Elric Galad

The puzzle on the wall is not a bug. You got to get a "command word" from the current abbey to use it. It is not very clear, I was puzzled too, but it is not a bug.

Deathblow does apply to anything. Sneak attack does apply to nothing. (Except apprentice sneak attack which apply to Wrath of the Five Suns. Small detail but good to know given how good this ability is.)

Other pro of ranged Paladin : - at least on par with cipher to snipe the priority targer because of Sworn Ennemy. (and of course FoD) - Easier control over coordinated attack. Even more fun with a marking weapon. - Shielbearer special FoD does not apply to paladin herself (or himself). So it might be even better on a ranged character. - Backrow offtank. Help when circled. Another idea : ranged paladin with dangerous implement. At least it makes use of paladin endurance and health. The Hazel wand with Jolting on crit (FoD combo) and Marking could be a good candidate. Implements are not so bad, especially because of the number of pierce-proof ennemies...

Duplicating a weapon seems a bit of a waste IMHO. There's a lot of excellent weapons in this game, and few are unique enough to justify this choice (I do understand the choice of the fireball saber by the way.). Just pick another one, refine it, enchant it and you won't need it. Like Purgatory/Resolution for example. My choice would be Little Savior (Made legendary and refined). A party with Double Little Savior (+Outworn Buckler) would be very well protected !

Unique rare components to improve magic weapons with other abilities than quality and lashes. Like "Fampyr Lord Teeth" : Add Draining.

A caster gaining ressources to cast from casting spells ? Sounds either a deadlock or an infinite loop ^^ Of course you could have spells generating ressources, and other spending it (a bit like chaner's phrase and invoc'). Mmmm, why not ?

I think a paladin with Crossbow, Arbalest or Firearms could easily fit the holy witchhunter cliche, with all the protection against magic stuff, FoD and Sworn ennemy. By the way, if I understand well, marking and coordinated attack only works if your closest ally targets the same target as you. If he targets something else, it becomes useless. That's why it seems easier to achieve with ranged characters ^^

Interesting. It's true you can crazily stacks accuracy buff for teamate on a paladin. Just wondering about a "laser pointer" build focusing on Pliambo per Casitas (marking, disorienting), coordinated attack, darcozzi, maybe zealous focus... Yeah +51 accuracy for teamate, mostly stacking with priest's buff. Sounds fun.

Totally agree. Both paladins and chanters excel in this role. But a chanter dedicated to dragon slashed will out-DPS paladin by far (and pretty much anyone else). Chanter wins for DPS, summons, CC and versatility. Paladin wins for sturdiness, martial power (not by far, both are mediocre), and healing capability.

2 chanters are the backbone of my current party. I can certify that are not inferior to priest. It is well known how well chanters can turn into tanks. That's how I use them. Dragon Trashed deals incredible damages. Really. High level chanters specced for it are among the top damage dealers. At high level, they will be able to cast a very powerful Friendly AoE spell every 4s. It is also incredibly convenient and easy to use. The fact that graze lasts almost as much as hit due to chant mechanics also makes it incredibly reliable. Chants, in general, are great for action economy. You can cast fireballs from scrolls or items WHILE chanting your Dragon AoE. I doubt anything can match this. So they're at the same time my main tanks and main damages dealers while having a lot of other tricks in their bag. However, my party has a priest. And I know I can't replace her. Basically, chanters have their own place, it is just that they are not able to properly replace a priest.

Pet has exactly the same speed as a 2 hander, except for bears ans lions (see MaxQuest attack speed thread). People often takes bears so they see pet as slow. They biggest problem is that they can't decrease their recovery...

Chanters are a nice class design. They surely need a bit of balancing with their chants. And probably a few class talents to get some invocations a bit faster, but that's about it. They're meant to be passive. Monk are great too, even if their design is really a matter of taste. Some just don't like requiring being hurt. The worst class design is currently the priest. Not by itself of course, priest are extremely strong. But there are just no good alternative to priests currently. It's less about healing than buff and immunity against affliction. Add more party buff to other class and pb will be fixed. Still ok for PoE1 by the way.

**** happens. Good luck guys, and thank you for the information.

I've finally found an advantage to Skyward Kick by the way. Duration is low, it's a single attack, Knockdown is worse then Stun... But at least the "fly" part is only linked to Initial hit, not fortitude roll. So you're pretty much guaranteed to have the ennemy controlled for 1-2s. That's not great, I won't pick it instead of Stunning blows, but at least it is not strictly worse

A few considerations : - This build probably out-DPS Ranger at Ranger, even counting pet. Various lashes and speed buff approximatively doubles Damages, and Long Pain does about the same damages as a melee weapon (wich hits around 1.66 more than ranged, but with suffering, you can count twice). This is a bit more than the benefits of twinned arrows plus pet. But you got to get the wounds for it... - Constant mobility seems very important for this build and wounds would be precious. Long Stride seems an excellent choice. Running into melee just to feed upon engagement attacks is certainly a good option. - Long Pain is a bit more damaging and slower than fist. Better investment for torment reach. - Range helps switching target without killing, which makes resonant touch quite interesting Is Long Pain giving +20 Acc ??? Or is it just from suffering ?

Should work even better with a Dragon Trashed Chanter. Faith and Conviction is not that relevent when you get +100 defense.

I didn't think so many things worked with Long Pain ! Awesome. I think you meant Two Weapons Style, not Two Handed by the way. By chance, do you know wether Zahua Fist speed bonus apply ?

To be fair, you can make balanced unique traits, which would make stock companions just another option.You're right about this

It's so true that one can have exactly the same interaction with someone with 3 Int and someone with 18 Int... But well... That's a gamedesign decision. If people want it, let's give it to the people. It just doesn't make sense for me. And won't solve the problem. If companions have unique traits (which is what I would like) plus fully customizable stats, companions would be strictly better than hirelings. So I don't think it would be a good option.

Men were given the choice between the Naive, the Redeemed Bad Girl and the Omnipresent Authority figure. You could date anyone provided that she was an elf. Women were given the choice between Anomen. That does not help.

"Next time a goddess ask me to use a Divine Hammer, I'll say No !"

For short battles, I guess firearms are hard to beat, which may alter your overall feeling. People may suggest warbow because of long battles. Another option is firearms with quickswitch, which might be optimal.

Anomen.

Another soulbound leveling tip : this one works on levels requiring to trigger a particular effect, like Soulbound Scepter (10% Domination), or Nightshroud (10% Blind) : You can level them by hitting your teamates ! So, before you go to rest, be sure to hit them till they have almost not health. The scepter last level was a pain to level up on my druid. I realized this only for the last proc...

The usual powergamer (including me) don't like feeling objectivly gimped. Companions with subopimal choices have STRICTLY LESS possibility than hireling. So, for the sensitive soul of the powergamer, Hireling > Companion. And choosing Companion does hurt his sick and maniac little powergamer heart. I'm not making fun of powergamers. I'm telling you exactly what I feel. Anyway, stat change WON'T fix the pain of the poor powergamer when choosing companion instead of hireling. He will soon realize he can't customize companion race, deity, shapeshifting form, background... He will be unsatisfied again. I prefer Hiravias with his optimal form and race rather than with optimal stats. Stats are not the core of the problem. Unique traits DO FIX the powergamer's pain. Because he knows what he gets from choosing Pallegina instead of a random paladin hireling. (even if the scheming mind of the everquesting powergamer will soon plan whining on the forum to get from Obsidian the Five Sun talents allowed for his paladin PC... That's the neverending fate of the cursed powergamer... )