Force Redux

Thanks Sovera. So even with procs, it's just a middle of the road set, per the testing. I can live with that myself if I can live with the animations. Maybe. Greater Psi Sword is still calling my name... I'm trying to ignore her. But that damage ...

Parasitic is a very lackluster T9. When solo I find it sleeps the occasional minion, but it has no real impact, as those minions are usually of no threat anyway. Also, being spines, I tend to wake up sleeping minions in short order. I think it might be (marginally) more useful in a ST set. I wish it kept the -damage debuffcomponent. Then it would add value in many more scenarios. Even in group play. As it is, I'll likely drop it from the build next respec and grab another power with more use.

May I ask how does this compare to your other stalkers?

I have a Spines/Bio at 50+3, and it's solid. But as I'm already dealing with some long-ish animations on Lunge, etc, as well as Lethal damage, I was curious to try a Kin/Bio, or perhaps a Kin/NRG. Performance aside, Kin's animations are fun to look at (unlike spines, which I find rather uninspired). So I'm reading up and looking forward to your continued observations! If I have time today, I might get my own Kinetic stalker created today.

With the updated pet AI, use of GoTo or Stay means pets don't scatter like they used to. Much easier to support them with all secondaries, as they keep a closer formation. #happyMM I'll be on my laptop to post the build in a few hours. If you want to see my build in action, welcome to join me on Everlasting anytime. My global is in my sig!

@grussen69 Definitely, I'll put something up today. My build is very survivable without losing damage. Time is just that wonderful for MMs.

Necro/Dark/Soul, of course! You can debuff even AV accuracy! You are a grim minister of death, praying for war. Not only the dead, but even the shadows obey you.

My understanding with the PPM changes were that it no longer procs per teammate. With Enforcers in Thugs, however, I'm told it can proc per pet. This is off my memory, as I'm at work atm 😛

MM pets do inherit the proc from the interface powers. I've never liked the low mag or low duration of the confuse. Have you checked your combat log?

Nice suggestion. I keep forgetting about the new pool powers myself. Almost anything could work here. After all, I can farm at reasonable (for a non brute) rate on my Bots/FF/Mu at +2/x8. Not as quickly or at +4 like my Thugs/Time/Mu, but it's more relaxing and can get the job done. Plus I enjoy the visuals, concept and safety of the build. YMMV, but the beauty part of CoH is that it's highly idiomatic and much if it is what you make it it. After all, there's this high Veteran level Empathy/Fire defender on Everlasting who absolutely solo wipes TF mobs and blows away my expectations on the times I've been grouped up.

FF + Mace PB will keep your Mercs alive the best at the cost of being rather one dimensional. With pets' lower base hit points and Mercs' poor resists (unlike demons), they don't have much to build off of, so you might as well aim to boost Def to avoid them taking damage in the first place. FF does offer area denial as you mentioned. That can help the mostly ranged set. The further away the targets, the more likely the Mercs' cones will capture targets. For attacks, a procced out Force Bolt can be useful not just for KB, but can add some damage, too. If you don't go Mace, however, then I would recommend Cold (although it may be you have already used it and care not to repeat). You'd pick up defense of course, plus some resists, stealth, debuffs and some replacement soft control. And Infrigerate is also procable. Cold will keep you a bit more busy than FF if that helps in your gameplay Call them snow troopers for theme.

Looking forward to your thoughts on EAff. 🙂

Sounds fun @r0y, I'll have to put this in my future alt list!

Maneuvers is great for MMs for extra Def. It's a terrific power, in general, and I take it on all my characters regardless of AT. I don't take temporal selection usually, unless I'm swimming in power choices. Time can get a little clicky if you also add hasten and destiny (typically Clarion) to Farsight. But MMs can typically get away without hasten IMO.

Yes, you can easily move characters at the character select screen. Welcome back hero! 🙂

Gonna leave my thank you here, Veracor. You've helped quite a few of my characters get their Hami badges 🙂🙂

Any toggle has a low proc chance unfortunately. Focused accuracy is very end expensive. Always take tactics if you can, instead. Personally I take tactics not for the accuracy so much as for the debuff resistance (I e., Arachnos widows, etc).

Leadership works on pets just as it does for teammates. It's my opinion that every MM should have the Leadership pool, taking Maneuvers and Tactics at the very least, and Assault and Vengeance is there is room in the build. Leadership is a force multiplier and the MM is the class that can make best use of it when going solo. PSA: the Gaussian % for Build Up procs poorly in your Tactics. Only slot it there if you are going for the six piece defense bonus to boost your MMs defenses.

"That's what she said!" 😀😛 #icouldntresist #overusedmemes #mycatmademedoit

Gives new meaning to the phrase "if looks could kill"

The extra -ToHit will provide a buffer against foes with high accuracy or defense debuffs. But there is always a 5% chance to get hit no matter what you stack. What it can do, however is get you closer to the iCap when you are in Incarnate trials, though many of the AVs while resist the debuffs, as will the purple patch. TLDR: yes, it helps close the gap, but there is still a ceiling.

No, not a current build, but I do have an older one in Mid's. Drop the the Steadfast and Gladiator defense procs in the armor. Grab electric fence for immob. I used to be a huge Mace/Scorpion Shield fan, a also PB, but I realized these were unnecessary for my MMs. Plus the Web Envelope is too slow to activate and doesn't have the -KB like Electric Fence does. And the less clicks the better, so no Power Boost. If I get time I'll try to post a more current build. Or at least a screenshot of the powers.

Energy shield. Color customization looks great, and you can make it very bright or pretty dim ...

FWIW my Thus/Time doesn't use Power Boost, and is softcapped to Range and has 35-ish to Melee and AoE before factoring in Time's Juncture -ToHit. The Thugs are iCapped to all positions. I have Mu Mastery and like 50+% resists to S/L and Energy damage. Very safe. I farm +4/x8 farms no issues.

Thanks Doc!