End(17) Level 4: Temp Invulnerability -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(21), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(23), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(23) Level 6: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(25) Level 8: Dull Pain -- NmnCnv-Heal/Rchg(A), Mrc-Heal/Rchg(25) Level 10: Siphon Life -- Hct-Dmg(A), Hct-Dmg/Rchg(27), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(27), Hct-Acc/Rchg(29), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(29), Hct-Dam%(31) Level 12: Resist Elements -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(31), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(31), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(33) Level 14: Kick -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A) Level 16: Unyielding -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(33), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(33), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(34) Level 18: Dark Consumption -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(34), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(34), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(36), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(36) Level 20: Resist Energies -- RctArm-ResDam(A), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(37), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(37), RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(37) Level 22: Tough -- UnbGrd-ResDam(A), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx(39), UnbGrd-Rchg/ResDam(39), UnbGrd-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(39) Level 24: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(40), Rct-ResDam%(40) Level 26: Soul Drain -- Arm-Dmg(A), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(40), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), Arm-Acc/Rchg(42), Arm-Dmg/EndRdx(42), Arm-Dam%(43) Level 28: Invincibility -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 30: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 32: Midnight Grasp -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(45), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(45) Level 35: Tough Hide -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 38: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A) Level 41: Gloom -- Apc-Dmg(A), Apc-Dmg/Rchg(48), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(48), Apc-Dam%(50) Level 44: Dark Obliteration -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(46), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(46), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(50), Rgn-Knock%(50) Level 47: Assault -- EndRdx-I(A) Level 49: Tactics -- RctRtc-Pcptn(A) Level 1: Fury Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 2: Swift -- Empty(A) Level 2: Hurdle -- Empty(A) Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(17), Mrc-Rcvry+(19) Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(19), EndMod-I(21) Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A) Level 4: Ninja Run Level 50: Agility Core Paragon ------------ | Copy & Paste this data into Mids Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| |MxDz;1455;667;1334;HEX;| |78DA6594DD53525114C5CF854BA6828028680A0225282881DA774D33653A95CC38C| |34CAF0EE94D991864009B7CECA1F7B29A5EB2B48FD7FE84BEFB6F322B75B45E6E9B| |BB56E60CCCC0EF9CB5F73E67ED73EE257B77DCF976F2DE45A5B55E2EE6ABD5994B9| |5A59AE1C8E6E70BB376A5D4A15C295FB9BDDC2443BF159AC91A45C3488D8B8A6110| |F2B871CB28558DD4D5D29DA562C9A8E46F168A85DAB26A995E5C2CA67265C398735| |9C389C2FC42AD509A775AB329235F9689FBDF64CEA854170AE5C095726136859573| |8B4BC5996CBE5A332ACB5DE22326DF6FF2555AFDC774A835319AD1956D9D7C09EAA| |FC8D7E0A137E0BB83B5DBA2C525B60B1EDE217F832D01490C0A4750BB512F65ADE6| |D42DCDE922DBC03637E9013D5EF0BD54D9516BB76F63BD8E1DD0BF4BEE815139708| |7B272354752595A17F941D0C458534E436C52B3FC6E8ADA8C98A33966B36247E2E4| |00D83B4826C05012FC2855ADF4D7CA7309F13C423C9FF01E6813032EE42AD77DD47| |F92999BF56EF617667F61F617617F3F25CB6B5D82E9F03EC3F94456C9E7E0D117E4| |1AB90E7E962A1FF7F145D1F7B110D9474640BBF8EC646E273DC5E829464F317AD22| |537805C5BA013E71ABF8E587C0BFC25D16EFAEE3E8DBEE367C0C1B3E439F23C98B8| |007E91AA1EEBE131550FD7F7CB9E41DC970A52DB92591FEFB0EF017A4E3C2457C0A| |147E463F209F855AAA2BC9728D7F3CA1EFDD4FAA9D5DFED01ECA10F0CC1DFF16132| |45A6C14C0634A426495FC91168C3A3E41879823527C95360BB7848D1432A82E7D82| |75A9A5A7A55F27CBA9AD0F7DF4DB35757FC98F5A969AAA906655A67BA289AA56CB4| |ECBFA154BE37289BFF159B16C1CD7A6EE064DAAFE1C9F97130E729BB58013BC2E82| |0D1E027DDA0641A94D10665AC4169F6C87F0514F38F5F36E3F82F6DC5EB46| |-------------------------------------------------------------------|

At level 10 the Defense bonus from a DFB run and a purple will do you pretty good. Your a Blaster so keep a green on hand 🙂

Compare Regen to Invul for a sec. Invul (without much argument) is out of the box tough as nails. It has layered defenses. Defense, Resists, and a Heal that massively buffs your health bar. Also, it has great defense debuff resist. Then you take I/Os. With some study, a few buckets of cash, a Invul can be made unkillable. With a weakness to Psi damage. Regen.... is not that. It is a GOOD armor set. There are no 'bad' armor sets in the game. But it is not diving into an endless tunnel of +4/x8 strong. I/Os will make it stronger, built smart. But it lacks the layered mitigation base that provides a foundation for the max levels powerbuilders seek. So it gets a ton of shit. My current main is a dark/dark Brute. No inherent defense. But Dark Armor has stealth (weird right?) and two Mez auras for stunning minions. Layered defenses in a completely different way. Then it has great resists, you can pretty easily slap at least some i/o defense on it, and possibly one of the best heals in the game. Regen is one trick pony. It is very good at what it does. But it faces tough competition from sets that have 3-6 horses pulling.

The literal time measurement of a 'moment' is 90 seconds. I can see why they used the word though. "Hey! You're still up! Ooops, no, Nope, you're down." Was too long

I agree with LaughingAlex. Read his full post a few entries above. It is well written. In the post he explores the evolution of Tanks. One of the big 3 in the 1st issue. Due to I/O and powercreep had been more or less put into a position of training wheels for playing a Brute. (I know not everyone agrees with that. My opinion. It is not meant as an insult, but to make a point) THe Homecoming Devs did a great service to the Tank AT, the game, and the players by tweaking Tankers so they properly fill a niche. Sentinels, a class I desperately want to love....do not fill a niche in late game. Due to I/O a Blaster or Corruptor, maybe even some Defenders? (lol, kinda, maybe?) can out damage a Sentinel and have EFFECTIVELY as much survivability. Sentinels are training wheels for running a Blaster. Even more so than Tankers were ever training for Brutes. I understand the great caution the Homecoming Devs have looking at Sentinels and the inherent issues. One tweak too much and it will be the ONLY AT worth playing for those evil P0w3rgam3rz. Tank Mage.... Still, they are not currently in a good position and need to find a niche. In my opinion. Not meaning to insult any Sentinels out there.

Excellent guide. thank you.

So, we're agreed then. Regen is the worst?

You left out dark armor, that has stealth and two mez auras. Stealth > Mez > Def > Res > Healing > passive regen.

i am enjoying it. wow does it hit hard lol. and honestly it is pretty tanky, more than i thought it would be since my build is not softcapped nor did i get big resist numbers. but i do rotate my RoP and SoW going into the heavy stuff. also not shy about popping a purple or orange if needed.

THat Dull Pain is incredible. On my build it is Perma, but very very rarely touched. Then, when I get pasted (Battle Maiden fight, BAF towers....) I hit that. Not only am I healed but my health shoots to the moon. On low level Invul Brutes I ran back on live, using just SOs it was a dependable way to survive an extra heavy alpha (or 2-3 at once...) and take the fight back to the enemy.

I have run one of Hypersrike's SS/Invul Brutes. Still have it parked fully loaded in the garage. He ain't lying. It is an epic beast.

The real power in the ice cold is the cold dominations Benumb, sleet, and heat loss. It is insane how effective this stuff is. Ice just synergizes well with cold and is completely ranged. the Damage over time works well w/ a Corruptors scourge also. I would say the Ice/Cold Corruptor is not only one of my most effective ranged damage dealers (not on pure numbers, it hides its effectiveness) but is incredibly powerful to a team. Those debuffs just work like a can opener for your teammates. Have you tried a Invulnerable Tank? SS or Energy are great pairings. It is insane how effective those taunt bots are. My main is a dark/dark Brute. elegant. my new mad experiment is energy will brute incarnated for damage. It is a scrapper in Brutes clothing. Finally, in my opinion, Bruting and Tanking are very different. Tanking is taunting and herding and controlling the mobs. Brutes are jumping into battle, soaking the alpha (gets you more damage) and killing everything. Hopefully your team is okay, but....its not that important. You got people to beat down.

Fopr me i stuck with it and have since moved back to Bruts lol. although my current energy/will brute plays like a fat scrapper, incarnated for damage rather than survival. grrr. but i honestly think the corruptor is my strongest team build. it may be the way i move through the future. possibly. so strong. but i do love lazily bruting lol

I have not attempted to run Stone Armor since the first time and my really cool Stone Brute Demon disappeared beneath a granite facade.... Does Stone Armor on a Tank (or Brute) survive any easier in Battle Maidens Blue Patch, or being blasted by towers in BAF or any of the other Incarnate Insanity? Or is Invulnerable pretty much the same mitigation with no movement hassles? (and a real costume...)

Not that I have noticed. Is this occurring for you?

Yes, Dark Astoria was added because of the trial grinds. I remember back in the day my comp couldnt handle half the Lambda map. How was I supposed to get incarnate components? I was so grateful for Dark Astoria. I love to team. Task Forces are a hoot for me. I solo story arcs sometimes, but I love knocking out a Task Force run. I guess some people are saying late game teaming is 'broken'... I have not seen this. I play a LOT at 50 on PUG teams. Task Forces, Incarnate trials, jumping into random farms as a hitter, Strike Forces, 50 teams running content to help lowbies level. I exclusively PUG. I do not lead, I just join whatever. I see mostly smooth running teams. Maybe that is where the issue is. On non-pug custom built incarnate teams that take on things like Dark Astoria that were designed for soloing they just knock it out too fast? Would be similar if we took a League of veteran incarnates into the ITF. People would start screaming about raising the difficulty.... I will join ANY team doing content I am looking for with the toon I am on (for badges merits, incarnate exp, components, whatever) I just do not see this giant issue with late game teams having a problem. Is this because every bit of team content is not like Cathedral of Pain complicated? or Battle Maiden fight slanted against a class of players? Or just generally does there need to be extreme buffing on enemies (because Cyclops arent a pain already) and random nukes to take out our squishies? I honestly do not see the point besides "make it extremely harder", especially stuff that was not designed for the team I am taking in there. Redesign that.

Aside from all new content like Incarnate Trials...you know what threw me for a spin, and still does? when they redid Freakshow with Superstunners! Rather than have a bunch of randomly applied Judgements land on teams (creating various Battle Maiden type battles where certain ATs shine and others cringe...) a few surgically sprinkled mobs that need to be dealt with correctly has always beed the hardest parts of this game. Whether it be LB, CoT, Freaks, or Malta. It is rarely the raw damage that gets you. You approach each new group with respect. The entire run I just did on the ITF I carefully destroyed the Surgeons first thing. That level of complication is so much more difficult than creating a locked in environment with uber mechanics that slay teams that do not have the perfect Shields/Taunt/Dance left/Swipe right setup. It allows PUGs to just organically form. And have fun.

I just 50d a new Energy/Will Brute. I Incarnated and T3d it (Alpha, Judgement, Interface only) with a few hours work and some e-mailed Emps. I jumped in an ITF to open Lore and Destiny. 7/8 of us were relatively new 50s, 1-8 vet levels, one was a pre-50. We did a kill most. No one was 'left in the dust" It was on +4. It was not super fast, but it was fast. We tended to have 'team spread' and clumps of us never quite working the exact same area. If all 8 of us teamed, yeah everything died fast. Mostly we just ran through it like kids at Disneyland. No talking, just do what you want. I surgeon hunt in ITFs, as a matter of habit. I was the only "heavy" melee, no other Brute or tank. I did not try to tank. I killed surgeons, herded when it looked convenient. Yet no one was "left in the dust." I say all this because some of the posts keep talking about how power creep has ruined the game. Ahem. I have run ITF on live with non incarnate 50s and comps that turned the valley into a slide show. I had a lot more fun on this run. 7/8 of us were 50+1, the mobs were 54, we had EBs that took effort to put down. Strategy was needed. Why (in a thread devoted to I/Os???) is it necessary to start campaigning for removing incarnate level shifts? Is it honestly just trolling? The game has not changed that much since live. We had incarnates then. They worked 99% same. We had I/Os on live. Some of you may remember. I think we had them for a good few months before shutdown. *cough. designing a super from the ground up, levelling, and running the "Super' is the goal of the game. If you want to go to a classic game where you hunt for a rusty sword and a fish monster eats your face for the first ten levels those exist. This is a Super game. All the story arcs about magic and technological devices and Excelsior type drugs and incarnate wells....we actually interact with all that. Like, our characters get to use that stuff. And it has effects on how strong they are. Super powered game. Just saying.

Isn't the latest discussion about hardcoding no level shifts for Lore and Destiny in DA? ahem. that would (from most individuals standpoints) make something harder. Did I miss something?

So your solution is to hard code an exclusion we cannot get around that will affect everyone negatively who does not share your opinion? Really? It hurts to try to follow the logic. Like watching stressed out commuters drive on crowded freeways. Never know who they are going to try to kill next.