PneumaticFire

Great analyses on the classes to date. I know its an immense task, especially with subclasses, but what are people's rankings/tier list for multiclass? At least the ones they have tried. As a class which may be lower in ranking as a single, could be a lot stronger in synergy with another.

I'd like most of it to be a surprise, but a main theme or a preview of it would be great to whet our appetites (more than the beta title music, which is promising already)

Its definitely a subjective thing. For you I'd lean towards completing the original as you haven't done this yet, and as people have mentioned, the later parts of the game generally are the better parts. For me, I haven't decided if I'll replay POE1 again for two main reasons, one being I'm very time limited for gaming at this point, but mainly because I'm weary of having isometric roleplaying game fatigue going into Deadfire. Don't get me wrong, it is by far my most favourite sub/genre of gaming bar none, but after playing too many hours and craming it in before the release of Deadfire, I want Deadfire to feel fresh and to jump in with full enthusiasm. So haven't decided yet. In saying that I still might and make Pallegina a non Kind-Wayfairer unlike my original playthrough, solely because my PC will be one.

Personally for those playing characters with a Priest of Eothas, how are you going to reconcile (roleplaying wise) your discovery that ? Does your character continue to worship? Why?

Forgive me if this has been covered, but from a role-playing perspective, is there also a disadvantage for a single class when it comes to class specific dialogue? Of course we haven't seen how much will be incorporated into the game just yet, but going on POE1, there should be at least a few for each class from memory. Will multiclass be able to access dialogue for both their classes in conversation as opposed to just one? I haven't tried or seen this yet in the beta. If this is the case, it's making a multi combo with Priest of Eothas (Templar) more appealing right now.

I too hope that casters and single class builds are improved as most of us are, so hopefully Obsidian will take this into consideration before or soon after release. I understand also wanting to wait for a few patches to see if any significant changes are made. For your and all of us, I hope that Pillars not only lives up to (reasonable) expectations, but exceeds the strengths of the original. (you can still make some minor build suggestions for us before then though... )

Hey Boeroer, I know it depends on a lot of factors like how much may be changed between the beta and full release in April, but assuming not much changes, how long after the release date do you think it will be before you start sharing some comprehensive class builds for us to try? You always seem to come up with things I overlook or don't think of.

Something to get us in the mood for chasing Eothas through a storm and turbulent waters

It will be interesting to see and yes, current Paladins should benefit much more if this is implemented (if, which I pray they're not, they aren't nerfed before release). Personally my main character will most likely include Kind Wayfarer, so ideally I didn't want to double up, or lose a unique flaming projectile attack!

My decision made Pallegina a Kind Wayfarer as well. Which I'll stick with for roleplaying reasons. However I'm assuming her unique ability 'wrath of the five suns' will no longer be available, which is a big downside if correct. I guess there's always a second playthrough where like in Tyranny we can choose what happened at the end of POE1 at the beginning of Deadfire with a new, non continued game.

Hopefully in a patch if not first release? Follow it up.

Thank you It went through a few amendments in terms of colour scheme, sharpness and background, and I am happy with both the communication process, openness, implementation of feedback and end result. I've noticed your badge. Which tier did you go with?

Im looking forward to seeing what backer items, NPCs etc will be in the implemented in the game as well. As for the portraits, they've already been released in POE1 and the Deadfire beta (including my profile pic here). Unless theyre adding more that have yet to be finalised.

Yes, Obsidian please take note! (which I think you have so far). Please don't relegate the Paladin's usefulness in regards to other classes to a nice multiclass option. Please make the Pally a strong class, at the very least up there with the rest of them throughout the levels!

Yes, admittedly with the later patches Paladins saw big improvements, but please don't hit them with the nerf bat in Deadfire as they deserve their time to shine! Yes but some tweaking is required with the orders. Yet the removal of malus' is understandable in some aspects when you don't have the option of a 'vanilla' class like you do with the rest.

I think people take issue with 'SJW' additions to a game when they feel forced....shoe-horned in, rather than subtly added, almost like one needs to fit a quota of 'diversity' for a cast or spectrum of characters. For eg having to have at least one gay and one bi npc/party member in a relatively small pool of potential team mates to choose from, just to show that there is diversity, rather than sometimes having them in, sometimes not (for main npcs). Thats ok depending on story and setting, just as in real life there being small percentage minorities that arent always represented every, single, time, and when theyre not, it doesn't necessarily mean discrimination, just that it's ok to not always have to fill a quota that the vast majority don't always fall into, otherwise it feels too artificial. It's the forcing of and cliche passed off as diverse, rather than the natural occasional implementation thats the issue. Ironically, diversity in writing these days usually falls into cliches only for sexual diversity, or a minority taking the role of a traditional stereotype i.e. female warrior in a stereotypical male role, like a 'look we are bucking the trends in an considerate and diverse way'. Diversity and uniqueness in writing would also encompass characters who are likeable yet also have unsavoury traits (Durance is a perfect example of good writing in that way).

How wonderful it is to know, that no matter how far you've come, how independent and developed you are, how much you found out about the world around you, how elaborated your moral values, that there is always someone above you in the chain of command to have the last word. Keeps unwanted responsibility away very effectively. Or on the flip side, what a security blanket it is, to believe that we are not accountable for any action or choice we make in this life once we take our last breath, and we can merely choose to live on any personal impulse or whim that we have the courage to get away with without immediate consequence from others. I find discussing these issues with most people, they have a chip on their shoulder, and no matter the reasoning presented, or how they cloak their opinion and present it as being grounded in logic, there is always an extreme emotional bias involved that will override any convincing reasoning one presents. So I don't intend do debate 'real life' belief systems here, I'd be surprised if people start shoe-horning them here in the context of a fantasy setting in which Gods, powers, magic and so on are common place. Interesting covo so far though

This I appreciate, a 'testing of the faith' or uncertainty and a testing of the character as they word it here. As long as it is this, and I'd personally like it if they leave it open to possibilities. As I mentioned earlier, I'd find it a bit bland, jaded and/or cynical if their 'answer' in the end is total relativism of, nothing is true, only what we personally believe and manifest. This may be a very interesting topic in the real world, but in settings full of magic, wonder, powers and gods, please allow the potential for more, instead of bleak deconstruction, based on personal biases in our real life outlooks and perspectives. Again not accusing anyone of doing this just yet, just voicing a concern of the potential of this occurring in pillars 2.

Initially I didn't like the major change in emphasis of Paladin from its D&D archetype to more of a warlord kind of class in Pillars. Paladins by nature (as described above), are generalists anyway, with no area they excel in a lot, other than perhaps being a resilient tank. With the addition of multiclassing, people can make a class that is much more focused and has distinct advantages of two classes rather than a general vanilla build. However with the paladins strong aura abilities this gave them something quite distinct as well. Paladins should be generalists, sure, but I like that they have some distinct class mechanics as well.

I think this makes Bleakwalkers a little too powerful, as ability is significantly strong with no penalty now.

I listen to Pillars and similar classical game music in my car on the way to work in the mornings. By game standards I am very impressed with the Pillars music

It's actually an interesting take on religion in Pillars 1 and where we currently stand with the story going forth into Pillars 2. I'm also a little wary of a growing trend I personally feel is happening in current popular media, to dismiss, downplay or to outright villainize anything that mildly resembles the positives of organised or communal faith and religion, both historically and contemporarily. Or that of theism, which is substituted for a bland extreme relativism and bleak critique with no positive alternative other than jaded deconstruction. Personal agency and deriving meaning from our own feelings and thoughts on something are wonderful things, but I'd like to think, in such a wonderful world, there are powers (whomever they may be) that are above and beyond our personal convictions manifested, even if its powers or sources beyond the gods as they are known in the game. I don't intend to make this a sociology piece or philosophy thesis! So in short, there is a nice ground where mature themes and shades of grey can be explored, without taking away the magic, wonder, or aspects of high fantasy/good and evil, which are appealing and cause a sense of wonder, even in a non high-fantasy game. Please don't go too far down that path!

Hey you used the portrait of me for this and swapped me, a bald guy, with another (famous) bald guy

From a roleplaying perspective, it really depends on how spells are perceived to work. Are they constructed like mathematics or a complicated interpretation of a 'foreign' language that requires intense mental concentration and aptitude? - Intelligence Are they something, which once invoked/constructed/created, requires willpower and presence/energy to expand, direct maintain and project? - Resolve I feel that duration and area of affect would be resolve related, while intelligence would be casting times and number of spells. Paladin/Priest/Druid would be more resolved based. Mage more intelligence - cipher could be either. Of course this isn't exactly how its being implemented. As said above, it is speculative as it's fantasy - magic, but I think we can apply real world analogies and comparisons like above to make it more believable. It comes down to balancing game mechanics with concepts like above.

I meant inspiration, as a few portraits have been of or inspired by Obsidian staff, not a carbon copy. We don't need people's facts ruining my sensational theory!