jorill

I am looking to mix up builds and trying to understand how competitive 2handers are with DW. I started looking at doing a 2h Bezerker multi but DW just seems the better way to go (not even factoring in Modwyr). Is there are a class combo that is particularly effective/fun to use 2h with that wouldn't be just as effective/better switching to DW?

Thank you all for responding with so much information, I don't know how I never noticed the specific details on gamepedia - I guess in googling things I usually ended up on fextralife and didn't realize the difference. With the Monk stuff, I do have the community patch installed, but never thoughtfully considered what a ranged cipher/monk would look like now that turning wheel was working again. So many different weapon/class combinations to try out, I've been really trying to resist constantly restarting or unity console class changes. Is there a particular encounter or series of close together encounters that are really good for testing builds? I think what I really should do is just get myself somewhere where the mobs are decent spread of damage/resistances so I can get a good feel for how different weapons/builds play out. Where do you guys go to do your testing? Also, modding question here, if I wanted to change upscaling so that everything (all enemies) always scales up to my level (or within 3 levels or something) - does anyone know where specifically I need to edit? I have deadly deadfire installed which I know moves up enemies 9 levels behind - but I figure I might as well do everything as I would eventually like to 100% the game and I know I'll get bored if its just all faceroll.

I am currently playing as Ascendant/Streetfighter and trying to understand a few different ranged weapon options. I have hand mortar/kitchen stove on one set and then switch to another ranged weapon after heating up, but I am having difficulty understanding the real DPS differences between a few options. Blunderbusses don't feel as though they penetrate enough to ramp up focus and it feels faster switching to either Essence Interrupter, Red Hand, Frost Seeker, Spear Caster, or Water Shaper Focus. Red Hand is my usual goto when things aren't pierce resistant, but Essence Interrupter feels more fun so I've been messing with it - is there anyway to see how much the bonus %shock damage scales with Metaphysics? With Spear Caster the accuracy scaling you can see in the character sheet but I just have no idea what's going on with EI. So, (1) anyone know how EI scales with metaphysics? (2) Of the ranged dps weapons after blunderbuss/heating up, what has the best dps? POTD/Upscale/Deadly Deadfire (normal)/Party.

Thanks to everyone for responding. A few follow ups! 1. Just focusing on the weapon/crit side of this, if I'm trying to decide between Fighter and Monk, it looks the real decision point is between Discipline Strike/Clear Out vs Swift Flurry/HBD? 2. Sounds like Sun/Moon is the best weapon to use until Scordero's Edge, and at that point, it seems like I should dual wield? Before hand is it better to just go 1h with Sun/Moon? 3. @Boeror - What was the setup you were using with Black Jacket that helped in the crit generation? 4. Focusing beyond just weapon/crit side, would going Fighter (Tactician) be the best setup because of access to Brilliant (especially early/mid game)?

For whatever I got it into my head I wanted to do a build that spammed offensive chanter invocations (lighting, paralyze, etc early, frost later). This Les me to look at skalds, and I downloaded the true skald mod to make skalds a bit more usable but not op. Where I am stuck is deciding what multi-class and weapon setup would be the best way to ensure this character gets reliable crits in combat to feed the invocations without being too vulnerable (this will likely be 1 of 2 front liners, eder being the other). Im particularly torn on whether 1handed is worth it over dw, it reads like it should be better but 1h just feels so slow in comparison - even in only 20% armor. Bezerker/modwyr felt like a natural fit, but I tried playesting some and just couldn't keep the character alive on the front lines, am I building wrong? Is there a better combo? I'm on potd/upscale all/deadly deadfire. Only other mod is community patch.

Alright, so it really seems like helwalker adds alot to this then. Between the speed from swift flurry and the acc/damage from dance of death/helwalker passive. Which leaves me trying to figure out whether to focus more on crit/frostseeker and go sharpshooter, or devoted for the passives/+pen? Lastly, how worthwhile is considering adding cipher somewhere in this? I am assuming ascendent makes sense, auto attack with hunterbow modal then dump out spells once ascended. If I were to go this route, what other class makes the best pairing? Still helwalker?

I am also trying to figure out what would be an interesting/potd viable ranged dps build. My current thought is devoted/troubadour, planning on using frostseeker. My thought was to go devoted for the great passives, and since I will be mostly auto attacking, thought that passive auras (particular recovery speed on ranged) and occasional summons would work well. My concern was that not pairing with rogue, ranger, or cipher would hurt my damage too much to make this a good idea on PoTD? Also, I have seen that ranged DPS builds with Monk were really good prior to 1.1, does Monk really add enough to ranged DPS build now that swift flurry doesn't work the same way?

This is my first play-through for Deadfire and I am looking to make a melee dps/offtanky character that is has a reasonable amount of abilities to use but isn't super-micro intensive. With that in mind, helwalker/wayfarer seemed like an interesting combo since the helwalker should put out damage while the paladin/wayfarer abilities would cover the helwalker's extra damage-taken and let me stand up in the front lines. At that point however, my lack of knowledge about the deeper mechanics of the game has really paralyzed me in figuring out how to build. From reading this forums it definitely seems like dual wielding (probably sabres?) is where I want to go, but I can't figure out what race would be best, and I really can't figure out what stats to focus on. This is loop I get caught on: seems like people are saying that Dex > Might as a general concept...but then since monk's have fast attack speed it would be a waste and might would be better....but then helwalkers get so much might from wounds that its better to focus on Dex....but then wayfarers flames heals scales from might... and back around. Same deal with perception, since flames of devotion has a big accuracy buff people seem to say not to focus on Per, but with faster attack speed from monk abilities I would think Per is fairly important outside of flames of devotion. TLDR; given the character I'm trying to make, can someone help me out on what race/stats to focus on? Or alternatively, if there is a better combo for this kind of character (barbarian/paladin) or (shattered pillar/wayfarer) etc, please let me know. Thanks everyone.