Give me a hand with telepathy

bludskarr

I've been wanting a telepathy hero since the big pass. But, man, I just don't seem to know what I'm doing. The damage seems way too light and the early debuffs seem very weak. The highest I've ever gotten before giving up (until the next time I think I have it figured out) is around level 18 or so.

So, what's a fun build and how do I start out?

flowcyto

Here's one ya could try:

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Mind
Level 6: Healthy Mind
Level 9: Diplomatic
Level 12: Shrug It Off
Level 15: Finesse
Level 18: Coordinated
Level 21: Acrobat

Powers:
Level 1: Psi Lash
Level 1: Ego Blast (Rank 2, Mind Opener)
Level 6: Telepathic Reverberation
Level 8: Ego Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Slave Mentality)
Level 17: Ego Sleep (Plagued by Nightmares)
Level 20: Mental Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 26: Mental Leech (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 32: Shadow of Doubt (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Ebon Void (Voracious Darkness)
Level 38: Masterful Dodge

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

Specializations:
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Battle of Wits (2/3)
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)
Overseer: Administer (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

Ego Blast w/ Mind Opener taps is ur main filler- w/ TP Reverb procing from its disorient or from Ego Sleep. Otherwise its mostly a DoT-build- but you'd prob get good (boss) dps just stacking Mental Storm, putting up ego sleep, and tap-spamming Ego Blast. Because the build can get good dmg from the blast, I went for Ego Form over CoS for the passive, which will also give you some extra dmg resist (but higher threat gen).

Gearing would be mostly for Int, some Pres (for TP Reverb and healing) and Con on the side, and maybe a Dex mod (the new TP DoTs do scale w/ crit%/severity, but not specific crit% like in Vindicator).

theravenforce

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Stealthy Telepath! - RF

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Radiant
Level 6: Indomitable
Level 9: Tireless
Level 12: Intimidating
Level 15: Showmanship
Level 18: Wordly
Level 21: Lasting Impression

Powers:
Level 1: Psi Lash
Level 1: Ego Blast (Rank 2, Mind Opener)
Level 6: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3, Silent Running)
Level 11: Telepathic Reverberation
Level 14: Empathic Healing (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Mental Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Ego Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ego Placate (Svengali's Guile)
Level 26: Manipulator
Level 29: Telekinetic Shield (Telekinetic Reinforcement)
Level 32: Ego Surge (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Mindful Reinforcement (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Teleportation
Level 35: Athletics

Specializations:
Presence: Dominion (2/2)
Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
Presence: Vulnerability (2/2)
Sentinel: Torment (2/2)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (1/3)
Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
Sentinel: Genesis (2/2)
Overseer: Administer (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Stealthy Telepath! - RF

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Radiant
Level 6: Indomitable
Level 9: Tireless
Level 12: Intimidating
Level 15: Showmanship
Level 18: Wordly
Level 21: Lasting Impression

Powers:
Level 1: Psi Lash
Level 1: Ego Blast (Rank 2, Mind Opener)
Level 6: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3, Silent Running)
Level 11: Telepathic Reverberation
Level 14: Empathic Healing (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Mental Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Mental Leech (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ego Placate (Svengali's Guile)
Level 26: Manipulator
Level 29: Telekinetic Shield (Telekinetic Reinforcement)
Level 32: Ego Surge (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Mindful Reinforcement (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Teleportation
Level 35: Athletics

Specializations:
Presence: Dominion (2/2)
Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
Presence: Vulnerability (2/2)
Sentinel: Torment (2/2)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
Sentinel: Moment of Need (1/3)
Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
Sentinel: Genesis (2/2)
Overseer: Administer (3/3)
Overseer: Ruthless (2/2)
Overseer: Trapped (3/3)
Overseer: Conservation (2/2)
Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)


Here's one you could try if you wanted to go down the traditional telepathy route with a little twist. The twist being the invisibility (which you could easily sub for Congress of Selves, Ego Form/Shadow Form/AoPM/AoRP/Seraphim etc)

Empathic Healing could be swapped out for BCR rank 2 + RR or something else.

This could be viewed as a template build.

You could go more offensive with this build and switch EGO and PRE statting around and remove Manipulator and put in Concentration.

There is a lot of room for interpretation with this build, it really depends on the concept. If you are looking for a straight up telepath simply remove Night Warrior and stick in CoS or Ego Form.

Remember that TP reverb's range is 50ft so you've got to be close enough so that Ego Blast isn't the only thing you are using.

You could remove Ego Storm and stick in Ego Sleep instead. If you wanted to fit in a "Mentalist" I would add in a few TK attacks like this...

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Stealthy Mentalist! - RF

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Radiant
Level 6: Indomitable
Level 9: Tireless
Level 12: Intimidating
Level 15: Showmanship
Level 18: Wordly
Level 21: Lasting Impression

Powers:
Level 1: Psi Lash
Level 1: Ego Blast (Rank 2, Mind Opener)
Level 6: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Night Warrior (Rank 2, Rank 3, Silent Running)
Level 11: Telepathic Reverberation
Level 14: Telekinetic Wave (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Telekinetic Burst (Rank 2, Sudden Impact)
Level 20: Mental Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ego Placate (Svengali's Guile)
Level 26: Manipulator
Level 29: Telekinetic Shield (Telekinetic Reinforcement)
Level 32: Ego Surge (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Masterful Dodge
Level 38: Mindful Reinforcement (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Teleportation
Level 35: Athletics

Specializations:
Presence: Dominion (2/2)
Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
Presence: Vulnerability (2/2)
Sentinel: Torment (2/2)
Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)

theravenforce

bludskarr wrote: »

I've been wanting a telepathy hero since the big pass. But, man, I just don't seem to know what I'm doing. The damage seems way too light and the early debuffs seem very weak. The highest I've ever gotten before giving up (until the next time I think I have it figured out) is around level 18 or so.

So, what's a fun build and how do I start out?

Just a bit of background, Telepathy's original intention was to be a supporting power set, you'll notice from looking at the set, it's attacks are largely coupled or boosted by some form of controlling or debuffing effect.

This is because Telepathy's niche is meant to be Crowd Control, but since this mechanic was all but removed from the game with On Alert (yes, non stunlocking CC is pathetically poor) and Telepathy hasn't been paid much attention since... it remains a pseudo supporting power set so it's damage isn't as high as say...TK or some other powerset.

Whilst is it possible to get some good damage out of it, it's still stuck largely in the "I'm a dead supporting mechanic" rut.

I've included Ego Placate with Svengali's Guile debuff in both my posted builds because it's frankly a fantastic debuff.

It removes a real 10% of a targets defenses against damage, adding this to Mental Storm and you'll have some good DPS going on.

If you were to go down that route, I'd probably suggest picking up CoS instead of NW or Ego Form. And for extra offense, switch to EGO PSS and Concentration.

Side Note: I'd take Mental Leech over Ego Sprites with Slave Mentality any day of the week. Reason? Mental Leech is just so much better. Not only does the debuff of 'Mental Leech' last for a short time, but when Dependency proc's it can stack to 4 and the healing it gives is affected by PRE and per tick it gives you more than Slave Mentality does over it's intended period.

Ego Sprites