Thanks for the guide(s), Pulsewave. I've got a couple of questions, in case you could answer them:
Will you post more builds within the classic trinity such as a tanking oriented and an healing/support build?
Also, will you post a build that benefits from the Wrist Bolter+Automated Assault/Kickback combo, or do you have some kind of alternative?

With Quarry my level 40 has about 63% dodge chance and 60% avoidance. That from a purple primary defense avoidance item from the questionite vendor with a rank 6 lucky gem. That's pretty decent defense for an offensive passive and a whole lot better than I can do with Targeting Computer or Kinetic. You can get numbers pretty close to that with much lower rank gear too. Add in the 10% damage reduction from Phalanx Defense and the 44% to 60% damage reduction from gear and you're in good shape.

I'd rank Quarry as better overall than Kinetic Manipulation. You get a more consistent defense and you still enhance energy damage, even though the bonus is smaller for energy than for physical. This probably matters more at level 40 than it does while leveling up though. While leveling up you have fewer attacks anyway, and you don't need to take on the epic villain damage until you're high level. I actually like Electric Manipulation a little more than Kinetic. The damage bonus is the same, but there are more energy attacks to choose from and 100% equlibrium boost is really nice. I just wish you could disable the animation.

Rank 2 did not increase the Phalanx Bonus as far as I could see. It doesnt even increase the size of your shield when it animates. Maybe that was intentional so that you know it's stuck at rank 2.

I'll put up a tank build at some point. Tanks are relatively easy compared to glass cannons, so I don't worry about documenting it much. Invulnerability makes things really easy on you. I'm actually interested in putting up a Personal Force Field build if I can get one to work at least as well as a simple Invulnerability build. That would go well with the new Hollow Hex armor.

I mentioned the Automated Assault combos in my description of Wrist Bolters. I don't care much for kickback though. Hand slots are the most consistently useful powers you get. You don't get enough back to use that combo in my tests. The only way that I could benefit from the combo was by using both Shoulder Launcher and Mini Gun at the same time, along with Micro Munitions or Chest Beam. That's really heavy energy use, and it dealt great DPS. But you can't do that now, and you can't use two powers in the same slot at all. And energy is easier than ever to come by with Concentration and Overdrive. Plus if you're leaving Automated Assault on you aren't using any active offenses, which also impacts your DPS. So overall I don't think it's a good combo.

Hopefully you put up a Laser Sword build at some point, currently the powers seem really lackluster and the only thing they share with the rest of the set is the techie feel.

It, uh... looks good with glowy armor.

I'm actually doing okay with my laser sword/regen character. (It was an attempted laser sword PFF tank to start with, but come on.)

Well I've tried using Defiance and Form of the Tempest with the kick that grants Rush (forgot the name) and I am seriously energy starved and also have almost no Crippling Challenges. Maybe because I use Particle Acceleration on Laser Sword...

At any rate, my issue with it is how the attacks just seem so unfinished.

Hey, Pulsewave!

As I worked on rebuilding my PA toon prior to your latest Mark XIII update, I made many of the same choices -- INT/EGO/END, Quarry, focusing on physical damage, skipping Reconstruction Circuits for a better healing option, etc. But I hadn't focused on Dodge or Avoidance; I'm looking forward to going back and giving that approach a try.

One question about a possible Mark XIII varation: What would you suggest switching out for those of us who want to include Support Drones and/or Munitions Bots in our builds? I gotta tell ya -- I love those little guys running around with me. My first thought is they might take the place of Sonic Device & Ego Surge in your build, trusting that the Muni Bots would compensate at least somewhat for the lost damage, while the Drones would exchange a bit of burst damage in favor for ongoing healing/survivability (or bursts of damage when switched over to that mode for some battles). That would also allow both the Bots and the Drones to be beefed up to Rank 3 without altering anything else in the Mark XIII build.

Whatcha think?

S

Tip:

Reconstruction Circuits can be used in tandem with any channel spell, provided you first activate ReCirc, and then immediately begin channeling your desired power.. Lightning Arc, for example.

This is an incredibly effective (and equally surprising) method of Regenerating during your assault. Try it on a ranged tank wielding Gatling Gun, or perhaps a melee DPS using One Hundred Hands, or charging Haymaker.

Love the new Mark XIII 'Gyrojet' build, it is crazy.

After some trials I made some power changes for fun, but these make the build weaker overall I'm sure. I just love the Implosion Engine and then Fire All Weapons or the all three PA AoE toggles .

I know Bountiful Chi Resurgence heal is better than Field Surge but having three defenses allows me to have one of them up at all times (and I forget to click Bountiful Chi all the time)

Thanks again Pulsewave.