Light control based power set? Preferably with energy blast as secondary

[NiklasWB]

So, I need some help with deciding on the archetype and powersets for a new character of mine that has the powers to control light, both as a means of control, defense and offense (via beams of energy). In my mind she can shoot beams of light from her hands, use light to bind/hold her enemies, and also use it as a defense (force field or similar).

 

The thing is I feel like several sets and archetypes could work.

 

I've narrowed it down to ranged damage, support or control, so basically Blaster, Defender, Corruptor, Controller, Dominator or Sentinel.

 

I already have a Energy/Energy Sentinel, so I'm not keen on copying that.

 

I'm would have loved an Energy/Energy Defender, but since there is no such Defender primary set, I'm scratching my head a bit.

 

Illusion/Energy Dominator could work, but I feel like she would be less about "tricking" her enemies with light, and more about controlling them with energy fields made of light. I would also like to avoid melee, so the secondaries for Dominators would lose a few abilities. I also already have and Illusion/Time Controller, so that seems a bit too close as well.

 

Same thing with Gravity, which "looks right" for several light controlling powers, but has the wrong thematic feel (and I already have a Grav/Kinetic Controller).

 

I  guess I could go with the straight up Energy/Energy Blaster, which covers the Offensive side, but I don't really like the melee secondary sets. And there is litte pure control in the Energy secondary.

 

Force Field/Energy Corruptor or Defender could also work I guess for the Offensive and Defensive side. But then there is no Control Powers there.

 

Any ideas or recommendations? Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

[Biff Pow]

When I hear "light powers" I think Peacebringer. Still not a lot of control powers there, though.

[Frozen Burn]

3 hours ago, NiklasWB said:

So, I need some help with deciding on the archetype and powersets for a new character of mine that has the powers to control light, both as a means of control, defense and offense (via beams of energy). In my mind she can shoot beams of light from her hands, use light to bind/hold her enemies, and also use it as a defense (force field or similar).

 

The thing is I feel like several sets and archetypes could work.

 

I've narrowed it down to ranged damage, support or control, so basically Blaster, Defender, Corruptor, Controller, Dominator or Sentinel.

 

I already have a Energy/Energy Sentinel, so I'm not keen on copying that.

 

I'm would have loved an Energy/Energy Defender, but since there is no such Defender primary set, I'm scratching my head a bit.

 

Illusion/Energy Dominator could work, but I feel like she would be less about "tricking" her enemies with light, and more about controlling them with energy fields made of light. I would also like to avoid melee, so the secondaries for Dominators would lose a few abilities. I also already have and Illusion/Time Controller, so that seems a bit too close as well.

 

Same thing with Gravity, which "looks right" for several light controlling powers, but has the wrong thematic feel (and I already have a Grav/Kinetic Controller).

 

I  guess I could go with the straight up Energy/Energy Blaster, which covers the Offensive side, but I don't really like the melee secondary sets. And there is litte pure control in the Energy secondary.

 

Force Field/Energy Corruptor or Defender could also work I guess for the Offensive and Defensive side. But then there is no Control Powers there.

 

Any ideas or recommendations? Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try radiation - either defense set (Defender/Corruptor) or as an armor (Sentinel), or as Blast set and Secondary Blaster set (called Atomic).  I have a toon that is the embodiment of the Light of God and is a Rad/Atomic Blaster (see pic below).

 

Radiation Emission for Defs/Corrs provides lots of great debuffs and some control.  You can pair with either Rad or Energy Blasts, but maybe try Rad for something different?

 

Radiation Armor for Sentinel is quite good - however, you will be lacking in all the controls you want with a Sentinel.

 

And I love my Rad/Atomic blaster - it's powerful, and has some controls with holds and stuns, but maybe not as much as you want? 

 

Unfortunately, there are no control sets that will give you what you're looking for, so I think Controller and Dominators might not work for your concept. 

 

But other Defensive sets could be Force Fields or Sonic, depending on coloring??

 

Good luck and let us know what you pick!

 

  

Divine Radiance (Rad/Atomic Blaster)

[Ringo]

My main on Live was an Illusion/Forcefield controller, both sets being characterized as "hard light" holographic projections.  I honestly feel that Spectral Terror is perhaps the only "trickery" illusion power besides the stealth powers.  However if you've already played an ill/time maybe pass on that

 

A defender with either Forcefield or Sonic as a primary would be my pick.  I know you can change Sonic Blast animations to not be shouts,  not sure about Sonic Resonance.

 

As for secondary - Energy blast, the aforementioned Sonic blast, or Psychic blast would be my picks.  Both Sonic and Psychic have alternate "fire from hands" animations and both look great recolored to what you want

 

Personally, with your criteria, I would probably try a Sonic/Psi blast Defender.  Thematically can all be light based powers, -res, knockback, intangible, and an AoE hold (mag 2) in Liquefy give you some control tools along with your great teammate buffs, and Psychic blast gets you a sleep, more KB, and disorients as well

[NiklasWB]

So I’m back after few weeks of testing, and I’m still not sure how to best realize this concept. I’ve tried the following and didn’t like it: 

• illusion/energy Dominator (too much ”trickery” powers in the form of pets etc. Felt more like an illusionist magician than a light manipulator. I really liked Gleam and Flash though, but both are too long cooldowns to make a build around. Also dislike melee energy attacks for /Energy)
• energy/forcefield Corruptor (I liked the offensive energy side, but the look of the bubbles just didn’t fit the concept I had in mind)
• radiation/radiation Defender (too much gas clouds och classic radiation theme, and too little ’light’ themed powers)

As such, I think I have narrowed it down to a Blaster, since I’ve realized I enjoy the Energy blast aspect the most in all builds I’ve tested. I also think the best options for secondaries are either Atomic Manipulation and Energy Manipulation.

 

I love the /Atomic’s Electron Shackles and Positron Cell and Ionize, they all fit the concept well, and I’m on the fence about the look of Metabolic Acceleration, which could work. The rest of the powers I feel like I would skip, if possible…

 

For /Energy I like all the boosting powers, but dislike the look of all melee attacks. I dont know if it is viable to skip all of them though…

 

As mentioned I want to stay at range, with no melee attacks if possible.

 

So my question is this: in terms of Atomic Manipulation and Energy Manipulation, can you skip all the melee attacks for these secondary sets and still get viable builds? For /Atomic, are there any powers that are essential and non-skippable for a ranged Energy/ blaster?

 

Thanks in advance for the input.

Edited March 20 by NiklasWB

[Hardboiled Hero]

  I've often felt it's weird that there's no light based support power. Technically Illusion is light based control, but it's really too.. well defined? ..to act as a generic light control.  Honestly though, light is an energy, how does it actually hinder people by itself?  I could see the heat produced burning people.. that would be fire control.  Perhaps whatever "force" the character uses to bend light would hinder someone.. so it could be represented with Gravity or Radiation control, as those are both about manipulating energies which then manipulate matter.

 

  I also wonder whether you could color Ice control/blast, or rock control/blast (It has a crystal scheme available) to represent light constructs.  I often try to do this for "force constructs" honestly it's not like what I really want, but it can be fun.

 

  Honestly, not being able to get effects the way I really want them is why I so often just play a normal human with an assault rifle and strong willpower.