Just about had it.

[Malibu Sally]

This is going to be a long winded rant. So if rants are not your cup of tea, then please skip this thread entirely.

I played CoH a total of 20 hours between Saturday morning and Monday morning. During that time, I was on a grand total of three teams. Two were with members of this community and one with my SG. This post will focus on the two teams with the members here.(I am giving my SG an earfull about the one team I was on with them)

One team I was on, I had to BEG to be allowed in. Once in, everything went pretty well for about 30 minutes. Then the server crashed.(the big 4 hour crash on Sunday) The other team was one I tried to put together to take on an AV. There were over 25 people from these boards in game at the time, and only ONE person bothered to respond to repeated requests for assistance. Even then, this person gave me crap about how my mission was not set at "Invincible" and once in, all the mobs were greens and blues.(this is what happens when TWO weeks of asking for help go unanswered... one starts outleveling the mission) My beef here is that I am constantly told by the people here that "Oh.. I'll team with you anytime, Sally". But when it comes time to actually do it... dead silence, AND I have to beg/threaten/plead to build or be allowed on a team.

No. I don't want to force anyone to team with me. That is not the purpose of this post. I DO want people to stop telling me that they will team and then not do it. That's what is irking me. Especially since being in the 40 to 50 range pretty much requires teaming because there is an AV in every other mission.

All this just reaffirms my previous rants that blasters are unneeded and unwanted on teams post level 40.(except to act as PL bridges) I had my "seek team" flag up the entire weekend and the only offers I got(two of them) were for PL groups. The arena is not helping things either. Too many people are now living their entire game lives in that damn thing. And after level 45, too many people are focusing on Hamidon raids to bother with "mundane" game activity.

All the above being said, I am semi-retiring Sally and will be creating a tanker or scrapper as my new main. I don't see those AT's having anywhere near the lack of desireability on teams as blasters. I'll be starting a new thread soon to see if people can help me come up with which AT to pick and what kind of build to use.(and select a decent name) :(

[Krypto]

Fire/EM Tanker. >:]

[Esbat]

Wah!

Not another semi-retiring... :(

But Dog wufs Sally :cry:

[Poison]

You didn't have to beg to get in. I just didn't see your requests in the spam of the channel.

I am bugged by 2 things in the global channel:
this weekend, as Sally says, there were 20+ people in there. Do you think even one says "hello"? I know sometimes you're not in the mood to chat or in a fight or RP... but hell, a simple hello or bye, where are the manners?

And 2nd, who the hell are all those people? Lately I have been seeing global handles I just can't relate to anyone, mostly those people don't talk either. The channel is open to all, of course, but most of all it's for the community of this forum. So personally I'd like to know who is in there.

[Chain Lightning]

WOW. I for one was out of town Saturday and didn't get home until 10:00 PM EST, so I didn't get in until about 10:15-10:30. Sunday I never logged in. I wish the hell I had been around when you needed help. I'm really sorry to hear you had a miserable time either trying to get a team started, or on the ones you did get started. One of the main reasons I changed SG's was I found I was teaming with my current one a lot more than I did with my original SG. I know you're in a rather high position with the 'Babes, but maybe you should consider leaving. I did that, and while it was extremely hard for me to do so, I found that I was teaming more and more with the new SG that I joined and it just felt like the right move for me.



Okay well my offer still stands to help you out. And I'm going to make it a lot easier for you.
Global handle is @ChainLightning.
Add it, use it. I've told you more than once that I'd be willing to help you out, but to be totally honest, I rarely see you on when I'm on, and you've never asked me for help when we have both been on at the same time. So by all means, add me to global friends that way even if I'm on alt you can find me.
Also, and this is a personal preferrence of mine. DON'T use the global channels to ask for help. I know that with all that goes on sometimes I will NEVER see more than half the conversations that go on in the global chats.
SEND A TELL. I'm not yelling as much as I'm stressing the point. I always send a tell to people when I'm looking for help. I find people respond to it better and I also personally like to have a /t first asking me to come along and help them.

Also if you make a new toon, I'll help out there too. I have alts I can always bring in team with you.

[Sebastian Kain]

And 2nd, who the hell are all those people? Lately I have been seeing global handles I just can't relate to anyone, mostly those people don't talk either. The channel is open to all, of course, but most of all it's for the community of this forum. So personally I'd like to know who is in there.

I agree. and I'm sorry to hear that Sally. :(

[Sword]

You didn't have to beg to get in. I just didn't see your requests in the spam of the channel.

I am bugged by 2 things in the global channel:
this weekend, as Sally says, there were 20+ people in there. Do you think even one says "hello"? I know sometimes you're not in the mood to chat or in a fight or RP... but hell, a simple hello or bye, where are the manners?

And 2nd, who the hell are all those people? Lately I have been seeing global handles I just can't relate to anyone, mostly those people don't talk either. The channel is open to all, of course, but most of all it's for the community of this forum. So personally I'd like to know who is in there.

Gotta agree with everything Poison said here. Who are all these silent types hanging around in our chat room? Who invited them and why aren't they saying anything?
I atleast try to throw in a "good morning" or something when I log in, but it's real quiet in the chat most of the time. And of all the people in it, I've had maybe two people respond when I'm asking for somone to team with.



Oh, and Sally... I'll team with you anytime. :P

Seriously, I'd team with you if I had any heroes high enough on Virtue, but my lvl42 is stuck on Victory.

[Krypto]

And 2nd, who the hell are all those people? Lately I have been seeing global handles I just can't relate to anyone, mostly those people don't talk either.

Agreed. Who are most of those people?


Oh, and Sally... I'll team with you anytime. :P

That looks...so wrong...

[The Icy One]

Yea, that place is really quiet.. and every time I look for a team on there I hardly ever get a response. I try to get conversations going or continuing whenever I can though.. usually not good at starting them, but we've had a few good chats on there.

[Sebastian Kain]

Good to see I'm not alone. :( :)


I told ya K-Money I wasn't scaring people away....well not intentionally.


Note: K-Money is the player formely known has Krypto. :P

[Krypto]

Good to see I'm not alone. :( :)


I told ya K-Money I wasn't scaring people away....well not intentionally.


Note: K-Money is the player formely known has Krypto. :P


lol, well I talk every chance I get when I get in game. I think i might talk a bit *too* much sometimes, though.

Global handle is SVTKrypto, but that's pretty damn obvious.

[Lawmaker]

I'm there sometimes... Although as my highest character on Virtue is a huge level 4, I really don't respond to LFG messages much. I do say hi when I'm on though. All of maybe 2 times a week for a couple of hours. :( <real life sucks>

But just so you know who the strangers aren't my global chat is:

@Lawmaker and/or @Traumatica (because 8 slots is just not enough! :) )

[suburbanhell]

Sorry to hear of your frustration Sal -- I know your pain though, I almost need to beg to get on a team with anyone a lot myself (though this has thankfully been starting to change) -- as for not answering, if I was on that list of actives -- I put PCity to the side if I'm helping out on another team so I can focus on them -- but if I have nothing to do I'm one of the first one's going oh me me me let me help!... Anyway, Major 0bvious would be more than happy to tank for you anytime, if you don't mind SKing him since our levels are vastly different at the time being...

[Quakester]

I know what you mean, Sally. My highest on Virtue is only 13 and there are terribly few on Justice. If you ever decide to come to Justice, I'll be happy to team with you. I love blasters. :chuckle:

[Krypto]

Blasters suck.
That is all.

However, when I team with people, I team with them for the company. As long as we can get the job done, I'm not picky.

[Kurai Inago]

Honestly though, sorry about it being such a hassle to get on the team with Me, Poison and Sech, but We didn't see you ask for an invite, the channel was pretty busy. I also apologize for gettting everyone killed. Repeatedly.

[Quakester]

All I know is I signed in yesterday and said hello and about 15 minutes later Electrical Burn said hello. That was the only response. So I know what Sally is talking about.

[Sebastian Kain]

All I know is I signed in yesterday and said hello and about 15 minutes later Electrical Burn said hello. That was the only response. So I know what Sally is talking about.

Pfft...that's nothing. I've full conversations with myself for more than 30 mins prolly. O_o


I say we just make a new chat channel..and call it Cohguru since we are no longer :symbol:

[ThunderMace]

I'm as guilty as anyone of not saying hello. I usually have a couple of chats going on so I can't keep them straight anyway. I usually chime in with a smart ass remark once in a while.

Also since my global is different from my board name that might be confusing (@SuperThunder)

I'm also as guilty as anyone of not teaming. When I do team with you all I usually have a pretty good time, but I have always been solo oriented.

[Poison]

I say we just make a new chat channel..and call it Cohguru since we are no longer :symbol: I was actually going to suggest that soon.

[Tsarmina]

I am bugged by 2 things in the global channel:
this weekend, as Sally says, there were 20+ people in there. Do you think even one says "hello"? I know sometimes you're not in the mood to chat or in a fight or RP... but hell, a simple hello or bye, where are the manners?
Sometimes I don't have my global chat window open. If I'm busy with a tough mission I close the extras so I won't be distracted and I tend to forget to open it again.
I try to assume that when I say something and no one responds, that all are too busy to reply.

I saw you asking for help Sally, I'm guilty of not responding. I should have even though I couldn't help you. Sowwy. :(

The Prez makes a good point.... though I still consider us Pcity.

[Sebastian Kain]

It would take Sally to make a thread about something that I've been complaining about all along. It's not a new problem..it happens everyday for some of us. (too much most of the time)

I made a SWO channel for my SG and for friends of my SG but that was ages ago. I've forgotten exactly what I called it. :(

But I'm all for the new channel. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

good job

[Akamaz]

everyone knows that as long as it doesn't involve a hazard zone, Agent Q is your man when it comes to a team up. sure he needs a SK for handing with most of you all, but to paraphrase Meatloaf

I would do anything for teams

[Krypto]

Porkchop sandwiches! :o

[Malibu Sally]

Blasters suck.
That is all.

However, when I team with people, I team with them for the company. As long as we can get the job done, I'm not picky.

BINGO!

THAT is why its a huge pain to find a team. Because "Blasters suck." I mean why bother taking one on your team when a scrapper can do almost as much damage yet take infinately more punishment? Hell, I've seen pet controllers doing damn near as much damage and not getting near the return fire blasters get. With all these types doing so much damage and being more survivable, what point is there for even HAVING a blaster AT?

[Malibu Sally]

Honestly though, sorry about it being such a hassle to get on the team with Me, Poison and Sech, but We didn't see you ask for an invite, the channel was pretty busy. I also apologize for gettting everyone killed. Repeatedly.

I don't mind the two deaths... that stuff happens. I was a bit irked that I had to resort to using all caps just to get noticed for the invite. And I have to wonder... if I was a total stranger, would I have gotten one?

[The Widowed]

BINGO!

THAT is why its a huge pain to find a team. Because "Blasters suck." I mean why bother taking one on your team when a scrapper can do almost as much damage yet take infinately more punishment? Hell, I've seen pet controllers doing damn near as much damage and not getting near the return fire blasters get. With all these types doing so much damage and being more survivable, what point is there for even HAVING a blaster AT?
Because I like the little traps you set for the bad guys? :)

I have noticed that's one things Blasters (and their Secondaries) have which nobody else really does: Booby traps. From caltrops to ice patches to trip mines. Maybe it would improve the Blasters' lot if the traps-at-a-time limits were increased or if the recharge time for those were cut in half.

I don't mind the two deaths... that stuff happens. I was a bit irked that I had to resort to using all caps just to get noticed for the invite. And I have to wonder... if I was a total stranger, would I have gotten one?[/color]
You forgot your pink.

I don't mind the two deaths... that stuff happens. I was a bit irked that I had to resort to using all caps just to get noticed for the invite. And I have to wonder... if I was a total stranger, would I have gotten one?
That's better. :D

[Malibu Sally]

[b]It would take Sally to make a thread about something that I've been complaining about all along. It's not a new problem..it happens everyday for some of us. (too much most of the time)
That is because your boobs arent big and bouncy enough! People respond better somehow to fine rack.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/MalibuSally/smilies/sally.gif :P :chuckle: :cool:

[Masked Revenger]

I know that I try to say Hi everytime I log in, just to say Hi. As for teaming with people here, my highest toon is 20, and that's Masked Revenger on Victory. My highest alt on Virtue is level 9. Makes it difficult to team with people who are all in their mid to late 40's. :P

Chris

[Quakester]

BINGO!

THAT is why its a huge pain to find a team. Because "Blasters suck." I mean why bother taking one on your team when a scrapper can do almost as much damage yet take infinately more punishment? Hell, I've seen pet controllers doing damn near as much damage and not getting near the return fire blasters get. With all these types doing so much damage and being more survivable, what point is there for even HAVING a blaster AT?

Come to Justice! I think the majority of the Justice folks here are blasters. :D

[Malibu Sally]

Because I like the little traps you set for the bad guys? :)

I have noticed that's one things Blasters (and their Secondaries) have which nobody else really does: Booby traps. From caltrops to ice patches to trip mines. Maybe it would improve the Blasters' lot if the traps-at-a-time limits were increased or if the recharge time for those were cut in half.


You forgot your pink. :D

There is something seriously wrong with tripmines. Ever since I3 was released, they have been acting buggy. Anything that is not within its range when planted has a very good chance to not trip the mine when they come within range and even if it goes off, there is a very good chance that no damage will done. If I stealth up to a mob and plant the mine, the chances of success(both in tripping and inflicting damage) are MUCH better than if I set up a trap and lure something into it.

The devices secondary(even with the cruddy mines) is still the best blaster secondary for PvE. It absolutely BLOWS for PvP. Almost all the powers are dependant upon the enemy's stupidity. When real players are involved, things like mines, timebomb, cloaking device, and smoke grenade are useless. The mines and bombs can be seen(even with the stealth factor they now have), plus they take forever to set up, cloak dosen't conceal a damned thing, and neither does smoke grenade.

Added the pink in the earlier post.

[Sebastian Kain]

That is because your boobs arent big and bouncy enough! People respond better somehow to fine rack.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/MalibuSally/smilies/sally.gif :P :chuckle: :cool:

That's something you do have me beat with...I can make my pecs jump up and ddown but that's about it.

[Remianen]

I'm with Mina.

Sometimes when playing (especially when playing one of my defenders), I generally close the tab to avoid being distracted (yes, it's happened before). Besides that, I'm still a few weeks away from even being a decent sidekick. But I'm always willing to team with any and everyone with any member of my brood.

I had heard tell upon my return to CoH a few months ago that the game was no longer the "City of Blasters" I remembered. So I fell back on my second favorite AT (Scrapper) and found a new favorite (Defender). With my fairly limited knowledge of encounter design (and usually only from the play or testing end), it would seem that some kind of new mobs/encounters need to be developed to give the blaster AT a more pivotal role IMO. Maybe one with insanely high dmg output that shreds scrappers and thus requires lots and lots of blaster damage? Maybe make it immune to smashing and lethal damage but highly susceptible to ice/fire/elec/energy? Would leave the AR blasters with only one viable attack (flamethrower?) but would definitely make blasters more desireable in general. Just a thought.

Oh and Sally, I agree wit Krypto. Fire/EM tanker or */regen scrapper would be my suggestion if those are the only two ATs you'd consider.

[Krypto]

I dunno, Vendel got me pretty good with his tripmines. Granted, I still floored him, but heh...

Blasters certainly don't suck in teams, it's just that solo they are a pain in the ass.

BINGO!

THAT is why its a huge pain to find a team. Because "Blasters suck." I mean why bother taking one on your team when a scrapper can do almost as much damage yet take infinately more punishment?

And yet, the exact same thing can be said of Scrappers. Why have a Scrapper when you can have a Tanker that can protect his teammates, take in a metric ****ton of damage, and deal good, if not Scrapper-level, damage? Exactly, there is absolutely no reason to choose a Scrapper instead of a Tanker. And in that case, why pick a Scrapper when a Blaster can deal much more damage, and boom when the Tanker herds?

It's quite interesting, the same can be said of Controllers regarding Defenders as well. Why have a Defender when you can have a Controller that buffs teammates, and is also able to crowd control?

This is the inherent flaw with the Archetype system, especially when powers overlap. One set is ALWAYS going to have their toes stepped on by another.

[D'Arkaine]

Sally, I hear you on that score. My main Vindicator is in the same boat. Two AV missions and a kora mission currently fill his docket. If you catch me on, we can tag team our AVs :) (Vind is a lvl45 en/en blaster)

I have been playing my alts a lot lately just because of this type of blaster issue. I have gone hours street sweeping with team seek on with nary a nibble.

[Poison]

Always this AT-racism. "I get no team because I'm a blaster!". Though I believe that people actually say this crap, I find it utter bull****. Either I want to team or I don't want to. The only possible problem could be if the levels differ too much and I don't want to SK someone or if there aren't enough mentors. If someone ever told me "we've got room, but not for a defender (or whatever AT)", I'd get a plane ticket and smack that player over personally. And when I'm back home, put him on my ignore list.

[Quakester]

Always this AT-racism. "I get no team because I'm a blaster!". Though I believe that people actually say this crap, I find it utter bull****. Either I want to team or I don't want to. The only possible problem could be if the levels differ too much and I don't want to SK someone or if there aren't enough mentors. If someone ever told me "we've got room, but not for a defender (or whatever AT)", I'd get a plane ticket and smack that player over personally. And when I'm back home, put him on my ignore list.

They generally don't state it, you just don't get invited.

[Randomus]

I have the same issue pretty often. I mean, forcefields are useless past level 40. Everyone's def is already capped and FFs don't offer anything other then def buffs. Nobody wants a guy who's only going to slow down their framerates. If someone's teaming with me, it's because they're in the mood to team and I'm free.

It's always going to be hard to find a high-level team because the majority of the solo classes (tankers, controllers with pets, scrappers) don't need a team unless they're doing an AV, and so don't waste their time teaming up with people. It's sad, but it's how the game is.

[Quakester]

I have the same issue pretty often. I mean, forcefields are useless past level 40. Everyone's def is already capped and FFs don't offer anything other then def buffs. Nobody wants a guy who's only going to slow down their framerates. If someone's teaming with me, it's because they're in the mood to team and I'm free.

It's always going to be hard to find a high-level team because the majority of the solo classes (tankers, controllers with pets, scrappers) don't need a team unless they're doing an AV, and so don't waste their time teaming up with people. It's sad, but it's how the game is.

The only people who need FF are blasters. There ya go.

[Sebastian Kain]

Well when ever the hell I get to 40ish..I"ll team with you Sally..whenever your ready. :P





By then You'll prolly be 50 and I'll be the real president by then.. :(

[Malibu Sally]

Always this AT-racism. "I get no team because I'm a blaster!". Though I believe that people actually say this crap, I find it utter bull****. Either I want to team or I don't want to. The only possible problem could be if the levels differ too much and I don't want to SK someone or if there aren't enough mentors. If someone ever told me "we've got room, but not for a defender (or whatever AT)", I'd get a plane ticket and smack that player over personally. And when I'm back home, put him on my ignore list.

It's not bull**** Poison. It's real. I did not believe it existed until my late 30's. It's real to the point of having teammates discuss, right in front of me, getting another scrapper because "blasters are a waste of space". It's real in that I HAVE been booted from teams to make room for more "useful" AT's. It's real in that I have had defenders tell me that their powers are reserved for the "real" combatants and not to expect ANY help from them whatsoever and yet be lectured by the same defender for running when 5 mobs jumped on me. It's real in that I have been yelled at for causing knockback when in fact, the knockback was from an energy bolt tossed by the team defender. It's real in that I have been referred to as "just another pet" by a few controllers. It's real in that the most common offer I get for teaming is to be a PL bridge. It's real in that I have literally stood and done nothing for entire battles and NO ONE noticed the difference.

You may act and play different, but in my experience, the overwhelming majority of players I come across are exactly like I have described. They don't want to take the chance with someone who may die if a dog so much as takes a leak in their general vicinity and only deals marginally more damage than others. This is very frustrating... especially since I really don't die that much.(I have never had more than 80k of debt...ever. I run when trouble happens; it keeps me alive)

[Quakester]

As bad as it sounds, Sally is right. It does happen. Since they upped the HP of all the enemies, blaster damage doesn't scale well enoguh for the later game. Post 40, blasters become nearly useless. While we can still wipe out some relatively quickly, too often we won't survive their return strike. I'm just fortunate that I've had some pretty good friends on.

[Malibu Sally]

I can still solo somewhat. As long as there are no bosses, I can stealth and smoke the mob, run up and plant a trip mine or time bomb, and pick off survivors.... as long as there are no mezzers and as long as I keep running to a contact every 5 minutes to restock on lucks.

My most common death when soloing is the following: Mob contains one or two minions(white or yellow) and one Lt.(usually orange or yellow...with some form of mez) I smoke and stealth, then mine or time bomb(if more than 3 minions). If the mine does not kill the minions right away, I am most probably dead because the Lt. will mez me and the minions chop me to pieces. It usually only takes 3 or 4 hits to do this.

The "snipe and duck" tactic does not work either. It's amazing how those mezzes follow you around corners.

[Tsarmina]

It's real in that the most common offer I get for teaming is to be a PL bridge.
What exactly is that? I've heard that a few times and I can't figure out what it means.

And I am never picky about what AT I team up with. I cannot mock how other's play their char when the most common thing for my team to say is "run Hollis RUN". *shrug* I play to have fun. I know my chars aren't the most effective and that don't bother me none. Though I do feel bad when someone dies more often than me... and that is alot. :P

[Quakester]

What exactly is that? I've heard that a few times and I can't figure out what it means.



It means that you are the person SK'ng the lowbie who needs PLing.

[Remianen]

Always this AT-racism. "I get no team because I'm a blaster!". Though I believe that people actually say this crap, I find it utter bull****. Either I want to team or I don't want to. The only possible problem could be if the levels differ too much and I don't want to SK someone or if there aren't enough mentors. If someone ever told me "we've got room, but not for a defender (or whatever AT)", I'd get a plane ticket and smack that player over personally. And when I'm back home, put him on my ignore list.

Sorry Poison, though I haven't experienced what Sally and Quake, et all mention personally in CoH, I have seen it occur in damn near every major MMO since EverQuest dropped in '99. It's not a new phenomenon and people aren't as forgiving or unseeing as they were back then. We live in a day of parsing and 'DPS' and 'optimal builds'. Is it any wonder folks choose teammates who will help them accomplish their goals the quickest or easiest? I don't think CoH is all that different from its predecessors since a large number of players shuffle from MMO to MMO, taking their views, opinions, and playstyles with them. So if having 'melee damage' is less maintenance/higher reward than 'magic damage', these folks are going to shun the blasters and load up on tankers and scrappers.

That's why, as miserable and maybe 'whiny' as it may sound at first glance, I can't discount that viewpoint at all cuz I've seen it in every MMO I've played (Jenquai Explorers in Earth and Beyond, Fixers in post-Shadowlands AO, a variety of classes over the years in EverQuest, Warriors in post-release WoW, bounty hunters in SWG for a long time, etc) so it doesn't surprise me. They made a subtle change (upping mob hp) that basically eliminated the small lead blasters had over scrappers (at least on paper). Now they just have to tweak things a lil bit.

[Krypto]

It's real to the point of having teammates discuss, right in front of me, getting another scrapper because "blasters are a waste of space". It's real in that I HAVE been booted from teams to make room for more "useful" AT's.

And most likely the same type of people who ask "r u a heal0r?" and then promptly boot any non-empath from the team.

I stated my feelings on the subject. Sally, Blasters are NOT special. ALL Archetypes have felt their roles were encroached on by other ATs.

Tankers felt unneeded because an Invuln Scrapper could reach the same resists as them, and "tank just as well or better", despite the fact that Tankers had 40% more HP, and required less slots...

Defenders felt unneeded because Controllers buffs were actually just as strong as the Defender versions at one point. Hell, what's the point of having a gimp blaster, when you can have someone to crowd control as well?

Controllers felt unneeded because Tankers with Provoke were able to crowd control just as well as they were by making the mobs concentrate on them instead of the other squishies, effectively making their jobs "useless".

Scrappers used to feel unneeded because Blasters could outdamage them by FAR, and there really was no point in having them on the team. To remedy this, Scrappers got criticals and the title of "Boss Killers".
Scrappers now, are feeling unneeded because Invuln(or Fire)/EM Tanks are ****ing GODS. They put out higher DPS, and can sustain far more damage than a Scrapper. In addition to Punchvoke + an autohit AoE taunt that protects teammates.

So here's a short note for Blasters, who were the previous Gods of the game, who were essential parts of EVERY successful team, welcome to the club.

[Quakester]

And most likely the same type of people who ask "r u a heal0r?" and then promptly boot any non-empath from the team.

I stated my feelings on the subject. Sally, Blasters are NOT special. ALL Archetypes have felt their roles were encroached on by other ATs.

Tankers felt unneeded because an Invuln Scrapper could reach the same resists as them, and "tank just as well or better", despite the fact that Tankers had 40% more HP, and required less slots...

Defenders felt unneeded because Controllers buffs were actually just as strong as the Defender versions at one point. Hell, what's the point of having a gimp blaster, when you can have someone to crowd control as well?

Controllers felt unneeded because Tankers with Provoke were able to crowd control just as well as they were by making the mobs concentrate on them instead of the other squishies, effectively making their jobs useless.

Scrappers used to feel unneeded because Blasters could outdamage them by FAR, and there really was no point in having them on the team. To remedy this, Scrappers got criticals and the title of "Boss Killers".
Scrappers now, are feeling unneeded because Invuln(or Fire)/EM Tanks are ****ing GODS. They put out higher DPS, and can sustain far more damage than a Scrapper. In addition to Punchvoke + an autohit AoE taunt that protects teammates.

So here's a short note for Blasters, who were the previous Gods of the game, who were essential parts of EVERY successful team, welcome to the club.

You have a point, however one difference I've noticed is this; no other AT has had ALL the others screaming for them to be nerfed.

[Krypto]

Fire Tankers?

[Quakester]

Fire Tankers?

That's one powerset within an AT not the AT as a whole and it wasn't all the others if I remember correctly.

[Krypto]

That's one powerset within an AT not the AT as a whole and it wasn't all the others if I remember correctly.

So, there really are only a few Blaster powers considered to be overpowered. And it's not really a nerfcall to Blasters, but to AoEs in general.

[Mahaf]

I'm not in-game anymore, but when I was, I did my absolute best to say hello and to respond when someone asked for help. Even if it was just "I'm too low to help you, sorry." I tried to make sure I did respond. I've had many a time ask for help but get nothing, I just figure people are busy or they don't really care to listen to me talk the entire mission. I've seen you on maybe twice Sally, and neither times did I see you ask for help. Of course even if you had, at the time I was no higher than maybe 20, so I would've been no help anyways. Maybe I'll see you more when I am back in-game, whenever that is. If you ask me to team, there's no way I'm turning you down unless I'm in a full group. Even if I am, I know I've left groups before to team with a Guru. I was actually running out of excuses to use. ;)

EDIT- And amen on the Tanker damage thing. Dog Fight at my level could outdamage me by about 30-40%. A Tanker one-shotting a Paragon Protector isn't right. I don't care what you say, it's not.

[Bari Jon]

Poison, I have to agree with the AT racism... I have been guilty of it myself. Nothing as blatant as what Sally has had to put up with (That's just wrong!), but I have made the mistake of asking a defender if they had empathy... on the global channel! I have been asked it so many times when people are looking for healers in the game, I didn't give it a second thought. Then, our sweet Bree pointed out to me that it was bad form and I should never have asked that.

I was inviting the defender to the team no matter what, I just thought it was useful information. I apologized to the player in a tell (who wasn't offended, by the way), and things went very well regardless of whether he had empathy or not. And if anyone saw me ask that question in global, I apologize to you also... I didn't mean to offend anyone.

I have experienced people asking me what my power sets were many times. I have never been offended by it with Hot For Teacher (lvl 32 Fire/Emp Controller), and actually have no problem being a deftroller! It's fun healing people and still be able to use my fire control primaries. I admit there have been times where it has been pretty tedious (although not as tedious as soloing a pre-imp controller!). I'm here to play a game and to have a fun time with people I have come to know as friends. That's what it is really about.

[The Icy One]

I've never been AT specific.. unless it's a big mission and I know I need a tank or scrapper, but that doesn't stop me from inviting more Defenders/Blasters/Controllers. For like 46-48 I was duoing with a Blaster for quite awhile. Any Defender/Controller who thinks they shouldn't buff the Blaster is crazy, Blasters are just as helpful to bring down mobs quickly as the other damage specific ATs.. they are just squishy.. which is what things like Fortitude are for. >>;

[Mahaf]

Poison, I have to agree with the AT racism... I have been guilty of it myself. Nothing as blatant as what Sally has had to put up with (That's just wrong!), but I have made the mistake of asking a defender if they had empathy... on the global channel! I have been asked it so many times when people are looking for healers in the game, I didn't give it a second thought. Then, our sweet Bree pointed out to me that it was bad form and I should never have asked that.

I was inviting the defender to the team no matter what, I just thought it was useful information. I apologized to the player in a tell (who wasn't offended, by the way), and things went very well regardless of whether he had empathy or not. And if anyone saw me ask that question in global, I apologize to you also... I didn't mean to offend anyone.

I have experienced people asking me what my power sets were many times. I have never been offended by it with Hot For Teacher (lvl 32 Fire/Emp Controller), and actually have no problem being a deftroller! It's fun healing people and still be able to use my fire control primaries. I admit there have been times where it has been pretty tedious (although not as tedious as soloing a pre-imp controller!). I'm here to play a game and to have a fun time with people I have come to know as friends. That's what it is really about.
Yea, I know the Defender you talk of, and he didn't mind at all. Even if you hadn't invited him, he would've understood. No point in getting the entire team killed. ;)

[Tsarmina]

I'm here to play a game and to have a fun time with people I have come to know as friends. That's what it is really about.
Amen to that. But unfortunately when playing with such a broad spectrum of people, you get a broad spectrum of.... people. :rolleyes:

[Tarberetta]

I know how you feel Sally, I really do. I've been having trouble getting teams myself as a scrapper. I've asked several times before for a team in global chat and not until I get fed up and say "fine, guess I'll solo" does someone speak up, and sometimes not even then. That's one of the biggest reasons I haven't been in CoH lately. Tired of soloing because I can't get a team (even from my SG). That and I4 (bleh).

So I've been off playing Guild Wars instead when I can. (Not now, in Cali for the week :cool: ) I pop in CoH every now and then though.

[suburbanhell]

I was actually going to suggest that soon.

Likewise, I just hadn't gotten around to actually asking folks if they wanted that yet.

[Elemento]

I always send a hello to anyone I see on that I know.
Unfortunate that my highest character of the 14 I have played is only a lvl 28. Once they get up into those dead levels, I wouldn't mind teaming with higher levels.
What I've experienced at the twenty levels is just as bad. You get invited to someone's team and after you help them out, they leave you flat. To me that's bad teaming if they can't reciprocate the offer to help you out.
Last couple months though, I've hardly been able to get the time to get in-game. Been real busy with serious medical issues involving myself and my wife.
My globalchat handle is the same as my screen name here.

[Jade_Dragon]

I admit to not saying "hello" when I log on, but that's because naturally I am a lurker. Eventually, though, you'll hear from me, either because I reply to something I find interesting, or I decide to ask if anyone needs a donation for the new costume/slider choices. (Which is the main reason I joined the channel at this time)

I never saw Sally's requests, though, which was either because the other spam in the channel just drowned it out, or we were simply not on at the same time. I doubt I could have been any help anyway, both my characters on Virtue are level 22-23, although I would have TRIED to help if asked.

The main thing, though, is that I've also noticed that most of the time, the channel is silent. I don't know if it's everyone lurking, like me, or what. But either it's going full blast on some sort of conversation (usually about the Arena) or you have someone go, "hello?" and then deafening silence. I know that I would rather wait until I know someone's there before I start talking. No sense talking into the great void. :D

[Darknesse]

I feel I have to respond, since I was the one that stopped what I was doing and helped, causing the following: The other team was one I tried to put together to take on an AV. There were over 25 people from these boards in game at the time, and only ONE person bothered to respond to repeated requests for assistance. Even then, this person gave me crap about how my mission was not set at "Invincible" and once in, all the mobs were greens and blues.(this is what happens when TWO weeks of asking for help go unanswered... one starts outleveling the mission) My beef here is that I am constantly told by the people here that "Oh.. I'll team with you anytime, Sally". But when it comes time to actually do it... dead silence, AND I have to beg/threaten/plead to build or be allowed on a team.


Sally.. What was green and blue to you was grey to me. I only wanted you to turn it up so it would be more challenging and so that you would actually get some XP.

If I offended, I apologize. Note that I have always helped people from this board, even if I have to switch characters to do so, regardless of their AT, since I assume I am going to be doing the majority of the work regardless.

If my efforts are inadequate or unappreciated, I can easily ignore any and all entreaties for assistance in the future.BINGO!

THAT is why its a huge pain to find a team. Because "Blasters suck." I mean why bother taking one on your team when a scrapper can do almost as much damage yet take infinately more punishment? Hell, I've seen pet controllers doing damn near as much damage and not getting near the return fire blasters get. With all these types doing so much damage and being more survivable, what point is there for even HAVING a blaster AT?

To date, I have never asked someone what AT they were before deciding if I was going to be teaming, because it doesn't matter only tactics change.

[Tarkenchi]

Thats a reason i re-cancelled my account, Nobody would converse with me, and unless they were my real friends, Starcrosser, Sometimes ice, etc, I would never get a team, I rarely even got a hello back... CoH use to be after 3 minutes of being logged on, xanatos, fate, poison, whoever would send me a invite and we would go tackle huge foes... Not anymore... I feel you sally, and thats why i cancelled my account again :(

[Masked Revenger]

If my efforts are inadequate or unappreciated, I can easily ignore any and all entreaties for assistance in the future.

I'd still like to team with you, Dark. You seem to be the only one who's one every time I am. Of course, I'm begining to think you never leave the game. :P

Chris

[Malibu Sally]

Darknesse,

I did not want to single you out as any cause of frustration. As the only person to come to my aid, I am thankful. The overall situation of not being able to gather a team for that mission for an inordinate amount of time made me cranky. You asking about why it was not set at invincible was not in itself insulting or rude, it was just badly timed, though you had no way of knowing that when you asked. I regret bringing that part up in my initial post and apologize; it really should not have been included. I was attempting to illustrate the problems I had raising a team and got sidetracked on a seperate point.

[Kurai Inago]

Sally. If it's finding a team that's a problem, just keep bugging people on Global. Someone will be free eventually. Secondly, If I'm not on a team or about to log out, I'm willing to team with someone. I always love company from people who are at least semi-intelligent. SK's, RSK's, or just people at my lvl, I love teaming, so you know, talk to me if I'm around.

On a side note, I'm truly sick of all of the people bitching about how "My AT is useless after such and such change" Come on people, roll with the punches. If it gets too bad, start something new.

[Blue Bolt]

Ugh, I seem to never be on when Sally's on... I would've gladly helped you with anything you needed, friend. :)

[Esbat]

BINGO!

THAT is why its a huge pain to find a team. Because "Blasters suck." I mean why bother taking one on your team when a scrapper can do almost as much damage yet take infinately more punishment? Hell, I've seen pet controllers doing damn near as much damage and not getting near the return fire blasters get. With all these types doing so much damage and being more survivable, what point is there for even HAVING a blaster AT?

Like I've said in the past... Doggie needs company and since he broke into the lower 30's now lvling has gone DAMN SLOW since he can't find an SO shop that sells higher than 30.

But Dog Fight is 99% available, I'll team with ANYONE from lvl1 to 50, but the sad thing is I've seen you on maybe a handful of times in the last week. So, if you do see me, shoot me a tell or type boobies out in all caps in the global chat and I'm sure I'll see it and come a'running.

Dog's lvl32 atm but he can SK and take on Purples while SKed fairly well so its not really a problem for him to be SKed.

So if you see Dog on and feel like playing Salibu :) then feel free to call on me for a team up, I'll drop anything I'm doing (which is usually running around randomly arresting thugs), and rock Paragon with ya!

[suburbanhell]

Like I've said in the past... Doggie needs company and since he broke into the lower 30's now lvling has gone DAMN SLOW since he can't find an SO shop that sells higher than 30.

But Dog Fight is 99% available, I'll team with ANYONE from lvl1 to 50, but the sad thing is I've seen you on maybe a handful of times in the last week. So, if you do see me, shoot me a tell or type boobies out in all caps in the global chat and I'm sure I'll see it and come a'running.

Dog's lvl32 atm but he can SK and take on Purples while SKed fairly well so its not really a problem for him to be SKed.

So if you see Dog on and feel like playing Salibu :) then feel free to call on me for a team up, I'll drop anything I'm doing (which is usually running around randomly arresting thugs), and rock Paragon with ya!

Major is in the same boat here as well....

[Randomus]

Esbat, you need to find your origin-specific contact, do a mission for them and then you can get your 35-40 SOs.

[Half Life]

Sally, i feel ya, i had come back to CoH and was having a blast, but then it dawned on my that I was soloing 95% of the time, even when i would ask the PCity boards if anybody needed me. Even my really good friends rarely invited me, this slowly pushed me away since i really dont care for soloing. So now ive found myself playing a game i dont enjoy as much as CoH because all my RL friends are playing it and i can hang out with them in game.


Take some time away if you need, game was the most fun when I returned (altho it didnt stay that way)

[Jade]

Uhm, I know that I am guilty of not saying Hi on global, but it's because I am shy. Unless someone says hi directly to me, I usually wont talk. I don't usually just try to observe a community before I really submerse myself. Feel free to send me a tell though, my global is AshleyJade and my mains are Dione and Elemental Moon.

As for blaster hate. I don't hate blasters at all. As a matter of fact, I play all support charachters, and on prinicpal, I don't like scrappers (nothing personal to those that play them), so that makes blasters the perfect compliment to all of my charachters. So with that said, I'll say it again, hit me up nearly any time. If I'm busy, i'll let you know, but usually im just sittin around, using COH as an expensive chat program. heh.

-Dee

[Tsarmina]

Sally, i feel ya, i had come back to CoH and was having a blast, but then it dawned on my that I was soloing 95% of the time, even when i would ask the PCity boards if anybody needed me. Even my really good friends rarely invited me, this slowly pushed me away since i really dont care for soloing. So now ive found myself playing a game i dont enjoy as much as CoH because all my RL friends are playing it and i can hang out with them in game.


Take some time away if you need, game was the most fun when I returned (altho it didnt stay that way)
YOU! Change your work schedule so we can team again! That is an ORDER!

[D'Arkaine]

ok...i'm here to say that i am available for grouping to help out anyone or get help :). unless im in a sg meeting or team. I am mostly on virtue with a 45, 23, 22, 17, 15s, 14 - specifics in my crey profiles - and an open slot for newb characters (ill eventually get to 50 and try a kheldian)

[Quakester]

I'm too low level on Virtue to team and too few are on Justice.

[Sebastian Kain]

ok...i'm here to say that i am available for grouping to help out anyone or get help :). unless im in a sg meeting or team. I am mostly on virtue with a 45, 23, 22, 17, 15s, 14 and an open slot for newb characters (ill eventually get to 50 and try a kheldian)

I still want to team with D'ark one day...He likes to drink my acholol. :buddies:

[Tsarmina]

I just thought of this: I know when I'm playing Hollis, I won't want to be SK'd to do higher lvl missions too often because I don't want her to level too fast and miss content. She's the char I explore the game with... at a rather slow pace. ;) So when I'm playing her, I may not offer to help.

All of my alts however, are open to help provided I'm in the mood to play them.

[Darknesse]

Thats a reason i re-cancelled my account, Nobody would converse with me, and unless they were my real friends, Starcrosser, Sometimes ice, etc, I would never get a team, I rarely even got a hello back... CoH use to be after 3 minutes of being logged on, xanatos, fate, poison, whoever would send me a invite and we would go tackle huge foes... Not anymore... I feel you sally, and thats why i cancelled my account again

Be more proactive then... It's not ever gonna work that way all the time. You want a team, then just say L X (insert AT) LFT and get invited.

[Magna Harrier]

Should you ever make it over to Jsutice, land of Blasters, give me, Quake, or Great Beyond a ring. I'm usually just putzing around with Magna heckling folks in the ring or killing monkies.
And as for blaster hate, it certainly does exist in some part. I've been spared a lot of it as at least a few folks (Maybe just the ones I tend to group with) seemed pleased by my damage output. Although keep in mind, every attack I have is pretty much 6 slotted with mostly damage, and it's probably the ice blaster attack rate more than the damage of any individual attack. All things told, there is a definite drop-off in damage output post 40, at the very least.

[Xanatos]

I've never had blaster hate - i get more blind invites/tells on my blaster then my tanker :(

Perception is 9/10's of the law.

[Malibu Sally]

I've never had blaster hate - i get more blind invites/tells on my blaster then my tanker :(

Percention is 9/10's of the law.

And how long ago did you reach 50?

[Quakester]

Should you ever make it over to Jsutice, land of Blasters, give me, Quake, or Great Beyond a ring. I'm usually just putzing around with Magna heckling folks in the ring or killing monkies.
And as for blaster hate, it certainly does exist in some part. I've been spared a lot of it as at least a few folks (Maybe just the ones I tend to group with) seemed pleased by my damage output. Although keep in mind, every attack I have is pretty much 6 slotted with mostly damage, and it's probably the ice blaster attack rate more than the damage of any individual attack. All things told, there is a definite drop-off in damage output post 40, at the very least.

That's the spirit! Come to Justice! Land of the Blasters! One of the best teams I've been in was Me, Magna Harrier, and Great Beyond. Would have been better if we could have gotten X53 too, but he was busy. ;)

[8 Ball]

I've never had blaster hate - i get more blind invites/tells on my blaster then my tanker :(

Percention is 9/10's of the law.


And Perception is even higher ;). Not getting a lot of tells here either, but I usually team with folks from here or the SG anyways, most of the tells I get are due to my level (45) and those ones don't care what AT/Powerset I am.

[Darknesse]

There is no Blaster hate, but damnit, alot of Blasters are just BAD players that don't know their role. Seems like every time I team up with some random blaster and he insists on getting into melee with me, then sits there and whines about it when I lose a mob or 2 and they kill him like a frog in a blender. Thank God I'm in Evolution, where it doesn't seem to happen anymore.

[Xanatos]

And how long ago did you reach 50?

About...7-8 months ago? I dunno - a while back.

[Malibu Sally]

There is no Blaster hate, but damnit, alot of Blasters are just BAD players that don't know their role. Seems like every time I team up with some random blaster and he insists on getting into melee with me, then sits there and whines about it when I lose a mob or 2 and they kill him like a frog in a blender. Thank God I'm in Evolution, where it doesn't seem to happen anymore.

I know you are not a Dev, but if blasters are not supposed to be within melee range, why the hell are most of the blaster secondaries PACKED with melee powers? And why are most of the primary nukes melee range or short range only?(full auto and TB being the only ones with any range... and full auto is hardly a "nuke")

One of the reasons I chose devices was because there is only one melee range attack(taser). What other AT is so loaded with powers that are counter to what their "role" is supposed to be?

[Magna Harrier]

It would be nice to know why a secondary made of of controller powers, supposedly, is packed full of melee attacks. Hence the reason I classify myself as an Ice/pool blaster. I have like maybe 4 or 5 at the most powers from ice manipulation.... aim, ice patch, the like. And chillblain, of course.

[Malibu Sally]

About...7-8 months ago? I dunno - a while back.

So you were in your 40's before or just around Issue 2? That is when things began to go crazy for blasters. It was issue 2 that made Scrappers the Boss killers for real. By the time November and December rolled around, you were already level 50 and that is when blasters in the late 30's and 40's were really starting to notice the decline in desireability in teams.

You combine knuckleheaded play by low level blasters with marked improvement in late level scrappers you get a serious lack of want for late level blasters.

[inkblaster]

Got to chime in a bit on blaster melee/short range abilities, yes, they make no sense, and yes there are a ton. Devices is the best secondary for the role.
I'd say energy isn't so bad because of the self buffs, but other than those it's all melee junk. Power Burst, Torrent, NOVA, all short range. And then the blasts all do knock back, power push is all knock back, very conflicting.

Personally, with what there are for archetypes now, I think there should just be 3 archetypes, that you can mix to achieve what we have with 5. Melee, Range, Control. The powersets should be flippable and only certain mixes and matches allowed, but there wouldn't be so much of an issue in having to balance them against each other. None of this, Tankers damage as much as scrappers, scrappers tank too good, blasters are useless, defenders are infinitely necessary junk.

Also, on that other topic, I don't say hello because 1. I'm Underground, and 2. I too don't usually have the window up, especially since I4 whenever I zone it flips back to friends anyways.

[Chain Lightning]

I have to weigh in on the 'nobody wants blasters on their team' belief. I'm an Elec/Elec blaster and according to several posts I've read and comments from others in game, I'm supposed to be the worse build of the worse AT's. I don't have these problems of getting a team, or getting one for help with AV's or missions.

I'm actually shocked to hear so many of you here saying that you do. I'm extending an open invitation to ANY of you to contact me if you need a hand. I don't care if you're Blaster, Defender, Tanker, Scrapper, Controller, whatever. I will also not care of the level. I'll SK, Exemp, or just stay at my level.

Bottom line is I love this game and I love the people on these forums. I came originally to Pcity because I couldn't stand the main boards and felt really alone out there.

So all of you that are interested, add me to your global @ChainLightning and send me a tell if you need help or just want to team up. The only thing I ask is when you send me a tell, let me know who you are from here so I can make sure to not think you're somebody just looking to farm, PL, grief, etc. Plus I usually will respond faster to tells than just blind invites.

[Jade_Dragon]

A lot of the problem is level, of course. I don't think anyone is saying that there are troubles with Blasters prior to 25. Or even in some cases prior to 40. The problem is clearly in the highest levels, where coincidentally many Scrappers and Tankers also become extraordinarily powerful.

I don't think there's any reason to say that it's bad playing. You don't get past 30 by being stupid. There are simply too many people saying that they're having problems. Call it "perception" if you want, but that doesn't do anything to help the situation.

[Darknesse]

I know you are not a Dev, but if blasters are not supposed to be within melee range, why the hell are most of the blaster secondaries PACKED with melee powers? And why are most of the primary nukes melee range or short range only?(full auto and TB being the only ones with any range... and full auto is hardly a "nuke")

One of the reasons I chose devices was because there is only one melee range attack(taser). What other AT is so loaded with powers that are counter to what their "role" is supposed to be?

I always figured that their Melee attacks were more like a finishing move kind of thing, rather than the first option.

You know.. blast blast blast, then close in for the kill.

[Masked Revenger]

I always figured that their Melee attacks were more like a finishing move kind of thing, rather than the first option.

You know.. blast blast blast, then close in for the kill.

Actually, my blaster (Captain Noble) has only taken one of those, and I only picked it because it has knockback. I hardly use it, except as an emergency "Get the hell away from me!" kind of attack. Mostly, I plan on taking the self power ups from my secondary pool. Like Sally, I tend to run alot with Cap.

I havent had the problems with finding teams with Cap either, but then again, he's only level 15.

Chris

[Impact]

Well, now that Frost's reached 50 i'll be jumping around my heroes a lot so if someone in the 40s (or anyone for that matter) who needs a hand just send me a tell b/c like a lot of people, I don't always have the pcity channel up & going. And lately, if I haven't been responding/uber talkative it's been b/c I've been either busy tanking on full teams or rp'ing or a combo of the two, but 90% of the time I can usually stop what I'm doing to help out. Sally I think I even have you on Frost's buddy list from when we were all teaming so often but I hardly see you around anymore. *sniff sniff* You don't call....you don't write....jus makes me think you hung around me just for the ice. :( ;) j/k

Seriously though, drop me a tell or tell someone in the channel (b/c i'm usually with pcity peoples anyway) and I can come tank tank smash stuffs.

[Vendel]

OK my thoughts on the subjects being a lvl 45 blaster.

First off the people not talking in the global. When I am on during the day and there are 30 people on and only 1 person says hi...its is odd. But I dont think anyone is ignoreing e on purpose. I mean I got my global cahnnel up all the time but alot dont. Now when I get on after work and there are 5 people on it seems we talk more.....odd.

Second LFT. Since I hit 40 and have been takeing on AV's all the time I have been in desperate need for help. And when I am on during they day I noramally get someone to help me (snaps to all of you).

Now I feel the problem with not finding help in this lvl range is 3 fold.
1. If a hammy raid is going down the 45+ players are all in the hive. No help there.
2. For the people that already have 1 if not more heroes at 50 they are prob playing lower level heroes that wouldnt be much help to your AV mish. So no help there.
3. Many people are now simply PLing past all the content to get to 50..and the hmmy raids and PvP. They simply don't do missions

So what is the solution? I don't know Sally....but I never see you on....I am always willing to help anyone. Of course no one ever ask for a blasters help....so I don't get many request. (Other than bridge request)

On the odd occasion someone does ask for my help I am inevitably in a timed mish against an AV or some such...... so meh.

[Jade_Dragon]

I always figured that their Melee attacks were more like a finishing move kind of thing, rather than the first option.
Actually, my blaster (Captain Noble) has only taken one of those, and I only picked it because it has knockback. I hardly use it, except as an emergency "Get the hell away from me!" kind of attack. Mostly, I plan on taking the self power ups from my secondary pool. Like Sally, I tend to run alot with Cap.

I havent had the problems with finding teams with Cap either, but then again, he's only level 15.

Chris

Well, therein lies the rub. You really only need ONE "finishing move", maybe two. My own Blaster uses the Fire Sword/Jump Kick combination. It's usually not quite enough to finish off a foe, but if I soften him up first, it can be. And in emergencies, I've got the chance that Jump Kick will knock him away from me. I'd like something like Power Thrust, but Jump Kick's the best alternative if you don't have Energy.

But Fire Manipulation has 6 out of nine Powers as attacks. Combustion and Fire Sword Circle are redundant, as they are both PBAoE attacks. And Combustion and Blazing Aura are ALSO redundant. Burn and Hot Feet can be useful to scatter attackers (Hot Feet more than Burn) but they're also limited to melee range. So a handful of these powers, plus Consume (which is the only "attack" in the set that I consider a real buff) is all you really need. The rest are duplicates.

I don't want to see ALL of the melee attacks go, but more than three of them is completely unnecessary. Just as much of a problem are the buffs (like Consume, and a good portion of Ice Manipulation) which require you to be in melee. Energy Manipulation has a lot of redundant attacks, but makes up for it with buffs that can be used at any time, because they are not targetted. A buff that can't be used because you are trying to keep the target at range is not a buff.

I really think the Secondary sets are a major part of the issue. After all, Secondary sets are the last Powers to open up, and they open between 30 and 40. Clearly, other archetypes benefit from their Secondaries, and I think it can be said that it is the balance between Primaries and Secondaries that make certain builds so strong. So I don't think it's a coincidence that Blasters have sort of cobbled together Secondaries, and seem to have problems in the levels where those Secondaries become more important.

[Darknesse]

Hot Feet is freaking amazing. The slow kicks ass.

[Digitizer]

WOW. I for one was out of town Saturday and didn't get home until 10:00 PM EST, so I didn't get in until about 10:15-10:30. Sunday I never logged in. I wish the hell I had been around when you needed help. I'm really sorry to hear you had a miserable time either trying to get a team started, or on the ones you did get started. One of the main reasons I changed SG's was I found I was teaming with my current one a lot more than I did with my original SG. I know you're in a rather high position with the 'Babes, but maybe you should consider leaving. I did that, and while it was extremely hard for me to do so, the end result has been much better for me. Ironically, it has been much better for my old SG as well since they've had to look take a hard look at the team and have done a fantastic job of revitalizing the team and getting new members.

Okay well my offer still stands to help you out. And I'm going to make it a lot easier for you.
Global handle is @ChainLightning.
Add it, use it. I've told you more than once that I'd be willing to help you out, but to be totally honest, I rarely see you on when I'm on, and you've never asked me for help when we have both been on at the same time. So by all means, add me to global friends that way even if I'm on alt you can find me.
Also, and this is a personal preferrence of mine. DON'T use the global channels to ask for help. I know that with all that goes on sometimes I will NEVER see more than half the conversations that go on in the global chats.
SEND A TELL. I'm not yelling as much as I'm stressing the point. I always send a tell to people when I'm looking for help. I find people respond to it better and I also personally like to have a /t first asking me to come along and help them.

Also if you make a new toon, I'll help out there too. I have alts I can always bring in team with you.

Chain I am sorry to burst your bubble but I don't think that you leaving revitalizing us. In fact I think that if you had stayed and worked it out with us you could have helped us out more, but hey that may just be me. Had I know you had this much angst I would have been there right by your side to push things through with you. As it was I really did not know what was going on, because you were talking to Mother Darkness, who was holding your word in confidence like you asked. All in all I still think you could help us out more if you came back, but in the end I am happy for you, because you found a new group of friends that you are happier with and that you can appreciate. (Not to say that you did not appreciate us.)

[Chain Lightning]

Chain I am sorry to burst your bubble but I don't think that you leaving revitalizing us.

Oh my God, Digitizer, I'm sorry dude. I no way meant to imply that my leaving was the reason JF started a revamp of the team. See, this is why I shouldn't post at 5 in the morning, what I think and what I type don't come out the same. I was trying to convey that even some SG's, particuliarly JF, have had to look at how often they teamup within the SG and take some measures to get activity increased.

I'm sorry dude, I totally didn't mean to make it look like "yeah JF had to reorganize when they lost me" and I can see how my wording could be misconstrued.

[Murphy's Law]

I can believe this type of "AT-profiling" does occur; after all, there are plenty of jerks out there at every level. That being said, I've personally never experienced it.

I only hit 50 about a month ago, but I never had problems finding a pickup group. In fact, after I hit 40 grouping got easier, as everyone had an AV mission (or three), and needed damage dealers to take them down quickly. I've only been asked to bridge on one occasion, and almost all my grouping was with pickup groups that rarely had the same people in them.

I seldom use broadcast or request to look for teams. I'd just put up my "LFG" tag in the search menu and street hunt until I got an invite. Usually I'd get one within a few minutes on the weekend, and not too much longer during the week. The new features on the "Looking for Team" menu should make it even easier to specify what you're looking for in a group.

Maybe I didn't experience this because I solo'd my Blaster most of the time until I started getting AV missions. Less chance for something like this to happen, I guess.

I hope "semi-retirement" doesn’t become permanent, but building a scrapper or tanker is a good idea. I have one of each, and I can say it is highly therapeutic to roll into the middle of a huge pack and lay waste to everything, without taking a scratch ;)

[Emerald Sky]

No kidding Murph...I remember going from my controllers and then playing my tank. It's a totally different experience. When my controllers get hit, I cringe like it actually hurts...lol. When I started playing my tank, I would do the same thing at first until I realized...it wasn't hurting him at all.

It's also a hell of a lot faster to level too (well, on a scrapper).

[Chain Lightning]

I edited my original post Digi. I know I apologized about my poor choice of wording on it, but I just felt it better in case anyone comes in and reads this thread to not have to see it and get up in arms about it.

Once again, sorry about that buddy. Never intended to slight you or the JF.

[Mjolnir]

There is certainly a degree of AT bias that I have seen, even on the Virtue server. But I see it lessening quite a bit as I approach the high end game. I still get random invites to team up (I don't mind them as much as I used to) and have found it to be an excellent recruitment tool. Now on to my boastful pride induced rantings for the JF. :chuckle: [boast]The Justice Force has become the SG I always knew it could be. We team up with each other. We are getting JF Task Forces set up. We drop what we are doing (If soloing) to answer requests for help from even our lowest level members. We have a sense of purpose and pride that I felt was lacking before. We communicate and have fun (We have more people on Teamspeak now than ever). [/boasting] Now all of you, show a blaster some love and don't forget them when LFT :shinner:

[The Widowed]

Like I've said in the past... Doggie needs company and since he broke into the lower 30's now lvling has gone DAMN SLOW since he can't find an SO shop that sells higher than 30.
Dog Fight's a Mutation hero, right? The next time you chat with me in-game, we'll go ahead and meet in Founder's Falls. I'll lead you to where Penny Preston is, we'll run you through her mission and then you can buy all the Lvl30-40 Mutation SO's your little heart desires. :)

Or, if you're a hardcore mission collector like I am, I can show you to all five of the SO-selling contacts in Founders' Falls and Brickstown, so you can mop up their missions too....

Penny Preston (Mutation shop, FF)
Agent Six (Natural shop, FF)
Mark IV (Technology shop, FF)
Serafina (Magic shop, Bricks)
Holsten Armitage (Science shop, Bricks)

Because sometimes it's nice to get top dollar for selling your SO's without having to hoof it all the way back to the Talos Island shops. ;)

Now if only the Green Line connected FF with Bricks and Talos....

[Impact]

Well snap crackle and pop, let me get Saber in on that tour too. :D :cool:

[Bari Jon]

Hot for Teacher would love a tour of the SO's too... I got the science SO Sunday, so it would be cool to find the others too!

[Esbat]

Dog Fight's a Mutation hero, right? The next time you chat with me in-game, we'll go ahead and meet in Founder's Falls. I'll lead you to where Penny Preston is, we'll run you through her mission and then you can buy all the Lvl30-40 Mutation SO's your little heart desires. :)

Or, if you're a hardcore mission collector like I am, I can show you to all five of the SO-selling contacts in Founders' Falls and Brickstown, so you can mop up their missions too....

Penny Preston (Mutation shop, FF)
Agent Six (Natural shop, FF)
Mark IV (Technology shop, FF)
Serafina (Magic shop, Bricks)
Holsten Armitage (Science shop, Bricks)

Thanks Widdy! Sonic Star already helped me find Penny already and am now LOADED WITH SOs... and I already make enough influence that I pretty much give away any SOs/DOs/TOs I don't need to lowbies in AP/GC/KR :cool: