prototype00

Eek, while my main was maxed on Benevolent, he did take the Machine's Gift. I'm gonna regret that aren't I? I've been doing some quick comparisons for level breakdowns: 18/2 -> Ends up being 18/8 for level abilities, decent for a dip. 15/5-> Ends up being 16/10, which is a good mix, I'll have to check how that jives with the level break points. 12/8 -> 14/12, I'm not sure about this one, a bit too diffuse.

The fact that getting a forum badge is completely divorced from financing the pirate crew is a source of confusion to me. If it was one and the same would that not be a stronger initiative?

Hmm, I wonder for the level split if the new revelation that it might go up to 20 with stretch goals what would be the new good breakpoints, I'll have to do some reading up...

So this picture has basically revealed (I believe) most of our bosom companions on this voyage: Round the table clockwise from the left, we have: Pallegina Avian godlike (Paladin) (And Maia Rua's Animal Companion perching next to her) Unidentified Moon godlike Amaua (at least I think he's a moon godlike) (Class Unknown) Aloth Wood Elf (Wizard) Eder Meadowfolk Human (Rogue/Fighter) Maia Rua Island Aumaua (Ranger) Xoti Meadowfolk/Savannahfolk Human (Priest/Monk) Serafen Wild Orlan (Cipher/Barbarian) Now for the obviously premature part, who am I going to take a long for this Long Strange Trip? I'm probably importing my final save, where my main was a rather amicable salt of the earth Rautai expatriate Coastal Aumaua Monk (had a bad habit of running his face into fists and still winning). He was a good off-tank, DPS. Might multi him as a Druid if there is any good interplay between Spirit shape and unarmed strike. If we use that as the starting point, I probably want a full time tank... Pallegina and Eder are perfect for the job, but since Pallegina has to have a level of Paladin, I'll keep her at it. Eder I have other plans for. Should I Multiclass her? Chanter might be good, I've always wanted a melee chanter. Lets call her a Paladin/Chanter then. I still need another DPS though, hmmm, Eder can start off as a Rogue now, can't he, and one of the best Rogue builds was twin Sabre! Eder loves his slashy swords. I might multi him out as either a Ranger (so he can have a pet) or Barbarian (for even more DPS). Thats the front row taken care off, so who is in the back? We need some buffing for our front fellas so our friend Xoti is probably perfect for that. I wonder what I could Multi her to? Well if they still have the Ranged Attack speed boosting chant for the back row, maybe it might be worth having another chanter for the back? (So that it isn't a choice what chants are running) Priest/Chanter, ultimate support/summon? And finally, lets round out the party with even more DPS, Maia Rua with her pet makes for an almost 6 person party, and lets keep her in arquebuses (since she's an Island Aumaua, they might get Armed to the Teeth back, with the right talents (Quick Switch, Arms Bearer), she can have 4 of the things to start off combat with). And... some control, I think. I really miss Grieving Mother's Cipher screw-you, so that might be a good class what with all the focus she can generate to start out with. So lineup: Main Character Coastal Aumaua Monk (possibly / Druid) - Off Tank, DPS Pallegina (Paladin/Chanter) - Tank Eder (Rogue/Barbarian or Rogue/Ranger) - DPS Xoti (Priest/Chanter) - Support Maia Rua (Ranger/Cipher) - DPS, Crowd Control. There you have it (I also wanted Xoti and Eder to be on the same team so I could see the religious sparks fly). Whats your team going to be?

But I'll probably have to boost Dexterity to make use of the Spelltongues Duration increasing attacks won't I? I'll think about it and see if I can't post a hybrid build here to make use of both Spelltongue and some of the Golden Dragon stuff...

Is there perhaps some way to combine the equipment/tankiness of the Golden Dragon and the expanded buff period of The Leech? I really do want to equip the soulbound shield.

Hmm, time to give up on this melee wizard playthrough and give The Leech a try methinks...

Ah, that makes a lot of sense. My 18 Int wizard never sees those wounding procs! (And I don't have a lash on it yet, so that probably doesn't help) I'll have to check something when I get home, I thought Concelhaut's staff had an additional spell accuracy bonus on top of everything?

Hmm, just picked up Tidefall (character is specced for two handed so it is good) but I still get the feeling that Concelhauts staff is better? I think it's the extra crits I am getting due to the bonus accuracy? Anyway Tidefall is good for clearing out the trash mobs so not complaining, but is this supposed to be the case?

Personally I would go with Durganized medium armour and use that extra speed to Offset Savage Attack, that 20% extra damage is going to hurt on a base 60 damage weapon. Haven't tried interrupting blows, but my high-ish perception Melee wiz seems to be locking things down quite well, I'll give it a go and tell you guys what I think.

Did the random item tables change for 3.05? I have been using the list on the wiki but it is impossible to get the Gloves of mechanics in the Ogres throne room.

Re: Defences Low level, the spells Wizards Double, Mirrored Image and Infuse with vital essence gets you through a lot (infuse is good as it actually lets you tank Con a bit and still have as much Hp as the off tank). You will also want to get the Veil talent a an emergency button (with average Res, you end up with 100+ deflection at level 3) But this I've found is usually contingency stuff (later on with more spell slots you start casting it as prep), usually you are second rank slaughtering foes with your Parasitic Staff, safely out of most melee harms way. Be careful around ogres though.

Storm caller (6 Shock DR bypass) + Penetrating shot (5 DR bypass) + Ryona's Vambrace's (3 DR bypass) is an easy 14 DR bypass. I have this combo running on Grieving Mother.

Yeah, I'm finding on Hard, even if I have 100hp as a wizard, I also don't have all the other advantages Tanks have, so enemies take me apart quite quickly even with decent HP. Have to play smart for now.

Oh, party, definitely. With a tank (Pallegina) and an off tank (Kana) standing in front of me. Still, enemies cast spells and all that, and I didn't want a stray one just to off me, but I was comforted by the fact that since wizards have such low endurance anyway, you aren't losing out in very much?

So I was playing around with stats for a melee wizard (reach, not sword and board). And I maxed (well 16 points) Mig, Int, Per and Dex by reducing con to 4. I kept Res at 10 for the concentration. Is this madness? I figure you can always use that fast cast 2nd level spell that gives you 50 endurance to top yourself up.

Not Merciless Gaze for the 2nd level Mastery? I do agree that Wizard's Double is good early game but should be retrained later. Infuse with vital essence is another good one, since you have multiple of them, and its fast cast, it might be worth it. prototype00

I am so hype for this two handed wizard build that Boeroer is debuting! A couple of questions: 1. What is spell mastery going to look like for you? 2. Which stats are you prioritizing? 3. Any chance of using the Soulbound warhammer (for trash mobs, say, save Citzal's for the real challenge) 4. How is it playing so far? prototype00

Ooh, following this with great interest. I'm just thinking about building a melee wizard. Shame about the giving up of item slots though.

With items, consumables and resting bonuses, you can get 20 Resolve eventually if you start with 10.

So I know debuffing is as important as buffing, but I am admittedly not as knowledgeable in which ones to focus on and what order to cast them in (curse the redundant spell lists!) Anyone would like to share their fav. Order for debuffs for tough fights of their fav class?

Con is what will be keeping you alive and powering your wounds. I always took it to be as important as Might. Resolve you can not care about.

I've had quite a bit of success with Cipher and Stormcaller, but you have to stack DR piercing. Stormcaller gives -6 DR Shock on Hit Penetrating Shot gives -5 DR Ryona's Bracers gives -3 DR So thats a hefty extra -14 DR on each attack (14 extra damage basically) on a weapon that can be shock/pierce. Which basically means that my Cipher (Grieving Mother works well) does a lot of damage pers shot-leading to lots of focus gain on a Fast weapon. (She is basically up to max Focus in the time it takes Durance to fire one shot off his Arquebus, thank goodness I'm not paying him to look pretty and do damage). prototype00 P.s. Pick up Heart of the Storm for more damage.

Ah, this is all excellent advice! Thanks so much. Ah, that's good to hear, I know that there are some under-par concepts in Pillars, glad to hear this isn't one of them. Would you say if I have a party, the pre buffing isn't as important with them screening, or should I do so anyway then engage? Fair enough, does Eldritch Aim not get added to your buffing rotation? How does Int figure in there just curious? I was thinking I'd try playing like a melee Cipher or late game Spiritshift Druid. So let the tanks engage then skirt around the edges to apply a lot of damage. We'll see how that goes. Yeah, that's a good point. I'll have all the 1st level spells for casting Concelhaut's staff and it does fall off in efficacy later, whereas Eldritch aim will be useful for the whole game. Regarding non spell weapons, did you go Sword and Board or continue to leverage two handed Synergy with stuff like Abydon's Hammer? (So looking forward to finally having an MC built around using that!)

I was wondering why your stats were like that! Most of the builds I play don't develop organically, and are just heading towards a certain end goal. Sounds to me by the end of the game you were mostly playing a spell build (with Kalakoths and Ninagauths) with some melee? I'm going to see if I can just manage with the team and melee to more keep with the spirit of the build. Dex vs Per I am still undecided, would you really suggest dropping Might (even to 12?!) to get them up higher? I mean, yes, Interrupt is a good thing for this build, but you also need to do damage. Had a question about Spell Mastery, I noticed that quite a few people choose Eldritch Aim as 1st level pick, I guess Concelhaut's Parasitic Staff isn't as popular (Eldritch Aim is more universal after all). But do you really cast Citzal's Spirit lance for every combat?