Elric Galad

Hi, I wanted to have your opinion. Currently Shadowed Hunters is a Tier 9 Ranger Ability. It was quite meh, so I modded it to the following : Shadowed Hunters :Pet's first bite after using the ability apply a 30sDoT effect (20 raw damages per 3s tick). Note that first pet attack doesn't break invisibility (this is true in the base game) But I'm not very satisfied, because it basically use a small bug to work, and this DoT feels a bit out of the place. Also Tier 9 is a very precious Tier (since you get only 3 ability points for it). In my last run as a SC Stalker, I wasn't even tempted to take it. So I thought it was probably too bad. Therefore I started to think again about the ability. I probably want to do something similar to Enduring Shadows. BPM's Enduring Shadows provides 20s of invisibility that breaks normally, as well as Swift and +25 deflection for the whole 20s (even if invisibility breaks). It is 0.5s/0s casting/recovery, teleports you and costs 2 bonds. I think it is a good basis to balance Shadowed Hunters. So for Shadowed Hunters, I think I will remove current BPM changes and perform the following changes : 1 - Remove recovery. Easy one and good basis. 2 - Makes the healing effect and -50% not cancellable when Invisibility breaks. Probably will also buff the healing from 8 to 10 health per tick (align with Robust) 3 - Add an offensive bonus. I think about a 60s Intuitive (Tier 3 PER Inspiration) that activates only when invisbility breaks. All this would worth the Tier 9 point and 3 bonds. Shadowed Hunters will basically be either a small repositionning + general offense and defense buff, or you can use it to basically lick your wounds for 30s and still benefit from a 60s intuitive. Intuitive fits Ranger very well, stacks with Hunter's Claw and all their other Acc bonuses, and Synergizes very well with Stunning Shot and any Crits related build (such as Twinned Shot + Frostseeker). Intuitive can give an additive +17.5% crit chance for such build (50% Hit x 25% chance, +5 From Perception). It also benefits the pet. Granted taking Shadowed Hunters will cost you either Heart Seeker, Prestige, BPM's Distracting Traing bond regen or Stunning Shot, so I don't think it would be too OP. Intuitive was previously only found on Fighter, but locking it at SC Ranger ultimate Tier won't make it that much more common. What do you think ?

Yeah, it could somewhat be renamed "Scourge of Hauani O Whe" because it is its one realistic purpose. Maybe poking Belranga too ?

What do you think about Scourge of Bezzello ? Granted that it comes super late and is a loot from one of the hardest fight, it appears to me that this weapon has an interesting property : it is a crossbow with 3 hits. Why do I think it is so great ? Apart for the usual feat from multi-shot weapons (Avenging Storm, triple roll for applying afflictions), I think it combines perfectly with the Crossbow modal in order to be the perfect interrupting weapon. Because yes, you get triple chances of interrupting from normal Hit. Which is especially neat when one need to dig through layers of Concentration. Now, of course, it isn't meant to be the main weapon of a build, but as a secondary/situational one, I think it is pretty good. Basically BiS for its purpose.

For the last version of BPM it is the contrary. WoD in base game is -1s for foes, +1s to self WoD in previous version was -2s for foes, +0.25s to self (which was a bit rough) WoD in latest version is -2s for foes, +0.5s to self (which works perfectly in some battles, but can't be used at full efficiency every time)

Remember this time when some dude summoned Dorudugan out of console command, which resulted in an upscaled Dorudugan 😭

And Saint Omaku's Mercy. Still need a high Acc to reliably Hit. Sure, if Megaboss can stay enough under Entropy. This part is intended, granted you really need decent Acc to get +4s Spiritshift often enough, granted you also need to pause to recast Entropy from time to time. If you achieve all that, congratulations, you have a decent combo.

To be honest, Inner Death was probably the only way to make old Entropy relevant.

Not linked to mods AFAK buy maybe I made a mistake when I affirmated it was Wolf Form...

I'm living in the shadows of obscure abilities. But the only things I manipulate are the Gamedata files.

Technically, I Ninjaed your Ninja since I was already speaking about Beetle Shell in the thread you ninjaed. By ninjaing Boeroer, the only thing you achieve is pointing that I ninjaed everybody ahahahahahahahah It's a Ninjaception.

Yes and No, I tweaked it. The original version ripostes by blinding foes, which was really disappointing for a Tier 9 Spell (not to mention redundant with the old Revenge of Skaen). I tweaked it to random -10 to PER, INT or RES. Which means with repeated attacks, your foes will probably get 2 or 3 of the debuffs. No I tweaked it again to retaliate on damaged, instead of on hit or crit. Yeah, +0.25 made it unusable. Now one still need to catch 2-3 foes to get infinite duration, but this is hard enough to achieve to derserve a reward. Version 1.5.2 WoD is a blast vs Belranga, especially combined with BPM Enchanted Armory and its 100% Miss to Graze 🙂 But such is Garden of Life anyway. The few offenders that remained (such as blade cascade) can't be extended anymore since this version.

Version 1.5.2 uploaded (a bunch of small rework, slightly de-nerfed WoD, some effects can't be extended, various tweaks to Priest, Druid and Wiz spells) : Deadfire Balance Polishing Mod at Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Nexus - Mods and Community (nexusmods.com) It seems that Nexus Mod Description has intense editing problem. I had to go through BBC mode to actually change the text, and even then it was seriously lagging. Anyone experienced similar difficulty ? I'm finally satisfied with Entropy 🙂 (and SC Druid as a consequence)

For non-stacking AR malus, you have plenty of solutions. The easiest are either various PER affliction (-1 AR from Flanked), Crack the Shield (for basically infinite debuff with the upgrade) or Sundering Blows (- 4AR, vs Deflection and can be AoEiszed with a rod/mortar/WotEP). I don't like Mace modal because it is so easy to get an equivalent effect and have it suppressed. Stacking AR debuff are something much rarer. Blackened Plate mentionned by @thelee is the most convenient (-1 AR). But when you need to stack AR debuff, another -2 AR is priceless. How to get reliable crit is an issue of course, but pairing Beza's and Aldris' for dual Crit Sabres build feel nice (of course, this is not a pure DPS setup, more a support/self-heal one - Might be considered on a Wayfarer/Berzeker for example 🙂 ).

Yeah, check the phrase count too. There have been reports about multiple attack (not counting pulsating spells) spell refound 3 phrases more than once.

I usually use Mowdyr to evaluate an endgame weapon. Mowdyr has a 20% lash and 20% speed (ultimately) which is about x1.40 multiplicative damages. Also comes with an utility and a fun (but midly significant) special attack. Mowdyr works for basically any build. If a weapon is better than Mowdyr, at least for certain build, then it is a good weapon. That's why I said 15% speed and (ultimately) +10 Accuracy (around 10-15% multiplicative in my view) is a solid basis. It is close enough from Mowdyr generalist bonuses (the damages one) to start considering deeper. Then there is this passive, which close the gap with Mowdyr and is likely to surpass it her for the right build. A potential "+20 Accuracy vs weapons" against a specific target for the whole party is getting through the roof of expectation. Then BPM is going to provide Entropy a no-roll 100% Hit to Crit for base 15s in next version (upload is soon) 😜... Beza's Toothed blade worths mentionning too. -2AR stacking with everything on Crit is beyond what any other item can offer...

I've never built on it, but what do you guys think about Blade of the Endless Path ? The speed and accuracy bonus are solid, but the selling point should be this -4 Def malus on Crit for 45s and that stacks up to 5 times. All the party should benefit from such a cute effect. This sounds very appealing against everything that isn't immune to pierce or have enormous Deflection and Resolve.

I meant the contrary : Beza's debuff only applies to Beza's Crits. But once applied, it benefit everybody. Blade of the Endless Paths -4 Def on Crit isn't bad for this either.

I modded Chain Lightning to bounce possibly several time on the same foe, including monster's versions (as I always do). The fights versus Auranic Wrath Sigil was... hey... not trivial. Fortunately Tranquilizing Shot + Blunderbuss (basically 100% chance of deactivating a Sigil for 1 Bond) after Brand Enemy, Gouging Strike and a Missile Salvo helped a lot mitigating this situation. Seriously, Tranquilizing Shot is a highly underrated ability, especially with multi-hit weapons. Modded Corrosive Skin with Enfeebled. Modded Sunless Grasp with 0.5s/3s cast/recovery and 16-27 base damages.

Feels like a Psion / Tactician playing tool 🙂 I would use it as a minor damages spells with mini CC effect in this context. Or as Soulblade "ranged weapon" ? (Arrh 5 focus)

Honestly, the -10 acc for decent time while doing a bit of spike damages is the selling point. Wizards have no other way (apart modals) to decrease ACC on a perception resistant for. And Wiz are hungry for high deflection build. Same for Ref. 10 less defenses before launching a serie of attacks Vs it isn't bad. PEN is already decent. It's not that piercing 🙂 But I could go with the same damages as Jolting Touch for common theme. 16 - 27.

But in this case, it's not the main purpose of the spell. This is a debuff spell with a bit of damages. Once more, BPM doesn't intend to change the flavour of abilities, unless obvious redundancy with some other abilities. Adding an interrupt is within the limit of a small change, adding an additional effect isn't. EDIT : but yeah, I can see why adding an Interrupt is a bit redundant. I'm just trying to say I'm not in favor of adding a Paralysis effect and I was trying to find a compromise 🙂 Damages could upped a bit, maybe to 16-24, to align with barbs of condemnation which is a bit of a twin spell (higher range, lesser PEN).

The chilly part could be an interrupt on hit. Then a 4s recovery could be necessary.

=> Well, that and Summoned weapons are also a bit of a nightmare to implement and balance. Also would feel a bit redundant with fetid carress.

Ok, I was wondering the same. It doesn't require to be a Cipher to detect your thoughts about abusing it shamelessly with Phantom spells à la Draining Touch. Reducing the cast/recovery of weak spells is a good way to make them relevant at high level without making them too powerful. Well, as a general rule, I try to avoid changing the purpose of an ability unless required for redundancy with another ability. Sunless grasp isn't the best spell of the game, but with a fast casting, it would fit its purpose as a minor mid-duration debuff. For those who wondered : Jolting Touch has -25% damages per bounce, and can bounce several times on the same target. For me, it is ok as WIzard's version of dancing bolt (friendly multi-targets Electricity spell).

OK, I will go with upgrading Weakened to Enfeebled for Corrosive Skin. This is a pretty straightforward and balanced solution, and I do like simple solution. Also, while we're speaking about bad Wizard spell, I will set Kakaloth Sunless Grasp to 0.5s/4s casting instead of 3s/4s. CP already added a -10 Reflex debuff, so I think it would be a decent opener with a short casting time.