Brain Drain: The Sonic Psychic Mook

vorshoth

I've been kind of into villain archetype characters for a bit recently, and wanted to make a telepathic character. Well. Sorta. More of a mind controlling bank robber.
So, Brain Drain was made, a comedic henchman for a villain in the 80s who now is doing paid work for heroes.


PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Brain Drain

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: Mind over Matter
Level 6: Lasting Impression
Level 9: Showmanship
Level 12: Negotiator
Level 15: Tireless
Level 18: Wordly
Level 21: Indomitable

Powers:
Level 1: Sonic Blaster (Rank 2, Refraction of Sound)
Level 1: Sonic Device (Rank 2, Deafening Dissolution)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Shadow Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Spirit Reverberation
Level 14: Summon Nightmare (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Sonic Boom Generator (Rank 2, Sonic Suppression Enhancer)
Level 20: Collective Will (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ego Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Mindful Reinforcement
Level 29: Shadow Shroud (Rank 2, Terrifying Visage)
Level 32: Reconstruction Circuits
Level 35: Telekinetic Shield
Level 38: Mental Discipline (Rank 2, Id Blades)

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

Specializations:
Ego: Mental Endurance (3/3)
Ego: Insight (2/3)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
Sentinel: Torment (2/2)
Sentinel: Caregiver (1/3)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
Sentinel: Genesis (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (2/3)
Vindicator: Initiative (2/2)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)


(Note for me later edit the below when on a computer to make it neater)

Sonic Blaster is the theme weapon. Essentially, Brain Drain has a gun that emits a low frequency command whilst also releasing psychic compulsions from a mutated microorganism stuck in the refill cartridge in the gun.
Sonic Device was there just because it was sonic and fit the theme. Concentration was filler.

Shadow Form is there as a chance to make enemies have Fear, combined with Spirit Reverb, means we get energy.
Unless Ego Placate gets a major buff, that's how our 'mind control' will work.

Later, Summon Nightmare and Collective Will are added as they're psychic pets. The idea here is to summon them rarely to represent the target hallucinating monstrous creatures attacking it, as well as using some pet powers I hardly see anyone ever use.

Ego Storm has Incapacitate capability, and is an AoE.

In theory, though I haven't tested the numbers yet, I can use the Sonic Boom Generator as our main Single Target attack against bosses, boosting sonic damage, whilst against multiple enemies, Ego Storm should be able to control them a bit.

I generally when making builds try to go for one single target, one multiple target, one self heal, a handful of buffs and at least one On-Next Hit.

29 to 38 are powers I'm not sure on. At around 25, I generally get bored of characters and start making a new one.

But, in theory, this could be a fun build for someone to play.

I don't think it will ever be especially powerful since it's working with two separate power effects, but thematically it works for me. And besides, since it's based on the idea of a henchman that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would be a likely accursed foe for, it's never going to be a boss-busting nasty.

Any ideas though would be great.

kallethen

Just to note: I believe that Spirit Reverb only triggers when you hit Feared foes with Dimensional damage.

gamehobo

Another Note. CO already has Brain Drain NPC enemy

theravenforce

You should consider what Spirit Reverb scales with for energy return...namely Consitiution Statistic

Also if you are wanting fear to be the main mechanic in the sense towards your energy unlock ditch something and get Ego Sleep rank 2 with Plagued with Nightmares, which applies fear on the target(s) waking up, then attacking them with dimensional damage would proc your energy unlock.

Looking at the build whilst it sounds nice, you are mixing Sonic/Dimensional and Ego damage into one build, which would be fine if you captialized on two damage types, namely Dimensional and Ego (due to your passive Shadow Form).

Now powers..

Sonic Blaster: Are you aware this will be your MAIN source of damage for 13 levels (7 provided you start at level 6)? Its an energy builder, and with nothing buffing it as your passive doesnt buff Sonic Damage at all, it will remain fairly weak.

Sonic Device: This On Next Hit Power, will be useless to you until level 17 when you get an attack which will actually proc it, since it doesnt work on Energy Builders anymore (fairly recently fix to stop unwanted activation).

Concentration: This early in the build will serve as an impairment, it will not stack until level 17 when you get an actual attack power.

Shadow Form: Buffs Dimensional Ego and Magic Damage. Your early damage is sonic...so again will not be buffed by Shadow Form. Since it is an offensive/hybrid passive it will not be buffing your pets damage at all. So will be fairly useless until you get Ego Storm, which is the only thing it will directly buff.

Spirit Reverb : I've already alerted you to this at the beginning

Summon Nightmare: You may have survival issues so you might want to grab Devouring Darkness instead of Rank 3 so they heal you as they attack.

Sonic Boom Generator: Its an ok Power, but until Ego Storm it will be your main source of damage, which grants stacks of Concentration. This power is NOT buffed by your passive.

Collective Will: Nice pet power but to make the most out of it you need a reliable holding power. Drop rank 3 for Consume Will advantage which stacks to 3 (-30% to all Ego damage resistance on target, therefore increasing their damage and if target is still around, Ego Storm's damage too)

Ego Storm: Unless you are packing some good defense, Ego Storm Rank 3 will only serve to incapacitate YOU. To make optimal use of this power in conjunction with Collective Will, I'd suggest getting Manevolent Manifestation Advantage so you can cast Ego Storm without Lockdown then summon the Collective Will entities on targets who are held.

Mindful Reinforcement: Good power, but will be weak at base, even with PRE, try getting it to rank 3

Shadow Shroud: Nice Active Offensive, it will give your damage an all round buff and grants fear, but again, being attacked whilst this is active grants energy which scales with constitution..

Reconstruction Circuits: will lockout your ENTIRE build, as you it locks out usage of non Power Armor powers. So thematically it may "work" but in practice it will only further impair your build.

Telekinetic Shield: Nice block, but if you have energy issues, go for Force Shield with Force Sheath advantage, since the energy return scales with your main stat (Ego) it will be quite significant.

Mental Discipline: is a form power and cannot be used in conjunction with Concentration so
just remove it, you havent got any powers to proc Ego Leech anyway.

Advice:

- Get Ego Sleep into the build
- Remove Reconstruction Circuits.
- You are going to be very squishy, so you may want to reconsider your stat choices
- Get an active defensive, for best usage, Masterful Dodge with Bountiful Chi Resurgence in the build will aid survival
- Remove Mental Discipline.
- Try and figure out what you want your main damage type to be, and then get a passive to suit that, or cater for survival needs.
- Work in single target attacks and AoE ones, early on or this build will be horrible to level.
- Even if this isnt a leveling build, my feedback still applies.
- If you want sonic damage to be the main theme, then go for Electric Form, it will not only give you a high energy equilibrium, but you can swap out REC for END to accomodate for energy costs. Or better yet you could go for Intelligence stat to reduce costs.
- Shadow Form in all reality will only be buffing ONE attack in your entire build, and to make that even worse its a very late power. So even if you are not leveling, you'll be running into a mob then casting. Your lack of HP will impact on survival alot, so you may have a hard time surviving especially without an active defensive and no heals which can work in conjunction with the build. (as the Circuits cut off your entire build access while active)


Hope that helps.