MaxQuest

No one was saying that it is bad Going from 278 frames down to (52+83)/1.3 = 104 frames (i.e. 37%) is great (assuming 20dex, zero recovery, swift aim, chant, gunner). If you are referring to my old advocating of warbow over firearms, that was in context of ranged weapon for cipher. As thus there were no Swift Aim. Plus warbow's default 127 frames could get reduced to estimative 52/1.3 = 40 (i.e. 31%). You might want to take a look at Dulcanale as a viable alternative. Reason being that speed enchant brings (relatively) little to a reloading weapon. It would result into [53+75+151] => [53+60+151] frames (provided no other buffs/modals). Or a 5.7% increase in dps.

Keep dividing: e.g. new_reload_duration = base_reload_duration / 1.5 / 1.2 So for a blunderbuss, reload time would end reduced from 150 to 83.3 frames.

Viable? Well of course. It might be slightly behind of the TS+Stormcaller in terms of dps and overall cc (due to less stuns), but [Dulcanale + Swift Aim] or [Lead Splitter + Vicious Aim] will still dish quite solid damage. Bonus being that higher base damage will quite benefit Wounding Shots. Also the fact that taking Penetrating Shots won't affect your relative fire rate that much. Just don't forget to max DEX if going for reloading weapons. P.S. And finally firearms do work with Powder Burns. Which theoretically can provide the highest dps, surpassing that of Twin Arrows + X. The practical problem being proper positioning, such that you won't decimate your own team. Because of the way reloading time is calculated, bonus 50% in reloading speed translates into minus 33% of reloading time. 1/1.5 = 0.66

^ But dunno... she is quite likable. I didn't want to kill her at all.

Unfortunately no. That's a limitation of UI. Although I agree, it would make a lot of sense. If I would have a character who needs it, I would get a second shield via console. P.S. My bigger gripe is that you can't have the same weapon in different sets. It's not hard to imagine the switching from [sword_x] to [sword_x + small_shield], by swift sliding the shield from your back into the hand.

Hmm, if your party starts attacking a charmed enemy, after 1-2s charm goes off. What if same is true, for enemies attacking their own comrade?

He Who Carries Scars might be good depending on play-style. I usually tend to heal up asap. Especially in harder fights, like against dragons. And standing below 25% for the DR benefit, would be quite risky. So there was only regeneration left for me. Which again.. felt a bit lackluster: 1 endurance every 3s. In a 90s fight it would regen for only 30 endurance... Regarding Golden Scales, I agree, it's a great armor. It's just that.. you get it kinda late. After coming to Cragholdt, I had only Concelhaut and Llengrath encounters left. Will probably try to get it earlier next time (esp. before Radiant Spore) Also worth mentioning is the Kaoto's/Tidebringer monk outfit. Theoretically great. But in practice, the encounters that follow the Abbey are not focused around charm and domination. It's defenses got wasted. Also martyr.. although it sounds like a great buff, but usually its just better to revive your dps back...

Argwes Adra - best for a sup-tank. 2 lore and Second chance are just great. Hunter's Mail - good for monk/barbarian tank. Who are actually going to take a lot of damage. Ryona's Breastplate - best suited for a monk and tankish paladin. Pike's Pride - an alternative to Blaidh Golan. You trade preservation for +10 will. Wayfarer's Hide - can be useful for a frontline druid, who can pop the vigor before shapeshifting. Angio's Gambeson - best for a dps, who doesn't use reloading weapons. (unless you carry daom potions) Raiment of Wael's Eyes - Mirrored Image proc, might be useful for your usual spellcaster. Gwisk Glas - a quite needed robe for a ranged caster who carries the Scrolls of Revival.

Take a look into a grimoire She's an optional end boss of WM2.

You are right. It also doesn't affect Llengrath's dragons for instance.

That sounds hilarious. A build that might make even Wound Binding useful Although it's probably best played with disabled knockout injuries... P.S. On a mildly related note: guys, what is the interaction between carnage and Minor Threat/Coordinated Attacks? Do the bonuses apply only against main target, or everyone hit by carnage too?

Thanks for point it out. Consider it proved that the bonus from TFW Talent stacks additively. I dual-wielded... daggers! Swift aim actually works with melee weapons too. But in case it wouldn't... I would probably give Long Pain a try: (px2_the_long_pain_weapon)

Yeah, Ryona's Breastplate and Maegfolk Skull are extremely good for this build. Btw, you probably meant wild orlan instead of the hearth one

Stumbled upon exact values in CharacterStats.cs: public const float DEFAULT_WALK_SPEED = 2f; public const float DEFAULT_RUN_SPEED = 4f; public const float DEFAULT_ANIMAL_COMPANION_WALK_SPEED = 2f; public const float DEFAULT_ANIMAL_COMPANION_RUN_SPEED = 5.5f; So, the 4.07 estimate was pretty close

No, you don't get +50% additive bonus, for [1H + BashingShield] like you would for dual-wielding. Your main-hand's recovery remains the same. It's just that bashing shield itself has the same attack_duration as a fast weapon, and a twice shorter recovery_duration.

3 CON and 3 RES for a barbarian going for retaliation route, is way too low. You either have high endurance and let enemies hit you and get retaliated; or go for a lower con, but keep the enemies cc'ed (stunned, prone, paralyzed).

1. I guess so. Theoretically a melee cipher should even outdps a warbow one, simply because sabre has comparable base damage but shorter attack_duration. Also have to note that cipher doesn't have special full attacks. So later into the game you will likely better be with 1H+Shield (because at zero-recovery you will attack same as fast anyway). Or even plain 1H if you are going to make use of daom or time parasite. I suppose you will likely want to use 1H+Shield for the very early game too, at least until you get access to Psychovampiric Shield, or get a pala with Reinforcing Exhortation. (or something else to buff your deflection) As for powers: - must have: Whispers of Treason, Psycho Shield, Mental Binding, Echo, Mind Lance, Puppet Master, Silent Scream, Detonate, Meld, Instinct, Meld, Amplified Wave and Disintegration - not saying that other's are bad, but rather more situational. For example if you will not DW, than ofc you will have to use Time Parasite more often; not just for to slow enemies attacking rate, but for your own speed as well. Another one to consider is Antipathetic Field. Being in front, you will be able to make more use of it. Pain Block, Going Between, Body Attunement and Mindweb can help you, or your party with extra tankiness. But in practice you won't be using them that often. Sometimes it's better to just prone everyone. As for races: - Not sure if Fire Godlike is really worth it - Coastal Aumaua extra defenses against prone and stun can be useful. But I've found that enemies seem to cast paralyze more often - Tbh I'd go for Human or Hearth Orlan. More crits -> more damage from anihilation -> more focus -> more damage from powers. The hardest part is stats spread. You need everything, so there is little to min-max. - need high might, because it increases the damage of your powers; and helps generate focus faster. - non-dumped con, because having to rest because of cipher is non-sense. Also running of health during battle is a no go. - need high dex, because it speed's up your cycle of deal damage -> gain focus -> cast powers. But there is no need to max it. Having zero recovery and 10 dex, is like having normal recovery and 43 dex, for your auto-attacking. Ofc zero-recovery and 20 dex is better, but sometimes you just need to find an attribute to sacrifice. - need high per, because missing and grazing is the last thing you wish to do. Also if you will go for Resolution/Purgatory over Bittercut, you realy want to crit. - need high int, for decent duration on buffs and cc effects, and also aoe of stuff like detonate and amplified wave. Imho 16-17 is enough. - and finally you need resolve to be able to stand in the front. So perhaps something like 16/10/12/16/16/8 or 15/11/11/15/15/11? 2. Druid can easily substitute priest in healing department. But not quite so in buffing. Priest buffs go well beyond what scrolls could give you.

If I am not mistaken, there was a similar thing in DA:Inquisition. Some big enemies (e.g. dragonlings) had few special points along their hitbox. If you would cast an AoE spell, it's damage could be multiplied, depending on how many of those points got covered. (in case of dragonling, iirc you could get x2, one point being on head, another on tail start). P.S. Sorry KDubya for slightly derailing the thread

^ They might change just the description and leave it be. Aarik wasn't sure himself how it was intended to work But Torment's Reach will be worth it, even if it won't 'auto-propagate' itself, as long as it hits at least 2-3 targets. -- edit -- In the case of 3 enemies, it would be 2x(1+2) instead of 2x(1+4) hits. And if we would take those spores, it would result in ~360 dmg instead of 613. Still pretty good.

Although it still doesn't act completely like carnage (Weakening from Enervating Blows, Dazed from Glittering Gloves and bonus damage from Turning Wheel do apply only to the main target), you gotta check the damage it deals... Also in case you are not aware: link

Have been in the same boat. And I still don't know what exactly I had to to. But this is what I did, to progress further: I have checked the map here. Took a run between spirits 1 and 6 and tried to speak with them. It didn't help. After that : - made a run between them again - traversed full level, from left to right, like through a graph; and made sure to enter in each room - spoke again to both spirits And strangely, I've finally got the extra chat option for the door.

I don't know when it was changed, since I checked it only once. It was on 3.00 version. But yeah, Torment's Reach attempts to apply on-crit procs to everyone being crit'ed in it's cone. I have mentioned that here. And here is the screenshot of distant Spore being affected by these effects. Not to mention that Torment's Reach can hit a distant enemy several times...

A thing to keep in mind is that Torment's Reach is a full attack. So equipping two sabres will benefit it greatly. (namely: Resolution, Purgatory, Bittercut). Another approach is to make use of proc effects. Prone from We Toki and stun from Cladhalíath can affect everyone in the cone.

- Rangers already mentioned. - Barbarians: frenzy (1.33), speed enchant (1.2), durgan-refined weapon (1.15), gloves (1.15) = 2.11. Plus there is Bloodlust. - Ciphers: can substitute daom potion with Time Parasite. - Chanters: due to +40% attack speed from 'Their Champion Braved the Horde Alone' invocation. But that's sub-optimal. I don't remember if monks are able to 1H (and if the game won't count it as DW with weapon+fist). But if they can, they have Swift Strikes (1.2) -------------------------------------------- P.S. Regarding action phases. Here is a more detailed 'animation diagram' for arquebus. I have a feeling that those 'standing animation' fragments are not affected by dex.

Hah, thanks for the chuckle Mr. "not even a person, just a mindless weapon, an implement of destruction". Your article and obsession with dragons is for sure on point ^^