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Phobophobia: A contest!

Bionic_Flea

By Bionic_Flea
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Bionic_Flea

Bionic_Flea

Posted
Posted

Phobophobia - the fear of fear itself.

 

I was trying to think of a character that would use Fear to the maximum extent possible in the game.  I also want this character to be a viable soloist and able to fill their traditional AT role in a team.

 

I've designed three different characters and have ideas for a few more.  But I wanted to see what the rest of you crazy, creative people could come up with. 

 

To encourage participation and make a contest out of it, I will choose one build from those submitted.  The winner gets a PL to 50 and all the IOs for the submitted build.  The winner will be chosen by me based upon: 1) generous use of fear-based powers; 2) apparent ability to reasonably solo +1/x8 or higher (at level 50-sooner would be bonus points) based on having sufficient defense, resist, heals, or other mitigation; 3) sufficient single target and AoE damage to be able to complete these missions in a reasonable time; and 4) ability to fulfill a standard AT role, meaning that a tank should be able to take huge amounts of damage and maintain aggro, a defender should be able to buff and debuff, controllers should be able to lockdown groups, blasters, scrappers, and stalkers should lay down some major DPS, etc.

 

At the end of the contest I will post my builds as well and make a character.  Even if I go with one of my own builds, I will select someone to win the prize.

 

Ready, set, go make fearsome characters!

  • Like 3
Troo

Troo

Posted
Posted (edited)

While I love a Rad/Dark corruptor, recent changes maybe not helpful here. So I'd suggest a Dark/Ice/Dark or a Dark/Sonic/Dark Defender. (sure I could have said stalker, but that's too easy)

 

Will you be one or two shottin bosses, no.

Can you comfortably wipe out waves of minions as you wade into battle surrounded by trembling enemies, yes.

 

Fearsome Stare, Dark Servant and Invoke Panic (pool power) would be fear on steroids. Procs can add some damage to the non damaging powers.

Petrifying Stare can double stack on a target and be proc'ed into a damage dealer.

That's a lot of damage mitigation +Darkest Night 30% -tohit

Tar Patch, Howling Twilight.. yum.

 

Blizzard or Dreadful Wail, take your pick. Both can be leveraged for some heavy damage with power sets having some really nice synergies.

 

Soul drain from dark gives a better top end damage boost. (multi-build up nuke potential)

 

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Edited by Troo

"Homecoming is not perfect but it is still better than the alternative.. at least so far" - Unknown  (Wise words Unknown!)

Si vis pacem, para bellum

Darkneblade

Darkneblade

Posted
Posted (edited)

I main dark/dark controller. I just go with soul mastery for theme. Coupled with haunt ,umbra beast and your own fearsome stare power that inflicts fear status it lockdowns pretty much anything. You can solo most content because you have too many pets and too many -to hit debuff which helps with mitigation. 

First mitigation: Maneuvers , Tactics , Shadow Fall , Perma Fade, Clarion if you get mezzed.

Don't forget to refresh Fade when pets are in range and Dark Servant too.

Enemies clustered together I use fearsome stare as opening then go with tar patch and howling twilight for stun. Afterwards I cast living shadows to trigger containment and casting dark obliteration for -res proc since it is Aoe it triggers on every target. Then while my pets deals with weaker enemies I personally go in melee range. When all enemies within range I cast soul absorption to help with mitigation then soul drain afterwards. When all of them done I use Heart of the darkness and go out of melee range again. Usually this is the part when I cast fearsome stare, ST hold ,ST immobilize and repeat this routine for rest of missions.

Don't forget to heal umbra beast repeatedly. Because he keeps dying for some reason. Great for damage though.

Edited by Darkneblade
Bionic_Flea

Bionic_Flea

Posted
  • Author
Posted

While I appreciate all suggestions, to be eligible for the prize you have to submit a Mids build.  That lets me look at the nitty griitys and have an idea of the IOs I'm gonna have to buy.

Darkneblade

Darkneblade

Posted
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Level 2: Swift

 
Here you go

Edited by Darkneblade
SuperPlyx

SuperPlyx

Posted
Posted
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Dark/Dark/Levianthan Scrapper 5 powers that do Fear,I think that might be the most you can get on 1 AT. And one of those says Fear is a component but is not enhance-able . 

  • Like 1
Cutter

Cutter

Posted
Posted
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Slightly different, a Dark/Savage tanker. Stacking fears and stuns, slow bleed dots help maintain aggro, and let's face it Savage just looks terrifying 🙂

  • Like 2

@Cutter

 

So many alts, so little time...

Outrider_01

Outrider_01

Posted
Posted

Dark/Moody/Fearsome

 

Trying to make a build, but Batman hasn't called back to give me some suggestions.

  • Like 1

"Farming is just more fun in my opinion, beating up hordes of angry cosplayers...."  - Coyotedancer

Yomo Kimyata

Yomo Kimyata

Posted
Posted
  On 4/14/2020 at 7:07 PM, Bionic_Flea said:

Phobophobia - the fear of fear itself.

 

 

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I love this post for two reasons.

 

First, a good theme is a good theme.  It's nice to see people not chasing a FOTM, and this is a great way to encourage that.

Second, that's a great prize.  Both in terms of value, and in terms of convenience.

 

Well done.  You have earned the Yomo(tm) seal of approval.

  • Like 2

Who run Bartertown?

 

Coyote

Coyote

Posted
Posted
  On 4/15/2020 at 1:26 PM, Bionic_Flea said:

Oooh!  I forgot about [fear incarnate] and that [water spout] had a fear component.  Good ones!

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Remember, the "fear" component from Water Spout is teh "run away" fear, no the Terrorized effect that has them cowering in place.

 

My build: Dark/Savage Dominator (because regardless of the number of powers, it's hard to beat Domination-powered Fearsome Stare for perma-fear on one spawn, plus Domination-powered Invoke Panic for perma-fear on another spawn). The only worry I have is that after Savage Charge into a spawn, then HoD, then Rending Flurry... who's left to scare? 😛

 

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Nemu

Nemu

Posted
Posted (edited)

Hero Plan by Mids' Reborn : Hero Designer 2.6.0.7
https://github.com/ImaginaryDevelopment/imaginary-hero-designer

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Zap Arachnophobia: Level 50 Science Blaster
Primary Power Set: Electrical Blast
Secondary Power Set: Darkness Manipulation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Presence
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Lightning Bolt -- SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(7), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(9), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(9), SprDfnBrr-Rchg/+Status Protect(11)
Level 1: Penumbral Grasp -- SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg(A), SprWntBit-Dmg/Rchg(11), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(13), SprWntBit-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(13), SprWntBit-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(15), SprWntBit-Rchg/SlowProc(15)
Level 2: Smite -- Hct-Dmg(A), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), Hct-Acc/Rchg(3), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(5), Hct-Dam%(5)
Level 4: Super Speed -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A)
Level 6: Ball Lightning -- SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg(A), SprFrzBls-Rchg/ImmobProc(7), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx(17), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(19), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(19)
Level 8: Aim -- RctRtc-ToHit/Rchg(A), RctRtc-Pcptn(31)
Level 10: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 12: Zapp -- Apc-Dmg(A), Apc-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), Apc-Acc/Rchg(34), Apc-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Apc-Dam%(34)
Level 14: Boxing -- Empty(A)
Level 16: Soul Drain -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(37), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(43), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(46)
Level 18: Tesla Cage -- SprEnt-Acc/Hold(A), SprEnt-End/Rchg(31), SprEnt-Hold/Rchg(31), SprEnt-Acc/Hold/End(33), SprEnt-Acc/Hold/End/Rchg(33), SprEnt-Rchg/AbsorbProc(33)
Level 20: Touch of the Beyond -- SphIns-ToHitDeb(A), SphIns-Acc/ToHitDeb(21), SphIns-Acc/Rchg(23), SphIns-ToHitDeb/EndRdx/Rchg(25), SphIns-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg(25), SphIns-%ToHit(29)
Level 22: Tough -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A), GldArm-3defTpProc(23), UnbGrd-Max HP%(50)
Level 24: Pacify -- Acc-I(A)
Level 26: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), Rct-Def(27), Rct-Def/EndRdx(27), Rct-ResDam%(29)
Level 28: Dark Consumption -- PwrTrns-+Heal(A), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), Erd-Acc/Rchg(46), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(48)
Level 30: Short Circuit -- PwrTrns-+Heal(A), Erd-Dmg(45), Erd-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Erd-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(46)
Level 32: Thunderous Blast -- SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(37), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprBlsWrt-Rchg/Dmg%(42)
Level 35: Scorpion Shield -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), ShlWal-Def/EndRdx(36), ShlWal-Def(36), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(36)
Level 38: Midnight Grasp -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(39), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(39), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(40), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(40)
Level 41: Intimidate -- Ngh-Acc/Rchg(A), Ngh-Acc/Fear/Rchg(42), Ngh-Acc/Fear(50)
Level 44: Invoke Panic -- Ngh-Acc/Rchg(A), Ngh-Acc/Fear/Rchg(48), Ngh-Acc/Fear(48)
Level 47: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50)
Level 49: Summon Spiderlings -- SlbAll-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(A)
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Defiance
Level 1: Quick Form
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 1: Sprint -- UnbLea-Stlth(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 4: Ninja Run
Level 2: Swift -- Run-I(A)
Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A)
Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A)
Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A)
Level 0: Freedom Phalanx Reserve
Level 0: Portal Jockey
Level 0: Task Force Commander
Level 0: The Atlas Medallion
Level 50: Agility Core Paragon
Level 50: Clarion Radial Epiphany
------------

 

 

I have rule, any toon I make needs to be able to speed citadel when exemped hence the power selection sequence. One can totally take the presence pool and defer fighting until much later to keep it thematic.

 

The spiders don't technically fear but I thought it was a nice play on the theme, but if there were a fear Pet proc it would totally go into the spiders.

 

Edited by Nemu
  • Like 1

Liberty, Torchbearer, Excelsior, Everlasting

Jezebel Delias

Level 50 Fire/Elec/Mace Blaster

 

I am the Inner Circle!

Yomo Kimyata

Yomo Kimyata

Posted
Posted (edited)

I started thinking about things that we fear, and many of us fear aging.  This got me thinking about undead in old D&D lore that would either drain levels or age you in years if they touched you.  Pretty scary.

 

Meet Uabhas Wraith, a Dark/Dark stalker.  I'm looking forward to building him out.  image.thumb.png.e7ff13f917746331bf590eaf145b4b21.png

 

 

 

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Level 2: Swift
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image.png

Edited by Yomo Kimyata
  • Like 1

Who run Bartertown?

 

Bionic_Flea

Bionic_Flea

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

I had forgotten that a successfull Assassin Strike has a chance to inflict fear on those close to the target.  Dark/Dark stalker with Water Spout, presence pool, and the vigilante power, fear incarnate, might be the most fear you can get out of a CoH character. 

 

I had made similar builds to Yomo's stalker and SuperPhysx's scrapper but as Brute and Tanker.  I'll post below for comparison:

 

Brute

 

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Level 2: Swift

 

 

Tanker

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Level 2: Swift

 

 

Edited by Bionic_Flea
Clave Dark 5

Clave Dark 5

Posted
Posted
  On 4/15/2020 at 2:28 PM, Yomo Kimyata said:

It's nice to see people not chasing a FOTM, and this is a great way to encourage that.

Expand  

I... I have no idea what's going on here.  Surely this will cause the game to collapse!

  • Haha 1

 

Tim "Black Scorpion" Sweeney: Matt (Posi) used to say that players would find the shortest path to the rewards even if it was a completely terrible play experience that would push them away from the game...

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗

Clave's Sure-Fire Secrets to Enjoying City Of Heroes
Ignore those farming chores, skip your market homework, play any power sets that you want, and ignore anyone who says otherwise.
This game isn't hard work, it's easy!
Go have fun!
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Yomo Kimyata

Yomo Kimyata

Posted
Posted

This is as good a place as any to post questions/observations about fear.

 

Most (all?) robots appear to be immune to its effects, but I don't know if that includes the to-hit debuff or just the cowering effect.

 

In fact, I don't know if those two are separate?  Does the to hit debuff only work if the cowering effect takes place?

Who run Bartertown?

 

Sir Myshkin

Sir Myshkin

Posted
Posted
  On 4/18/2020 at 1:46 PM, Bionic_Flea said:

"...might be the most fear you can get out of a CoH character."

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I'm afraid not.

 

Dark Control/Dark Miasma/Soul Controller will has a terrifying amount of Fear inclusive abilities at its disposal.

  • Fearsome Stare
  • Intimidate
  • Invoke Panic (if you feel inclined)
  • Scare x2 (Each Haunt carries the Scare ability, ST)
  • Terrifying Roar (Umbra Beast, 10/s Cooldown Cone)
  • Fear Incarnate (If we're counting the Vigilante PBAoE)

I'm not one for repeating sets, but I sat down thinking about this and came up with a build that kind of scares me a little. I could be swayed to build it as I ended up stirring it around a concept. Disappears for 15 minutes. Okay, never mind, I rolled the character. Anyway, what's got me intrigued is the idea of getting enough recharge into the build to play around with some semi-bent ideas to thematic concept. One thing that has me a bit hyped is the idea of using Adrenal Booster for not only its +Rech to get into a Perma-Hasten cycle on the cheap, but also because it has a mini-PB effect for 60/s that does impact Terrorize! From a leveling perspective the build should probably swap in Living Shadows over something else (Provoke probably) until 38 when Dark Servant shows up to have the Immob and extra AoE proc damage; once the Servant shows up though it carries its own Tenebrous Tentacles filling the Immob Cone function.

 

I've been messing with this for over an hour and a half, I really should slink back into the shadows before it consumes me. And of course, as is my fashion, it's a Proc Monster 😄

 

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  • Like 1
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Bionic_Flea

Bionic_Flea

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
  On 4/25/2020 at 7:43 AM, Sir Myshkin said:

I'm afraid not.

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Pun intended?

 

I looked over the build and it's certainly interesting.  It seems more like a Mastermind build in some respects.  Much of the damage is coming from the pets while you provoke, debuff, and terrorize the neighborhood..  I wonder if it would be worth pushing that idea further and picking up the seer for say . . . possess.  Slight loss of recharge for an extra damage pet.  And if we drop presence pool (although somewhat contrary to this exercise) and pick up Combat Jumping and Shadow Field with a set of Unbreakable Constraints and some shuffling of IOs we end up at 176ish global recharge, 5 pets, and enough -tohit, -damage, +defense, regen, and healing to keep those pets, yourself, and anyone else upright while your enemies are afeared, held, disoriented, on their backs, or just plain dead.  Interesting indeed.

 

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Level 2: Swift

 

 

Edited by Bionic_Flea
Sir Myshkin

Sir Myshkin

Posted
Posted
  On 4/25/2020 at 1:23 PM, Bionic_Flea said:

Pun intended?

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Oh I loaded up the puns in that comment 😄


The reason I personally didn’t include the Seer is because I was going for a full shadow puppet concept and the Seer really breaks that vibe. 
 

I really went back and forth for no-joke 30 minutes on sticking Shadowy Binds and Living Shadows just on name/theme reasons but Dark Grasp and Possess are just too good and... Possess still kind of makes sense on theme creating “shadow puppets”. 

Pylon Test Run Submission Proc Monsters (Controller Edition) Proc Monsters (Defender Edition)
Pylon Test Run Results Proc Monsters (Tanker Edition) "Mad King Special"
"Ceterum autem censeo  Iram esse delendam" Mad King Special - Force Edition (NEW!)

 

Yomo Kimyata

Yomo Kimyata

Posted
Posted

Yeah, I've been looking at this from not just a fear-heavy build, but a fear-heavy play concept.  In the case of melee characters, which is my main focus, I wanted to come up with an idea that used/required the fear mechanics to really shine.

 

What does fear provide?  As mentioned above by @Bionic_Fleathese can be exclusive.

- Soft control in the form of terrorize, either single target or AoE.  I can't quantify "terrorize" right now, but that's the trembling that serves much like a short-term sleep, as it can be partly broken.

- To-hit debuffs, also either single target or AoE.

 

So, it seems like a resist-based defensive set adds more value than layering -to hit on top of +defense.  Dark Armor fits the bill.

 

Dark Melee has Touch of Fear, but since the rework its AoE iin the form of Shadow Maul is practically unplayable as a Stalker and I presume a Brute, Tanker, or Scrapper too.  I didn't follow the changes thread in Beta, but I cannot stand the trade-off of a much much much wider cone for much much much less damage.

 

My strategy for Uabhas Wraith, Dark/Dark stalker currently in his 30s, has generally been to:  take out threat LTs from Hide, debuff boss, debuff crowd of minions, then arrest them one at a time from relative safety.  I'm currently running at +3/x3, and I'm finding the strategy very effective.  I should go up to +4 shortly, but much more than x5 will be really tedious, thanks to the new "improved" Shadow Maul.  Accuracy bonuses are very important, since as they say, you miss 100% of the baddies you don't hit.  Getting accuracy up in Cloak of Fear to something over 100 is more important than boosting the to hit debuff by a point or two, in my experience so far.

 

 

Who run Bartertown?

 

  • 2 weeks later
Cutter

Cutter

Posted
Posted (edited)

So I adapted the build I posted for this challenge, turning it into a Dark/Elec Tank (going for a "nightmare hellstorm" appearance). Just at 19, but holy poop is it fun so far. I've only had Cloak of Fear for a level but it sure puts in work. And the aesthetic isn't bad either...

image.png.f233091faba0a2012d58a0cc75a1c629.png

image.png.0d257badd7c689b6a368638ba821958e.png

Edited by Cutter
  • Like 1

@Cutter

 

So many alts, so little time...

  • 1 month later
Bionic_Flea

Bionic_Flea

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well, it's been long enough for people to submit a proposal for the prize and I have already picked one, leveled it to 50 +3, and even moved on to other characters.

 

Drum-roll, please . . .

 

And the winner is  . . . .  @Yomo Kimyata!!!! 

 

Yomo, send me a PM or in-game message to coordinate your PL and prizes

 

I went with a Dark/Dark Stalker, which ended up having 7 fear powers!  Assassin's Eclipse, Touch of Fear, Cloak of Fear, Intimidate, Invoke Panic, Water Spout, and Fear Incarnate.  As  I was leveling up, the presence pool was helpful in paralyzing one or two critters while I dealt with others.  As I gained levels I used those powers less and less.  I actually use the fear incarnate power more even though it has worse recharge and endurance because it also has the -tohit that Presence Pool lacks.  Pacify also got some use in lieu of Placate, which I skipped.  But with the stalker ATOs, neither placate nor pacify is necessary.

 

The lack of -tohit and high costs of the presence pool powers makes this a pure concept build that works well enough, but I would be much better off taking other powers.  If they had  - tohit and if I could take either Invoke Panic or Unrelenting with just one power pick I think people might take this pool more often.  At a minimum, we should be able to pick intimidate as a first power pick.  Many pools allow you to choose any of the first three as your first pick.  Come to think of it, I may respec out of Invoke Panic and try Unrelenting.  I've never used it at all.

 

The build was modified using Yomo's as a base.  The powers were actually taken in a slightly different order; for example I took combat jumping much earlier.  Here's the build:

 

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