prototype00

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?

I'm not planning a solo run, so I might be able to play him more like a rogue and attack from the backline. I've ready your build and it seems solid, but I wonder why you never took the advised talents, like Veil and hardened veil or Savage attack. I'm also slightly confused about the frozen part of it, the secrets of rime was that solely for Kalakoth's freezing rake? Seems a somewhat limited usage of that talent. Still, you completed the game solo and not me, so who am I to judge?

This is true. You probably don't want to be wasting any hammertime (time that you spend hammering foes) re-applying buffs. With a new class (non-tanking wizard) I am also having to rethink my party lineup (I'd rather have two tank frontline so my second row damage dealers have a wall between them). I've been running MC (Monk, so tank DPS), Pallegina (tank), Hiravais (DPS), Kana (Support and shooting booster), durance (support), grieving Mother (cc and DPS). I want another tank as I will be losing MC as a monk, so it's probably going to be Kana, I can either respect him as a chanter tank or switch him out for Maneha, I hear good things about the Leech Barbarian's infinite HOF mode. Suggestions?

I'm not intending to tank Dex mind, it will probably end up 14 or so with those nifty boots. I'm just wondering whether to make it one of my 3 16s to start off with: Might:16 (more or less required) Dex: 10/16 Con: 10 (with false life should be okay) Int: 16 (I've seen some builds saying a 10 for this is okay! It rubs me the wrong way, but they may be right?) Per: 16 (For the crit and Interrupt) Res: 10 (minimum to not get interrupted personally) I'm leaning towards the spell-weapon caster, as I've already played a tank prior, have people had success with the lightly armoured second rank version of this build?

Trying to decide which is more important, Dex or Per. The Interrupt potential is quite good with the spell weapons, but Dex helps you get all the attacks you need to Interrupt. I guess the question is whether at 10 Dex (14 with items) you can get 0 recovery max attack speed with DAoM and Gauntlets of Swift Action.

You could be like, an actual Paladin? They're great at buffing, and not too shabby with spears either.

Ah, so there are actually two variants, one that uses the spell weapons and one that tanks and uses regular weapons, I'll have to think about this. On the same subject, I'm guessing scion of flame is pretty decent? Either you are using Firebrand or you have the flame lash chant and your hefty base damage to power it?

Druids are good buffers? Really? I mean I had thought they were okay, but not gold standard like priests. Druids to me are DPS, when casting spells, they are ranged DPS, when Spiritshaping, straight melee DPS.

Question, how do you go sword and board and Concelhaut's staff/Citzal's lance? I thought the latter were all two handed weapons? What happens to your shield when you cast the spells? Also, thanks for the advice so far, esp the Firebrand one, is that a good equivalent for the staff and lance? By the by, what is the consensus for armour for this kind of build? Heavy or light?

So I've done a bit of reading up on the melee wiz, as I'm coming to the end of my campaign with the Juggernaut Monk, and it seemed like an interesting and quirky option. I have the following observations, but please tell me if I missed anything. 1. Concelhauts Staff and Citzal's Lance are both two handers, so it might behoove me to build with those in mind? They benefit from any weapon focus however, so does anyone have a suggestion about which to take? And what is an optimal setup for when I'm not using the spell-weapons? 2. Stat wise, focus on int, might and possibly perception? Keep everything else even. 3. Race wise the usual suspects are good (Orleans and moon godlikes) but I'm hearing some good things about fire god likes. I'm happy to take on any advice people would be kind enough to give as I usually like weighing options before making a decision.

Just a couple more questions about stacking if I may be so bold, these concerning chants this time. 1. Does the chant that gives you a flame lash stack with a monks Tirning wheel ability? 2. How does the invocation for Their Champion faced the horde alone combine with the Ila chant? 3. And bonus question: what do you think is the best armour for a buffing/summoning/interrupting chanter? Heavy or light? Thanks so very much!

Just my 2c: Hiravais is a pretty savage damage dealer (easily out performing single target DPS against everything but a main character Druid or rogue) Spiritshape with all the trimmings (Wildstrike Shock, G.Wildstrike shock, wildshape belt, two weapon fighting, savage attack, weapon focus peasant) will make him do ludicrous damage as he levels up. And by upper levels, he is in Spiritshape for the duration of most fights. I mean the casterly version of him is good too, kudos to Boroer, but it just doesn't output as much damage.

Thanks Boeroer and Loren Tyr! I have Grieving Mother rocking Stormcaller with penetrating shot and Ryona's Vambraces and she is wrecking stuff! Its great! Also very good that the list is out there, I appreciate the resource, Loren. prototype00

So I was excited to finally get the mourning gloves. However I was dismayed to discover that the attack speed buff was suppressed during combat, I'm guessing by my Monk's swift strikes. So a couple of questions: 1. Were the mourning gloves indeed not stacking with swift strikes? 2. Does piercing shot stack with the Shock DR reduction from Stormcaller? 3. Will the Gauntlets of swift action stack with swift strikes? Thanks so much for the answers!

Would just like to report on my experiments following the above advice: 1. Whether you get an adventure or not is determined way in advance. All the reloading in the world didn't get me an adventure when the Turn had been "Nothing to Report" prior. 2: Ditto the class of adventure, if you by chance got a minor adventure, reloads would get you a minor adventure. 3: Where it changes is WHICH minor adventure you get. You can reload if you get a minor adventure you don't want until you get the minor adventure you do want. This has been useful for not filling up my inventory with junk!

So I've noticed that some builds incorporate Stronghold adventure reward items, that while good are also oh so random (Mourning gloves, Niden's Finger, where are you!) Not only is the reward random, the chance of getting an adventure on any Stronhold turn is SUPER random (5 Nothing to Reports in a row, no I'm not bitter, why do you ask?) Do people have a method for getting what they need or something? Otherwise it seems like a crapshoot to me.

I like to go with twin spears as hatchets have lower damage and the extra deflection does nothing for a Monk. The custom built spear, Cladhaliath, is good as is the one that causes defense debuff or the one with the speed enchant. Plus two spears look cool. I have two fists on one slot and two spears on the other. Excellent points. I'll leave the best Hatchets to Hiravais then, since he goes sword and board when he isn't Spirit Shaped or using the soul bound sceptre.

Query: For all the bashing immune enemies later in the game, what alternate weapon set is recommended? I'm leaning towards twin hatchets, as I already have the peasant weapon focus and two weapon fighting, but would something else be preferable? Twin spears?

Veteran's Recovery is helping a lot. I seriously undervalued this talent last time (I saved it for last). The amount healed is affected by strength, if I'm not mistaken? For builds that aren't Moon Godlike, every bit of self-heal helps. Also I might follow your advice and have Kana be a switch-hitter (start with Warbow transition to Estoc), there are a few good Estocs in the game. prototype00

Low level at the moment 3 or 4. Will try to beeline for the boots and pick up Veteran's recovery to see of that helps. Party makeup will be: Frontline: Main Character, Pallegina (buffing and healing), Hiravais (DPS) Shooting Party: Kana, Durance and Grieving Mother. May I ask what these chants you are referring to are, KDubya?

So recently I've started a new game with this build. Coastal Amaua, max con and might, heaviest armour I could find (brigandine now). And I ticked the difficulty up from normal to hard, because prior I was wrecking face with my Moon Godlike (same build) on this difficulty, nothing could kill me. But the magic is gone! Regular mobs do a damage ditty on my face. Is it the difficulty? My choice of Race? Or is it just too early to shine? (The reason I switched to Amaua was so I could have higher Might and a helmet slot, but I'm missing the self heal!) Help me, KDubya, you're my only hope!

I wonder if with Iron Wheel, you can start wearing lighter armours? I mean with the 10 extra DR, potentially, suits like Vengiatta Rugia start to become really attractive for the damage...

Ooh, does that mean the Mourning Gloves will stack with Swift Strikes then? *Hopeful* prototype00

KHHHAAAAANNNNN!!!! *Ahem* I mean, that is a nuisance, well, she can give that buff to Hiravais when he is mauling stuff in Staelgar form then. prototype00