Nyghtmaire

Brute Lee is the best Lee. ((And every time this topic is raised, an MA scrapper experiences mitosis, creating a brute and a tanker))

I find it nigh unplayable on defenders, masterminds, and corruptors in today’s game. But for a controller with a confuse, it’s an enjoyable diversion.

Not at all. It lends itself to a relatively slower, position-defense style of play (defend that flag!). If you can manage tankerminding, you’ll be absolutely fine. There’s a bunch of threads about this style. The granddaddy compilation of tactics and recommendations is here: https://dechskaison.blogspot.com/2012/01/gd-mastermind.html?m=1 Bear in mind that there are more pet uniques now, and it is easier to slot resistance and incorporate damage procs while controlling for knockback. But in the end, this only has an effect on higher level of play (increasing spawn size or levels, or both).

St. Vincent - She is Beyond Good and Evil

Executive Slacks - Fire and Ice

Harry Nillson - Jump into the Fire

@kiramon this thread got me so excited, I had to log on to my Necro/Sonic. So thank you!

It depends on the build. But I would agree with your instinct on Heat Mastery for a Necro/sonic. Bonfire (with KD) and tier 2 zombies (also with KD proc) together are a significant amount of mitigation. My Necro/sonic with fire PPP can reach fairly respectable levels of resistance without a patron shield before bodyguard is factored in. As for the attacks, fireball allows slotting of the annihilation -res proc, as well as the Apoc KD Chance to proc (although the chance for THAT is bit too unreliable for my tastes). Gloom, life drain and char should be enough, skipping fire blast (why bother?!?). For tankiness, KD - def/-ToHit - resistance - tip off with life drain Cycling Vorpal radial (with the defense buff), Barrier Core, and even Hybrid Support will do a ton to protect you and your pets (except for the Judgment blast). Alternately, Void -dam is an option, as is Melee (core or radial depending on focus). With the Lich’s -ToHit, this only adds to the mix (are you slotting for -ToHit at all in the Lich?). Basically, you’ll have a solid foundation of decent resists anyways between sonic dispersion, tough, IOs and slotting/set bonuses which allows for building towards other layers of mitigation/protection. Add in Cardiac, you can reach mid 50’s S/L, ~ low 30s to everything else but Psionic. Admittedly, 50 resistance vs. 75 (+ bodyguard) means you’re taking twice as much actual damage, but with layered defenses, that will happen less often. And of the enemies that are not attacking because they’re knocked down, that’s another layer of pseudo defense. I like the function of two effective layers (Defense/-ToHit and knockdown) to minimize the even needing to consider resistance. All in all, that’s a long way of saying “it depends.”

Your various enchant powers (Level 6 and 32) need to be cast every time your pets are summoned. Think of your pets coming out naked, and the first upgrade is the underclothes and the second the outfit. The various enchant powers only need an end reduction. One slot AT tax wonders.

That’s a really tight, elegant build! I wonder if you would achieve somewhat more mitigation by swapping the slotting between your Haunts and the Umbral Beast. You’d have two pets for knockdown opportunities then, as well as more Build-up proc opportunities. But my recollection is that they are purely single target (I haven’t played a Dark/ controller in almost a year). But that’s a very minor tweak overall. What are you planning for your Interface slot? Double-down on -ToHit with Diamagnetic or one of the damage abilities?

Ninja proc analysis:

the stranglers - Toiler on the Sea

Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll see if there is a way to include while keeping the rest of the build balanced.

Is this an anti- seeding/bucketing post? Asking for a friend...

Dolly Parton - Drinkinstein

I’d like to thank @Heraclea for all the excellent music posts. Highlight of my forum browsing day!

@EmmySky I’m in awe! Restraint is an overrated quality in many areas (except when it’s not). I prefer to make as many characters as I can at whim, then cull them with ferocity after a time. Create like Pollack; edit like Faulkner. Generally, I pick an AT and power set combo to theme, spend too much time in the costume creator, then an inordinate amount of time in MIDs working up a build that helps the (invariably poor) powerset combination function. But that’s what I like. I’ve never had much enjoyment any other way.

Richard Hell - Betrayal Takes Two (because of Television above. Wow what a great song!)

A Peroxisome (and/or its Acc/Mez sibling) goes smashingly in the Lich for any necro/secondary mastermind. Almost all my builds use them, especially since one of the ATO sets only requires 2 slots for a 10% recharge bonus once catalyzed.

I love the dam/range idea. Would the pet AI for the Lich cause it to move out of supremacy range? Nothing that pet management /goto couldn’t handle, but I’ve never even considered this approach.

At level 50, the Lich has the following -ToHit powers/attributes (unenhanced): 1. dark blast - 9.38; 2. Torrent - 9.38; 3. Life Drain - 9.38; 4. Tenebrous Tentacles - 9.38; and 5. Fearsome Starr - 18.75(!!!). You're correct that the level shift will negatively impact these numbers. But since there is no other way to effectively raise pet defense beyond unique auras (10% to all, 25% to AOE) and Maneuvers (~4.05%) on a resistance set (like thermal here), this is an amazing option. AOE is a killer, especially in defensive mode. Flooring ToHit, especially minion and lieutenant level, smooths out the incoming damage by allowing the resistance levels to reduce a smaller number of hits all around. With Necro pets’ own self-heals along with secondary healing, it is a very layered approach playing to the strength of the set.

The Birthday Party - Mutiny in Heaven

The pairings are fine. Likely the leveling — all the good stuff is coming up. The characters are in the Mastermind deadzone right now (assuming you’re not slotting sets). 🔥Level 22 - slotting 25IOs 🔥🔥Level 24 - 2d Tier 2 pet 🔥🔥🔥Level 26 - Tier 3 Pet 🔥🔥🔥🔥Level 32 - Abyssal Empowerment/Tame Beasts