A possible role for sentinels - Debuffing blastroller

[EnjoyTheJourney]

So far the role my sentinel (Psy / SR / Psi) seems to play is that of a very safe blastroller and debuffer*with a damage type that sometimes shines when other powersets can struggle. 

 

The lack of separation between doing damage and debuffing / controlling might make it easy to trivialize either (or both). And, the packaging together of damage / control / debuffing isn't always optimal for a team setting. Still, one way to think about the role a sentinel can play is to ask what average DPS would a controller and a blaster be putting out if the controller used a mass disorient and the blaster used a nuke. That's essentially what the psy nuke is for a sentinel; it's like rolling the effects of two ATs into a single click. And, this ignores the 70% (base) recharge debuff mobs will have on them for a while after being hit. 

 

Even when the nuke is down SR makes it safe to absorb alpha while casting psy shockwave and psi tornado. That neutralizes quite a few minions and puts quite a few lts / bosses on their backs. Plus, that stacks an 80% (base) recharge debuff on mobs, making them noticeably less threatening. Once again, although with lower damage numbers than when using the nuke, this is damage / control / debuffs (and aggro splitting by safely taking alpha) all rolled into one package and it makes clearing easier for teams. 

 

The ST ranged attacks have controls: dominate (hold), telekinetic blast (knockdown with an IO for that), will domination (sleep), and scramble thoughts (disorient); also, mind probe in psi mastery offers a 40% (base) recharge debuff. This is more packaging together of damage / control / debuffs, at the ST level. 

 

Others may like to see larger damage numbers hovering over mobs' heads. Or, they may prefer the secondaries controllers have (which are awesome and it's understandable that many might prefer them). All of which is fine. And, not all sentinel primary / secondary combinations package damage / controls / debuffs together like this particular primary / mastery does. But, sentinels are particularly well suited to playing multiple roles on a team if they're built for that purpose. 

 

PS: Yes, I'm having fun playing my sentinel.

 

* Debuff values are affected by level differences, and so for most endgame content debuffs are lower than the base values. They still help, though, especially when the base amounts are large. 

[Bill Z Bubba]

1 hour ago, EnjoyTheJourney said:

PS: Yes, I'm having fun playing my sentinel.

That's what matters. I have fun with my fire/bio sent and he has absolutely no control or debuffs. Just damage.