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Post by blaflaix on Mar 14, 2015 22:33:03 GMT -5
I created a dimensional damage character.
Right from the start (lvl 6) I had energy problems. I was using the energy builder constantly and even fighting henchmen was like pulling teeth.
I switch to support role to see if it could help... and it works! The damage penalty is trivial compared to the massive boost in energy and equilibrium.
Several levels later (lvl 15) I have secondary super stats, I have equipment, I have an energy unlock, I have Seraphim and I am an Unstoppable God of Death!
I switch back to Hybrid and... meh. It isn't as bad as lvl 6, but I occasionally use my energy builder and it is definitely a step down from the support role.
Keep in mind, I am soloing. I don't have any cc and the only time I heal is when all the enemies die and I accidentally target myself with a rebuke, so why is the Support Role so powerful?
Theory #1: Support Role is awesome, the only reason it isn't used more is because people don't realize how awesome Seraphim is.
Theory #2: The other Roles are awesome too, just Hybrid stinks.
Theory #3: At low level energy matters more, at higher levels the damage penalty will really start to hurt. I should plan on switching to Hybrid by lvl XX.
Any thoughts?
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Post by not1stepbackwards on Mar 15, 2015 8:09:48 GMT -5
This was insightful. I liked how you're soloing, you tested things out empirically, 1st principles, not parroting someone else's words. I'll just add what I've observed to your findings: Theory #1: Support Role is awesome, the only reason it isn't used more is because people don't realize how awesome Seraphim is. Very likely. I think we can agree CO is a comic book/cartoon/etc-inspired game. It's hard to identify Support Role characters from comics/cartoons/etc. Alfred the Butler, maybe Professor X? I don't think our COmrades are dumb, but I can see it's easy for them to simply -overlook- the Support Role. The same with angelic characters, so again it's easier to overlook Seraphim. That said, I've noticed some top players run DPS builds in the Support role...and they're usually these magic-themed builds, like from the Celestial set. Thanks to your post, now I can imagine why. Theory #2: The other Roles are awesome too, just Hybrid stinks. I'm revising my statement here. Basically, it's more complicated than that. I agree that it's usually easier to optimise a dedicated Melee DPS/Ranged DPS/Support/Tank build rather than a Hybrid. When people go Hybrid over those options, there must be a very compelling reason. But those compelling reasons certainly do exist. I believe the combination of Unleashed Rage + Strafing Run is one such reason we often see. I'm wondering if, over the years, a number of -indirect- nerfs (like the Dodge readjustment) affected the Hybrid builds. As in, in typical Cryptic fashion, if there were a few OP Hybrid builds, Cryptic somehow nerfed all Hybrid builds to compensate. But, it's a complex issue. Theory #3: At low level energy matters more, at higher levels the damage penalty will really start to hurt. I should plan on switching to Hybrid by lvl XX. Possibly, depends on your build. Whereas damage and survivability scale pretty tidy and linear-like to your level, energy management can be fuzzy. For example, Intelligence is my preferred Energy-related stat, but it really only kicks in in the later levels (compared to, say, Recovery). (Another funny example of how tool-tips are wrong; Overdrive from Power Armor says it scales from Int, but actually seems to benefit more from Rec.) Keep in mind, I am soloing. I don't have any cc and the only time I heal is when all the enemies die and I accidentally target myself with a rebuke, so why is the Support Role so powerful? Lol, that's a pretty funny example. Very interesting, your thoughts. [Edited to be shorter, more precise]
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Post by plinske on Mar 16, 2015 13:02:25 GMT -5
I have issues with energy in all my toons, even the one with recovery and intelligence secondary or those in tank role, so I'm always using energy builder. I admire the people who never use EB ... I usually switch to Support role whenever I'm soloing Elite Lairs or some Legendary Boss is available, for when the fight is long, having more energy equilibrium in addition to more survival and better heals (crit heals of 10K) makes difference. In the normal content and group content (including rampages) hybrid all the way, for when mobs not last more than a few seconds a bit more % damage do not hurt.
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