How I got PFF to work for me

[shmimey]

So I want to say that PFF is now the passive I use on my main. He was not always my main. I have like 10 character now. As of today my character with PFF is the highest in level and my favorite one to play.

It was not my goal to make PFF work for me. It just kind of happened. I come up with an idea and try it out. Some work better then others. For the most part the characters I build stick to one tree and grab a few skills from other trees latter on. This is true of my force guy also.

Here is my build so far.

Build by championBuilder 0.4.1

Download this Build here.

: Level 40 Champion

Superstats:
Level 5: Super Endurance
Level 13: Super Ego

Powers:
Level 1: Force Bolts -- Energy Refraction
Level 1: Force Blast -- Rank 2
Level 5: Force Eruption -- Rank 2, Gravitational Polarity
Level 5: Superjump -- Rank 2
Level 8: Personal Force Field -- Rank 3, Rank 2
Level 11: Protection Field -- Rank 2
Level 14: Force Cascade -- Containment Blast, Rank 2
Level 17: Force Shield -- Force Sheath, Rank 2
Level 20: Field Surge -- Rank 2, Rank 3
Level 23: Psionic Healing -- Rank 2
Level 26: Sonic Device
Level 29: Force Detonation -- Rank 2

Talents:
Level 1: Impetus
Level 6: Daredevil
Level 9: Worldly
Level 12: Shrug It Off
Level 15: Lasting Impression
Level 18: Prodigy
Level 21: Paramilitary Training

My character is 32 so that build is not 100% where he is now but it is very close.

I hear a lot of complaints about PFF. I have to agree on most of them. PFF is not the best passive in the game. But it is still usable. Regen seems to work well for most people on almost any build. But PFF only works with the right setup.

I like the play-stile of an active defense. All the knock-back works well to keep people from getting through my PFF. Containment blast lets me contol adds and decide how many people I want to fight at a time.

The last thing I got was the containment blast for my cascade. This was hard for me to justify. I could not see making my highest damage ability put a protection on my enemies. But I took it out of the powerhouse and found it did wonders for my survivability. Also I have found it still works well in a group. I play more as a controller now. I have complete control over every fight. It works better then you think it would on paper. It took me a bit to learn when to use what but I really feel powerful now.

I hear a lot about how bad PFF is. I just wanted to add a success story to it all.

It does need a help. I have fun with it but come on, I have a whole build here built around that one ability. So I guess in another way it shows how weak it is.

I am looking forward to the changes on PTS (orbs build PFF up and containment field will not protect what is not held). I hope to see more changes to PFF soon. I hope to have this guy to 40 right when PFF gets better.

[Abaxas79]

You have the right build for it, that is for certain. I think though, that one should not have to go to that effort to get your passive functioning properly.

I am stuck with PFF on may main for the time being. My biggest complaint is how it cancels out your block. I read a post from a Dev sometime ago that they are going to fix PFF. I don't believe they are going to change the block component, but are they are going to add some regen to it while in combat. Presently it regens zero while in combat, plus the annoying reset when you zone or recover.

I would dearly love a PFF bar so I could see what its strength is. If I am in PVP and hit surge because I am starting to take damage, it is much too late for that and I usually die.

In any event, the post from the DEV was some time ago and I haven't seen a thing on PTS nor any other postings, so I am not holding my breathe waiting for some remedial action.

[souldefiler]

Just so you know, Field Surge drops as soon as it recognizes that your Personal Force Field is active. It does not stack. Test it on low level NPCs. You will see what I mean. Just remove PFF from the passive slot and you will see how long FS should last. Finally make sure to report the issue. I just discovered it tonight and reported it.

[Abaxas79]

Originally Posted by souldefiler

Just so you know, Field Surge drops as soon as it recognizes that your Personal Force Field is active. It does not stack. Test it on low level NPCs. You will see what I mean. Just remove PFF from the passive slot and you will see how long FS should last. Finally make sure to report the issue. I just discovered it tonight and reported it.

Thank-you for the info sould. I was wondering why I was dying so easily. Seems like rather than PFF getting fixed, things are going from bad to worst. Oh well, at least I can afford a respec out of Field Surge.

[souldefiler]

Originally Posted by Abaxas79

Thank-you for the info sould. I was wondering why I was dying so easily. Seems like rather than PFF getting fixed, things are going from bad to worst. Oh well, at least I can afford a respec out of Field Surge.

Make sure to report it as well, It is a nice power I would like to see fixed.

[shmimey]

Originally Posted by souldefiler

Just so you know, Field Surge drops as soon as it recognizes that your Personal Force Field is active. It does not stack. Test it on low level NPCs. You will see what I mean. Just remove PFF from the passive slot and you will see how long FS should last. Finally make sure to report the issue. I just discovered it tonight and reported it.

Yea I just read another post about that. I tested it and Field surge works fine for me. Not sure what the problem is.

With PFF Field Surge will not show up in your combat log. It refills your PFF.

It definitely worked for me. I tested it several times and posted on the other tread about this.

It is just the graphic that goes away in 2 sec with PFF. When I used a calculator on my combat log I found out that Field Surge works just fine. You do not get the field surge and a full PFF. You only get a full PFF for the amount of the field surge.

When you hit field surge your PFF will suck all the energy out of it and refill your PFF. This makes it work better with PFF because the benefit of the shield will last over 15 sec.

If your PFF is not low when you hit Field surge then it is a waste. Don't do that.

I tested it and I assure you that it works great.

Edit : O i guess the description does say that it increases the damage absorption over PFF.
You are right it does not do that.
I will fill out a bug report too now i guess.

[Finsky]

Seems like a really nice build, and ive tried to get PFF work myself but I wasnt able cause then it would fit the theme i wanted :P

Little off-topic. How much does ego affect the regeneration of PFF? Do you really have to have it or can you take another SS? Maybe its enough to have it as a 3rd stat?

I mean, there isnt much what benefits from high ego. PFF, those crit builds(need dex tho), the TK/TP powers and.. yeah, im not going to use much of those really.

Thanks

[shmimey]

Originally Posted by Finsky

Seems like a really nice build, and ive tried to get PFF work myself but I wasnt able cause then it would fit the theme i wanted :P

Little off-topic. How much does ego affect the regeneration of PFF? Do you really have to have it or can you take another SS? Maybe its enough to have it as a 3rd stat?

I mean, there isnt much what benefits from high ego. PFF, those crit builds(need dex tho), the TK/TP powers and.. yeah, im not going to use much of those really.

Thanks

You are right that it does suck to have Ego as a SS but no dex at all.

I am not sure how much it affects it. Let me check.

I have rank 3 PFF with 134 ego at level 32
it says it gives 178 health to PFF every 4 sec

With no gear I have 87 ego
it says it gives 153 health to PFF every 4 sec

So it does seem to help.

I use an AOE hold (containment blast) to drag fights out a bit and only fight 3 or so guys at a time. this also helps the PFF build back up. Mix that with knockback and high ego and that is why I have success I think.

I would have to give up too much to get any dex that would really give crit. So I just live with it and try not to think about it too much. Don't look at it as all the crit damage you are loosing. Think of it as all of the PFF you are getting.

As I level I check with a calculator how long it will take for my PFF to fully charge. With EGO as a SS it stays about 1:00 to 1:15.
Most fights last from 15 to 45 sec so it does help to keep the ego up.

Also I have had some of my other builds get nerfed. I am happy to know that I enjoy playing one of the builds that will not be getting a nerf any time soon

[Finsky]

Hmm yeah, 30 more Shield/sec. But im not sure that will do in the heat of battle cause foes starts doing 150-200+ with normal attacks so as you get your shield every four seconds they will take it down in 1/4 secs.
I guess its more usefull outside battles so you can get going faster.

But im not looking for dex/ego tho. PFF would go /bendover in the battles if i took that.
Ill see how it goes with Ego as 3rd stat. thanks

[ZandarTheWeeble]

Here's the problem:

How to use regen:

1) Slot Regen in your defense slot.

How to use PFF:

1) Slot PFF in your defense slot.
2) Take Field Surge to refill PFF when it goes down.
3) Take a block power to buy you time when THAT goes down.
4) Take an AOE hold/confuse to slow enemies down to give you time to finish the fight.
5) Take a strong AoE to help you finish those enemies, preferably one with knockback to delay enemies further.
6) Take a strong single target attack to deal with MVs and SVs to deal with what KB and holds won't help you with.
7) Take a dependable heal to help keep you alive in long fights when your field is down.
8) Take a pet/summon/circle so you can still do damage when forced to block because your PFF is down and you're low on HP.

It shouldn't take 8 powers to make a defense viable.