rheingold

Well rogues are damage dealers! Not sure about other melee options. I'd guess a barbarian would do lots of damage but haven't really played one. Maybe someone else could advise. Regarding casting, Druids as of the last BB where by far the most potent caster. However apparently they where going to be balanced for the release. So at this point I don't know. Sensuki could probably tell you whether they are still any good as he has had access to the latest version.

Both.

Oh god, shouldn't the forums be age restricted? No 4 year olds allowed? I'm looking at all self entitled brats lurking who ARE acting like 4 year olds.

Right, considering Obsidan owe us backers absolutely everything under the sun, I mean without us over privileged, self entitled backers they wouldn't exist. So I thought I'd make a list of what they owe me personally... New car, preferably a sports model or convertible. New pc with a kick ass graphics card. A total of 20 games per year, that I choose for the rest of my life. All the firstborn children of Obsidans employees... If they haven't responded positively by midnight tonight SA time, I'll, I'll.... I'll sulk darn it.

The outrages of this world are almost too traumatic to bear. But seriously, the point of Kickstarter is to get stuff you want made, it is not so you can glory in making all the creative people in the world owe you something. They said they were going to give us the game on the 26th of March. If they do not do that, well then I could understand being upset. Ooiii just who do you think you are trying to inject some rational thought into this forum!

For what little it's worth, I genuinely believe that you're lying when you say that. Actions speak louder than words, and Obsidian's actions over the past year or so have strongly indicated that you see backers as nothing more than a disposable money source, that's become an inconvenience. Engagement from Obsidian has been by far worse than any other Kickstarter I've ever backed, and PoE is really the only Kickstarter I can think of that I regret backing. I can't help but compare Obsidian to InXile, who have been consistently exemplary, and wonder where it all went wrong. Wahahaha, are you trolling or being serious? Sometimes it's so hard to tell. Regardless, it must really suck to be you and pissed off at the entire world. Don quixote had nothing on you.

You really don't need backstab for a rogue. Sneak attack works darn well, and you save a talent.

This. Time to burn the place down! Quick everyone, grab a pitchfork.

Ok - I really like the idea of a chanter - I've just found them a bit boring. I've been going for a dwarven tank, sword and shield + cautious attack. Sky high deflection. He's very useful, no doubt, just well boring. But I will try your idea out. For me part of the problem is the delay while you are waiting for your chants to power up. Just seems to long before he can cast. And then you wait again...

Yup, at the moment an orlan rogue is also on my radar, slave background, female, unless there is a decent male portrait in the game, dual wield, with max dex, but other than that not a power build, 10 and 12's in the other stats. Will use both ranged and close quarter weapons.

I dunno, I've been thinking of either a rogue, druid or chanter. I found the chanter interesting, on paper at least, but playing one seems to be pretty boring for me. Not a judgement on power though, just the play style leaves something to be desired. Druids, which are my fave are just about to be beaten by the Sawyer nerf hammer, which is mightier by far than Mjolnir. Also, truth be told, both are companion classes which just leaves rogues. There are no rogue companions so it would definitely feel unique from that sense, also while it's easier enough to replace the traditional rogue skills, it's not so easy to replace the damage output of one. So I will probably take rogue for my first play through, and Druid for the second... PS was also thinking of Cipher at one point, not because I like them but more for the storyline, but as Avellone is writing the cipher companion I'm going to have to take her along with me.

Only a few more sleeps kiddies

Look, it's simple. Ranger are very high maintenance because of the pet. If that's fine with you and you manage it proper, he'll out DPS other DPS classes by far, apart from maybe the Rogue (which is very high maintenance as well) and Monk (not only very conditional, but also high maintenance). Fighters are very stable, which is their strength really. They (and barbarians, and paladins) are perfect low maintenance melee DPS, you click on a mob, and they'll keep going without you even needing to look at them. As a note, pets actually do pretty decent damage on their own, no idea where that idea came from. And not combining ranger with his pet is just silly, they are one class. This

I don't know, I suspect there are a few classes who are bunched together, and then you have the overpowered classes. But ranger is not far off the others. I suspect the problems people have with it are more related to gameplay and style. If you play it as it was envisaged it's actually a good summoner class. Obsidan are partly to blame because by calling it a "heavy hitter" people are comparing it to a rogue. Nothing compares to a rogue damage wise. But a ranger does really good damage - but you have to add the damage of the pet to get the full potential. It also has serious utility as well.

Shouldn't that be Lorenzo?

Well courtesy of this thread I just rolled another a ranged ranger. Some thoughts - it's a very understated class, and a case where the stats don't tell the whole story. - the pet is VERY useful, a full time summons with knockdown and a minor sneak attack. It also runs interference and acts as a minor tank. It works beautifully with a dual wield rogue, it's quick, flanks, sneak attacks and tanks for the rogue. All the while the ranger is steadily plinking away with his bow/gun. - a couple of reasons why people think it sucks. - there is no radical change in the characters power because you have to share talents with the pet and it's hard to quantify how much they add to the party. For this reason many people won't like it, you end up having to give talents away in order to make your character stronger. Overall it's a very useful add to the party, has good ranged abilities, does good damage and has a great summon. It's by no means the weakest class, maybe it's not overpowered, but weak, I doubt it. Frankly it's a unique take on an old class. BTW I probably won't even play one, I prefer Druids and rogues and I like the idea of the ranger companion.

Yeah must say they make good ranged dps as well, those modals that they get give them an advantage over any other class except the rogue. I did a crossbow/gun build and he was quite wicked, you can keep penetratrating shot up and use either the speed or damage modal. Nice. High dex and gunner and nothing will come close, in terms of speed. They also have some other nice features which makes the decision between ranged rogue/ranger a matter of choice:) I'm not saying that they will out damage a rogue, but they are pretty good at range if as mutonizer says you take advantage of the companion. They are high maintenance though, maybe that's what people don't like. Still probably going to go rogue for my first play since none of the companions are rogues.

People shouldn't spread panic, this thread is ridiculous.

D&D 1st edition - Greyhawk world. Heck I remember when forgotten realms came out and me and my mates where all going, "that pretender, it will never last..." Stopped pnp around 3.5, mainly because our group split up. First games, might and magic and quest for glory 1. After that the usual suspects. Looking forward to Pillars, Larians new game after Original sin. Hoping that the new forgotten realms game - sword coast legends will have a good single player campaign (they are pushing multi player) it really has some good people working on it.

The class needs some tweaking, I just don't think it's as bad as people say, it has some nice passives for range weapons and the animal companion is nice for role playing and it's a fairly unique take on how they work. Frankly I was getting tired of two weapon Rangers, now that never made any sense. Can't remember if it was d&d 2or 3 when that happened, but whoever came up with idea that rangers would use 2 weapons (and only in light amour) must have been either very bored or desperate.

I think the point is that rangers have been a big part of role playing for a long, long time and they have tried something different this time with the animal companion which is great. Yes it doesn't work well at the moment, yes, I'm not particularly interested in playing a ranger but it's irrelevant. Its very likely that the class will be fixed sometime, maybe just not by release date, and plenty of people do want to play one, so they are absolutely not a waste of time.

Chanters in pillars are more like Norse skalds, doesn't get much better than that. Very nice from a role playing point of view, and they are also pretty fun to play in combat.

NWN2 bards, oh my, did they rock...

Awesome, thanks for the info.

I'll certainly second the praise to the studio, but to be honest from what little I have read and from playing the bb I detect the hand of a certain Mr Avellone more. Certainly in the more "mystical" side.