I'm Back! With Random Screenshots!

Funny, it was about the same time last year that I slunk back to this blog.

Mind you, I didn't stop hoping, wishing, and pining away for the game. Grad school started ramping up with a vengeance. Taking 2 classes per semester (including the summer semester) while working 50 hrs/week at the day job doesn't leave me much time to think, let alone mull over the City!

But I am back! At least for a month before the spring semester starts up again. And I bring pictures! They are pretty random ones that were taken about 1-2 years into playing the game.

Exploring Striga the day of its release.

This was in Victory on one of my 1st characters, AR/Dev Blaster.

Also admiring myself, obviously. 

And... hanging on top the mountain-hill thing in Striga. 

More playing around with my AR/Dev Blaster before the nerfs. 

My very first foray into the new (at the time) cargo ship map. 

It was a distinct memory. This was on my Fire/Fire Blaster in Victory. 

My Fire/Fire Tank in Victory as well. 

She was a mutant origin if you haven't already guessed.

This was also a time when DOs mattered.

And my first character and my main in Virtue, Ms Ann. 

Not the most, creative name, I know. 

And here's Sixty, my second character in Virtue. 

Not a big fan of Positron back then when the TF was a 5 hour ordeal. 

If Ms Ann was a Titan Weapons Tanker...

Ahh... my main.. the first ever forum signature on the left. I super enjoyed the Invulnerability primary set, but I was never terribly happy with the secondary.

So as the title says, what if Ms Ann was an Inv/Titan Weapons Tanker as opposed to her Battle Axe? Time to have some fun with Mid's!

I went ahead and slotted it as if Inf was no object. Since the game isn't live, it's not like Inf matters at this time anyway. So the build is similar to, but slightly better than Ms Ann's sunset build, though marginally.

I left the Dull Pain power up to show you that it's about 20 seconds away from perma DP. With Hasten on, it does indeed achieve perma status, but since Hasten isn't perma itself (it's close, about 18 seconds away), you can't really call any of this actually "permanent." It's fun to try to get there though. Besides, I like to have a little bit of situational flair to my DP clicks.

You can see from the status and misc. buffs that she is a very solid tanker. Similar to her sunset build, there was a lot of focus on building up a bit of Psi resistance.

Sometimes I wonder if I am just overdoing it just a bit with the Psi. Part of the problem is that when you're tough in almost all encounters, and then face a Psychic enemy that cuts you down to shreds, you kind of start to overcompensate in that area. Or at least, I know I did.

If the city came back, yes, I would re-roll Ms Ann, but like I mentioned before, she will likely have something other than Battle Axe. I'm not sure what yet, but Titan Weapons would be a good contender.

Mid's Data Link

Master of Badges

So I got a bunch of new Master badges on my Badgers last week. Here's my count so far:

Ms Ann has the following: MoSTF, MoITF, MoLGTF (new!) and needs the Mo5CTF, Mo5CSF, and the MoLRSF. The masters in Kahn TF (5CTF) is pretty easy as well as the LRSF (all you need is a Mind Dom!). This makes getting the masters in the Barracuda SF (5CSF) the toughest. The spawns at the end is no fun..

Zetsumei has the following: MoITF, Mo5CTF (new!) and needs the Mo's in LGTF, STF, LRSF, and 5CSF. I am not too worried about getting *everything* for Zet, but I won't say no to attempting master runs with her if I know the group is good.

This is not counting the other master badges I have on my other characters when helping a friend.

In my opinion, the ITF, 5CTF, and LRSF are the easier ones if you have the right people and certain ATs/Powersets. The LGTF has the Hammy mission which requires planning and team coordination, the STF has the big 4 that will require lotsa debuffs and proper pulling, and the 5CSF/Cuda has that massive 20 minute Council ambush at the end which can get very messy.

I think I need to read up some more on tips to get through the Mo Barracuda SF successfully.

Master of Imperious Task Force

Woohoo! Got the badge on my main hero, Ms Ann.

It was pretty much the first night back from my mini break and I get the badge. Good times.

Pictured above (L-R) is Master Kronos [Elec/Stone Brute], Kokuin [Ice/Ice Tank], ACFU [DM/DA Scrapper], Ms Ann [Inv/BA Tank], Pyroplasm [Fire/? Blaster], Al'verde Beskotin [Spider], Athene Aegis [Fire/SD Scrapper], and Blood Wrath [MA/Regen Scrapper] is the guy with no pants on.

I started attempting the MoITF about 6 months ago, with many different team builds, but it was alwasy very difficult to find success. Problems ranged from team members who lacked the experience, team members who are running the TF for XP (not the badge), poorly built/slotted team members, too many squishies on the team, horrible lag (glad they finally fixed it!), or a lack of aggro and damage mitigation. I probably attempted it about 10 times or more, all failures.

This team, which is not the most "conventional" team make up for a MoITF, I finally got the dang badge. Our team had zero support characters (no h3al0rz!!1) where the only "support" type is the Spider with the team buffs. But to make up for the lack of support, our team was a damn sturdy team, with plenty of aggro management.

I guess, it also helped that there was about 4 other team members who have been running those MoITF attempts with me previously, so we were able to learn together from past mistakes.

The team also included a few members who were not all level 50 (I think 3 people dinged during the TF), or had fully IO'd builds, but it went pretty smoothly because the team actually worked together and there was communication and follow-through. There were a total of 3 *heart attack moments* but we've recovered otherwise, and I'm proud to finally be sporting my new badge!

Next on the list is to get the Master of 5th Column TF on for Ms Ann! Given the fact that I've been running that TF ad nauseam before my mini-break, that I have a pretty good handle on how to successfully complete it.

Rebuilding Ms Ann, Invulnerability & Battle Axe Tanker

The last time I touched Ms Ann's build was about 2 years ago. Since then, things obviously changed with the addition of more IO sets and some changes to powers. Previously, she had the Hammi-Os slotted and I've found that fully slotting IOs worked out better stat wise, due to the changes and ED.

So this post is all about my new build. I wanted to make her a well rounded tanker and make up in her deficiencies. The goal primarily is to get some Psi defense/resistance, more overall defenses, and beefing up the regeneration, as it was for my previous build.

Since she is my main, influence was no object and I was fine with spending a few billion influence on getting her the perfect build.

I've considered slotting purple sets, but the only purple sets I can slot are attack types. Sure, recovery, accuracy, and recharge bonus is nice, and its certainly great for other ATs, but not needed for a tanker, at least not this tanker. In fact, if I slot the purples, they take away from the regeneration and psionic def/res which goes against my goals.

If they ever came out with purple defense or resistance sets, then I would be all over that.

Some slots have been rearranged, but the power choices remain largely the same as it was, with the exception of dropping conserve power for the physical perfection.

Now without further adieu, here's Ms Ann's new build: 

Here's the text version:

Hero Plan by Mids' Hero Designer 1.707
http://www.cohplanner.com
Click this DataLink to open the build!

Ms Ann: Level 50 Natural Tanker
Primary Power Set: Invulnerability
Secondary Power Set: Battle Axe
Power Pool: Fitness
Power Pool: Leaping
Power Pool: Speed
Ancillary Pool: Energy Mastery

Hero Profile:
Level 1:  Temp Invulnerability  --  ImpArm-ResPsi(A), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(3), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(3), ImpArm-ResDam(5)
Level 1:  Beheader  --  C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(23), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(23), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(31), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(33), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33)
Level 2:  Resist Physical Damage  --  ImpArm-ResPsi(A), ImpArm-ResDam(7), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(9), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(9), Aegis-Psi/Status(50)
Level 4:  Dull Pain  --  Numna-Heal/Rchg(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(5), Numna-EndRdx/Rchg(7), H'zdH-EndRdx/Rchg(11), H'zdH-Heal/Rchg(11), H'zdH-Heal/EndRdx(13)
Level 6:  Swift  --  Run-I(A)
Level 8:  Combat Jumping  --  LkGmblr-Rchg+(A)
Level 10:  Unyielding  --  ImpArm-ResPsi(A), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(13), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(15), ImpArm-ResDam(15), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(42)
Level 12:  Taunt  --  Mocking-Rchg(A), Mocking-Taunt(43)
Level 14:  Super Jump  --  Jump-I(A)
Level 16:  Health  --  Numna-Heal(A), Numna-Heal/EndRdx(17), Numna-Heal/Rchg(17)
Level 18:  Invincibility  --  LkGmblr-Def(A), LkGmblr-Rchg+(19), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(19), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx/Rchg(21), LkGmblr-EndRdx/Rchg(21), GSFC-Build%(40)
Level 20:  Resist Energies  --  ImpArm-ResPsi(A), ImpArm-ResDam(42), ImpArm-ResDam/Rchg(43), ImpArm-ResDam/EndRdx(43)
Level 22:  Swoop  --  C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg(A), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(37), C'ngImp-Dmg/EndRdx(46), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), C'ngImp-Dmg/Rchg(48), C'ngImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48)
Level 24:  Stamina  --  Efficacy-EndMod/EndRdx(A), Efficacy-EndMod/Acc(25), Efficacy-EndMod(25)
Level 26:  Tough Hide  --  LkGmblr-Rchg+(A), LkGmblr-Def(27), LkGmblr-Def/Rchg(27), LkGmblr-Def/EndRdx(34)
Level 28:  Whirling Axe  --  Sciroc-Dam%(A), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29), Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(29), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(33), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(34), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(34)
Level 30:  Build Up  --  AdjTgt-Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/Rchg(31), AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg(31)
Level 32:  Unstoppable  --  RechRdx-I(A)
Level 35:  Cleave  --  Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(36), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(36), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(36), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(37), Sciroc-Dam%(37)
Level 38:  Pendulum  --  Sciroc-Acc/Rchg(A), Sciroc-Dmg/Rchg(39), Sciroc-Dmg/EndRdx(39), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg(39), Sciroc-Dam%(40), Sciroc-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(40)
Level 41:  Focused Accuracy  --  AdjTgt-EndRdx/Rchg(A), AdjTgt-ToHit/EndRdx(42)
Level 44:  Physical Perfection  --  Numna-Regen/Rcvry+(A), Numna-Heal(45), Mrcl-Rcvry+(45), Mrcl-Heal(45), P'Shift-End%(46), P'Shift-EndMod(46)
Level 47:  Hasten  --  RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(50), RechRdx-I(50)
Level 49:  Super Speed  --  Run-I(A)
------------
Level 1:  Brawl  --  Acc-I(A)
Level 1:  Sprint  --  Run-I(A)
Level 2:  Rest  --  RechRdx-I(A)
Level 1:  Gauntlet
Level 6:  Ninja Run

Here's the Survival Stats with all my toggles up: 

Here's the Bonus Effects:

+4% DamageBuff(All)
+4.69% Defense(Fire/Cold)
+16.9% Defense(Psionic)
+9.38% Defense(AoE)
+10.8% Max End
+59% Enhancement(Accuracy)
+32.5% Enhancement(RechargeTime)
+5% FlySpeed
+175.7 HP (9.38%) HitPoints
+5% JumpHeight/JumpSpeed
+MezResist(Confused) 1.65%
+MezResist(Held) 5.5%
+MezResist(Immobilize) 4.4%
+15.5% (0.26 End/sec) Recovery
+86% (6.73 HP/sec) Regeneration
+1.26% Resistance(Energy)
+10.6% Resistance(Negative)
+20% Resistance(Psionic)
+5% RunSpeed

If you want to see the build yourself in Mids: 
| Copy & Paste this data into Mids' Hero Designer to view the build |
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------|

Feel free to comment or send me any questions.

The Zombie Invasion! Mmmm Brains...

My second night back and I jumped right into the special event for Halloween. This year's event consists of Trick or Treating, where you can click on doors in level compliant zones to receive either a trick or a treat. Treats consist of inspirations, which are one-time instant buff items. Tricks consist of an assortment of Halloween themed spawns, like witches, werewolves and zombies. You receive special badges after defeating a certain number of these spawns.

The newer special event is the Zombie Invasion. This is when zones are randomly invaded by spawns of zombies. Defeating different types of these zombies also awards badges as well.

Tonight, no surprise, I played again as my main hero, Ms Ann, an Invulnerability & Battle Axe Tanker.

Trick or treating with a random Pick up Group (PUG).

Since I already had the Trick or Treat badges, I left the PUG after a helping them out a bit to participate in the zombie invasion.

The invasion in full swing!

Getting a nice aura heal from someone.. those zombies are tough, ya know!

More kickassery! I have no idea where I am in this picture..

The night was fun. I earned four new event badges. What more can a girl ask for?

Next time, I'll be getting some badges for my main villain character, Zetsumei.