Zhalk

While I don't know how to export the templates I use (AI Scripts), it might also be for the best since I'm not very good at it. That said, making changes to builds and AI behavior might be a good part of the fun, as you can feel the upgrades taking form and your expectations adjusting each level. A couple general ideas: Eder: I usually go Fighter/Rogue (Swashbuckler) Multiclass with lots of Deflection, Riposte, and very simple scripts: (i) activate Vigorous/Refresh Defense at 90% HP with a long CD, and Unbending at 75% somewhat timed with the duration; (ii) Activate Disciplined Strikes when not Perception-Inspired if at least 3 Discipline; (iii) Finishing Blow enemies below 50%. Maia: I mostly run Ranger/Rogue (Scout) with "The Red Hand" (two barrel arquebus from Delver's Row), casting Marked Prey (or For The Hunt) on (Caster/Light Armor priority), then casting Blind/Cripple/Wounding on marked target if at least 3 class resourced. Finishing Blows for targets above 25% and below 50% (as to avoid waste). She's my eliminator. Pallegina: I usually pick Herald, select the songs and the default "Cautious Paladin" and "Offensive Chanter". She's my autopilot among autopilots. I throw some auras on her and hope for the best. I once exchanged her for the N'gati's Chosen (whose name eludes me now), and it was nice putting him up with Foe-AoE-Only casts and some healing. Most recommend single classes for Xoti (Priest), Aloth (Mage) and Seraphen (this one is more divided and the one I use the less). I multiclass because I like the "autopilot" appeal of martials. Xoti in my plays is a mix of a "Mortar Monk" (2min of this forum and it will blow your mind, alongside with your enemies; a real piece of a build by Boroer). She doesn't get all the blasting power or stats as the actual Mortar Monk and you waste her individual kit. On the other side, she gets absolute AOE/Duration for her spells, without getting in too close, and still throwing out debuffs from Blunderbusses like nobodies' business. Aloth, since I find it hard to "program" for effective offensive casting, I simply make him a spellblade with tons of auto-buffs and ranged weapon damage (Frostseeker or summoned weapons). Either class or class-combo should be fine. Rogue probably does more damage; Fighter is probably more reliable; Pure Wizard is probably the most "I'll properly control him now and change this fight if I need it". Some feelings I have about setting your own AI, that I'll irresponsibly make into tips (take my inexperienced approach with some grains of salt): Make it level by level, it isn't overwhelming if you make it part of the level up. Adjust as you see fit, it is rewarding to identify a need and fix it. Pick your upgrades based on what you feel you can incorporate in your gameplay/AI, not every great build fits your micro availability/willingness. Heavy AI usage kinda goes hand in hand with "death-ball + atrition" group setups and long fights, at least in my experience; extra points for renewable sustain power; Incorporating "on-rest" and usable (yes, you can potion/scroll on auto) items is powerful but far more tiresome than relying on "always available" resources. Beating a hard fight on autopilot to me is as fun as microing the hell out of it; makes me feel a mastermind of careful planning. I don't think I could do any Megaboss with my general strategies, and I think it is a fair ceiling.

It seems to be the case with the Steel Garrote healing as well. It will Heal-Lash from the main attack, not from any of the procs (even those which are actual "attacks") I couldn't confirm it it procs off from retaliation attacks (such as the proc from Riposte or Outward Spikes, I don't have access to the former, and barely can keep track of the latter). Later I'll try to find out if I can heal from Sun and Moon + Eothas upgrade or Magran's Favor healing lash from fire (Paladin's Fire Penetration coming in handy) if those damages come from SF or HBD attacks. If the extra attacks would heal from Old Siec, that'd be another feather on the Skald's hat. After all, what is a good monk without some inspiring words and poetry?

Hi all — quick follow-up to say thank you. Your insights were genuinely excellent and pushed me to actually commit to a solo run instead of only theorycrafting. I started the run aiming to eventually reach the “crit loop” territory, but the path I ended up taking was a Forbidden Fist / Steel Garrote (Monk/Paladin) — partly because I wanted a easy-to-play solo chassis (Deep Faith, Lay on Hands, Brand Enemy for long fights), and partly because I was curious if I could later get the crit-loop to heal me without a late game Sanguine Great Sword - It didn't work, as the "proc-hits" don't proc healing from Steel Garrote. Curiously, in my combat log the extra attacks often appear before the Forbidden Fist line. Early game reality check: getting the crit engine to feel “online” before you accumulate a lot of gear is still hard. In Port Maje, I played medium shield+dagger modal. Once I reached Neketaka, things improved a lot after picking up Devil of Caroc Breastplate and Tuotilo’s Palm. I tried to start using Sun and Moon early, but low accuracy/damage divided by two felt like I was paying the “split damage” tax without the crit frequency to justify it yet. Squid’s Grasp (cannot be flanked) plus Acc Modal helped a lot with consistency from levels 7 and until now. I’m level 14 now and my next plan is pushing toward Sayuka to secure Mohorā Tanga (and then progress Principi content for Scordeo’s Edge). The bounty for The Steel Preacher (for Boltcatchers) still feels out of reach at the moment. It’s honestly hard not to feel tempted by other multiclass routes for the same solo run — Wizard self-buffing into martial, a Skald angle (“will Skald go brrr?”), or even Ranger accuracy-stacking (Marked Prey / Stalker’s Link / Accurate Wounding Shot-style reliability), besides the ever great Fighter for Unbending, Stances and Intuitive. FF Monk kinda feels good, beside not looking optimal. Lots of resolve sounds safe, on demand interrupts is nice (why didn't I go Tactician instead of paladin, again?) and crush damage without changing gear is lazy and great. I'm eager to get Mohora and start wrecking havoc with Enfeeble+Stun. Thanks again.

Hello, Guys! Quick introduction: I'm a not-so-long-time-lurker, being brought back to Pillars of Eternity last Xmas and already put obsessive 700+300 hours into PoE 1 and 2. It feels nice to finally put a post where I've already read a lot from you guys. It's been may years since I actually took part in any forum, but I saw Aestus videos, then Boroer's builds, played a Mortar Monk and a Pin-Down Poet, trying to set most of my units to work mostly in auto-AI, and now this forum is my go-to leisure read time, thanks for that! - Before trying my first solo run, I'm running my first Trial of Iron with a Brawler (no subclass / tactician). I tried Forbidden Fist/Tactician (which didn't work very well) and didn't want to bother with taking drugs. Then, at some point, I thought "oh, swift flurry procs off from crits, how about I have more chances with a multi hit weapon such as Sun and Moon?" Minutes later, this happened. It looks like a Multi-hit Proc, into Cleaving Stance, into 318dmg from successive Flurry/Drum procs. After I saw this: (i) I giggled; (ii) then I said to myself "I have to tell somebody" (even though many of you guys already know); and, finally, ask: (iii) how can we go further? I'm pretty sure Sun and Moon is just the tip of the Swift flurry. What weapons/gear/combos have you guys seen that can proc hit chains like that? I might try my solo run (the next, after this Trial of Iron) around some kind of swift flurry shenanigan. Thanks in advance for your ideas :)