Well, I'm back for the first time in almost a year. I got sucked back in by the F2P changes, and then realized that I enjoy the... call it creative expression that comes from mixing and matching powers to make an effective concept using a free-form character.

I know the game has changed a bit, and my ability to research has been limited by my inability to post on the forums, but I've still done my best. The concept that I want to work on right now is... well, for want of a better term, I'm wanting to absolutely wear people out with a lightsaber. I don't particularly care about maintaining some kind of a jedi or sith theme. I love Star Wars as much as the next guy, but that just isn't my goal. Its the laser sword itself that I'm interested in, and I'm willing to take pretty much any powers that will buff it.

Right now, I'm thinking of SSing DEC and... well, I haven't decided yet. I know that my best bet for frameworks in this build is going to be Electricity, so I was thinking of taking Rec because I believe Ionic Reverberation still scales with it. Other possibilities were EGO for lolcrits, or INT for all the goodies it provides. However, since I was planning on taking Electric Form instead of Quarry, INT loses some of its normal punch, I think.

Beyond my thoughts on super stats, I figured on taking Laser Sword (it used to have an advantage that increased particle damage, I think. Is that still there? Worth taking it over R3?), Form of the Tempest, Electric Sheathe with Matter/Energy Union (I think that's what it was called) Invocation: Storm Calling, and Dragon Kick to proc Rush so I can windmill my Laser Sword around like a jackarse for longer at a time.

I'm just looking for some suggestions to flesh this out. I figure my ranged attacks will come from the Electric tree since I'll be doing so much to buff energy damage anyway, but I don't really know what powers I might be overlooking (especially with all the changes) that would play well with a build like this.

I just wish there were good energy-based attacks that weren't gadgets (which annoy me, besides the laser sword) so I could more distance myself from the "Sith-iness" of this setup. Lightsabers and lightning bolts? eh...

Anyway, thoughts and suggestions lovingly appreciated.
Its good to be back.

Your "build" sounds good to me.
I have had similiar toughts about making energy attacker build using electric or fire form and taking particle attacks (laser sword, eyebeam, concussor beam, chest beam).

The Particle Acceleration debuff is still there, and apparently is 15%, stackable 3 times*. That's much better than you're going to get from an offensive boost of 20%. I don't know what the increased energy cost is. Your best best to get additional utility from that is probably particle mine, maybe eyebeams.

I really like Ball of Electricity with Triplicity adv. It might be very valuable with your build as a hands-off DPS builder and aoe.

Bionic Shielding is a convenient heal with an adv that does electrical damage, and Protection Field is now valuable for this (and every other) build. Block enhancer should be the usual - either Energy Shield+adv or Force Shield+adv.

If you go DEX/INT, you could actually stack some Dodge/Avoidance, between primary defense gear, Dragon Kick's adv, and maybe Swinging + adv.


* edit: this might be outdated, I was copying from an older post by Pulsewave in the WillBlack guide

You can go to the link in my sig and check out the Damage Buff Guide to see what buffs Particle Damage...but otherwise I think the stuff you've posted sounds good.

Particle Acceleration increases the energy cost by 50% when fully stacked. In my experience you will average better DPS with R3. However, if you use other particle attacks, the advantage might be a better choice.

Also, Dex has nothing to do with dodge, so I don't understand what that sentence relating Dex/Int to stacking dodge/avoidance means. EDIT: Thanks to "Another", I understand the point. By SSing Primary Offense and Primary Utility characteristics, the Primary Defense slot is free for the Dodge/Avoidance gear.

Testing it on PTS, and so far it seems fairly serviceable. I'm seeing some 2.5k Laser Sword crits when I can manage to hit the damn dummies before they despawn. I picked up Force Eruption with the advantage and Invocation of Storm Calling, and both tend to despawn the dummies.

I've tested it in the battle station up to hard 2-man spawns (getting used to where my buttons are) and its pretty solid. Bionic Shielding + Advantage and Field Surge + Advantage means I can pop cooldowns and turtle up behind my Electric Shield with the advantage and still put out some damage and keep my Focus stacks from falling off.

I also picked up PFF as a defensive passive for when things get sticky, but haven't bothered switching to it yet.

All this might be more interesting if I could get the damn debugger to give me more than one piece of gear that has Dexterity on it. I'm currently testing Dex/Rec SS, with gear and talents slanted towards Ego, but my EGO is actually higher than my DEX atm because I keep losing the random gear lottery.

Either way... pretty fun so far.

I'd be thinking Pre/Dex, Elec Form, Tempest Form, Flashfire + Thermal Reverb, storm sigils, ball lightning, heals...

Think he was just mentioning that since CON wasn't being SS'd, for great justice... and mitigation :p

You only need to tap Invocation to get the debuff (you can tell it's active when the dummies change color), and that way you won't push them until they despawn. Also, I'm pretty sure Force Eruption's buff will linger on you, so you can cast it >10' away from the dummies then close in. Finally, try using the single dummy off to the right. I've seen him run back after being knocked.

Ah, didn't know that about the single dummy running back. I have been just gently tapping Invocation, but it still slides them over a few yards and they despawn shortly after. I might be getting a touch of lag, my computer has been very unhappy with me for starting Champions back up. Overheating graphics card + very pretty mmo = lollag.