Boeroer

A crusader can be build into a better tank (more engagement, better disengagement punishing and thus more sticky, usually way higher defenses). The combo of engagement and sturdyness of a crusader is pretty outstanding. However, I terms of support (be it offensive or defensive or healing) the Herald obviously wins. He buys that with being a bit less effective tank (in terms of binding lots of attackers). So it depends what you need. For example I was trying a party with four gunners the other day and a crusader as a tank was way better than a herald just because he prevented rushing more reliably. If you don't need such a supersticky tank but somebody who can bind 2-3 enemies while not dying and doing good support maybe a Herald is better. Also it doesn't have to be healing or defensive support only. Shared Flames + Mith Fyr gives everybody in range a +30% lash which is pretty crazy when it comes to dmg support.

I liked DA Origins and can't remember such issues. Long time no see though so maybe I simply forgot. I have to add that I seldomly use party AI - so most pathfinding issues will elude me anyway.

I'd call that extreme hyperbole. For example Deadfire has worse naval combat. I wished Josh & Co weren't forced to design a class based system since I prefer classless ones for obvious reasons (being addicted to charbuilding). RTwP vs. TB: I don't care that much. Per-rest vs. per-encouter: I prefer the first but it's not that important. Both work well. If they only didn't introduce other per-rest abilities through items... I both cases (class based & RTwP) PoE had to live up to the "spiritual successor" claim. I would have liked to see Josh's classless idea for PoE. The universal talents were a nudge towards classless. Maybe that's why I miss them so much in Deadfire and was so outraged when I saw that they got removed in the open beta.

Judging by playtime and builds I put out I must have enjoyed PoE1 a lot more. I enjoy testing out build ideas. And for some weird reason there was more to try out in PoE despite Deadfire adding multiclasses. I guess universal talents played a role but also more items that do truly impactful things. For example in a per-rest casting system a sabre with 3 fireballs per rest is a lot more interesting than in a per-encouter system. Don't know. Atm I clocked way less hours in Deadfire than in PoE and I currently lose interest in playing Deadfire. PoE I only stopped because Deadfire came out.

That's because in combat chars are not allowed to cross each other's selection circles while in non-combat situations you can perfectly walk "through" other characters. Hence my comment about pushing. It solves the problem that chars get stuck or have to take immense detours which mess up the pathfinding. You don't want to allow "phasing through other people's circles" during combat. You couldn't block movement at all. This pushing is a good solution in my opinion.

Actually it's not the arquebus but Shadowing Beyond which is bugged with Backstab atm. Reported by the Balthazar (and others). Assassinate works with SB, but Backstab doesn't. When I was playing an Assassin/Priest of Skaen some patches ago it worked. Also I guess ranged weapons are a part of the problem because SB does work with Backstab and Firebrand (while I was doing a quick test of a concept). Anyway - if you wanted to not shoot at point blank it's no problem anyway I guess. Pillar of Flames with Assassinate is nice. In this case (spells + Assassinate) I would even consider to pick Improved Critical. I likethis combo a lot not only because it works well (not necessarily in terms of dps - but the sneaky playstyle lets you take out enemy groups one by one very effectively without any fightback) but because it also is a great fit thematically. I does indeed help me to finish a playthrough if the chars I use are somewhat "believable" and not just a random powergaming homunculus.

I just tried a Bleak Walker Assassin with a arquebus myself and can confirm that either Shadowing Beyond or arquebus is the problem. Most likely SB. It's RTwP mode.

Also doesn't work in RTwP mode.

You are on TB mode I suspect. Because it works just fine in RTwP mode (except keyword immunity).

Pushing is actually the best improvement to the movement system in my opinion. That way chars don't get stuck and you can also squeeze a tank through your own line if he accidentally was cought snoring durig an ambush. To compare how it is when chars don't "gently" push each other: give everybody except the moving char a large shield and trigger "the Wall" - and suddenly you start to appreciate those slight pushes during pathfinding.

Finishing Blow is so so. Like thelee said. But the additional Shadowing Beyond is great. Ring of Focused Flame not only gives several spells +10 ACC but also Dragon's Dowry. So with modal, Assassinate and Ring you get +55 ACC. First shot out of stealth gets -80% recovery time, so the modal is no problem. If you pick a squishy usually you can kill an enemy with the first two shots which let's the slippers trigger. And so on... @thelee - yes, it was reported. I think no answer from QA yet.

Please delete the last part in order to not embarrass yourself.

You mean the second stupidest Paladin around: https://forums.obsidian.net/topic/83338-class-build-the-dull-runner-caster-clipper-paladin-tank/

Cosmo (pig), Cutthroat Cosmo (pig with a hat) and Nebula (bat).

Arquebus (Dragon's Dowry) with modal, Ring of Focused Flame, Slippers of the Assassin. Shadowing Beyond and Crippling Strike and off you go. Red Hand with Double Tap can be a good backup since it destroys even pierce-immune vessels. For Flame Blights you need something else. A reloading weapon is nice since you can immediately use Escape/Shadowing Beyond after a shot. BUT: Currently arquebuses seem not to be working with Backstab. Again...

I believe if they want to reach a bigger audience/player base the next PoE (if it comes in the first place) should be done in a rel. conservative base setting/biome. So Raedceras, Aedyr come to mind. Most others sound too outlandish or we already had it (snow etc). I personally would like some exotic place better, but I also believe you lose the interest of many players if you pick a setting that is too "exotic". So I would vote for Living Lands: it sounds if this can contain anything from flying ships to giant beasts and medieval cities etc.

Yeah I know. Tried it quickly with an old save. That doesn't make too much sense since she's not part of the RDC iirc.

Interesting! Very nice catch.

It got reintroduced with Turn Based mode.

They are called "influencers" for a reason Obsidian did some special "pre-release" collaborations with rel. popular Twitch Streamers though.

Depends. ACC raises your chance to overcome all defenses - while deflection is only one out of four defenses.

Before. First comes the attack roll for physical dmg, then additional effects.

Whatever it is - it's in the wrong forum I suppose? Because it looks like a bug.

Right - a Sniper only wants to tickle you. He's not looking to end you with high precision and impact. That's why a Sniper always aims for your belly and uses toothpicks with some cotton as fletching. Your statement that a Paladin does not work well as sniper is plain wrong. We don't need to discuss this further. Arcane Archer/Bleak Walker with Spearcaster and Ring of Focused Flame and Scion of Flame has unbelievable precision and high dmg per shot. One great way to build a sniper. And there's a Paladin in it.

I generally agree when it comes to "normal" weapons that only have lashes. For weapons which do direct elemental damage I don't know. For example Firebrand is a weapon made of fire and only does burn damage. I think it's totally reasonable to put a fire keyword on that. Same as Minor Blights. I'd also say a Decay keyword on Rot Skulls will make sense. Acid on Cadebald's Blackbow, shock on Fury's natural weapons - that makes sense. Weapons with dual damage like Essence Interrupter don't scream "shock keyword!" to me though. Certainly not Dragon's Dowry and also not Sun and Moon although it fits thematically. The additional effects might be candidates for a keyword but I don't know if it's possible to decouple that.