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mmojunkie

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Joined: 12/31/1969
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Your favorite build and.....

I posted a topic recently on the CoH official website forums and recieved nothing but rude responses. Posting here in the past, I realized that the readers here have great manners when responding, so I am back. I recently left WoW to come back to CoH/CoV(anyone who has spent more than 6 months with the people who play WoW will know why...). Anyway my point.

I have a level 8 Assault Rifle/Device Blaster I like it enough but I am looking for opinions on other players experiences with other builds with pros and cons. I am also looking for advice on enhancement placement for blasters (how many slots for powers and with what combination of different enhancements). I have faith in the intelligance and kindness of posters here. Hope to read some great responses soon. Thanks in advance.

04/11/08 02:42

Chuck Bronco

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Joined: 06/20/2006
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

QUOTE

Welcome back,

My initial experience (and majority) was with Fire/Elec. Fire allows you to be a AoE king, 6 slot all of your primary powers, 3 x dam, 1 x acc, and End redux and or recharge where you think they work best for you. The only power I didnt particularly care for was Rain of fire, I didnt like the way it made the mobs scatter. Everything else is a keeper.
Elec- this is a fun secondary, it lets you roll in and melle the heck out of them. Havoc punch and Thunder strike are the fun damagers here. Build up is a definate keeper, power sink is great for recovering End, and Shocking Grasp is a pretty good hold.

I went for a DPS maximum with my first 50, so Hasten will help speed up that attack chain. I 3 slotted (recharge)Hasten, Build up, and Aim, I always used this initial combo before dropping in on the mobs.

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

Tank'ns my Bidness and Bidness is GOOD!

04/11/08 06:22

LordStarwolf

Posts: 3
Joined: 08/28/2005
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

AR/Dev is a popular combo for play. That's why I made one, lol. It has a good mix of powers overall.

The primary has a really good mix of short range, targeted AOE and snipe powers that will allow you to engage targets at all ranges. Targeting Drone is one of a very few powers that has a tohit debuff resistance. You will have end problems with the build, so a good end management strategy is a must, especially with targeting drone as it eats end like water. But it's also a must have for many reasons.

Slotting your primaries should be a mix. It should include end redux across the board for end management, acc isnt such a huge issue once you have TD. Damage is a good bet and if you are going for a sniper build range also on some of the powers. A couple may need recharges as they take a bit.

The secondary is one of the more interesting of the blaster sets. Most secondaries are built around heavy melee attacks. That sounds good, but blasters are major squshies and if you get into melee range its usually a bad thing. Devices isn't built that way though. It has a very interesting, and I think very fun, power mix.

Caltrops can be very useful for agro management, i.e. keeping them from reaching you once you start attacking. I've seen smoke grenade slotted up with tohit debuffs so high that bad guys cant even hit you. And I've seen trip mines used to take half the hit point of an AV before he even got within attack range. And cloaking device is a stealth without the movement penalty that you can get without even having to take the concealment pool. If you combine it with super speed for travel you are basically invisible and still able to attack and don't even have to get the concealment pool at all.

The main slotting on the secondaries will be end redux on things like cloaking device, and probably recharge. Most of the powers suffer from long recharges. If you have the extra slots you can put dfense boosts in CD, but the boost is small so don't waste any if you don't have them to spare.

All in all, AR/Dev is one of the most unique and fun power combos to pay in the game. You could turn it into a sniper build, straight up blaster damage dealer with the capacity to deal a lot of it, or with a bit of work, even a blapper build with your secondaries ability to help handle agro.

Guardian
Avant Guard = Emp/Rad/Psychic Defender Lvl 50 (Dedicated Healer)
Astral Plane = Peacebringer Lvl 50
Spica = Fire/Em/Energy Tank Lvl 50 (Scranker)
Beliskner = Eng/Eng Blaster Lvl 40
Avant Spines = Spines/Regen Scrapper Lvl 39 (AOE King)
Avant Kin = Ill/Kin Controller Lvl 35
BMG = AR/Dev Blaster Lvl 27
Avant Psy = Psychic Blast/Empathy Defender Lvl 20 (Offender)
Avant Def = Kinetics/Energy Blast Defender Lvl 16
Avant Stone = Stone/Storm Controller lvl 15 (Super Controller)
Umbral Plane = Warshade Lvl 14
Triumph
Lord Yu = MA/Regen Scrapper Lvl 24
Avant Psy = Rad/Psy Defender Lvl 14 (Offender)
Lord Starwolf = Sonic/Electrical Blaster Lvl 14 (Blapper)
Protector
T-99 = Ice/Ice Tanker Lvl 20
Electrostun = Electric/EM Blaster Lvl 21 (Sapper)
Starwolf = Katana/Inv Scrapper Lvl 18 (my very first toon, 3 years ago)
Avant Sonic = Sonic/Sonic Defender Lvl 14
Pinnacle
Avant Claws = Claws/Regen Scrapper Lvl 18 (Non-power pool toon)
Champion
Avant Dragon = Fire/Fire Blaster Lvl 20

And many, many, many more....

04/11/08 07:10

Lightfoot27

Posts: 1
Joined: 01/16/2007
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

QUOTE

Hi, glad to have you back in Paragon. As far as my personal favorite builds, I've been really enjoying my EM/WP tank, Spines/WP scrapper, and Ice/Rad controller for teaming. I just hit 50 with my fire/kin troller, and that is an amazing combo as anyone will tell you (thus the millions of them running around PI) but for me, close up and personal is the way to go. I have yet to hit 50 with a blaster, my closest is a Fire/Dev and the combo is excellent but the strategies for devices blasters work better when solo. You have to have time to set up traps and whatnot, and team play doesn't afford that luxury for the most part, so I haven't really pushed him too far yet (only to 33). Personally, as far as blasters go, I'm in love with fire blast. I was working up a fire/EM for pvp but just got sidetracked with other things. I could never really enjoy assault rifle for some reason, maybe it was the weapon draw time, who knows... but for me, its all about fire for the AoE's and great sound effects.

As for slotting of blasters, this is really dependant on your build and strategies. For example, with fire blast I don't put 6 slots into primaries... I use 3 slots for damage, and 1 or 2 for accuracy or end redux. I almost always take hasten on my DPS toons to prevent having to add recharge enhancements to save on slotting. But for an ice blaster, I would six slot, and use a slow enh. in the primary attacks (and likely take superspeed+swift to keep highly mobile) so that I could keep single target baddies at range (or at least closing range would be slow going for them). Its all up to what you want to do. With my limited experience pertaining to assault rifle, I may not be the best one to answer about slotting it.

One build I would advise looking into if you like to blast is actually any primary/kinetic defender. The power drain abilities (siphon power and fulcrum shift) are like little buildups that stack and I believe this build may have the potential to out DPS some blasters at range with great secondary benefits. I was working on a sapper (elec blast/kinetics) to drain endurance in pvp but as I said I'm easily distracted ;)

Anyway, if you have anything specific you'd like to try, gamamp has more than its share of master build makers so post any builds you want opinions on.

BEST TEST ANSWERS EVER!
"Who was responsible for inventing the cotton gin?"
"I'm unable to divulge that information as it may compromise our agents in the field."

"What was the date of Columbus' journey to the americas?"
"I do not believe in linear time, the past and future are one, existence in the temporal sense is illusionary... this question is therefore meaningless and impossible to answer."

-Calvin and Hobbes

04/11/08 09:53

PanzerEXE

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Joined: 12/17/2007
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

I LOVE my Katana/Regen stalker.

If you ever go to the villains side, Masterminds are a lot of fun to play also.

Freedom

James Iscariot- Level 28 Illusion/Storm Controller
Arbiter Darkwind- Level 33 Thugs/Dark Mastermind [R.I.P.]

04/11/08 10:14

Warron Peace

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Joined: 06/06/2006
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

QUOTE

Targeting Drone is one of a very few powers that has a tohit debuff resistance. You will have end problems with the build, so a good end management strategy is a must, especially with targeting drone as it eats end like water.

Oy Starwolf, how many times do I have to tell you! Targeting Drone is not a major end drain! Yes, it costs more than most defensive toggles do. Most toggles are .26 end/sec. TD is .32 end/sec. BUT! Tactics across the board is .4 end/sec. Focussed Accuracy for Scraps/Tanks is 1.18 end/sec. Targeting Drone is the single cheapest source of +tohit in the game, and one of only 3 powers that offers tohit debuff resistance (the other two are Focussed Accuracy for tanks and scrappers.)

Get this: Tactics for Defenders (they get the highest leadership values) gives 12.5% tohit at base values. Targeting Drone, for .08 end/sec less than Tactics, gives 13.9% tohit base. You get more for less with Targeting Drone. It is worth the end cost, and the cost isn't that great!

[/rant]

Sorry bout that, but Starwolf and I are always arguing about TD for his AR/Dev. The key to managing your endurance is to slot an end redux into each attack, as well as picking up Stamina. If each attack has an end redux SO in it, you'll literally use 33% less endurance on average. Another nice little trick is to wait half a beat after a power recharges to fire it off. Give yourself half a second, and all those half seconds will add up to more time for recovering endurance. Your DPS will be a little lower, but your endurance will be much better off for it.

Cloaking Device is nice for setting Mines and sneaking past enemies, but if you are attacking them, turn it off. It doesn't use as much endurance as the Drone, but it's defense bonus is so minor as to be unnoticeable. Don't let your recovery be slowed by a toggle that won't help you much. Use it for sneaking around, and turn it off when you aren't sneaking. Your blue bar will thank you. ;)

If you need any other advice, please, feel free to ask. I and the others will be more than happy to help you out, anytime.

W.P.

04/11/08 12:09

Roboknee

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Joined: 01/21/2008
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

I've got an Archey/Devices Blaster that's my first and most favorite to play. It's taken me a year to get him up to Level 48 and I've had fun all the way.

He's mostly a solo toon but can team up well. Solo, devices is a great secondary.

-Web Grenades: You have to take it but it's still a good power. 2 can immobilize bosses and slow them down. Plus now it can be used while mezzed.

--Caltrops: They're great, they slow down enemies and will make them run away if they're placed in front of a door. Melee enemies have gotten frustrated when they can't get to me and run away, giving me time to heal. They're also great in making sure enemies slow down enough to trigger trip mines instead of running over and past them.

--Taser: I had it but respeced out of it. When it hit, minions and Lts. would be stunned, but it was too short range for me.

--Targeting Drone: Take it and love it. With it I rarely miss, even enemies 4-5 levels higher than me and I'm still at the accuracy cap. Granted, my damage sucks against them but I'm still hitting them.

--Smoke Grenades: I love 'em. 2 of these on an enemy group has let me pull single targets without aggroing the whole group. With this and cloaking device I have seen purple enemies miss 3 or 4 times in a row.

--Cloaking Device: Great, even though I didn't go the superspeed route. It provides a little defense but makes it easy to do missions where all you need to do is click on a glowie and not have to fight every single minion. Especially when there's a timer.

--Trip Mine: I love this power. Lay down 15 of these babies around a corner, throw down caltrops so it's edge just overlaps the trip mines and you can take down or almost take down Elite Bosses. It takes some time, but when you can do over 5000 points of damage to take out an EB without getting hurt, it's worth it.

Trip Mine: Never had it, didn't want it. Long time to set up, 15 second timer and long recharge.

Auto Turret: Tried it out on test server and found it lacking. Low damage, long set up, and immobile. I've seen some people use it but it wasn't to my taste.

Aside from that, my next favorite is a Kin/Elec defender. She's a reckless little sapper that follows tankers and scrappers into melee range to take full advantage of Fulcrum Shift, hands down my favorite power in the game.

04/11/08 12:58

pyro master

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Joined: 07/21/2007
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

QUOTE

Aside from that, my next favorite is a Kin/Elec defender. She's a reckless little sapper that follows tankers and scrappers into melee range to take full advantage of Fulcrum Shift, hands down my favorite power in the game.

wooo!!! kin/elecs kill. mine is currently at 41, havent played him in a few weeks due to trying to get a 50 vil before i12, but he has been a joy to play with. avs with no end is always a good laugh :)

04/11/08 17:38

Roboknee

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Joined: 01/21/2008
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

Mine is Level 35 right now. I was on an Enochi team and spammed transference and syphon power and every body at the end was like, "why'd he go down so fast?" I just sat back and smiled and knew I did my part. :D

04/11/08 17:42

Mech beta

Posts: 0
Joined: 02/17/2007
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

I think I will quote my Fire/Devices guide for TD....

QUOTE

Toggles on and off a small floating device around your head that increases accuracy. Makes you more resistant to Accuracy DeBuffs. Recharge: ?
Slots: Accuracy Buff, end reduction
Rating: 5
Why: More Accuracy means hitting more, and hitting more means more damage, and more damage means more killing, and more killing means more experiance, and more experiance means more levels, and more levels means a level 50, and a level 50 means you can make WSs and PBs, and everone loves PBs and WSs, and that means everyone loves you! Isn't life great =D

Yay! =D

City of Heroes
Burnt Scar 50 Fire/Devices/Fire blaster - Triumph
Goblino 33 Broadsword/Willpower Scrapper - Triumph
City of Villains
Mech Beta 50 Robotics/FF Mastermind - Triumph
Demon Juggernaut 20 Energy/Invul Brute - Virtue
Brawl: R.O.B!
**Post ends here**

04/11/08 22:51

jfire90

Posts: 3
Joined: 06/30/2007
Credibility: 0 pts

RE: Your favorite build and.....

As of now my favorite build is the Fire/em Blaster. the build starts kickin butt very quickly and it stays fun all the way to 50.

This build is the FoTM for PvP. When built right, it can be immensely devastating. If you are not looking for PvP, this build also excels in PvE. With Rain of Fire, Fireball, and Firebreath; this build can devastate mobs of baddies to nothing very quickly.

That's just my opinion for favorite build. There are plenty of other builds that are fun out there. It all depends on your favorite playstyle.

04/12/08 12:50

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