Help my gun mage

heilkitty

This is my first FF so I would appreciate a little input I'm going for a survivable healer with somewhat acceptable damage. Shadow Embrace is there because it fits the concept better than Lead Tempest but I might ditch it if I have energy issues at 40 (and take Killer instinct as well). Compassion is so far down the list because... well, I'm unsure as to compassion vs concentration, so I'm basically respeccing the latter at every new level to check the numbers at 40 (don't want to waste the free retcon =D).

Btw I was wondering what gives the highest damage reduction, LR or Invuln+dodge gear? would dropping LR and BCR for Invuln and a circle be a big hit to my defense?

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name:

Archetype: Freeform

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

Powers:
Level 1: Radiance
Level 1: Two-Gun Mojo (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Lightning Reflexes (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Shadow Embrace (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Spirit Reverberation
Level 17: Arcane Vitality (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Sigils of the Primal Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ebon Rift (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Iniquity (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 32: Redemption
Level 35: Resurgence
Level 38: Compassion

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

Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Overseer: Administer (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Overseer Aura (1/3)
Overseer: Impact (2/2)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

braxzana

Your "gun" mage only has ONE gun power?

I'd be tempted to drop Sigils and get Lead Tempest with Tread Softly --- it would do AoE damage, sure (and look awesome) but it would also improve your dodge which would help BCR heal you faster with Resurgent Reiki.

I honestly have a hard time recommending Lightning Reflexes any more... with Dodge gear and DEX primary superstat specialization (superstats boost Dodge/Avoid) it's easy to get near-LR levels of Dodge and still have some OTHER passive!

If you're going healing, you might consider going for Seraphim and then throw on Dodge gear.

Oh, and Shadow Embrace without Fatal Allure makes me a sad panda. The mitigation from having foes bounce around on their butts is GREAT.

You might consider dropping Resurgence to pick up the Ebon Circle --- augments your damage, fears foes near it (or that attack you, I think)... only down side is, you have to stay in the circle AND it diminishes your healing (I think only on YOU, not on others, but I am not sure). But Spirit Reverberation will ONLY trigger on Shadow Embrace and Ebon Rift as it currently is.

Ebon Rift is also one of those powers that... meh... it takes a while to set up, and then foes can just run away from it.

It seems like you don't have a block replacer in there? The Darkness one (Ebon Void) with Voracious Darkness makes for a GREAT block replacer.

Another power you might consider is Breakaway Shot. It does nice damage in a cone and vaults your character backward in a cool animation --- just be careful not to use it in a lava-filled cave or you might get toasted!

Aside from launching you out of melee and doing damage in a cone, it ALSO gives you a stack of Defiance --- some extra protection. And since it is on a recharge timer, you could trigger Molecular Self-Assembly (if you wanted to swap out Spirit Reverberation for MSA --- you've got several fast recharge powers that would keep MSA popping)... although it DOES work better with a high INT.

Speaking of INT... without INT, REC or END you might run into some energy issues, especially as Spirit Reverberation requires feared foes to be hit with dimensional energy, limiting how often you can get energy back.

kallethen

Another Circle to consider as an alternative to the one suggested above is Circle of Arcane Power. That one would help with energy management issues. Though I would also echo possibly switching a superstat to one more suited for energy.

I was thinking a different passive might be good too. Seraphim (as suggested above) helps healing and paranormal damage and would be a good choice. Aura of Radiant Protection is also very good at giving you and your teammates a defensive buff as an alternative to LR or Invul. Also, with either of those, you could sit in Support role which is a great role for your energy equilibrium.

Instead of Spirit Reverb, you may want to consider MSA for your energy unlock. BCR and Conviction both have short cooldowns and would trigger that easily.

heilkitty

Nvm, respecced to heavy weapons/regen and having a lot of fun But ty all for the input, I may try this build again in the future with Lead Tempest and Killer instinct (an option I was considering already).
On a side note, does dodge/avoidance gear really scale with DEX? I thought only the bonus from elusive monk did

braxzana

I don't know if gear scales with DEX or not (I would think not)... but if you have DEX superstat then you can get specializations that will let your supestats boost Dodge/Avoid independently of gear.