Heavy Weapons, looking for advice.

mersenneprime · July 2012

Here's what I have so far.

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name:

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Devastator
Level 6: Quick Recovery
Level 9: Boundless Reserves
Level 12: Physical Conditioning
Level 15: Relentless
Level 18: Bodybuilder
Level 21: Paramilitary Training

Powers:
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Cleave (Rank 2, Rank 3, Accelerated Metabolism)
Level 6: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Enrage (Endorphin Rush, Giant Growth)
Level 11: Arc of Ruin (No Quarter)
Level 14: Brimstone (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Demolish (Below the Belt)
Level 20: Guard
Level 23: Vicious Descent (Relentless)
Level 26:
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:

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

Specializations:
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Quick Recovery (2/2)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Slaughter (2/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

The problem is I'm not sure where to go from there. And (of course) I expect that some of my spec/power choices are questionable too.

I know I want some kind of self heal, but what would be best?
Similarly, do I need an active defense? Which one?
Do I want a single active offense or two of them?
Should I take rebirth?

theprettypixie · July 2012

Recovery as a secondary might not be optimal her. Consider changing it to Int. This will improve your energy management and allow you to take MSA as an energy unlock. If you go this route, you'd want to replace you vicious decent with decimate. By doing this you gain a lunge on a short cool down (3 secs vs 15secs) to proc MSA, and to make your combat flow more fluidly.

As a self heal Conviction becomes very attractive, since it also procs MSA, and heals about 1k at 40 without any investment In Pre. With regular use of lunge and heal you should never want for energy.

How much you want to invest in active offenses/defenses depends on your play style, but I would suggest at least one of either, since they help to break holds. Ego surge w/ Nimble mind, advantaged unbreakable or masterful dodge are all solid choices.

you'd probably want to add a backup heal as well. Bionic shielding is nice, but it doesn't proc MSA. Other options aRe resurgence with advantage, or empathic healing. The latter option impacts your DPS though.

Hope that helps a bit. If you need more specific help I'd be happy to.

s3rju · July 2012

actually REC works very well along side with enrage, since unstopdpable's energy returns are per knock and the ammount returned is REC dependant

sparkrocker · July 2012

REC talent for END and use thermal reverb plus flashfire. Throw in brimstone with advantage. I have to try to run out of energy.

mersenneprime · July 2012

I spent some time earlier burning through Witchcraft's XP buff that I've had since the winter event (or whenever it was that she was around), that with heirloom gear and XP alert buff just running Smashes means I've gone from 22 to 30 in a couple hours.

I picked up Resurgence and Aggressor, and changed my mind slightly on the spec.

At this point it looks like my build will be this:
PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Thrud

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
Level 15: Recovery (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: The Devastator
Level 6: Quick Recovery
Level 9: Boundless Reserves
Level 12: Physical Conditioning
Level 15: Relentless
Level 18: Bodybuilder
Level 21: Paramilitary Training

Powers:
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Cleave (Rank 2, Rank 3, Accelerated Metabolism)
Level 6: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Enrage (Endorphin Rush, Giant Growth)
Level 11: Arc of Ruin (Rank 2, No Quarter)
Level 14: Brimstone (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Demolish (Rank 2, Below the Belt)
Level 20: Guard (Rank 2)
Level 23: Decimate (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 26: Resurgence (Rank 2, Evanescent Emergence)
Level 29: Aggressor
Level 32: Intensity
Level 35: Unbreakable (Better You Than Me)
Level 38: Rebirth

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

Specializations:
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Quick Recovery (2/2)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (2/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (3/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Slaughter (2/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

Comments and Criticism welcome.

theprettypixie · July 2012

s3rju wrote: »

actually REC works very well along side with enrage, since unstopdpable's energy returns are per knock and the ammount returned is REC dependant

I'd agree with you if the build was knock centric. His initial build only has brimstone and an advantaged knock on a long cool down lunge. The energy over time mechanic of MSA and cost reduction of Int seems preferable to me.

doll1989 · August 2012

I just was thinking about making heavyweapons char and wanted to ask few advices here when I found this thread. I guess I won't have to create a new one.

So, would a buiul similar to this one work if I will replace CON with DEX, REC with INT, remove brimstone, place MSA and conviction, remove enrage (never liked that buff), remove cleave... aaaaand replace demolish with skullcracker? or... what was that HW single target heavy hitter power with a knock? I would preffer skullcracker btw, don't like both animation and knock effect on that other power, but not that much to sacrifice so much damage.

I made a build here, what do you think about it?

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name:

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)

Talents:
Level 1: One of Mind and Body
Level 6: Martial Focus
Level 9: Body and Mind
Level 12: Coordinated
Level 15: Relentless
Level 18: Impresario
Level 21: Negotiator

Powers:
Level 1: Bludgeon
Level 1: Eruption (Magma Burst)
Level 6: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Arc of Ruin (Rank 2, No Quarter)
Level 11: Decimate (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 14: Guard (Rank 2, Punitive Pummeling)
Level 17: Aggressor
Level 20: Skullcrusher (Rank 2, Put Them Down)
Level 23: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 26: Conviction
Level 29: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 32: Intensity (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Unbreakable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Rebirth (Grave Consequences)

Travel Powers:
Level 6: Acrobatics (Rank 2, Rank 3, Versatility)
Level 35: Phoenix Flight

Specializations:
Strength: Swole (3/3)
Strength: Quick Recovery (2/2)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Overpower (3/3)
Brawler: The Glory of Battle (3/3)
Brawler: Penetrating Strikes (2/2)
Brawler: Ruthless (2/2)
Brawler: Finishing Blow (1/3)
Brawler: Offensive Expertise (2/2)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

And I have an additional question. In vindicator there is an offencive expertice like in brawler. Will they stack if I learn them in both trees? And is it even worth it?

mersenneprime · August 2012

theprettypixie wrote: »

I'd agree with you if the build was knock centric. His initial build only has brimstone and an advantaged knock on a long cool down lunge. The energy over time mechanic of MSA and cost reduction of Int seems preferable to me.

I can tap brimstone for a return of over half my energy bar.

What I was doing in alerts is demo, charge arc, tap brimstone, tap tap tap cleave, tap brimstone, tap tap tap cleave and repeat. I rarely had to wait for a hit or two of my EB to get energy so I could tap brimstone. MSA seems unnecessary.

Seems to work the same for normal missions too, except I don't really need arc or demo for mooks and regular villains.

theprettypixie · August 2012

mersenneprime wrote: »

I can tap brimstone for a return of over half my energy bar.

What I was doing in alerts is demo, charge arc, tap brimstone, tap tap tap cleave, tap brimstone, tap tap tap cleave and repeat. I rarely had to wait for a hit or two of my EB to get energy so I could tap brimstone. MSA seems unnecessary.

Seems to work the same for normal missions too, except I don't really need arc or demo for mooks and regular villains.

If it works for you, more power to you. You still appear to use your EB though, judging by the above comment. If you are fine with that, awesome.

You asked for advice; that's what I gave you. My advice might not suit you, or not gel with your playstyle. What you do with it is entirely up to you.

Have fun,

Pixie

beldin · August 2012

doll1989 wrote: »

I just was thinking about making heavyweapons char and wanted to ask few advices here when I found this thread. I guess I won't have to create a new one.

So, would a buiul similar to this one work if I will replace CON with DEX, REC with INT, remove brimstone, place MSA and conviction, remove enrage (never liked that buff),

So .. if you remove enrage .. for what do you still need STR ? Why not replace STR with DEX
and also take Form of the Tempest as Form ?

manjimarufin · August 2012

Id rather take enrage than aggressor, so youd get enrage buffs whenever you try to knockback foes, which with heavy weapon set is like all the time.

mersenneprime · August 2012

theprettypixie wrote: »

If it works for you, more power to you. You still appear to use your EB though, judging by the above comment. If you are fine with that, awesome.

MSA gives the energy once every 3 seconds. Even on characters with MSA, with int as a secondary superstat, I still can't necessarily get away from the energy builder completely.

The bonus to rec is that you can open with a full charged attack if you really want, and the energy builder (if you use it) gives large chunks back at a time. For HW, a tap knock like brimstone gives you energy returns about as good as MSA if you have high rec. It also means that I effectively have one more power than someone who took MSA.

The bonus to int is that you get stealth detection and the CD reduction. It's definitely a good option, especially with something like resurgance or multiple AO or ADs. The downside is that you have to spend a power on MSA and look at powers that have (short) cooldowns.

The suggestion of end/flashfire/brimstone adv with thermal reverb was interesting, and probably works great as well. However, that one was definitely outside my theme.

You asked for advice; that's what I gave you. My advice might not suit you, or not gel with your playstyle. What you do with it is entirely up to you.

I responded because you commented that the build wasn't knock centric because I only had one power with knock. I just wanted to point out that even with that one power, I'm still knocking enough to get very good energy returns.

Thank you (and others) for the advice provided.