frugivore

I've started a game now on PotD and decided to use adventurers, but also recruit the companions and swap them in to hear their backstories and do their quests. I've also "lent" their equipment to the adventurers. This helps offset their lower levels. I was able to gain enough experience to bring the party to level 3, which seems to be a good level to do the Eothasian temple. I ended up swapping a paladin for an aumaua chanter who brings a lot to the table with the phrases and invocations and I've made him my off-tank. The phantom summons is very useful really on and I just span it whenever available. My main is a human warrior with DEX/PER/INT/RES at 16 so that can access most dialog choices. Built mainly for defense but does decent damage I have a dwarf cipher who has great CC. An elven priest for healing/buffing. She has 18 points in DEX, MIG and INT, 8 points in the others. As most of her spells are on the party, I'm assuming her low perception won't be a problem. Thoughts? My orlan wizard does both CC and damage. I'm picking mostly defensive skills and talents for her. Lastly, my nature godlike druid is frail but has some great spells. In particular, I like the one that AOE charms beasts. Great for handling a big group.

Boeroer - thank you for the feedback! I tried a few runs just to see how it worked out and I do feel very underpowered with hired adventurers in the beginning. I think the benefits of the companions are too great to skip them. I suppose the question now is what to choose for my main character and which companions to have in my active party. I've read that Durance is the least optimally built for his class (low DEX). And so it might make sense to have a priest as main character so Durance can sit out.

Hey folks! I would like to play this game on PotD difficulty. I have been reading guides and believe that I have a good understanding of the combat system now. I have some questions/thoughts I wanted to run by you. Strategy I've read that it's best to avoid tough fights until my characters have reached a high enough level. Unfortunately, I don't know what that is. I suppose I just try to complete all non-combat based quests and only then go back and attempt the big fights. Agreed? Tactics I've read that combat should go something like this: Send in the tank to draw aggro and have him at a choke point. If there is no choke point, use the off tank to help build a wall. Buff your group with accuracy, then other (e.g. DR) CC the enemy, targeting their weak defence. Debuff the enemy, targeting their weak defence. Focus fire each enemy, one at a time, targeting their weak defence. Rinse and repeat Question: when should you typically use consumables and scrolls? Only in really tough fights? Companions vs Adventurers The companions start at a few thousand XP, about a level and a half, above hired adventurers. They also start with some decent equipment. This seems to be a significant benefit early on. And do companions not have their own quests which adds to XP, thus we level faster? But with custom adventurers, I can min/max their stats so they would eventually outshine the companions later in the game, I'm assuming. But is it worth it compared to what the companions bring to the table? Party Composition and Builds The consensus seems to be that there should be one main tank, one off tank, a buffer, a du-buffer and some DPS. With this in mind, here is my plan for my party: Warrior: Tank / Melee DPS. 1H+shield for tanking, 2H for DPS. Heavy armor. High PER and RES, medium MIG and CON, low DEX and INT. Paladin: Melee DPS / Off-tank / Buffer. 1H+shield for tanking, DW for DPS. Heavy armor. High MIG, PER, average the rest. Priest: Buffer / Healer / CC. Ranged weapon and switch to 1H+shield when engaged in melee. Light armor. High MIG, DEX and INT, low CON, PER and RES. Wizard: CC / Ranged AoE DPS. Ranged weapon and switch to 1H+shield when engaged in melee. Light armor. High MIG, PER and INT, low CON, DEX and RES. Cipher: CC / De-buffer / Ranged DPS. Ranged weapon and switch to 1H+shield when engaged in melee. Light armor. High MIG, PER and INT, low CON, DEX and RES. Druid: Ranged AoE DPS / De-buffer. Ranged weapon and switch to 1H+shield when engaged in melee. Medium armor. High MIG, PER and INT, low CON, DEX and RES. Thoughts on this party and their build?