Cheap Bots/FF Build please?

[Andayle]

Hi all,

 

I've just rolled a fresh Bots/FF and I'm looking for a cheap levelling build?  Mainly focused on solo play but with the option of teaming up on occasion.

 

Thanks in advance if anyone can help.

[Force Redux]

When you say cheap... Do you mean standards IOs,or set IOs?

 

You can go cheap with regular level 25 IOs and a couple of the pet +Defense uniques.

 

Also grab the Overwhelming Force KD unique for BigBot. Based on what you tell me I can post a build. Bots/FF is my favorite build for solo or teams.

[Force Redux]

When you say cheap... Do you mean standards IOs,or set IOs?

 

You can go cheap with regular level 25 IOs and a couple of the pet +Defense uniques.

 

Also grab the Overwhelming Force KD unique for BigBot. Based on what you tell me I can post a build. Bots/FF is my favorite build for solo or teams.

 

The Overwhelming Force IO is free from running Summer Blockbuster. If you get another enhancemnt you can convert it to the Knockdown proc with a few enhancement converters.

 

Read the market guides in the Guide forum for how to earn some quick Inf. Buy some pet set enhancements and use converters to get the pet Defense IOs cheap. Simply just getting a +10 Defense is quite noticable.

[Andayle]

Thank you for the reply gmredux

 

Initially, I was thinking standard IO's as I don't have a lot of inf backing me.  However, if some of the sets are cheap enough to get hold of then I wouldn't mind a build for sets.  My MM is only lvl 6 so far and I didn't take any of the personal attack skills from the MM line.  Finding the first few levels quite a slog as not much damage yet.  Although just got the second bot so my damage output should double.

 

 

[Force Redux]

Very welcome Andayle.

 

I tend to team with my Bots MM until I get at least two pets, and yes, it will be easier. Robotics (unlike, say, Demons or Necromancy) doesn't take off until you get the Tier 3 Assault Bot pet, as he has is the principal damage dealer (whereas, for example Necromancy does its damage with its Tier 2 Grave Knights, not the Tier 3 Lich). But you'll be just servicable with two battle drones and a protector bot.

 

Unlike many builds, you'll find that Robotics/FF does not need a lot of recharge. You do not need to pursue lots of Luck of the Gambler IO global recharge enchancements, or set bonuses. You don't need hasten. What you have recharges easily enough (although I'd love a Defender-level 10 second recharge Pers. Force Field...but in the hands of a Mastermind that would be abusive).

 

I held off on travel powers for a bit to get Medicine int here. For the early levels use Ninja RUn and Jump Pack (plus PFF for protection in rough neighborhoods).

 

Mostly what you are building for are:

- Personal Defense bonuses (particularly for Ranged DEF and Smashing/Lethal/Energy DEF).

- Pet Defense (via some pet uniques and good slotting on your Defense powers, as well as Power Boosted shields). Your pets are much more durable than you are. You should be pretty tough yourself, and if you really want to you could push your DEF higher with some changes, but I find in many years of Bots/FF play I never needed to be THAT tough (soft-cap to S/L/E and ~ 30% Ranged seems sufficient). You can always put up PFF if you are taking too much abuse for a few seconds, heal, and then return to the fight, though your pets will be less effective while you do so).

 

You are correct about NOT taking the attacks from Robotics. They are terrible. But as a Robotics/FF MM you will have plenty of time to assess the battlefield, use Repulsion Bomb (which is a good AoE attack, so take it), and use your Mace Powers to lock down targets.

 

I put an Overwhelming Force proc in Assault Bot, as he 1) tends to knock down his own burn patch targets), and 2) he has a lot of attacks and is most likely to remain standing and use his atttacks to KD even when the Battle Drones can't.  I used the Battle Drones to hold two more pet IOs to boost DEF. There is an empty slot in Assault Bot. You can do what you want with it. Another Pet Def/Resist IO, a +smash damage IO, whatever you like.

 

You can make pets even more efficient by using Hami-Os or frankenslotting (which I recommend especially for the Prot Bots to squeeze extra bonuses out of them). Don't bother with attempting to complete a pet set on them unless you really want to.

 

For the most part I avoided Set IOs except for where I thought there was immediate gain, such as Red Fortune for your DEF shields and so forth. These should be your immediate priorities. You can fill in other sets or frankenslot as you wish for the others when time and funds become available,.

 

This build does not include Incarnates. You'll find once you get Incarnates you can fill in any gaps you want to fill to round yourself out.

 

I took provoke for when I solo, but you could honestly put anything in there, such as a Mace attack (with rearranging level gained of course), or an attack...to bump up Ranged DEF, or whatever. That's a flex spot.

 

Hope this helps, holler if you have any questions. I love my Bots/FF MM, its my oldest character and my most played, and I team a lot. Don't let  others dictate that you are not beneficial to a team. I've never been turned down on groups, TFs, iTrials, or whatever.  Yes,its an older set. Its had a few tweaks. It could use a couple more perhaps. But its solid, classic and useful. Bubbles prevent cascading defense failures, even on Incarnate-capped characters, we offer END drain resist, Toxic Resist, status protection. You have a great AoE (especially for a mastermind), and Big Bot offers a LOT of -Regen (1000%), although I'll admit that's a Robotics thing, not FF, but you have it in your arsenal.

 

Most of all, have fun, and enjoy taking over the world (or protecting it, if you fell for Statesman's monologue!)

 

I'm dropping the basic level 50 build (below) for you.

 

Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.962

http://www.cohplanner.com/

 

Click this DataLink to open the build!

 

Basic Bot Build: Level 50 Technology Mastermind

Primary Power Set: Robotics

Secondary Power Set: Force Field

Power Pool: Medicine

Power Pool: Flight

Power Pool: Leadership

Power Pool: Presence

Ancillary Pool: Mace Mastery

 

Villain Profile:

Level 1: Battle Drones

• (A) Accuracy IO
  
• (3) Accuracy IO
  
• (3) Damage Increase IO
  
• (5) Damage Increase IO
  
• (5) Edict of the Master - Defense Bonus
  
• (7) Call to Arms - Defense Bonus Aura for Pets
  

Level 1: Force Bolt

• (A) Accuracy IO
  

Level 2: Deflection Shield

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
  
• (7) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
  
• (9) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
  
• (11) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (13) Red Fortune - Defense
  
• (13) Red Fortune - Endurance
  

Level 4: Insulation Shield

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
  
• (9) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
  
• (11) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
  
• (15) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (15) Red Fortune - Defense
  
• (17) Red Fortune - Endurance
  

Level 6: Equip Robot

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 8: Aid Other

• (A) Healing IO
  
• (17) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (19) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 10: Hover

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

Level 12: Protector Bots

• (A) Accuracy IO
  
• (19) Damage Increase IO
  
• (21) Damage Increase IO
  
• (21) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (23) Defense Buff IO
  
• (23) Defense Buff IO
  

Level 14: Aid Self

• (A) Healing IO
  
• (25) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (25) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 16: Personal Force Field

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 18: Field Medic

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 20: Dispersion Bubble

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
  
• (27) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
  
• (27) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
  
• (29) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (29) Red Fortune - Defense
  
• (31) Red Fortune - Endurance
  

Level 22: Fly

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 24: Maneuvers

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
  
• (31) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
  
• (31) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
  
• (33) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (33) Red Fortune - Defense
  
• (33) Red Fortune - Endurance
  

Level 26: Assault Bot

• (A) Accuracy IO
  
• (34) Damage Increase IO
  
• (34) Damage Increase IO
  
• (34) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (36) Empty
  
• (36) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
  

Level 28: Tactics

• (A) To Hit Buff IO
  
• (36) To Hit Buff IO
  
• (37) To Hit Buff IO
  
• (37) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (37) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (39) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 30: Provoke

• (A) Mocking Beratement - Taunt
  
• (39) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge
  
• (39) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge/Range
  
• (40) Mocking Beratement - Accuracy/Recharge
  
• (40) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Range
  
• (40) Mocking Beratement - Recharge
  

Level 32: Upgrade Robot

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 35: Repulsion Bomb

• (A) Accuracy IO
  
• (42) Damage Increase IO
  
• (42) Damage Increase IO
  
• (42) Endurance Reduction IO
  
• (43) Recharge Reduction IO
  
• (43) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage
  

Level 38: Scorpion Shield

• (A) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance
  
• (43) Red Fortune - Defense/Recharge
  
• (46) Red Fortune - Endurance/Recharge
  
• (48) Red Fortune - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• (48) Red Fortune - Defense
  
• (48) Red Fortune - Endurance
  

Level 41: Power Boost

• (A) Recharge Reduction IO
  
• (50) Recharge Reduction IO
  

Level 44: Web Envelope

• (A) Trap of the Hunter - Accuracy/Recharge
  
• (45) Trap of the Hunter - Endurance/Immobilize
  
• (45) Trap of the Hunter - Accuracy/Endurance
  
• (45) Trap of the Hunter - Immobilize/Accuracy
  
• (46) Trap of the Hunter - Accuracy/Immobilize/Recharge
  
• (46) Trap of the Hunter - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
  

Level 47: Afterburner

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 49: Force Bubble

• (A) Endurance Reduction IO
  

Level 1: Brawl

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Prestige Power Dash

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Prestige Power Slide

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Prestige Power Quick

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Prestige Power Rush

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Prestige Power Surge

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Sprint

• (A) Empty
  

Level 1: Supremacy

Level 2: Rest

• (A) Empty
  

Level 4: Ninja Run

Level 2: Swift

• (A) Flight Speed IO
  

Level 2: Health

• (A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
  

Level 2: Hurdle

• (A) Jumping IO
  

Level 2: Stamina

• (A) Endurance Modification IO
  
• (50) Performance Shifter - EndMod
  
• (50) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
  

------------

 

 

 

 

[Force Redux]

For the cheap version of the above, just use level 25 IOs when you hit level 22. Sell everything before then, and slog through without.

 

Don't  worry about IO sets. Your pets will be taking the brunt of the damagea and you don't need much Defense yourself other than what your powers give with basic slotting.

 

WHen you IO, you should prioritize:

 

1. Overwhelming Force KB to KD IO in Big Bot.

2. Pet +Defense Aura IOs first.

3. Pet +Resist Aura IOs whenever.

4. Whatever else suits your fancy.

[Doctor Brainbottle]

the auction house lets you buy the attuned version of any set IO at the same price as a normal version. Some of the "merely uncommon" IO sets with lackluster set bonuses can be snapped up for bargain basement prices. An attuned IO from even one of these unpopular sets scales up to be as good or better than a generic level 25 invention IO, and you can often slot them below level 22 as well. This is before you even account for set bonuses, which might not be the BEST set bonuses if the set was cheap but it's a little more icing on the cake compared to generic invention IOs.

[Force Redux]

the auction house lets you buy the attuned version of any set IO at the same price as a normal version. Some of the "merely uncommon" IO sets with lackluster set bonuses can be snapped up for bargain basement prices. An attuned IO from even one of these unpopular sets scales up to be as good or better than a generic level 25 invention IO, and you can often slot them below level 22 as well. This is before you even account for set bonuses, which might not be the BEST set bonuses if the set was cheap but it's a little more icing on the cake compared to generic invention IOs.

 

This is good to know. So the search results on AH will turn up both unattuned AND attuned versions of the desired IO? This is not for recipes, just enhancements, yes? (so far I've only purchased recipes)

[Andayle]

Thanks so much for all the info.  Another reason this game is still my favourite MMO, the community always seems great.

 

I'll probably try and team up as much as I can until hitting the big bot.  I really like the red side but it always feels a lot emptier than blue side for teaming.  Maybe I'll swap and change as needed for teaming.

[Force Redux]

Thanks so much for all the info.  Another reason this game is still my favourite MMO, the community always seems great.

 

I'll probably try and team up as much as I can until hitting the big bot.  I really like the red side but it always feels a lot emptier than blue side for teaming.  Maybe I'll swap and change as needed for teaming.

 

That's what I do. I'm primarily a Red-side player, but I visit Gull the Null in Pocket D, get turned into a Rogue, and so I can do both sides depending. I was in a Virgil Tarakos SF recently, was a lot of fun. I tend to group until I get big bot too. Then I go back to Oro and do the lowbie missions I glossed over. Have fun!