I have a sad...

[Bill Z Bubba]

I fully IOed out my old main villain, Louis Cypher. One Energy Melee/Fiery Aura Brute.

 

He sucks. He sucks bad. I mean... black holes suck in everything but Hawking radiation and they still don't suck as bad as this EM/FA brute.

 

Does anyone else remember the glory that was energy transfer before the great nerfing? I railed against the change then, and now I remember why I just stopped playing this guy.

 

This isn't a post seeking build help. There is no help for energy melee at this point beyond developer changes to the set. Having your best DPA attacks lock you into what feels like 10 second animations is a non-starter.

 

I'm really only asking the brute community... what powersets should Satan have? Should he even be a brute?

[Cix]

Don't despair, friend!  The devs are on the case.

On 8/27/2019 at 9:06 PM, Captain Powerhouse said:

One thing at a time. Not promising the same changes, but the total focus animation cut was taken from a WIP energy melee revision.

From the thread about the Patch Notes for August 27.  It's referring to the change in animation time on Dominators' Total Focus.

[Bloodofcaine]

My own personal opinion is that the lord of hell wouldn't exactly be on the front lines punching things. It would be directing it's forces from the shadows. I mean when you think about the whole "greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist"  I'd picture a mastermind, demons obviously. The secondary would be a matter of taste, Thermal, dark, pain etc.

[Rylas]

Hey, I remember seeing BillZBubba on the forums back in the day. Welcome back! 

 

As Cix mentioned, it sounds like there are already some plans to make some changes to EM. What they would be is a guess right now, but hey, I'm just pumped they're taking a look at it. 

 

You're certainly not alone on missing how well the set used to perform. Just check out the thread in my sig; there's dozens of us. DOZENS!!

Edited September 6, 2019 by Rylas

[nihilii]

The ET nerf was probably the single most devastating change that happened to a powerset. I know there was a lot of noise about Regen, but I think that was mostly due to the set being popular, and nowadays it is playable. Meanwhile, anyone who played EM has the same story of permanently shelved/deleted characters.

It's great to hear fixes might come eventually. As it is, EM is purely a newcomer trap or nostalgia trip.

Edited September 8, 2019 by nihilii

[Seigmoraig]

On the bright side, you can get Enhancement Unslotters to pass those IOs onto other characters or flip them on the /ah now !

[Bill Z Bubba]

2 minutes ago, Seigmoraig said:

On the bright side, you can get Enhancement Unslotters to pass those IOs onto other characters or flip them on the /ah now !

Storage bins are ready to go on the rebuild. Took two quickie respecs to pull and store everything. Much better than the ... what ... 10 we had to do in the past?

 

Oddly enough, I seem to recall scrapping Louis during live as well. I know at one point he was dark melee but I can't remember what secondary he had. For the time being, I've remade him as a dark\invul brute. We'll see if possible EM changes can take him back to his former glory. It's not like gettin to 50 is a rough ride these days.

 

@BloodofcaineI absolutely get where you're coming from but in the mythology I built for my devils and their Hell, Lucifer was most assuredly a front line general in the war against Heaven.

 

Thanks yall.

[Seigmoraig]

13 minutes ago, Bill Z Bubba said:

 It's not like gettin to 50 is a rough ride these days.
 

I hope you didn't delete him though. You can rename any character from the character select screen, so just rename the "dead" one and name the new one with the proper name. Also there are 1000 character slots per server so no need to delete from that perspective either

Edited September 6, 2019 by Seigmoraig

[Bill Z Bubba]

1 minute ago, Seigmoraig said:

I hope you didn't delete him though. You can rename any character from the character select screen, so just rename the "dead" one and name the new one with the proper name. Also there are 1000 character slots per server so no need to delete from that perspective either

Oh yea, I nuked him. Saved his costume first, though. I've never been a fan of keeping things around that I don't use. In games or RL. And considering I can PL a new one to 50 in 3.5 hours of doing something I like doing anyway, it's no biggee.

[Hero Star]

I feel ya. My main Hero Star used to be Invuln/EM and I just can't make him again with the changes to ET.

 

I also remember seeing you BZB. Were you on Justice or Freedom?

[Bill Z Bubba]

57 minutes ago, Hero Star said:

Were you on Justice or Freedom?

I only played on Pinnacle. And the forums. I spent a LOT of time on the forums.

 

Edited September 7, 2019 by Bill Z Bubba

[Frostweaver]

yeah, I remember long arguments you and I had about /ea.

Well, you won, they buffed the crap out of it... and it lost all of it's challenge to play 😛

[Sir Myshkin]

It's a shame you didn't wait till I got here, could've at least given you some hope!

 

I played some Energy Melee Whack-a-Rikti at +4. Energy Resistant buggers, but they don't hold up well to just being beaten to death... by procs.

 

Bone Smasher:

Spoiler

2019-08-27 23:46:58 HIT Chief Mentalist! Your Bone Smasher power had a 95.00% chance to hit, you rolled a 7.17.
2019-08-27 23:46:58 You smash Chief Mentalist with your mighty Bone Smasher for 50.81 points of smashing damage!
2019-08-27 23:46:58 You smash Chief Mentalist with your mighty Bone Smasher for an additional 32.52 points of energy damage!
2019-08-27 23:46:58 You stun Chief Mentalist with your Bone Smasher!
2019-08-27 23:46:58 Chief Mentalist takes 24.1 points of bonus psionic damage!
2019-08-27 23:46:58 You hit Chief Mentalist for 24.1 points of bonus Smashing damage!
2019-08-27 23:46:58 You blast Chief Mentalist for 34.43 points of bonus negative energy damage!
2019-08-27 23:46:58 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 8.75 points of Toxic damage!

 

Whirling Hands:

Spoiler

2019-08-27 23:46:59 You activated the Whirling Hands power.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 HIT Chief Soldier! Your Whirling Hands power had a 95.00% chance to hit, you rolled a 4.63.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 HIT Chief Soldier! Your Whirling Hands power had a 95.00% chance to hit, you rolled a 58.92.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 HIT Communications Officer! Your Whirling Hands power had a 95.00% chance to hit, you rolled a 11.31.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 HIT Chief Mentalist! Your Whirling Hands power had a 95.00% chance to hit, you rolled a 78.47.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 HIT Conscript! Your Whirling Hands power had a 95.00% chance to hit, you rolled a 21.52.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing 34.19 points of smashing damage to Chief Soldier.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing an additional 22.79 points of energy damage to Chief Soldier.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Chief Soldier takes 37.87 points of bonus psionic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You crush Chief Soldier for 26.51 points of bonus smashing damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Chief Soldier bleeds for 26.51 points of bonus lethal damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You blast Chief Soldier for 56.53 points of bonus fire damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 6.93 points of Toxic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing 31.08 points of smashing damage to Chief Mentalist.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing an additional 20.72 points of energy damage to Chief Mentalist.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You stun Chief Mentalist with your Whirling Hands!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You crush Chief Mentalist for 24.1 points of bonus smashing damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Chief Mentalist bleeds for 24.1 points of bonus lethal damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You blast Chief Mentalist for 51.39 points of bonus fire damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 6.3 points of Toxic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing 48.84 points of smashing damage to Communications Officer.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing an additional 32.56 points of energy damage to Communications Officer.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Communications Officer takes 37.87 points of bonus psionic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You crush Communications Officer for 37.87 points of bonus smashing damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Communications Officer bleeds for 37.87 points of bonus lethal damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 6.93 points of Toxic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing 34.19 points of smashing damage to Chief Soldier.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing an additional 22.79 points of energy damage to Chief Soldier.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You crush Chief Soldier for 26.51 points of bonus smashing damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Chief Soldier bleeds for 26.51 points of bonus lethal damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You blast Chief Soldier for 56.53 points of bonus fire damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 6.93 points of Toxic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing 48.84 points of smashing damage to Conscript.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 You launch Whirling Hands dealing an additional 32.56 points of energy damage to Conscript.
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Conscript takes 37.87 points of bonus psionic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Conscript bleeds for 37.87 points of bonus lethal damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:00 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 6.93 points of Toxic damage!

What's that Chief Mentalist? Did my PBAoE just smack you for an additional 108 damage?! Mmmhmm. Oh, you're still standing? Let me fix that...

 

Energy Transfer:

Spoiler

2019-08-27 23:47:03 You activated the Energy Transfer power.
2019-08-27 23:47:05 HIT Chief Mentalist! Your Energy Transfer power had a 95.00% chance to hit, you rolled a 19.94.
2019-08-27 23:47:05 Your Energy Transfer deals 68.68 points of smashing damage to Chief Mentalist.
2019-08-27 23:47:05 Your Energy Transfer drains some life from yourself to deal an extra 132.09 points of energy damage to Chief Mentalist.
2019-08-27 23:47:05 You stun Chief Mentalist with your Energy Transfer!
2019-08-27 23:47:05 Chief Mentalist takes 27.3 points of bonus psionic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:05 You hit Chief Mentalist for 27.3 points of bonus Lethal damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:05 You hit Chief Mentalist for 27.3 points of bonus Smashing damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:05 You blast Chief Mentalist for 39.01 points of bonus negative energy damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:05 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 21.52 points of Toxic damage!
2019-08-27 23:47:05 You have defeated Chief Mentalist

 

 

Including this piece too, for comparison against a Pylon at "even con" with basic resistances:

2019-09-04 00:12:14 Your Energy Transfer deals 207.64 points of smashing damage to Rikti Pylon.
2019-09-04 00:12:14 Your Energy Transfer drains some life from yourself to deal an extra 399.32 points of energy damage to Rikti Pylon.
2019-09-04 00:12:14 You stun Rikti Pylon with your Energy Transfer!
2019-09-04 00:12:14 Rikti Pylon takes 63.13 points of bonus psionic damage!
2019-09-04 00:12:14 You hit Rikti Pylon for 63.13 points of bonus Lethal damage!
2019-09-04 00:12:14 You hit Rikti Pylon for 63.13 points of bonus Smashing damage!
2019-09-04 00:12:14 You blast Rikti Pylon for 63.13 points of bonus negative energy damage!
2019-09-04 00:12:14 Your Offensive Adaptation hits for 34.83 points of Toxic damage!

894.31 Damage

/em nudges Chief Mentalist corpse "You really couldn't handle a 343.2 damage attack, eh?"

 

 

I did pre-testing for Tank Proc Tests waiting for Beta to get set back to "business as usual," using Energy Melee paired with Bio Armor (on a Tank...obviously?). So these base values are also lacking since there's no Alpha Musculature buffing the additional ~40% damage enhancement. Procs dramatically change the playing field for Energy Melee at the moment. I'd've suggested giving this a try because... it was pretty fun, and nearly every attack ended up with a 50-75% improvement in damage output. It goes from wishing it could crush it, to actually crushing it.

 

Edit: No, I haven't officially, officially posted these results over in the other thread. Ssshh.

Edited September 7, 2019 by Sir Myshkin

[ericc191]

I'm right there with you, bro. The ONLY reason to level an EM was for the godliness that is Energy Transfer --> Total Focus

[Frosticus]

My em/fa brute was my favorite warburg/rv zone pvp character before em and pvp nerfs. It was such a satisfying play experience.

Hopefully the current devs can infuse some fun into the set again. Procs help a bit with et/tf, but the set is so anaemic that you want to get their rech down as low as possible, which undoes much of the proc advantage. It is also eclipsed by stone melee in every meaningful way. 

[Riverdusk]

Would be nice to see some improvements to EM, always liked the feel of the set, but never got far in it.

[Stefie]

Sorry to hijack but... BILL?!?! *faints* It's so good to see you!!!! I just now found out about the game! I am in shock!!! Ok...back to your post! Sorry!!! :D 

[Herotu]

On 9/6/2019 at 9:13 AM, Rylas said:

Hey, I remember seeing BillZBubba on the forums back in the day. Welcome back! 

 

As Cix mentioned, it sounds like there are already some plans to make some changes to EM. What they would be is a guess right now, but hey, I'm just pumped they're taking a look at it. 

 

You're certainly not alone on missing how well the set used to perform. Just check out the thread in my sig; there's dozens of us. DOZENS!!

Ones, at the very least!

[StoneColdJoker]

I had an EM/FA Brute back on live and he was amazing. I remade him when I got into Homecoming but then remade him again to SM/FA when I learned of how bad EM had become. If it gets fixed will definitely roll one again

[Fan Mail]

Could be worse.  You could be a FA/EM Tanker.  Stay the Brute course, hope that they fix EM, but roll another primary.