Is there any reason to build a toon with strong single target damage anymore?

[HoundsTooth]

I feel like the current game is focused on clearing big mobs quickly. To me, powersets with strong single target damage seem like a holdover from a different time. Why should I build a toon with good single target damage when a Fire AT can clear the bulk of the mob in the time it takes me to whittle down the bosses and LT's?

 

I understand there are no bad builds in this game, in the sense that everything is viable. From a numbers point of view, is there any reason to take Stone or Energy on any AT when you can get better AoE damage elsewhere? Am I looking at this the wrong way?

[brian9824]

Because it takes that AT forever to kill the bosses?  You play to your role.  Stalkers and single target heroes target bosses and dangerous enemies like sappers while the AOE guys clear the room.  The bosses need to die, and 1 boss gives more xp then 25 junk mobs so the bosses are valuable. 

 

The entire point of the team is you should each play to your strengths.  So by the time those aoe guys are clearing the trash you should have the boss nearly dead. 

[Super Homer]

If your build can easily handle +4x8 solo, you likely need someheavy AoE (and high defenses and tons of IOs and stuff...) but should you not be that strong, it may always be an option for an AoE specialist to run a mission +1x8 while a ST specialist can run +4x1?

 

No clue how this stacks rewards-wise, but may work for a challenging experience.