A build to reflect the Wild Hunt from mythology

Comments

• braxzana Posts: 215 Arc User

  April 2013 edited April 2013

  With that many pets you may want to consider INT and/or REC as superstats --- they will DRAIN your energy.
  
  Before I get to your questions, I HAVE to mention that Skarn's Bane is an AWESOME power and BEGS to be ranked up to Rank 3. PLEASE. It's just that awesome.
  
  Also, Spirit Reverberation only gives you energy when you do dimensional damage to a feared foe. While Shadow Form will generate fear, I believe, and Lifedrain and possibly Skarn's Bane are dimensional damage... it seems like a LOT of damage will come from the pets. Just not sure it's the most effective energy unlock... since Lifedrain and Skarn's Bane are both maintains, I'd maybe take a look at Overdrive under Power Armor. Or if there are pet-summon powers that are on recharge timers, Molecular Self Assembly might work.
  

  1. Will I miss having a single-target ranged attack outside Lifedrain?

  
  If you mean a HEAVY single target attack, yah, you might regret not having one (although Skarn's Bane DOES hit hard, whether it's against one or many)... I usually try to squeeze in a 100' range attack when I can, simply because there are some times you want to "pull" a distant foe without getting within 50' range. That circumstance isn't often enough that it would overly weigh on me, though.
  

  2. Is Spirit Reverberation all that useful to this build? (It appears that only Shadow Bolt and Lifedrain will trigger the energy return, since Ebon Rift is really a summons, and Skarn's Bane is magic damage.)
  
  3. If Spirit Reverb isn't useful, is there another Energy Unlock that would be? (I didn't find one.)

  
  Aha, you WERE aware of the potential problem with this. I am not sure if Skarn's Bane's magical damage ALSO counts as "dimensional" or "paranormal"... they use some terms in weird ways. As noted above, I'd consider Overdrive if you use a lot of maintains or MSA for fast-recharging powers (that HAVE a recharge timer of course).
  

  4. With this many pets, will I miss having another AoE heal? If ?yes,? what non-iconic and non-?necessary to build? power could I ditch for, say, Arcane Vitality?

  
  Vala's Light is another AoE heal, I think. Frankly, I've never had a Pet Army build, but I would be inclined to let them all die off one by one and re-summon them after the fight --- I cannot imagine a fight so severe that ALL the pets get wiped out and you still have foes to fight. And if you did, just melt the foes down with Skarn's Bane.
  
  As for what power to ditch, Ebon Rift seems to take along time to "wind up" and the SECOND you cast it foes will be attacking you while you charge it up... and then the foes just walk away from the Rift... it's not that great a power, IMO.
  
  Also, if you're not using Spirit Reverberation, there seems less point in using Howl, so you could lose that...
  

  5. Will Skarn's Bane (especially with no advantages) be truly useful for this build?

  
  I really should have read these questions first. Skarn's Bane is, in a word, AWESOME. You should rank this up and use it ALL the time, IMHO. It just MELTS armies in front of you. You almost could make a character with JUST power and be just fine.
  

  6. Would Recovery Mastery be more beneficial (especially considering Shadow Form) than Commander Mastery, and if so, would it really hurt to swap the primary Superstat from End to Rec?

  
  I'm not TOO familiar with the various Specializations except to know that with that many pets you WANT the Pet Commander spec ---- if nothing else, it lowers the energy cost to keep the pets out, but it also increases their health and/or damage. Its just pretty much required for a pet-army build like this.
  
  I've not heard many good things about END... as long as you have enough to summon your pets from equilibrium (that is, you don't have to energy-build FIRST in order to summon pets) I wouldn't worry about having too much END. With an energy unlock like Overdrive, and enough INT/ REC/END through gear and talents, you can maintain your few attacks/heals.
  
  I am not sure how useful PRE is to buffing your pets, if it does at all (I am not sure that you have any powers whose effects would apply to the pets).... CON is obviously helpful since you have precious little defenses/protection. I would be inclined to put INT as primary just for the energy-cost-reduction aspects... or possibly REC... with the other one going (with CON) as secondaries.
  

  7. I'm planning to respec into this exact build at lvl 11 - after that, should I swap the order of any powers?

  
  I would not get the Block Replacer (Ebon Void) until a little later in the build. Once you have some pets, I can see the utility of "turtling up" to protect yourself while they do damage / grab aggro, but until you HAVE some pets, you're better off with Lifedrain and (in particular) Skarn's Bane, which I'd get as soon as possible.
  
  Not sure how vital the look of Shadow Form is to the concept... but if you aren't going with Spirit Reverb, then you might consider dropping Shadow Form for the Aura of Radiant Protection ---- you can elect NOT to get the zero-point visible runic aura, and there is no visual indicator that you HAVE any power on. The Aura will give you AND your pets (I think) damage resistance, moreso in Support roles (which also boosts your energy)...
  
  An Offensive Passive seems an odd choice for a pet build, but then I've not had a pet-army build before. It ~feels~ like you'd be better off with a more protective build (both for you and the pets) to give them time to do their thing. An offensive build seems geared for quick kills, but also runs the risk of you taking too much damage too fast.
  
  Another consideration might be... oh, what's the name... Medical Nanites. They're from the gadgeteering tree, but you can SAY that they're just healing motes of nature magic... they heal you AND your pets over time --- come to think of it, that might be better (or as good) as a straight damage-resistance buff like Aura of Radiant Protection. Again, you can go into Support role and heal for more AND get more energy...
  
  I -think- the medical nanites only flare up periodically and as I recall don't look like anything more than glowing motes (the color of which you can select of course)....
  
  Good luck herding that many 'cats'.. combats will likely be CRAZY busy-looking.

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• taintedmess Posts: 446 Arc User

  April 2013 edited April 2013

  The below build is a kind of combination build of 2 toons I run the general idea here is pets, death and tanky ness. Now its far from perfect but should prove pretty effective
  
  First thing you'll notice is shadow form is out and aura of primal mastery is in done this for a few reasons but mainly because it improves all your stats which will in turn boost other aspects of the build much better than any other passive will
  
  
  
  b]PowerHouse[/b] (Link to this build)
  
  Name:
  
  Archetype: Freeform
  
  Super Stats:
  Level 6: Strength (Primary)
  
  I know what your thinking strength what the fish do I want that in my ranged pet build for short answer is we want it for its spec tree also it'll help prevent you getting kncoed around like a rag doll
  
  Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
  
  More HP = good also plays very well with the strength spec tree
  
  Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
  
  Mostly picked for soem energy management could be replaced with another stat if you find that your energy management is really good in the later level (I would suggest Dex)
  
  Talents:
  Level 1: The Savage
  Level 6: Physical Conditioning
  Level 9: Body and Mind
  Level 12: Healthy Mind
  Level 15: Martial Focus
  Level 18: Acrobat
  Level 21: Coordinated
  
  Talents all picked to either boost SS or Dex
  
  Powers:
  Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
  
  end builder nothing special really picked for necessity
  
  Level 1: Aura of Primal Majesty (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  
  all round stat boosting goodness will help with over all performance while also increasing superstst above what would be achievable normally which will in turn boost specs from the spec tree higher
  
  Level 6: Tyrannon's Familiar (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  
  potentially out of place in your wild hunt theme but I was thinking either a more powerful dammed soul or possibly a kind of squire/man servant to the hunts lord
  
  Level 8: Ritual of Primal Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
  
  Your first hound
  
  Level 11: Overdrive
  
  as your only 2 actual attacks are maintains overdrive is perfect as it will provide energy when you maintain skarms or lifedrain
  
  Level 14: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
  
  first maintain. very useful can be used to delivery damage to your primary target while keeping you and your pets mostly alive
  
  Level 17: Command Animals (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  
  more hounds for the hunt
  
  Level 20: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  
  Skarms bane AOE cone shaped death also nicely removes energy forms use to clear groups with ease
  
  Level 23: Arctic Beast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  
  The last Hound
  
  Level 26: Summon Shadows (Rank 2, Devouring Darkness)
  
  Your shades the heal advantage will also add to your survival nicely
  
  Level 29: Concentration
  
  Damage buffing goodness
  
  Level 32: Ebon Void (Rank 2, Voracious Darkness)
  
  Block re placer not all that necisery but could be handy though I would be tempted to look at a second active defence
  
  Level 35: Howl
  
  While spirit reverb is no longer in the build to synergise with this its still a effective power for applying fear which has its own good points
  
  Level 38: Unbreakable
  
  Finally a active defence good for braking holds and what not
  
  Travel Powers:
  Level 6: Flight
  Level 35: Tunneling
  
  Specializations:
  Strength: Swole (3/3)
  
  More HP = good
  
  Strength: Aggression (2/2)
  
  More offence = more damage and when combined with other specs more defence
  
  Strength: Brutality (2/2)
  
  Critical severity boost that comes from your superstats given that AoPM will be boosting these higher than normal you should see a nice severity boost from this alone
  
  Strength: Juggernaut (3/3)
  
  Constitution boosts defence and sice constitution is beeing boosted by AoPM its a all win
  
  Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
  
  Very important spec to builds survival this converts offence into defence meaning youre defence stat is even higher
  
  Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
  
  crit severity buff go's on top of juggernaut boost
  
  Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
  
  picked teh single target crit chance booster simply because it'll up both the damage and heals from life drain could easily move the points to another spec
  
  
  Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
  
  more offence which means more defence
  
  Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
  
  defence boost which will also up your offence when combined with future spec
  
  Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
  
  another crit severity boost
  
  Guardian: Find the Mark (2/3)
  
  can boost your crit chance which wont hurt
  
  Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
  
  finaly converts defence into offence giving you a higher offence score which in turn will provide more defence through aggressive stance
  
  Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)
  
  strength mastery is a bit meh but will further boost your offence by another 30pts which menas more defence as well.

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• taintedmess Posts: 446 Arc User

  April 2013 edited April 2013

  braxzana wrote: »

  Another consideration might be... oh, what's the name... Medical Nanites. They're from the gadgeteering tree, but you can SAY that they're just healing motes of nature magic... they heal you AND your pets over time --- come to think of it, that might be better (or as good) as a straight damage-resistance buff like Aura of Radiant Protection. Again, you can go into Support role and heal for more AND get more energy...
  
  I -think- the medical nanites only flare up periodically and as I recall don't look like anything more than glowing motes (the color of which you can select of course)....
  

  
  Medical nanites is a exilent suggestion for a healing support type build though last I used it it drew agro like crazy so survivability may be a issue

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• superalfgorn Posts: 558 Arc User

  April 2013 edited April 2013

  Questions:
  1. Will I miss having a single-target ranged attack outside Lifedrain?
  5. Will Skarn's Bane (especially with no advantages) be truly useful for this build?

  
  Skarn's Bane is awesome. SB is going to be your main attack, cycling it with Lifedrain for AoE heals using its advantage.
  
  May I suggest the following? It is supposed to run in Support Role to get rid of energy problems and maximize Aura of Ebon Destruction, at least until you can get the Circle of Arcane Power.
  
  The stats are chosen to squeeze out the max damage from AoED, pumping its aura part and improving Crit Rate.
  >PRE allows for max healing both from the Sentinel Aura and from Lifedrain. In addition the selfless ally spec heals you when healing the pets. Additionally it maximises Compassion both for the effect and the energy return: note that you get Compassion stacks in no time via the Sentinel Aura and the multitude of pets.
  >DEX is for crits, and you will need them to maximise the additional damage from AoED.
  >CON for durability, obv.
  
  As for the mastery, your damage comes from the pets, go to town with them! :biggrin:
  
  
  
  PowerHouse (Link to this build)
  
  Name: Wild Hunt
  
  Archetype: Freeform
  
  Super Stats:
  Level 6: Presence (Primary)
  Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
  Level 15: Dexterity (Secondary)
  
  Talents:
  Level 1: The Squall
  Level 6: Survival Training
  Level 9: Sniper Training
  Level 12: Finesse
  Level 15: Shrug It Off
  Level 18: Acrobat
  Level 21: Amazing Stamina
  
  Powers:
  Level 1: Shadow Bolt (Despondency)
  Level 1: Ebon Void (Voracious Darkness)
  Level 6: Compassion
  Level 8: Aura of Ebon Destruction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 11: Void Horror (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 14: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
  Level 17: Summon Shadows (Rank 2, Devouring Darkness)
  Level 20: Command Animals (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 23: Ritual of Primal Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
  Level 26: Arctic Beast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 29: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 32: Circle of Arcane Power
  Level 35: Howl
  Level 38: Dark Transfusion
  
  Travel Powers:
  Level 6: Flight (Rank 2)
  Level 35:
  
  Specializations:
  Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
  Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
  Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
  Presence: Force of Will (2/2)
  Sentinel: Eternal Spring (2/2)
  Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
  Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
  Sentinel: Moment of Need (2/3)
  Commander: Evasive Action (2/2)
  Commander: Multitasker (3/3)
  Commander: Durable (2/3)
  Commander: Savage (3/3)
  Mastery: Commander Mastery (1/1)

  ______________________________________________________________
  My Characters
  
  

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• wyldhaunt Posts: 9 Arc User

  April 2013 edited April 2013

  Thank for the replies! Between my original post and yesterday, I got Wyldhunt up to level 24, using the build as posted from level 8. Got defeated a handful of times in Canada, but I'm still learning the system, and I was able to consistently take down reds in my 20s, and even a purple Armadillo without defeat.
  
  You've all given me some great suggestions, and after poring through them, I've settled on the following for now:
  
  PowerHouse (Link to this build)
  
  Name: Wyldhunt
  
  Archetype: Freeform
  
  Super Stats:
  Level 6: Presence (Primary)
  I chose this for Selfless Ally and the boosts in the Presence Tree.
  Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
  Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
  I chose this for the power cost reduction, however if KB becomes too annoying, I'll switch to Strength.
  
  Talents:
  Level 1: The Grimoire
  Level 6: Survival Training
  Level 9: Field Ops Training
  Level 12: Command Training
  Level 15: Healthy Mind
  Level 18: Diplomatic
  Level 21: Shrug It Off
  
  Powers:
  Level 1: Shadow Bolt (Despondency)
  The Primal Sorcery alternate was interesting to allow better choices early in the build, but ultimately I want Despondency to boost Vampiric Sympathy more flexibly than Howl could.
  Level 1: Ebon Void (Voracious Darkness)
  Yeah, I'd rather have this later in the build, however I don't have any choices from the build here except Compassion.
  Level 6: Compassion
  Level 8: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
  Level 11: Void Horror (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 14: Command Animals (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 17: Ritual of Primal Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
  Level 20: Arctic Beast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 23: Summon Shadows (Rank 2, Devouring Darkness)
  Level 26: Overdrive
  Level 29: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 32: Aura of Primal Majesty (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  After posting the initial build, I realized that Shadow Form couldn't be used in Support role, and was already reviewing the other options. I do like AoPM best for this currently, though I'll remember to try AoRP if it seems my pets get too squishy.
  Level 35: Howl (Make them Tremble)
  This is an iconic power for my concept ? providing AoE Fear, which is useful as well.
  Level 38: Unbreakable
  
  Travel Powers:
  Level 6: Flight
  Level 35: Tunneling
  
  Specializations:
  Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
  Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
  Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
  Presence: Force of Will (2/2)
  Commander: Rapid Response (2/2)
  Commander: Multitasker (3/3)
  Commander: Durable (2/3)
  Commander: Savage (3/3)
  Sentinel: Eternal Spring (2/2)
  Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
  Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
  Sentinel: Moment of Need (2/3)
  Mastery: Commander Mastery (1/1)

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• wyldhaunt Posts: 9 Arc User

  April 2013 edited April 2013

  One more update: since Compassion is actually part of the Mystic framework rather than the Darkness framework, the game wouldn't let me choose the powers as put into the above build. Since Wyldhunt was 25 when I respecced, the below build is what I'm following right now:
  
  PowerHouse (Link to this build)
  
  Name: Wyldhunt
  
  Archetype: Freeform
  
  Super Stats:
  Level 6: Presence (Primary)
  Level 10: Constitution (Secondary)
  Level 15: Intelligence (Secondary)
  
  Talents:
  Level 1: The Grimoire
  Level 6: Survival Training
  Level 9: Field Ops Training
  Level 12: Command Training
  Level 15: Healthy Mind
  Level 18: Diplomatic
  Level 21: Shrug It Off
  
  Powers:
  Level 1: Shadow Bolt (Despondency)
  Level 1: Ebon Void (Voracious Darkness)
  Level 6: Compassion
  Level 8: Aura of Primal Majesty (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 11: Overdrive
  Level 14: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
  Level 17: Command Animals (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 20: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 23: Ritual of Primal Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
  Level 26: Arctic Beast (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 29: Void Horror (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 32: Summon Shadows (Rank 2, Devouring Darkness)
  Level 35: Howl (Make them Tremble)
  Level 38: Unbreakable
  
  Travel Powers:
  Level 6: Flight
  Level 35: Tunneling
  
  Specializations:
  Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
  Presence: Grandeur (3/3)
  Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
  Presence: Force of Will (2/2)
  Commander: Rapid Response (2/2)
  Commander: Multitasker (3/3)
  Commander: Durable (2/3)
  Commander: Savage (3/3)
  Sentinel: Eternal Spring (2/2)
  Sentinel: Caregiver (3/3)
  Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
  Sentinel: Moment of Need (2/3)
  Mastery: Commander Mastery (1/1)
  
  However, if anyone else wants to try this setup, the following is what I would recommend until at least lvl 20 (and getting comfortable with Skarn's Bane):
  
  Powers:
  Level 1: Shadow Bolt (Despondency)
  Level 1: Shadow Blast
  Level 6: Ebon Void (Voracious Darkness)
  Level 8: Lifedrain (Rank 2, Vampiric Sympathy)
  Level 11: Void Horror (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 14: Command Animals (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 17: Ritual of Primal Summoning (Rank 2, Unbound Ritual)
  Level 20: Skarn's Bane (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  
  I've found that I'm using the pets as aggro-sharers and blockers - my mains are Skarn's Bane and Lifedrain, using Shadow Bolt to build energy and set up Fear to feed Lifedrain's Vampiric Sympathy's better AoE heal. The foes are dropping like empty husks.

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• judgeb0t Posts: 35 Arc User

  May 2013 edited May 2013

  Here's my old version of Master of the Hunt
  
  http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=135692&highlight=master+hunt

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• bulgarex Posts: 2,310 Arc User

  August 2013 edited August 2013

  Wyldhaunt, if you'd be interested in a potential connection for your character to the background of the Champions Universe, I'd like to offer this bit of information from the meta-history of the setting.
  
  Many millennia ago, before recorded history, there existed the (Celtic-themed) land of Tuala Morn, in the general region where the British Isles lie today. Part of the deep magic of that place was an early incarnation of the Wild Hunt. The Huntsman and his pack appeared on random nights, pursuing and destroying evildoers whom they caught on the open land.
  
  That Wild Huntsman still exists in the modern world, but the passing ages and profound upheavals have changed and corrupted him. Now he has become the malevolent demonic monster called Samhain, fanning and feeding upon human fears.

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