Freeze and his Epic power pool...

[Freeze Warning]

So it took me nearly a year, but Freeze Warning finally hit SL 41. And with that new level came a decision that I have been torn over since they implemented the Epic power pools. Ice Mastery seemed the obvious choice to begin with, but Psionic Mastery really outstrips it in usefulness to my character. I want to continue with my concept, but Ice mastery holds so little appeal for me... am I abandoning Freeze's concept by going with the more useful EPP or will explaining it in character make up for the difference?

First, I'll tell you why I'm not interested in what Ice Mastery has to offer. Ice blast I like and would love to have, but the other three powers don't appeal to me. Hibernate would be mostly useless as a power for a controller as squishy as me, and is kind of iffy when it comes to a power that the techs would ever install in the Freeze Warning suit. Frozen Armor, while incredibly useful, would do much to obscure my suit, and while it would tie in well with Jack Frost, I never liked the idea of overt armor. Ice storm, while nice, is a powered up duplicate of Freezing rain in many ways. I'd just like to have something a little different.

Now, I'll give some possible explanations as to why Psionic Mastery might work (this is the part I really would like people to shoot holes in or agree with). I have no reason to take Mental Blast, nor do I plan to, but Indomitable Will is a hugely useful set of resistances, and has just the sort of graphics that I feel the Freeze Warning suit should have for it's defenses. The same goes for Mind over Body too, they both appear to be energy based and give that 'force field' feel to the suit that I would prefer over overt armor (I will admit that the defense of Ice Armor is more appealing than the resistances of Mind over Body except when MoB is combined with Indomitable Will). Now I've seen Psionic Tornado, which I plan to take, and it's emulation of a tornado is pretty good, so I think that I could get away with it considering my Storm powers. The real hard thing to explain in all of this is why I would do psionic damage with a tornado, and why I am resistant to psionic damage... I don't have a lot of ideas there.

Anyway, all opinions welcomed... I am just wondering if I'm selling out.

Freeze

Oh yeah, if you read this Lox, what're you planning on doing when SL41 comes around?

[Emerald Sky]

I'm in a similar situation here actually. ES is earth/storm, so the obvious choice is to stick with the stone mastery. However, he was originally supposed to be a jack-of-all-trades elementalist. I've actually considered going with fire mastery...he'd have earth, ice (freezing rain, snow storm), weather, and then fire. Pretty well-rounded I'd say.

[Freeze Warning]

The Fire epic power pool for controllers is stocked full of useful and graphically pleasing powers. I can see how it'd be perfect for a situation like yours. So will you choose it to round out the concept or are you tempted by other pools that might prove even more useful to you?

I thought that I'd just pop back in and give a quick list of the powers I have so far, so everyone could see where I've been trying to go with my selections up to this point.

From Ice control, I took: Block of Ice, Frost Bite, Arctic Air, Ice Slick, Glacier, and Jack Frost.

From Storm Summoning, I took: Gale, O2 Boost, Snow Storm, Steamy Mist, Freezing Rain, Thunder Clap, Tornado, and Lightning Storm (and I plan to take Hurricane)

From the Flight power pool, I took: Hover, Fly, and Group Fly.

And From the Speed power pool, I took: Flurry, Hasten, and Whirlwind.

So, up to this point, I've pretty well stuck with the whole wind and temperature control motiff with only a few exceptions.

Freeze

[Magestic Wintre]

I currently have a level 48 Ice/Emp Controller on Justice that has the Psionic Mastery Epic Set. At level 41 I was faced with the same decision as you. I chose the Psionic because of it's value. I too contemplated the Ice mastery because it just "made sense." After much deliberation I chose Psionic because it was what I needed to be a better controller. I didn't take mental blast... I chose IW and MOB and Psi Tornado. Prior to having IW... DE was lethal.. choking would almost alway institute death of myself and almost always the rest of my team that depended on my empathy set. So the IW appealed very much.

Shortly after chosing IW... I entered into the Eden trial....thinkin "Oh yea.. you can't hurt me DE!" Well that wasn't exactly the case. I was very disappointed with my epic choice at this point with IW single slotted and seriously considered the respec. After consulting a few other hero's they explained just give IW a chance... slot the power and you'll be a lot happier. Their advice was right.... 6 slotted IW ROCKS!! Then onto MOB.... once it's 6 slotted the toggle doesn't get knocked off as much and it is also pretty awesome.

I think you will be happy with your choice. I certainly am now. Just wanted to give you a heads up.... the Psi pool may be slightly disappointing until slotted.... after that.... the Psi pool is like gold!

Good Luck! :)

[Quakester]

She can post?! About time! And she posted something useful! Bonus points! :P

[Magestic Wintre]

:::: Pokes Quake in the eye::::: I used to think you were nice! :think:

[Quakester]

:::: Pokes Quake in the eye::::: I used to think you were nice! :think:

I am...I borught you here didn't I? :shinner: