DreamWayfarer

Check the sticky post up above. Lots of nice updated builds there, and most builds for those three classes are not fringe stuff that requires obscure items to work, even if some are better with them.

Yes, the fatigue resource (which I would call "Strain"), as well as the different "costs" for different spells were something I had originally intended to include in my post, but instead I choose to distill the idea to its basic form. And notice that I gave three suggestions, and there are three vancian caster classes in the game. I would also like that different classes had different mechanisms.

On the per-rest thing, I agree generic "mana" that regens is a big no (too similar to chanters and ciphers, IMO), as well as 1 spell per encounter and zero per-rest, but what about seeking other methods of giving a more solid cost to the vancian casters? I see a few good alternatives: 1)You get a couple "free" per Encounter spells (lets say, 2, as I feel 1 is too limiting). You can stay casting after that, but if you wish to do so, you need... INGREDIENTS. Didn't see that, did you? This alternative changes the fighting itself the least, but maybe it could require a buffing of the base stats of the affected classes, so scrolls and potions aren't always better uses of ingredients than actual spells. The flavor of this alternative also fits Druids quite well. 2)You can cast anything you want, but you better not cast it for free (in the jungle, welcome to the jungle, ...). Basically, turn casters into reverse Monks. While if monks want it they gotta bleed, casters take some penalty (maybe Fatigue, maybe damage, maybe something else) after they cast. Very dynamic and with great potential. Not something I'd use for more than one class, however. 3)Having slots for per-encounter uses of your spells you can fill between fights, with more powerful spells taking more slots. So you can have 4 level 1 spells that take a single slot each, 1 level 4 spell that takes all your slots, 2 uses of your favorite level 2 spell, or any combination you can fit in 4 slots. This fits Wizards and their spellbooks very well.

As far as I know the enemies check for damage reduction, defenses, damage the character has done, and maybe the class, so giving your Watcher slightly heavier armor should help, or starting the fight with everyone but the tanks in stealth mode.

Wrong game, pal. But I suppose a Monk could let one of the older Xbox360 models overheat and use the fire damage wounds to Force of Anguish it into an enemy mob before it exploded. Ah Ah Aj

Awesome post. BTW, I think one of the problems with Chanters is that they rarely do much other than stand there buffing or doing damage passively. As a variation of your "wutherstrike", I think it would be interesting if chanters in Poe2 could choose between Brisk Recitation or a hypothetical hability I am calling "Cadence of Blows", which removed a small amount of (non-linger) remaining duration from their cuurrent chant every time the Chanter hits a foe. I mean, it gives more variety, makes DEX less of a dump stat and unlike ciphers, it works against strong targets too. Sounds nice. ps: everyone, feel free to ignore my rambling above. It is just sonething that has been on my head for a while.

I guess slow mode is slow enough for ne because I don't use extremely micro-heavy parties and pause a lot, so slower combat would only mean fights would drag on forever for me.

... I hope they at least let us turn fast mode on during combat next game

Or maybe wizard's "1000T anvil fall" )I think that is more of a priest thing, actually. I mean, they drop goddamn stone pillars on people already.

Note that what I said is subjective. If enemy Druids or Wizards are giving you too much trouble, Snake Reflexes may be the way to go. Adapting builds to your playstyle is a hundred per cent better than following a rigid guide.

Most of your defenses work to protect you from afflictions first and damage later, as a disabled character is not only unable to meaningfullu contribute to the party (with some exceptions) but also more likely to receive critical hits that make things worse. The afflictions Reflex helps against are generally mild, and it is mostly useful against damage. Yes there are some times bad reflex can lead to long blinds or being prone for some time, bit it is mostly an stat against AoE damage, which in most encounters can be tanked through with self-healing. Plus, the weapon and shield style talent already increases your reflex by a significant amount. Fortitude, on the other hand, protects against some of the most annoying afflictions in the game: stun, paralysis (both of which are dealt on hit by certain common foes) and the dreaded petrification.

That used to be true a long time ago. Now the AI checks for DR, defenses and maybe damage and class to determine targets, and if your engager is a low-damage tank they may disengage. May.

Brisk Recitation is automatic, yes. BTW, the content added by the DLCs can be found here: http://www.gamebanshee.com/pillarsofeternity

HEY! The perceived quality of my posts is none of your business! Plus, if you are refering to my typos, it has much more to do with my dumped DEX.

I am quite sure at least the Golden Gaze can be aquired by a companion.

Seems I am the only one here who wastes most of my day listening to music on my smartphone. Progressive Symphonic Power Metal with Gothic undertones from Finland, because I like feeling deep and dark, even if most people I know would say I am less "dark" than "dork".

It was a thing, but it had a nearly useless buff for DPS (30% graze-to-hit, as if grazing was that likely when the only reason to use only one weapon was to stack as much accuracy as possible). It was useful for tanks, however, since it worked with shields back then. For some reason.

They won't. A point of no return is a point of no return. HOWEVER the game autosaves before you enter, so if you didn't delete your save, all is (mostly) well.

Priest of Hylea confirmed playable?

You should make hirelings instead of respecing your char if learning all spells is what you want. I mean, that way at least you only have to learn spells you didn't already know instead of forgetting everything.

I guess the confusion came from the fact early experiments also included lashes, that are also affected.

Maybe they are going to make Interrupts rarer but also make them force the interrupted action to be restarted instead of merely paused? I can't see much else tgey could mean with "Redesign"

Weird, as I had a lot of fun with tankier Druids. Do you remember to let the tougher guys go first and start casting your CC as soon as possible?

I think the reason the Sneak Attack bonus is impossible to see in the combat log is because it is checked and applied per attack, instead of being part of the character. Other boni that depend on the target, like Slayer enchantments and talents don't show up on the character sheet, do they?

It does appear... but only if you open the character sheet during combat.