Lampros

Doesn't have to be a glass cannon. I would suggest using an old save, hiring adventurer ciphers, and testing them out to see what works best for you. That, or use Unity Console to convert a companion and test. A case could be made for literally any variation of cipher because they are a pretty flexible class. I just deleted all old saves, because I fear extra saves cause lags. (It did at one point in PoE 1, and I am a creature of habit.) But I should really live at least 1 saves each at around level 5, 10, 15, and 20 to be able to test how different builds play at different junctures of the game

What do you most prefer to pair with Ranger in terms of multi-class as a blunderbuss CC/ranged build?

Would Chanter be all that optimal as a ranged DPS? Also, as a ranged character, a lot of your buffs won't reach the front-line allies, and a lot of your debuffs/nukes won't reach front-line enemies either. Well the idea was to have this chanter in the backline with the other 2 dps, purely for damage chants. Then he can take the energized selfbuff invocation, teambuff invocation and the paralyzed one (has big range). But - open to suggestions. I used Chanter/Paladin as a mid-line support using dual pistols. It worked very well in terms of supporting, because this guy could reach both the front-line and back-line - unless the melee support characters I'd been running before (who ended up only reaching the front-line). But the problem is that the DPS was miserable, because of so many pierce immunes. But I guess I shouldn't expect much DPS from a support? Well, im thinking of mc'ing with devoted + hunting bow. Then use hunting bow modal for attackspeed + pen from devoted + pen from selfbuff invoc. DPS will be fine and he will also boost the other DPS's DPS. That leaves 2 dps slots. Currently considering: ravager/witch/shadowdancer. Perhaps one with Red Hand and the other with scordeo+thundercrack. How much range is the long pain on monks? Is it like blunderbuss range? Curious if i could let a ranged monk use scordeos edge.. I never used the Long Pain; so no idea. I only tested a level 19 melee Paladin/Monk and level 9 ranged Monk/Rogue (blunderbuss); and neither build had Long Pain. Should I have used it in either build?

Yes, my Goldpact/Devoted basically needs 0 consumables. This build also does enough damage that it shouldn’t need more than the drugs for wound generation, healing pots and food. Avenging storm is just fun, try the helm out. Is Avenging Storm on the helm per rest or per encounter? Speaking of Riposte: Do you think it is useful on a DPS melee if there is a full-fledged Swashbuckler Riposte tank? I was seeing the Swashbuckler grab 5-6 enemies per fight at the start, and the DPS melee would only have 1 typically on him. In those circumstances, is Riposte still worth it? Not worth it if you have someone else tanking Got it. I suspected this. Will go without it next run then.

Would Chanter be all that optimal as a ranged DPS? Also, as a ranged character, a lot of your buffs won't reach the front-line allies, and a lot of your debuffs/nukes won't reach front-line enemies either. Well the idea was to have this chanter in the backline with the other 2 dps, purely for damage chants. Then he can take the energized selfbuff invocation, teambuff invocation and the paralyzed one (has big range). But - open to suggestions. I used Chanter/Paladin as a mid-line support using dual pistols. It worked very well in terms of supporting, because this guy could reach both the front-line and back-line - unless the melee support characters I'd been running before (who ended up only reaching the front-line). But the problem is that the DPS was miserable, because of so many pierce immunes. But I guess I shouldn't expect much DPS from a support?

I don't think Zealous Auras stay on Charmed/Dominated enemies in Deadfire. Melee/Ranged would depend on your own preferences, subclass/multiclass build, party composition, and gear you plan on using. Most people seem to edge towards ranged with weapons like Kitchen Stove (Thunderous Rapport) or Amira's Wing (Wilting Wind) so they can reach max focus with Ascendant. You sure? I recall it did at one point in PoE 1. But my game may have been bugged then, as it was heavily modded (I am not using any mods for PoE 2 though). On Kitchen Stove: Does it Thunderous Report do friendly fire damage? I put almost everything on script, so this is hugely important for me And finally, is Ascendant best for ranged/CC build? It's definitely a very good idea. Personally I like a Helwalker/Ascendant Transcendant (huge boosts to aoe sizes, buff/cc/debuff/effect durations, speed boost, greatly increased damage - for both attacks and spells) . Although as been mentioned, a pure Ascendant is fine as well and reaches the best powers much sooner. One great spell that's often missed is Mental Binding. Perhaps the duration is a bit short on a typical character, but at least on a Transcendant its great! Paralyze is great hard CC. And it also has a pretty large immobilize aoe. I had real trouble keeping a Helwalker/Trickster alive as a blunderbuss build; and I worry I might have the same issue if I go blunderbuss helwalker/Cipher. What "oh ****" survival tools do I have as a Monk or a Cipher? Fix the script for your healer I don't run a Priest or a Druid! Do I now have to do use a blunderbuss glass cannon?

Does Blade Turning only redirect attacks to enemies or friends as well? Yes, Secret Horrors is lovely. It was the one selling point of the class when I tested it briefly at level 9 (so I didn't have access to more advanced stuff).

Sniped ya dude. I don’t do no rest runs. I enjoy the freedom of being able to rest whenever. I run full company and eat Penetration food every rest. So resting too often can get a bit expensive (and tedious, since I have to sit in front of the vendor and rest like 20-plus times to get the ingredients).

I really hate once per rest stuff, because it ends up never being used at all.

Fairly useless for me at least then.

Yes, my Goldpact/Devoted basically needs 0 consumables. This build also does enough damage that it shouldn’t need more than the drugs for wound generation, healing pots and food. Avenging storm is just fun, try the helm out. Is Avenging Storm on the helm per rest or per encounter? Speaking of Riposte: Do you think it is useful on a DPS melee if there is a full-fledged Swashbuckler Riposte tank? I was seeing the Swashbuckler grab 5-6 enemies per fight at the start, and the DPS melee would only have 1 typically on him. In those circumstances, is Riposte still worth it?

How is the DPS with Paladin/Monk character? As ranged, don't you need either Rogue or Ranger to do meaningful DPS? Also, I am not a fan of pistols after trying it out. Too many pierce-resists or immunes. It seems clearly the worst damage type.

By the time this is available I feel I should take better ones like ringleader Yeah, Ringleader affects too many, and I am still very wary of enemies keeping my buffs upon reversion to the bad side.

I don't think Zealous Auras stay on Charmed/Dominated enemies in Deadfire. Melee/Ranged would depend on your own preferences, subclass/multiclass build, party composition, and gear you plan on using. Most people seem to edge towards ranged with weapons like Kitchen Stove (Thunderous Rapport) or Amira's Wing (Wilting Wind) so they can reach max focus with Ascendant. You sure? I recall it did at one point in PoE 1. But my game may have been bugged then, as it was heavily modded (I am not using any mods for PoE 2 though). On Kitchen Stove: Does it Thunderous Report do friendly fire damage? I put almost everything on script, so this is hugely important for me And finally, is Ascendant best for ranged/CC build? It's definitely a very good idea. Personally I like a Helwalker/Ascendant Transcendant (huge boosts to aoe sizes, buff/cc/debuff/effect durations, speed boost, greatly increased damage - for both attacks and spells) . Although as been mentioned, a pure Ascendant is fine as well and reaches the best powers much sooner. One great spell that's often missed is Mental Binding. Perhaps the duration is a bit short on a typical character, but at least on a Transcendant its great! Paralyze is great hard CC. And it also has a pretty large immobilize aoe. I had real trouble keeping a Helwalker/Trickster alive as a blunderbuss build; and I worry I might have the same issue if I go blunderbuss helwalker/Cipher. What "oh ****" survival tools do I have as a Monk or a Cipher?

Are there any characters that can solo the content with no consumables except maybe food and pots?

Would Chanter be all that optimal as a ranged DPS? Also, as a ranged character, a lot of your buffs won't reach the front-line allies, and a lot of your debuffs/nukes won't reach front-line enemies either.

Just so you know, you don't have to micromanage charmed/dominated enemies. They go and do their own thing. I'd highly suggest that you give Whispers of Treason/Puppet Master/Ringleader a try, you'll probably find that it's one of the best types of CC in the game. As for other abilities, all of what everyone else mentioned is good, but I'd also give honorable mentions to Antipathetic Field and Ectophsychic Echo for when you have someone flanking an enemy. I know; what I am wary of is having them retain my buffs when they revert to being bad. I lost a fight this way in PoE 1 once, and I vowed to never use them again. It was a fight that I always won easily, but the mind control soulbound rod proc-ed in succession, and basically the entire other side came over to me, got all of my triple Paladin buffs (LOL!) and other stuff, changed sides and they couldn't be killed any more. It was ugly. I'd use Cipher as a multi-class mid-ranger; would melee be better?

The problem with CIpher CC is that - unlike Monk stuns or Rogue cripples or blinds - it is not accompanied by damage. But I guess you can't have everything

Sure but Terrify prevents everything meanwhile Frightened is basically a Silence effect that also affects Martial. It seems the closest thing from actual Silence in the game, and not too difficult to proc for reasonable duration (Ben Fidel shout or Secret Horrors). I just tested Secret Horrors with a recruit at level 10, and it's a pretty big AoE. This seems very nice - at least at level 10 I am not sure how it holds up later.

I am seeing this issue as well after I recruited a Bleak Walker as a test. Watch is Kind Wayfarer and 15; Shieldbearer is around 12; and the Bleak Walker I just recruited is 10. So your Disposition choices now affect companions as well? If so, then I guess I have to scrap ever playing a Kind Wayfarer together with Bleak Walker! Yeah, I researched this a while ago (I probably should consolidate all this stuff somewhere so it doesn't disappear on the Nth page of forums). Thanks. It puts a damper on things. Oh well; Paladins still get +10 to every defense; it's just that they won't get the full +5 with Deep Faith if alignments diverge from the main character. So Deep Faith is a waste unless alignment, well, align. Really useful to know at this stage, though!

I have decided to give Cipher a go, because I am really feeling the lack of CC or AoE in some fights. So what are the main CC or AoE damage spells I should get? I do not want any mind control-type of spells, as I script everything, and I do not want enemies getting my buffs upon reversion.

I am seeing this issue as well after I recruited a Bleak Walker as a test. Watch is Kind Wayfarer and 15; Shieldbearer is around 12; and the Bleak Walker I just recruited is 10. So your Disposition choices now affect companions as well? If so, then I guess I have to scrap ever playing a Kind Wayfarer together with Bleak Walker!

How is Blightheart in people's opinion? Is it ever good enough to use over the Red Hand in any builds?

So from what you guys are saying, there is no direct "silence" spell or attack that works reliably. Instead, I have to get it as an indirect effect through a more comprehensive shutdown attacks such as stun, paralyze, frighten, etc. frighten isn't a "complete shutdown" effect like terrify. it literally just prevents enemies from using "offensive" abilities/spells (in addition to reducing resolve by 5 and reducing power level by 3). highly effective against things like wizards and ciphers (and even like sirens or wraiths) but much less effective against priests and druids for example. n.b. i feel like i've seen that if you cast frighten while an enemy has an offensive ability queued up, they still end up using it, though they won't do anything after that. maybe someone can verify if frighten works 100% correctly. Got it; thanks! I thought Frighten made you run away, but I haven't used it outside of the Vithrack mask, and I don't think I paid all that much attention when that proc-ed.

Yes, this was what I was thinking about; but I thought it was Glacierbane - as they both have similar on-crit effects. But less reliable and short though. So from what you guys are saying, there is no direct "silence" spell or attack that works reliably. Instead, I have to get it as an indirect effect through a more comprehensive shutdown attacks such as stun, paralyze, frighten, etc.