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Hover blaster?

Glowman

By Glowman
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Glowman

Glowman

Posted
Posted

Interested in creating a hover blaster and working mostly at range. What are some good combinations for that? Bonus points if you share your build. Thanks!

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Snarky

Snarky

Posted
Posted (edited)

Here is a Elec/Temporal with softcap ranged defenses and a number of "Oh Crap!" escape buttons.  Hover Blast to your heart's content.  (also 75% S/L resist!)

 

This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.0.5.7
https://github.com/Reborn-Team/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Blanker: Level 50 Magic Blaster
Primary Power Set: Electrical Blast
Secondary Power Set: Temporal Manipulation
Power Pool: Concealment
Power Pool: Flight
Power Pool: Fighting
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Force Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1: Lightning Bolt -- Thn-Acc/Dmg(A), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx(3), Thn-Dmg/Rchg(3), Thn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(5), Thn-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(5), Thn-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(7)
Level 1: Time Wall -- TraoftheH-Acc/Rchg(A), TraoftheH-EndRdx/Immob(7), TraoftheH-Acc/EndRdx(9), TraoftheH-Acc/Immob/Rchg(9), TraoftheH-Dam%(11), TraoftheH-Immob/Acc(11)
Level 2: Ball Lightning -- Artl-Acc/Dam(A), Artl-Dam/End(13), Artl-Dam/Rech(15), Artl-Acc/Dam/Rech(15), Artl-Acc/Rech/Rng(17), Artl-End/Rech/Rng(17)
Level 4: Stealth -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def(19), ShlWal-ResDam/Re TP(19)
Level 6: Charged Bolts -- SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg(A), SprDfnBrr-Dmg/Rchg(21), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(21), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), SprDfnBrr-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(23), SprDfnBrr-Rchg/+Status Protect(25)
Level 8: Aim -- GssSynFr--ToHit(A), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg(25), GssSynFr--ToHit/Rchg/EndRdx(27), GssSynFr--Rchg/EndRdx(27), GssSynFr--ToHit/EndRdx(29), GssSynFr--Build%(29)
Level 10: Chronos -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(31)
Level 12: Zapp -- ExcCnt-Acc/Dmg(A), ExcCnt-Dmg/EndRdx(31), ExcCnt-Dmg/ActRdx(31), ExcCnt-Dmg/Rng(33), ExcCnt-Dmg/Rchg(33), ExcCnt-Stun%(33)
Level 14: Fly -- BlsoftheZ-ResKB(A), BlsoftheZ-Travel(34)
Level 16: Grant Invisibility -- Rct-ResDam%(A)
Level 18: Phase Shift -- RechRdx-I(A)
Level 20: Temporal Healing -- Prv-Absorb%(A), Prv-Heal(34), PrfShf-End%(34), PrfShf-EndMod(36), EndMod-I(36)
Level 22: Time Stop -- Lck-Acc/Hold(A), Lck-Acc/Rchg(36), Lck-Rchg/Hold(37), Lck-EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(37), Lck-Acc/EndRdx/Rchg/Hold(37), Lck-%Hold(39)
Level 24: Kick -- FrcFdb-Rechg%(A)
Level 26: Tough -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(39), RctArm-ResDam(40)
Level 28: Weave -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx(40), LucoftheG-Def/Rchg(40), LucoftheG-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(42), LucoftheG-Def(42), Ksm-ToHit+(42)
Level 30: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(43)
Level 32: Thunderous Blast -- SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsWrt-Dmg/Rchg(43), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(43), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(45), SprBlsWrt-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(45), SprBlsWrt-Rchg/Dmg%(45)
Level 35: Personal Force Field -- LucoftheG-Def/Rchg+(A)
Level 38: Time Lord -- StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(A)
Level 41: Repulsion Bomb -- Bmbdmt-Dam(A), Bmbdmt-Dam/Rech(46), Bmbdmt-Acc/Dam/Rech(46), Bmbdmt-Acc/Dam/Rech/End(48), Bmbdmt-+FireDmg(48), SuddAcc--KB/+KD(48)
Level 44: Temp Invulnerability -- RctArm-ResDam/EndRdx(A), RctArm-ResDam/Rchg(50), RctArm-ResDam(50)
Level 47: Time Shift -- ImpSwf-Acc/Slow(A), ImpSwf-Dam%(50)
Level 49: Force of Nature -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A)
Level 1: Defiance 
Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A)
Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Swift -- Flight-I(A)
Level 1: Hurdle -- Empty(A)
Level 1: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(13), Mrc-Rcvry+(39)
Level 1: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), PrfShf-EndMod(46)
Level 49: Quick Form 
Level 14: Afterburner 
------------ 

| Copy & Paste this data into Mids Reborn : Hero Designer to view the build |
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
Edited by Snarky
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Omega Force

Omega Force

Posted
Posted

Here's a Fire/Martial blaster.  You can use Burst of Speed to port in for Inferno.  An Elec/ version wouldn't even need to do that.

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DarknessEternal

DarknessEternal

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 2:47 AM, Omega Force said:

Here's a Fire/Martial blaster.  You can use Burst of Speed to port in for Inferno.  An Elec/ version wouldn't even need to do that.

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Expand  

However, it would need to find a way to do even acceptable damage while staying at range.

  • Haha 1
Carnifax

Carnifax

Posted
Posted (edited)

My hover-blaster is a Water / Temporal / Cold (head canoned as "Time Blast / Temporal" as water has a 'wibby-wobbly-timey-wimey' feel to it). Reasonably cheap too with 1 purple, no Winters and 3 PvP IOs (two are procs which actually looking at it again could be replaced by Shield Breaker or Impeded Swiftness procs for much less Inf). Capped ranged def, decent s/l def and the combo of Temporal Healings + Dehydrate + Hoarfrost makes you reasonably tough. 

 

Could do with more recharge but like I said I made them on the cheap(ish). 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

Edited by Carnifax
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My level 50 builds

[Bullitt Time : DP/Kin Corruptor] [Carnifax : Ill/Dark Controller] [Kerriae : Plant/Storm Controller] [Echinoderm : Bio/Spines Tank] [Iron Brew : Mace/Rad Brute] [Snookered : Staff/NRG Brute] [iScream : Ice/Ice Scrapper] [Binman : Savage/Shield Stalker] [Modul-8 : Time/Sonic Defender] [Concussion Blast : Fire/NRG Domi] [Orblivion : Dark/Martial Domi] [Mombie : Necro/Nature MM] [Tempore : Water/Time Blaster] [Thermodynamic Flux : Ice/Fire Blaster] 

 

[Carni's Online CombatLog Parser Alpha]

 

Elia87

Elia87

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 8:51 AM, Carnifax said:

My hover-blaster is a Water / Temporal / Cold (head canoned as "Time Blast / Temporal" as water has a 'wibby-wobbly-timey-wimey' feel to it). Reasonably cheap too with 1 purple, no Winters and 3 PvP IOs (two are procs which actually looking at it again could be replaced by Shield Breaker or Impeded Swiftness procs for much less Inf). Capped ranged def, decent s/l def and the combo of Temporal Healings + Dehydrate + Hoarfrost makes you reasonably tough. 

 

Could do with more recharge but like I said I made them on the cheap(ish). 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

 

Expand  

If you had unlimited budget how would you make it?

Carnifax

Carnifax

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 9:51 AM, Elia87 said:

If you had unlimited budget how would you make it?

Expand  

Honestly I've never been good with "Purpled out mega builds". It's just not in my wheelhouse to do them. I'm sure there must be proper "there was no budget" builds for Water out there but I tend to always build things way more modestly. 

 

I mean the PvP IO Heal set in Temporal Healing gives you a tiny % extra while costing LOTS more than Doctored Wounds. And you could purple out Water Jet. 

 

I would like to squeeze Forced Feedbacks in there as they can be very effective in improving recharge in bursts (my DP/Kin and Plant/Stormie both do this). 

 

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My level 50 builds

[Bullitt Time : DP/Kin Corruptor] [Carnifax : Ill/Dark Controller] [Kerriae : Plant/Storm Controller] [Echinoderm : Bio/Spines Tank] [Iron Brew : Mace/Rad Brute] [Snookered : Staff/NRG Brute] [iScream : Ice/Ice Scrapper] [Binman : Savage/Shield Stalker] [Modul-8 : Time/Sonic Defender] [Concussion Blast : Fire/NRG Domi] [Orblivion : Dark/Martial Domi] [Mombie : Necro/Nature MM] [Tempore : Water/Time Blaster] [Thermodynamic Flux : Ice/Fire Blaster] 

 

[Carni's Online CombatLog Parser Alpha]

 

Shred Monkey

Shred Monkey

Posted
Posted

Ice/ and Beam Rifle/ both have high dps ST chains and a ranged nuke.  Archery is also nice with it's short recharge nuke from range.

 

For secondary it doesn't matter that much.  I took /devices because it gave me everything I needed in 2 powers which left lots of room for pool power options.  /TA, /Energy, /Plant all have useful "at range" powers.

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Active on Excelsior:

Prismatic Monkey - Seismic / Martial Blaster, Shadow Dragon Monkey - Staff / Dark Brute, Murder Robot Monkey - Arachnos Night Widow

 

Without_Pause

Without_Pause

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 7:05 AM, Snarky said:

Que the conga line of “if it aint a fire bkaster uze suckz” dps spreadsheet trolls

Expand  

One of its two non-nuke AoEs is PBAoE, so depending how at range you want to stay, Elec's damage isn't ideal for a hover blaster. If end drain was worth a damn, its lower damage would be more acceptable.

Top 10 Most Fun 50s.

1. Without Mercy: Claws/ea Scrapper. 2. Outsmart: Fort 3. Sneakers: Stj/ea Stalker. 4. Emma Strange: Ill/dark Controller. 5. Project Next: Ice/stone Brute. 6. Waterpark: Water/temp Blaster. 6. Mighty Matt: Rad/bio Brute. 7. Without Hesitation: Claws/sr Scrapper. 8. Within Reach: Axe/stone Brute. 9. Without Pause: Claws/wp Brute.  10. Chasing Fireworks: Fire/time Controller. 

 

"Downtime is for mortals. Debt is temporary. Fame is forever."

Mopery

Mopery

Posted
Posted (edited)

Fit as many Thunderstrike and Artillery sets into your build as possible(up to 5 each). Look for any other sets that also give Ranged Defense, get that over 45% and you're golden.

 

My hoverblaster is AR/MM/Force. Not the damage King, but has an assortment of damage types(Lethal, Smashing, Fire, Psi) and 5 or 6 cone attacks. The cost was extremely reasonable(only 1 purple set used, Contagious Confusion for 5% Ranged Defense), don't even think I put ATO's into the build so it's sub-200 mil influence.

Edited by Mopery

Those times you saw no footprints, I had Fly toggled on.

Carnifax

Carnifax

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 1:57 PM, Mopery said:

Fit as many Thunderstrike and Artillery sets into your build as possible(up to 5 each). Look for any other sets that also give Ranged Defense, get that over 45% and you're golden.

 

Expand  

6. You want either 3 or 6 Artillery / Thunderstrikes for the Ranged Def bonuses. The bonus at 6 is more than at 3, so 1 power 6 slotted is better than 2 3 slotted. 

My level 50 builds

[Bullitt Time : DP/Kin Corruptor] [Carnifax : Ill/Dark Controller] [Kerriae : Plant/Storm Controller] [Echinoderm : Bio/Spines Tank] [Iron Brew : Mace/Rad Brute] [Snookered : Staff/NRG Brute] [iScream : Ice/Ice Scrapper] [Binman : Savage/Shield Stalker] [Modul-8 : Time/Sonic Defender] [Concussion Blast : Fire/NRG Domi] [Orblivion : Dark/Martial Domi] [Mombie : Necro/Nature MM] [Tempore : Water/Time Blaster] [Thermodynamic Flux : Ice/Fire Blaster] 

 

[Carni's Online CombatLog Parser Alpha]

 

Cenozoic

Cenozoic

Posted
Posted

Fire/Devices is a pretty wicked hover blaster.  I enjoy mine thoroughly.  A similar pairing with soft controls would be Fire/TA.  Also fun!

Ice/Devices is an old PvP winner, and it is super fun at range as well.  Ice/TA is ... NAAAASTY if you're into playing a mez blaster.

formerly @JimmyVine (on Infinity & Victory)

currently @Cenozoic (on Reunion)

 

Cenozoic (Mind/Psionic Dominator) ... Los Infiernos (Fire/Devices Blaster) ... Slof (Stone/Spines Tanker) ... Zen's Furnace (Illusion/Dark Controller) ... Cryovolcano (Earth/Cold Controller)

 

Snarky

Snarky

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 4:17 PM, DarknessEternal said:

No high damage ranged attack, no melee attacks, and ignoring one of it's AoEs.  Elec Blast is not suited to ranged only combat.

Expand  

One of your points appears to be since it does not have melee attacks it does not make a good hover blaster.  I am confused a lot in life.  This statement is just not helping

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Carnifax

Carnifax

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 4:56 PM, Snarky said:

One of your points appears to be since it does not have melee attacks it does not make a good hover blaster.  I am confused a lot in life.  This statement is just not helping

Expand  

I think they mean that Elecs ranged single target damage isn't great and since you're a hover blaster shoring it up with melees from the secondary isn't an option.

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My level 50 builds

[Bullitt Time : DP/Kin Corruptor] [Carnifax : Ill/Dark Controller] [Kerriae : Plant/Storm Controller] [Echinoderm : Bio/Spines Tank] [Iron Brew : Mace/Rad Brute] [Snookered : Staff/NRG Brute] [iScream : Ice/Ice Scrapper] [Binman : Savage/Shield Stalker] [Modul-8 : Time/Sonic Defender] [Concussion Blast : Fire/NRG Domi] [Orblivion : Dark/Martial Domi] [Mombie : Necro/Nature MM] [Tempore : Water/Time Blaster] [Thermodynamic Flux : Ice/Fire Blaster] 

 

[Carni's Online CombatLog Parser Alpha]

 

Mopery

Mopery

Posted
Posted (edited)
  On 9/17/2021 at 2:28 PM, Carnifax said:

6. You want either 3 or 6 Artillery / Thunderstrikes for the Ranged Def bonuses. The bonus at 6 is more than at 3, so 1 power 6 slotted is better than 2 3 slotted. 

Expand  

Apologies per my lack of specificity, I meant up to 5 full sets of each. My hoverblaster has 4 full sets of each, it would be difficult to actually get 5.

Edited by Mopery

Those times you saw no footprints, I had Fly toggled on.

DarknessEternal

DarknessEternal

Posted
Posted (edited)
  On 9/17/2021 at 4:56 PM, Snarky said:

One of your points appears to be since it does not have melee attacks it does not make a good hover blaster.  I am confused a lot in life.  This statement is just not helping

Expand  

It's pointing out that a hovering Elec Blaster has access to only one high damage attack that isn't a nuke: Zap.  If you're going to hover blast, you should endeavor to get some high damage ranged attacks.

Edited by DarknessEternal
plainguy

plainguy

Posted
Posted (edited)

I love my AR Device Hover Blaster.. Range/S/L . Double Gun Drone so they last a bit longer if you incorporate Burn out you can have 3 out at the start. 

You can also do Trip mine but it will only be good at the start of a fight. But again if you get S/L Defense cap that could help on the ground as well. So again you can mix it up like you want.

 

Not a blaster but I have a beam EA sentinel that I have literally fell asleep playing and was alive still when I woke back up and I have done that several times. 

 

 

Edited by plainguy

Why Softcap is important: https://dechskaison.blogspot.com/2011/01/why-is-softcap-so-important.html

Limits: https://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Limits

Attack Mechanics: https://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Attack_Mechanics

Semi & Petless Mastermind Builds: https://forums.homecomingservers.com/topic/10994-petless-and-semi-petless-masterminds/

 

InvaderStych

InvaderStych

Posted
Posted (edited)

So...

 

Who's got tips, tricks, macros, or binds for actually playing a hover blaster?

 

I'm crashing into ceilings, losing elevation when looking down at targets, and getting visually flummoxed when they cluster up directly beneath me. Cracked the early 20s on this character; starting to like it more, but ooooh-boy am I clumsy with it.

 

The build is the easy part, lol.

Edited by InvaderStych

You see a mousetrap? I see free cheese and a f$%^ing challenge.

Snarky

Snarky

Posted
Posted
  On 9/20/2021 at 11:34 PM, InvaderStych said:

So...

 

Who's got tips, tricks, macros, or binds for actually playing a hover blaster?

 

I'm crashing into ceilings, losing elevation when looking down at targets, and getting visually flummoxed when they cluster up directly beneath me. Cracked the early 20s on this character; starting to like it more, but ooooh-boy am I clumsy with it.

 

The build is the easy part, lol.

Expand  

You seem to be doing about like me and I have been at it a while.  there are a FEW tricks.  They are not easy.  They are not hotkeys.  At least not for me. 

1) Memorize your maps.  Those obstructions and turns are in the same place 99% time.  Then some idiot adds cobwebs or paneling once in a blue moon.  But mostly once you learn a map you can safely negotiate it quickly while flying.

2)Pick a target.  scan the group you are about to burn down. target nearest.  Is it somebody about where you want?  If not manually pick one.  Then swoop and let loose some damage AoE.  Even if you cannot see them you will be targeting on that mob.  If that mob dies or you cannot find up from down pick ANYBODY.  keep the DPS flowing.  unless you are on a farm map there really arent that many.  Just feels that way.  Kill kill kill.

2A) as you swoop down (hopefully you are stealthed or have a stealth proc.... you will lose altitude.  Pick your target and move up to correct range then let loose your AoE.  If it is needed and you have time.  Above all else keep blasting.  Remember.  8 FEET is "ranged"

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InvaderStych

InvaderStych

Posted
Posted

Thanks @Snarky,

 

Did a couple more missions last night and realized a couple, needless, sources of my frustration:

 

1 - Running The Graveyard Shift solo at 21 while running an "unfamiliar toon" was probably not the best idea I've ever had in The Cities. 🤣

 

2 - I'm running Beam/Dev for this - which means my toon is holding a rifle, something I've not done in this game.  Because of (various other games over the years) my brain has certain expectations of "gun wielding" characters - namely that they don't stop moving to fire.  I realized that when I'm holding down one direction or other to strafe and the toon stops to fire my brain is responding with "WTF!!! KEEP MOVING!!!"  I'll have to learn to drop that expectation.  Oddly, non-weapon blast sets don't trigger this part of my brain.

 

3 - Related to 2: My first blaster taken to 50 and beyond (Fire/Martial) leans heavily into Combat Teleport.  Being able to hit a key-stroke and port 40' backwards, or click to port with precision makes the "strafe-stop-strafe-stop" seem ... cumbersome ... by comparison.  Evasive Maneuvers does mitigate this, and last warehouse room in the penultimate mission in that arc was actually quite fun once I realized that Item #2 was a big source of the character flummoxing me. I expect my internal comparisons to fade with time spent on the Beam/Dev.

 

----

 

All that said, Beam Rifle is quite amazing.  Plugging away at the lumbering Vahz zombies and downing them in a shot or two was oddly satisfying.  It took a couple of attempts, but  I even managed to reliably take out Zoombies with a combination of Web'nades, Caltrops, and extreme strafing.

  • Like 2

You see a mousetrap? I see free cheese and a f$%^ing challenge.

BurningDezire

BurningDezire

Posted
Posted
  On 9/17/2021 at 4:39 PM, Cenozoic said:

Fire/Devices is a pretty wicked hover blaster.  I enjoy mine thoroughly.  A similar pairing with soft controls would be Fire/TA.  Also fun!

Ice/Devices is an old PvP winner, and it is super fun at range as well.  Ice/TA is ... NAAAASTY if you're into playing a mez blaster.

Expand  

Ice/TA is a BEAST!

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