The Blue Elephant Brigade

[Mongolio]

For all you freaks that like to have the game do all the work, here's the discussion thread for you!

Here goes:

Robotics: I loved this line up until level 20. Now it's just painful.

The bots like to do a knockback blast. Normally, this is good. However, since they always engage at the longest range possible, it actually reduces their DPS when they have to constantly reposition (the bots can't stack, so they run around for a while trying to get in range around it's buddies). This can only get worse since you can have a maximum of 6 bots at your command. Another complication is that they are wider than other MM pets, so they take up a wide swath when trying to line up a shot.

In summary, Knockback = Good. Uncontrolled Knockback = Not So Good.

Zombies: I didn't like them <level 10 or so. They didn't seem to be able to attack very effectively. One would run up to melee while the other would stay back and barf periodically. This was before I learned their true power...

The Zombie horde can start with just a melee attack. Pretty standard. With the first upgrade, they can projectile vomit (cone shaped attack) at range. And it does a minor DoT (just like Vahz zombies do). It also gets a melee ranged AE vomit. Same DoT afterwards.
The Second minion they get is a dead knight. He uses a sword and dark nukes. After his first upgrade, he does a knockup sword attack and Gloom (dark DoT). He LOVES to stand back and nuke/DoT. I hate that. I want him using his sword since it hits harder and it knocks up.

Well, here's what I've worked out for tactics for the Zombie MM.

I have the pets on Follow Defensive so that if I get attacked, I take 2 shares of the damage and each pet takes 1 share (bodyguard mode). If I attack first, I send use an Attack Defensive command. This sends them after my target. Once all the zombies do their projectile vomit cone attack, I give them a Goto Aggressive command (via a bind I have set up (/bind lshift+lbutton petcom_all goto aggressive) that makes them go to the location of my cursor and then enter aggressive mode). When they get there, the start going to town with melee attacks and when their AE puke is available, they use it too. Add to that mix the knight. He's wailing away with his sword.

When I come upon a tightly packed group of even level minions, they all die within 6 seconds on average. The projectile vomit + AE vomit + melee attacks pretty much take them all down. A LT goes down in about 10 seconds. Bosses are probably 15 seconds. Keep in mind that I have THREE zombies that are doing the cone puke and AE puking.

Now that I have this insight, I'm probably going to try out Thugs with the same tactics. Maybe even Soldiers.
_________________
Core meltdown (commonly known as a meltdown) is an accident scenario in nuclear reactors, and is one of the possible modes of failure for light water reactors, during which the reactor pile turns into a pile of reactor.
---RationalWiki

If Jesus had existed, his DNA would have been 99% similar to that of a chimpanzee. Or you. You're 99% Jesus.
-- RationalWiki

[Phoenixhr]

What about ninjas? Form what i'm gathering they are single target melee damagers with knockback attacks.

[Mongolio]

I don't know that I'd like the Knockback so much. Every time you knock back, the mob could go flying into more and make it a clusterfsck. Add to the fact that they have to go running after it again reduces your effective kill time. KnockUP or KnockDOWN is preferable since they are still beating on the mob.

I'm gonna give it a shot today. Well, maybe tomorrow since I have to take a short trip this evening.

Edit: Well, crap. Maybe not until ... shit. Maybe not until Sunday or so. Fiance's B-Day on Saturday and we are going to a comedy club tomorrow night. Kids are going to their uncle's for some easter stuff tonight.
_________________
Core meltdown (commonly known as a meltdown) is an accident scenario in nuclear reactors, and is one of the possible modes of failure for light water reactors, during which the reactor pile turns into a pile of reactor.
---RationalWiki

If Jesus had existed, his DNA would have been 99% similar to that of a chimpanzee. Or you. You're 99% Jesus.
-- RationalWiki

[Mongolio]

Holy Shitsicles, Batman!

I just realized something! With a Robots/Force Field MM at level 32, you have the following defenses available to you:

Each Protector Bot (triple slotted with Defense) double bubbles each of the three drones, me and the one assault bot (henceforth referred to as the assbot). Each of those bubbles gives about 9% Defense bonus to all but Psionic.
Total: 18%

Each bot also has a Dispersion Bubble that gives about 12% defense to ALL defenses to all bots and me.
Total: 24%

I can bubble all bots with Deflection and Insulation shields. This gives them 18% defense to all but Psionic.
Total: 18%

My Dispersion Bubble gives 12% Defense to all to every bot plus me.
Total 12%


Added together: 72% to all but Psi for Drones and Assbot, 63% to all but Psi for Protector Bots, 54% to all but Psi for me, and 36% vs Psi to all. This is all +Defense, not +Resistance! That means that the chance to hit is reduced by that amount, not that the damage is reduced by a %...

Add to that the fact that all the bots have a knockback effect (the Assbot has many more knockbacks) for active damage mitigation (if the target is on it's back, it's not damaging me or the bots).


That is frickin insane!
_________________
Core meltdown (commonly known as a meltdown) is an accident scenario in nuclear reactors, and is one of the possible modes of failure for light water reactors, during which the reactor pile turns into a pile of reactor.
---RationalWiki

If Jesus had existed, his DNA would have been 99% similar to that of a chimpanzee. Or you. You're 99% Jesus.
-- RationalWiki

[Mongolio]

I just found out that the info on the Prot Bots Disp Bubble was inaccurate. They don't actually get one. That's -24% to all from everyone. Still pretty high defense.
_________________
Core meltdown (commonly known as a meltdown) is an accident scenario in nuclear reactors, and is one of the possible modes of failure for light water reactors, during which the reactor pile turns into a pile of reactor.
---RationalWiki

If Jesus had existed, his DNA would have been 99% similar to that of a chimpanzee. Or you. You're 99% Jesus.
-- RationalWiki

[Glistam]

Remember that no matter how high your defense is, the enemy always has a 5% chance to hit you.
_________________
"I don't have dreams about the Navy. The Navy killed all of my dreams." - Buddy Lee

What I've been doing.
What I'm also doing.
What I wish I did more of.
What I've done.

[Mongolio]

Absolutely, but if your defense is higher than 95%, your effective defense will be at or near the cap for higher level enemies, as well.
_________________
Core meltdown (commonly known as a meltdown) is an accident scenario in nuclear reactors, and is one of the possible modes of failure for light water reactors, during which the reactor pile turns into a pile of reactor.
---RationalWiki

If Jesus had existed, his DNA would have been 99% similar to that of a chimpanzee. Or you. You're 99% Jesus.
-- RationalWiki

[Leedon]

That is a true statement.

I had a lot of fun PvPing Arctic Hellfire with my bots. Kyouri has devices as a secondary and also has the maneuvers pool power. With the bots' bubbles, the force field drone, and maneuvers, AH had a hard time touching enemies 10 levels below her in the arena. It was bad ass.

I need to play her a little more...
_________________
Flirtin' with disaster,
Ya'll know what I mean.
You know the way we run our lives,
It makes no sense to me.


-Flirtin' with Disaster, Molly Hatchet

[Leedon]

I'm actually kind of dissappointed in Maneuvers. Now that I'm seeing the numbers that it adds, I don't see it being worth the endurance to run it. This is especially true for Kyouri since she has the force field generator. I can lay them down pretty often and they only take endurance once since they aren't a toggle. I respec'ed her earlier to get rid of it. Now she has both Assault and Tactics. Damage and accuracy for my pets and my party are worth it, I think.

Lee
_________________
Flirtin' with disaster,
Ya'll know what I mean.
You know the way we run our lives,
It makes no sense to me.


-Flirtin' with Disaster, Molly Hatchet

[Mongolio]

Maneuvers is NOT worthwhile for nearly everyone.

BUT! If you are a forcefielder, it actually is if you look at it in a certain light. Let's say all your forcefields reduce your chance to be hit down to 10%. Maneuvers then reduces it another 5%. That just doubled your defense.

Bit of a stretch, but it might be worthwhile.
_________________
Core meltdown (commonly known as a meltdown) is an accident scenario in nuclear reactors, and is one of the possible modes of failure for light water reactors, during which the reactor pile turns into a pile of reactor.
---RationalWiki

If Jesus had existed, his DNA would have been 99% similar to that of a chimpanzee. Or you. You're 99% Jesus.
-- RationalWiki

[Glistam]

What's the deal with Mercenaries as a pet. I don't hear much abotu them, and I haven't seen them yet - all I seem to see are robots and zombies. What are the pros and, more importantly, the cons to Mercenaries as a primary?
_________________
"I don't have dreams about the Navy. The Navy killed all of my dreams." - Buddy Lee

What I've been doing.
What I'm also doing.
What I wish I did more of.
What I've done.

[Trassin]

[Mongolio]

On a non-RP note, I'm not sure. I have one up to 6 so far. I knida like them. Their attacks are fast and they do decent damage (it's lethal, though). The third base pet is a medic, too. I don't know how good or bad the SpecOps or the Commando are, though.
_________________
Core meltdown (commonly known as a meltdown) is an accident scenario in nuclear reactors, and is one of the possible modes of failure for light water reactors, during which the reactor pile turns into a pile of reactor.
---RationalWiki

If Jesus had existed, his DNA would have been 99% similar to that of a chimpanzee. Or you. You're 99% Jesus.
-- RationalWiki

[Loupy Lobo]

I have a Mastermind that uses mercs. Level 21. I don't have the Commando yet, but the Spec Ops guy is pretty good. He has a longer range, higher damage, more defense and shoots sticky grenades. He's always doing the most damage and is the last one to die. So I can't wait to see the commando. I recently received the medic and he is always the first to die, but is very helpful. I like the mercs.
_________________
"Does this smell like chloroform to you?" -infamous pick-up line of Terrence "Brasa" Webster (R.I.P.)

[Haven]

I have a Mercs MM I kind of like, but she's only 11.
_________________
"Awareness" just means you're conscious while the buggering takes place. We need awareness and murderous revenge.