Babbage
Overview
Babbage is a Giant Monster for the Clockwork.
Babbage can be found in the northern area of Boomtown and appears in Skyway City during the Synapse Task Force.
According to the City of Heroes Giant Monster Guide, Babbage appears in Boomtown every 4 to 6 hours. This guide was written before Issue 8, which expressly increased the spawn rate. The current rate is unknown, but is definitely greater than the listed rate.
Description
For reasons unknown, The Clockwork King created this giant automaton and loosed it upon Boomtown. Babbage seems chiefly interested in collecting metal scrap for its King, though it also fervently defends its territory from any hero incursions.
Powers
Ball Lightning (Ranged) Targeted Area of Effect (Energy), Foe -Endurance
Hurls a highly charged ball of lightning that explodes on contact. Ball Lightning deals good damage in an area and also drains some Endurance from each target it hits.
Lightning Bolt Ranged (Energy), Foe -Endurance
The Clockwork can send a large blast of electrical energy at a foe. Lightning bolt deals good damage and also drains some Endurance.
Lightning Field Toggle AoE(Energy), Foe -Endurance
You have been trapped by Babbage's Lightning Field. You are taking minor damage over time and being drained of endurance.
Tesla Cage Foe Sleep, -Endurance
You are trapped by a Tesla Cage. It does minor damage over time and drains your endurance.
Summon Clockwork Summon Clockwork
Babbage can summon a minion to fight at his side.
Resistence Auto, +Res(Lethal, Disorient)
Monster resistance.
Strategy
No one takes on any Giant Monster alone so once found a team needs to be formed to tackle Babbage. Team make up will vary depending on who is available and interested in assisting but ideally a combination of damage dealers (Scrappers/Blasters), Buff/DeBuff/Healers (Controllers/Defenders) and a good Tank to hold Aggro make the task a lot easier.
Side Kicks .. Side Kicking to increase damage really isn't necessary since all Giant Monsters take and deal damage based on their Skill level rating and the skill level of those attacking them. So a 50 level Scrapper that takes a 15 level Blaster as a Side Kick may increase the damage of that players attacks but the GM now hits that side kick like they were a 49 level not a 15 (no advantage gained at all). Side kicking a Defender or Controller with any sort of healing aura, on the other hand, does significantly increase the potential healing power.
- A Rad/Rad Defender provides heals for the team and debuffs the GM making it easier to hit
- An Emp/___ Defender or ___/EMP controller provides additional healing, buffs and the more powerful Heal Others power they possess they can keep the Tanker alive while he/she holds aggro
- Any Tank or Warshade/Peacebringer in "TANK" mode that taunts will focus melee attacks away from other members of the team.
A five character team I was on that consisting of four (4) controllers with a variety of heals, buffs and debuffs and one Tank took on Babbage in Boomtown and defeated the GM in approximately fifteen minutes Taxibot Sara2.0 16:27, 6 May 2008 (UTC)Taxibot Sara2.0 So if you can't find any Scrappers or Blasters don't panic.
Badge
Defeating Babbage awards the Clockstopper Badge.
You have defeated Babbage, one of the greatest works of the Clockwork King.
See Also
- Babbage's Clockwork profile for a list of its powers
- Babbage (Psychic)
- Charles Babbage - an English mathematician, philosopher, and mechanical engineer who invented the first mechanical computer that eventually led to more complex designs.