Caltrops is a highly optional power... so optional in fact that I've never seen a /Nin stalker with it. My advice? Leave it to the /Trap MM and Corr.
Caltrops slows the mobs on it, as some of the Legendary have found out (Bucket of Bactine anyone?
) and does 'trivial' damage, it doesn't really
give you free criticals or Hide. The best way to do that is to take a leaf out of a Tanker book - break LoS. Then there are other tricks... such as basically:
go to Range, Moving fast, Run to the nearest Brute, target selection, etc. Yes it does provide Slows, but they (the mob) know who to blame and so they will
focus on you.
Moonbeam is a Sniper as you point out. But its a sniper, and hence slow. From memory is doesn't crit from hidden. And team's, particularly fast moving
teams barely tolerate Stalkers need to stop attacking for 8 seconds for get hidden. Toss in a 'can't move' attack on top, and well, in my
experience it's not the best combo. Dark Blast fires fast, can be used from hidden if you wish, and from the non hidden state. You don't get any
bonuses from any of the Patron Powers if I recall correctly. Patrons Powers give you a long range attack or a hold or PvP powers or something extra.
Oh for the record, my stalkers? MA/Regen (25), she can scrap if needed, Spin/Regen (18): Stalks, Dark/Dark(28): Scraps, Claws/SR(8): Stalks, and my Nin/Nin(1):
Terminates (eventually)!
Next time I'm on, if you want tag along with one of my stalkers and I'll give you some of the tips I've learned.
Caltrops slows the mobs on it, as some of the Legendary have found out (Bucket of Bactine anyone?
) and does 'trivial' damage, it doesn't reallygive you free criticals or Hide. The best way to do that is to take a leaf out of a Tanker book - break LoS. Then there are other tricks... such as basically:
go to Range, Moving fast, Run to the nearest Brute, target selection, etc. Yes it does provide Slows, but they (the mob) know who to blame and so they will
focus on you.
Moonbeam is a Sniper as you point out. But its a sniper, and hence slow. From memory is doesn't crit from hidden. And team's, particularly fast moving
teams barely tolerate Stalkers need to stop attacking for 8 seconds for get hidden. Toss in a 'can't move' attack on top, and well, in my
experience it's not the best combo. Dark Blast fires fast, can be used from hidden if you wish, and from the non hidden state. You don't get any
bonuses from any of the Patron Powers if I recall correctly. Patrons Powers give you a long range attack or a hold or PvP powers or something extra.
Oh for the record, my stalkers? MA/Regen (25), she can scrap if needed, Spin/Regen (18): Stalks, Dark/Dark(28): Scraps, Claws/SR(8): Stalks, and my Nin/Nin(1):
Terminates (eventually)!
Next time I'm on, if you want tag along with one of my stalkers and I'll give you some of the tips I've learned.