SenSx

Ok thanks a lot I will study all of that. The only weapon modal I've been using so far was with wand, that -10 accuracy is really good untill you get another spell that overrides it, and dagger in off hand for all my range characters. I've been avoiding Essence Interrupter as I've heard it can make loot disapear if the target is killed with it...

Oh ok I did not remember it was alwready like that in vanilla.

Hello Elric, thanks for the update, do I need to make nay kind of translation for the french version ? I think I saw some translation mistakes and will try to correct them. By the way, I have a question about the cipher ability Borrowed Instinct. It seems that the ability still works even after the target with the debuff is dead. I don't know if it is supposed to work like that, and your mod propably don't alter this spell, so I don't know what causes this issue, if it is indeed one.

That's the thing, this ability has no real target except the companion, but not sure it even treats it as the target in game... That's clever, I might actually bypass the issue like this, thanks ! But I seriously think this AI system is flawed and really lacking. Some people told me how strong it was build in PoE 2, much more complex in possibilities than Dragon Age Origins. Maybe there are things that are not doable in DAO, but before allowing complicated behaviour, check the basic requirements. Like use x ability if x ability is not active, I had to install a mod for that >< Or allow the active behaviour without attacking, if I want my characters to buff themselves without going in combat, I have to take them away from combat or disable AI, then renable it. No one thought of blocking AI inspirations if Arcane Dampener is active ? I don't see the point seeing my characters using all their points to buff themselves when under this spell that prevent them from having the buff bonus to begin with... There isn't even the active on/off check box for the preset AI, you need to delete it if you don't want to use the ability for the fight without turning off the AI. It's a shame because Pillars of Eternity 2 is a complex game that would require a better AI system to be less heavy in micro management, and DAO really does that better.

Hello, I'm trying to make my life easier with more actions done by the AI. Is there a way to program a ranger to use Bonded Fury on his animal companion if Bonded Fury is not active ? I'm using the mod More Custom AI Conditions that adds those abilities to the AI choices, but I can't find a way to make the ranger use it only once, he can't stop using it and waits all his action points... Thanks

What is the most effective weapon for building focus for a pure cipher ? I'm trying to figure out what weapon to give Ydwin. Some of you mentionned Blunderbuss ? Is it better one handed or dual wanded blunderbuss ? Thanks

Ok thank you, I will try this, but no promise to succeed haha

Hello, Do you know a way to remove negative reputation for a faction ? I know you can add points with the console command: DispositionAddPoints (disposition name)disposition strength (minor, average, major) Exemple: Repuatationaddpoints FCT_**** (After the underscore just hit TAB key until you get to the faction you want) Positive/Negative Minor/Average/Major https://steamcommunity.com/app/560130/discussions/0/2828702372992031890/ But I don't know if it is possible to remove negative points with console command or maybe a mod ? Thanks

I really don't know Elric, I haven't tested it much. I think they probbly justify the weaker effect with a lower focus cost and a boss killer indeed.

What about recall agony ? Maybe not on the pure cipher that won't have the dps, but I'm thinking of it for Serafer as a barbarian/cipher. I don't know if that 30% damage buff can be better than desintagrate, unless both are just complementary , recall agony being better on an ennemy targeted by many companions, all getting the 30% damage buff. Or maybe just use desintagrate on an ennemy you are not targetting, and then recall agony on your target for max dps output ?

No sorry for my phrasing, I just meant they are no aoe spells, one cast = one ally buffed.

My bad I forgot exhortations only work on 1 character at a time. I think I will also use the Nor Flame, Nor Thrusted Blade invocation Kaylon advised me, although it does not cover the blackened plate weakness. Thanks for all the advices limaxophobiacq What is your second set of weapons with Pagellina please ? As for Rekke, I alwready have 2 monks, so I don't know if I'll make a 3rd one with him. I hope he can be ok as pure fighter.

Ok thank you all for your answers. I think I will only pick the best dps spells then: desintegrate and amplified wave, if I understood correctly, and might look at some others like recall agony etc. So there is no point picking too many dps spells, when they all use the same ressources, and many are not focus efficient end game. The rest will be buff and debuff (charm etc.) What weapon do yo advice me ? A was thinking of the Frostseeker bow, I heard it builds lots of focus. But you told me about the hand mortars ? I would also like a second weapon with crush damage in case ennemies are resistant to piercing and slasing. => Boeroer Don't worry about fortitude, I'm playing with the amazing Konstanten build you adviced me some time ago ! Thanks again ! https://forums.obsidian.net/topic/132831-konstanten-builds/#comment-2370060

Thanks for all the advices ! I think I'll do the same build as you limaxophobiacq, just a healing wall tank. If I want a tank that can still dish some damage I got Eder for that. I struggle to choose an exhortation though...I suppose you can only use one at a time, that would be broken otherwise. I hesitate between: Liberating command: Hostile effects suspended for 20.0 sec, Steadfast, Quick for 20.0 sec or Reinforcing Command: +20 Deflection for 12.0 sec, Fit, Steadfast for 12.0 sec or Steel Exhortation: Allied Target: +20 Deflection for 12.0 sec, Hardy for 12.0 sec I guess Reinforcing Command is better, but the +20 deflection and steadfast is accesible by other characters (priest, mirror image, watcher ability) It could be redundant. I will give her the healing chant Ancient Memory. But I really don't know what summon I can choose beside ancient weapons... There is the healing invocation Rejoice, My Comrades! Two Fingers of Daylight! upgraded to ...And Evil Turned Away from the Sun, and that's it ? I still wanted 2 HD character, so instead of Pallegina, I was thinking of Rekke. I initially planned to make him a one handed crit fighter, do you think a 2H fighter would be good instead ? I have no 1 handed characters (no weapon in off hand), but alwready many companions with either 1h sword and shield, or dual wield, only Konstanten for 2H, that is not much. Thanks

Hello, I have alwready 3 ciphers in my current run: - My Rogue/Cipher cipher as a soulblade - Seraphen as Barbarian/Cipher - Ydwin as pure Cipher. And yet I never considered any cipher DPS spell. My rogue use more the accuracy buff and debuff, and Soul annhilation, so barely any cipher spells, and not dps. Serafen will have just slightly more, I'm considering more crowd controll for him like the charm and dominations ones, maybe secret horrors to shut down casters. But since his dps will come more from his barbarian class, I don't think he needs dps spells. And that leave me with Ydwin, I haven't been curious much about cipher dps spell, and I think that would be boring if my 3rd cipher wasn't spec with those. Do you have a good list of the best dps spells, and maybe a build for that please ? I think I'll give her the frost bow Frostseeker that seems to build quite a lot of focus. I'm also curious about good Witch (Barbarian/cipher) builds for Seraphen. Thanks a lot

Hello, Pallegina isn't in my main team for now, but I sometimes consider swapping companions just for fun. My current tank is Eder as a Swashbuckler with one handed weapon + shield and medium armor. He's doing alright, not great dps so fat but he survives quite well I just wonder what to do with Pallegina... I have her as an Herald (Palladin/Chanter), and I hesitate between: Two handed dps / support character (with Zelot aura, and dps chants like burning weapons or The dragon thrashed then I guess) Or full tank one handed weapon + shield + massive armor / healing and defensive auras and chant, that could replace Eder from time to time for something with less DPS but more sturdy. The thing is I kinda consider her 2H sword like Pallegina's signature... And making her tank with it would not make much sense I suppose, it would be either some kind of DPS with 2H or tank with shield. What would you advice me between both ? Do you have good builds, especially for the Herald tank one please (with good healing aura and chant synergies). Thanks

Well I just checked my party, and I think the rest of my team will provide enough statut effect. Wizard, Priest/monk, fighter, even the ranger pet can knockdown (but I'm not sure that's really an affliction that leads to sneak attack). I think It will be ok after all. As for Llengrath's Displaced Image, yes the deflection does not stack, but I'm only using it for the 30% deflection and reflection hit converted to graze. That's pretty good combined with riposte. Riposte has a chance to be triggered only on grazes and miss, so those 30% added grazes increases the chances and adds survivability. It's just a bit costy for what it does, it costs 2 guile when it should be only 1 imo. Maybe it costs 2 because of its effect pre nerf, but they nerfed the spell (used to be +25 deflection and 50% hit to grazes) but they migh have forgot to reduce the guile cost of trickster.

So, yes I have acknowledged that Whispers of the Endless Paths would be perfect for my build but I think I will still gear my character how I planned for now. I don't mind not having something 100% optimal, I try to make the best I can by still following my idea of the character. I managed to finish the game with an assassin that what really bad, I barely never used the assassin abilities as I was not a fan of how much ressources it was eating, and so I played it with the assassin con penalty, but none of its advantages, he died a lot. This run is kinda my revenge on this, this time, good luck for killing him ! at least I hop so... But thanks for all the advices, it shows that this game has so many possibilities, and your reactions and enthousiastic ideas here prove it, I'm happy if it can inspire other peole, thank you. I think I will follow your advice and drop Echoing horror for adept evasion. Not sure if it is really better, but it follows more the idead of the build, and Echoing horror might be a bit too situationnal. I will wait before deciding if I sacrifice something else for Psychovampiric Shield. On top of replacing another skills, I'm worry my rogue would have too many spells to cast, and too much focus needed: Borrowed Instinct, Mirror Image, Llengrath's Displaced Image, Eyestrike, watcher ability for int brillance aspiration to get ressource back. So I'll try without it for now, and in case I really need the resolve inspiration I'll still get the one from the peer rest watcher ability... My main affliction will be a perception one, which will be an issue against immune ennemies. I got the might and dexterity ones for a short duration from the trickster spells (Arkemyr's Dazzling Lights and Gaze of the Adragan), the frightened from the watcher ability peer rest and that's it, or rely on allies. I still prefer to pick Confounding Blind over Crippling Strike. And since I use BPM mod, I really need to inflict 2 affliction to get the deathblow sneak attack bonus (persistant distraction only lower defenses now, it does not inflicts 2 conditions anymore). That's the weakness of the character. I wonder something though: do you know if Llengrath's Displaced Image and adept evasion stack ? The first make 30% of hit become grazes against reflex, and the second makes 100% of grazes become miss. Do those 30% of hits converted to grazes then become miss as well if you have both the abilities ? Or still grazes ? Would be a bit too good to be true imo.

Well I switched Int to resolve. Good thing is that I can change whenever I want with console command. I might try like that first, and if I feel the spell duration is too short, that it forces me to cast to often and that is too cost heavy in ressource I can always reverse the attribute. I still want to try that untouchable rogue build, even if it's not optimal without Whispers of the Endless Paths, and even if I alwready have a tank. I would like to squeeze Psychovampiric Shield as you suggested and adept evasion. But I need to remove to passive abilities... What do you think I should give up ? I'm thinking I should leave one of these: The Empty Soul : +10 Accuracy with Cipher Spells vs. Will Only usefull for Borrowed Instinct in my build, but could help getting criticals. (don't know if it works with Echoing Horror, which is a passive and not a spell, it could make it more valuable). Rapid Casting : +10% Action Speed with Spells Faster casting seems good on my build that requires to buff and debuff a lot. But 10% speed seems meaningfull, I don't even know how much time I will save on a character with alwready maxed out dexterity (22 I think whith Berath Blessing) Farcasting : +20% Range with Spells the bonus is better than rapid casting, however the nature itself of the bonus does not seem as good. My rogue could easily move to get in range, only usefull to cast during combat I don't want to disengage. Keen Mind : +2 Focus peer level at the start of a combat up to +40 Focus at lvl 20 (PBM mod) At lvl 20 I could start fights with 90 Focus instead of 50. It allows to cas Borrowed Instinct + blind, or get 10 focus fast for Psychovampiric Shield, or Borrowed Instinct a second time if first cast fails. I don't know how valuable it can be, but it seems quite handy to start combat without having to strike ennemies for focus generation. Echoing Horror : Foe AoE per kill: Frightened for 12.0 sec | Accuracy vs. Will per 3.0 sec I don't know if it's a must but I actually like this one, since Frightened allows sneak attack, also good for perception affliction immuned ennemies. I don't know if the Empty Soul works with it, it could make The Empty Soul more valuable. Or I can just forget the idea of Psychovampiric Shield and only try to get Adept Evation. Thanks for your help tackthumb !

The thing is, for roleplay reason, I don't want to use two handed weapons on my rogue, so Whispers of the Endless Path is a nope. However you are making me hesitating to start over for 18 resolve points instead of 18 intelligence points. I'm not sure what is more valuable... I actually like longer buff duration, and on lvl 20 I don't know what will be the difference for my main buffs and debuffs duration between 10 and 18 intelligence points (Borrowed Instinct, Psychovampiric Shield, Eye strike, Confunding Blind) (and to a lesser extant, the watcher abilities). On the other hand I'll be able to cast again Borrowed Instinct and Eye strike when needed, and Mirror Image and Llengrath's Displaced Image alwready last long enough. Ryngrim's Repulsive Visage and Gaze of the Adragan are fun to play around with, Arkemyr's Dazzling Lights for preception affiction resistant ennemies, don't know how 18 intelligence affects them... I did not consider Psychovampiric Shield at first because I would have the watcher ability that alwready grants the resolve inspiration, but it's peer rest... So I need to squeeze Psychovampiric Shield and adept evasion in my build now, I don't know how By the way there is the Champion's Cape that also gives 10% chance to riposte against missed attacks, I wonder if it stacks with the rogue riposte (but not sure if it's worth it for only 10% and only against miss, it's also very late game gear).

Thanks for your feedback. I know the watcher ability is peer rest. But that is why I picked the intelligence one, I won't have to rely on it during all fight, but I know it's there in case I need it, with the empower too, so that I don't have to worry about the ressource management and I can have fun during longer fights. I know this build is probably not super attractive because not very sophisticated. I'm barely picking any cipher spells, but from my experiment on previous run with a similar character, I picked many cipher spells, and I ended not using them much, except borrowed instinct and soul annhilation. The charm ones are strong, but in end game, I'd rather keep the ennemies engaged with my tank and kill them.

OK thanks

Hello, I have a simple build: Trickster/Soulblade (playing with CP and BPM) I wanted a rogue archetype that would be built around very high defense and easy counter attacks. So trickster for the defense buff and some debuff, and the Soulblade for cipher buff and soul annhilation for more damage. Death Godlike (RP) Deadfire and slave origin (RP) Berath Blessing Two sabres, two stilettos, two blunt weapon (probably Magistrate's Cudge and Sungrazer for stun on crit). Max out perception and dexterity, rest in intelligence for longer spell duration. Active rogue abilities : Escape Confounding Blind Devastating Blow Passive rogue abilities : Arms Bearer (I like to have a set of weapon with each kind of damage) Dirty Fighting Two Weapon Style Riposte Persistent Distraction Deep Wounds Uncanny Luck Improved Critical Deathblows Active cipher abilities : Eyestrike Borrowed Instinct (not much here, main goal is to get the huge precision and defense buff, keep the ennemies blinded, and use soul annhilation for the rest of the focus) Passive cipher abilities : Iron will Bull will Lingering Echoes Biting Whip Hammering Thoughts Psychic Backlash Farcasting Keen Mind Rapid Casting The Empty Soul Echoing Horror Watcher abilities: No pity for the Lost (for steadfast inspiration) Death's Herald: tier 3 intelligence inspiration ? (for brilliance) I wish I could afford Adept Evasion to follow the "untouchable rogue" idea It's not as great as it was in PoE 1 but it's still nice. But I don't know what to sacrifice for that. This is a very heavy ressource dependant build. With all the trickster and costy rogue abilities. At best I'll have 9 + 5 (empower) = 14 I'll start the combat with 3 guiles for Mirrored Image, remaining rogue abilities cost 2, and if I want to have fun with the other trickster abilities, I'll be a bit limited. That is why I picked the Watcher abiliy for brilliance inspiration. Do you think it will be ok without it and I should pick the perception or might one ? Thanks

Yes true priests were very powerfull. I would actually be interested to people opinion about best priest spells in PoE 2, I'll be having a priest in my team, and I need to choose the proper spells. But back on the topic, can you remind me how the brilliant inspiration works in the bpm please ? I know how it does with casters, but what about the melee classes ? Is it still 1 ressource point every 6 secondes like in vanilla ? What about cipher ? It is 10 focus every 6 secondes as well ?

So it's balanced for very long fights, to remain faithfull to the original balance of the game, ok thanks. I might tweak it on my side if I find my priest underperforming. Well priests aren't as top tier as they were in PoE 1.