Nakia

I call all times soon. Soon as in Maybe?

I think what some people are missing is what Obsidian tried to do which was get away from fantasy tropes. Instead of conflict because of racial differences we have religious conflict actually a very real life problem among humans. Eder and Durance are both from Dyrwood and Meadowland humans but they worship opposing gods. Culture is more important in PoE than race which is also true of real life humans. It just may be too subtle for some to comprehend or accept.

Not as far as I know.

Fardragon has a point that should be seriously considered. Ogres are intelligent but are wilders not kith. As for culture, Sagani explains that her culture differs from the known other cultures in that the females are the hunters and adventurers. The Aedyr Empire is dominated by humans and elves and are ruled by a human emperor and an eleven Mecwyn. "The Free Palatinate of Dyrwood and the Penitential Regency of Readceras are its former colonies in the Eastern Reach." Quote from the PoE Wiki. In 2623 Aedyr found the first permanent settlement in Dyrwood. In 2668 Dyrwood declared independence from the Aedyr Empire and began the War of Defiance which lasted five years. Kana gives us some information about the Aumaua and the cthe country of Rauatai. Although listed as a race(s) the godlike are not a true race or races. They are mutants of the other races. There are occasional references to them mostly in my experience from children asking about their looks. There is quite a bit of information to be found in-game about the races and cultures if you look for it. Edit: For me a good part of the charm of PoE is that it is the first game in the series (hopefully) and its lore is evolving.

I probably don't use it as much as I should but do keep some in at least one slot to boost endurance. Otherwise I have it in inventory to use to boost stats.

If I could make a fantasy game the race I would drop would be humans.

I disagree, considering how resting and stuff works in this game, it'd break iron manning and soloing the way the game is set up right now. Unless you restrict random stuff to like, special areas or something, like with the assassins in Defiance Bay. I also disagree. I hated those random encounters in BG II that added nothing to game story and broke immersion.

Personally I would rather see the time, money and resources put into creating availability for players to mod the game. Then they could create their own wilderness areas or enhance the existing ones as they wish and share them with other players.

I have been trying to think of a fantasy game I have played other than an Online multiplayer that had unique playable characters. The TES games of course with Argonians, Khajiits and Orcs. My avatar is the Halflings from IWD II and she looks quite human. As I recall the main difference between the playable characters of the BG games was their cultures. Differences in skin color, ears and size, relative minor things much as real life humans have superficial differences.

I also fail to see a problem with the way races are handled in PoE. When creating your main character or hiring and adventurer which race you pick is important. All the kith in PoE are humanoid so in my opinion should have things in common as wll as differences. Sagani as a Boreal Dwarf has a very different cultural background from other races. Not all the races have been fleshed out but it is early days for this game. Why should everything be spelled out from the start? I like learning new things as I move forward in the game. We have a two part expansion coming out and hopefully a sequel. These will expand the world and shed new light on things.

If I recall correctly you do not equip Resolution but have it in your inventory. Could be wrong.

First I have to say that IMO anyone who considers Path of Exile as the ideal game to emulate has no business playing Pillars of Eternity. The only thin they in common are the initials PoE. That's my rant for the day. Yes I would argue that an ironman game is for someone who understands and has mastered the game. That doesn't mean they need to have finished the game. I agree that the game is not friendly to the ironman game play and imagine only a developer could explain why this is so. Here is a quote from the PoE Wiki on Trial of Iron: Here is a link to the topic where Trial of Iron is mentioned during the Kickstarter. I have no idea whether this will help or hurt but this is what I have found. http://forums.obsidian.net/topic/60707-update-9-the-power-of-modes-and-godlike-races-our-23m-stretch-goal/

I love discussions like this one. It gives me ideas of things to try that I hadn't considered. In my early game plays I did much as Nobear does but I wasn't playing on PotD. PoE allows so many options and different ways of playing. Definitely player's choice. Nobear's style of playing may well be more beginner friendly especially at lower levels before your casters have built up a repertoire of spells. In one of my early games I had a ranger PC with a bear and used the bear as a support to Eder or if a caster or ranged member was melee attacked to distract the enemy. When I brought Sagani into the party I found this worked well in open spaces but very well in chokepoints. Eder and the bear, I called it Bruno, usually could hold the chokepoint and the fox just got frustrated running around trying to attack something. Once you hit level 8 life does become easier. The more thought you put into this game the more you get out of it.

To get the option to sacrifice one of your companions you need CRUEL reputation. Since I have never played a cruel character I have never gotten that option.

PoE is not leveled to the player character and that was done on purpose because we players requested that. For instance it is not oblivion or Skyrim which unless modded are leveled to the player. I think this confuses people who are new to the game. You can have encounters and quests that are fairly easy and then suddenly be hit by one that is above the player's level. The forge knights are one of those more difficult encounters. I have done it at level 7 playing on normal and IIRC on level 6 in an early game. I don't think the OP is ranting or raging but just doesn't understand how the game works. NPCs in the game do ignore what is happening around them unless scripted to respond. PoE is a niche game targeted to those who played the IE games and IMO they did a good job but people unfamiliar with those games will have problems unless they do their research. Edit: I didn't see the OP's posts before my post. No the game is not set to be primarily a Iron Man game. That is an option but not the main point of the game. Now I think the OP is ranting.

Interesting, I have a friend on another Board who has a different strategy. He gives his tank some extra stealth and then positions him or her near but not too near the enemy. He uses his spell casters to debuff the enemy, set seals and other hampering spells. ranged attacks to start the combat. If in a spot with a choke point traps can be set with the tank near that spot. His melee support is also near there. In an open area the party is spread out but the strategy is basically the same. Melee fighters do not rush in to engage the enemy. The enemy comes to them. Usually in a weakened state by then. The OP asked how many tanks. One tank is my answer. The OP then asked about the "off tank (whatever that is) how much they should be tanked. They should be more aggressive than the fighter tank, have speed. Paladins and barbarians are great for this role, I also like monks and am currently using my Priest of Berath as my support melee fighter, medium armour unique DR 9 and the sword Justice. With her spells and buffed up abilities she is very formidable. I can usually move her around as needed. I have grown very fond of her. I also have plenty of food and potions for my party. Edit: I think we have lost the OP but it makes for an interesting discussion any way.

Level 5 in Act II and you have been doing available quests? Please verify this.

Doesn't what difficulty you play on if you are in open areas because two tanks or three tanks won't be able to do much. If the enemy can move freely tanks which are slow moving can't chase a faster moving enemy. You need a couple of fast moving infantry such as priests, rogues, even a paladin and or barbarian if properly equipped. If you have a choke point the tank can stand there and engage the enemy and you spell casters and ranged members can attack those behind the enemy blocking the choke point. Thus using the enemy against itself. This game is set for the player to use strategy. However there is the ancient rule of "If it works it is the right thing to do" so whatever works for you is the right thing for you to do.

A tank is a heavily armored slow moving fighter. This term offtank is new to me. I have one "tank", two medium armored fighters for mob control. They move in quickly and hit hard, also do healing and debuffing My ranged fighters also can move quickly from one spot to another. Strategy is important in PoE. If I can get the enemy to a choke point I do so. If I have enemies who can teleport past I do focus fire on them and use my mob control fighters for taking them out while my "tank" holds the non-teleporting enemies at bay. I am no expert at fighting and I will use any means I can to win a fight. I do not believe in fighting fair I believe in winning. Yes I have deliberately put quotes around the word "tank" and I will never have an "offtank" in my party. I have been playing the game since the Backer Beta and this is the strategy and tactics I have developed. Sun TzU with only around 30,000 troops was able to defeat an enemy with over 300,000 because he kept mobile and fought to win. Even in a fantasy game like PoE with magic his strategy and tactics are worth paying attention to.

The strategy I prefer to use when possible is deception which has been condemned by some players as somehow unethical or some such thing. However the greatest general of all time Sun Tzu aggrees with me. Quote: "All warfare is based on deception." We use the term tank for our main melee fighters but in fact they are distractions for the enemy. Give them the best and buff them then defeat the enemy with your mobile party members. If you know an enemy to be stronger try to avoid them and return later when better prepared.

Much as I am looking forward to the Expansion I would prefer that it be in good playable shape, not buggy and not requiring several patches to fix things. One patch to fix those odd ball things that always arise when received by the masses.

Those ancient guns did take a bit of time to reload.

Why not post the question in the tech support forum where a dev might be able to help you?

We really know little about the expansion. It takes place in White March, it has another dying village, it has a special forge we need to get to and restore, the village is being attacked by an ogre clan, two new companions, some new monsters and cold climate remakes of prior monsters. We need to possess the Stronghold but I do not recall anything being said about what state it is in. Anything else that we actually know?

I think I over estimated my guess on XP available from the expansion. As I recall Josh said that the expansion will be available 1/3 through the game which means based on my experience it could be as low as level four or five. Just guessing though.