The Ebon

blakewood

Before I begin with this build some background can be given about the character, which should help with the builds sort of focus. Its also to note that this build is in the experimental stages, and I know nothing on how free form, or any of the rules/game mechanics surrounding free form. To begin this build was built around my Character concept for the character called Nightia. Nightia was meant to be a female arcane practitioner who's powers were meant to circulate around darkness in the mystical and arcane sense. Right now she is sitting in the Grimoire archetype until I can unlock the void archetype a.k.a grinding questionite. I could leave her in the void archetype very simple, since the archetype does involve darkness in a mystical manner.

Then I noticed that the void pulled some powers from the ebon line of sorcery, found out thanks to the CO wiki. I have nothing better to do during maintenance, so I figured what if she studied the ebon arts of sorcery, which eventually lead her to the darkness. The resulting power set is what I call The Ebon, since it revolves mostly around the Ebon powers. Like I said its very experimental and builds off the void archetype. I'm a novice at building characters from scratch, so any opinions, advice, or tips would be appreciated. Even if this was to come very much down the line.

To make finding the builds easier for those reviewing this I've add a quick search notations. Just press ctrl+f to bring up the browser word search, and type in the entire notation next to the glossary entry.

Glossary

The Ebon [EB]
The Ebon 1.5 [EB1]
The Ebon 1.6 [EB2]


[EB]
PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: The Ebon

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Void
Level 6:
Level 9:
Level 12:
Level 15:
Level 18:
Level 21:

Powers:
Level 1: Shadow Bolt
Level 1: Shadow Blast
Level 6: Shadow Embrace
Level 8: Sigils of Ebon Weakness
Level 11: Aura of Ebon Destruction
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Ritual of Ebon Summoning
Level 20: Ebon Void
Level 23: Ebon Rift
Level 26: Circle of Ebon Wrath
Level 29: Spirit Reverberation
Level 32: Shadow Shroud
Level 35: Lifedrain
Level 38: Ebon Ruin

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:


[EB1]
PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: The Ebon 1.5 build

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: Matter Manipulator
Level 6: Enduring
Level 9: Indomitable
Level 12: Intimidating
Level 15: Ascetic
Level 18: Shrug It Off
Level 21: Showmanship

Powers:
Level 1: Shadow Bolt (Rank 2, Despondency, Accelerated Metabolism)
Level 1: Shadow Blast (Rank 2, Accelerated Metabolism)
Level 6: Shadow Embrace
Level 8: Sigils of Ebon Weakness (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Aura of Ebon Destruction (Rank 2)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Ritual of Ebon Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
Level 20: Ebon Void (Rank 2, Voracious Darkness)
Level 23: Ebon Rift (Rank 2, Vengeful Shadows)
Level 26: Circle of Ebon Wrath (Rank 2)
Level 29: Spirit Reverberation
Level 32: Shadow Shroud (Rank 2, Terrifying Visage)
Level 35: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
Level 38: Ebon Ruin (Nyctophobia)

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Exploit Opening (2/2)
Overseer: Overseer Aura (3/3)
Overseer: Impact (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Surprise Attack (2/2)
Avenger: Preemptive Strike (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)


[EB2]

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: The Ebon 1.6 build

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: Matter Manipulator
Level 6: Enduring
Level 9: Indomitable
Level 12: Intimidating
Level 15: Ascetic
Level 18: Shrug It Off
Level 21: Showmanship

Powers:
Level 1: Shadow Bolt (Despondency)
Level 1: Shadow Embrace (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Grasping Shadows (Unyielding Agony)
Level 8: Sigils of Ebon Weakness (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Aura of Ebon Destruction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Concentration
Level 17: Ritual of Ebon Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
Level 20: Ebon Void (Voracious Darkness)
Level 23: Ebon Rift (Rank 2, Vengeful Shadows)
Level 26: Circle of Ebon Wrath (Rank 2)
Level 29: Spirit Reverberation
Level 32: Shadow Shroud (Terrifying Visage)
Level 35: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
Level 38: Ebon Ruin (Rank 2, Nyctophobia)

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Exploit Opening (2/2)
Overseer: Overseer Aura (3/3)
Overseer: Impact (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Avenger: Ruthless (2/2)
Avenger: Round 'em Up (3/3)
Avenger: Surprise Attack (2/2)
Avenger: Preemptive Strike (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

ajanus

Hey Blakewood,

I would have responded earlier, but I just came back from a few months off and just now getting readjusted to the new stuff I have missed.

I don't mind giving advice, but I would really like to know your plans for this character. Dps, group support, solo missions, group missions/alerts, etc.

Your passive will reflect your primary goals for the character. For instance, Aura of Ebon Destruction (AoED) is a group support passive. Shadow Form would be the Dps passive, if you wanted a more defensive passive, Invulnerability, Defiance, Lightning Reflexes, would all be good choices.

Superstats on ATs are a bit misleading in my opinion. When I choose SS's, my primary one is "what I want to do" and access to the skill trees, my secondary ones are usually 1 to go with my energy unlock, and the other stat to go with any other abilities that might be tied to a stat...or CON (since there is literally no downside to ever choosing CON).

For group support (AoED), I would run something like:

DEX or EGO for crit/crit severity and the spec trees on these are amazing
Con for Spirit Reverb energy unlock
Pre for max aura and healing buffs

For Dps:

DEX for more crit/crit sev and tree
Ego for ranged damage
End to max Dark Transfusion (which you probably should be running in a dps build)

Notice: this is one of the rare cases I wouldn't pick Con to go with the energy unlock, only because Dark Transfusion with End and Concentration with Ego will eliminate most energy issues...whatever is left, your current Con + Spirit Reverb should cover.

When you get 40 and gear up a bit, you might consider dropping DEX and run something like this:

EGO
Con
End (like what you have now, just changed up a bit to get access to the EGO tree instead of the END one)

After you decide on a passive and stats, the rest will fall into place, or you will discover through trial and error. Darkness has a lot of ways to play it, especially when combining with Ebon Sorcery like you have.

As always, the Powerhouse will be your best friend

blakewood

Thanks for the advice ajanus. I've updated my first post with build 1.5. I went with a more AOE theme since most of the powers them self are AOE based. I also have a few questions, if you don't mind answering them.

1. Can you respec a character into a different archetype ? example: switching from the grimore archetype to the void archetype.
2. Do you need the power set unlocked in order to use it with a freeform slot, or do you have access to all the powers ? example: do I need to unlock the void power set to use darkness powers.

Edit: wish the site supported spoiler tags. Make looking an finding specific incarnations of builds easier

ajanus

1. I'm sure there is a way, I just don't know if off the top of my head...I was lifetime before ATs even came out, so there really hasn't been much need for me to mess with them.

2. I'm pretty sure your freeform slot will have access to all powersets, even if you have not unlocked the AT

Concerns for build 2:

1. Never rank up your energy builder, it's very wasteful on your advantage points. Despondency is good though

2. Always rank 3 your passive...Defiance is the only exception. Rank 3 passive before you do anything else on every toon you make.

3. This is more of a personal preference: Replace Shadow Blast with something else

4. Another personal pref: Don't rank up your shield...use it for the adv and that's it. You will probably get more mileage out of Force Shield with Force Sheathe for more energy management.

5. Rank your main attacks to 3, unless you want the adv on them, then R2 + adv. Embrace, Rift, and Ruin...ranks from Shroud, Bolts, Blast, and shield should cover these.

It seems like I nitpicked a lot, but honestly, your build is pretty solid...just trying to help you tweak it up a bit...the more you can experience the full force of a build, the more fun you have playing...at least for me, anyways.

blakewood

I don't mind the nitpicking at all, since sometimes you need help with ideas to fully flesh them out. I've added a glossary that uses the browsers built in word finder to help with finding specific versions of this build. I've also moved the advantage points around, as well move shadow embrace up one spot, and included grasping shadows. This of course removes shadow blast. I'm not to sure about grasping shadows, but the only other power I can think to replace it with is summon shadows. Due to summon shadows tier though I basically have to move everything up one level. This could potentially make things difficult in the early game though.

ajanus

You could take out Grasping Shadows and replace with Spirit Reverberation, then you would have a free spot for your lvl 29 power, which you could take Summon Shadows...unless you like Grasping Shadows, up to you.