Looking for advice for a custom Paladin Trio

[ExistingRug61]

Hi everyone. I am coming back to replay Deadfire (previously played through back a few years ago) and am looking for some advice on optimizing a custom three person party, subject to some “playstyle” like constraints. This will be for RTwP, not turn based.

 

General idea is three multi-classed paladins:

Inquisitor: Kind Wayfarer/Beguiler or Soul Blade

Holy Slayer: Kind Wayfarer/Trickster

Herald: Shieldbearer/Troubadour

All paladins (of compatible dispositions) for RP/theme reasons, with the multiclass additions of cipher, rogue and chanted because I really like all of those classes and to provide distinction between each character.

While each character will likely specialize in role a bit due to their multiclass, ie: Inquisitor CC/debuff, Holy Slayer striker and Herald tankier/support, I would sill like each to be fairly well rounded in terms of offence and defence, ie: not pure tank Herald and glass cannon Holy Slayer. Basically so each could be effective individually but still assist/benefit the group

 

Things key areas I am still trying to figure out

 

Weapon Selection

I have a strong preference for dual wield, either melee or firearms. Definitely for the Inquisitor and Holy Slayer but don’t mind one hand and shield for the herald. The question is which types or specific weapons would best suit each character, while making sure penetration is not a problem.

For the Herald Sasha’s Singing Scimitar seems like a nice choice (I do like action speed buffs), but I’m not sure if the aura effect is worth it given there’s only two other characters for it to effect, as opposed to simply using a more individually powerful weapon.

For the Holy Slayer I was thinking one weapon set of dual blunderbuss (AoE/mortar type) for AoE rogue debuff/interrupt attacks. This would be used primarily at the start of combat before swapping to another dual wield melee pair. This I am less sure of, had been considering dual sabre (Tarn’s/Aldris/Scordeo’s) or Daggers (Marux Amanth/Pukestabber).

Which leaves the Inquisitor. In isolation I like something like dual swords (Modwyr/Watchers Blade) but then all three members are using slashing melee weapons. Maybe a second set of dual pistols for opening focus gain before switching to the primary melee set.

Really looking for other suggestions in this area. Is this too limited in weapon type, ie: need something blunt somewhere (flail or club?) and/or more outright penetration from weapons (stilleto or mace?). And is it worth considering any of the +Fire PL weapons (Magran’s/Sun Moon) for FoD, although all three characters probably will spend a lot of time doing other things? Maybe on the Inquisitor as most of its attacks will probably be FoD?

 

Paladin ability distribution between characters

Just wanting to get some of others thoughts of how to split up paladin abilities between the three characters. Obviously there are some passives that they can all take, and they can each have a different aura, but then there’s probably room for another active or two from the paladin side for each character but I am a bit unsure which would be best for each character. Also if any of the more specific things, like Scion of Flame, are worth it given it would mainly be for FoD.

 

Cipher subclass and spell selection

I don’t really like ascendant due to the downtime, and Psion doesn’t seem to suit being in melee, but am at a bit of a toss up between the other two. Beguiler obviously supports casting more, but Soul Blade provides an alternative damage source without having to spend an ability.

 

Herald offence

I have seem multiple build guides for Herald that are focused on tanking/healing. While I see the strength in that I would prefer to be a bit more active and offensive and am wondering how best to achieve this without overly weakening the defensive capabilities. Preferably without simply having lots of summons.

 

Any other suggestions or possible synergies would be welcome.

[Waski]

There is nice soulbound mace for cipher (long lasting+10 acc to everything after hit, stunned on crit)

Edited November 17, 2020 by Waski

[thelee]

5 hours ago, ExistingRug61 said:

Is this too limited in weapon type, ie: need something blunt somewhere (flail or club?) and/or more outright penetration from weapons (stilleto or mace?)

what difficulty are you planning on playing on? on lower difficulties penetration is less of an issue so long as you keep up with your gear, but on potd with upscaling i would definitely pick up some alternate weapons for PEN. on potd+upscaling i would also pick up hel-hyraf->shield cracks on your herald.

it wouldn't hurt to diversify your weapon damage types - i know there are some slash immunes out there, but i forget how common they are. at the very least, taking out sigils is most effective with blunt weapons since they are pierce/slash immune.

5 hours ago, ExistingRug61 said:

And is it worth considering any of the +Fire PL weapons (Magran’s/Sun Moon) for FoD, although all three characters probably will spend a lot of time doing other things? Maybe on the Inquisitor as most of its attacks will probably be FoD?

i personally don't think FoD is worth going out of the way for PL scaling. if you plan on picking up sacred immolation then that would be more worthwhile with PL scaling. for either purposes though, you should pick up ring of focused flame for whichever paladin would load up on this stuff.

 

5 hours ago, ExistingRug61 said:

While I see the strength in that I would prefer to be a bit more active and offensive and am wondering how best to achieve this without overly weakening the defensive capabilities.

for offense it might be worth going bellower (i like the bellower quite a bit) and picking up things like the lightning invocation, the maggot invocation, and of course the ice bolt invocation (many invocations would be great with the bonus bellower PL). you can still pick up ancient memory, zealous endurance, mercy and kindness and load out with a regenerating shield for defense.

Edited November 17, 2020 by thelee

[ExistingRug61]

On 11/18/2020 at 2:59 AM, thelee said:

what difficulty are you planning on playing on? on lower difficulties penetration is less of an issue so long as you keep up with your gear, but on potd with upscaling i would definitely pick up some alternate weapons for PEN. on potd+upscaling i would also pick up hel-hyraf->shield cracks on your herald.

it wouldn't hurt to diversify your weapon damage types - i know there are some slash immunes out there, but i forget how common they are. at the very least, taking out sigils is most effective with blunt weapons since they are pierce/slash immune.

i personally don't think FoD is worth going out of the way for PL scaling. if you plan on picking up sacred immolation then that would be more worthwhile with PL scaling. for either purposes though, you should pick up ring of focused flame for whichever paladin would load up on this stuff.

 

for offense it might be worth going bellower (i like the bellower quite a bit) and picking up things like the lightning invocation, the maggot invocation, and of course the ice bolt invocation (many invocations would be great with the bonus bellower PL). you can still pick up ancient memory, zealous endurance, mercy and kindness and load out with a regenerating shield for defense.

Thanks for the replies.

I will probably be playing on veteran again, possibly with upscaling on.

I hadn't really considered Bellower, as I really like the extra linger and brisk recitation option for versatility. I guess even if built with the same chants/invocations, I was thinking that the Troubadour would either have better chant uptime or more frequent invocations with brisk.  Although now that you mention it Bellower would definitely maximise the damage invocations especially.

 

I had been thinking something like:

Chants: Soft Winds of Death, Ancient Memory, Aefyllath, Silver Knights, Courage Thick as Steel, Thick Grew Their Tongues (the latter two to be used with brisk)

Invocations: Hel Hyraf (+upgrade), Thrice Was She Wronged (+upgrade), Killers Froze Stiff, Seven Nights (+upgrade), Bride Caught Their Ruse (+upgrade?)

Not sure if that's too many, maybe a bit too much redundancy in defensive chants.

I had Silver Knights as I don't think the Herald or Inquisitor have a way to get an active +deflection bonus otherwise (unless I take Reinforcing Exhortation on someone). But if there are better options for that then I could possibly drop that.

I was also thinking of getting White Worms early (not listed above), and respeccing that into Thick Grew their Tongues, assuming that is going to be more useful in the later game?

 

One extra question, would Inspired Beacon be worth it on the Herald as another zeal spender beyond LoH? Had also been thinking Liberating Exhortation (maybe upgraded to command, but that seems redundant with Bride Caught Their Ruse). Or should the character just get paladin passives and only really use chanter actives?