Faraleth

in the end, I chosen Helwalker...but didnt liked it so around 10-11 I re-created with Ghost Heart instead and going with Frostseeker/Red Hand (not sure yet which one is faster for ascending, seems quite egal). like this version better, I'll keep Helwalker for a melee

if its your first (or 2nd, or even like 3rd) playthrough, I would vote for normal companions only, maybe max 1 sidekick, but for sure not custom group. later, when you are bored with them, you can re-create a more powerful custom group, but they are such a nice addition to a lot of quests and the story, I would not skip them yet. for this group I would use Aloth as more likely CC-debuffer, and less as ranged dps, and use Maia for last spot as Scout for bigD ranged dmg or maybe Tekehu if you prefer spell dmg instead of guns

DWARF

yeah, tried Hiravias, but the difference between priest and druid is too much. with Kana and Pallegina, Durance is not even healing at all, but those buffs...meh, I had to change them back and let Hiravias sleep at Caed Nua

never used a non-thundercat melee druid in poe1, but does he have the same support/buffing abilities like priest? cause I found myself that withdraw/barring deaths door/protection from X things is what I used on Durance, not the straight healing spells

is there a way to replace Durance with another healer except creating adventurer priest?

yeah, I reflected to Kaylon's build, which is basically a melee with a level 19 talent to make it ranged. but if you say with another weapon, and then respec later it works just as good, then its ok ooor, its not, cause then I still cannot decide between the 2

yeah, I had a shifter+helwalker melee, and it was definitely VERY squishy, and after both bear and boar form expired, it was just a meatbag on the ground . and this was not solo, so I had Edér+either Pallegina or Konstanten stand next to me. but worth mentioning, that the only time I ran out of forms were on megabosses and insane long fights, like SSS or FS fights.

still dont know, but at least now down to 2 choice: one is this, the other one is a ranged weapons user (Frostseeker/Red Hand) Ghost heart. meh...how can I decide?! hm, I guess I'll choose Ghost Heart, while the Helwalker way seems much better in the end, but that build requires a talent upgrade from lvl 19 to work, and thats what, 80% of the game completed by that time

theres a talent you can take that nullify the negative side of it. and you can still play a non-evil BW, even without Diplomatic and Benevolent, theres still Honest (mostly good and lawful answers), Passionate (thats more good than evil), Rational/Stoic (those feel like the DnD Lawful and Neutrals), or even Clever (thats like chaotic neutral or just someone who doesnt really care the moral code, but still enjoys life without harming anyone)

Thanks Think I'm down to basically 3 choice: -Helwalker -Ghost Heart -Priest of Woedica/Skaen What are the most important stats and weapons for these?

@Boeroer any feedback, please?

my strongest char so far was a heart orlan assassin/soulblade with stiletto/rapier/dagger combos

hi, finishing poe1 with a cipher, and after various melee mc plays I wanna try to be a caster cipher this time, precisely Ascendant. however I'm not sure what I should combine with, and which class need what stats or key items to work perfectly (non solo build) Transcendent Helwalker: Swift Strikes, Helwalker Might, Duality Intellect seems very good for this build, and as I plan to stay at longer range, the extra damage taken shouldn't be a problem Seer Ghost Heart: Ranger has some great passives for ranged fight, while the pet is situational if needed an extra meat shield or just ignore for shorter fights or where the damage taken is too high for him Mindstalker: Not sure about subclass, maybe as previously suggested for another build Streetfighter with the mortars and blunderbuss modal? Mystic: Also not sure which God, Skaen/Berath/Woedica maybe? Single Class Ascendant Witch Berserker: This build was suggested several times in comments, but I did so many Berserker multis, I wanna try something different here, so unless this one is a clear winner above all, I wanna ignore it

I read so many Boeroer post that I knew you will suggest Berserker for Morningstar build

sometimes I feel like ranged is the most underpowered and underused class in Deadfire, the best ranger is Maia, and you cant even get close to her unfortunately (due to her unique subclass), and for me its actually harder to build a SC ranger than a MC. I think both Scout and Hunter MC's are easier and stronger. just choose mostly the passives you feel great, and it will be great, as 80% of them are that

oh and boar is the cutest "pet" of rangers, my personal favourite. he likes to roll in dirt and rub his back

this comment will come from someone who also likes to RP, and not min-max, and also fan of dwarves, so I would go with a multiclass that has lots of passives. I think the biggest problem of Ranger is that not many insane abilities are there to choose from, so its one of the easier picks to multiclass. as first char I would go with: 1) Scout (Ranger+Rogue, more passives from rogue side, and a few escape like spell), scout still fits the ranger RP theme, if you like to use stealth, then Assassin would be great for this. if not, then go no subclass rogue 2) Hunter (Ranger+fighter, also there are a few passives thats good, as a fighter you can wear heavier armor - RP wise I think dwarf ranger is not like an elf archer, you can be an archer in mail/chainmail/breastplate, and fighter passive helps in this case. subclass should be Devoted, but check the comments above if you want the Hunting Bow or one of the Crossbow weapons) maybe you can consider these 2 as well: 3) Wildrhymer (Ranger+Chanter, you can roleplay this like you are the bard of your dwarf clan, whose traveling with this animal companion to sing those stories he heard during travels in the mead halls. I would not recommend it for first as Chanter has TOO MANY good abilities, and at first it can be confusing) 4) Wanderer (Ranger+Monk, you are a travling ascetic type of ranger, monks also have great passives, and Helwalker is especially good with a ranger, as it increases your damage taken risk, but since you are far away from mobs, it shouldnt be a problem, but I still dont recommend this combination at first, it can feel like a glass cannon. maybe a Ghost Hearth+Helwalker could be a great RP choice, your animal died, so you've taken the road for a more spiritualistic lonely life) Edit: maybe just one additional thing, 2 handed guns are also insane in this game, and if you played dwarf hunter in Wow, guns also fits it. https://pillarsofeternity.fandom.com/wiki/The_Red_Hand this particular gun is basically a shotgun, lower dmg, but shoots 2 bullets at the same time ^^

short question: is https://pillarsofeternity.fandom.com/wiki/Defensive_Roll a good thing on a tank or something to avoid totally?

tell me you are german without telling me you are german, ja?

isnt Gunner a ranger only talent?

if no BM, then stay no subclass for solo. you lose too much. I would go with one of pala, troubadour, cipher.

isnt Streetfighter a loss on a ranged char where I have to avoid getting damaged?

yeah, I'm still thinking if maybe a Skald+Beguiler and an Assassin+Gunhawk would be better for the last 2 slots. more damage, less CC?