Help with Odd Restrictions

maatmons

I'm rebuilding a character. The old one was an attempt at a Dodge Tank. I got fed up with the build though, because I had to throw in a cycle of Thundering Kicks every 15 seconds. I'm hoping someone here can help me rebuild her into something I'll enjoy playing. Problem is, the criteria for what I'll enjoy are fairly limiting.

• Specialize in a Combo: I'd like to be able to mostly just spam a single attack over and over. It needs to be a combo, or I'll find the visuals too repetitive.
  
• Claw Bracers: She has claw bracers as part of her costume. I need her attacks to look like she's using those. The Martial Arts Fighting Claw powers all look fine (with Foxbat's invisible weapons). Most punches look fine, though I've seen the occasional backfist, which doesn't work for me. The Bestial Supernatural claw powers don't look right. The open hand and the stooped posture ruin it for me.
  
• Nothing too Flashy: I'm fine with occasionally glowing. But, for example, the swirling motes of light from Endorphin Rush bug me. Also, Mephetic screws up the colors on my costume. I've got two adjacent areas set to the same color, and the glow makes them look different from each other.
  

And that's really all I've got. I don't even know if I want a Tank or a DPS character.

My restrictions pretty much seem to leave me with two options for primary attack.

• Defensive Combo: This is what I've been using. The only thing I don't like about it is that the sound effect is more smashy than stabby. I can live with it tough. It just winds up coming off as a punch augmented by spikes, rather than a pure thrust from the claw blades.
  
• Viper's Fangs: This could work too. I probably wouldn't want Spitting Cobra, since Deadly Poison puts an ugly splotch over the enemy.
  

So, which of those should I go with? And should I try Tank or DPS? I'll probably wind up with Form of the Tempest for my toggle. But what Passive? What Superstats and spec trees? Thanks for the help.

flowcyto

Defensive Combo adds threat innately, so I wouldn't take it if ur making a dps toon, though it'd be great for a tank.

Tank build focused on Defense Combo:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name:

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Constitution (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Glacier
Level 6: Covert Ops Training
Level 9: Acrobat
Level 12: Healthy Mind
Level 15: Coordinated
Level 18: Quick Recovery
Level 21: Impresario

Powers:
Level 1: Clobber
Level 1: Defensive Combo (Rank 2, Rank 3, Challenge)
Level 6: Mighty Leap
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Form of the Tempest
Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Iron Cyclone (Rank 2, Vortex Technique, Challenge)
Level 23: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Retaliation (Rank 2)
Level 32: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 35:
Level 38:

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:
Constitution: Fuel My Fire (3/3)
Constitution: Resilient (2/2)
Constitution: Adrenaline Rush (2/2)
Constitution: Armored (2/2)
Warden: Fortified Gear (2/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

The build is left pretty wide open for w/e else ya wanna add, since I'm not really sure what else you'd deem fitting for the character. Gears mostly for Dex and Con.

-

DPS build focused on VF and DC:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Master
Level 6: Covert Ops Training
Level 9: Acrobat
Level 12: Physical Conditioning
Level 15: Martial Focus
Level 18: Quick Recovery
Level 21: Impresario

Powers:
Level 1: Hawk's Talons
Level 1: Viper's Fangs (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Way of the Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Form of the Tempest
Level 11: Steadfast
Level 14: Mighty Leap
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Eye of the Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Dragon's Claws (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Retaliation (Rank 2)
Level 32: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 35:
Level 38:

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Warden: Slaughter (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (2/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Warden Mastery (1/1)

AoE is a bit of a snag since most of it for MA involves ur toon spinning around much, and you may have to use invis weapons (if you got them). EotS is good if ya can hide the weapons, though. gears mostly for Dex and Con.

maatmons

Thanks for the builds. I've got both of them going on the Public Test Server now, and they both seem good.

It turns out that Molecular Self Assembly messes with my costume in the same way as Mephetic. I think I may just be out of luck for an energy unlock on the Tank version. On the plus side, the build seems to do fine on energy without it.

If I don't take Molecular Self Assembly, should I still take Intelligence? Or would I switch to one of the other energy-related stats?

What would you suggest doing with the last point for the Constitution tree?

Should I prioritize Dexterity and Constitution equally, or should I gear more for one than the other? Is the answer different for the two builds?

Aside from ability scores, what should I look for in gear? Critical chance, defense score, cost discount?

It also turns out that Dragon's Claws messes up my costume colors. Would the DPS build be decent using only Viper's Fangs?

I'm leaning towards the Tank build. I like Constitution, since it gives me a source of healing I don't have to think about. My one worry here is, will I have enough DR? I'm not all that good with blocking.

Actually, DR versus passive healing is one of the big things that's been worrying me while trying to come up with builds. I've spent a lot of time staring at the spec trees, trying to figure out if Adrenaline Rush or Juggernaut would do more for my survivability. I've also spent a lot of time trying to figure out if Defiance, Invulnerability, or Regeneration would be better.

If you could give me an idea of how much DR a Tank needs, that would help put my mind at ease.

flowcyto

MSA and Mephitic's visuals aren't really that strong, imo, but if ya really don't like them..

If ur ditching MSA, but don't have energy issues still, then I'd take Dex SS for the crit boost. (edit: <-mistake; take Int or Str SS, see next reply).

The last point in Con PSS can go to Unyielding.

The dps build should focus more on Dex, while the tank focuses more on Con.

My usual gear setup for non-healer FF's is crit and crit severity on offensive, maxHP and/or Defense in defensive slots, and a mix of CDR and cost discount on utility (usually leaning more to CDR). Ya could go w/ dodge rating for the WotW build, though that's better paired w/ BCR/RR than w/ Conviction (though BCR also comes w/ a dmg penalty).

DC is a very strong attack for FClaws, but yeah you can do alright w/ just VFangs using the Warden combo boosts.

Having 'enough' dmgRes is more about gearing and what content ya plan on tackling. Can't really say much else there, other than Invuln scales off ur SS's, and you could set a benchmark maxHP you want for the tank 10k, 12k, 14k etc, get there, and put the rest in Defense.

Regen is better for soloing and trash mobs, but it doesn't take spike dmg as well; Defiance takes build-up and depends much more on Con than the other passives (though also gives back energy and gives the most total dmgRes), and Invuln is kinda an all-rounder defensive passive.

maatmons

Here's a picture of what I'm talking about. Normal on the left, when Molecular Self Assembly activates on the right.

It's the sudden appearance of stripes that bothers me.

The problem with taking Dexterity in place of Intelligence is, the build already has Dexterity as a Superstat. I can't take it twice.

flowcyto

maatmons said:

The problem with taking Dexterity in place of Intelligence is, the build already has Dexterity as a Superstat. I can't take it twice.

Right, I was thinking of a diff build when I said that, sry. Int is still alright for the minor CD reduction, but otherwise ya can just pickup Str SS for the additive melee bonus and a small amount of knock resist.

maatmons

Alright, it looks like I'e got my build then. Thanks for the help.