First 50 Cheapskate Bio/Stone Melee

[Mantidae]

Hello all!  I need some help.  I’m among the filthiest of casuals with crippling altitis (even back during Live) so I’ve never had a level 50 character before.  I have looked at various builds here but the process is not familiar to me.  I’ve never even theorycrafted a build before!  Suddenly I find myself about to play with the big kids so I’m a bit lost.  I’m not sure what to go for numerically but I do have some goals in mind.  If the community could give me some guidance here I’d really appreciate it.  Unfortunately, I don’t even have a provisional build to post.

 

Concept: this character is just a swamp monster that pounds on enemies.  I’m limiting my pool choices based on that theme so I want to avoid powers like Hasten and Char.

Travel power: I use Teleport because it fits my idea.  Ideally, I would fit both Combat Teleport and Fold Space or Teleport Target into the final build.

Taunt: I need it because this is the first Tank I’ve played seriously since about I3. 

Fighting: I assume I need Tough and Weave.  Bio has been pretty durable so far but I imagine those would help quite a bit.

Epic: Energy fits best.  I hate Blind effects so I’ve been using Focused Accuracy.  I also took Physical Perfection.

Role: I’m ususally the off-tank when running with my SG.  I PUG a fair bit as well.

Incarnate: I have no idea.  I never even read about that system until a few days ago (see above for my playstyle).

Cost: This is a big limitation because I only have around 45 million to play with.  I’ve dipped my toes into farming and marketing but I don’t care much for either.  I’ve been using SOs and generics along with a few pieces of Doctored Wounds I picked up somewhere.  I don’t have high expectations for what can be achieved for that amount but I’m sure the Tanker community could spend it wisely.

 

I’m not looking to be a super-star with this character, only to do my job the best I can so I don’t let the team down.  Any ideas of how to start?

[Warboss]

Hi Mantid,

 

First off, Congratz! Glad to hear it's a Tank! Next, I'd recommend getting the Tanker sets to start with. As you mentioned your funds are a bit low for a full build, you might was to look at running a lot of the Task Forces (TFs) and Trials to  pick up the Task Force Commander, Atlas Medallion and Portal Jockey Badges to help with Endurance and HPs as well as merits in the process.  You can use the merits to purchase your Enhancements from the Merit Vendor. Also certain arcs, giant monsters, Hamidon Raids,  Mother Ship raids, and Incarnate Trials will reward you with merits, or a means to convert what you earn (in the case of Mother Ship Raids) into merits. I will mention that if Endurance is an issue, you may want to spend some merits on getting Numina's Unique (Endurance and Regen), Miracle's Unique (Regen) and Panacea's Unique (Endurance and Regen).

 

That out of the way, the good news is that  Bio is a pretty tough set. Tough and Weave will help if you solo (well, will help in general), and Stone Melee is pretty hard hitting at the upper level (Single Target attacks). Also, while you're playing your toon, they will be unlocking the various Incarnate Powers. Since you'll be a work in progress as you get drops, and earn merits, I'd look at picking up either Cardiac or Musculature for your Alpha (I'm sure others will post with their choices). I like Ion from Judgement for almost all my Tanks, although most of them are good, I'd just stay away from Vorpal on a Tank. I like Degenerative from Interface, Barrier from Destiny (while working out your build), Almost anything from Lore, although I think Banished Pantheon, Carnies, and Cimerorans work well (usually go with Banished Pantheon (I'm sure others will make additional suggestions)), and finally for Hybrid you might look at Assault, Melee or Support.

 

Your choice of Epics is good, do that.

 

Taunt is good. Look at the benefits of more than one slot, but in general, Perfect Zinger's chance for PSi damage is all you need. You can slot with Four Mocking Beratements for some additional Def, but you'll likely not need it (four slotting does grant some additional benefits as well).

 

Teleport is good, take that, and take the T5 (Fold Space) power as it allows you to pull in mobs from a distance (teleport them to you).

 

Join us at Tanker Tuesday to get more advice (shameless plug). And have fun Tanking!

[Mantidae]

Hey Boss thanks for your reply and invite.  My first ITF was glorious chaos!

[PLVRIZR]

4 hours ago, Mantid said:

Hey Boss thanks for your reply and invite.  My first ITF was glorious chaos!

Hey, that was you!  What was your toon's name, again?  Swamp Monster?  Yeah, that ITF run was a good one. 😆

 

WB gave some great advice.  I'm no Bio Expert, but Xandyr has a great primer you can find here:

 

What you wanted to know about Bio, but never asked - Tanker - Homecoming (homecomingservers.com)

 

I'll also say that it's just so easy to make money, in this game, you shouldn't limit yourself by funds.  Just sending an e-mail to @Yomo Kimyata has been known to get you $20M infl.  He and others (see @Sovera's signature) have very simple and non-grindy tips.

 

If you want to be an SO purist, I'll certainly not judge, but the advice and build examples will be few and far between, other than the usual:  one acc, one rch, one end rdx and three damage SOs in an attack "mantra"...   Same pattern for an all-generic IO build.  Once you get into sets, the result is truly greater than the sum of the parts.

 

My only Bio tank is Bio/RadM, but much of the Bio part of his build will be transferrable.  We had a great discussion about "Swamp Thing", awhile back, so you might also take a look, here:

Swamp Thing? - Tanker - Homecoming (homecomingservers.com)

 

Not sure what server I left him on, but I'd be happy to break him out for the next TT 😁

 

Here's the build (pre-I27p5 issue, so powers can be shuffled around), but it's pretty maxxed out and would "cost" around 600-700M inf., depending on market prices or how many you acquired using merits:

 

I give you SWMPCRTR!

https://www.midsreborn.com/builds/download.php?uc=1669&c=737&a=1474&f=HEX&dc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

 

Edited April 19, 2023 by PLVRIZR
Typo

[Sovera]

23 hours ago, Mantid said:

Hello all!  I need some help.  I’m among the filthiest of casuals with crippling altitis (even back during Live) so I’ve never had a level 50 character before.  I have looked at various builds here but the process is not familiar to me.  I’ve never even theorycrafted a build before!  Suddenly I find myself about to play with the big kids so I’m a bit lost.  I’m not sure what to go for numerically but I do have some goals in mind.  If the community could give me some guidance here I’d really appreciate it.  Unfortunately, I don’t even have a provisional build to post.

 

Concept: this character is just a swamp monster that pounds on enemies.  I’m limiting my pool choices based on that theme so I want to avoid powers like Hasten and Char.

Travel power: I use Teleport because it fits my idea.  Ideally, I would fit both Combat Teleport and Fold Space or Teleport Target into the final build.

Taunt: I need it because this is the first Tank I’ve played seriously since about I3. 

Fighting: I assume I need Tough and Weave.  Bio has been pretty durable so far but I imagine those would help quite a bit.

Epic: Energy fits best.  I hate Blind effects so I’ve been using Focused Accuracy.  I also took Physical Perfection.

Role: I’m ususally the off-tank when running with my SG.  I PUG a fair bit as well.

Incarnate: I have no idea.  I never even read about that system until a few days ago (see above for my playstyle).

Cost: This is a big limitation because I only have around 45 million to play with.  I’ve dipped my toes into farming and marketing but I don’t care much for either.  I’ve been using SOs and generics along with a few pieces of Doctored Wounds I picked up somewhere.  I don’t have high expectations for what can be achieved for that amount but I’m sure the Tanker community could spend it wisely.

 

I’m not looking to be a super-star with this character, only to do my job the best I can so I don’t let the team down.  Any ideas of how to start?

 

 

As Pulverizer said money making is only as hard as you wish to make it. Some people will embrace farming, others will play the market, but once at 50 money rolls in. The main tip is selling your merits and all this requires is adjusting your targeted play time (try to stick to either TFs or Ouroborous missions and avoid radio missions). This is how I played and made most of my cash.

 

Do check the guide in the signature on some tips and keep in mind you should expect some 'casual' 40-50 mill a day by doing a single Tinpex (30 minutes total) and Hami (ditto) with just selling merits. So 'expensive' builds costing 600-700 mill can be achieve in two weeks-ish  but actually sooner because we are only counting on selling raw merits while you're actually still getting inf from killing mobs on top of salvage/recipes.

 

 

Regarding your build nothing seems too out there in your request. I would say not to dismiss Hasten out of hand since it has no visible graphic when in use and Bio is hungry for recharge, but, your character and your theme so your decision. Even if you decide to only use SOs I would still buy generic IOs either since they don't turn red every three levels while leveling, but as Pulverizer said in that case there is no actual need for a 'build' since it's just a case of stacking heal and recharge on heals and accuracy, damage and recharge on attacks.

 

With what Pulverizer posted you have at least an idea of which powers to take.

 

 

If you need more info do post and we'll try to help.

[Mantidae]

Thanks PLVRIZR and Sovera!  It's good to know I'm on track for what I want.  I have also seen a Bio/Stone build Sovera suggested elsewhere so between the two will probably be able to cobble together a build.  If I find myself forced to also play a Fire/EM tank I'll know who to blame.

 

I didn't mean to give the impression that I wanted to go with SOs/generics only, just that I've been relying on them until now.  Sorry for any miscommunication. 

 

I'm perusing some guides on gaining inf now and previously received a grant via Yomo's generosity so I'm set there.

[Nemu]

The IOs that will give you the most bang for the buck when you are working your way up:

Force Feedback +rech

 

Get these before anything else, put it in heavy mallet, tremor and fault. For an SO or generic only build (starting out) Recharge is a premium. You can certainly work in the recovery IOs with remaining funds, but by getting more recharge you also indirectly help your end management via a faster recharging DNA siphon.

Edited April 20, 2023 by Nemu

[Mantidae]

Hello again Tankers! I’d like to ask about Incarnate strategies for Tanks in general and Bio in particular.  Warboss give me some great suggestions but this system is new to me so there is much more to learn.

 

I’ll take Alphas as an example:  Warboss offered Musculature and Cardiac as options starting out; easy enough to see why after looking at them and I've been trying them out.  However, when I looked at various other builds I have also seen people using Spiritual (which makes sense for a recharge-hungry primary like Bio) but not Resilient which I would have thought useful for a primary with mixed or mostly defense (as opposed to resist) abilities.  I also didn’t see Vigor which I would have expected if people wanted to lean into Bio’s regenerative strengths.  I thought it could be that people didn’t care for the secondary and tertiary effects of those Alphas but wasn’t sure.

 

So, I wanted to ask about what people’s “philosophies” are when building out Alphas.  Are the Alphas’ other effects also really important to you or are they a side-note?  Do you prefer Alphas to cover the shortcomings of a build/powerset, push a primary’s strengths as far as they’ll go, or take a mixed approach.  Inquiring minds (mind?) want to know.

[PLVRIZR]

Caveat:  I only have one Bio armor toon (Bio/Rad tank)

 

I went more classic, with the Resilient Alpha (Core for Resistances and To Hit)  and Melee Hybrid (Core, again for Resistances and Regen).  I put survivability almost always above everything else, as a tank.

[Mantidae]

Thanks for the tip @PLVRIZR!  Sorry it took so long to get back to you.