Recent posts

#21

General Suggestions and Feedback / Re: Talk: Energy Control

Last post by EDekar - Mar 18, 2025, 01:41 PM

That would be cool.  Not because I care about lanterns (I don't know much about 'em beyond what I played of DCUO), but because that's the sort of effects I can justify with a Technology origin, and I always really like hypertech stuff in my vidja gaems.

#22

General Suggestions and Feedback / Re: Talk: Energy Control

Last post by Yikes - Mar 17, 2025, 04:53 PM

I reckon if we do energy control, it might be more in the vein of hardlight powers a la green lantern

#23

Off-topic / mozilla, the past few days wer...

Last post by Joshex - Mar 17, 2025, 01:43 AM

https://betanews.com/2025/03/10/firefox-addons-breaking-update-now/

so, I had to learn to hack my browser to reenable addons, all was well but advanced cookie manager was causing firefox 51 to drop all my other addons. I eventually hacked them all back in successfully, but then.. some sort of timer expired and disabled my addons. in the end I toasted aushelper (as it's the primary addon shipped with ff and built in and needs to be hacked to disable it) so now there shouldn't be any update checking functionality. I also removed all the update urls in about:config.

at first doing that broke all my addons, I had to remove them individually add them in temp, then hack them in permanently and changed the extension update interval to as high a number as it will go then disabled all updating in about config as well. even so I expect it to break again, just maybe half a year later instead of daily or every 2 days.

I'm hessitant to try to hack advanced cookie manager in again, I do have ccleaner as a backup, but that only allows cookie deletion while the browser is closed, where advanced cookie manager allowed full cookie manipulation while the browser is active. As it took some major messing about with hacking and backup files to get the main functional addons (a good adblocker with an options page that actually works and is visible, noscript, and downthemall download manager) in place again, I'd rather not attempt to hack in an addon that requires a browser restart right now and risk it bumping all my addons.

at this point I'm almost tempted to go find the sourcecode for ff51 and modify out all it's addon restrictions and just put in a confirmation window and password to install addons as a security measure..

I'm strongly considering palemoon atm as that will be easier as I wont need to do anything other than install a browser. I'm only a hero if I have to be, redoing sourcecode? I'd rather not, I have enough projects this addon disabling issue is already effecting (I'm spending time hacking my browser and fighting mozilla's new attack on legacy addons instead of working on projects). Worst part is the disabling seems to happen every few days in the evening time. I honestly hope adjusting the timer helped.

software built like this is the epitome of poorly designed. everything relies on connections to some server and opinions of the devs rather than user preference.

oh well, if anyone has any info to help this addon protection process let me know.

[After]

#24

Off-topic / Re: Joshexs Dreamtime

Last post by Joshex - Mar 13, 2025, 09:49 PM

well, things have been getting strange again to say the least.

last night as I laid down to go to bed something strange took place. Normally you may be aware from reading here that I've had instances where my mind gets into a state inbetween dream and reality After I wake up for a short time; but yesterday it was Before I actually got to sleep.

this time it happened twice in succession every time I tried to get to sleep.

The first time I actually wasn't trying to go to sleep, I had my eyes closed and I was thinking about stuff and I must have begun to drift off. Immediately as soon as I entered that state I heard the sound of something rubbing on fabric not two feet to my right. this shocked me as I was alone and not moving and still semi-conscious. I had been in the inbetween dream and reality state, and when I got disturbed by the loud sound right next to me, I enetered the fully awake state of mind and the sound stopped immediately as if cutoff abruptly. I do have cloth things in that region something could have rubbed up against, but they are window covering sunshades and there's nothing up at that level to rub against them and the fact the sound stopped abruptly (like before finishing) when I entered an awake state I figure it was not a real-life audible sound.

being a sound situation I am aware that in such a state hearing is heightenned. but still there was nothing to rub against any cloth to cause the sound.


The Second Instance: I calmed myself back down when i called out and no one answered and all was silent. satisfied nothing was trying to make first contact so to speak, I went back into my thoughts and eventually I closed my eyes again over the course of like less than a minute. Then I must have begun to fall asleep again. In a state inbetween dream and reality I was aware I was laying on my bed, and I raised my right hand out to the side to stretch as if yawning. but my hand hit the corner of the object (a metal filing cabinet I use as a computer stand to work from bed) but instead of a sharp feeling of a corner cutting me, it was an electrical shock to the back of my hand where the corner hit. I immediately woke up, and my hand was not out to the side at all, it was safely tucked under thick warm blankets and sheets and had not been moved. there was not physical damage to the back of my hand, and the shock feeling was gone.


there was a third event on the same night. It was a strange one indeed. after I tried to get back to sleep and entered the in-between dream and reality state, I was greeted by a young dark-skinned teenager in a suit, he was sat down on something I couldn't see above my head level everything was black like the darkness of space around us, except where he was, it was slightly illuminated like a dull grey faint glow behind him. he said "just so you know, I brought you here by my power, not yours." and I was in a snarky mood, so I said "oh, are you sure?" and tried to see if this situation in question was at all connected to my mind by increasing my brain activity by willing to try to take control of the instance. in doing so I found I felt weak like though I tried hard my mental activity could not control the whole instance outside a small area around me, like a few inches. he just stared at me his expression had not changed the entire time, he looked like he was talking to a lesser being and didn't really care as if this was a task from someone else, yet there was a tiny bit of respect in his gaze.

needless to say upping by brain activity woke me up after a few moments so I was not capable of completing the conversation or asking any more.

for the past few nights before this I.. had a hard time remembering my dreams at all, it was like my brain was full and the memories wouldn't stick, or like I left the memories behind in the dream state. I prayed for help to remember them, as I could vaguely remember some situations but not the words which were spoken. and in those dreams (with an unknown figure with a skirt and long hair and a strong light behind them) the words were important. and within seconds I was back asleep and had the same convo in the same place as in the previous dream and the repeated the same words, but as soon as I woke up I could not remember them though I tried to keep them front and center in my mind and that remembering of the words took such mental strain that I woke up in the process.

I can remember the basic idea of the convo "if you want to meet with me whether in dream or reality, just [can't remember, but it's an easy and simple task for me that comes naturally], [can't remember, but it's an easy and simple task for me that comes naturally], and [can't remember, but it's an easy and simple task for me that comes naturally]." in the dream both times I recollected "that's easy".

3 things. but I can't remember them at all. I tried for hours to try to retrace my dream to try to see if I could force a recollection of what was spoken, no go.

oh well, I have been praying to God for specifics lately, some about what I aught to be focusing on about the near future.

I had an eerie dream a few weeks ago where there was this girl who said "with your rate of working, I'm worried you don't have enough time to pass-on anything." and previous dreams were about me teaching things, or making things like games.

Also irl my heart isn't doing too well these past few days. it's beating alright and such but I feel like it's filled with some sort of chemical the kind like when you feel anxious or stressed. 2 days ago it was the worst after I did some physical work outside raking up stuff), bagging the stuff, and lifting and carting the bags around. they were heavy. I took a day off after that, because that night.. I could not get to sleep easily. it was rough. my heart did not feel good at all.

According to that other dream from a few months back I'm supposed to have 264 lives... but.. does that include healing when I come back like in city of heroes? or do I come back with the same worn out organs?..

that one time I actually died in reality from a lung infection in 2016.. God passed judgement and let me come back, albeit with damage to a few things; lungs, heart, brain, tendons, muscles, and probably a few other things, I honestly thought I was getting better, haven't had any low blood oxygen incidents for like a year. But I still apparently get winded easily during physical labor, and apparently my heart, (though I thought it was much stronger than before because I can sleep with my left arm at any angle and it doesn't fall asleep, and my heart seems to beat semi-normally) still has issues, mostly chemical issues it would seem. so.. physical labor in certain levels is a no. I'm only 39 and I already have the physical capabilities of a 90 year old. oh well, not much I can do I'm not worried about it. I just gotta get my butt to work on computer stuff, after all, that doesn't require any special blood oxygen or blood pressure.

the look on the doctor's face who took my blood oxygen readings a few years back - priceless.

"can I try it on your thumb? it's saying 0 oxygen on your index finger, I think it's broken"
"nope it's still 0 on your thumb, can you try breathing?"

me "oh, right, sorry my subconscious went on holiday and I forgot to breathe manually" *breathes*
"... well that's mildly better.. you really shouldn't be up and walking around with blood oxygen levels like this, do you ever faint suddenly while doing things?"

"nope, sometimes my vision goes black but that's about it"

*doctor stares at me* "lets try not to have you put yourself in such situations then".

sorry, but that makes me chuckle.. idk what it is about 0 blood oxygen and still being conscious that makes me laugh when people get freaked out by it. sometimes I joke that I'm technically "undead" though not like a zombie or anything as I am quite alive actually, I just died once that's all. ok now my brain is making comedic materials, I just imagined a zombie passing by, stopping, and saying "hey.." as if he recognizes me as a fellow lol.

ok enough morbid jokes and talk. I'm not goth, and I try not to be emo. maybe my health is why I have these strange situations. I don't worry any more because at least from my experience I know God is there and who he is, even if he was quite wroth.. so either way I have someplace to go. now I just have to focus on actually doing something with whatever years I've got left, even if it were 60 years, I still need to accomplish more than watching anime and gardening don't I?

[Displacer - Hero Stalker]

#25

Stalker / Street Justice / Super Reflexe...

Last post by EDekar - Mar 13, 2025, 03:27 PM

Street Justice is and has always been the best of the combo 'token' system powersets, and it gets particularly nutty with Stalkers thanks to the absolutely ridiculous burst damage of a Build Up -> Assassin Strike -> (level 3) Crushing Uppercut combo.  Even better if your Chance to Hide proc in AS goes off and your Crushing Uppercut gets to auto-crit too!  The fact that this is fine but Energy Melee isn't allowed the same concession has always struck me as strange and inconsistent, but here we are.

There isn't much I can say otherwise.  Super Reflexes is among the best armor sets out there if you want something that's hands off and does one thing really well: DODGE! (/piccolo)  Otherwise, it offers next to nothing for you offensively and its only real click is its T9, Elude.  Safe, boring, effective.

Displacer - Hero Stalker
Build plan made with Mids' Reborn v3.7.5 rev. 21
──────────────────────────────

• Primary powerset: Street Justice
  
• Secondary powerset: Super Reflexes
  
• Pool powerset (#1): Teleportation
  
• Pool powerset (#2): Fighting
  
• Pool powerset (#3): Concealment
  
• Pool powerset (#4): Experimentation
  
• Epic powerset: Martial Prowess
  

──────────────────────────────

Powers taken:

Level 1: Heavy Blow

• A: Touch of Death: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 3: Touch of Death: Damage/Endurance
  
• 5: Touch of Death: Damage/Recharge
  
• 11: Touch of Death: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
  
• 17: Touch of Death: Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 46: Touch of Death: Chance of Damage(Negative)
  

Level 1: Hide

• A: Kismet: Accuracy +6%
  

Level 2: Initial Strike

• A: Mako's Bite: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 3: Mako's Bite: Damage/Endurance
  
• 5: Mako's Bite: Damage/Recharge
  
• 15: Mako's Bite: Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 17: Mako's Bite: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 39: Mako's Bite: Chance of Damage(Lethal)
  

Level 4: Focused Fighting

• A: Reactive Defenses: Defense
  
• 9: Reactive Defenses: Defense/Endurance
  
• 23: Reactive Defenses: Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 23: Reactive Defenses: Defense/RechargeTime
  
• 34: Reactive Defenses: Defense/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 37: Reactive Defenses: Scaling Resist Damage
  

Level 6: Assassin's Strike

• A: Superior Stalker's Guile: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 7: Superior Stalker's Guile: Damage/Recharge
  
• 7: Superior Stalker's Guile: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
  
• 11: Superior Stalker's Guile: Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 13: Superior Stalker's Guile: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 13: Superior Stalker's Guile: Recharge/Chance to Hide
  

Level 8: Focused Senses

• A: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance
  
• 9: Red Fortune: Defense/Recharge
  
• 29: Red Fortune: Endurance/Recharge
  
• 29: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 37: Red Fortune: Defense
  
• 37: Red Fortune: Endurance
  

Level 10: Agile

• A: Invention: Defense Buff
  
• 21: Invention: Resist Damage
  

Level 12: Build Up

• A: Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control: Chance for Build Up
  

Level 14: Teleport

• A: Superior Winter's Gift: Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
  
• 15: Superior Winter's Gift: Slow Resistance (25%)
  

Level 16: Practiced Brawler

• A: Golgi Exposure
  

Level 18: Spinning Strike

• A: Annihilation: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 19: Annihilation: Damage/RechargeTime
  
• 19: Annihilation: Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
  
• 40: Annihilation: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
  
• 42: Annihilation: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 43: Annihilation: Chance for Res Debuff
  

Level 20: Dodge

• A: Invention: Defense Buff
  
• 21: Invention: Resist Damage
  

Level 22: Boxing

• (Empty)
  

Level 24: Tough

• A: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance
  
• 25: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance
  
• 25: Unbreakable Guard: Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 40: Unbreakable Guard: RechargeTime/Resistance
  
• 46: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 46: Unbreakable Guard: +Max HP
  

Level 26: Shin Breaker

• A: Superior Assassin's Mark: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 27: Superior Assassin's Mark: Damage/RechargeTime
  
• 27: Superior Assassin's Mark: Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
  
• 40: Superior Assassin's Mark: Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 42: Superior Assassin's Mark: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 42: Superior Assassin's Mark: RechargeTime/Rchg Build Up
  

Level 28: Quickness

• A: Invention: Healing
  

Level 30: Weave

• A: Red Fortune: Endurance
  
• 31: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance
  
• 31: Red Fortune: Defense/Recharge
  
• 31: Red Fortune: Endurance/Recharge
  
• 39: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 43: Red Fortune: Defense
  

Level 32: Crushing Uppercut

• A: Touch of Death: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 33: Touch of Death: Damage/Endurance
  
• 33: Touch of Death: Damage/Recharge
  
• 33: Touch of Death: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
  
• 34: Touch of Death: Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 34: Touch of Death: Chance of Damage(Negative)
  

Level 35: Evasion

• A: Red Fortune: Defense
  
• 36: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance
  
• 36: Red Fortune: Defense/Recharge
  
• 36: Red Fortune: Endurance/Recharge
  
• 39: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 43: Red Fortune: Endurance
  

Level 38: Elude

• A: Membrane Exposure
  

Level 41: Recall

• A: Invention: Endurance Reduction
  

Level 44: Blink Blitz

• A: Nucleolus Exposure
  
• 45: Cytoskeleton Exposure
  
• 45: Membrane Exposure
  
• 45: Membrane Exposure
  

Level 47: Warrior's Mark

• A: Analyze Weakness: Accuracy/Defense Debuff
  
• 48: Analyze Weakness: Accuracy/Recharge
  
• 48: Analyze Weakness: Defense Debuff/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 48: Analyze Weakness: Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
  

Level 49: War Cry

• A: Superior Witchcraft: Accuracy/ Universal Debuff
  
• 50: Superior Witchcraft: Universal Debuff/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 50: Superior Witchcraft: Accuracy/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 50: Superior Witchcraft: Chance for Res Debuff
  

──────────────────────────────

Inherents:

Level 1: Brawl

• (Empty)
  

Level 1: Sprint

• A: Celerity: +Stealth
  

Level 2: Rest

• (Empty)
  

Level 2: Swift

• A: Invention: Run Speed
  

Level 2: Hurdle

• A: Invention: Jumping
  

Level 2: Health

• A: Regenerative Tissue: +Regeneration
  
• 8: Miracle: +Recovery
  
• 16: Numina's Convalesence: +Regeneration/+Recovery
  

Level 2: Stamina

• A: Performance Shifter: Chance for +End
  
• 12: Performance Shifter: EndMod
  
• 22: Performance Shifter: EndMod/Accuracy
  

Level 1: Combo Level 1


Level 1: Combo Level 2


Level 1: Combo Level 3


Level 44: Team Teleport


Level 1: Assassination



──────────────────────────────
Incarnates:

Musculature Core Paragon
Mighty Radial Final Judgement
Paralytic Radial Flawless Interface
Clockwork Core Superior Ally
Rebirth Radial Epiphany
Assault Core Embodiment

#26

General / Re: Character Build Generator

Last post by Jagged - Mar 10, 2025, 10:20 AM

Unfortunately the player character information is unavailable for the foreseeable future.
So people won't be able to use this to generate their own player data sheets.

#27

Player Help/Guides / Re: The Not-so-secret guide to...

Last post by Draggynn - Mar 07, 2025, 07:51 PM

Thank you for taking the time to write up this very thorough and thoughtful guide.

I have found it is sufficient with a failed pull in Miss Liberty to have everyone flee to the hospital on the boat to reset for another pull attempt and have successfully pulled one of them after an unsuccessful double pull using this approach.  I don't doubt that everyone logging out would also be effective.

Not relevant to the strategy, and it's been a while, but my memory from when the original Master of Miss Liberty was introduced (so this is decades old memory here) is that the Arachnos flyer is actually on a 20 min respawn timer (could have the number wrong) that is unrelated to when it's defeated, so it can actually come back very quickly after being defeated if you take out at the tail end of that timer.  So one strategy at the time was to defeat it, and then wait for the respawn, so you would know exactly when the timer would trigger and take it out again before approaching Recluse.  I don't advocate this approach, but I it is an interesting mechanic to note.

I was also interested to learn that the Barracuda approach only takes 20 minutes to outlast the spawns.  I was under the impression that it took closer to an hour, but I wonder if that's because the spawns are triggered by their defeat, and so if you're actively going after them you can run them down faster.  20 minutes sounds manageable in a way that an hour is not.  I will observe that it is definitely possible to burst down Reichsman before being overwhelmed (-regen debuffs help a lot), as this is how Veracity completed the MoCuda on multiple occasions, or to take a heavy support approach that can just last through the ambushes while taking down Reichsman (which is how I did it).  Although those appraoches are quicker, they definitely require a specifically built team.

Again, thank you for sharing your insights.  I know writing up a guide like this is very time consuming, and rarely feels like it gets the appreciation that it took to assemble it.

#28

Character Bios / Re: The Dead End Butcher

Last post by EDekar - Mar 04, 2025, 04:43 PM

The Dead End Butcher was inspired primarily by Jason Voorhees, of Friday the 13th.  While an obvious inspiration, a totally silent character isn't much fun to roleplay with in a social game, so I've learned through some casual roleplay interactions that while he tends towards simple, monosyllabic responses or quiet grunts, there is a sharper mind than you'd expect behind that mask.

His motivations remain inscrutable.  Yes, I personally know what's going on there, but I'm not inclined to share (save through roleplay if it happens)!

Ironically, he fits in well with my redside personal supergroup, Housekeeping Services Agency (HSA), whose theme is that of maids and butlers of a monstrous stripe.  Yes, he does have a 'butler' outfit in keeping with his theme!  Alas, attachment size limitations mean I can share only so much.

#29

Character Bios / The Dead End Butcher

Last post by EDekar - Mar 04, 2025, 04:40 PM

The Dead End Butcher

-Build Link-

Content warning: the following story is bloody and dark, and those squeamish with horror should consider other stories.  The content herein would be considered on par with a slasher horror movie.

The murky sun dips low over the horizon, casting dim rays over a gloomy, urban sprawl.  A man wrinkles his nose above a recently lit rusty barrel, collected burnables catching fire and releasing acrid smoke along with life sustaining warmth.

He sighs, huddling closer while holding leathery, rag wrapped hands towards the flame.  "Another long night..." he mumbles to himself.

Glancing to one side, he notes a disturbance some distance away; shouting and the sounds of fighting echoing strangely throughout the alleyways.  Shaking his head, he merely eases himself into a more comfortable position while making himself as small and unworthy a target as he can.  Energy blasts ricochet off the dilapidated buildings nearby as orders are crisply delivered, and before long the fight is over.  "Spiders at it again.  Hmph."

Faint warmth begins to fill the area around him as the fire burns through its fuel.  A pop sounds out as the fire consumes something particularly combustible, causing the man to jump back instinctively and protect his hands.  He carefully eases closer again when it fails to repeat the noise, trying to stay warm against the coming Autumn evening.

Minutes later, the footfalls of heavy boots tromp on past the alleyway... save for one pair entering behind the man.  "You shouldn't be out here, scum.  It's past curfew." the Arachnos Soldier announces as he approaches the man at the barrel fire.  The soldier doesn't bother waiting for a reply of course; he just wants an excuse to bully and push others around.  True to form, rough hands shove the vagrant before he can sputter a single word, pushing him into and toward the flame.  Stumbling, he crashes into the barrel clumsily, spraying burning trash over the ground as he falls to rag wrapped hands.

Laughing, the soldier turns and saunters out of the alley, leaving the vagrant to struggle with the flames as best he can.  Unbeknownst to both, a watching pair of eyes follows the scene carefully, tracking the soldier as he departs.

Later that night...

Two men gather at a local bar, drinking their wages away after a hard day's work.  "Hellions, can you believe 'em?  Again?  You'd think they would take the hint and get out of Port Oakes, but no..."  The man laughs, largely finished with a pint.
"What, you think they learn?  We keep putting them in body bags but they keep coming back!  Bet it's all that oil by the crashed tanker."  Shaking his head in reply, he shrugs and drains his pint.
"Eh, we had our fun knocking heads together.  's a great gig, the life of a soldier!"  The first man finishes up and leans back.  "Ugh... speaking of the life of a soldier, we should probably get back to barracks before tomorrow..."
"You go on ahead, I won't be long.  Just gotta use the pisser..."  His companion carefully works his way to the back, intent on his goal.

Shrugging, the first man gets to his feet after leaving some change on the table and winds his way to the front doors, stepping out into the darkness of another ocean-cold night.  "Shoulda brought a coat..." he mutters, slipping his hands into his pockets.  Moving quickly, he starts walking his way back to the closest Arachnos base, a solid ten minute walk away.  Nothing challenging for a military trained man with the fitness that accompanies such training, of course.  Sure, supers could be running around, but they don't usually bother civilians going about their business, and he wasn't wearing anything that would give away his employment.  Anybody dumb enough to try him would find themselves disappeared before long when word got back to base.

Moving from the flickering pools of street light back into the darkness, he finds himself uneasy.  "Is it colder...?" he wonders silently, before shrugging. "Just the dark..." he assures himself.

Shadows gather silently nearby, a miasma of malicious intent coalescing into solid, towering form, unseen by his chosen victim.  The furthest street lamp sputters and dies with a pop, causing the soldier to startle momentarily.  "Shit!... friggin' lights need to be replaced..." he mutters to himself.  The next nearest light flickers one last time, then it too fades, only to leave one last pool of light ahead of him.  He moves more quickly towards it, spooked and grateful for at least that little bit of respite.

The presence intensifies, muted and hidden from its prey, yet nevertheless gathering strength as it begins to stalk into the shadows ahead of the street light, moving between two buildings and waiting just as the soldier screws up his courage enough to leave his oasis of safety.

A large, rough hand darts from the darkness and grabs the soldier, pulling him into the shadows suddenly and violently before pinning him against a wall around the corner, the soldier struggling against the sudden assault.  "Hel-!" he manages to gasp before a large cleaver is shoved into his guts, forcefully thrust hard enough that the blade is buried partially into the brick and mortar wall.  The rest of his words are cut off as he gurgles and bleeds profusely.

Wild eyes fight to focus as they struggle to take in their attacker: a towering brute of a figure wrapped in bandages, a mask over its face, and a corroded cleaver still held in one hand watches him impassively, a dull red glow lighting up where its eyes should be.  It holds up its free hand, showing the bandages wrapped around it, then slowly points to a nearby trash bin, never breaking its gaze from the soldier.

Life dripping away, the terrified soldier grasps the cleaver piercing him to the wall, trying to escape.  Callous and uncaring, the brute hefts his free cleaver and begins to dismember the soldier limb by limb.  All the while the soldier remains in agony, yet horribly alive through the entire process, as though being sustained to endure the agony.  Each limb finds its way to the trash bin, trails of blood and viscera marking their sailing arc through the air as they're tossed one by one into it.

The soldier can no longer scream, even if he wanted to.  His lifeblood has long since drowned his lungs, even with naught left but his head and torso.  The hulking figure tilts its head slightly, as though listening to something, yet the soldier hears nothing at all.  It slowly brings the dripping, pitted blade up, holding it parallel to its arm for a moment before pulling back and swinging towards the soldier's neck, roughly hewing it like an axe to a log.

The remaining pieces are thrown to the bin as well as the killer pulls his cleaver from the brick, letting his victim's torso fall bloodily to the pooled viscera beneath, then lifting it and slowly walking to the bin to deposit this last grisly trophy.  The red glow fades from its eyes as it returns and walks around the corner, fading back into the shadows before disappearing completely.

The next morning...

Groaning and limping, the vagrant shuffles on his route, collecting trash and anything else he can find of value, rummaging through bins and the like.  A macabre scent begins to fill the air as he nears the buildings, and he wrinkles his nose as he pauses.  Is it worth it to even check?  After last night he hardly needs a beating, but if he misses something valuable he might not last the night anyway.  He sighs quietly, then starts to make his way nearer, huddling into himself as though to make himself a lesser target.

The scene of carnage that greets him is a new one.  While he has seen a lot in the Isles over the years, most murders are either very quiet or very loud.  This... this is something else.  The wall bears the scars of multiple hacking slashes, and a deep gouge caps the scene.  Crows caw as they flee the scene of carrion feast, flapping to the roofs to watch and wait for him to leave.

Moving slowly and quietly, the vagabond takes in the sight with eyes wide before realizing the blood leaves a trail, leading nearby...

[Dead End Butcher - Villain Brute]

#30

Brute / Dual Blades / Energy Aura (The...

Last post by EDekar - Mar 04, 2025, 03:26 PM

The Dead End Butcher

-Short Story-

More a concept build than a power one, I've been surprised at how much fun I've been having with it (for all that Dual Blades is kind of a mess of a powerset).  This character would likely work well as a Stalker too, but given the inspiration for the character, Brute felt like a better fit to me.

I've gotten him up to threat level 22 so far, and he'll only get better over time as you'll soon see from the build text below.  A few notes on set IO levels, however:

• The vast majority of my set IOs are at level 27 for malefactor purposes.
• Reactive Defenses has its IOs set to level 21.
• Most procs are taken either at minimum level, or a level that will malefactor to the availability of the power's availability (depending on market stocks).

Dual Blades, as a set, was the first of its kind and the precursor to the more modern combo systems we see today in sets like Street Justice.  Like any prototype, it suffers comparatively, but it isn't a bad set.  When I built Dead End Butcher, I paid close attention to the DPA (Damage Per Animation) of its attacks, and only secondarily to any combos I might be able to complete as part of my chain.  To that end, Power Slice, Vengeful Slice, and One Thousand Cuts were discarded as being poor value if I have sufficient recharge to otherwise manage an attack chain.  This is fortunate since I needed power pool picks to support concept!

One of the downsides of Dual Blades is that any miss in your chain will more than likely force a failed combo (meaning you will get no additional effects).  Furthermore, the combo system doesn't reset immediately; I often open combat with the Nimble Slash -> Ablating Strike -> Blinding Feint combo which provides an empowerment buff.  However, if I immediately return to Nimble Slash I won't activate a new combo (say, Nimble Slash -> Ablating Strike -> Typhoon's Edge (Weaken Combo)).  It's possible this is because there's a secondary combo finisher hanging on to the end of my Blinding Feint combo that activates off of a power I don't have.

The upside is that the actual combo effects are meager anyways; you'll get the highest damage per second ignoring them and focusing on keeping your Empower combo up while using Sweeping Strike as often as possible.

All in all, I'm having fun playing my movie slasher villain and exploring what kind of campy nonsense I can get up to with him.  May my experiences potentially help others!

As a final note, I always turn off T9 armor powers and incarnate defensives that add to resist/defense in my totals.  What is shown in the attachments is effectively my 'second by second' performance, with additional potential from the powers I have excluded.  I like to establish a solid baseline where I can!  Also, there are definitely places where you could squeeze out more power if you have the economy (purples, event sets, lots of HOs).  My own economy is fairly limited these days, so I build within the budget I can manage!

Dead End Butcher - Villain Brute
Build plan made with Mids' Reborn v3.7.5 rev. 21
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• Primary powerset: Dual Blades
  
• Secondary powerset: Energy Aura
  
• Pool powerset (#1): Leaping
  
• Pool powerset (#2): Presence
  
• Pool powerset (#3): Fighting
  
• Pool powerset (#4): Speed
  
• Ancillary powerset: Martial_Prowess
  

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Powers taken:

Level 1: Nimble Slash

• A: Superior Brute's Fury: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 3: Superior Brute's Fury: Damage/Recharge
  
• 5: Superior Brute's Fury: Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
  
• 19: Superior Brute's Fury: Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 39: Superior Brute's Fury: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 40: Superior Brute's Fury: Recharge/Fury Bonus
  

Level 1: Kinetic Shield

• A: Reactive Defenses: Defense
  
• 7: Reactive Defenses: Defense/Endurance
  
• 11: Reactive Defenses: Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 25: Reactive Defenses: Defense/RechargeTime
  
• 25: Reactive Defenses: Defense/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 36: Reactive Defenses: Scaling Resist Damage
  

Level 2: Ablating Strike

• A: Superior Unrelenting Fury: Accuracy/Damage
  
• 3: Superior Unrelenting Fury: Damage/RechargeTime
  
• 5: Superior Unrelenting Fury: Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
  
• 15: Superior Unrelenting Fury: Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 19: Superior Unrelenting Fury: Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 39: Superior Unrelenting Fury: RechargeTime/+Regen/+End
  

Level 4: Dampening Field

• A: Invention: Resist Damage
  
• 45: Invention: Resist Damage
  

Level 6: Power Shield

• A: Kismet: Defense/Endurance
  
• 7: Kismet: Defense/Recharge
  
• 11: Kismet: Endurance/Recharge
  
• 36: Kismet: Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 37: Kismet: Accuracy +6%
  
• 40: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
  

Level 8: Blinding Feint

• A: Nucleolus Exposure
  
• 9: Nucleolus Exposure
  
• 9: Touch of Death: Chance of Damage(Negative)
  
• 21: Mako's Bite: Chance of Damage(Lethal)
  
• 37: Superior Vampire's Bite: Recharge/Chance to Heal
  
• 37: Hecatomb: Chance of Damage(Negative)
  

Level 10: Entropic Aura

• A: Invention: Endurance Reduction
  

Level 12: Typhoon's Edge

• A: Nucleolus Exposure
  
• 13: Nucleolus Exposure
  
• 13: Eradication: Chance for Energy Damage
  
• 17: Scirocco's Dervish: Chance of Damage(Lethal)
  
• 17: Obliteration: Chance for Smashing Damage
  
• 40: Overwhelming Force: Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
  

Level 14: Super Jump

• A: Superior Winter's Gift: Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
  
• 15: Superior Winter's Gift: Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range/Endurance
  
• 46: Superior Winter's Gift: Slow Resistance (25%)
  

Level 16: Energy Protection

• A: Steadfast Protection: Resistance/+Def 3%
  
• 45: Invention: Resist Damage
  

Level 18: Combat Jumping

• A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
  

Level 20: Energy Cloak

• A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
  
• 21: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance
  
• 43: Red Fortune: Defense/Recharge
  
• 43: Red Fortune: Endurance/Recharge
  
• 43: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 45: Red Fortune: Endurance
  

Level 22: Acrobatics

• A: Luck of the Gambler: Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
  
• 23: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance
  
• 23: Red Fortune: Defense/Recharge
  
• 42: Red Fortune: Endurance/Recharge
  
• 42: Red Fortune: Defense/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 46: Red Fortune: Endurance
  

Level 24: Pacify

• A: Invention: Accuracy
  

Level 26: Sweeping Strike

• A: Nucleolus Exposure
  
• 27: Nucleolus Exposure
  
• 27: Eradication: Chance for Energy Damage
  
• 31: Scirocco's Dervish: Chance of Damage(Lethal)
  
• 31: Obliteration: Chance for Smashing Damage
  
• 31: Armageddon: Chance for Fire Damage
  

Level 28: Energy Drain

• A: Membrane Exposure
  
• 29: Membrane Exposure
  
• 29: Invention: Endurance Modification
  
• 34: Invention: Endurance Modification
  

Level 30: Intimidate

• A: Invention: Accuracy
  

Level 32: Invoke Panic

• A: Superior Haunting: Accuracy/Fear
  
• 33: Superior Haunting: Fear/Recharge
  
• 33: Superior Haunting: Recharge/Endurance
  
• 33: Superior Haunting: Accuracy/Fear/Endurance
  
• 34: Superior Haunting: Accuracy/Fear/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 34: Superior Haunting: Recharge/Chance to Summon Ghosts
  

Level 35: Energize

• A: Doctored Wounds: Heal/Endurance/Recharge
  
• 36: Golgi Exposure
  
• 46: Invention: Recharge Reduction
  

Level 38: Overload

• A: Membrane Exposure
  
• 39: Membrane Exposure
  

Level 41: Unrelenting

• A: Doctored Wounds: Heal/Recharge
  
• 42: Efficacy Adaptor: EndMod/Recharge
  

Level 44: Boxing

• A: Nucleolus Exposure
  

Level 47: Tough

• A: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance
  
• 48: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance
  
• 48: Unbreakable Guard: Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 48: Unbreakable Guard: RechargeTime/Resistance
  
• 50: Unbreakable Guard: Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
  
• 50: Unbreakable Guard: +Max HP
  

Level 49: Hasten

• A: Invention: Recharge Reduction
  
• 50: Invention: Recharge Reduction
  

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Inherents:

Level 1: Fury


Level 1: Brawl

• A: Nucleolus Exposure
  

Level 1: Sprint

• A: Celerity: +Stealth
  

Level 2: Rest

• A: Invention: Recharge Reduction
  

Level 2: Swift

• A: Invention: Run Speed
  

Level 2: Hurdle

• A: Invention: Jumping
  

Level 2: Health

• A: Regenerative Tissue: +Regeneration
  
• 8: Miracle: +Recovery
  
• 16: Numina's Convalesence: +Regeneration/+Recovery
  

Level 2: Stamina

• A: Performance Shifter: Chance for +End
  
• 12: Performance Shifter: EndMod
  
• 22: Performance Shifter: EndMod/Accuracy
  

──────────────────────────────
Incarnates:

Musculature Core Paragon
Mighty Radial Final Judgement
Spectral Radial Flawless Interface
Rularuu Core Superior Ally
Barrier Core Epiphany