Jingshui

Thanks so much!! Was there some way I was supposed to know that the temple was a higher difficulty? I had had a hard time coming through the previous map, got irritated when I was 2-shot by the bear, and finally decided I was going to draw a line in the sand and finish a piece of content. I ask about difficulty because Elvarein says it is a "level 3-4" with a full group. Knowing how to judge difficulty would be tremendously helpful..... The rest of the tips here are huge, and I'm ready to go back into the game and refocus my efforts.

So.... ciphers -can- be successful as ranged DPS? I started with a bow (because of some background trait), but one I saw that the main spell I chose was a frontal cone, and that that was his main damage ability, I gave him a pair of daggers. Thanks for everything so far, seriously.

Obviously, no one -has- to help me, but I'm frustrated by my experience so far, and I feel like I'm missing something key. I want desperately to love it, but I need to fix my approach. First, my background: "Back in the day" I played all of NWN 1 and 2, and their x-pacs. While I know neither of those are technically an IE game, I thought that was close enough. Playing PoE, I'm worried that I might have forgotten a lot. My character: Moon Godlike Cipher. I'm willing to re-roll this guy to enjoy this game, if that's what I need to do. From some of my reading, I take it that this is a somewhat more difficult class? How would a druid or ranger compare? Or should I just go full fighter? I'm open to advice on this front. My experience: Lots of dying. I think I've learned a lot from trial-and-death, but I've hit a wall with what I can figure out myself. FIRST HOUR OR SO SPOILERS TO DESCRIBE MY LOCATION IN-GAME: I have spent a little time in the Guilded Vale, and have received the quest to meet a Watcher. Edér and Aloth have joined my party. With a Fighter (which I had take Guardian Stance at a recent level-up) and a Wizard, I thought I might finally be successful at Eothas' tomb. I was finally able to clear the first floor without a ton of issues, getting used to using doorways as choke point with a little success. I changed my formation so that Edér leads, my cipher is behind him (I like him having to take a moment to come around into melee - maybe it helps the tank establish aggro??) and Aloth several squares back. I don't micromanage Edér much, sometimes I use his Knockdown. I micromanage (with spacebar) Aloth and my cipher a great deal. When Shadows and whatnot beeline for Aloth, I have my Cipher use a first-level Charm ability. Sometimes it even works, heh. My 2 damage do-ers otherwise get micro-managed into using their biggest AoEs, and my problems SEEM (from my perspective) to come from positioning? I guess I don't know how to be more defensive, or what to do besides throw up my hands when it all goes pear-shaped. And when it does, it does so fast..... I -did- start the game on Normal, but I have swallowed my pride and bumped it down to Easy. And swallowed it further to get help. Because I really do want to love this game - I want to know more about the world, I love the actual RPing opportunities it's had so far. But last night I quit in a rage. I just die over and over, no matter how much I think and adjust. In summary, the things I've done that involve NOT just running in and auto-attacking: A formation with my "tank" in front (though I wish he'd ever hold aggro) Use doorways to block packs when possible. Careful use of AoE uber-nukes from my Wizard and Cipher Constant use of spacebar - I'm not trying to manage them in real-time Tank has picked up and activated Guardian Stance Swallowed my pride, turned the difficulty down to Easy and asked for help. Am I hopeless? I get the impression I'm playing the whole thing wrong, somehow, and I want so much to love it. I backed it, I believe in it, and I dont' want to give up. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to give kindly advice.