BlackHat

If you want to play with the official companions rather than hirelings, but aren't satisfied by thier stat arrays, you could always try out the IE mod. A) it allows you to level up new Companions from level 1 (so you can optimize their builds) and b) it has a CustomStat xml file and an option in the game menu that allows you to use that Custom stat array file. You can even change that file with wordpad, though beware that you do not fall to the darkside and abuse it for an Eder with all 20's. That goes for the rest of the mod's functionality too (like all the rule changes it allows for) but hey, whatever floats your boat. Also, obey boeroer and bathium, what advice I've found on this topic of theirs really helped me a lot on my first POTD play. I still ate dirt a lot, but it was really fun, and I learned a lot about mechanics I barely noticed on normal/hard. AOEs and fire priests for the win. A mage has uses here as well, at least early in the game - fast weapon 1 handed for spell accuracy (make sure you set the ai so he/she doesn't go running into melee). I found that expose vulnerability was actually at least as/more useful than a fireball. Or do like I did - expose vulnerability +chill fog/blindness +fireball. Blindness for the win (massive debuffs), and those cold ticks do a lot more damage with -5dr. Arduous delay in tougher fights too, because enemies don't have immunities to it. P.S. I really wish rogues had some kind of Fast Stealth talent or ability (to speed up their basic sneaking). That alone might make them somewhat more viable, and while I've been a rogue advocate before, that's changed since POTD. There are plainly better choices for party members, whether you're considering the Devil of Croak or a hireling rogue. /Agree druid shapeshifter - though I also like the wolf druid build or stag for carnage, i think in hindsight the War Pig is teh bestest build for POTD. Veteran's recovery is barely noticable, but on a regenerating War Pig it's pretty substantial.

Isn't that what dual wielding has always been about for RPers? Back when D&D barely allowed for DW mechanics, they first introduced rangers and the entirely unique Drizzt and shortly after kits like the kensai etc, suddenly there was a massive influx of people who wanted dual wield Katanas and such, A) because they wanted to be exceptional (like Musashi, even if they'd never heard his name specifically) and B) because it was new. Whether they wanted to game the system for as much damage as possible (and therefore wow their buddies around the table with their crazy deeps) or they just wanted to stand out after an era of very basic class tropes - it was all about 'originality' as much as efficacy. The irony is that now everyone dual wields with their DPS class of choice, and it's now unique to pick a one handed rogue/whatever, though entirely unoptimal. I mean, let's face it, most people, if given a choice, would rather look like an impossibly graceful war machine of doom, than a plain ol' dude with a sword and board, or a a pokey little rapier guy ( and the mechanics of most games support that) despite the real world examples of the values of having a shield (Roman legionaires? Or picture that Achilles fight in Troy if you want something more fantastic, because that duel with hector was pretty much the one good scene in that flick anyway). Or the values of 1 hand free - balance, the ability to grab things, or to grab people and stick em while they can't dodge, or in a fantasy setting, to be able to throw/use objects with your free hand. It'd be nice if that could be reflected in gameplay mechanics, like a 1 hander speed bonus to drinking potions/using items from inventory. In a way, that *is* the case in POE in that you kinda get an accuracy bonus to casting and the like - presumably because you have a hand free to waggle your fingers in a mage-like manner(or hold your grimoire to focus your spells or something?). Eeeehhhh, tangent. This probably belongs in that 1h rogue thread, but i imagine the OPs in either thread have already got the advice they wanted and are ignoring these rants, heh.

OP i sympathize with your rant; i hate the whole "but its fantasy" argument too. But classes are about balancing gampelay whereas IRL the fighter/ranger/rogue special ops guy wins all the fights every time, because he's sneaky and he can fight (also, technology, but that's beside the point.) IRL there are no classes, and you may question why *everyone* doesn't get sneak attack. I mean, if you punch someone in the face when they aren't prepared/looking, that's a sneak attack, and anyone with hands can do it, right? It takes a little bit more creative interpretation to imagine why only Rogues get it; perhaps they've studied human anatomy, etc, so they know that just hitting a leg with your knife isn't as bad as stabbing the inner thigh to get at that artery. However it's explained, I happen to agree that the dude with platemail and a two handed sword should be good for more than just standing around getting beat on. MMO's have created this sorta rock-paper-scissors microcosm, where everybody shines at what they do equally given the right circumstances, but even if you leveled the playing field by stripping away all the "fantasy stuff" there would still be roles in a group of all mundane adventurers - I somehow find it hard to chew that your rogue (or moreover your naked monk) will out-dps the huge guy with a 6' sword, but even a guy with platemail can get a knife in the eye when caught unawares. It'd be nice if the whole "grappling a guy from behind and knifing him like a commando" took more of a front an center role in Rogue classes, rather than the "run up in the armored guy's face and stab him 50 times in the breastplate with your dual wield knives" shtick that seems to be more and more common. Anyway, the rant is strong with this one <---- so ill make it shorter: you don't have to play by those class tropes in POE. You can build a really buff armored juggernaut of death. Just take Charge, and disciplined barrage (two best fighter abilities, aside from constant recovery) and don't forget armored grace. Later, durgan reinforced armor, and reinforced weapon, will level the playing field. I like apprentice sneak attack with fighter builds, as well as the whole mastery/specialization thing. Soldier weapons are the good juice, and gauntlets of swift strikes. Everyone always mentions Shod-in-faith boots but I happen to like boots of speed for any class, if you're not planning on staying in one place to beat on people (and be beat on/interrupt locked). Sanguine Plate (agreed Boeroer) and that +healing recieved belt, with tidefall, or take any belt that adds con or might, and Hrs of St. Rumbault (boost it to at least superb if possible). Itll still do plenty of damage, even without glowy bits from lash or slaying enchants. Also, you could take a paladin, (Kind wayfarers). Ryona's Breastplate and teh strange mercy talent will not only make you very durable, but will aoe heal nearby allies. Its a little less Medieval-Grit and more fantastic, especially with the green armor thing, but at least it's not covered in odd feathers or wierd tassles. Paladin will have a lot less flexibility and mobility to dish out damage compared to Fighter Charges, but zealous charge or zealous focus will make up for that to some degree. It really ust depends on you point of view: do you want this character himself to deal copious damage? (pick fighter) or do you want a bedrock for the whole team who can do "just ok" damage (pick paladin) - and if you can stomach burny weapons, build into burning lashes and scion of flames as you can do some decent damage with flames of devotion/intense flames. Sacred immolation meshes well with this fire/aoe heal thing you have going. and if you're a fire godlike and take a ring of searing flams and some retaliation gea- aw S*** im off on a tangent again. Nevermind.

Hey OP! if you do go with a single weapon build you'll probably suffer. its accuracy bonus might seem handy, and you may think that you'll do fine with hit-and-run tactics (in which you don't benefit from dual wielding as much anyway) but usually those tactics also mean you're out of the fighting - and not doing damage - while your party launches a bunch of debuffs and conditions on your enemies... in which case, the accuracy/onehand bonuses are kind of moot. 100% chance to crit + 15% chance to crit is still 100%. If single weapon is a must for "reasons" than there are a lot of on crit one handers. Nightshroud comes to mind, as does We Toki. Chadhlegphhhhht! or whatever that dang spear is called that you can build in early act 2 can be given stun on crit, and vicious (+20% damage to prone/stun enemies). Also, it has the natural +5accuracy. Because, you know, spears. If onehanded is not a sticking point, then consider a two handed weapon, if you're looking for burst damage. Might seem counterintuitive for a rogue as losing out on those dualwield fullattacks with say riposte or other abilities sucks, but against high dr enemies, twohanders reign - nothing chunks dragons like a greatsword or estoc backstab, if you can do the invisibility thing. If you use a reach weapon, you can also avoid messy disengagements. It does require a bit of micromanagement though, to poke at the periphery of the combat, and you waste a lot of great disengagement talents, but you do save a tiny amount of time running instead of waiting for abilities to activate. I was considering a Rogue with tidefall and aedrin's wrecker, soldier focus. Throw on boots of speed, and deleterious alacrity of motion potions, and enchant some simple clothes (i like the raggedy madman look) and you'll surprise yourself with how much single target damage you can do. Don't worry about boosting accuracy to the max, the rogue gets more damage and accuracy out of debuffed enemies than in buffing themselves. So, whether 1h or 2h, just beware solo-runs with this slow attack rogue you're considering. All the best debuffs come from other classes. If you absolutely must solo, because, youknow, becuz... rotfinger gloves can do some decent debuffs for you, and you can get them very early. Rope Belt's good too(stuck condition helps you both offensively and defensively.) Oh, and that purple head-wreath too, because nothing says you're dangerous like pink flowers in your hair. Not sure why it's AOE sickening, maybe its that shade of lavender that clashes with all the otherwise sensible clothing/armor colors you have.

just got back into POE since i hear POE2 was coming out, jst wanted to say Boeroer - i love your builds. Not the actual builds necessarily, just your way of presenting them lol. I may not even use 1 in 20 of them, but your posts make me want to. btw OP: have to agree with the INT/RES assessment, I wonder though if that fighter can't also get away with higher PER rather than con if you are going to boost int - with better buffs/recovery, you wont be getting one-shot or even really two shot, and the accuracy and interrupt might even help survivability by ever so lightly delaying the damage he takes. Also, higher will... your fortitude will be fine if you drop 5 pts in con for PER. Side note, talk about rare coincidence (or wierd providence?) I came on these boards to see if boeroer might have a build that might be similar to a build i was just about to try for a Pale Elf Druid (wolf shape) explorer. No joke, your stats/plan for yours is remarkably similar to mine (thus far, though i was wobbling on whether i wanted to brave a heavy spiritshift build for POTD) p.s. that ranger build is good. Just played one that started out very similar but then I got sidetracked by my own madness. Went with a bit more retaliation, like a ranger version of Boeroer's Golden Dragon. Pet + Adra Beetle(s) + Bashing + retaliate + ring of searing flames = pain everywhere. Screen gets a bit crowded when your party summons a a half dozen critters/tentacles, but one priest accuracy buff and suddenly its creeping burning death. Send in ranger/pet first, summon a wall of critters b/w the squishies and the enemy, cast combusting wounds. Rinse, repeat as the critters die off. Anyway, was wondering if that might appeal, given your AOE accuracy boosts/ deflection debuffs, but then again without a priest, the damage output might get dicey in some of the harder fights. Chanter buffing hordes of critters may make up for it.