squirrels

ty for the quick and thorough reply! also encouraging that my reading of the forum wasn't too off, lol. so many fun builds and people stoked about them, but sometimes hard to tell if all the advice is current. quick follow up Qs: esp given the warm advice I've seen in the forum (and the fact that it was kept up to date, ty @MaxQuest!!!), I'll be using the community patch. I'm sold on trickster / soulblade for my first run, but... * does the damage from the bloodmage recovery skill interrupt psion even with the CP (since I thought that adjusted it to crit interrupt instead of hit)? * would making trickster / soulblade dual wield (deflection focused to be sturdy?) for rp reasons be a huge kneecap (vs the minmax shield / flail you suggest) or viable? * any reason trickster / soulblade over trickster / beguiler? I'm assuming too much redundancy in skills (tho diff pools, right?) or you're trying to meet my desire for more DPS?

hey all! context I've played POE1 through a few times and loved it (scratched that Baldur's Gate itch that I can never shake). I tried Deadfire a while back but for some reason it didn't click at the time. I'm back, I've studied up on builds, I've lurked in forums, and I've gone on deep journeys into my heart... and I've realized I kinda wanna change things up from my usual? maybe? to keep this ramble from rambling more: rather than my usual backlines CC / DPS wizard or DPS ranged obsession, I kinda wanted to try something zippy and melee (kinda in the spirit of the knight enchanter with with fade step / spirit blade from Dragon Age Inqusition, if that's at all familiar - able to pop into backline enemies, hit and cause chaos, and then pop away). I've seen a lot of lovely build concepts on the forum and was curious which of the following you all think might fit this concept best. flexible restrictions: * dual wield sabres / rapiers / daggers / stilettos / hatchets / etc for style WOULD be fun, lol * cipher-ish bc I really like the setting specific flavor * can kick off the fight, maybe? builds I've seen and had tug at my heart, in no particular order: * trickster / soulblade (seems the most apt in terms of melee but not sure if it has the teleporty potential I'm describing?) * trickster (or assassin?) / beguiler (seems the most apt in terms of chaos focus, but same issue as above?) * forbidden fist / beguiler (lol, I don't understand wounds at all so I worry about how micro managey this build is...) builds I've seen and had tug at my heart but maybe because of my classic tendencies: * troubador / psion (non-stop, flexible caster?! I'm drooling... buuuuut... I'd remain jealous of the people stabbing folks in the faces / backs... probably) * bloodmage / psion (similar to above but maybe can do some melee-ish nonsense?) question(s) which of these builds would fit the zippy-hit-the-priority-targets-cause-chaos theme best? and are there other builds you'd suggest that I'm overlooking? which of these builds have you had the the most fun with, regardless of my silly thematic whims?