Looking for a non-busy ranged combo to play.

[The Time Witch]

Hello all, thanks to those who helped me find my new favorite melee character (DM/SR brute) but now I'm looking to make a ranged.

 

Here is my problem: I have declining function in my reaction times and hand-eye coordination and I find it incredibly hard to keep up with too many buttons. I am fine with attacks, but weaving in most buffs that are timed, focusing on other players, etc is hard. Which brings me to my question:

 

Is there a ranged combo that would be easy for me to play? I am liking SR. So maybe some sort of SR sentinel? If so, what's a non-busy ranged blast?

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Thanks,

The Time Witch

[Maelwys]

The easiest for a Support Blasty AT ?
+ Top recommendation would definitely be a Forcefield. These come in Defender/Corruptor/Controller/Mastermind flavours; and of those Defender and Corruptor are the most "Blasty". As long as you keep your various Toggles running; really the only thing you need to do is press 2-3 buttons at least once every 4 minutes (Power Boost or Power Build Up whenever you get access to it at level 35+; plus the two allied Bubbles Deflection Shield and Insulation Shield) and you'll be set. "Damping Bubble" (a buff/debuff patch that needs recast once every 45 seconds when fighting very tough targets) and "Force Bomb" (a glorified AoE attack that inflicts a 30-second duration -resistance debuff) are the cherries on top. FF also has mez protection that affects the player (Dispersion Bubble) and a "Panic Button" in Personal Force Field.
+ Sonic Resonance is an obvious alternative. It buffs +Resistance rather than +Defence but otherwise playing extremely similarly to FF. However you will get hit more often and because -resistance debuffs are so valuable your teammates may also expect you to spam Sonic Siphon (a single target resistance debuff) more than you'd be comfortable with. 
+ If you're OK with a little bit more hands-on buffing/debuffing then look at Cold Domination. Compared to FF it has two very similar once-every-four-minute bubbles (although they don't work with Power Boost/Build Up) and three important long-duration buffs/debuffs in Benumb (30s), Sleet (45s or less) and Heat Loss (90s). Sleet is the thing you'll be expected to be using the most regularly; but they are all used proactively so none of them require you to press buttons with anything remotely close to split second precision. Snow Storm (a Toggle Slow/Recharge Debuff) can be used a little more actively, but most of the time you can get by without using it. Frostwork (a 120s duration Allied +MaxHP Buff) is completely proactive and much less important; many builds (particularly Corruptors) even skip it entirely.

The easiest for a Pure Blasting AT?
+ Likely a Sentinel. For the secondary powerset you'll probably want a Defense based one with mostly Toggles/Autos. You could certainly reuse /SR (and using either Dark Blast or Water Blast would give you some regular self-healing)... alternatives would be Energy Aura, Ninjitsu, Stone, Ice or Invulnerability. For the primary powerset, traditionally Fire, Ice and Elec Blast are the gotos for decent damage with little/no complex chaining mechanics; and Ice Blast also works a smidge better than you might expect on a Sentinel due to all the extra Damage Procs it can fit... but honestly just pick whatever you like the look of.

...or as a completely different idea: Have you considered a VEAT? Some Widow (Fortuna) builds play very similar to an "/SR Sentinel" with better range, more control, and just one clicky buff every 90s (Mind Link) that you need to worry about. And they also provide substantial buffs to Teammate Defence, ToHit and Damage as well.

Very non-optimized example build - zArachnos Fortunata.mbd
(Ignore the Melee Defense value being higher than the rest; that's just my own preferences showing. However do note their hefty SR-like damage resistance scaling - displayed below at 100% HP and 25% HP. The actual figures in-game will differ a smidge due to the Reactive Defenses IO also giving a bigger buff as your HP drops; which Mids ignores!)
 
 

Edited September 19 by Maelwys

[The Time Witch]

I'm liking the idea of ice/Sr do you happen to have a build that'll grow with me as I make influence? I can't farm but I can ouroboros for merits

[Without_Pause]

3 minutes ago, The Time Witch said:

I'm liking the idea of ice/Sr do you happen to have a build that'll grow with me as I make influence? I can't farm but I can ouroboros for merits

I made this one, but I only played it to low level. I'm working on putting it on the Beta server and playing the final version there. Note, I would grab Ice Bolt early and respec out of it once you get the other blasts. There's no purples so it is on the cheaper side. I use the Sorcery pool so they were essentially done as a Ice wizard/sorcerer. 

 

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[kelika2]

rifle energy blaster

[The Time Witch]

37 minutes ago, kelika2 said:

rifle energy blaster

 

I try to avoid blaster as I can't react well when I get messed.

38 minutes ago, Without_Pause said:

I made this one, but I only played it to low level. I'm working on putting it on the Beta server and playing the final version there. Note, I would grab Ice Bolt early and respec out of it once you get the other blasts. There's no purples so it is on the cheaper side. I use the Sorcery pool so they were essentially done as a Ice wizard/sorcerer. 

 

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Thank you so much I am eager to try this out!

[lemming]

You could go sentinel.   Range is a little reduced, but not much and hover blasting is pretty good.   Combine with something like WP, and it's fairly relaxing and protected.

[The Time Witch]

8 hours ago, Without_Pause said:

I made this one, but I only played it to low level. I'm working on putting it on the Beta server and playing the final version there. Note, I would grab Ice Bolt early and respec out of it once you get the other blasts. There's no purples so it is on the cheaper side. I use the Sorcery pool so they were essentially done as a Ice wizard/sorcerer. 

 

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I cant get this to work in mids could someone please post the file?

[Without_Pause]

2 hours ago, The Time Witch said:

 

I cant get this to work in mids could someone please post the file?

Sent file via PM.

[JJDrakken]

On 9/19/2024 at 5:11 AM, The Time Witch said:

Hello all, thanks to those who helped me find my new favorite melee character (DM/SR brute) but now I'm looking to make a ranged.

 

Here is my problem: I have declining function in my reaction times and hand-eye coordination and I find it incredibly hard to keep up with too many buttons. I am fine with attacks, but weaving in most buffs that are timed, focusing on other players, etc is hard. Which brings me to my question:

 

Is there a ranged combo that would be easy for me to play? I am liking SR. So maybe some sort of SR sentinel? If so, what's a non-busy ranged blast?

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Thanks,

The Time Witch

 

Try this out? 

 

Corruptor (Seismic Blast - Sonic Resonance).mbd

 

 

If your not in a team. Your only just attacking really. If in a team, toss out buffs and stand near with your Sonic Bubble and sorta pay attention.

Edited September 20 by JJDrakken

[Without_Pause]

I have significant reservations about that build. I can do at least a partial breakdown if need be when I have the time.

[ShimmerDoll]

5 hours ago, Without_Pause said:

I have significant reservations about that build. I can do at least a partial breakdown if need be when I have the time.

I'd be curious about it myself!

[The Time Witch]

On 9/19/2024 at 10:48 PM, Without_Pause said:

Sent file via PM.

 

I've been using your build and having a blast. Thanks so much!

[The Time Witch]

Sorry for double post but someone mentioned veats and I've been trying out crab spider. It's actually not that hard but is crabbermind the only build or can I go all blast?

[Snarky]

beam rifle temporal manipulation Blaster.  so chill, and the ST chain is so strong i used it on weekly really hard way badge runs with cosmic council.  you stay at range and drop focused hate.

[tidge]

On 9/19/2024 at 11:11 AM, kelika2 said:

rifle energy blaster

 

My mind went there, but because of the Disintegration mechanic and the general lack of AoE I would think Beam Rifle is one of the least "non-busy" ranged attack choices. I suppose a lot depends on what the spawn size is set to. I like my BR (non-Blasters over Blasters) characters, but I find myself toggling between targets and trying to maximize the output of the BR attacks.

[Gobbledigook]

A ranged only Fortunata.

Elec blast/SR Sentinel

Mercs/FF MM could work. Don't bother attacking, just direct the pets and a few buffs.

Ice or Beam rifle/Devices Blaster and stand at the back.

[The Time Witch]

15 minutes ago, Gobbledigook said:

A ranged only Fortunata.

Elec blast/SR Sentinel

Mercs/FF MM could work. Don't bother attacking, just direct the pets and a few buffs.

Ice or Beam rifle/Devices Blaster and stand at the back.

 

I would love to do a ranged only fortunata but they are so incredibly expensive 

[Snarky]

25 minutes ago, tidge said:

 

My mind went there, but because of the Disintegration mechanic and the general lack of AoE I would think Beam Rifle is one of the least "non-busy" ranged attack choices. I suppose a lot depends on what the spawn size is set to. I like my BR (non-Blasters over Blasters) characters, but I find myself toggling between targets and trying to maximize the output of the BR attacks.

no, seriously, the beam is vicious on a blaster.  because you can just relax at a distance of 80-120 feet from targets and plink tin cans.  gets so easy when it is 1-2 hard targets.  but even your nuke on a group is from "way back there"  forget mechanics and just DPS  

 

 

Blaster Beam Temporal Munitions w ach.mxd

[tidge]

My comment on Blaster BR is more like "damning with faint praise". I find Beam Rifle to be a perfectly serviceable primary for Blasters, with the following caveats:

• For Blasters, my experience has been that it has generally longer clear times on xN content, compared to most other Blaster primaries
• I find it hard to maximize the utility of whatever the Blaster secondary (usually because power picks don't offer synergy with the BR attacks) is when paired with Beam Rifle

In contrast, my BR Defender could lean hard into the secondary effects of BR attacks (Beam Rifle as Secondary), and also go strong on the Defender Buff/Debuffs to act as a force multiplier while also plinking away. The odd (MMV) choice I made with the Defender was that because there is less need (IMO) to pick low level Defender primary powers ASAP, I could pick more of the BR attacks (which have useful debuffs). So the Defender ended up with more Beam pew-pew than the Blaster!

 

The BR Sentinel gets the chain attack (so single-target but secondary AoE), and can pick a secondary that can essentially be treated as set-and-forget. I found that I didn't have to put much thought into how to leverage power picks for the BR Sentinel's secondary, whereas with a BR Blaster I had to juggle choice on which powers, how to leverage them, and how to slot them.

[The Time Witch]

1 hour ago, Snarky said:

no, seriously, the beam is vicious on a blaster.  because you can just relax at a distance of 80-120 feet from targets and plink tin cans.  gets so easy when it is 1-2 hard targets.  but even your nuke on a group is from "way back there"  forget mechanics and just DPS  

 

 

Blaster Beam Temporal Munitions w ach.mxd 4.8 kB · 1 download

 

I will try this out thanks!

 

 

[FupDup]

On 9/19/2024 at 8:10 AM, Maelwys said:

The easiest for a Pure Blasting AT?
For the primary powerset, traditionally Fire, Ice and Elec Blast are the gotos for decent damage with little/no complex chaining mechanics; and Ice Blast also works a smidge better than you might expect on a Sentinel due to all the extra Damage Procs it can fit... but honestly just pick whatever you like the look of.

I want to make a correction here that Ice Blast on Sentinels is absolutely not a good set like it is on other ATs. This is due to Freezing Ray being replaced by a very weak power called Chilling Ray, which has far lower DPA (64% lower to be exact) and changes the secondary mezz effect to Sleep (which means limited proc choices). Freezing Ray on other ATs is a Hold, which lets it slot a bajillion different super powerful procs and you can stack that Hold effect with another power in the same set. 

 

Furthermore, Chilling Ray's Sleep is autohit but the damage is not, which can mess with the accuracy of your other attack powers due to breaking the streakbreaker mechanic. 

Edited Sunday at 04:30 PM by FupDup

[Jacke]

3 hours ago, tidge said:

My mind went there, but because of the Disintegration mechanic and the general lack of AoE I would think Beam Rifle is one of the least "non-busy" ranged attack choices. I suppose a lot depends on what the spawn size is set to. I like my BR (non-Blasters over Blasters) characters, but I find myself toggling between targets and trying to maximize the output of the BR attacks.

 

I've thought about Beam Rifle quite a bit.  Currently have a BR/Devices Blaster and a Time/BR Defender (who needs a new build).

 

Beam Rifle is weird.  Best ST chains don't use the T1 or T2 (on non-Sentinels).

 

Gotta enhance Cutting Beam's range, probably a full 6-set of Artillery.

 

Wondering about going for a Beam Rifle Sentinel, as it gets a sort-of AoE Power instead of the Snipe.

[Maelwys]

6 hours ago, FupDup said:

I want to make a correction here that Ice Blast on Sentinels is absolutely not a good set like it is on other ATs. This is due to Freezing Ray being replaced by a very weak power called Chilling Ray, which has far lower DPA (64% lower to be exact) and changes the secondary mezz effect to Sleep (which means limited proc choices). Freezing Ray on other ATs is a Hold, which lets it slot a bajillion different super powerful procs and you can stack that Hold effect with another power in the same set. 

 

Furthermore, Chilling Ray's Sleep is autohit but the damage is not, which can mess with the accuracy of your other attack powers due to breaking the streakbreaker mechanic. 

Granted Freezing Ray > Chilling Ray; but since it still takes both Impeded Swiftness and Ice Mistrals Torment procs basic [2x Acc/Dam HO + 4x Proc] slotting remains viable without touching the Sleep sets. And it seems the rest of the set currently still holds enough water to place 5th or higher out of the 15 Sentinel Primaries (largely on-par with Fire apparently, although Elec unsurprisingly places consistently higher alongside BR and Seismic)

I do actually have an Ice/Elec Sentinel somewhere... although IIRC they lean pretty heavily on their Epic Pool attacks; and TBH they were originally just a concept build created on a whim after I happened upon an unclaimed name that matched a certain Manfred Mann song...
 

Edited Sunday at 10:40 PM by Maelwys

[Without_Pause]

On 9/20/2024 at 7:58 PM, ShimmerDoll said:

I'd be curious about it myself!

Disclaimer: I'm rather ignorant about Seismic Blast, so I'm not the one to do a build for it. I can still easily see issues with said build though.

 

Sprint. 3-Slotting Quickfoot is odd for a few reasons. The Celerity set offers the same set bonuses but better, and it also adds in Stealth. While yes, it offers less End Reduc, this should be a non-factor unless you actively have it toggled on 100% of the time. Spoiler alert, don't do that. Even still, you have an IO's worth of End Reduc. If you are to slot Sprint beyond the single slot, 2-slot it and call it as day. The End Reduc isn't really worth it nor the 3-slot bonus.

 

Stamina. 3-slotted while getting 2ish slots worth of End. 2-slotting Performance Shifter will do similar and likely better in one less slot. 

 

Phase Shift. I don't understand taking the power when slotting +Stealth in Sprint is an option. It's also an end hog.

 

Teleport Target. Maybe justifiable if soloing, but even then I highly question its usefulness. I could see justifying on some level going for Fold Space, but not for a Fire/sonic Corr. I leave Fold Space to melee characters, and even then I haven't taken it. 

 

Web Envelope. I can see adding it in if you are a Controller needing AoE containment, but I just don't see the need for it. It certainly isn't worth 6 slots when powers are underslotted. Also, I don't think I have ever slotted for Immobilization. A proc from the set? Sure. 

 

Scorpion Shield. I won't debate this too much, but I have seen some people grab a Res based armor to take with Sonic to really max out the Res. Also, Scorpion Shield is taken, but neither of the +3 Def IOs are used. It begs the question of what the build is being built for.

 

Tough. Instead of 6-slotting Web Envelope, you could take say Hasten and use those extra slots to put in both +3% Def IOs here or elsewhere. Also, Impervious Skin is capped at Level 30, which means you are only getting 26.13% Res out of the power compared to 54.16% if you used a set which went to level 50. And no, the set bonus from Impervious Skin at that point isn't worth it considering the higher values alone counter it. Add in having the slots to add in 5-slotting Gladiator's Armor, you also get KB protection.

 

Acrobatics. It's been awhile since I've seen a build take this. An argument could be made for using Fly and grabbing Evasive Maneuvers for your KB protection. Yes, I am aware Acrobatics covers Holds as well. Even in this day and age, I don't take this power. 

 

Super Jump. Again, unless you have this toggled on 100% of the time, the End Reduc does you nothing. If you want to go cheap, a common Jump IO would be better.

 

Sonic Barrier/Sonic Haven. Add a slot to each and you get +6 S/L Res in bonus values plus whatever Res slotting you add in. Stopping at the added HP point just feels odd.

 

Shatter. I can not fathom on any level why a T2 ST blast would be slotted out for its debuff. I don't even do this on a Defender. If the +3% Def IOs were slotted you wouldn't even really need the 6-slot bonus. 

 

Seismic Force. Not taken and can be used with a single +Chance for Build Up IO. That this was skipped while Teleport Target was taken is all sorts of WTF? You're a Corr, be a Corr. Again, what is the build being built for?

 

Tombstone. Taking and 6-slotting Web Envelope while not taking the snipe on a Corr is about as bad of a build choice as one can see. As a genuine die on the hill ranter against long animations in this game, Tombstone doesn't even qualify as it animates in under 2 seconds. The best justification is wanting to focus on support, but there's literally two other ATs better for that, and it's far easier to support a team when something is dead. 

 

In other words, when making a build, ask yourself what is the goal of the build. Why that power, why that set, and why that many slots. The build in question is functional in that it will work at a basic level. Due to set bonuses one could argue it is better than an SO build. That still doesn't make it good. Switch in a couple powers, move a few slots, and it would suddenly be at least decent.