With the onset of Rebirth Issue 5 on us I wanted to take this moment to reflect on my time as a player and break down my major characters in one thread. I have been largely inactive in the game for months now on a personal level, beyond my duties as staff at time of writing. I want to reminisce on where I've been and how far I have journeyed. At least from a character perspective. Join me as I write many words about silly things and ramble excitedly about the history of my cast of characters.
WARNING: Many Walls of Text and babbling of the past 4 years ahead.
- Introduction -Over these years of rebirth, I have made many, many characters. I have remade characters several times trying to find power sets that fit their character. I won't go through my entire roster or I might end up making something longer than the Encyclopedia Britannica. I've had a few major focus characters. These characters are the ones I put my time, energy, and soul into to play.
- Champion of Yggdrasil -One of my first characters that I made major progress with on Rebirth wasn't actually one of my insect themed characters. It's a character I still use occasionally now and again. Decidruid. An Archery/Nature corruptor. I wanted someone who could heal and had a good coverage of damage. Archery provided the most baseline damage for both single target and AoE. Nature was chosen as a non traditional healing support set.
Decidruid, or Marian Harper, as a character is one I don't take too seriously. Even so, characterization is something I put a lot of thought into and usually starts with some sort of core prompt or concept. Decidruid's prompt was: What if you were blessed by and made the champion of a deity that pretty much nobody worships? She is a Magic origin hero who gained her powers as the champion of Yggdrasil. The world tree isn't exactly something that is worshiped by many. This lead to her becoming kind of detached from the insanity she usually ends up partaking in once she learned that the deity she followed was far more casual than expected.
Right before my induction into Rebirth's staff I had placed highly in a server held costume contest as a draenei from WoW. The reasoning? Marian interrupted Yggdrasil during one of his raids and was 'Transmogged' as punishment. Ironically winning a title from that contest meant I had to keep the costume on longer.
The biggest achievement being a part of the server's first Really Hard Way badge. People might still have macros from when I volunteered to be the heal support for Likes a Challenge as well, pioneering the silo strategy.
The build itself is something I'm still proud of: Perma-Overgrowth in 50 content. Though irritatingly, I've lost my original MXD file. You'll have to settle for a screenshot of their Ios.
- The Build (Hasten not shown)-
Decidruid doesn't see as much usage today because, while perma-overgrowth is fantastic, it is also frequently jarring. It is a lonnnggg animation and keeping it on perma makes it pop up every 2 minutes or such. My other complaint had been addressed long ago: Rain of Arrows was terribly inconvenient to use. She also doesn't see much use due to my build desires changing over time, favoring having 8 billion damage procs where I can afford it. Archery lacks the secondary effects to slot for that. Decidruid has reached her peak and continues assisting the World Tree in matters major and minor. Mostly minor. A lot of minor matters.
- Enter the Nintern -My next most major character focus that I can recall came to being after watching far too many Godfrey Ho movies, realizing that Stalker's had been changed during sunset, and having a tiny amount of influence from the Guilty Gear series.
To give you an idea of how serious I took this character, here is his Bio:
QuoteA question that has rung through the ages is "What is a Ninja?" Up until the 1960's they have just been a fairy tale. Today Ninjitsu is a big business with Private Ninjitsu Consultancies (PNCs). Mr. Wilhelm is a certified jounin and a licensed practitioner of ninjitsu. With the fall of his PNC during the attack on galaxy city he has had to go independant. Taking on his old nickname when he was an apprentice for Syninjastics Inc, He puts his practice to use as The Nintern. Its a tough job being a ninja but only a ninja can truely defeat a ninja.
Ninja. Ninja Ninja. Ninja ninja ninja. Ninja.
Now knowing that, what would his power set be? If you guessed Ninja Blade/Ninjitsu ... You would be correct. This actually becomes kind of a problem as I could never settle on a build for him. I still haven't! I just could never find a good balance of damage, defense, resistances, and recovery that I liked. It's entirely personal though as the set was incredibly effective. Blowing through every respec available for him gave me knowledge of one thing however. The power of damage procs and the creation of
The True Gambler's Cut
This t1 that barely did anything now had the ability to instantly annihilate a minion*
*If said minion was 1 level under
And I quote "Because I've made this 70 damage attack have a damage variance of 52-409.59"
Nintern still sees action very infrequently. Mostly on the slopes when they become available. I will still remember the absolute game changer working on his builds became. They were a learning experience for certain.
- The great experimenters mystery -In the beginning of my time on modern CoH, I was trying to avoid type casting. By this I mean I didn't want to make too many insect themed characters. I know that if I did, I would want to make sure they were as well defined as I could possibly make them. Before Rebirths inception, I was on HC for a spell. There I went through over a dozen combinations and archetypes. Corruptors. Stalkers. Scrappers. Brutes. Weapons. Non weapons. I was trying to find the character who would bear the concept I had planned. What if you've mutated through experimentation and had no clue who your experimenters were? This lead to the creation of a Thermal/Sonic defender by the name of Icilia.
Real name Marian Harper, a promising law student on her way to become a paralegal until an incident forcibly activated a mutagen that lied dormant within her genetics. She gained the power to emit sonic blasts and manipulate a strange bio plasma that could take on elemental properties. She only had vague memories of being experimented on to go on with no clear picture of how she ended up like this. She took to this surprisingly well. "I have cilia now. The fine hairs along these wings. .. Icilia!"
Her build:
- Last updated: 05/30/2020 -
[spoiler]
This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.7https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsRebornClick this DataLink to open the build!Icilia: Level 50 Science DefenderPrimary Power Set: Thermal RadiationSecondary Power Set: Sonic AttackPower Pool: SorceryPower Pool: LeapingPower Pool: LeadershipPower Pool: FightingAncillary Pool: Electricity MasteryHero Profile:Level 1: Warmth - (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
- (3) Doctored Wounds - Recharge
- (3) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
- (5) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
- (5) Doctored Wounds - Heal
Level 1: Shriek - (A) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (7) Superior Defender's Bastion - Damage/Recharge
- (7) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage
- (9) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (9) Superior Defender's Bastion - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
Level 2: Scream - (A) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage
- (11) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/RechargeTime
- (11) Superior Vigilant Assault - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
- (13) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (13) Superior Vigilant Assault - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
- (15) Superior Vigilant Assault - RechargeTime/PBAoE +Absorb
Level 4: Howl - (A) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage
- (17) Superior Frozen Blast - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
- (17) Superior Frozen Blast - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (19) Annihilation - Chance for Res Debuff
- (19) Superior Frozen Blast - Recharge/Chance for Immobilize
- (21) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)
Level 6: Cauterize - (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
- (21) Doctored Wounds - Endurance/Recharge
- (23) Doctored Wounds - Heal
- (23) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance/Recharge
- (25) Doctored Wounds - Recharge
- (25) Panacea - +Hit Points/Endurance
Level 8: Thermal Shield - (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
- (27) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
- (27) Aegis - Endurance/Recharge
- (29) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
- (29) Aegis - Resistance
Level 10: Plasma Shield - (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
- (31) Aegis - Resistance/Recharge
- (31) Aegis - Endurance/Recharge
- (31) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance/Recharge
- (33) Aegis - Resistance
Level 12: Power of the Phoenix - (A) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 14: Mystic Flight - (A) Winter's Gift - Run Speed, Jump, Flight Speed, Range
- (33) Winter's Gift - Slow Resistance (20%)
Level 16: Shout - (A) Apocalypse - Damage
- (33) Apocalypse - Damage/Recharge
- (34) Apocalypse - Accuracy/Recharge
- (34) Apocalypse - Chance of Damage(Negative)
Level 18: Forge - (A) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge
- (34) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge
Level 20: Combat Jumping - (A) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
- (36) Karma - Knockback Protection
- (36) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
Level 22: Assault - (A) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 24: Spirit Ward - (A) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Endurance
- (36) Doctored Wounds - Endurance/Recharge
- (37) Doctored Wounds - Heal/Recharge
- (37) Doctored Wounds - Recharge
- (37) Doctored Wounds - Heal
Level 26: Thaw - (A) Recharge Reduction IO
Level 28: Heat Exhaustion - (A) Accuracy IO
- (39) Recharge Reduction IO
- (39) Recharge Reduction IO
- (39) Accuracy IO
Level 30: Tactics - (A) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff
- (40) Adjusted Targeting - To Hit Buff/Endurance
Level 32: Melt Armor - (A) Accuracy IO
- (40) Recharge Reduction IO
- (40) Shield Breaker - Chance for Lethal Damage
- (42) Recharge Reduction IO
- (42) Touch of Lady Grey - Chance for Negative Damage
- (42) Achilles' Heel - Chance for Res Debuff
Level 35: Thunder Strike - (A) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge
- (43) Obliteration - Chance for Smashing Damage
- (43) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage
- (43) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage
- (45) Scirocco's Dervish - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
- (45) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
Level 38: Dreadful Wail - (A) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Damage
- (45) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Endurance
- (46) Scirocco's Dervish - Damage/Recharge
- (46) Scirocco's Dervish - Accuracy/Recharge
- (46) Scirocco's Dervish - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
Level 41: Boxing - (A) Kinetic Combat - Knockdown Bonus
Level 44: Charged Armor - (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
- (48) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
- (48) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
- (50) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP
Level 47: Amplify - (A) Recharge Reduction IO
- (48) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
Level 49: Tough - (A) Aegis - Resistance/Endurance
- (50) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance
- (50) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
Level 1: Vigilance Level 1: Brawl Level 1: Sprint Level 2: Rest Level 2: Swift Level 2: Hurdle Level 2: Health - (A) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
- (15) Preventive Medicine - Chance for +Absorb
Level 2: Stamina - (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
- (13) Empty
- (23) Empty
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash Level 1: Prestige Power Slide Level 1: Prestige Power Quick Level 1: Prestige Power Rush Level 1: Prestige Power Surge Level 4: Ninja Run Level 50: Vigor Core Paragon Level 50: Spectral Core Flawless Interface Level 50: Support Core Embodiment Level 50: Barrier Radial Epiphany Level 50: Portal Jockey Level 50: Task Force Commander Level 50: The Atlas Medallion Level 50: Freedom Phalanx Reserve Level 1: Disintegrating ------------[/spoiler]
She would spend the better part of 2020 running down any lead into her origin mystery. During which she would run into her Praetorian counter part.
- Kicking into high gear -During my playtime of Icilia, I continued to make side characters I would play to check out power combinations. Most of these would end up being one off characters. Eventually leading to exploring another concept through the Praetorian counter-part of Icilia.
"What if instead of an evil counter-part, the praetorian version simply had a different mutation experience?"
Marian Harper of Praetoria was a successful lawyer until she found herself mutated after a two week coma following one incredibly stressful night. With copper colored chitin and a body physically stronger to boot, literally. She was conscripted into powers division immediately after being released from the hospital. There she learned to fight, taking the mantle of Copper Cricket. Willpower/Martial Arts tanker. The opposite of Icilia physically.
- Last Updated: 04/16/2021 -
[spoiler]
This Hero build was built using Mids Reborn 3.4.7https://github.com/LoadedCamel/MidsRebornClick this DataLink to open the build!Copper Cricket: Level 50 Mutation TankerPrimary Power Set: WillpowerSecondary Power Set: Martial ArtsPower Pool: LeapingPower Pool: FightingAncillary Pool: Energy MasteryHero Profile:Level 1: High Pain Tolerance - (A) Healing IO
- (3) Healing IO
- (3) Unbreakable Guard - +Max HP
- (5) Gladiator's Armor - TP Protection +3% Def (All)
- (5) Steadfast Protection - Resistance/+Def 3%
Level 1: Thunder Kick - (A) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage
- (7) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Damage/RechargeTime
- (7) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
- (9) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
- (9) Superior Gauntleted Fist - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
- (11) Superior Gauntleted Fist - RechargeTime/+Absorb
Level 2: Mind Over Body - (A) Impervium Armor - Psionic Resistance
- (11) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
- (13) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
- (13) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime
- (15) Unbreakable Guard - RechargeTime/Resistance
- (15) Aegis - Psionic/Status Resistance
Level 4: Storm Kick - (A) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage
- (17) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (17) Superior Might of the Tanker - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (19) Superior Might of the Tanker - Recharge/Chance for +Res(All)
- (19) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)
- (21) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
Level 6: Indomitable Will Level 8: Fast Healing - (A) Miracle - Heal/Endurance
- (21) Miracle - Heal
- (23) Miracle - Heal/Recharge
Level 10: Rise to the Challenge - (A) Numina's Convalesence - Endurance/Recharge
- (23) Healing IO
- (25) Numina's Convalesence - Heal
- (25) Numina's Convalesence - +Regeneration/+Recovery
Level 12: Warrior's Provocation - (A) Mocking Beratement - Recharge
- (27) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Range
- (27) Mocking Beratement - Taunt/Recharge
- (29) Mocking Beratement - Taunt
Level 14: Super Jump Level 16: Crane Kick - (A) Accuracy IO
- (40) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage
- (42) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)
- (42) Overwhelming Force - Damage/Chance for Knockdown/Knockback to Knockdown
- (42) Mako's Bite - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
- (43) Accuracy IO
Level 18: Heightened Senses - (A) Kismet - Defense/Endurance
- (29) Kismet - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
- (31) Kismet - Defense/Recharge
- (31) Kismet - Accuracy +6%
Level 20: Combat Jumping - (A) Luck of the Gambler - Defense/Increased Global Recharge Speed
Level 22: Focus Chi - (A) Adjusted Targeting - Recharge
- (31) Adjusted Targeting - Endurance/Recharge
- (33) Gaussian's Synchronized Fire-Control - Chance for Build Up
Level 24: Boxing - (A) Disorient Duration IO
Level 26: Tough - (A) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance
- (33) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance
- (33) Unbreakable Guard - Endurance/RechargeTime
- (34) Unbreakable Guard - Resistance/Endurance/RechargeTime
Level 28: Crippling Axe Kick - (A) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage
- (36) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance
- (37) Superior Blistering Cold - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (37) Superior Blistering Cold - Damage/Endurance/Accuracy/RechargeTime
- (37) Superior Blistering Cold - Recharge/Chance for Hold
- (39) Trap of the Hunter - Chance of Damage(Lethal)
Level 30: Weave - (A) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance
- (34) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Recharge
- (34) Gift of the Ancients - Endurance/Recharge
- (36) Gift of the Ancients - Defense/Endurance/Recharge
- (36) Gift of the Ancients - Defense
Level 32: Spring Attack - (A) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (39) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/Recharge
- (39) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (40) Superior Avalanche - Damage/Endurance
- (40) Superior Avalanche - Accuracy/Damage
Level 35: Dragon's Tail - (A) Armageddon - Damage/Endurance
- (43) Armageddon - Accuracy/Recharge
- (43) Armageddon - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (45) Armageddon - Damage/Recharge
- (45) Armageddon - Chance for Fire Damage
- (45) Eradication - Chance for Energy Damage
Level 38: Eagles Claw - (A) Hecatomb - Damage
- (46) Hecatomb - Damage/Recharge
- (46) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Recharge
- (46) Hecatomb - Accuracy/Damage/Recharge
- (48) Hecatomb - Chance of Damage(Negative)
- (48) Touch of Death - Chance of Damage(Negative)
Level 41: Focused Accuracy - (A) Endurance Reduction IO
Level 44: Physical Perfection Level 47: Energy Torrent - (A) Positron's Blast - Chance of Damage(Energy)
- (48) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance
- (50) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage/RechargeTime
- (50) Annihilation - Accuracy/Damage/Endurance/RechargeTime
- (50) Explosive Strike - Chance for Smashing Damage
Level 49: Quick Recovery - (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
Level 1: Gauntlet Level 1: Brawl Level 1: Sprint Level 2: Rest Level 2: Swift Level 2: Hurdle Level 2: Health - (A) Regenerative Tissue - +Regeneration
- (9) Empty
- (17) Empty
Level 2: Stamina - (A) Performance Shifter - Chance for +End
- (13) Empty
- (23) Empty
Level 1: Prestige Power Dash Level 1: Prestige Power Slide Level 1: Prestige Power Quick Level 1: Prestige Power Rush Level 1: Prestige Power Surge Level 4: Ninja Run Level 50: Diamagnetic Total Core Conversion Level 50: IDF Radial Superior Ally Level 50: Agility Core Paragon Level 50: Barrier Core Epiphany Level 50: Assault Radial Embodiment Level 50: The Atlas Medallion Level 50: Portal Jockey Level 50: Freedom Phalanx Reserve Level 1: Disintegrating ------------[/spoiler]
She took the Warden storyline. Finding herself with the physical strength to do what she couldn't do in the courts. Cole's forceful conscription always struck a nerve with her and now having it thrust upon her was the final nail. Praetoria could not stand together under the forceful grip of Tyrant. Cricket isn't seen much in Paragon nowadays. Not only due to the creation of Zinnias later, but because she is Praetorian at heart. The end of Number 6's arc lends her an excuse to stay within Praetoria to help rebuild.
-Continued in next post-
