Help with Melee Weaponsman w/ Holds Build

bladedragon80

Hi. So, putting Weaponsman 'cause I am not sure if I want to stick to just swordsman here. But the general gist of it is that I want to make a character build that works with his base weapon but applies holds either through weapon strikes or from some abilities. My aim is to tank/CC as needed.

I do know I do not want to end up unarmed here. I like the idea of the character costume I am using being armed somehow and keeping attention either through calling down insanity or swinging his weapon around. I have the Specializations and Super Stats that I want, but the rest is frustratingly making me blank. I even have a sai weapon skin and Shadow Eruption powers that are something that I'm happy with overall, just trying to make the powers fit into the whole thing.

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Any / Multiple)

Link to this build: http://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm?v=30&n=&d=16340nYhPTgi1730x30000000000009A00000000000000LI0K0000000000000000000000002sZB2xM90F9C100000000&e=
v3.11:30

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

Talents
Level 1: The Witch (Con: 10, Int: 8, Pre: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Lasting Impression (Pre: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 9: Survival Training (Dex: 3, Con: 3, Pre: 3, Rec: 2, End: 2)
Level 12: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Command Training (Int: 3, Ego: 3, Pre: 3, Rec: 3)
Level 21: Field Ops Training (Con: 3, Int: 3, Ego: 3, Rec: 2, End: 2)

Powers
Level 1:
Level 1:
Level 6:
Level 8: Invulnerability
Level 11:
Level 14:
Level 17:
Level 20: Shadow Eruption (Blot, Drag Back)
Level 23:
Level 26:
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:
Adv. Points: 8/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Prism Speed (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Hoverboard (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Specializations
Presence: Repurpose (1/3)
Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
Presence: Dominion (2/2)
Presence: Grandeur (1/3)
Presence: Force of Will (2/2)
Presence: Vulnerability (2/2)
Sentinel: Torment (2/2)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Rejuvenated (1/3)
Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
Sentinel: Genesis (2/2)
Sentry: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Sentry: Sentry Aura (3/3)
Sentry: Fortify (1/2)
Sentry: Stalling Tactics (3/3)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)

Devices

flowcyto

Well, that's not much of a build atm. But if you want an easy 'hold' as a melee, most melee set now have a quick stun associated with them that you can nab. You still have to decide on what weapon you want, though.

I guess.. here's an example of a basic SB dps-hybrid build- slightly modified to include the in-set stun, while also keeping SEruption for the theme:

http://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm?v=30&n=&d=11230kbGA9PK1730x1D000D105DA009A03D52BCH00K503DU05DJ00LI0KON05D301DF012Q0010gx1lhP3SWh100000000&e=

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

Talents
Level 1: The Predator (Str: 10, Dex: 10, Con: 8, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
Level 9: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 12: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 15: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 18: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Reaper's Touch
Level 1: Reaper's Caress (Rank 2, Cleaving Strikes)
Level 6: Form of the Swordsman
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Scything Blade (Rank 2, Swallowtail Cut, Challenge!)
Level 14: Steadfast
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Reaper's Embrace (Rank 2, No Mercy)
Level 23: Cut Down
Level 26: Shadow Eruption (Blot, Drag Back)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2, Evanescent Emergence)
Level 32: Swift Strike (Rank 2)
Level 35: Deflect (Rank 2)
Level 38: Fiery Embrace
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Prism Speed (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Hoverboard (Rank 2)

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
Sentinel: Torment (2/2)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (2/3)
Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
Sentinel: Genesis (1/2)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Slaughter (2/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)

If you're off-tanking, then you prob want one attack w/ Challenge on it (ideally not one that you need in your normal single-target dps rotation, for when you don't want to tank). I put it on the pbAoE here, but it could be on something else.

Functions like a normal SB dps, but can throw out Swift Strike and/or SEruption for a stun (and to put up Wither and Sentinel Mastery). Gears mostly for Dex and Con.

bladedragon80

Thanks, flowcyto. If I wanted to try TK Blade and/or Laser Sword with such an idea, any recommendations? Trying to keep my options open here and run with this insanity. I noticed most of the "weapon" powers have that stun option you mentioned, so that's a good proc for the two specs.

Also... Single Blade with that sai weapon skin looks weird.

flowcyto

Well, both LS and TK Blades have those stuns too. You could do a similar thing where the backbone is mostly LS or TK Blades, but w/ the set's stun and SEruption for theme. Example w/ TK Blades, since its a bit more straightforward:

https://aesica.net/co/herocreator.htm?v=30&n=&d=12730iGPKQLa000000F100F209FG009A03B800F50HK503FP05FF00ON01F401LI0KFE052Q000mTP1lhP11KW200000000&e=

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

Talents
Level 1: The Chiller (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 9: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 18: Accurate (Dex: 5, End: 5)
Level 21: Amazing Stamina (Rec: 5, End: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Ego Blade
Level 1: Ego Weaponry (Rank 2, Stressed Out)
Level 6: Telekinetic Reverberation
Level 8: Invulnerability (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Form of the Tempest
Level 14: Ego Blade Frenzy (Rank 2, Mental Block)
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Ego Blade Annihilation (Rank 2, Mental Acuity)
Level 23: Ego Blade Dash
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Ego Blade Astonish (Rank 2)
Level 32: Shadow Eruption (Blot, Drag Back)
Level 35: Telekinetic Shield (Rank 2, Telekinetic Reinforcement)
Level 38: Fiery Embrace
Adv. Points: 32/36

Travel Powers
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations
Dexterity: Combat Training (3/3)
Dexterity: Gear Utilization (2/3)
Dexterity: Deadly Aim (3/3)
Dexterity: Expose Weakness (2/2)
Sentinel: Torment (2/2)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (2/3)
Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
Sentinel: Genesis (1/2)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (1/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Setup (2/2)
Brawler: Flanking (3/3)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)

(you can choose whether you want to single- or dual-wield via the 0-pt adv; its only a visual change)

Basic single-target rotation is alternating between Ego Weaponry and TKA, while using EB Astonish occasionally. EBF can handle most AoE (shield adv can help you defensively too), while charged SEruption can be used for the AoE pull-in and stun. Uses EB Astonish or SEruption to Stun and proc Wither and Sent Mastery for the team. Gears mostly for Dex, w/ some Rec and Con (and cost discount on gear).

Although Mental Disp would be the usual form/toggle choice here, I kept FotTempest so charging SEruption in AoE can still proc the toggle when it crits. SEruption is high energy to charge, though, so make sure you have good energy reserves when you use it, either way.

bladedragon80

Huh. Interesting little problem I ran into with the builds.

Apparently the Stuns do not anything off the Specs. I tried this in the Powerhouse and the single target stuns will probably proc the Sentinel Mastery, but I'm doubting it on the rest. Might have to go back to the drawing board on this one.

flowcyto

The melee stuns should proc Concussion from Arbiter, Sentinel Mastery, and/or Wither in Sentinel (the debuff icon on Wither doesn't show, but the effect can still apply).

bladedragon80

Ahh. Okay, that's the misleading part. The Wither debuff wasn't showing up for me which is one of the mains I was going for.