Nobear

That's a good point about Wizard's Double, that even as a level 1 spell its usefulness increases the higher your deflection gets.

lol my stats are way different, they are 18/3/20/3/17/17. I guess having that additional deflection, health and fortitude would make me tankier, but I have Arcane/Hardened Veil. The 17 Int does bring Arcane Veil and Eldritch Aim up to 13.5 sec which is something (considering I rest a lot and use Arcane Veil on every remotely challenging fight, twice on some), but perhaps those points would still be better spent on tanky stats. I do like my 20 Dex, and I attack slow enough wearing plate even so. As I say, I want to try out Sanguine Plate. You went for Vengiatta Rugia on Hard IIRC. What type of armor are you wearing on PoTD? Hmm... to restart? Eh I think I'll see how far I can get with my build. It's kind of glass-cannon-y except for the resolve (which is also partly a DPS stat because of interrupt avoidance), but I figure with such high boosts to defenses from spells... we'll see I guess :D. Edit: I guess it would be pretty dumb to restart now anyway. The 2.0 beta should be coming to GoG any day now. If I get stuck and want to change my build, I could just respec to something that makes more sense with 2.0's changes, which definitely won't include dumping Con and Per .

I'd think that'd gimp your focus regen too much for a cipher, or is the focus gain from retaliation items more than enough? I haven't tried it yet, but heard about it and it sounds cool. We are both soloing PoTD with melee mages. He's fire and I'm moon godlike, so no distant advantage. The damage of Concelhaut's Parasitic Staff was cool at first, but I'm looking forward to some DPS upgrades. I want to try out Sanguine Plate (assuming I can solo that fight LOL), and ultimately I want to see Spirit Lance in action and see what the fuss is all about. In the meantime we're using some spells like Chill Fog for AoE, and alexis recommended Corrosive Siphon which is cool. I think I'm prepared to take Caed Nua now. I didn't think I'd be ready to solo enough of Raedric's Hold to make enough money for the Bronze Horn Figurine, but I just did, so I'm coming in! I've found the concept of a melee mage interesting, but for my full party run I went with Aloth as ranged. Alexis talked about how fun they were, so ultimately I went with one for my first solo run. Probably not the easiest choice for a first solo, but I'm liking the challenge!

Well thanks for the update anyway, and to know that a new beta version has been released already... on Steam. Darn, I was thinking of returning the game on GoG and buying it on Steam, but I checked GoG's refund policy, and they only offer refunds if the game won't work. Which it does just fine, for the most part. Will the release version of the expansion be available for GoG on the 25th? And yes, I'd really appreciate any updates about the possibility of GoG achievements for Part 2, as they may come. Thanks again.

So it was a possibility I didn't even think of. Well, good to have an explanation. Knowing that things are working reliably makes me feel better about optimizing my character and pressing forward. Thanks!

Hi, I was testing different factors to see which might affect spell accuracy, and in the process, something odd happened. I have uploaded a screenshot which shows a final roll on a spell as 41 (Miss). AFAIK a 41 should be a graze. I have also uploaded the save file from just before I did the testing (ok, I had to switch my grimoire to include the spell being tested first), and a combat log. Be aware that I did reload the game to do one other test before uploading the combat log. The possibilities I can think of that might explain this situation are: 1) Maybe there are factors affecting spell accuracy not reflected in the combat log 2) Maybe Shadows have some incoming graze-to-miss conversion not reflected in the combat log 3) Maybe the only bug is in the game somehow deciding that a 41 is a miss Here are the uploads on Dropbox. Update: Explained, not a bug after all, see below.

Personally, I found my load times greatly shortened after updating from the first 1.0.6 hotfix to the second one. I'm on Mac and using GoG. The first load after launching the game doesn't seem noticeably shorter, but subsequent ones definitely do, which is much appreciated. I also seem to be getting a lot less crashes on load (either from a saved game or from changing zones), so the devs did something right at least for some players! At the same time, the text got more pixellated (another issue that's been discussed: hopefully 2.0 fixes it). But make sure you have the latest hotfix for this load time issue.

Ok, I just tested it out myself, and confirmed what the guy said in the other thread. I used Minoletta's Minor Missiles on a Shadow just to test it out. At level 4, the weapon accuracy listed on my inventory screen with an unenchanted hatchet and small shield is 29. The spell I used grants +10. The accuracy value listed in the combat log was 43. I'm going to hypothesize that you gain +1 spell accuracy per level on top of the amount increased according to your inventory screen, but this is just a hypothesis that would explain the number 43 at level 4. I then retested after removing the small shield, so that I only had the unenchanted hatchet in my main hand. The combat log still listed my accuracy as 43, even though the number in the inventory screen had gone up to 41 (+12 natural one-handed bonus), suggesting that this bonus had no effect on spells. I retested again with a Fine arbalest equipped, which gave me 33 accuracy in the inventory screen, but the combat log still listed the same 43 for Minoletta's Minor Missiles. Two things I haven't tested yet are weapons whose base form has an accuracy boost (like daggers and rapiers), and whether the accuracy malus of shields larger than small shields affect spells. If not, I think i'll be enchanting the Larder Door I recently got and using that. It might be one of those times where my OCD tendency to collect unique items, and magic items other than simple enchanted armor/weapons, actually comes in handy. Edit: While testing this, I did come across something odd: I missed with a 41 roll, which should have been a graze. IDK if the "real" numbers are different from what the combat log is reporting or what, but I'll file a bug report when I get the chance. Update: The above 41 miss was because the Shadow was teleporting. Also, I've confirmed that the accuracy penalty of large shields DOES affect spells. So to sum it up: weapons can't increase your spell accuracy, but medium/large shields can DEcrease it. Great. Ok, so hatchet and small shield was a good choice after all!

Thanks and I like your advice in general. This has probably been answered before, but do we know that spell accuracy is based on the accuracy of the weapon equipped, including a weapon focus and the natural one-handed (without shield) advantage? One thing that has been confirmed to me before is that the conjured weapon temporarily replaces the weapon you had equipped, so your normal weapon's stats don't affect your conjured weapon. Even so, if a single accuracy-enchanted one-hander would increase my spell accuracy for landing a slicken, concelhaut's corrosive siphon or whatever before conjuring my weapon, I would definitely try this out as an alternative to hatchet and shield. By the same token, if the accuracy malus of a shield above small applies, it seems this setup would only be good if you're casting only self buffs before meleeing with your conjured weapon, yes? I'd also like to ask what your stats are. I'm thinking maybe I don't need such high Int, but I do like having long self-buffs. Thoughts? Edit: I thought I remembered a thread where factors affecting spell accuracy had been discussed. Here is one guy saying weapon accuracy (like a rapier bonus, a gun malus, or an enchant) does not affect spell accuracy. This is just one guy's word, though. Any links or evidence to show the best of our current knowledge about factors affecting spell accuracy? Sorry I've kind of derailed this thread. I think we've answered the OP's question as well as it can be answered (even if that's no answer), but I can start a new one.

You do need expert mode for the achievement. The one thing I find more difficult about it is not having spell area highlighting. You have to develop a feel for where to target so as not to hit yourself with a slicken or chill fog, and to target the highest number of enemies. For a rogue though, your only spells are from Rotward Gloves, so it wouldn't seem to be near as much of an issue.

Now that you're playing PoTD I feel we can start comparing notes apples-to-apples. I apologize for coming down so hard on you before. I actually started a PoTD solo with a Moon Godlike wizard and expert but not Trial of Iron. Moon and fire both seem like solid choices, but I'm starting to think maybe fire is better for fighting spirits. The only way I know of to prevent death from loss of health is the priest spell Barring Death's Door. As usual, the wiki description is outdated. It only prevents death from loss of health, but it lasts longer. But since you're soloing, make sure to have Bulwark of the Elements up when fighting spirits or, well, anything that deals elemental damage. In my play through I tried to tackle Caed Nua at level 4. I was able to clear a path with some pretty easy fights around the perimeter, but then in the main hall, I haven't been able to beat those spirits. What gets me are the phantoms that perma-stun me. Slicken tends to miss or graze even with Eldritch Aim. In one attempt I killed the shadows and got two phantoms very low after two Fan of Flames casts, but very low was not low enough when they then started to perma-stun me. I'm thinking a figurine might make a huge difference, but I'm very low on gold on this solo run compared to with a full party, and I don't want to cheat. Do YOU have any tips? lol

So do monks do more damage with weapons, even though they get a class bonus to unarmed?

So the healing bonus that might gives affects recovery rates of fighters? Yes, this game is funny like that. Might tends to be a melee-only stat in other games, but not in PoE!

Let me preface this by saying I know nothing about monks. But I have beat the game on PoTD, so I'm familiar with the unique weapons and how they play. Typically though, you want to choose one specialization, assuming you see five other talents you might like to have. Hatchets with clubs would require both peasant and ruffian. I chose ruffian for Eder when I had him as a tank, because you get one of each damage type of 1H weapon (slash: sabre, pierce: stiletto, crush: club), and you can enchant each weapon with different lashes and slaying enchants to make yourself even more versatile. There's a great unique stiletto you can get very early from a vendor in Gilded Vale, a great unique sabre from level 4 in the Endless Paths, and another great unique sabre and a great unique club from Act 3. All that considered, if I were ever to play a monk, I'd be tempted to go peasant instead, which has unarmed, hatchet and quarterstaff. I don't know which is most optimal for the class, though. Edit: And yes, the patch notes I was referring to are from the 2.0 beta that was recently released on Steam!

Well fortunately the new PC and ally AI system will be totally optional!

Wow I had no idea about the statue, kind of a spoiler but I don't know that I would have ever figured that one out, gotta admit it's a clever secret. As I've said before, weapon speed enchants don't work in the live game. If you read the 2.0 beta patch notes, you can see that one of the fixes is (finally) to make the speed enchants work.

Same... on GoG too . Do we know how much it will cost, and will the GoG version be released also on Aug 25? Also, any new word on what the devs think of collaborating with GoG for achievements? BAdler?

FYI if you're used to Diablo, you will find PoE to be far less fast-paced and much more about pausing and taking your time in each fight to plan out careful strategy. Auto-attack doesn't even currently work for many players, myself included. If you like both styles (like I do) and can adapt, then great, PoE has a lot to offer. If not, keep in mind the expansion will also bring AI for the PC and allies, which will require much less micromanagement. Personally I like the challenge of having to think differently than in other games, but I thought you might like to know this. In any case, I hope you have fun!

lol that's why I said a PoTD veteran could probably pull it off, but remember this game does have a learning curve and everyone started as a baby.

Ok, maybe I was wrong about this one. In-game testing like this is compelling evidence, and useful to know.

It's not a guide per-se, but I will link this post I made about ciphers. I still like the blunderbuss because I think it just looks and feels cool, and because the drug Carow Golan still grants a flat focus bonus per hit. Blunderbusses shoot six lower damage small pellets per shot, and each of them is considered a separate hit for the purposes of focus gain. Their small damage per hit does hamper their effectiveness against high-DR targets, but there are various ways to compensate, including the Penetrating Shot talent and the rending property on a unique blunderbuss you can get from a relatively easy quest in Dyrford Village in Act 2. You can also switch to a pistol for high DR targets, as Boeroer suggested, and there's a unique pistol you can buy from a merchant early in Act 3 with some drool worthy enchantments. But blunderbusses are no longer the obvious must-have choice, and as Boeroer points out, you can make a good case for other ranged weapons based on personal preference. Bows have a longer range and your focus generation will be smoother instead of in big bursts, for example. There is also no reason you can't have a rogue in your party as well. Furthermore, the expansion coming on the 25th will add a rogue companion, if you like the RP content and flavor that companions bring.

Right. There are a few unique robes, but the only one that might be more optimal than manually-enchanted clothing is from a high-level bounty. It's Superb and grants Second Chance, which allows your character to come back up with a small amount of endurance the first time he is knocked out. I forget if it's Per Encounter or Per Rest, but you shouldn't be dying that often anyway, it's just good to have the ability as insurance for emergencies. That said, there are a few Second Chance items in the game, and first priority should probably be to a priest if you have one, since they heal and buff and can resurrect others, making a priest's resurrection particularly meaningful.

I don't think it does, but I might be wrong. Pedroelm might know for sure, but he hasn't been active on these forums for a while.

Thanks, I guess there are probably less exceptions to the "rule" if you think of it that way. It is looking to me like buffs tend to suppress each other like I described (per individual bonus, e.g. Accuracy, Might...), with only a couple of exceptions, but that debuffs tend to stack unless it is specifically stated that certain effects override others in the respective tooltips. Looking at it from this angle (and I know that multiple applications of the same debuff spell don't stack), are there any exceptions you can think of? The more I learn about this game, the easier it seems I can make it with a full party on PoTD, not that I need to reduce the difficulty there .

You definitely have to tweak or develop some new tactics, and that's with a well-balanced party. With the OP's party, it's an added difficulty jump on top of that, plain and simple. He will probably either become so frustrated he gives up, or something has to give, whether it's tweaking his party composition or adjusting one or another difficulty option. Could he eventually come back as a PoTD veteran and beat the game with that party on triple-crown? Possibly. There are probably some veteran players who have worked up to a challenge like that.