Picking a powerset for Cap!

[Ultimo]

So, back in live, when they introduced the Shield powerset, I (like many) made a character based on Captain America.  At the time, I made him a Tanker, Shield Defense/Martial Arts.  When I came here, I recreated him the same way.

 

However, I was curious about Street Justice, so I recreated him using that set.  Both versions of the character are now L30, and I'm trying to decide which one I want to keep... but I'm torn.  I just can't quite decide which to keep, and I thought I'd see what the community thinks.

 

Which powerset do you think better represents Cap's style, which powerset is more effective?

 

There are aesthetic aspects of Martial Arts that I rather like.  Storm Kick and Dragon's Tail look great and are very effective, but Martial Arts seems to use a LOT of endurance.  Even with Performance Shifter, Panacea and Numina's slotted, AND two endurance reductions in every attack, he STILL runs out of endurance constantly.  He also needs the Fighting powerset to give him the Cross Punch power, which means taking an extraneous power.  I can take Kick, but I'd never really need to use it.  I can take Tough, but he's already running out of endurance, and needs another toggle like a hole in the head.

 

Then there's Street Justice.  It does have more AOE, and is more punchy... for the most part.  A lot of the powers are kicks, but they're awkwardly low.  There's also less of the kind of jumping attacks we see Cap do quite often.  It doesn't seem to be quite as hard on endurance, but it's not a big difference.

 

So I'm torn.  Martial Arts might be a little more aesthetically "accurate," but Street Justice isn't bad, and might be more effective overall...

 

So what do you all think?

[Bionic_Flea]

Why not both?

 

Cap as Martial Arts and . . .

 

US Agent as Street Justice!

[Ultimo]

Well... I did intend to rebrand one of the two, I hadn't intended to delete one.  I just wasn't able to decide which is a better representation of Cap, and which is more effective overall.

 

 

[Bionic_Flea]

Werner has done some pretty crazy stuff on his Shield/MA.

 

 

[Frozen Burn]

Personally, I feel Street justice is more Cap's style.  MA is mostly kicks and Cap punches, knees, and swings his shield around more, which you get that more with Street Justice than you do with MA.  

 

But I'm no expert.  I think both MA and SJ have merits to be Cap.  ....and glad to hear you're not deleting and just rebranding one.  🙂  

[BrandX]

12 minutes ago, Frozen Burn said:

Personally, I feel Street justice is more Cap's style.  MA is mostly kicks and Cap punches, knees, and swings his shield around more, which you get that more with Street Justice than you do with MA.  

 

But I'm no expert.  I think both MA and SJ have merits to be Cap.  ....and glad to hear you're not deleting and just rebranding one.  🙂  

 

I agree!  MA can get some punches, but they don't look as good.

StJ/Shield for Steve imo

[jprewitt73]

Definitely agree on the StJ/Shield idea for Cap. He's not really a Tanker, more of a Scrapper than anything. He can take a punch, but too much and he'll be overwhelmed. Cap's strength lies in the fact that he can dish out the punishment in creative ways. 

 

[Ultimo]

2 hours ago, jprewitt73 said:

Definitely agree on the StJ/Shield idea for Cap. He's not really a Tanker, more of a Scrapper than anything. He can take a punch, but too much and he'll be overwhelmed. Cap's strength lies in the fact that he can dish out the punishment in creative ways. 

 

Well, I made him a Tanker for a couple of reasons.  First, Cap is pretty darn tough, going toe to toe with bad guys WAY more powerful than he is.  I mean, in Age of Ultron, he went up against Ultron all alone for quite some time, even without his shield!  The second reason is something I saw in a comic (don't remember which one), where he was explaining to someone WHY he wears the spangly outfit.  It draws focus, making him the target of enemy attack while Bucky would go off and actually complete the mission.  To me, that's a TANK... get aggro, let the team do the job.

 

I'm inclined to agree with people, I think.  I was leaning toward the Street Justice set.  Now, what to do with the other guy...

[StrikerFox]

I would stick with MA. Love the animations. MA was available at launch in 2004 and still looks fantastic. Crane Kick, Dragon's Tail and Eagle's Claw are favorites. Also like the Cobra Strike alternate animation. Sort of like a lunging palm strike. As for endurance, here are some tips to try to keep it under control:

 

Select the rec buff pet at the P2W vendor.
Slot end redux in powers early.
Add slots to Stamina early.
Consider boosting end redux/mod IOs to +5.
Slot IO set bonuses that improve recovery.
Slot IO set bonuses that adds +max end.
Slot IO set bonuses that provide end discounts.
Carry a tray of blue inspira.
Consider the Duelist badge for +max end (Logout arena).
Consider the Clubber badge for out of combat +rec (Logout Pocket D).

Toggle off travel powers in fights.
Slot Panacea unique in Health at lvl 7.
Slot Miracle unique in Health at lvl 17.
Slot Performance Shifter proc in Stamina at lvl 18.
Work on the Atlas Medallion at lvl 23. Finish asap.
Slot Numina unique in Health at lvl 27.
Consider Conserve Power at lvl 35.
Work on Portal Jockey at lvl 35. Finish asap.
Consider Physical Perfection at lvl 41.
Slot Performance Shifter proc in Physical Perfection at lvl 41.
Consider an end redux/end mod Alpha at lvl 50.
Consider Ageless Destiny at lvl 50.
Consider Support Hybrid at lvl 50.

[Frozen Burn]

1 hour ago, Ultimo said:

Well, I made him a Tanker for a couple of reasons.  First, Cap is pretty darn tough, going toe to toe with bad guys WAY more powerful than he is.  I mean, in Age of Ultron, he went up against Ultron all alone for quite some time, even without his shield!  The second reason is something I saw in a comic (don't remember which one), where he was explaining to someone WHY he wears the spangly outfit.  It draws focus, making him the target of enemy attack while Bucky would go off and actually complete the mission.  To me, that's a TANK... get aggro, let the team do the job.

 

I'm inclined to agree with people, I think.  I was leaning toward the Street Justice set.  Now, what to do with the other guy...

 

I like your reasoning for a Tank.  However, Cap wouldn't go up against the Hulk like Thor would.  But Cap did go toe to toe with Thanos - Cap got whooped, tired, and torn, but held his ground... so, I'm thinking Cap is more of a Brute who is focused on Tanking and pulling aggro while dishing out the damage - not quite a Tank, but more than a Scrapper.  And Taunt is a must - "I can do this all day!"  😄  

 

As for your other MA Cap....

• maybe make him one of the guys from the Captain America Corps? 
• Or the Cap from the alternate Earth where he believed Hydra was good and righteous (make him a Rogue or Villain)? 
• Make him into one of the Marvel Zombie Avengers!  
• Turn into a Guardian homage?
• Patriot from the Young Avengers?
• Or Red Guardian for more Vigilante/Rogue/Villain goodness
• Or heck - Bucky Barnes who used more extreme measures as his version of Cap 

[Without_Pause]

I would simply make a Far Eastern version of Cap for the MA version.

[Lusiphur Malache]

I may use this idea myself, but not making new toons anytime soon and I suck at Shield.  First draft on Mids, starts with a NRG/Shield Stalker with fx on nrg turned way down if not off.  Hide becomes an option.  Leadership, Fighting, Speed, and Presence round things out along with Energy Mastery.

[Stellarex]

He seems like a street justice guy for me but you could make your ma a sidekick or an homage to the homage.

[Stellarex]

12 hours ago, Lusiphur Malache said:

I may use this idea myself, but not making new toons anytime soon and I suck at Shield.  First draft on Mids, starts with a NRG/Shield Stalker with fx on nrg turned way down if not off.  Hide becomes an option.  Leadership, Fighting, Speed, and Presence round things out along with Energy Mastery.

 

If you're going to use hide might as well go stalker.