New robots, new problems

[Aeroprism]

Hello beautiful people!

 

Dusting up my pretty little Robot/Time mastermind after the latest changes to Robotics and I'm at a point where I'm stumped.  My biggest problem is that I don't know or understand what are the critical objectives when making a MM build.  I know melees by heart, but these guys?  Confusion.

 

Here is what I have so far.  It looks proc-happy, perhaps too much.  It's also a build where I play mostly control while the robots do the work. I intend to abuse Mu's electrifying fences's -KB to help my late bots do better DPS. 

 

Can you guys point me in a direction or twelve to help me finish this build?

 

Thank you very much!

 

This Villain build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.6
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

Click this DataLink to open the build!

Level 49 Magic Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Robotics
Secondary Power Set: Time Manipulation
Power Pool: Leadership
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Flight
Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery

Villain Profile:
Level 1: Battle Drones

• (A) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage
• (7) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Damage/Endurance
• (9) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
• (9) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (11) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Recharge/Pet +AoE Defense Aura
• (11) Call to Arms - Defense Bonus Aura for Pets
  

Level 1: Temporal Mending

• (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal
• (3) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance
• (3) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime
• (5) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
• (5) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance
• (7) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb
  

Level 2: Pulse Rifle Blast

• (A) Accuracy IO
  

Level 4: Time's Juncture

• (A) Impeded Swiftness - Chance of Damage(Smashing)
  

Level 6: Equip Robot

• (A) Empty
  

Level 8: Maneuvers

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
• (17) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
  

Level 10: Temporal Selection

• (A) Empty
  

Level 12: Protector Bots

• (A) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Endurance/Pet +Resist +Regen
• (13) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (13) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Damage/Endurance
• (15) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Endurance
• (15) Expedient Reinforcement - Resist Bonus Aura for Pets
• (17) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
  

Level 14: Tactics

• (A) Empty
  

Level 16: Distortion Field

• (A) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
• (33) Neuronic Shutdown - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
• (33) Gladiator's Net - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
• (34) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold
  

Level 18: Maintenance Drone

• (A) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance
• (19) Numina's Convalesence - Endurance/Recharge
• (19) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Recharge
• (21) Numina's Convalesence - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (21) Numina's Convalesence - Heal
• (27) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
  

Level 20: Time Stop

• (A) Ghost Widow's Embrace - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
• (34) Neuronic Shutdown - Chance of Damage(Psionic)
• (34) Gladiator's Net - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
• (36) Lockdown - Chance for +2 Mag Hold
  

Level 22: Assault Bot

• (A) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Damage
• (23) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Damage
• (23) Sovereign Right - Accuracy/Damage
• (25) Sovereign Right - Accuracy
• (25) Sovereign Right - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (27) Edict of the Master - Defense Bonus
  

Level 24: Farsight

• (A) Reactive Defenses - Defense
• (29) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance
• (31) Reactive Defenses - Endurance/RechargeTime
• (31) Reactive Defenses - Defense/RechargeTime
• (31) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance/RechargeTime
• (33) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage
  

Level 26: Upgrade Robot

• (A) Empty
  

Level 28: Slowed Response

• (A) Shield Breaker - Accuracy/Defense Debuff
• (39) Shield Breaker - Defense Debuff/Endurance/Recharge
• (39) Shield Breaker - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
• (40) Shield Breaker - Chance for Lethal Damage
• (40) Touch of Lady Grey - Chance for Negative Damage
• (40) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
  

Level 30: Chrono Shift

• (A) Panacea - Heal/Endurance
• (36) Panacea - Endurance/Recharge
• (37) Panacea - Heal/Recharge
• (37) Panacea - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
• (37) Panacea - Heal
• (39) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance
  

Level 32: Assault

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 35: Hasten

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
• (36) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 38: Hover

• (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
  

Level 41: Charged Armor

• (A) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
• (42) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/Endurance
  

Level 44: Electrifying Fences

• (A) Superior Frozen Blast - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
• (45) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (45) Superior Frozen Blast - Damage/Endurance
  

Level 47: Thunder Strike

• (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
• (47) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
• (47) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
  

Level 49: Fly

• (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)
  

Level 1: Brawl

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Sprint

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Supremacy 

Level 2: Rest

[Nyghtmaire]

Hi @Aeroprism and welcome back from your CoH vacation. I’m leveling two Bots as a side- side - side - project (TA and Cold). For your build, check the /time sticky up thread. Also, Redlynne posted a ninja/time build and guide which has a lot of information (“Wall of Text Crits you!). Most of the slotting advice is still relevant in those threads. I’m not near a computer with Mids, so I’m merely eyeballing your build.

 

Major changes since those builds were posted: only the Tier 3 has KB and that’s only one power (a KB to KD converter may be worth a slot, allowing you to consider no going with Mu - see below). Everything else for all the pets is KD now. You have the personal attacks which is good since that is your new source of -regen (removed from the Tier 3). Your level 6 upgrade provides resistance to your bots; slot for resistance! Level 26 upgrade also improves tier 2 healing so throwing a heal IO can’t hurt (and the endurance costs are pretty low now anyhow).
 

For slotting, /time generally wants more global recharge than you have slotted. Most builds aim for perma hasten and perma Chronal Shift (as close as possible); Caveat: the recharge bonus lasts 90 seconds - which doable, but the recovery boost is merely 30 second - beyond possible to make permanent.  Quick way to increase recharge is with Superior Mark of Supremacy - 2 pieces provides a whopping 10%.
 

Also, Mace tends to be the preferred patron power with time as Powerboost will boost Farsight’s defense and ToHit attributes (speaking of which, Membrane HOs are pretty great here - defense, ToHit and recharge - sweet!). This will give you more slotting flexibility elsewhere to improve your defense numbers. Also will allow dropping by Tactics. Between boosted Farsight, Supremacy, and decent slotting in the henchmen, they will be alright for leveled shifted +3 (or higher) in almost all environments. Fully slotted with Powerboost, you can get ~22% defense and ~17% ToHit. Add the two pet defense procs (10% total), and unenhanced Protector Bot shield (~13%), all your minions are soft capped to regular content. This also means your mastermind will be at ~41% defense with the protector bot shield, the two defense uniques, and PB Farsight. Add slotted (~4%) maneuvers and you’re soft capped, before considering any other slotting or powers (such as Scorpion Shield).

I hope the above helps. 

 

[Meknomancer]

Pretty simple on /time mm's. All the damage will come immediately after you apply slowed responses to a mob/ time crawl-slowed response-time stop to hard targets. Tap the single target with bots for a little extra on single target/photon nade on mobs. Spamming anything with 0 acc/end red and just procs will eat your blue bar in seconds assuming you hit, chrono shift provides next to 0 to help there even if you had it slotted with an end mod set so i'd be looking at that right away-your endurance. MM's are much heavier on the end now that more builds are running personal attacks. Example build, had to dump fighting to fit in mm attacks:

 

Spoiler

This Villain build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.7
https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsReborn

BOTS TIME PAGE 5: Level 50 Technology Mastermind
Primary Power Set: Robotics
Secondary Power Set: Time Manipulation
Power Pool: Speed
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Leadership
Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

Villain Profile:
------------
Level 1:    Battle Drones    
 (A) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Damage
 (7) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (7) Soulbound Allegiance - Chance for Build Up
 (9) Blood Mandate - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
 (9) Edict of the Master - Defense Bonus
 (11) Expedient Reinforcement - Resist Bonus Aura for Pets

Level 1:    Time Crawl    
 (A) Pacing of the Turtle - Accuracy/Endurance
 (11) Tempered Readiness - Accuracy/Endurance

Level 2:    Temporal Mending    
 (A) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb
 (13) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
 (13) Preventive Medicine - Endurance/RechargeTime
 (15) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance
 (15) Preventive Medicine - Heal
 (17) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime/Endurance

Level 4:    Time's Juncture    
Hamidon Origin:Enzyme Exposure

Level 6:    Equip Robot    
 (A) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP
 (19) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
 (19) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
 (21) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
 (21) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
 (23) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%

Level 8:    Pulse Rifle Blast    
 (A) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)
 (23) Apocalypse - Damage/Endurance
 (25) Apocalypse - Recharge/Accuracy
 (25) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge/Accuracy
 (27) Apocalypse - Damage

Level 10:    Temporal Selection    
 (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal/Endurance

Level 12:    Photon Grenade    
 (A) Ragnarok - Recharge/Accuracy
 (27) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge/Accuracy
 (29) Ragnarok - Damage/Recharge
 (29) Ragnarok - Damage
 (31) Ragnarok - Damage/Endurance

Level 14:    Protector Bots    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (31) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Damage/Endurance
 (33) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Damage
 (33) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Accuracy/Endurance
 (33) Superior Mark of Supremacy - Endurance/Pet +Resist +Regen
 (34) Call to Arms - Defense Bonus Aura for Pets

Level 16:    Distortion Field    
 (A) Tempered Readiness - Endurance/Recharge/Slow
 (34) Pacing of the Turtle - Endurance/Recharge/Slow

Level 18:    Maintenance Drone    
 (A) Panacea - Heal/Endurance
 (31) Panacea - Endurance/Recharge
 (34) Panacea - Heal/Recharge
 (36) Panacea - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
 (36) Panacea - Heal

Level 20:    Time Stop    
 (A) Superior Entomb - Accuracy/Hold
 (37) Superior Entomb - Endurance/Recharge
 (37) Superior Entomb - Accuracy/Hold/Endurance
 (37) Superior Entomb - Accuracy/Hold/Endurance/Recharge
 (39) Superior Entomb - Recharge/Chance for +Absorb

Level 22:    Assault Bot    
 (A) Sovereign Right - Damage/Endurance
 (45) Sovereign Right - Resistance Bonus
 (45) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Recharge/Pet +AoE Defense Aura
 (46) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage
 (46) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Damage/Endurance
 (46) Superior Command of the Mastermind - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge

Level 24:    Farsight    
Hamidon Origin:Membrane Exposure

Level 26:    Upgrade Robot    
 (A) Healing IO

Level 28:    Slowed Response    
 (A) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
 (42) Touch of Lady Grey - Chance for Negative Damage
 (42) Shield Breaker - Chance for Lethal Damage
 (42) Shield Breaker - Accuracy/Defense Debuff
 (43) Shield Breaker - Accuracy/Recharge
 (43) Shield Breaker - Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge

Level 30:    Chrono Shift    
 (A) Preventive Medicine - Heal/RechargeTime
 (40) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
 (40) Performance Shifter - EndMod/Recharge
 (40) Efficacy Adaptor - EndMod/Recharge

Level 32:    Hasten    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO
 (39) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 35:    Super Speed    
 (A) Blessing of the Zephyr - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
 (47) Blessing of the Zephyr - Knockback Reduction (4 points)

Level 38:    Combat Jumping    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (47) Kismet - Accuracy +6%

Level 41:    Scorpion Shield    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (48) Shield Wall - +Res (Teleportation), +5% Res (All)
 (48) Shield Wall - Defense
 (48) Shield Wall - Defense/Endurance

Level 44:    Power Boost    
 (A) Recharge Reduction IO

Level 47:    Maneuvers    
 (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
 (49) Reactive Defenses - Defense
 (49) Reactive Defenses - Scaling Resist Damage
 (50) Reactive Defenses - Defense/Endurance

Level 49:    Assault    
 (A) Endurance Reduction IO

Level 1:    Supremacy    
Level 1:    Brawl    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Sprint    
 (A) Empty

Level 2:    Rest    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Swift    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Hurdle    
 (A) Empty

Level 1:    Health    
 (A) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance
 (3) Miracle - +Recovery
 (3) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery

Level 1:    Stamina    
 (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
 (5) Performance Shifter - EndMod
 (5) Endurance Modification IO

Level 35:    Speed Phase    
Level 1:    Battle Drone    
Level 22:    Assault Bot    
Level 14:    Protector Bot    
------------

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[Aeroprism]

@Nyghtmaire @Meknomancer Thank you for your responses. I had to reread each post a few times to get a general idea of what you meant but I think I understand most of it now.

 

The only thing that seems to be missing in Meknomancer's build is the KB-KD enhancement to Assault Bot.  Maybe swap it for the ATT/END of Sovereign right?

 

Besides that, I'm quite game to try this build! Thanks!!

[Meknomancer]

Page 5 changes to bots mean kb is no longer an issue, i removed every sudden acc kb/kd from the build and dont notice. If i were to slot the overwhelming again i'd use it in the t1 pets for some extra damage and soft control. 3 pets 3 times the chance to proc. Page 5 does seem to have caused some end issues in prolonged fights if the secondary doesnt provide extra endurance. The extra dmg/end piece is often a soulbound boosted dmg/end, i carry unslotters and swap pieces around to see what works.

[Aeroprism]

Very fun so far! I She was 22 before I took my break, she's level 25 now.

 

Soloing at x3+0 and I'm having no end issues and no danger at all.  First mission was a pain: Radio mission with Tsoo in purple caves. I mean, what spells FUN better than teleporting mobs in a 3D claustrophobic clusterfuck.  But I managed. I was confused and I had no idea what I was doing (I have NO memory of my playtime with her to get her to 22).  

 

From then, it was easier groups in regular maps, quite fun, if not a bit slow.  I'm getting more and more used to the AT and it's really, really fun!

 

Thank you for your help!!

[tidge]

On 1/14/2023 at 7:58 AM, Meknomancer said:

Page 5 does seem to have caused some end issues in prolonged fights if the secondary doesnt provide extra endurance.

 

I can't speak to the /time portion, but a big part of the current Homecoming Robotics primary changes is that the -regen is now in the MM attacks and not in the Robots. If a Robotics MM isn't using their attacks, the fights will last longer. IIRC, each of the MM attacks can be slotted with some sort of %-res as well, which will also speed up (most) fights.

 

EDIT: Fights against enemies with LOTS of HP will go on longer. You may not notice with scrubs.

Edited January 16, 2023 by tidge

[Nyghtmaire]

30 minutes ago, tidge said:

IIRC, each of the MM attacks can be slotted with some sort of %-res as well, which will also speed up (most) fights.

Photon Grenade can slot the Annihilation proc.  The others no, sadly. Pulse Rifle Burst can slot KB sets though. Otherwise you’re right on the money.

[tidge]

40 minutes ago, Nyghtmaire said:

Photon Grenade can slot the Annihilation proc.  The others no, sadly. Pulse Rifle Burst can slot KB sets though. Otherwise you’re right on the money.

 

Ah, I was thinking of Mace Beam Volley. I should mention: I have KB->KD (via Overwhelming Force or Sudden Acceleration) in Pulse Rifle Blast, Photon Grenade, and Mace Beam Volley. My particular pre-page 5 build had (and used) each of these attacks to support the henchmen, the only change I made with those three powers (for Page 5) is to take them earlier in the build. They are still supporting the henchmen, just now the support is more necessary against AVs and GMs.

[WumpusRat]

I don't have a robots/time myself, but I do have a lot of other robots/ builds (FF, Electric, Sonic, and Traps). My main goal with any MM build is to make my pets as tanky as possible, and keep them alive. I'm not a big fan of the change to move the -regen off the assault bot and onto the MM attacks, since it eats into slotting that I prefer to put into other powers, and in order to match the -500 that the AB used to have, you need to take all three attacks and slot them heavily enough to ensure they connect. So at least 2-3 slots per power, which mildly annoys me.

 

On the other hand, the repair bot has freed up a lot of slotting on my MMs that didn't have a heal built into their kit (all but electric), so I've been able to dump aid other/self/field medic, which does make it easier.

 

With robots, the lack of a 'mule' power means in order to have all 6 auras you're going to need to get all your slotting done on the pets with only 4 slots, which definitely requires a bit of frankenslotting. I'm at work so I can't post a build or anything, but my general setup for those sets is something like this:

 

Tier-1: Superior Mark of Supremacy (aura + one other, usually acc/dmg), Superior Command of the Mastermind (aura + 3 other pieces to aim for 70+ acc, 80+ dmg, 70+ end)

Tier-2: Superior Mark of Supremacy (2 parts), 2 auras (doesn't matter which), 2 parts either Blood Mandate or Sovereignty (aim is for 70+ acc, 80+ dmg, 70+ end)

Tier-3: Superior Mark of Supremacy (2 parts), 2 auras (doesn't matter which), 2 parts either Blood Mandate or Sovereignty (aim is for 70+ acc, 80+ dmg, 70+ end)

 

Slotting the pets like that allows them to fight for extended durations without eating through all their end (although the new prot-bots still blow their end pretty fast, with the new attacks they have), as well as giving 40% global recharge (and for a /time build, will help out a lot towards trying to make Chrono Shift permanent if that's one of your goals). I've found that for the sets that don't have a 4th pet power, trying to work in debuff procs for the pets gets really finicky, as it drastically cuts into their offense, and the tradeoff isn't always worth it (at least to me). 

[brodoggie]

On 1/16/2023 at 12:05 AM, WumpusRat said:

Tier-1: Superior Mark of Supremacy (aura + one other, usually acc/dmg), Superior Command of the Mastermind (aura + 3 other pieces to aim for 70+ acc, 80+ dmg, 70+ end)

Tier-2: Superior Mark of Supremacy (2 parts), 2 auras (doesn't matter which), 2 parts either Blood Mandate or Sovereignty (aim is for 70+ acc, 80+ dmg, 70+ end)

Tier-3: Superior Mark of Supremacy (2 parts), 2 auras (doesn't matter which), 2 parts either Blood Mandate or Sovereignty (aim is for 70+ acc, 80+ dmg, 70+ end)

 

Slotting the pets like that allows them to fight for extended durations without eating through all their end (although the new prot-bots still blow their end pretty fast, with the new attacks they have), as well as giving 40% global recharge (and for a /time build, will help out a lot towards trying to make Chrono Shift permanent if that's one of your goals). I've found that for the sets that don't have a 4th pet power, trying to work in debuff procs for the pets gets really finicky, as it drastically cuts into their offense, and the tradeoff isn't always worth it (at least to me). 

 

Could you help me better understand what you mean by 2 parts and 2 auras?

[UltraAlt]

On 1/13/2023 at 11:25 AM, Aeroprism said:

Can you guys point me in a direction or twelve to help me finish this build?

 

I'm not going to from the build end but from the tactics end.

 

I see 4 major types of mastermind play.

I think that you are going to find it is best to pick the type of mastermind you intend to be before trying to figure out slotting.

 

1) The tanker. The mastermind always runs their minions in defense mode, stays nearby their minions, uses their minions to do damage, and focuses on keeping their minions healed and empowered.

 

2) The Mastermind behind the curtain. The mastermind tries to stay as far away from danger as possible and sends in their minions to do their dirty work. Why bother healing your minions when you can summon more and send them to their death fighting for the cause?

 

3) I'm the Boss. The mastermind slots to empower themselves and the minions are just there as a distraction and cannon fodder.

 

4) Eris/Discord. The mastermind sets their minions on total offensive attack mode to start chaos by attack whoever and wherever they see a target to attack. Just run around berserk. Who cares if the minions die? If you aren't summoning minions every time your minion summons powers recharge, then you must not be playing the game properly.

 

Now that you know what type of mastermind you want to be (or at least thinking about it), now you can focus on how to slot to make that style of gameplay work the best for you.

[WumpusRat]

6 hours ago, brodoggie said:

 

Could you help me better understand what you mean by 2 parts and 2 auras?

Auras: There are 6 unique IOs that can be slotted into pet sets, each one provides an aura around the mastermind that gives benefits to your pets. Two provide 10% resist, one provides 15% resist (if you have the Superior version of the MM ATO, 10% with the normal version), two that give 5% defense vs everything, and one that gives 10% AOE defense. Ultimately, you can give your pets +35% to all resists, +10% to all defense, and +10% more to AOE defense. For pet sets that don't have a fourth power to slot the auras into, if you want all six you'll have to fit them into the main three pet powers. It doesn't really matter which one you put where, so "any two" can go into a pet power. The only time I will specifically put certain auras into a pet is with the Superior Mark of Supremacy and Superior Command of the Mastermind sets, as the SMoS 2-part and SCotM 4-part offer 10% global recharge bonuses, and between those two sets you can achieve the goal of 70+ acc/end, and 80+ dmg percentages.

 

2 parts: Mark of Supremacy is a 6-piece set, and the 2-piece bonus is (with the superior version) 10% global recharge bonus. So most of the time I will split it up between all three pet powers, to give 30% global recharge. 

[Aeroprism]

10 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

 

I'm not going to from the build end but from the tactics end.

 

I see 4 major types of mastermind play.

I think that you are going to find it is best to pick the type of mastermind you intend to be before trying to figure out slotting.

 

1) The tanker. The mastermind always runs their minions in defense mode, stays nearby their minions, uses their minions to do damage, and focuses on keeping their minions healed and empowered.

 

2) The Mastermind behind the curtain. The mastermind tries to stay as far away from danger as possible and sends in their minions to do their dirty work. Why bother healing your minions when you can summon more and send them to their death fighting for the cause?

 

3) I'm the Boss. The mastermind slots to empower themselves and the minions are just there as a distraction and cannon fodder.

 

4) Eris/Discord. The mastermind sets their minions on total offensive attack mode to start chaos by attack whoever and wherever they see a target to attack. Just run around berserk. Who cares if the minions die? If you aren't summoning minions every time your minion summons powers recharge, then you must not be playing the game properly.

 

Now that you know what type of mastermind you want to be (or at least thinking about it), now you can focus on how to slot to make that style of gameplay work the best for you.

 

The Tanker.  This is 100% how I want to play my MM.

[UltraAlt]

12 minutes ago, Aeroprism said:

The Tanker.  This is 100% how I want to play my MM.

 

It is the only way the I'm playing my all my non-petless masterminds these days.

[Aeroprism]

23 minutes ago, UltraAlt said:

 

It is the only way the I'm playing my all my non-petless masterminds these days.

 

The current build I'm using is super efficient in that regard but she's still in her 20s so, not much challenge so far.

[Neiska]

I have found it sometimes helps to focus more on pet support if that's the style you are favoring. With robots specifically, it helps if you CC a bit, web grenades/bonfire/AoE time slow and so on. Another option with robots and mercs is flying. Group fly is fantastic for them as all your pets are ranged, and as a bonus they get little rocket boots when they hover around. But seriously, group fly on a robot MM can trivialize some content. If they don't have any -fly powers, they are more or less boned. And your healing more than makes up for what ranged powers they do have. Not in all cases mind you, but a surprising majority.

[Aeroprism]

On 1/24/2023 at 4:11 PM, Neiska said:

I have found it sometimes helps to focus more on pet support if that's the style you are favoring. With robots specifically, it helps if you CC a bit, web grenades/bonfire/AoE time slow and so on. Another option with robots and mercs is flying. Group fly is fantastic for them as all your pets are ranged, and as a bonus they get little rocket boots when they hover around. But seriously, group fly on a robot MM can trivialize some content. If they don't have any -fly powers, they are more or less boned. And your healing more than makes up for what ranged powers they do have. Not in all cases mind you, but a surprising majority.

 

You had me at "little rocket boots"

[Crysis]

On 1/25/2023 at 1:49 PM, Aeroprism said:

 

You had me at "little rocket boots"

 

 

just know you will be despised by many when using Group Fly.  Yes it can be ignored by a knowlegeable player.  No, most dont know this.

 

if you solo, dont worry about this.  If you team, dont use Group Fly.

Edited March 1, 2023 by Crysis

[tidge]

15 hours ago, Crysis said:

just know you will be despised by many when using Group Fly.  Yes it can be ignored by a knowlegeable player.  No, most dont know this.

 

"Fly 'em if they can't take a Gull."

[Velvet]

On 2/28/2023 at 8:29 PM, Crysis said:

 

 

just know you will be despised by many when using Group Fly.  Yes it can be ignored by a knowlegeable player.  No, most dont know this.

 

if you solo, dont worry about this.  If you team, dont use Group Fly.

I would argue instead of "don't use group fly" maybe the response should be "Educate them. Inform them that they can make that choice at the gull". That's what it's there for, and a more knowledgeable teammate is usually a good thing. No need to nerf yourself.

[tidge]

16 hours ago, Velvet said:

I would argue instead of "don't use group fly" maybe the response should be "Educate them. Inform them that they can make that choice at the gull". That's what it's there for, and a more knowledgeable teammate is usually a good thing. No need to nerf yourself.

 

I'm smirking. I had a PUGmate on a TF mansplain to me a couple of "important" points about my use of Group Fly:

1. Although it is possible to ignore the effects of Group Fly, I shouldn't use it because many players don't know about Null the Gull, or choose to not use it (like his toon did not)
2. As soon as we were on a instanced map where it actually helped his "why should I take a travel power?" toon, he felt obligated to write "this is the ONE instance where Group Fly is a good thing."

Meanwhile: while recruiting, before we started the TF, two other PUGmates went to Null to adjust their setting while the subtle points of teaming were explained to me. *eyeroll*

 

I am often surprised when a teammate uses Group Fly, but my surprise never lasts more than 5 seconds. Anyone who has a character with a Flight power should recognize what is going on. I suppose if the character has a significant number of powers that require being "grounded" to use (e.g. Traps) and the player has literally never learned the flight control buttons that Group Fly could rise to the level of a peeve... but seriously!

[Crysis]

21 hours ago, Velvet said:

I would argue instead of "don't use group fly" maybe the response should be "Educate them. Inform them that they can make that choice at the gull". That's what it's there for, and a more knowledgeable teammate is usually a good thing. No need to nerf yourself.

Good luck with that.  Usually im kicked off the TF mid typing how to address.

 

Dont use Group Fly while teaming unless you ask and all are ok with losing their preferred movement and playstyle to cater to yours.  Its selfish to impose yourself on others.  I understand why they might not like it.  
 

Just dont use Group Fly while teamed.  Its a solo only power other than maybe some rare missions in the Shard.

[Astralock]

12 minutes ago, Crysis said:

Good luck with that.  Usually im kicked off the TF mid typing how to address.

 

Dont use Group Fly while teaming unless you ask and all are ok with losing their preferred movement and playstyle to cater to yours.  Its selfish to impose yourself on others.  I understand why they might not like it.  
 

Just dont use Group Fly while teamed.  Its a solo only power other than maybe some rare missions in the Shard.

 

“Annoyed by Group Fly?  Talk with Null the Gull in Pocket D.” is a loading screen tip.  If people can’t take the two minutes to do that, that’s on them IMO.  I usually lead teams. Sometimes people complain, in which case I tell them how to disable it.  Sometimes they leave instead, and that’s fine.

[Velvet]

21 minutes ago, Crysis said:

Good luck with that.  Usually im kicked off the TF mid typing how to address.

 

Dont use Group Fly while teaming unless you ask and all are ok with losing their preferred movement and playstyle to cater to yours.  Its selfish to impose yourself on others.  I understand why they might not like it.  
 

Just dont use Group Fly while teamed.  Its a solo only power other than maybe some rare missions in the Shard.

I'm not gonna go back and forth about this, just giving another angle. As for being kicked by impatient and willfully ignorant teammates... sounds like a good thing. And when it comes to selfishness, I think that's on the person telling you not to use your powers as intended.