Lampros

Hmm, okay. Perhaps I ought to do my own then

Yes, that is what I am thinking was happening, too. So you'd need 2 characters who can spam knock-up effects. In one of the turns, the mega-boss does get up and performs some sort of an AoE melee attack. So I assume that's because one of the "kickers" missed - meaning this is not a bullet-proof tactic either. I am glad I wasn't the only person to have issues with the audio. My speakers are sort of broken, so I thought it was just an issue on my end! Edit: By the way, how long do you imagine this tactic would take on turn-based to kill that thing? The Youtuber didn't post the whole thing.

Is it normal to not start with Eder with your PoE 1 save? Or is my game bugged?

Can Salvation of Time substitute for Wall of Draining? If not, is it worth replacing a Druid for a Wizard for the Wall of Draining? Edit: Never mind - the buff extension effect only works on the caster?

What about single target damage weapons such as Saint Omaku's war bow? Do you guys recommend AoE weapons like Watershaper's Focus or Frost Seeker because they do more overall damage regardless of class - or because they help to generate Focus better as a Cipher? I do think I have enough ranged DPS if I have a Fury/Troubadour and Fighter/Monk (spamming Clear Out and Torment's Reach).

Unreal that this hasn't been addressed.

Okay, I will do so as well. Damn, I wish there were more levels!

Wait, so if you have multiple Mule Kickers, then the AI would theoretically never do anything since he'd be trying to complete the prior turn's action? Is that what happened here? The audio is really difficult on my end, so I could not completely make him out: Edit: I was curious that this video had 5 downvotes and 0 upvotes. So I am wondering if those who saw the video didn't think this was the right approach?

Yes, I have a tendency to over-research and over-theorycraft before I start playing any game! But the alternative is to start over gazillion times though, since I hate playing un-optimally. It's funny that you mention Gimli, because he was indeed one of my front-liners in PoE 1; but the difference is that I ran two DPS front-liners for that group, Aragorn and Gimli. But here Boromir was more appropriate as a sidekick to Aragorn, since this spot is for a shield tank. I agree that a Druid/Chanter brings more than a Fighter/Chanter, since I have a sturdy group and may not need a mid-line clean-up guy. But I am so used to having a melee-centric parties in general and a mid-line linebacker in RPGs in particular; and old habits die hard! But I will consider the switch. Since I have a lot of healing with this group anyways though, perhaps a Fury/Trobadour is better than an Ancient/Trobadour? Finally, if I do make the switch as you suggested, then what would be Arwen's melee weapon set-up as a Priest/Paladin? I don't want her on the front-line, since three front-liners will congest things. But she doesn't really have the tools to be an effective mid-line reach weapon user the way a Fighter or a Monk would have with their AoEs. Or does her weapon set-up not matter, since she'd be casting most of the time? Keep in mind I've not played a Priest in PoE 2 either. Yup; I included a Cipher - which I've never played - precisely because people said you need one for mega-bosses. As for not dumping Dexterity too much, what is the magic number I need to stay ahead of mega-bosses? I was planning on keeping it around 10 for melees, and around 14 for casters. Is this still insufficient? Yes, I was mindful of the slog issue in turn-based. To compensate, I did employ a lot of melee AoEs though - in particular, the Devoted/Monk and the Devoted/Chanter will be spamming Clear Out a lot. Not enough? What if I take up dgray62's suggestion that I substitute Fighter/Chanter for Druid/Chanter?

Hi, I have, after endless theory-crafting, come close to finalizing my roster for a turn-based PoTD game. It will be loosely themed after the Fellowship of the Ring. In fact, some of you guys remember that I had a PoE 1 roster that I put together with all your help on the same theme. Hence, this group will be named the "Fellowship of the Ring II." Now my main question regarding this line-up is whether I can handle mega-bosses - and if not, what modifications I can make to make that possible. I have not played in over two years, so I have no idea how the game has changed, especially in regard to the new turn-based mode. Further, I am also trying two classes I've never tried before in PoE II: Cipher and Priest. I am specifically trying both classes, because I have read a number of people suggesting that both classes are needed for mega-bosses. So this is the rough sketch: 1. Aragorn - front-line melee DPS/off-tank (main character): A Devoted/Monk build inspired by AndreaColombo's Lady of Pain - modified by some of Boerer's suggestions. I always play melee DPS as main character in RPGs, and this is no exception. I struggled the longest time between a Devoted/Monk build and a Devoted/Rogue build based on Haplok's Armorbreaker; and in the end I felt a Monk sub-class gave you a bit more versatility than a Rogue sub-class via AoE damage and hard CC. 2. Boromir - front-line tank: An Unbroken or Devoted/Trickster build who will be a riposte tank. Pretty straightforward. He should be able to get around 200 Deflection without any external buffs by stacking all kinds of Deflection items. 3. Gandalf - mid-line melee or "linebacker": A reach weapon Fighter/Chanter build who will provide passive buffs and clean-up anything that escapes my two front-liners. [Edit: Gandalf will be Priest/Paladin; he will still be a mid-line melee and use reach weapons.] 4. Arwen - mid-line buffer/healer: A Priest/Paladin who will start the fight by buffing the group and then use whatever spells and invocations as needed. I am not sure what weapon I will use with her. In fact, I am not even sure whether she uses a melee or ranged weapon. Suggestions? [Edit 2: Arwen will be a Druid/Chanter; per suggestions below that this group needed more caster DPS.) 5. Legolas - back-line ranged DPS: A Ghost Heart/Cipher build suggested by Kaylon here: This will be mainly a ranged DPS, and I will primarily use the Cipher aspect to utilize Ancestor's Memory when the occasion permits. Unlike Kaylon's suggestion, however, I'd prefer to use Saint Omaku's war bow, rather than Frostseeker. How does this group look overall in turn-based PotD context - especially when it comes to handling mega-bosses? In particular, I am worried that I might be too melee-heavy, given that Aragorn, Boromir, and Gandalf are all melees; and Arwen will be a quasi-melee or in melee range. Further, I am also unsure of what exactly is the Arwen character doing, as hinted. I have a Priest, because I have been told it may be needed for mega-bosses; and I've splashed on Paladin, because I am missing one in this group. How should she be further built as a Priest/Paladin - or should I go with a different multi-class? Any kind of advice would be appreciated, as usual.

Whoah, so it's much better than I thought! Is it worth even getting the upgraded version then - if the original ability heals so much?

Perfect for my purposes!

I mostly want him as a ranged DPS except when Ancestor's Memory is available and needed. What other Cipher spells/skills are worth taking though?

Damn, I didn't realize Refreshing Defense gets dispelled, too. Thanks for the bit about Fortitude; I will increase that, too. Damn, it almost seems as the ideal tank requires the MC with Berath's Blessings, but I don't want to play a tank as the MC Hmm, so I may have to give up my Casità Samelia's Legacy?

Still almost 170 I should really stop theory-crafting all day and start playing - especially given that I've resolved my biggest party choice dilemma of whether to go with 2 front-line DPS and no tank or use the conventional 1 front-line DPS and 1 tank set-up.

If I use the Gladiator Sword then I will get an extra Penetration; and swords do dual damage type. But I didn't realize that +1 armor matters that much! Also - and this question goes to Boerer, too - how much does armor matter when my main tank will have so much Deflection? I would be pushing close to 200 with Mirror Image, I'd imagine as a Fighter/Trickster.

Is pure Chanter worth using just for the Dragon summon though? I am now in a bit of quandary; I do want to do the mega-bosses and easily. But going the full Chanter route will make the rest of the journey not as easy

You've definitely persuaded me to incorporate summons on my Chanters! (I never did after being disappointed with the low level skeleton summons...)

What about Gladiator Sword? It gives +5 Deflection when used with a shield. Or is this sword not good enough in terms of other bonuses to qualify as end-game weapon?

So no one knows?

By "on-demand," I meant any time you need/want it. For instance, the Chanter needs enough Phrases stored to cast Invocations; the Fighter can Charge, Into the Fray, etc. as long as he has enough Discipline. But I guess the Fighter's CCs are also not "on-demand" in longer fights. Overall, I guess our differences regarding who is the better "tank" has to do with semantics. First, as I said, tanking does not merely involve survivability, but the capacity to obtain and maintain "aggro." You've partly addressed this. Second, I am also assuming that in full party, you will have a Chanter and other supporting tools, so they are not strictly part of the "tanking" package.

I plan on going fairly high Accuracy; so I guess I will keep Swift Flurry per your build!

What gears are there that make you immune to Engagement?!

Isn't Devoted also a legitimate option for a Riposte/Disengagement attack tank? In comparison to Unbroken, Devoted will always get +1 Penetration; and I find the effect of one extra armor and one Engagement slot negligible. Meanwhile, the Unbroken sub-class has a worse malus than the Devoted.

Is there ever a case for taking Lightning Strikes over Swift Flurry for a 2H Devoted/Monk - or is Swift Flurry always strictly superior?