fireworks!

madammemayhem · July 2013

So when i played CoX i had a character whose powers were 'fireworks', well she was an elec/fire dom.

Anyway!

I was wondering if anybody could help me come up with a firework orientated build.

Think jubilee/dazzler from xmen :P

braxzana · July 2013

Off the top of my head (and at work - SHHhhh!) I can't think of any Champions powers that mimic "fireworks" in the sense of sparkly arced-trajectory flight. That said, there are a lot of "spark" type powers in the Electric powerset.

The Ball Lightning "pets" (uncontrollable) are kind of large to be "fireworks" but most of the other lightning powers seem to be more ~streams~ of lightning.

There are some fire-based powers that might be fireworks (or fireworks' "residue")... Conflagration (think "rain of fire") springs to mind as a power that looks like lots of little fireballs (fireworks) although it just rains straight down from above in an area.

Whenever designing a character, there are a few core questions you need to answer:

* What's my slotted passive? If you have a rigorous theme you may feel "locked" into a specific power like Electric Form or Fiery Form, but if you prefer a more defensive build and the concept supports it, you could pick Regeneration or Invulnerability, etc. The slotted passive can often influence your other power choices; like, if you choose Defiance, you'll likely want to make CON a superstat... and with Defiance, you may decide you don't need as many energy management tools (since it helps with energy).

* What's my energy unlock? This will usually be determined by the types of attacks you choose. If your powers are predominantly electric, then you may choose the electric powerset's energy unlock. If you have a mix of powers, or powers that don't have a natural energy unlock (like Might or Martial arts) then you may have to go with a more generic energy unlock like Molecular Self Assembly (lots of fast-recharge powers) or Overdrive (you use a lot of maintained powers).... if you can trigger stack of a particular Form (like a large number of critical hits stacking up Form of the Tempest) then that can help your energy management, too.

* Attack! I generally try to get a ranged AoE, a ranged single target attack (ideally 100' range) and if possible an untargeted AoE / PBAOE and some control powers (like knockdown from Inexorable Tides (legsweep)).

I've been out of the game for a good while, so maybe there's a fireworks-looking power/animation I'm not remembering that would fit nicely. Hex of Suffering has a neat little "flinging" animation but also has clearly magical symbols attached to its effects (and it's on a longish recharge)...

nextnametaken · July 2013

Mind Sprites, Ball Lightning Hand Grenade. and Pestilence.
Telekinetic Eruption maybe.

Maybe some of the energy builders like the healing one kind of looks like
bottle rockets and the rockets from power armor.

madammemayhem · July 2013

mind sprites! Perfect!

energy builder: Throw fire/electric bolt
ST attack : fire strike/chain lightning/lightning arc/energy storm
ranged aoe : fireball/flash fire/conflagration/giga bolt/ball lightning
PBAoE : spark storm/energy wave/ego sprites!
energy unlock: thermal reverb/ionic rever/MSA
active offence: fiery form/electric form
active defence: invulnerability/lightning reflexes.
self buff : elec sheathe/ego surge
form : concentration???
Heal : Conviction

Too many options! Blergh.

NO IDEA on stats. Kinda new :P

theravenforce · July 2013

@nextnametaken: They are called Ego Sprites.

@madammemayhem: As for stats...

Crits are the in thing so perhaps Ego/Dex/Int?

Ego/Con/Int with MSA energy unlock.

Oh and by the way your Active Defensive and Active Offensives are actually Passives.

Only one passive can be active at any one time. Multiple passives may exist in a build but you cannot run say Lightning Reflexes with Fire Form or Invulnerability with Electric Form, at the same time.

If you want more or less unlimited energy..I'd suggest

END/Ego/Dex <--That combo paired with Endurance's Readiness spec will have you firing off your fireworks with no let up.

I would be tempted to say that you should take Fire Form as your passive, as for Active Offensive, perhaps Immolation? And for Active Defensive Masterful Dodge or Resurgence.

Two heals are "ideal" on a build, one heal can work but usually the toon is quite sturdy and runs a defensive passive like Invulnerability OR they put out so much damage they don't need much healing as everything dies before they get hurt too seriously.

NOTE: Fire is Elemental Damage and Electricity is Energy Damage, these are both very different types of damage. Taking Fire Form will NOT boost your electrical damage and taking Electric Form will NOT boost your Elemental Damage.

With Endurance primary, Thermal Reverberation or Ionic Reverberation will work fantastically. You must choose which damage type you will capitalize on in order to pick a suitable energy unlock.

Thermal Reverberation stacks on itself and grants energy, when you or your targets are in or on fire. So a good power to mix in with it would be Flash Fire and/or Pyre.

Ionic Reverberation grants energy on consumption or exploitation of Negative Ions Debuff. Basically when one of your electrical attacks consumes Negative Ions, like Gigabolt, you gain energy OR when you exploit Negative Ions, such as when using Ball Lightning (this power is best used at rank 2 + Triplicity Advantage), however energy gained through exploitation is considerably less than consumption energy gain.

Energy Storm, for good damage requires a number of debuffs to be placed on a target. Such as Clinging Flames, Negative Ions, Chill or Containment Field, which it can use to exploit. By itself it isn't especially fantastic in the damage department.

Hope this helps. PM me if you have any questions

Coincidentally I was thinking of making a firework build but focusing on particle and energy style damage instead, however I can definitely see Fire working well.

braxzana · July 2013

On the drive home from work I remembered Ego Sprites and slapped my forehead for forgetting it --- even though it's Ego damage, not fire or electric, they LOOK exactly like fireworks... Glad to see someone else thought to mention it, above.

If you DO mix damage types (fire, electric, ego) then you might be better off with a slotted passive power that doesn't rely on or impact your damage types, like Invulnerability or Aura of Primal Majesty or Aura of Radiant Protection or something.

Telekinetic Assault, I think?, is a great single target ranged attack that, if memory serves, can be advantaged to act like an AoE (at the cost of Rank 3 damage of course)... looks great, with arcing bolts of ego damage, but for some reason the graphics sometimes don't display at all so you end up holding out your hands and the foe takes damage but nothing -appears-...

theravenforce · July 2013

TK Burst is also good for Firework effect.

madammemayhem · July 2013

so i have been looking through for an energy builder and a starter power. Ive looked through fire, elec, and power armor and the closest one that even resembles a fire work is fire bolt or whatever its called but then fire strike just looks awful and i much prefer power gauntlet lol.

Choices choices. I do know though that i want ego sprites as they fit perfectly, i just dont want another psi toon as i already have 2 =/

gamehobo · July 2013

Celestial EB and Starter look "Sparkly" offensively.

braxzana · July 2013

Since it's a fire-and-forget DoT, you don't really need to build around Ego Sprites --- just throw 'em out there for the "Oo! Fireworks!" effect and get back to the "serious" powers around which you build synergies and such.

Celestial DOES look nice from an FX point of view, but the animations are VERY distinct and may not fit all concepts. Definitely check them out on test server or a throw-away character test before committing to them.

madammemayhem · July 2013

I have looked at the celestial energy builder and starter and while they are nice, they just arent right =/

I did look at force bolts, they fit quite nicely but doesnt work well with the rest of the build. I think im going to stick with power bolt and power gauntlet from power armor. Not the best but the better of the other options. That way they fall into the energy dmg type so it can be a bit more rounded.

I did look at elec but i never get on with elec powers in MMOs, they always look the same just straight arcs of lightning. YAWN!

madammemayhem · July 2013

OK! so i sort of have a build....sort of. No idea how well these powers will work with one another and i think i might need MSA instead of ionic reverb as i dont really have that many elec powers, well powers that generate negative ions.

So yeh, go at it!

Link to this build: http://powerhouse.nullware.com/powerhouse.html?v=5&n=&d=100000000000000910093039C00F20515031700EI049L051A05DL00J50316041B050000000100000000

Name:

Archetype: Freeform

Super Stats:
Level 6:
Level 10:
Level 15:

Talents:
Level 1:
Level 6:
Level 9:
Level 12:
Level 15:
Level 18:
Level 21:

Powers:
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Power Gauntlet (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Slave Mentality)
Level 11: Electric Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Ionic Reverberation
Level 17: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 20: Energy Wave (Rank 2, Hardened Particle Matrix)
Level 23: Ball Lightning (Rank 2, Triplicity)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Electric Shield (Electric Vengeance)
Level 35: Gigabolt (Rank 2, Death Arc)
Level 38:

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:

theravenforce · July 2013

Just a few changes and additions, Slave Mentality, most of your targets will be dead before slave mentality proc's its such a pitiful advantage, if I remember correctly it proc's after 10 seconds of application, with in that time frame you could have mowed down at least two mobs. Death Arc on Gigabolt, I heard a while back that this advantage either didn't work or was useless, so I have swapped both advantages out for Rank 3 on Gigabolt and Ego Sprites.

I have also added in Bountiful Chi Resurgence as a secondary heal.

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name:

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Invincible
Level 6: Healthy Mind
Level 9: Ascetic
Level 12: Academics
Level 15: Indomitable
Level 18: Brilliant
Level 21: Enduring

Powers:
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Power Gauntlet (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Electric Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 17: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 20: Energy Wave (Rank 2, Hardened Particle Matrix)
Level 23: Ball Lightning (Rank 2, Triplicity)
Level 26: Masterful Dodge
Level 29: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Electric Shield
Level 35: Gigabolt (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (1/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Make It Count (1/3)
Guardian: Find the Mark (1/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

Specs wise: You may want to have a look at them again...I just added them quickly

madammemayhem · July 2013

Thank you

Really appreciate it.

theravenforce · July 2013

madammemayhem wrote: »

Thank you Really appreciate it.

My Pleasure

:cool:

braxzana · July 2013

Bear in mind, with Gigabolt you either need a TON of energy (high equilibrium) or you can burn your Electric Form to charge it up...

I'm not SURE that electric form will actually help anything but Ball Lightning and Gigabolt --- the power bolts and power gauntlet are ~particle~ damage, I think. That might count, but I would check for sure.

Energy Wave is a PBAOE, if I recall correctly... not sure you WANT to be in melee range, in general.

I'd feel more comfortable with another AoE (than Gigabolt, which is SO expensive to fire)... I think it's Thunderstrike? maybe? that is a ranged AoE that you can advantage to knock down foes (more mitigation)....

theravenforce · July 2013

braxzana wrote: »

Bear in mind, with Gigabolt you either need a TON of energy (high equilibrium) or you can burn your Electric Form to charge it up...

I'm not SURE that electric form will actually help anything but Ball Lightning and Gigabolt --- the power bolts and power gauntlet are ~particle~ damage, I think. That might count, but I would check for sure.

Energy Wave is a PBAOE, if I recall correctly... not sure you WANT to be in melee range, in general.

I'd feel more comfortable with another AoE (than Gigabolt, which is SO expensive to fire)... I think it's Thunderstrike? maybe? that is a ranged AoE that you can advantage to knock down foes (more mitigation)....

Gigabolt isn't THAT expensive to fire off, you make it sound like Force Cascade or something lol.

Electric Form buffs all ENERGY Damage which is:

- Particle Damage
- Electrical Damage
- Sonic Damage

Gigabolt and Ball Lightning all come under Electrical Damage. Power Gauntlet and Bolts are Particle Damage.

Electric Form is the ONLY passive in game which directly influences Particle Damage, as well as granting high electrical damage resistance and reasonable energy damage resistance.

As for Energy Wave, which is a Particle Damage power, it works as enemies will come to you and in order to make the most out of HPM advantage you will need foes close to you, and with Ego Primary they will fly and you'll get a shield.

theravenforce · July 2013

NOTE: If this is a levelling build I was strongly recommend using this set up instead for levelling. Same powers different order.

PowerHouse (Link to this build)

Name: Leveling Version

Archetype: Freeform

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

Talents:
Level 1: The Invincible
Level 6: Healthy Mind
Level 9: Ascetic
Level 12: Academics
Level 15: Indomitable
Level 18: Brilliant
Level 21: Enduring

Powers:
Level 1: Power Bolts
Level 1: Power Gauntlet (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Concentration
Level 8: Electric Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
Level 17: Ego Sprites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Ball Lightning (Rank 2, Triplicity)
Level 23: Energy Wave (Rank 2, Hardened Particle Matrix)
Level 26: Bountiful Chi Resurgence (Resurgent Reiki)
Level 29: Masterful Dodge
Level 32: Electric Shield
Level 35: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 38: Gigabolt (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Travel Powers:
Level 6:
Level 35:

Specializations:
Ego: Force of Will (2/2)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Follow Through (2/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (3/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (2/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (1/2)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Make It Count (1/3)
Guardian: Find the Mark (1/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)

fireworks!

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