ErlKing

Well, no boob plates here... not plates at least.

I think you ok, Cipher really empower party. I played almost same, but picked paladin instead of druid, not sure if she much better though. I would say your party pretty optimal. Actually it felt way too easy with chanter and arbalests (prior to 1.03), so I went different way - took Paladin for PC (I like going front line) and took cipher and ranger npc ( I really like characters) instead of chanter and paladin, cipher npc is not as overpowered as min-maxed main char, ranger not as good as chanter, but I still like this run better roleplay wise. I haven't noticed how Kana annoy me, until I got rid of him, and I never liked druids as class,

You mean wizard/cipher cast fireball faster when bow equiped rather than arqebus?

Slow casting animation? How is that linked to guns?

Does fire damage from paladin flame of devotion and chater song stack with weapon enchant? Because if it is then fire is best choice for these options. Explanation: For example mob have 5 fire resist and 2 corrode. Base damage 40, fire chant add 10 fire, weapon enchant 10 fire or corrode (numbers not exact and maybe wrong, but you get idea). If we use corrode enchant it is 10-5=5 fire damage and 10-2=8 corrode damage, total 13. If we use fire enchant it is 10+10-5=15 fire damage.

I suggest paladin with Darcozzi Paladini order, because of passionate/clever is right on spot for that type of character you looking for. Paladins in PoE are not casters (not priest+figter thing), though they have some buffs, but that one is inspiration themed. You can build your paladin as you want - tank, damager (not really good one, but still), half-tank.

http://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Unique_Weapons Not mine, page is wrong about some weapons (stats, enchants, location) though. http://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Armor Check each armor type.

They still haven't added Athletics skill to Sagani's fox (or other companion animals). You have to add it through console, or fox ll get fatigued ten times faster than rest of party. I have managed to beat Caed Nua at 3 lvl with default party (no adventurers) on hard.

There are traders that sell various craft ingredients: Gift - Trade company - monsters parts Gift - black market (gems) Dryfall village - parts/plants? Copperlane - plants?

Not true, at least not for spellcasting. From tested stuff: Character have base Accuracy stat (base class attack score + char level*3), that is used for everything - swords, guns, spells, talents. Each Class have its own starting Accuracy. Weapon attribute (fine, accurate) and Weapon Focus talent applies only for regular attacks with that weapon, not for spells. Marksman - only for ranged weapons, not for spells. Shield equipped decrease all accuracy (attacks, spells, talents) - count it as overall debuff. Having one weapon without shield does not affect spellcasting accuracy. Wood Elf racial Distant Advantage add Acc to everything (attacks, spells, talents) if target far enough (yeah, really good for casters). Each Spell/Power/Talent have its own Acc mod (for spells usually +5/+10/+15) and target defense its used for. If spell target Will, then Acc compared to Will, if target Deflect - compared with Deflect. Also it seems that spells go with additional +10 besides mod mentioned at description (maybe as one-handed attack or something). Correct me if Iam wrong.

"+20 damage skill" is either bugged or have wrong description, I expected it to give +20 to damage for ranger or his pet, but it seems that it is +20% damage for ranger or pet (and Iam not sure if it is working at all).

With these numbers I don't think you need more.

Idea is to try reverse Cipher. Usually cipher goes with ranged+control (mental binding, confuse, charm), but what about full melee cipher with unpopular powers - pain-link , fractured volition, phantom foes, Wild Leech, Body Attunement. But I guess it still doesnt count as true melee. You can always go 6 paladins for Holy Crusade.

If you dont want to use guns - hunting bow or arbalest, wands are weak and only for wizards.

Rangers are terrible now, but I kinda like to have Sagani + Itumaak in party for rp reasons. There is one interesting combo with Itumaak - it have really high move speed, so at start of combat or even before it Cipher (pc or companion) cast Echo on Itumaak and that fox flank enemies in seconds, causing massive damage (if it can survive of course). One more thing about animal companion - it have no athletic skills, so use console to add athletic skill to animal or it ll be fatigued in no time.

Try to go all melee then. Monk (semi-tank) Chanter (semi-tank + buffs/debuffs) Barbarian (dual wield dps) Paladin (aura + buff) Melee Cipher (try without control powers, only debuffs/buffs) Melee Priest (for buffs)

Personally I really like Darcozzi Paladini , because: - Clever is best dialogue option ever, oh how tempting were these lines at woedeca temple (acolyte ritual). - Liberated Exhortation get bonus buff +10 Acc for 20 sec, its really good buff - fast cast, 2 per encounter, throw it on your cipher or mage at start of combat for better CC

I found only one working way to counter it - Cipher that would cast dominate on charmed party member.

I just figured out that base damage showed in inventory is real base * weapon mod (damaging, fine, exceptional etc), yes Iam slowpoke, so here is question - real base damage is always same for whole class (sword, pike, flail, etc) or its different for some named weapons?

Yeah, like Damn, now I imagine that each time Aloth casting fireball.

My bad, for some reason I was comparing Fine pistol and regular arqebus, arqebus base damage is higher. Damn, that thing confusing, base damage is not real base, but base * damage modifier (damaging, fine, exceptional... ).

You all forgetting one more thing - firearms damage scale with might... totally understandable.

Range 10m equal bow range, have you got 1.03 patch?

Pfff, now I noticed that it doesnt work on petrify and I suppose paralyze also not "hostile effect", they need to rewrite description to: "Hostile effects (but not ones you want to) suspended"

Arqebus - Damage 24-36, Extremely slow. Pistol - Damage 25-35, Very slow. Same DR penetration, same Accuracy penalty. I dont get it, why Arqebus does not have bigger damage than pistol?