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or the least unhappy. =)

This is what Tech Know would look like at 32. I can no longer heal. I do have Hasten and Stamina now.

No more Captain Caltrops for me. It's my hope that having Stamina, Hasten and such will offset any disadvantage from not having caltrops. Right now I use caltrops to stop/slow someone when they are racing toward me or to a teammate.

On a role playing angle. I didn't have enough room in my suit for Flight and Superspeed. I added Rocket Roller Blades and Go GO Gadget Jumping Boots to my suit. My batteries are more efficient (Stamina) and I'm able to recharge my powers faster (Hasten) due to the latest computer chips from Cookes Electronics.

I no longer heal like I could but I was able to keep some of the healing circuits in my suit (Health).

Caltrops went away after recieving numberous harrassing phone calls at midnight from the AAA.

Archetype: Blaster
Primary Powers - Ranged : Electrical Blast
Secondary Powers - Support : Devices
Slot[01] Level 1 (Starting Primary) : Charged Bolts /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg
Slot[02] Level 1 (Starting Secondary) : Web Grenade /Immob
Slot[03] Level 2 : Lightning Bolt /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg
Slot[04] Level 4 : Ball Lightning /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg
Slot[05] Level 6 : Hasten /Rchg,Rchg
Slot[06] Level 8 : Combat Jumping /DefBuf,DefBuf,DefBuf
Slot[07] Level 10 : Short Circuit /EndDrn,EndDrn
Slot[08] Level 12 : Zapp /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg
Slot[09] Level 14 : Super Speed /Run
Slot[10] Level 16 : Hurdle /Jump
Slot[11] Level 18 : Targeting Drone /HitBuf,HitBuf,HitBuf,HitBuf
Slot[12] Level 20 : Health /Heal
Slot[13] Level 22 : Stamina /EndRec,EndRec,EndRec,EndRec,EndRec
Slot[14] Level 24 : Cloaking Device /DefBuf,DefBuf
Slot[15] Level 26 : Super Jump /Jump
Slot[16] Level 28 : Tesla Cage /Hold
Slot[17] Level 30 : Trip Mine /Dmg,Acc,Dmg,Dmg
Slot[18] Level 32 : Thunderous Blast /Dmg

<br><hr>
The Terrific Wired Tech Know - 32.1 Electrical Blaster / Devices / Medicine
R Tech 21.2 Ice/Empathy Controller

A few things.

1 EPPs count as a 5th pool. You can have 4 regular pools plus 1 EPP.

If you get Superspeed at all (regardless of other movement powers), SS is your travel power. A lot of people get the SS/SJ combo because its the fastest combo out there, little (outside of the Shadow Shard) stands in your way. I suggested Teleport as a backup (like say you fall in a ditch in Faultline and need to get out, like Superjump in the SJ combo and not as the main travel power. Giving up Medicine to have 3 travel pools, to me doesn't sound quite so appealing.

Again this is just a thought, but I know R Tech leaps, so poolwise the two characters start to look similar.
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The Tech Know Thread

I also discovered my Jack of All Trades character will cost me the Epic Power Pools later.

You can only have so many pools open right?

I'll have Teleport, Speed, Fitness, Medicine and Flight open. I really should find a way to eliminate one of the pools.

Fitness Pool
So let's see what I want to do with this character. I want Stamina. No if, ands, or buts.

The Fitness pool needs to stay.

Speed Pool
Speed gets opened because of Hasten. Now perhaps I should just go with the original Speedster template. Since I use the Speed on Demand bind it'll be nice and helpful.

Flight Pool
If I take the original template then I'd be exchanging The Flight Pool with Jumping. Combat Jumping = Hover. Super Jump = Flight. Nice and all but I still have the original problem of having too many pools.

Teleport Pool
Teleport will allow me to TP my friends (something I want very much) and to later TP self (if I so choose).

So. I think I'll go the Speedster Route and make this an experiment. If it doesn't work for me I can always repec at level 34.

Fitness Pool so I can get Stamina.
Jumping Pool so I can have my Combat Jumping and Super Leap.
Speed Pool so I'll have SuperSpeed and Hasten.
Teleport Pool so I can TP my friends.

Flight flies out the window. Medicine dies.

I'll take the Munitions pool at the later levels so I'll get my body armor.

So let's change Flying as my travel power and Go with being Speedster and Jumper. I could just be a Teleporter but I didn't like Teleporting as a travel power.

Also, I still question your need for Aim -- especially since you're going to slot Targeting Drone, though Aim will buff your damage a little so maybe you want it. With that said. If you get both. I'd hold one of them until level 16 and make sure you get Fly at 14. Both before then would be nice but is also 100% not necessary.

Let's throw AIM away. The Targetting Drone should be enough.

You're in 4 pools (Flight, Fitness, Medicine, Teleport), you can't take Hasten unless you sacrifice 1.

I missed that. Good to know. Let's see if I gave up flight then I could be a Teleporter which would allow me to Have the TP Friend and my travel power. Being a Speedster would allow me to go fast and it works with my Speed on Demand Bind. I'd then be able to take Hasten.

Someone on the board posted a Superspeed/Jumping combo. It looked interesting but I don't see myself as a jumper unless I want to pretend to be Inspector Gadget. Go go Techno Jumping Boots!

If ThunderousBlast->Zapp as Nova->SniperBlast, then you need to slot them similarly if you want similar effects.

Ok. Will do.

I think I should give up Medicine. If we need healer just get R Tech or another Empath.

Okay some things I notice right off.

Keep this in mind when you respec. Order of powers still matters when you RSK. You will loose powers back to what you had at your RSK level. The above rebuild means that you won't be flying if you RSK to level 14 to do the Positron TF (just as an example).

My feeling on respec is be very careful to pick your powers in the same order you would when leveling up. With that said, playing a character from the ground up, would you really wait until level 16 for your travel power?

Also, I still question your need for Aim -- especially since you're going to slot Targeting Drone, though Aim will buff your damage a little so maybe you want it. With that said. If you get both. I'd hold one of them until level 16 and make sure you get Fly at 14. Both before then would be nice but is also 100% not necessary.

If you don't plan to 6 slot Targeting Drone, then slot at least 1 accuracy in your main attack powers.

6 slotted Hover is as fast as unslotted Fly. So really your Fly is not going to be all that much faster than your Hover. To hit max Flight speed when not slowed (e.g., not using something like Stealth) pre-35 is 4 slots, post-35 is 3 slots. Keep that in mind.

I'm not sure that there's enough bang for the buck to 6 slot Cloaking Device for defense. I think its got the same base 5% defense that Stealth has (but it doesn't have the -SPD from Stealth), which means that 6 slots is goint to take 5% to 11%. Not sure that's worth it. Most builds posted on the forums have 1-2 slots on this power, most are 1.

You're in 4 pools (Flight, Fitness, Medicine, Teleport), you can't take Hasten unless you sacrifice 1.

If ThunderousBlast->Zapp as Nova->SniperBlast, then you need to slot them similarly if you want similar effects. What I'm saying is that if you can kill a minion with Snipe, then TB with the same slotting will kill a minion if hit. Nova is as if you Sniped every single target at once, so if Zapp is your snipe... So I guess I'm saying it may be nice to have it there every 2 mins instead of 4, but it won't be nearly as useful as a "take down all those mobs" kind of thing.

Yes on the interrupt reducers. Only slotting 1 is not worth it. Keep that in mind for Zapp.

So you're going to end up taking TP? Hmmm...

And you want to get Hasten to... Hmmm...

Why not drop flight and go SS/Teleport? Just a thought to get into your head.

And you've also elimintated getting Epic Pools for yourself.
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Circeus, Friendly/Neighborhood/Site/Admin
Starmaster, Mutant/Blaster/Energy/Fire
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Maddest Cow, Science/Scrapper/MA/Reflexes

Geez. =( I just had a nice long reply Thank you for the suggestions and asking

lots of questions and Firefox crashed on me.

Here we go again.

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Slot[01] Level 1 (Starting Primary) : Charged Bolts /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg

Makes sense. I want to make sure to do as much damage as I can with my blasts.

Slot[02] Level 1 (Starting Secondary) : Web Grenade /Immob

I use this to stop the runners, ground the flyers and help the newbies on the street. Since I'll be using my Telsa Cage to take enemies out of battle for a bit I won't need so many enhancers on it. I'd probably want a range enhancer on it. By the time the webbing wears off, the villian will be visiting Paragons Finest.

Slot[03] Level 2 : Lightning Bolt /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg

Makes sense. I want to make sure to do as much damage as I can with my blasts.

Slot[04] Level 4 : Caltrops /Slow,Slow,Rng,Rchg,Rchg,Rng

I throw these around like crazy but with a understanding of the agro it can generate. It's usually minor since other people are usually doing more damage. I use it to make villians do the Caltrop Dance. eg. Go back and forth over and over. Since I use Hover a bit I'd like a Range Enhancer since I throw down sometimes.

Slot[05] Level 6 : Swift /Run

Makes sense since Superspeed isn't my power, I only need one Enhancer and of course it should be Run.

Slot[06] Level 8 : Aim /Rchg

I never used it. I never thought I really had to since I had Targeting Drone. I know the two can work together. Is the addition of the two truely worth it? Since I'll have Stamina it won't be an issue to have another stamina user. What about taking Hasten instead?

Slot[07] Level 10 : Targeting Drone /HitBuf,HitBuf,HitBuf,HitBuf

Four seems to be the sweet spot. I can stop right there with four.

Slot[08] Level 12 : Zapp /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg

Of course. I want to do as much damage as I can. What about replacing one of the DMG with a Interupt Time Reducer? It should allow me to fire it in battle more instead of just a opening volley. When I have someone Telse Caged it's not an issue but that doesn't always happen.

Slot[09] Level 14 : Hover /Fly,Fly,Fly,Fly,Fly,Fly

If I'm going to 6 slot it, I'd rather have a defense buff on it. I used the Speed on Demand Macro. When I stop flying I'm hovering.

Slot[10] Level 16 : Fly /Fly

I have 3 Fly Enhancers on it right now. I like flying fast but it's not THAT critical. I can do without the extra two enhancers.

Slot[11] Level 18 : Health /Heal

Some people like jumping around (Hurdle). I think having a Health helper will be better especially since I won't have my Aid Self till later.

Slot[12] Level 20 : Stamina /EndRec,EndRec,EndRec,EndRec,EndRec,EndRec

Of course. My Battlesuit needs batteries! The more the better!

Slot[13] Level 22 : Cloaking Device /DefBuf,DefBuf,DefBuf,DefBuf,DefBuf,DefBuf

Ok. I can get used to it. DefBuf's all the way.

Slot[14] Level 24 : Tesla Cage /Hold,Hold,Hold

3 Holds? What's the reasoning? Is it because by whatever duration a 4th hold can give the villian is defeated or you can easily throw another Cage? What about 2 Holds and a Recharge?

Slot[15] Level 26 : Ball Lightning /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg

Damage!

Slot[16] Level 28 : Trip Mine /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Acc

Make sure I damage! Why the ACC enhancer? Won't Targeting Drone give me a bonus?

Slot[17] Level 30 : Recall Friend /EndRdx

Not much else to really to put there. EndRdx seems fine to me.

Slot[18] Level 32 : Thunderous Blast /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg,Rchg,Rchg,Rchg

It takes a while (a long while) for it to recharge and it seems to be my Johnny Storm Nova Attack. Use it when you're about to go down or to take out a mob at the ending of a battle. If our Healing is around with Recovery Aura then I can use it more.

Slot[19] Level 35 : Voltaic Sentinel /Dmg,Dmg,Dmg

The damage from this is pitiful but the enhancers should make it better.

Slot[20] Level 38 : Short Circuit /EndDrn,EndDrn,EndDrn,EndDrn,EndDrn,EndDrn

I like it more but I can use other powers instead. So I suppose it's ok to wait till later. EndDrn all the way since that's what it's made for.

Slot[21] Level 41 : Aid Other /Heal

I have to give up something for the other powers. I can wait till the later levels. Just one Heal seems to be ok. Someone said the Interupt Reducer doesn't really decrease the chances of you being interupted in combat so you might as well go for the greatest heal you can.

Slot[22] Level 44 : Aid Self /Heal

Same as above.

Slot[23] Level 47 : Smoke Grenade /HitDeb,HitDeb,HitDeb,HitDeb,HitDeb,HitDeb

I used it in beta and I didn't really like it. I know what it does but it doesn't really seem to fit my character. I'll still probably get it and with those enhancers.

Slot[24] Level 49 : Teleport /Rng

Might as well. I won't need a endurance reducer if I have stamina.

Well pity me for writing this twice and please excuse any gramatical mistakes. Doing this twice at Midnight is hard.

I'm not really looking for a Urber Character. There's a few other archtypes I could have picked to advance faster or I could have just been a fire blaster and did more damage. I picked Electrical because it fit the concept. I just find Stamina is slowing down the pace of the game for me and I'd like to try some other changes. Thanks for the input! =)

Okay going to go through some basics about character creation here.

By the time you hit 50 you get 24 powers.

There are only 9 powers to choose in each powerset. In the near future there will be 10.

There are 4 powers in each power pool.

Epic Power pools are coming and will likely have 3 or 4 powers available in each, but will not be available until after level 40 (so at 41, 44, 47 and 49).

When I sit down to design I first figure out what my two powersets are: for you electricity and devices (you can't change these on respec).

And then I figure out which power pools: for you Flight, Fitness, Medicine, and Teleport

And then you mentioned somewhere wanting the the Munitions Mastery EPP (not in this post, but I remember it came up in what we lost when the site came down).

Your pool pics as indicated are:

Flight: Hover, Fly
Fitness: Swift, (something -- see below), Stamina
Medicine: Aid Other, Aid Self
Teleport: Teleport Friend

That's 8 powers. That leaves 16 out of your total of 24.

If you want that EPP figuring 2 powers (just a guess without knowing the powers in them) out of it that leaves you 14 powers to pick from out of 18 (and some day out of 20).

That means you have to think of 4 powers (minimum, and possibly some day 6 powers when 10th powers are added) that you don't want out of your two main powersets.

Two you didn't mention under devices are:

Taser - does anyone take this?
Smoke Grenade

Devices also has that you don't mention:

Time Bomb (a bigger trip mine, with a timer)
Auto Turret (another little friend for your sentinel)

Under Electrical:

Aim - not needed you have Targeting Drone which is as effective

So you've got 3 defintes you're not taking (Taser, SG, and Aim).

That means you need 1 more to fit (before 10th powers get added at which time if you want 10th powers you may need 3 more at this point).

And you've laid out as potentials (or we've identified):
Short Circuit
Time Bomb
Auto Turret
Thunderous Blast
* Taser
* Smoke Grenade
* Aim

As we identifed above:

Taser - no need to take its a touch attack, and not very useful.
Smoke Grenade - useful for soloing and you're not really a soloer.
Aim - not needed you have Targeting Drone

Thunderous Blast is a great attack, but it can be suicidal. You need to run up to your foes and kick it off. It doesn't do quite as much damage as Nova (because it also has End Drain), but it will still take out a group of minions. However, if you don't like getting into a pack of bad guys, this power is not for you. My experience is alpha strikes in this game are key at higher levels.

Auto Turret may be a good candidate just because you already have one pet, do you need another?

Time Bomb, its a bit more powerful than trip mine, but it goes off on a timer. It may seem repetitive with Trip Mine, and I tend to agree with Farm that if it were me I'd get T-Foe instead of Time Bomb and go for the "port and boom!"

Short Circuit would be entirely your call.

Now for the Health question. Well if you're not going to slot Health and just put even one SO heal enhancement in it, then its 100% not worth your time to have the power.

Why?

Without health you heal back your full health bar in 4m (240s).

With health and one SO you heal back to full health in 2m 51s (171s).

That means having health only saves you a little more than a minutes worth of downtime. Some people clamor for that minute obsessing over downtime. Others go fill their water glass or hit the bathroom.

Like FarmAide I like Swift because it counteracts my slowdown from Stealth, and Hurdle, because to get Stealth I gave up Combat Jumping, and being able to leap up to a ledge is crucial I think.

Now if you slot Health with 6 SOs you get down to a littel more than 2 minutes to heal back your health bar full. That might be a better idea. This also meshes nicely (as Bul said) with Regeneration, because with Health and Fast Healing both 6 slotted with heal SOs that gets you down to 77s for a full health bar return.
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Circeus, Friendly/Neighborhood/Site/Admin
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Maddest Cow, Science/Scrapper/MA/Reflexes

I feel like Lucy in that classic: "Oh maybe I should have the steak instead of the chicken episode... no... maybe the pasta... on the other hand... Pork Chops look pretty good.

Now I'm thinking about taking Hasten. Maybe Tech Know shouldn't be a healer?

I'm hearing that Short Circuit really becomes useful in the later levels (especially if it's slotted).

Going back to Hero Planner again. =)<br><hr>
The Terrific Wired Tech Know - 32.1 Electrical Blaster / Devices / Medicine
R Tech 21.2 Ice/Empathy Controller

When I respeced FA, I took stamina and hurdle. Hurdle now has 3 slots of jumping in it. It's just a lot of dun to be able to jump up onto second story tiers or half way across the room,

There's also a running power in the fitness pool. It helps me keep up with everyone while I have stealth running. The stealth power from th concealment pool can realyl slow a person down.

I like the idea for TP foe with your character. You can set out a bunch of trip mines and regular mines and use tp foe to draw the mobs into th mine field that may be surrounded by calreops. I have been working on an alt so that one day I may be able to do just that.

Oh I forgot to say, I 6 slotted stamina and it makes a workd of difference. I can go a lot longer and rarely ever have to rest anymore.

The thing with Health is it just makes you heal a little faster than normal. It's not much help in combat, but makes downtime inbetween fights shorter. Some people don't consider it worth it. I like it myself, but my character is all about healing.

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Bul - Lvl 38 Claw/Regen Scrapper -AoJ
Cobbly - lvl 11 MA/Regen Scrapper -AoJ
Cow Chip - lvl 6 Eng/Eng Blaster - ICP