The "Hover Car" build

dialamx

I recently made a character, using the Mecha Chest Piece, that is designed to look like a scientist piloting a personal hover craft type vehicle. I wanted to make a build around this design, that kept the illusion it was a piloted vehicle, armed with weaponry. After testing various powers, and their animations, this is the build I've come up with that allows the body to stay upright, and keeps the illusion I was going for.




(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Ranged Damage)
v3.45:38

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

Talents
Level 1: The Cybernetic Warrior (Con: 10, Int: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Investigator (Int: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 12: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
Level 15: Worldly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Gunslinger
Level 1: Dual Wrist Rocket Barrage (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Targeting Computer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Overdrive
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Mini Gun (Rank 2, U-238 Rounds)
Level 17: Micro Munitions (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Support Drones (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Force Shield (Rank 2)
Level 26: Reconstruction Circuits (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Power Conversion (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Fire All Weapons (Rank 2)
Level 38: Shoulder Launcher
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Regal Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35:

Specializations
Intelligence: Preparation (2/2)
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

The Regal Flight, keeps the character in an upright pose for movement. Gunslinger is the only EB that mains this pose. Dual Wrist Rocket Barrage also maintains the pose, with the hands hidden inside the Mecha chest piece, thus giving the look that the "car" is firing missiles. This power also negates the leaning animations in the shoulder powers and micro munitions, allowing multiple powers to be activated while staying in the upright pose. Primary single target attacks are Mini Gun and DWRB, while Shoulder Launcher and Micro Munitions work for wide AoE attacks. The Support Drones, Reconstruction Circuits, and Resurgence help with the squishiness of the build, and Force Shield is a block that helps keep the character in the upright pose, while giving the illusion the "car" is activating frontal shields.

flowcyto

Considering the restrictive visual theme, the build itself looks pretty decent overall (and fits pretty nicely into just being a somewhat normal slotted PA build). Unfortunately, after Power Conversion was nerfed (imo unnecessarily) to increased its base dmg/heal penalty to 10%, it's harder to justify taking it- unless you really can't get your required energy elsewhere (Force Shield's Force Sheath could be an option, as long as you're getting hit, as could SS'ing Rec instead of Con).

The Support Drones will also give you an energy penalty, and can be pretty fragile themselves, so I may reconsider taking them for a slotted PA build (even if they are thematic). Maybe you could get a R1 threat wipe or self-rez instead, and then you'd also have some free adv points to rank up Shoulder Launcher (harder to justify keeping it when it's stuck at R1 and you already have Mini Gun). I may also get Focused Strikes in Vind to boost the Wrist Rockets, but that choice is up to you. You can also prob switch a point from Find the Mark to The Best Defense in Guardian here, since multi-toggles will be hitting quite frequently for FtM.

dialamx

Once again, Flow, your input is invaluable. I didn't know about the Power Conversion nerf, and the Drones were mostly there for some extra healing. Also I had a free power slot and wasn't sure what to get. Shoulder Launcher isn't a "Must Have" but it's power cost is less than Micro Munitions, and seems to have a bigger AoE than Mini Gun, so I thought it might be handy as a quick AoE trach mob clearer. Here's the updated version:

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Ranged Damage)
v3.45:38

Super Stats
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Endurance (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Cybernetic Warrior (Con: 10, Int: 10, Rec: 8, End: 10)
Level 6: Investigator (Int: 5, End: 5)
Level 9: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 12: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
Level 15: Worldly (Ego: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 18: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Gunslinger
Level 1: Dual Wrist Rocket Barrage (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Targeting Computer (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Overdrive
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Mini Gun (Rank 2, U-238 Rounds, Infrared Guidance System)
Level 17: Micro Munitions (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Force Shield (Rank 2, Force Sheathe)
Level 23: Reconstruction Circuits (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 29: Fire All Weapons (Rank 2)
Level 32: Shoulder Launcher (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Thundering Return
Level 38: Blinding Light
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Regal Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35:

Specializations
Intelligence: Preparation (2/2)
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

flowcyto

Yea, Shoulder Launcher is fine to keep if you want a somewhat wider AoE option. Hopefully energy is still fine w/ the build, which is made easier if you're typically using two attack toggles instead of three. The dps potential won't be as high as w/ a normal 3-slot build, but it should still be pretty respectable (and you can always throw in the 3rd slot when you get buffs like AoPM or AoAC).

dohamilton

Can you post a video so we can watch him in action?

dialamx

dohamilton wrote: »

Can you post a video so we can watch him in action?

Sure. Here's a video showing off some of the costumes I made, and some of the combat.

https://youtu.be/q34wzKZ1KIk

dohamilton

Simply magnificent.

dialamx

dohamilton wrote: »

Simply magnificent.

Thanks!