Minimilist Leveling Build

[Archived Post]

The concept of this build is to level all the way to 40 making as few power choices as possible, thus allowing you to choose an effective end game build once the nerfs has settled down and there is more information about what is useful and needed.

The Build:

Build by championBuilder 0.2.4 (http://champions.zarzu.ch)

Download this Build here. (http://champions.zarzu.ch/download.php?download=4131g50d0050i3050i505zz045zz zz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zz zz5zzzz75y10n5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz5zzzz25y0065 y002fThe Minimalist)

The Minimalist: Level 40 Champion

Superstats:
Level 5: Super Recovery
Level 13: Super Constitution

Powers:
Level 1: Kinetic Dart
Level 1: Lash
Level 5: Regeneration
Level 5: Teleport
Level 8:
Level 11:
Level 14:
Level 17:
Level 20:
Level 23:
Level 26:
Level 29:
Level 32:
Level 35:
Level 35:
Level 38:

Talents:
Level 1: Inhuman
Level 6:
Level 9:
Level 12:
Level 15:
Level 18:
Level 21:


You only make 7 choices, which allow you retcon fairly cheaply at the end game. You take your travel power first once you get to the power room at level 5 - as you will be the last likely to want to change that in the future. (I went with teleport here, but obviously you can take the one you like best.) I picked kinetic darts, because that energy builder seems to be the best "right out of the box". Regen as a defensive passive seems to be a good choice as it allows some survivability without having to sacrifice too much offense. For superstats, I went with CON and Recovery. Con for obvious reasons, and REC because it may help regen in the next patch and because it offers more shots of lash before you need to charge up. END probably isn't needed if you just plan on blasting things with lash and your energy builder all the way to level 40. Lash was chosen so you can take regen at level 5.

There are probibly a few quests you'll need to skip or group for, but Ive found most quests can be completed with an energy builder, a defensive passive, and single target blast.

Thoughts? Comments? Flames?

[Archived Post]

The only problems that I seem, imo is that 1-40 will be:

a) tedious
b) boring
c) not fun
d) youre going to be dying alot
e) youre not going to be able to do anything pvp or contribute much to group content.
f) your nemesis henchmen will eat you alive.

The thing is, why worry about nerfs? This is an mmo, its going to happen no matter what and to purposely gimp your character from start to end isnt going to be fun. Unless youre masochistic about your leveling approach, this methods isnt going to be enjoyable.

Not trying to troll but its going to be a long time before 40 with just starting set of powers.

[Archived Post]

I think it's good to see someone looking into alternatives to the respec problem we're all anticipating at this point. I agree that this build will be tedious and I'd quickly get bored with a toon if I couldn't do anything new til max level. Plus, I'd argue that you won't know how to use your abilities as good as someone who leveled with them. That said, kudos on putting an idea out there.

Personally, if we can't buy whole-sale respecs with increase cost for each full respec, then I'd hope they implement a quest-based respecing at least.

[Archived Post]

The only problems that I seem, imo is that 1-40 will be:

a) tedious
b) boring
c) not fun


Maybe so, but certainly less tedious than leveling to 40 more than once. The leveling process is fairly linear and does not have much group content, so I don't really see it as being something that would be fun to repeat. There is really only 1 leveling path.


d) youre going to be dying alot
. . .
f) your nemesis henchmen will eat you alive.


I'm not really convinced of this. You will certainly have to take things slower, but most of the content is more or less doable with the powers in this build. I see a lot of concept builds that are really nothing more then the build I posted - maybe even less if they don't take a passive. (Though you're right, they do probibly die a lot.)


e) youre not going to be able to do anything pvp or contribute much to group content.



The addition of an extra attack is mostly what tilts the scale in group content. You'll be able to contribute just fine to group content. Lack of a knockdown will give you problems with PvP, but at least you won't be insta-gibbed. You'll be able to do better than a lot of builds. More important;y. you can become a PvP machine at level 40.


The thing is, why worry about nerfs? This is an mmo, its going to happen no matter what and to purposely gimp your character from start to end isn't going to be fun. Unless you're masochistic about your leveling approach, this methods isn't going to be enjoyable.

Not trying to troll but its going to be a long time before 40 with just starting set of powers.

In general I would agree with you, but the game is in a very chaotic state right now. It's also not the nerfs so much as the complete lack of information about what will be viable later down the road. For example, does Presence matter? What passive is the best for dedicated tanking? DPS? What combination of heals or holds, if any, are needed for a support character? Any answer to these questions is merely speculation at this point.

[Archived Post]

Maybe so, but certainly less tedious than leveling to 40 more than once. The leveling process is fairly linear and does not have much group content, so I don't really see it as being something that would be fun to repeat. There is really only 1 leveling path.


You are absolutely kidding yourself. You can level multiple characters to 40 long before you get a character with just lash/kinetic darts to attack with.

If you are remotely serious make one more choice and pick up an aoe power. Condemn would probably work better with just 1 more. But serious if you bring your choice selection up to 10 and pick up minimines and a block. Going straight for gigabolt would work. And you could still afford to retcon all the way to the ground at 40.

You probably can level to 40 with just 7 selections but to realisticlly it is going to be pretty damn slow unless someone is carrying you the whole way.

[Archived Post]

Woah... you know CO is a game right? Leveling such a chracter is really a chore imho...

But if that's a challenge that appeal you... by all mean do it ! I prefer to enjoy the ride, not grind to 40 in "hope" you can have a strong build (FOTM) that will be nerfed eventually anyway :p

[Archived Post]

They've also said costs will take into account any unspent points, whatever that means. Just something to keep in mind.

[Archived Post]

They've also said costs will take into account any unspent points, whatever that means. Just something to keep in mind.

Yeah, the note I read said: Unspent points increase cost of retcon. This will not get around the retcon cost issue.

[Archived Post]

Yeah I can't even imagine how painfully slow it would be to level up this build. Unless you rely on leveling through the horrendous mob exp alone, you're definitely going to hit brick walls with questing. I have serious doubts you can get through any of the Super Villain quests without a shield or any extra defensive powers at all.

Then again, if you can find some buddies to help, you could probably do it, but I would be shocked if this build was anywhere close to soloable past the first 10-15 levels.

[Archived Post]

I would add that this might not be a bad strategy, if, you only choose powers when you feel like you actually need them. Go ahead and get your stats and talents, but say you're 10 levels behind on powers and you realize a heal/hold/aoe might be the best way to help yourself out, then try it. Nobody says you have to spend power points the moment you get them.

[Archived Post]

kinda reminds me of the ironman challange in COX, 1-60 only using brawl , didnt think you were allowed to slot it either, but in CO's terms only using your end builder and no slotting of off/def/utils lawlz face plants all round