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Amadaeus

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Build-related questions

Well, I've been reading various threads and I've come up with a couple questions of my own. In advance though, I want to make one thing exceedingly clear:
I do NOT want builds made for me. It's not that I don't trust you guys (quite the opposite, in fact), I'd just prefer to use my own creativity and actually think for myself and do my own work instead of having my hand held through it. All I want is advise to prevent me from being wasteful with power and enhancement slots.

So, onto the questions...

1. About how many attacks are there in a good chain? Is there a number that I shouldn't pass without being wasteful?

2. Are negative status effects (disorient, hold, etc...) worth getting the powers to resist them, or are they more just minor nuissances that can just be pretty much ignored?

3. Recharge-wise, what's the range considered for a "fast" or "slow" power?

4. Aim and Build Up don't seem so great to me at first look because of their short duration, am I wrong to think this?

5. In general, are there powers that should get enhancement slot priority more then others?

6. How far would one accuracy enhancement get me?

7. Have you ever not taken a power against your better judgement to keep in the "spirit" of your toon character-wise?

8. How anal are people in general about having certain powers at certain times? If there are powers like this, what are they?

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

12/11/06 22:32

Nasali

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RE: Build-related questions

I'll throw my two cents in...

QUOTE

1. About how many attacks are there in a good chain? Is there a number that I shouldn't pass without being wasteful?

I think it depends on the recharge that the powers have, you just want to be able to keep going (and recharge can be manipulated with Enhancements)

QUOTE

2. Are negative status effects (disorient, hold, etc...) worth getting the powers to resist them, or are they more just minor nuissances that can just be pretty much ignored?

It depends on the toon imho, my emp defender needs em, my tank needs em, my blaster & troller, not so much (though holds are a pain in the arse so I usually look for some sort of protection because they drop your toggles)

QUOTE

3. Recharge-wise, what's the range considered for a "fast" or "slow" power?

Once you're into SOs, a 3 slotted power can have a much faster recharge rate, so I see slow as being things that take a minute or more 3 slotted, most attacks aren't this way (with the exception of the 'oh crap' powers)

QUOTE

4. Aim and Build Up don't seem so great to me at first look because of their short duration, am I wrong to think this?

Never used those personally, however I do appreciate the firey embrace on my fire tank

QUOTE

5. In general, are there powers that should get enhancement slot priority more then others?

yeah, things like health & stamina get my full attention till it's 3 slotted with end mods, i usually focus on my priority for that particular toon, defenses, damage powers, etc.

QUOTE

6. How far would one accuracy enhancement get me?

Not sure on any numbers here, but it never hurts

QUOTE

7. Have you ever not taken a power against your better judgement to keep in the "spirit" of your toon character-wise?

not personally, but I've read here of folks that have

QUOTE

8. How anal are people in general about having certain powers at certain times? If there are powers like this, what are they?

I think a lot of people will agree that 14 gets a travel power and 20 gets stamina just because you're usually waiting on those levels to get those powers. Other than those, class specifics, an emp defender is pretty much expected to be able to rez right around lvl 6 and I had people checking with me to see if I had RA before they'd invite me to team as I approached 20

Hope this helps!
Nas :)

"A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought." -- Peter Wimsey

12/11/06 23:07

Amadaeus

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RE: Build-related questions

Thanks for the post.
One thing I forgot to mention before though, is that I'll need some sort of abbreviation-tionary or something. ^^;
I'll tell you the ones I know, and if you guys can learn me the rest that'd be great.

Squids, lobsters, squishies, blapper, scranker, rez, power set-related ones (SS, MA, SR etc...). I think that's about it.

Also, other opinions related to my original questions are more then welcome (in fact, I'm sort of counting on it). I like to get different viewpoints so I can see the merits in different sides of an argument so I can make my own informed decisions.

Thanks.

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

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12/11/06 23:15

pathofwrath

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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

Squids, lobsters, squishies, blapper, scranker, rez, power set-related ones (SS, MA, SR etc...). I think that's about it.

Squids: Kheldians (Peacebringers and Warshades) the epic archetype you gain access to once you hit 50, specifically when in Nova form.

Lobsters: Kheldians when in Dwarf form.

Squishies: Refers to the archetypes with less hit points that tend to die rather easily compared to scrappers and tankers. Blasters, Controllers, and Defenders fall into this category, as do Kheldians.

Blapper: A blaster who focuses on his/her secondary (melee) set and therefore functions more as a scrapper than a blaster.

Scranker: A tank who focuses on secondary (offense) powers and therefore functions more as a scrapper than true tank.

Rez: Short for resurrection.

SS: Super Speed. Third tier power in the Speed Power Pool.

MA: Martial Arts. Primary power set for Scrappers.

SR: Super Reflexes. Secondary power set for Scrappers.

Got any more?

Path of Wrath - Storm/Elec/Elec Defender - 50
Miss Trinidad - Ill/Storm/Ice Controller - 50
Miss Cote d'Ivoire - Dark/Regen/Dark Scrapper - 50
Posey Punk - Grav/Kin/Stone Controller - 50
Mr. Azerbaijan - Kin/Psy Defender - 40
Laccolith - Earth/Rad Controller - 30
Geriatric Justice - Willpower/SS Tanker - 21

12/11/06 23:49

Amadaeus

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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

Squids, lobsters, squishies, blapper, scranker, rez, power set-related ones (SS, MA, SR etc...). I think that's about it.

Sorry, guess I put that badly. I meant those are the only ones I do know. lol Thanks anyway.

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12/11/06 23:56

pathofwrath

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RE: Build-related questions

LOL No worries. Which ones do you need help with?

12/12/06 00:01

govtmorgue

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RE: Build-related questions

At your request Amadeaus

Abbreviations/Descriptions Guide by Firespray

Guide to Enhancements by RonJ

Hope they help you out bud.

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12/12/06 00:08

Warron Peace

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RE: Build-related questions

Wow, had a nice long post answering all your questions in detail, and it got lost into the Aether when I tried to preview it. Gonna have to get this issue fixed, its probably the 20th time its happened to me.

Anyway, if you give us more specifics about a powerset or AT you are asking about, we can give more detailed information. Alot of the powers you asked are very AT dependent, so we can only give general responses, instead of delving deeper into the issue and giving alot more accurate info.

I make builds simply because its the easiest way for me to share my experience with a powerset with others. That doesn't mean I have to make a build for you. If you have a question about a particular build, I'll be more than happy to answer it, without building it for you. So feel free to ask away!

W.P.

my current project: Spine/Will farmer, Quillpower, on Virtue.

12/12/06 01:43

swissarmy68

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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

1. About how many attacks are there in a good chain? Is there a number that I shouldn't pass without being wasteful?

Here is a guide on Attack Chains.

Attack Chains Explained

Swiss

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

This space is currently under construction

12/12/06 11:21

bigspeer

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RE: Build-related questions

SwissArmy's guide to terms

this can help cover anything firespray missed as well.

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12/12/06 12:07

Amadaeus

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RE: Build-related questions

Geez, thanks for all the posts/links everyone.

As for ATs, I guess I'll just post the ones I want to do so far...

Tankers: Invulnerability/Stone Melee; Invulnerability/SS (though he's gonna be more of a joke character then anything); Stone Armor/War Mace

Scrappers: Spines/Regen; MA/SF (though I may switch to MA/Regen and Spines/SF just because it seems my originals are done pretty often).

Squishies: Blaster-Sonic/Devices; Controller-Earth/Trick Arrow; Defender-Empathy/Radiation

I eventually want to make the odd jobs (scranker, blapper, etc...) but since it's finals time and all, I'm going to wait a bit before taking a look at power sets for those.
I'm also planning on making one of each kheldian, but again...finals time. I'll probably just read the Kheldian guide when I think about them...though I don't even have the game yet so they're a ways off still.

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

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12/12/06 12:20

DDkat

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RE: Build-related questions

I'll give these a crack for you, since you wanted multiple views.

QUOTE

1. About how many attacks are there in a good chain? Is there a number that I shouldn't pass without being wasteful?

That depends on your attacks' recharge speed. The ideal situation is to always have an attack up. If you favor big slow attacks, one way to go is to pick up a single quick recharging attack as 'filler'. My blaster has about 6 attacks in her standard chain, but your mileage may vary.

QUOTE

2. Are negative status effects (disorient, hold, etc...) worth getting the powers to resist them, or are they more just minor nuissances that can just be pretty much ignored?

While not a big deal at early levels, as you get higher and higher, these are by no means minor. After the 30s, even minions will be packing dazes and holds, and you'll want what defense you can get.

In my experience it doesn't vary by AT that much. Granted, the Tank *has* to have those, but aside from that, even a defender who doesnt get targted much could get held at a bad moment and cause the team to collapse.

QUOTE

3. Recharge-wise, what's the range considered for a "fast" or "slow" power?

Aside from the 'big boom' powers, fast IMHO would be less than 10 seconds, slow would be longer then 15 seconds.

QUOTE

4. Aim and Build Up don't seem so great to me at first look because of their short duration, am I wrong to think this?

Different answers from different ATs and Players, but I find them super useful. They recharge fast enough that they are in play often, and you can normally get off an entire chain cycle under their effect. Also a great power for when you have to drop a Boss as fast as possible.

QUOTE

5. In general, are there powers that should get enhancement slot priority more then others?

Everyone will say yes to this, then everyone will have a different opinion on which ones get priority. Aside from Stamina, everyone sort of agrees there.

QUOTE

6. How far would one accuracy enhancement get me?

It depends, but if you have someone(s) with tactics running, one SO is usually all you need. To Hit almost always trumps accuracy, which is one more reason Aim and Build Up are good.

QUOTE

7. Have you ever not taken a power against your better judgement to keep in the "spirit" of your toon character-wise?

I have. Lots of people don't. It's pretty much a personal thing, and how much of a roleplayer you are. But, a solid build can afford to do this more with less ill-effects.

QUOTE

8. How anal are people in general about having certain powers at certain times? If there are powers like this, what are they?

Welllllll.....

In some ways, very, in some, not so much. Basically, you're expected to bring a few things to the table with your AT. I one had an invuln tanker with no tanker toggles...we had to let the poor guy go. (This was mid 30s, no toggles doesn't cut it at that point.)

12/12/06 12:38

Grifter0408

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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

Scrappers: Spines/Regen; MA/SR (though I may switch to MA/Regen and Spines/SR just because it seems my originals are done pretty often).

BLASPHEMY!

I kid.

MA/SR is so sweet and you look so cool. Man Im a broken record on that. I was considering doing a Spine/Invul since all the AoE effects of Spine you can go into some big mobs and take the punishment while you deal the death.

I had a Spine/Regen and got to 20ish but just kept dying. Maybe if I hadnt slotted my attacks more and placed in Regen I could of lasted but that is no fun. And I corrected your SF to SR. Made me do a double look on that.

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

12/12/06 13:19

Amadaeus

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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

Scrappers: Spines/Regen; MA/SR (though I may switch to MA/Regen and Spines/SR just because it seems my originals are done pretty often).

SF...the hell? Don't know what I was thinking there, but thanks. ;>.>

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12/12/06 14:52

Veloce

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RE: Build-related questions

So, onto the questions...

1. About how many attacks are there in a good chain? Is there a number that I shouldn't pass without being wasteful?

I don't beleive there are a set ''magical'' number working for every variation of archetypes and powers: I have characters that uses a 5 attack combo and others who do as well with only 3. And, at least until you get stamina, you also have to consider the damage output/endurance drain ratio. Experiment with each toon until you get the feel you like.

2. Are negative status effects (disorient, hold, etc...) worth getting the powers to resist them, or are they more just minor nuissances that can just be pretty much ignored?

?They may seem trivial at first but even at the teen levels, they can get you killed in seconds. Remember Frostfire?
I played my brute against Circle of Thorns earth mages and had to flee and come back 4 or 5 times before I could take one out... and almost died each time. When I got unyielding, POOF! piece of cake.

3. Recharge-wise, what's the range considered for a "fast" or "slow" power

What I call a fast power is one that comes back right after I clicked another. What I call a slow power is one that has not yet recharged after a full attack sequence.

4. Aim and Build Up don't seem so great to me at first look because of their short duration, am I wrong to think this?

They're a good addition to your basic or enhanced powers but they're not high level powers so don't expect them to work miracles. I use them often and do find them quite useful but not indispensable. Depends on how damage-oriented you want to be. Of the 2, aim seems to me the most useful for snipping attacks and hard-to-hit targets.

5. In general, are there powers that should get enhancement slot priority more then others?

Again, it depend on your play style entirely, although health & stamina gets a special importance to many players, since they affect the only 2 gameplay components. Agressive players or damage-oriented archetypes will favor their attack powers, but more defensive or cautious players will favor their protection.There are no ''universal rule'' that cover every nuance of play.

6. How far would one accuracy enhancement get me?

I don't care much for gamestats so I can't get you exact figures. Most of my toons use few if any acc enhancements and they do fine... but I mostly play scrappers and tankers so I am not a good reference on this particular aspect. Basically any power you have, however enhanced, will be useless if you keep missing the target; against bosses and ATs, you can never have too much acc.

7. Have you ever not taken a power against your better judgement to keep in the "spirit" of your toon character-wise?

Heh, I practically always play that way. I'm more of a roleplayer than a gamer. Performance in the game is less important to me than enjoying the game. Having to circumvent limitations as a character trait is part of that fun. For example, my main was a speedster concept; so I waited until level 45 to get teleport because then i found a justification for it (hyperspeed)within the concept... thus, I went through the game without even hurl to vault obstacles. At present, I overtook and sped past every other speedster I ever met and so feel pretty good with the character as a concept... and Boy! did I learn the maps!

8. How anal are people in general about having certain powers at certain times? If there are powers like this, what are they?[/QUOTE]

Well, it's like fashion. When somebody discovers a good trend, many will follow.There are good combos that will make play easier for certain archetypes in certain circumstances... and more are discovered every issue.
For example, there are people who will swear by Hasten and can't live without it (90% of my own characters don't have it by the way); others will always take superspeed and some stealth power to have effective combat invisibility with all their toons.Again, it's a matter of how you want to play. Optimum performance through fixed ''best combos'' will make you effective but part of that dull entity known as ''the faceless army of the nameless clones''.
Definitely not ''my'' style. So the question is: What is yours?

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

12/12/06 17:14

Crookwood

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Joined: 10/29/2006
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RE: Build-related questions

I know a bunch of people have already answered, but I wanted to throw in my two inf.

QUOTE

1. About how many attacks are there in a good chain? Is there a number that I shouldn't pass without being wasteful?

The number is not really important. The goal is to put them in order so that there is the least possible amount of time when you are not attacking your target. So if you have a power with a low recharge time, I'd use that in between my other powers to fill time. A power with a long recharge time might be a good one to start with, because if it is a powerful one, using it at the begining might set you up to use it again before the target dies.

QUOTE

2. Are negative status effects (disorient, hold, etc...) worth getting the powers to resist them, or are they more just minor nuissances that can just be pretty much ignored?

Definetly depends on the AT. Tankers and Scrappers CANNOT afford to go without these types of powers. I think a blaster or a controller would be smart to take them because they run the risk of drawing aggro. Defenders could afford to skip them, because they probably would do very little direct attacking.

QUOTE

3. Recharge-wise, what's the range considered for a "fast" or "slow" power?

I don't have exact numbers for you, but a "fast" power is probably 3-8 second, while slow could be anywhere from 30 second to a minute and up

QUOTE

4. Aim and Build Up don't seem so great to me at first look because of their short duration, am I wrong to think this?

Aim and Build Up are good for taking down bosses, AV's, etc. They aren't for every fight, but there are situations when they are useful.

QUOTE

5. In general, are there powers that should get enhancement slot priority more then others?

I'd say you should focus on slotting your primary power set. Tankers need Defence, Scrappers/Blasters need Dmg, etc. Not to say that you should ignore your secondary; just the opposite, in fact. But to me, the primary is the priority.

QUOTE

6. How far would one accuracy enhancement get me?

With only one enhancement, I find that only DO's/SO's make a noticible difference, but a group of Training Enhancements can be beneficial at low levels

QUOTE

7. Have you ever not taken a power against your better judgement to keep in the "spirit" of your toon character-wise?

I'd be hard pressed to think of a powerset that has a power that is conceptually different from the others, but should the situation arrize, the decision is yours, whether concept of design is more important.

QUOTE

8. How anal are people in general about having certain powers at certain times? If there are powers like this, what are they?

Rez, Heals, Taunt, and certain Hold are some (but certainly not all) of the powers that people get kinda cranky if you don't have, but don't let them bully you into a power you don't want. Your toon is your toon

Just some of my personal thoughts

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12/12/06 17:57

bigspeer

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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

Defenders could afford to skip them, because they probably would do very little direct attacking.

even though they dont straight up attack as much, their debuffs can draw mondo aggro, esp ones that are anchor related.

as far as slotting, i always slot defensive powers first, holds/debuffs, then attacks always last. i will add at least one slot to attacks just to get an accuracy and an end redux in there to save end until stamina.

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12/12/06 18:10

Amadaeus

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RE: Build-related questions

Here's another quick question:
If I wanted to post a story when I had time in the future, which thread would I post it in?
I saw someone posted one before (Big I think?) but I couldn't find where in the forums he put it, so~

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12/15/06 11:58

bigspeer

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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

submit it as an article! should be on the left under the forums.

make sure you read these comments before you submit one.

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12/15/06 12:09

Amadaeus

Posts: 4
Joined: 11/01/2006
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RE: Build-related questions

QUOTE

submit it as an article! should be on the left under the forums.

make sure you read these comments before you submit one.

lol Biggy to the rescue again!
Thanks. XP

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12/15/06 12:22

Amadaeus

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RE: Build-related questions

Alright...yet another question, also fanfic-posting-related.
If/when I post it, I'll obviously be posting it as I write it instead of waiting to post it all in one go.
Having said that, when I do add more chapters to the story, am I able to put multiple posts in an article, or would I have to continuously edit the one post as I add onto the story?

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12/18/06 18:01

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