Don't understand how to play most controllers

[Diantane]

When choosing a controller you have to pick a secondary that complements the primary some way (not one that just adds more powers to over support the team. If you did that, you wouldn't have enough time to do both the Primary and Secondary at the same time.

 

Like if you picked any primary and took empathy, pain, poison, etc. Those secondaries require so many actions that you won't have the ability to control at the same time. Like i made an Electric controller and augmented it with Cold Domination. This is because all I have to do with the secondary is buff the shields on the team every 4 minutes and use the other powers occasionally. If I picked a theme like Fire Control and Thermal, I would be too busy healing players that I wouldn't have time to control anything.

 

I've made and failed several controllers because of this. Had to really think it through as I couldn't just pick any combination.

[TygerDarkstorm]

You shouldn't be in a position where you're always constantly healing; I mean, this is no different than a defender or corruptor. It's okay to let people's health bars drop some if your most valuable tool to use in a moment would actually be a control/blast. Plus, as you get higher in level, the less the heals will be needed because people start building out their characters, even if it's just on SOs. Yes, occasionally you get on a run where shit just goes sideways and you become a healbot, but I don't find that to be super common. It's also part of your job as a support character. And yeah, if you don't want to heal at all, don't roll a healing powerset. Like, what is even the issue here?

[Octogoat]

Oh.

[Psyonico]

I just found out that the Captain Picard face-palm was turned into a bust in 2019... I wonder if you can still purchase them.

 

[Luminara]

As soon as I saw the title, I marked my card.

 

[Jacke]

5 hours ago, Diantane said:

When choosing a controller you have to pick a secondary that complements the primary some way (not one that just adds more powers to over support the team. If you did that, you wouldn't have enough time to do both the Primary and Secondary at the same time.

 

Like if you picked any primary and took empathy, pain, poison, etc. Those secondaries require so many actions that you won't have the ability to control at the same time. Like i made an Electric controller and augmented it with Cold Domination. This is because all I have to do with the secondary is buff the shields on the team every 4 minutes and use the other powers occasionally. If I picked a theme like Fire Control and Thermal, I would be too busy healing players that I wouldn't have time to control anything.

 

I've made and failed several controllers because of this. Had to really think it through as I couldn't just pick any combination.

 

Okay, I've not answered one of your queries before, I'll bite.

 

Having complementary Primary and Secondaries is helpful, but technically that could be any combo.  You need to understand the Secondary Powerset a bit, as it's often the one that skips Powers.  Also helps to understand Control Powersets in general too, as Powers should be skipped there too.  For example, except in rare cases, I never take the AoE Hold as it has much lower Base Accuracy and a very long Base Recharge, making it a pain.

 

Just pick a combo that appeals to you.  Make a build.  Look it up in the Controller Forum to see what others have said.  Ask about it.

 

Here's some combos I know work, either personally or from hearing it from many reliable sources:

• Dark/Dark
• Fire/Kin
• Fire/Rad
• Ice/Cold
• Illusion/Dark
• Illusion/Rad
• Illusion/Storm

Pick the one that appeals to you.  Make a build, ask about it as I mentioned above.  Make and play the Toon.  Judge the Toon on whether you enjoy playing it.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 03:59 AM by Jacke

[Doc Spectre]

I suggest that you make an Earth/Thermal controller and team all the way to level 50. Then report back on your experience.

[Ridiculous Girl]

trollers in general are not well suited for solo, until they get their pets. but, i do advise to get arcane bolt, from the sorcery pool, early if you lack a decent damage power, like propel from gravity control. arcane bolt works with containment, and when enemies are contained, you will do double damage with it and a knock down. arcane also has the possibility to proc for an instant recharge and get triple damage. which, for the early troller levels, is HUGE! fit it in somehow, i highly recommend it. 🙂

[Jacke]

10 hours ago, Ridiculous Girl said:

trollers in general are not well suited for solo, until they get their pets. but, i do advise to get arcane bolt, from the sorcery pool, early if you lack a decent damage power, like propel from gravity control. arcane bolt works with containment, and when enemies are contained, you will do double damage with it and a knock down. arcane also has the possibility to proc for an instant recharge and get triple damage. which, for the early troller levels, is HUGE! fit it in somehow, i highly recommend it. 🙂

 

Excellent suggestion about Sorcery's Arcane Bolt.  I often take it on Controllers.  With both Containment and Arcane Power (ring around the Icon), Arcane Bolt does TRIPLE damage.

[Doc Spectre]

Out of curiosity I made a Fire Control/Thermal and took it to level 29 this evening. I joined a Frostfire team, did the 2 positron TFs and a Yin TF. It was totally fine, applying the shields was a piece of cake and i wasn’t just healing the whole time. Btw Bonfire with the knockdown Proc is mint!

[biostem]

On 11/11/2024 at 5:00 PM, Diantane said:

When choosing a controller you have to pick a secondary that complements the primary some way (not one that just adds more powers to over support the team. If you did that, you wouldn't have enough time to do both the Primary and Secondary at the same time.

You seem to be coming at this in a sort of "always do everything" mindset.  What you need to do is to think in terms of "what would be the best power to use in **this** particular circumstance;  Do I hold this enemy now, or maybe buff an ally, or debuff yet another enemy.  Controllers are sort of the ultimate toolbox - you have damage, debuffs, buffs, as well as controls.  Yes, they are more complex than your typical melee AT, but in exchange for that, you can pretty much do it all.  What I would suggest is to familiarize yourself with the powersets and essentially work on your situational awareness.

[Psyonico]

3 hours ago, Doc Spectre said:

Btw Bonfire with the knockdown Proc is mint!

Agreed, even after the nerf, its a beautiful thing.