Tank barbarians seem pretty disgusting

[Jojobobo]

When retaliation still gave you focus it was a great class for tanky soloing (see the Backlash Beldam build). Sice then I didn't try it out. But the mind control alone is great. Also, when soloing a lot of micro isn't a problem - so a 4-weapon-slot island aumaua with arquebus and quick switch could generate a lot of focus at the start of the fight (after initial CC) in no time and then go tank mode while casting. Maybe this would reduce kiting.   

I suppose that would probably work quite well, hopefully by the time you've used up the initial focus from arquebuses you'll have built up enough with melee weapon (Bittercut with a bash shield most likely) to keep firing off CC.

 

Still x3 arquebus aumaua doesn't scream excitement or innovation. I guess that might just be an inherent problem in Cipher's as a class - they always need a few strong hits to start, and there's only so many ways you can do that. They seem like perhaps the most limited class in terms of having different equally valid builds (obviously you can make different builds, but they're almost certainly weaker).

[Boeroer]

I don't think so. The most limited are fighters in my opinion. Tanky ciphers can be good - also because they can make better use of some of those friendly fire powers like Antipathetic Field and Mind Lance and some other short ranged things like Detonation and so on. And Psychovampiric Shield is pretty good for the early game. But ciphers can also be played like rogues or rangers, melee or ranged.

 

Their +40% damage boost without any prerequisite (other than spending a talent point) lets them be good enough in terms of weapon damage even when wearing a shield. A fighter for example has to invest 2 points for getting +35% and will be restricted to a certain weapon group.

Edited July 25, 2016 by Boeroer

[Jojobobo]

I guess that's a fair point, though I would say with Fighters you can specialise in any weapon category to a large degree so they can be pretty diverse in terms of what you set them up with. Plus, with their high base accuracy, they're very easy to abuse spellbindings and scrolls with. Maybe it's because I'm not so interested in party play that I find Cipher's a little limiting - as they do have more than a few powers dedicated to party play. 

Edited July 25, 2016 by Jojobobo

[Boeroer]

That's right. It's a pity that some of those awesome buffs like Pain Block and Going Between can't be cast on the cipher himself. That would make him a better tank option and improve soloing with a cipher a lot. They are a bit like reversed wizards who have a lot of self buffs which you can't cast on others. But there are a lot of potions or scrolls which do the same thing as wizards's self buffs, so that's kind of a workaround.

 

A class talent or ability for a cipher that lets him use those buffs on himself would have been great. Then you could decide if you want to play a ranged glasscannon and don't need it or if you want to stand in the front row. 

Edited July 25, 2016 by Boeroer

[Jojobobo]

A talent for this would really be a great idea, incurring some cost but giving access to a whole lot of goodies too. I'd love it if they'd consider patching something like that in, but I can't really see that happening.