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Converting Tempest AT to better dps Freeform?
p4nj4kr3jn
Posts: 189 Arc User
OK, now that I have run all my tests and found out that a freeform only suffers a 9-10% damage nerf compared to ATs, I think I would like to convert my existing level 21 Tempest AT to an even better Freeform version.
Here are some of my design specs and goals for the new build, in no particular order:
a) I want to be pursuing FAST kills. Already, on my existing Tempest AT I can kill a group of henchmen nigh instantly, a two-bar baddy almost as fast (thunderstrike followed by lightning arc), and a 3-bar baddie within about 5-10 seconds. At the moment my Thunderstrike is rank 3 as is my electric form.
b) Currently I have XXX endurance. When I spend it, say by a Thunderstrike followed by a full drain Lightning Arc, it depletes entirely, but either waitng 5 sec or pump my energy builder 3 or 4 times and I am full again. However, I have seen videos of other people playing, and their energy bar never seems to go down ? how is this possible? If possible without sacrificing damage, I would like the new build to have the same ability to not run out of energy even if I don?t use the energy builder.
c) I am very locked into using electric powers for the bulk of my attack abilities. Lightning Arc, Thunderstrike, and Lightning Storm seem very capable. I want my Passive to be Electric Form. Electric Sheath may be a nice addition? Obviously I need to take an energy builder whether I use it or not, so Electric Bolt. Sparkstorm with the Adv Elec Personality is a nice PBAoE fire and forget. Energy Storm at 35 seem like a good idea, though I am far from there. What else?
d) I took Concentration on the Tempest AT ? because it made me. Should I still take that on this FF build, or are there better powers to buff the damage I am doing?
e) I am also a HUGE fan of teleport ? Electric Arc, to be specific. I often teleport into the middle of a group of baddies to alpha, and if a fight is not going well, I teleport away, heal up, and come back to kick some more ****. I plan on continuing that as necessary. (I obviously plan to rank it up at every option.)
f) I have not been doing Alerts. Not only did I find them to be ridiculously hard, but worse, they took far too long to complete. I like a mission I can get into and out of in 5 minutes. The normal millennium city/burning sands pickup missions seem to work really well.
g) Given that I am doing street missions currently just fine, I would not want to sacrifice the ability to do more damage for better health of survivability. For example, I don?t need to make a SuperStat be Con just to have more health ? since I am not dying NOW, the focus should be on more damage.
h) As far as my other play styles, I never PvP, only PvE. I play until 40, then start a new character, so the fun while levelling is the goal, not creating the perfect character at 40. I solo almost exclusively. I very rarely use the block move, which works fine so far by instead killing everything else first and fast.
i) I am still a huge noob at this game, and there are so many fidly bits, that I will need advice not just on powers, but everything else (specializations, advantages, etc etc)
j) Given all the above, I think the role of Ranged Damage is the Role I would always stay in.
k) Finally, I am not against taking powers or other choices that are survival or utility based, just so long as that doesn't trade away DPS in the process. For example, I can't take the power Invulnerability, not only because that would make me sacrifice my Electric Form, but that would also force me out of the Ranged Damage role - so that would be to take a giant step backward in DPS to fix a problem with survivability that I am not currently even having.
So all in all, the basic undefined thought I have is:
* Endurance Primary, Ego and Rec 2ndary.
(Why? Dunno ? this is what the Tempest AT had. However, I am guessing Ego as a SS helps ranged damage, and End + Rec help overall energy? Plus all my current level 21 Gear is focused on these three stats ? but I am open to a change if these are good dps reasons for it.)
* Innate Talent = The Tempest, 6 other Talents of Energetic, Indomitable, Tireless, Worldly, Daredevil, Amazing Stamina ? all support the original 3 stats of End/Ego/Rec. (If the SuperStats changed, these should probably be changed to match.)
* Electric Bolt, Lightning Arc, Electric Form, Thunderstrike, Sparkstorm, Lightning Storm all seem obvious choices. Possibly also Electric Sheath for a damage buff and Ionic Reverb for energy return?? And obviously Energy Storm at 35 ? which is a long way off from my current 21.
* I had Concentration before ? I can take it again, but are there better powers to boost damage?
* That leaves by my count 5-7 powers left to take ? what should they be?
So there it is. What powers should I take? When? What advantages should I get? What specializations make sense for this build? Should I consider changing the SuperStats and Talents, even if it will take several levels to find appropriate gear? Is there any point to taking Gigabolt?
Most of all, what is the suggested fastest way to take down a 3 bar villain? Is my current plan of Thunderstrike followed by a Rank 3 Lightning Arc for as long as it takes the best strategy? Or is there a faster way to dump a ton of single target damage onto a boss?
Thanks. This is my FIRST foray into the world of Champion Online Freeform Characters. I hope with all of your kind help to learn a lot.
Here are some of my design specs and goals for the new build, in no particular order:
a) I want to be pursuing FAST kills. Already, on my existing Tempest AT I can kill a group of henchmen nigh instantly, a two-bar baddy almost as fast (thunderstrike followed by lightning arc), and a 3-bar baddie within about 5-10 seconds. At the moment my Thunderstrike is rank 3 as is my electric form.
b) Currently I have XXX endurance. When I spend it, say by a Thunderstrike followed by a full drain Lightning Arc, it depletes entirely, but either waitng 5 sec or pump my energy builder 3 or 4 times and I am full again. However, I have seen videos of other people playing, and their energy bar never seems to go down ? how is this possible? If possible without sacrificing damage, I would like the new build to have the same ability to not run out of energy even if I don?t use the energy builder.
c) I am very locked into using electric powers for the bulk of my attack abilities. Lightning Arc, Thunderstrike, and Lightning Storm seem very capable. I want my Passive to be Electric Form. Electric Sheath may be a nice addition? Obviously I need to take an energy builder whether I use it or not, so Electric Bolt. Sparkstorm with the Adv Elec Personality is a nice PBAoE fire and forget. Energy Storm at 35 seem like a good idea, though I am far from there. What else?
d) I took Concentration on the Tempest AT ? because it made me. Should I still take that on this FF build, or are there better powers to buff the damage I am doing?
e) I am also a HUGE fan of teleport ? Electric Arc, to be specific. I often teleport into the middle of a group of baddies to alpha, and if a fight is not going well, I teleport away, heal up, and come back to kick some more ****. I plan on continuing that as necessary. (I obviously plan to rank it up at every option.)
f) I have not been doing Alerts. Not only did I find them to be ridiculously hard, but worse, they took far too long to complete. I like a mission I can get into and out of in 5 minutes. The normal millennium city/burning sands pickup missions seem to work really well.
g) Given that I am doing street missions currently just fine, I would not want to sacrifice the ability to do more damage for better health of survivability. For example, I don?t need to make a SuperStat be Con just to have more health ? since I am not dying NOW, the focus should be on more damage.
h) As far as my other play styles, I never PvP, only PvE. I play until 40, then start a new character, so the fun while levelling is the goal, not creating the perfect character at 40. I solo almost exclusively. I very rarely use the block move, which works fine so far by instead killing everything else first and fast.
i) I am still a huge noob at this game, and there are so many fidly bits, that I will need advice not just on powers, but everything else (specializations, advantages, etc etc)
j) Given all the above, I think the role of Ranged Damage is the Role I would always stay in.
k) Finally, I am not against taking powers or other choices that are survival or utility based, just so long as that doesn't trade away DPS in the process. For example, I can't take the power Invulnerability, not only because that would make me sacrifice my Electric Form, but that would also force me out of the Ranged Damage role - so that would be to take a giant step backward in DPS to fix a problem with survivability that I am not currently even having.
So all in all, the basic undefined thought I have is:
* Endurance Primary, Ego and Rec 2ndary.
(Why? Dunno ? this is what the Tempest AT had. However, I am guessing Ego as a SS helps ranged damage, and End + Rec help overall energy? Plus all my current level 21 Gear is focused on these three stats ? but I am open to a change if these are good dps reasons for it.)
* Innate Talent = The Tempest, 6 other Talents of Energetic, Indomitable, Tireless, Worldly, Daredevil, Amazing Stamina ? all support the original 3 stats of End/Ego/Rec. (If the SuperStats changed, these should probably be changed to match.)
* Electric Bolt, Lightning Arc, Electric Form, Thunderstrike, Sparkstorm, Lightning Storm all seem obvious choices. Possibly also Electric Sheath for a damage buff and Ionic Reverb for energy return?? And obviously Energy Storm at 35 ? which is a long way off from my current 21.
* I had Concentration before ? I can take it again, but are there better powers to boost damage?
* That leaves by my count 5-7 powers left to take ? what should they be?
So there it is. What powers should I take? When? What advantages should I get? What specializations make sense for this build? Should I consider changing the SuperStats and Talents, even if it will take several levels to find appropriate gear? Is there any point to taking Gigabolt?
Most of all, what is the suggested fastest way to take down a 3 bar villain? Is my current plan of Thunderstrike followed by a Rank 3 Lightning Arc for as long as it takes the best strategy? Or is there a faster way to dump a ton of single target damage onto a boss?
Thanks. This is my FIRST foray into the world of Champion Online Freeform Characters. I hope with all of your kind help to learn a lot.
Post edited by p4nj4kr3jn on
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Comments
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Endurance (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: Quick Trigger
Level 6: Agile
Level 9: Indomitable
Level 12: Energetic
Level 15: Accurate
Level 18: Daredevil
Level 21: Shooter
Powers:
Level 1: Electric Bolt
Level 1: Lightning Arc (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Electric Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Ionic Reverberation
Level 11: Concentration
Level 14: Masterful Dodge
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Lightning Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Ball Lightning (Rank 2, Triplicity)
Level 26: Electric Sheath (Matter ? Energy Union)
Level 29: Ego Surge (Nimble Mind)
Level 32: Sonic Device (Rank 2)
Level 35: Fire All Weapons (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 38: Support Drones (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35: Electric Arc
Specializations:
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Follow Through (3/3)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: The Rush of Battle (3/3)
Vindicator: Modified Gear (2/2)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Locus (2/2)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Ego Mastery (1/1)
This is my current lightning toon. I plan on switching out Support Drones for something else, but haven't gotten around to it just yet.
This guy cruises through Unity/Nemesis missions with 0 problems and rarely even takes damage. I don't even remember the last time I had to use any of my active offenses or defenses...or Conviction for that matter. 1 Lightning Storm is enough for just about anything mission-wise. Sometimes I use Fire All Weapons on a room just because I think it's neat :biggrin:
You can change things around during leveling and move Elec Sheath up so you can get Lightning Storm at 14...that just leaves you without Concentration until 17, which you might not want to do either.
You can also switch around the Superstats to DEX/Ego/End depending on what primary tree you like better.
If nothing else, this is a nice starting point.
Remember: Half the people you know are below average...
Do not correct a fool, for he will hate you for it. Correct a wise man, for he will appreciate you for it.
Don't be like the Qularr. They would not last one round in the Interstellar Galactic Arena...
Handle @brayv
Also, in the above build, what is the chain of attacks you would use against a lone 3 bar boss at level 21 (my current level)?
The main difference in the stat order is the specialization tree you get to choose from. EGO and DEX trees are head and shoulders above the others when it comes to dps leveling. STR is good for melee, but honestly, DEX is likely a bit better even for melee.
Remember: Half the people you know are below average...
Do not correct a fool, for he will hate you for it. Correct a wise man, for he will appreciate you for it.
Don't be like the Qularr. They would not last one round in the Interstellar Galactic Arena...
Handle @brayv
PowerHouse (Link to this build)
Name:
Archetype: Freeform
Super Stats:
Level 6: Ego (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Endurance (Secondary)
Talents:
Level 1: The Marksman
Level 6: Shooter
Level 9: Daredevil
Level 12: Accurate
Level 15: Indomitable
Level 18: Agile
Level 21: Energetic
Powers:
Level 1: Electric Bolt
Level 1: Lightning Arc (Rank 2, Rank 3, Accelerated Metabolism)
Level 6: Electric Form (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 8: Thunderstrike (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Electric Sheath (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Lightning Storm (Rank 2, Rank 3, Accelerated Metabolism)
Level 17: Concentration
Level 20: Ionic Reverberation
Level 23: Resurgence
Level 26:
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 38:
Travel Powers:
Level 6: Electric Arc (Rank 2)
Level 35:
Specializations:
Ego: Mental Endurance (3/3)
Ego: Insight (3/3)
Ego: Aggression (2/2)
Ego: Sixth Sense (2/3)
EDIT: Is it worth adding a block power? I rarely block. If I did, what's the best one - Maybe Force Shield with Force Sheath Advantage?
Also, how else can I increase my crit chances and crit severity?
Rush of battle from the vindicator tree is helpful. I use the avenger and vindicator tree for my electric dps'er. Talenting in some recovery will pay off too, at least while leveling. Wish I had a powerhouse set up for my character to show you, she is a dps monster with no energy problems.
Vindicator is usually the first tree I go with due to Rush of Battle, while leveling, it is awesome. I usually pair up that with Guardian or Warden for The Best Defense...then whether I want more offense or defense determines which of those trees I choose.
I think Resurgence is fine, even without Con as a superstat, just like Conviction is fine without Pre. However, you might get more mileage out of Masterful Dodge and Bountiful Chi Resurgence + advantage...I don't really know what your survivability is like as a player.
On Elec Sheath, you definitely want Matter-Energy Union over R3.
I usually skip blocks on my dpsers. I rarely ever use them...if you must have one, I would either go Force Shield with adv, or Telekinetic Shield with adv, again, depending on your survivability already.
Remember: Half the people you know are below average...
Do not correct a fool, for he will hate you for it. Correct a wise man, for he will appreciate you for it.
Don't be like the Qularr. They would not last one round in the Interstellar Galactic Arena...
Handle @brayv