Leadership question

[BlueBard]

Do any of the Leadership pool powers affect Illusion Controller pets?  Phantom Army in particular, though I'm also interested in whether they do anything for the Phantasm.  I don't think Phantom Army is buffable at all, but don't remember about Phantasm.

I got my Ill/Emp troller to 30 yesterday and wasn't sure what to take so I grabbed Assault figuring I could respec out if need be.  My main concern is increasing damage output, which I can do in various ways.  Since he's partly a team support kind of build, I figured Assault would be helpful and also work okay when soloing.

Alternate suggestions welcome.  Other choices included: Hasten, Air Superiority, and Spectral Terror

[captainspud]

Leadership affects the Phantasm only.

Considering that:

1) The Phantasm's damage is kinda "meh"
2) The Leadership toggles have a pretty crazy combined endurance drain

...I wouldn't bother with it.

[BlueBard]

Ok, Leadership won't help me significantly unless I'm teaming all the time.

Should I take Hasten, Air Superiority, or Spectral Terror?

Hasten would work to increase my damage output... though in my (limited) experience with it, it never recharges fast enough and it contributes to end exhaustion.  SO/IO's could make a significant impact, though.  (And I do have Stamina to mitigate).

AS would improve damage output somewhat as well as give me a "soft hold" in the form of knockdown.

Spectral Terror does nothing to directly improve damage output.  It does give me damage mitigation, but I suspect it won't be at all useful where bosses are concerned.  Having no direct experience with it, I don't know if this is one of those "gotta have it" powers.

[BlueBard]

Another thought occurred to me regarding Spectral Terror... Are Confused enemies subject to it?

I use Deceive pretty extensively... but if the deceived are running away or frozen in terror along with others, that doesn't do me a lot of good.

[captainspud]

I'd recommend all three of those powers eventually. Spectral is cheap, fast-charging (ie, always up), and can make a huge difference in big fights. AS is the best damage of all the pool attacks, especially with Containment factored in. And Hasten makes you smashier AND controllier, though you'll want to invest some slots in endredux in your more expensive powers first. As for Hasten not charging fast enough, drop three Recharge into it and set it to auto-fire-- it's up something like 2/3 of the time.

I wrote a guide on the Illusion set awhile back, you can see my advice on the various powers there:

http://www.freedomreborn-coh.com/ar_spud_illsonic.php

[BlueBard]

I read your guide already, Spud, thanks!

I appreciate the perspective.

I have some end redux in many of my powers already, though I might need to swap in more SO/IO's if I go with Hasten.  It would also play well with some of my Empathy powers.

I think I'll do that.  Thanks again!

[Verfall]

I actually recommend Leadership in the 40's if you've run out of powers to take. Very useful on TF's, especially if you plan to run the STF, and often other players have hit that "power hole" and have started taking the pool as well. One leadership running toon, excluding Vengeance, isn't much, but 2 or 3 can add a good chunk of buffage. 3 slotted tactics as well as base slot assault give a 15.6% to-hit buff and 15% damage buff. While the damage buff is somewhat meh, the to-hit buff is quite large. Plus you get a lovely perception bonus for those damn Arachnos mobs.

My problem with my Ill/Emp is the fact I don't want to skip any powers. The only ones I've deemed useless for my team focused Ill/Emp are superior invis and flash. Permaing group invis is fairly easy, and flash has a recharge so long it makes one weep for the days of quick aoe holds. Than you have to cram in stamina and a travel power and hasten and the powers required to get an epic shield and by that point getting leadership is nigh impossible.

So overall, Leadership good, but on an Ill/Emp, it's not really feasible.

[Raptor]

I agree with Ver on this one.  On my Ill/Rad troller I had the same problem.  It is one of those powerset combos that leave very little wiggle room because you find yourself wanting every power in each set, so you have to decide what you want the most.  That toon was the reason I went over to the Test server, so I could try out different powers without having to waste respecs.  I found for my troller there was no way I could fit in the Leadership pool.

[captainspud]

"All of my powers are too good! I HAVE NO DUDS!"

Surely, a problem many toons wish they had. ;)

[Verfall]

"All of my powers are too good! I HAVE NO DUDS!"

Surely, a problem many toons wish they had. ;)

Ya, it's rather funny how controllers are one of the few AT's where finding a totally useless power is difficult. Probably why they're the best AT heroside. And that's not counting Fire/Kins, controllers are just so well balanced that when the proverbial "nail sticks up", it tends to be very noticeable. Defenders may be the "balanced" class, but trollers get all the buffage, and fun to match.