Is there a guide to build creation?

[Mjolnerd]

Does there exist anywhere a guide to creating a build via Mid's/Pine's? I mean, I understand how to use the program, I just don't really know what to do with it, if that makes sense. I know which buttons to push and what the different features do, but I haven't a clue how to even start actually putting together a decent build in terms of method. (Like how I know how to play chess, but don't know how to play chess, ya know?)

 

Is there a typical procedure to it? Do you usually start with one or two specific IO sets based on what you're trying to accomplish and sort of work backward from there to figure out how many slots to give each power?

 

I'm sure a lot of it comes down to experience, and the technique is different depending on the build itself, powersets, AT, goals, and a hundred other things, but man... a little nudge in the right direction would go a long way toward me being self-sufficient and not having to comb through the old CoH forums via the Wayback Machine to find what other people did years ago.

[Rylas]

I can only speak for myself, but when I'm using Pine's, I start first with what powers I want from my power sets. Selecting those in the best order I can for leveling experience. Then I move on to what bonuses I want to aim at most to achieve the goals for that character. Do I want to cap S/L defense? Work on shoring up resist numbers where possible? Go for perma-hasten? You get the point. Then I pull up this trusty source to help me figure out how to best achieve those bonuses I need. So if I need to find sets for +Endurance I click on that page and see what sets give me the best bonuses for the least amount of investment. After that, it's a matter of seeing if I've sacrificed enhancement values in a power too much and seeing if my slot placement is worth the squeeze.

 

It's not an in depth guide, but I've made some super fun builds (for me — and who else should you be making it for than yourself?) using that method.

[Shinobu]

I'll tell you what I do, specifically.

 

I always build for defense and resistance as well if I can manage it.  For an AT without inherit defense this means I'll probably want Tough and Weave, Maneuvers, and also Scorpion Shield if I can fit all of those in.  For something like a brute or scrapper with inherit defense, I may not need Manuevers, but may still use Tough/Weave, it just depends on how the build works best.

 

I pick powers in roughly the order I would when leveling, and generally assume any attack power I intend to actually use will at least be five-slotted.  Powers like Manuevers I usually plan for 3 slots, usually I plan for 2 slots for Health and Endurance.  I try to make sure any power I want to slot out to 4,5, or 6 slots is picked early enough to do so.  ^_^  After that, I start tossing in sets and try to figure out how much defense I have, how much recharge, how much endurance recovery, and adjust from there to try and get what I want.

 

But like you said, I think everyone does it their own way.

 

 

[MunkiLord]

I don't really use it for leveling, so I generally start throwing powers I know I'll take in there, and fill it out from there. Then I'll usually have a general goal in mind as I start. For example, I'm about to work on making an Elec Melee/Shield Scrapper, so close to perma-hasten and soft capped defenses will be high on my list. I'll start slotting my primary and secondary powers with specific sets to help me get more recharge and positional defense. For my first run I'll actually go through it pretty quick and not looking too deep at it. Then I'll check out my first draft end usage, recovery, defense, and recharge and tweak from there. For this specific build I'll be going for positional defense, so if I notice my fire defense is 30% I'll look at the sets that give that and see if they can be swapped out for something that gives more Ranged defense or recharge. A friend and I that played together for years have a shared Google Drive folder and we'll look at each other's builds a lot, so that helps give fresh eyes and someone to bounce ideas off of.

 

I realize my method isn't the most organized so it may not work for you, but I find it effective.