please Re Vamp Blaster Dark Mastery

[Snarky]

39 minutes ago, Uun said:

See highlighted text in the power description (it debuffs you, not the target):

 

-30% Heal Dmg, Smashing Dmg, Lethal Dmg, Fire Dmg, Cold Dmg, Energy Dmg, Negative Energy Dmg, Psionic Dmg, Toxic Dmg, Ranged, Melee, Area, Smashing, Lethal, Fire, Cold, Energy, Negative Energy, Psionic, Toxic, Base Defense, Absorb, Endurance, ToHit, RunningSpeed, FlyingSpeed, Confused, Terrorized, Held, Immobilized, Stunned, Sleep Strength (self only) for 30s

roflmao

 

I thought this set was bad.  I was joking when I said whoever wrote/coded it was on a two week bender.  But now.... pretty sure my Snarky intuition was right on target.

 

Just like when you see a shitty driver and say something about the next stupid thing they will do. then they do it!

 

So Dark Mastery has a power you can take that will F yourself up.  Seems about right for the way the rest of the set is written.  

 

The reason no one has commented about it much?  the reason not everyone is talking about it?  Just a brief glance at the set reveals it is the WORST Blaster epic/patron you could take.  and that is BEFORE you take the power that tries to kill you.  No one takes/uses this set.  So why fix it?  It is a dog shit sandwich.  They know that no one will order that off the menu.

[Rudra]

26 minutes ago, Snarky said:

No one takes/uses this set. 

Please don't speak in absolutes like this. As you are already aware from our discussion, there are players that take the Dark Mastery set.

[Snarky]

1 minute ago, Rudra said:

Please don't speak in absolutes like this. As you are already aware from our discussion, there are players that take the Dark Mastery set.

i will absolutely ponder your advice before making any further replies on the forums.

[UltraAlt]

On 9/22/2024 at 7:00 PM, Rudra said:

And Black Hole is useful if you need to suddenly make a group of enemies just stop doing anything. (So not great for teams, but helpful for soloists.)

 

I can see that as being a great thing on game/leveling teams when things are starting to go south in order to give the team a breather.

 

I can see why someone on a a steamrolling/end-game team would be against it.

 

Powers don't have to be useful in the end-game in order for them to be useful powers in-game, but I think we both agree on that already.

[Snarky]

3 minutes ago, UltraAlt said:

 

I can see that as being a great thing on game/leveling teams when things are starting to go south in order to give the team a breather.

 

I can see why someone on a a steamrolling/end-game team would be against it.

 

Powers don't have to be useful in the end-game in order for them to be useful powers in-game, but I think we both agree on that already.

i have taken this type of power on a few of my doms/trollers.  i was able to ONCE achieve what you suggest.  and it is entirely likely the team would have come up with another solution if pressed.

 

The likelihood of "protecting" those enemies from a teammates nuke is far more likely.  Especially since the mobs give little indication visually anything has happened. 

 

 

[Shin Magmus]

On 9/22/2024 at 11:53 PM, Captain Fabulous said:

I really do not understand the logic behind making pool powers so useless. Low damage, low stats, ridiculously high recharge and end costs, and locked behind tier walls. There's a lot of potentially good powers in there, but ultimately nearly all are simply not worth taking other than for flavor at the expense of effectiveness.

Imagine the kind of build diversity we could have if they were actually worth taking and didn't require wasting power slots on stuff we don't want/need just to get to the useful ones.

     What if: instead of build diversity, we got Tar Patch but it has reduced everything beneficial, increased CD, and now it can miss and has to slot accuracy (even though every other version of Tar Patch can't miss and it's illogical that this version of the power isn't autohit).  Doesn't that sound better?  Why yes I have been offered a Powers Dev position, how did you know?

[tidge]

31 minutes ago, Shin Magmus said:

     What if: instead of build diversity, we got Tar Patch but it has reduced everything beneficial, increased CD, and now it can miss and has to slot accuracy (even though every other version of Tar Patch can't miss and it's illogical that this version of the power isn't autohit).  Doesn't that sound better?  Why yes I have been offered a Powers Dev position, how did you know?

 

For the Blaster's Epic Dark Mastery, I think a Tar Patch probably be either OP (on a Blaster).

 

If someone was looking for powers (for an Epic Blaster) to replace those last two powers, I feel like the choices would be something more like:

 

Black Hole -> Haunts (Mu gets a pet summon at 38)

Soul Consumption -> maybe a PBAoE aura toggle that does minor damage and provides a minor heal? To Compliment Dark Consumption/Soul Drain?

 

A replacement for Soul Consumption is, at least in my cranium, a little difficult to parse. I feel like in order to really channel the complete Dark experience it should be a toggle. Most Blasters have a sustain that really ought to be meeting their needs in either/both Endurance and Health... so a long recharge PBAoE click that requires an accuracy check is highly inferior... even with the enemy-affecting features. I think Black Hole makes enough sense (*1) as an Epic Dark power for Blasters, so maybe just Soul Consumption -> Haunts?

 

(*1) As long a such a power exists in the game, I think Black Hole is exactly where it should be (for Blasters), even if tactically it is of limited use.

[Snarky]

i would run with something like:

1) Murky Cloud (no change)

2) Fearsome Stare (no change)

3) Oppressive Gloom (Soul Mastery has it, balanced for Blasters), it is thematic and in other Dark Mastery sets for other ATs

4) Night Fall (a cone DoT, foe -acc)  almost every other Blaster epic/ancillary has more AoE than Dark.

5) Soul Transfer, as per Dark Brute, mirroring the option of Rise of the Pheonix in slot 5 for Fire Mastery.

 

and, of course, I would take all 5 on my signature Dark Dark Nosferatu Blaster.

Edited September 27 by Snarky

[Rudra]

4 minutes ago, Snarky said:

1) Murky Cloud (no change)

Thank you.

 

4 minutes ago, Snarky said:

2) Fearsome Stare (no change)

Thank you.

 

5 minutes ago, Snarky said:

3) Oppressive Gloom (Soul Mastery has it, balanced for Blasters), it is thematic and in other Dark Mastery sets for other ATs

Err... uhh... ... I really hate that power.... I can concede its use, I just don't like how quickly I kill myself using it.... It also makes more sense in my opinion, if Black Hole is to go the way of the dodo, that this be Black Hole's replacement. (Or Black Hole can work like that other power whose name I can't remember, and allow players that enter its radius of effect to attack and be attacked by the enemies contained within.)

 

6 minutes ago, Snarky said:

4) Night Fall (a cone DoT, foe -acc)  almost every other Blaster epic/ancillary has more AoE than Dark.

If Oppressive Gloom is to replace the ST confuse, then... I don't know.... I don't know how to react to this....

 

9 minutes ago, Snarky said:

5) Soul Transfer, as per Dark Brute, mirroring the option of Rise of the Pheonix in slot 5 for Fire Mastery.

I can live with this.

[Snarky]

7 minutes ago, Rudra said:

Err... uhh... ... I really hate that power.... I can concede its use, I just don't like how quickly I kill myself using it.... It also makes more sense in my opinion, if Black Hole is to go the way of the dodo, that this be Black Hole's replacement. (Or Black Hole can work like that other power whose name I can't remember, and allow players that enter its radius of effect to attack and be attacked by the enemies contained within.)

When you combine Oppressive Gloom mag 2 area stun with Blaster's native Darkness Manipulation "Dark Pit" mag 2 area stun... you get a mag 4.  Toss the Dark Pit (ranged) wander in with oppressive gloom and Aim/Soul Drain/Nuke/get the hell out and start the cone barrage.

[Rudra]

9 minutes ago, Snarky said:

When you combine Oppressive Gloom mag 2 area stun with Blaster's native Darkness Manipulation "Dark Pit" mag 2 area stun... you get a mag 4.  Toss the Dark Pit (ranged) wander in with oppressive gloom and Aim/Soul Drain/Nuke/get the hell out and start the cone barrage.

Sure, but I use Oppressive Gloom the same way I use Black Hole. As a "HOLYSHITGETOFFMEPLEASEJUSTLEAVEMEALONEALREADYSOMEONECOMESAVEME!" power. Usually followed by Dark Pit on the mobs around me as well if I have it, followed by whatever (non-cone) AoEs I have. And if I lack something like Dark Pit or my AoEs aren't up to snuff for not having enhancements in them yet for any reason? I'm usually flying/running/teleporting back to the mission to try again. (I like having my panic button defenses, but Oppressive Gloom isn't exactly a great option for those moments.)

[Snarky]

27 minutes ago, Rudra said:

Sure, but I use Oppressive Gloom the same way I use Black Hole. As a "HOLYSHITGETOFFMEPLEASEJUSTLEAVEMEALONEALREADYSOMEONECOMESAVEME!" power. Usually followed by Dark Pit on the mobs around me as well if I have it, followed by whatever (non-cone) AoEs I have. And if I lack something like Dark Pit or my AoEs aren't up to snuff for not having enhancements in them yet for any reason? I'm usually flying/running/teleporting back to the mission to try again. (I like having my panic button defenses, but Oppressive Gloom isn't exactly a great option for those moments.)

I play Blasters way more aggressively than that.  I am definitely not perfect.  But I am pretty good at looking at a mission/TF and seeing the mobs/levels and saying... "I can kill you all if I use XYZ tactics, but probably not YZX tactics"  then i wade in...

[Rudra]

1 minute ago, Snarky said:

But I am pretty good at looking at a mission/TF and seeing the mobs/levels and saying... "I can kill you all if I use XYZ tactics, but probably not YZX tactics"  then i wade in...

That isn't the problem. I do the same thing. The problem arises on those maps where there are multiple spawns in close proximity but you can't either see them until you round that corner and are in their midst. There is a corner in a lab map where sometimes you can see the spawn waiting there, but not the one to the right behind the wall, or worse, the second spawn to the left by the bulkhead. So sniping the 1st spawn draws them to you, but proceeding into the room after, you get jumped by the other 2. Or even worse, the spawn you know is there is positioned where can't see them around the last corner into the room, and proceeding forward lands you in the middle of all 3 spawns. Let alone if they happen to be Nemesis forces and the snipers further in also see you, aggro, and open fire while their supports run down to also fight you. Sometimes things just don't go your way. So I keep some powers in reserve for those times when things go sideways and there was nothing I could do to prevent it.

[Snarky]

1 minute ago, Rudra said:

That isn't the problem. I do the same thing. The problem arises on those maps where there are multiple spawns in close proximity but you can't either see them until you round that corner and are in their midst. There is a corner in a lab map where sometimes you can see the spawn waiting there, but not the one to the right behind the wall, or worse, the second spawn to the left by the bulkhead. So sniping the 1st spawn draws them to you, but proceeding into the room after, you get jumped by the other 2. Or even worse, the spawn you know is there is positioned where can't see them around the last corner into the room, and proceeding forward lands you in the middle of all 3 spawns. Let alone if they happen to be Nemesis forces and the snipers further in also see you, aggro, and open fire while their supports run down to also fight you. Sometimes things just don't go your way. So I keep some powers in reserve for those times when things go sideways and there was nothing I could do to prevent it.

*coughs.  I have most of the maps and spawn points memorized....  Also, the mobs that see thru stealth.  And a lot of other minutae in game.  It is most exciting for me when a team (usually running at +4) gets overwhelmed.  sometimes I die, but i am danged good at getting back up.  When it is over more often than not it is my Blaster and 1-2 teammates left standing over a quiet field of bodies.  Good times.

[Rudra]

9 minutes ago, Snarky said:

*coughs.  I have most of the maps and spawn points memorized....  Also, the mobs that see thru stealth.  And a lot of other minutae in game.  It is most exciting for me when a team (usually running at +4) gets overwhelmed.  sometimes I die, but i am danged good at getting back up.  When it is over more often than not it is my Blaster and 1-2 teammates left standing over a quiet field of bodies.  Good times.

Knowing where enemies spawn only gets you so far. Especially when playing solo. Like I said, the spawn you know is there cannot be seen. If I can't see them because of obstructions, then it doesn't matter that I know they spawn there. I can know all 3 groups have spawned at that area, but if I can't see any of them to separate them out, all I can do is face them and hope to prevail. And depending on how that goes, I fall back on my reserve power(s) like Black Hole to buy me breathing room or be able to escape. (After getting away, at least one of the spawns will loiter where I can see them and draw them out with a snipe.)

 

Edit: What I do wrong with Oppressive Gloom in those circumstances? I give in to the temptation to clear them out because they aren't fighting me for being stunned, and my health goes away from all the enemies (edit again: and attacks from the enemies not stunned). I really should just pop it and run like a rabbit with its tail on fire for a safe point.

 

Edited September 27 by Rudra

[Snarky]

38 minutes ago, Rudra said:

Knowing where enemies spawn only gets you so far. Especially when playing solo. Like I said, the spawn you know is there cannot be seen. If I can't see them because of obstructions, then it doesn't matter that I know they spawn there. I can know all 3 groups have spawned at that area, but if I can't see any of them to separate them out, all I can do is face them and hope to prevail. And depending on how that goes, I fall back on my reserve power(s) like Black Hole to buy me breathing room or be able to escape. (After getting away, at least one of the spawns will loiter where I can see them and draw them out with a snipe.)

 

Edit: What I do wrong with Oppressive Gloom in those circumstances? I give in to the temptation to clear them out because they aren't fighting me for being stunned, and my health goes away from all the enemies (edit again: and attacks from the enemies not stunned). I really should just pop it and run like a rabbit with its tail on fire for a safe point.

 

If I was solo with 3 spawns (or 4) in a maze like area.  (say the office bldg S corner with side room spawns....) you can pull.  depending on powersets.  With Fire3 I might actually wade in.  You can kill 2 full spawns and the room might not notice!  But with Dark probably pull.  That gets you one group.  Then charge the 2nd group, but not near enough the room group sees you.  Generous inspiration use and a can do attitude!

[Rudra]

19 hours ago, Snarky said:

If I was solo with 3 spawns (or 4) in a maze like area.  (say the office bldg S corner with side room spawns....) you can pull. 

You can only pull if the target is somewhere you can target and fire at. That is my point. There are times when the spawn placement does not allow for that. I can't target and shoot enemies I know are there but can't see because of their placement on the map.

 

Edit: That S-hall is never a problem. If I am approaching from the side with the 2 side rooms, I jump up on the balcony walkway that joins the side rooms and then go into the side room where the spawns are, clear them, then can clear the spawn in the hall. If I am approaching from the other side, I just have to clear the spawn in the hall and then I can go after the spawn in the side room. It is specifically spots like that lab map where you have an abbreviated s-hall into a single large room with an upper level and there is a spawn at the s-junction. Depending on the mission/random spawning, there can also be a spawn to the right of that spawn just slightly past them along that wall. On some occasions, there is also a spawn on the left on the other side of the "doorway" near that bulkhead that almost reaches the ceiling. And on that map, if all 3 spawns are there and the primary/first spawn is not loitering in the doorway where I can shoot them but are instead to the side hidden by the wall near the second spawn, there is no pulling anything.

 

Edit again: Maybe this will help:

 

 

Green is where spawn 1 is supposed to appear in that room. Yellow are the 2 most common spawn locations for spawn 2 when they are close to the door rather than around the large cylinders on the right of the middle platform. Orange is a rare spawn location for spawn 1. Red is where spawn 3 is when that room generates 3 spawns near the door. When spawn 1 spawns in the orange area and spawn 2 spawns in the right most yellow area, there is no choice but to move into the room and face both spawns. And when spawn 3 is generated, on the rare occasions it does, you have no choice but to move into the room and contend with all 3 attacking you. And if the enemy faction happens to be Nemesis, you can too often also find a sniper with his support on the left mid-level walkway to the upper deck in back. (Room not drawn to scale. I'm ballparking layout.)

 

Edited September 28 by Rudra

[Owl Girl]

imo, the set needs Soul Transfer or at least Tenebrous Tentacles otherwise it doesn't even feel like it's doing it's job right. i was really excited when i first heard about blasters getting this set, until i actually looked at the power selections. it would be nice to have something that could compete a little more seriously with Fire Mastery...

[Snarky]

10 hours ago, Rudra said:

You can only pull if the target is somewhere you can target and fire at. That is my point. There are times when the spawn placement does not allow for that. I can't target and shoot enemies I know are there but can't see because of their placement on the map.

 

Edit: That S-hall is never a problem. If I am approaching from the side with the 2 side rooms, I jump up on the balcony walkway that joins the side rooms and then go into the side room where the spawns are, clear them, then can clear the spawn in the hall. If I am approaching from the other side, I just have to clear the spawn in the hall and then I can go after the spawn in the side room. It is specifically spots like that lab map where you have an abbreviated s-hall into a single large room with an upper level and there is a spawn at the s-junction. Depending on the mission/random spawning, there can also be a spawn to the right of that spawn just slightly past them along that wall. On some occasions, there is also a spawn on the left on the other side of the "doorway" near that bulkhead that almost reaches the ceiling. And on that map, if all 3 spawns are there and the primary/first spawn is not loitering in the doorway where I can shoot them but are instead to the side hidden by the wall near the second spawn, there is no pulling anything.

 

at the risk of seeming redundant.  pull.  eat a med purple joust into view ST nearest guy, run back.  1 spawn pulled.

 

although my Fire3 blaster would just roll into it and start nuking and dropping rains.  F them all. (yes, at +4)  just dead burnt bodies.

Edited September 28 by Snarky

[Uun]

15 hours ago, Snarky said:

i would run with something like:

1) Murky Cloud (no change)

2) Fearsome Stare (no change)

3) Oppressive Gloom (Soul Mastery has it, balanced for Blasters), it is thematic and in other Dark Mastery sets for other ATs

4) Night Fall (a cone DoT, foe -acc)  almost every other Blaster epic/ancillary has more AoE than Dark.

5) Soul Transfer, as per Dark Brute, mirroring the option of Rise of the Pheonix in slot 5 for Fire Mastery.

 

and, of course, I would take all 5 on my signature Dark Dark Nosferatu Blaster.

• Night Fall and Oppressive Gloom are already in Soul Mastery. Putting them in Dark Mastery would make the sets too similar.
• Possess would be fine if they got rid of the self-debuff and notification of mobs and just cloned the controller/dominator version. There's been very little proliferation of confusion powers outside of control ATs other than Boggle and World of Confusion. A non-aggro ST confuse could be quite useful.
• Replace Black Hole with Darkest Night. This power has already been proliferated to brutes, tanks, sentinels and dominators. It would be a very good fit for blasters.
• The issue with Soul Consumption, other than its 10 minute recharge, is that both its buff (+100% max end, +48 max hp, 48 hp heal) and debuff (-100% max end, -48 max hp, -60% regen) effects are largely unnoticeable. While this power has been given to 4 ATs, this is especially true for blasters due to their sustain powers. Soul Transfer would be a very good replacement, and has already been proliferated to corruptors and defenders.

[Rudra]

6 hours ago, Snarky said:

at the risk of seeming redundant.  pull.  eat a med purple joust into view ST nearest guy, run back.  1 spawn pulled.

 

although my Fire3 blaster would just roll into it and start nuking and dropping rains.  F them all. (yes, at +4)  just dead burnt bodies.

It feels like we are speaking different languages. I'm tired of repeating myself. So I'm just dropping out of the conversation.

[Snarky]

2 minutes ago, Rudra said:

It feels like we are speaking different languages. I'm tired of repeating myself. So I'm just dropping out of the conversation.

If you ever want me to demonstrate i will.  It looks harder than it is

[Rudra]

2 minutes ago, Snarky said:

If you ever want me to demonstrate i will.  It looks harder than it is

I'm sure you are trying to be helpful, but at this point it just feels condescending. So please just consider me to not even be here for this thread.