Shield Defense & Fiery Melee Tanker w/ SCD Fixed & Cheap Version

As mentioned, here's the fix for the New Main (whom I think I will simply call NM for now). And also, if you're wondering, SCD means soft-capped defenses.

This is a fix for the one posted earlier today that went over the IO set cap. There's just some very minor re-slotting, not too drastic.

Can you spot the difference?

Stats are basically the same to this morning's build. 

You can download Mid's Data Link for the Bank Buster build here to load it to your computer. And here's the set bonuses in case you are wondering:

• +9% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• +9% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• +9% DamageBuff(Fire)
• +9% DamageBuff(Cold)
• +9% DamageBuff(Energy)
• +9% DamageBuff(Negative)
• +9% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• +9% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• +9.75% Defense(Melee)
• +7.88% Defense(Smashing)
• +7.88% Defense(Lethal)
• +6% Defense(Fire)
• +6% Defense(Cold)
• +6% Defense(Energy)
• +6% Defense(Negative)
• +11.63% Defense(Psionic)
• +6% Defense(Ranged)
• +6% Defense(AoE)
• +2.25% Max End
• +97% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• +5% Enhancement(Heal)
• +87.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• +10% SpeedFlying
• +302.2 HP (16.13%) HitPoints
• +10% JumpHeight
• +10% SpeedJumping
• +MezResist(Immobilized) 2.2%
• +MezResist(Stunned) 2.2%
• +MezResist(Terrorized) 2.75%
• +24.5% (0.41 End/sec) Recovery
• +62% (4.84 HP/sec) Regeneration
• +2.52% Resistance(Smashing)
• +2.52% Resistance(Lethal)
• +7.56% Resistance(Fire)
• +7.56% Resistance(Cold)
• +2.52% Resistance(Toxic)
• +17.02% Resistance(Psionic)
• +10% SpeedRunning
  

The Budget Friendly Build

That build above was the bank breaker. I imagine it would take a while to earn all the influence and the merits in order to get all of those IOs. The build below is the cheaper build that can be used in the meantime. All power selections are the same. I simply reslotted everything.

There are no purples or PVP IOs in this build. There are still some expensive-ish sets (Oblits, Scirocs, and Posi's) to start, but at least they are not the super rare or very expensive types that would take a while to get. There should be enough turn over in these IOs and their recipes that you can still get them relatively easy, but probably not too cheaply. Not to mention, many of them would also be used in the actual final build, so, it doesn't hurt to have them ready for that when time comes.

Doesn't look like it would faceplant your bank account, right?

Basically, this is the build that you can start shopping for as you are leveling up the character. Some IOs are easier to get than others, obviously. If it were me, the primary focus would be on working on the Endurance and getting the proper IOs for that once you get to level 50 (or before). All others can be obtained through TFs and merits and such.

Soft capping on the cheap!

If you have never leveled up an SD before, just know that they do have some endurance issues, especially while leveling up without all the set bonuses. One of the main difference I can spot right away between the two builds is the regen (huge difference!) and the end recovery (not as significant as regen, but a very noticeable difference). If you haven't already guessed, I hate, hate, hate running out of End, so am very mindful of it in my builds. It's part of the whole fast-paced play style. Running out of Endurance just means having to slow down. And I don't want to slow down for nothing!

Selecting the conserve power should help offset the endurance usage occasionally, but since it is not up about 2/3rds of the time that will still require some active endurance management from the player.

Still, it is a very solid cheapo build. I wanna try this one out too!

Download Mid's Data Link for the Budget Friend Build.

Shield Defense & Fiery Melee Tanker w/ Soft-Capped Defenses

If you're wondering about me as a person (not just a disembodied voice on the internets!), I currently work for a local school district somewhere in Massachusetts. They called another snow day today, so I'm stuck at home again. This is the 5th snow day in less than 3 weeks. The snow is like 2 ft deep in some places, and they called a snow day even though we're only expecting about 1 foot at most. But with the snow already on the ground, there's just no where to put it! And traveling in this mess is just terrible.. kind of wish I had some SJ for myself just to get around. I do like the paid time off, but at this point, I'm getting kind of bored.. weird huh? I guess I'm not a kid anymore.

At any rate, another day at home just gives me some more time to think about the New Main's build. I went ahead and soft capped the gal.

Still a very expensive build.

You know what's funny? In the previous non-soft-capped build, as well as Ms Ann's hypothetical Inv/Titan Weapons build, I had forgotten about the uniques entirely. Oops. I only realized that because I had been poking around other folk's build in the Titan Forums to see how they slotted. You can see I fixed that little mistake above.

While expensive, most of the IOs above are easy-ish to get a hold of, except for the one PVP IO for the +3% defenses. I recall actually being able to buy it for 2 billion influence (the cap) in the market only once. It's a long wait for that particular IO because most people who are in the know sell it off market for a greater amount than 2 billion. So in the meantime, I would keep a res/end Steadfast in there with the unique so I can also get the IO set bonus. Not a bad alternative, I think.

Well, there you go.. (it does have AD up, btw)

It's a pretty dang survivable build. I imagine it would be nasty on the x8 soloing. Ugh. I am super yearning for a trip into AE with this build.

You know, in retrospect, I might actually decide to go with this build as the main build instead. I might just slot it out a cheaper alternative for the "in the meantime" playing while I gather the big IOs, and also for others who may want to just use the build for themselves.

Anyways, I haven't done this in a while, so here's the list of the applied IO bonuses:

• +9% DamageBuff(Smashing)
• +9% DamageBuff(Lethal)
• +9% DamageBuff(Fire)
• +9% DamageBuff(Cold)
• +9% DamageBuff(Energy)
• +9% DamageBuff(Negative)
• +9% DamageBuff(Toxic)
• +9% DamageBuff(Psionic)
• +9.75% Defense(Melee)
• +7.88% Defense(Smashing)
• +7.88% Defense(Lethal)
• +6% Defense(Fire)
• +6% Defense(Cold)
• +6% Defense(Energy)
• +6% Defense(Negative)
• +11.63% Defense(Psionic)
• +6% Defense(Ranged)
• +6% Defense(AoE)
• +2.25% Max End
• +97% Enhancement(Accuracy)
• +87.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
• +10% SpeedFlying
• +302.2 HP (16.13%) HitPoints
• +10% JumpHeight
• +10% SpeedJumping
• +MezResist(Immobilized) 2.2%
• +MezResist(Stunned) 2.2%
• +MezResist(Terrorized) 2.75%
• +24.5% (0.41 End/sec) Recovery
• +62% (4.84 HP/sec) Regeneration
• +2.52% Resistance(Smashing)
• +2.52% Resistance(Lethal)
• +7.56% Resistance(Fire)
• +7.56% Resistance(Cold)
• +2.52% Resistance(Toxic)
• +17.02% Resistance(Psionic)
• +10% SpeedRunning

On a side note, while I was on that window, I noticed I reached the IO bonus caps to some of them. Yeesh, I totally forgot about that cap too! Hmm.. might have to continue playing with this build then...

In the meantime, here's Mid's data link for this build.

Possible New Main, Shield Defense & Fiery Melee Tanker

So I got Titan Icon working.. I didn't really play around with it too much because as expected, I was getting really sad and nostalgic and decided to play some Sims 3 instead. Making houses and buying really nice things for my fake houses do make me feel better. I'll spend a bit more time in the Icon another day. I guess I just wasn't ready for all the feels.

In the meantime, building out hypothetical characters isn't too bad of an activity as opposed to reconstructing the costumes of my old characters, since the hypothetical character never really existed for me to get nostalgic over. At any rate, when the game comes back, I have a new possible Main ready to go: Shield Defense and Fiery Melee Tanker - name to be determined.

Since she's the main, she will be stacked to the gills with IOs, no expenses spared.

Here are the power selections. 

Just a note, "Active Defenses" is really easy to 

I have played both SD and FM in Tanker, Brute, and Scrapper capacities before, but not these particular sets together. Since I know I have enjoyed each power set before, I feel like they would be a great combination for my possible New Main.

I want something sturdy and with enough damage so that I can solo if needed while leveling up. I love me my area of effect attacks, so there's a no brainer on the power choices, really.

Someone else's video w/ the same Primary and Secondary in action. 

***DROOLS***

SD is just a set that is not too hard to soft cap, though that was not a particular goal in this build. The focus is to be well rounded in solo (easy +1x8) and teaming situations. I suppose, depending on how things go, I might decide to soft-cap (45%) the defenses later... and/or share it in another post.

This is with the "One with the Shield" power up. Lots of resists. 

But of course, you can't enhance it for recharge, so there's really no way to get it to perma. Oh well. 

And here were go with just the usual toggles up. 

Not too shabby still. 

Also another thing to consider is that she has a lot of attacks for a Tanker with surplus of attacks beyond the attack chain. If I were to attempt to soft-cap her defenses, the Greater Fire Sword will go away (Incinerate wins out in the DPS vs GFS, if you're wondering). I did sort of build her to have the last 3 powers and the corresponding slots to be flexible in the power selections. Otherwise, most everything will kind of stay the same, I think.

As for her background, I've decided that her origin will be Technology based... the Fiery Melee powers is a part of the Shield which is an artifact from the future that this character found somehow. Yeah, boring. Whatever. I'm just working on the fly here! Also, of course, this character will be a female.

I wish I can play her already!...

Download Mid's Data Link for the New Main