Guide to building Builds?

[lolcritrockets]

Are there any guides or posts out there that give some general tips and points for constructing a build? For when you can't find the exact build or guide for the one particular power set(s) that you're interested in.

 

Like, when is it better to put six slots into a power? One or two slots? What are some powers that should always/never be slotted? Should some ATs put more slots into their primary or secondary? When is a good time to take a travel power, or put it off?

 

Obviously not every build is going to be optimized completely, but sometimes we want to make a build for less conventional power selections! At the very least, maybe this could make more guides available for searching!

[Tonzofo]

I would also love to see a guide like this some general rules of thumb and other nuggets of wisdom about generally required stats and such like you stated would be awesome.

[Six-Six]

I don't think a single guide exists. Several factors go into a build, the most obvious one being your AT, and the biggest one being play style. 

You might be able to find "sample" builds from the AT-specific forums since they've narrowed down the topic to a point where you're all talking about the same power modifier. You'll see a lot of claims that theirs is the best build, but again, the best build is the one that works for you and your particular game play.

I also don't believe in Mids or Pines (primarily because I don't have access to it). From my limited experience, I build per level range: my 1-20 is different from my 20-30, and so on. The builds are dictated by available slots, limited powers, low stats, and slottable IOs- I don't even slot anything in before 27 or so. And now I'm still figuring out the incarnate stuff now. 

I usually hit the AT specific forums for questions or a peek at what other people are doing with their builds to see if mine can be improved. Some that I see I don't agree with, others are like a "dang, why didn't I think of that" or "I didn't know I could do that." The experimentation may be costly in terms of investing in IOs only to switch them out later, but I think it's part of the fun.

[Heraclea]

From the posted builds in the AT forums, one rule appears to be 'build as if you had unlimited inf and merits.' At least, that's the version you show off. 

[Derek Icelord]

I supply builds to most of the people I play with, because I really enjoy it. I'm by no means the best, but here are the basic rules I follow for my builds.

• Get Mids' Reborn
• Start by picking what you want to build for. Everything else will flow from this. For example:
  • Soft capped Smashing/Lethal defense
  • Perma Hasten
  • Capped resistance to X damage type
• Try and get at least 2.0 end/sec net recovery. Net recovery is, with all the toggles you'd use in a fight on, recovery - endurance drain
  • Ideally this should be without click or incarnate powers active
• Slot Miracle: +Recovery and Numina's Convalescence: +Regen/+Recovery in Health
• Don't fear picking useless powers to unlock something good
  • Most notable example of this is Boxing/Kick to get Tough and Weave in the Fighting pool
    • Tough is a great place to drop the 2 +3% DEF(All) IOs from Steadfast Protection and Gladiator's Armor
    • Weave is a requirement for any AT that doesn't get an armor set to hit soft capped DEF.

[TCUFROGS]

1 hour ago, Derek Icelord said:

I supply builds to most of the people I play with, because I really enjoy it. I'm by no means the best, but here are the basic rules I follow for my builds.

• Get Mids' Reborn
• Start by picking what you want to build for. Everything else will flow from this. For example:
  • Soft capped Smashing/Lethal defense
  • Perma Hasten
  • Capped resistance to X damage type
• Try and get at least 2.0 end/sec net recovery. Net recovery is, with all the toggles you'd use in a fight on, recovery - endurance drain
  • Ideally this should be without click or incarnate powers active
• Slot Miracle: +Recovery and Numina's Convalescence: +Regen/+Recovery in Health
• Don't fear picking useless powers to unlock something good
  • Most notable example of this is Boxing/Kick to get Tough and Weave in the Fighting pool
    • Tough is a great place to drop the 2 +3% DEF(All) IOs from Steadfast Protection and Gladiator's Armor
    • Weave is a requirement for any AT that doesn't get an armor set to hit soft capped DEF.

Would love to see what you can come up with as far as a Stone/TW Tanker goes. I already have a plan but would love to compare it to someone who knows what they are doing a lot more than me! 🙂

[Six-Six]

I think this is the way to go, sharing of builds which may or may not be the best, rather than a general guide for all. This also supports the MMO principle of playing nice with others. 😃

[oldskool]

There was a guide on the old forums: https://web.archive.org/web/20120906170011/http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=274219

 

Its a good read and the philosophies on builds presented in it are still very sound.