The perfect PoE2 experience

[Elric Galad]

(at least for me)

New PC with SSD Hard drive : 

Maniacally modded the game for more than 1 year, to prevent any gamebreaking combos and encourage maximum party building diversity : 

Wife and daughters far away at grandparents' for vacatations while I'm working at home (at least during week daytime  ) : 

 

New party built for the occasion : 
(expect a bit of Balance Polishing Mod self-promotion here, since some of the choice below are justified by it)

- Main Character as a SC Enchanter
- Beguiler / Helwalker
- Kind Wayfarer / Mage Slayer
- SC Stalker with bear
- Priest of Wael / Psion

 

The past year has been complicated on a personal level. Not really sad but often stressful.
Now it's time to relax.
Just reached Neketaka  

Edited July 25, 2021 by Elric Galad

[Torm51]

Nothing better, good to hear  PS Whats the specs on your new PC?  I have a pretty beast rig and deadfire runs extremely well save for like once in a while I will get a micro stutter that has me go from 60 FPS to 40 FPS.  It goes away though and does not happen enough to bother me but I have neve been able to fully get rid of the micro stutter.  I have a suspicion it is my Nvidia, Intel combo.

[thelee]

19 hours ago, Elric Galad said:

New PC with SSD Hard drive : 

aaaaaw yeah, that's the stuff!

 

19 hours ago, Elric Galad said:

Wife and daughters far away at grandparents' for vacatations while I'm working at home (at least during week daytime  ) : 

scratch that, now THAT'S the stuff (just had some grandparents visit for a week and got some quality gaming in while the kids were off playing with them)

[Not So Clever Hound]

It's funny. Decades ago when I was a teenager, I would dread the time when my parents would come home as that would usually mean the end of my cRPG unsupervised marathon.

Now I'm so happy when my parents come to our house because it means they can play with our kid and both my wife and I can get to respectively read and play video games.  

[Elric Galad]

16 minutes ago, Not So Clever Hound said:

It's funny. Decades ago when I was a teenager, I would dread the time when my parents would come home as that would usually mean the end of my cRPG unsupervised marathon.

Now I'm so happy when my parents come to our house because it means they can play with our kid and both my wife and I can get to respectively read and play video games.  

I spent a big chunk of my life alone (bar friends and colleagues) while trying to find "the right one". Played a lot of video games, probably partly for this reason. I had also had time to read and write.

I don't really want to come back to this time. It was a little sad. But it is still part of what made me into what I am. Sometimes, I look at this time with pink-tinted glasses for this reason, but that's an illusion. I'm happy with my family, even if sometimes I would appreciate a little more time for myself (but the girls are going to grow up, so...).

(I would appreciate time with my spouse too, but that's another story. It seems that our planned dream trip to Uzbekistan isn't going to be soon ; I'll ask @Boeroer advices when it would happen  )

Being on my own for a while is basically a way to actually live again this phase of my life without experiencing the main drawbacks.

 

In addition, I spent more time on creating the mod than actually playing lately. Which is also an issue since I have to use the mod to check if everything feels comfortable with it. Somehow, I can say that I have a kind of "responsibility" to play  

I would like to find time to write a bit, but to be honest, even if BPM is not the most popular PoE2 mod, it has still a far wider audience than anything I wrote  

[Not So Clever Hound]

13 minutes ago, Elric Galad said:

Being on my own for a while is basically a way to actually live again this phase of my life without experiencing the main drawbacks.

This exactly! You're happy to get a bit of free time for yourself but then you're also happy when the free time is over and everyone is back home. This is the best.  

[Boeroer]

36 minutes ago, Elric Galad said:

 

(I would appreciate time with my spouse too, but that's another story. It seems that our planned dream trip to Uzbekistan isn't going to be soon ; I'll ask @Boeroer advices when it would happen  )

 

Hit me! I'll write something down with my wife. Maybe there's some colleagues we know who are posted there right now - they could give more recent tipps and recommendations. There's also an internal annual report that I can access. Uzbekistan opened up a lot since we left and the old president died. I guess a lot has changed - for better I presume. To me it was awesome even back then - except the diarrhea. Man... really wash your hands and only eat cooked stuff in restaurants l. One gets used to the germs at some point but it takes months.

[Elric Galad]

Just a bit of comments about the classes I have choosen with reference to BPM changes :

On 7/25/2021 at 9:34 PM, Elric Galad said:

- Main Character as a SC Enchanter

Enchanter is pretty meh in the base game. +2 enchanting power levels isn't going to change your life since they mostly apply to duration (high level echanting spells are also a bit meh) and the passive is a one-shot that you can't even control.

(Of all wiz subclasses, I consider that only base Wiz and Evoker are balanced. Blood Mage is too strong, and other specialist has meh special feat. )

That why I tweaked the subclass so the Dexterity affliction immunity is always applied when under the effect of a Dex Inspiration. Perfect combo with fleet feet and DAoM. Since the bonus is a bit situational I added a small +10% beneficial effects duration as a small but universally useful bonus. 2 bonuses isn't too strong compared to what Evoker gets and given how meh PL bonus is for Enchanter.

 

The reason I picked SC Enchanter is because I initially wanted to pick SC Conjurer and use summoned weapons. I felt it was sad to pick SC Conjurer while I can pick Fassina in a future run so I went with SC Enchanter. The main benefit for it is the access to the powerful Tier IX evocation spells.

On 7/25/2021 at 9:34 PM, Elric Galad said:

- Beguiler  Debonaire / Helwalker

Nothing special about these class. Debonaire is great vs kiths and benefit a lot from having a Cipher in the party.
BPM only allows a bit more variety viability when it comes to Rogue's special attacks.

On 7/25/2021 at 9:34 PM, Elric Galad said:

- Kind Wayfarer / Mage Slayer

I wanted a Kind Wayfarer Barbs. BPM's Mage Slayer has a -25% beneficial effects / -25% hostile effects. It removes the random factor on friendly spells (because random failure on a critical healing spell is the nastiest thing) and makes it more universally useful than vs casters only. The hostile effect reduction is good with pallies for Sacred Immolation, which BPM makes more attractive by halving the zeal cost (you're already paying with your life) 

On 7/25/2021 at 9:34 PM, Elric Galad said:

- SC Stalker with bear

Good old Whirling Strikes dual wielder (most likely weapon + gun), viable without BPM, but BPM provides more tools for SC Rangers (viable Bonded Fury, Heartseeker with infinite duration Enfeebled, and infinite Vengeful grief so you technically can ignore your dead pet).

I think I like my version of SC ranger  

On 7/25/2021 at 9:34 PM, Elric Galad said:

- Priest of Wael / Psion

No big changes from BPM, but using Community Patch Psion makes the subclass a bit easier to use.

Edited July 27, 2021 by Elric Galad

[thelee]

7 hours ago, Elric Galad said:

The reason I picked SC Enchanter is because I initially wanted to pick SC Conjurer and use summoned weapons. I felt it was sad to pick SC Conjurer while I can pick Fassina in a future run so I went with SC Enchanter. The main benefit for it is the access to the powerful Tier IX evocation spells.

i also picked an enchanter for a recent run (MC). yeah, by far the best thing enchantment seems to be simply the schools it has access to. I rely enough on self-buffing, expose vulnerabilities, and call to slumber that the +2 PL is still worth it over a generalist. Free Action has saved my skin a couple times, too. but nothing compared to evoker's bonus (or even conjuration, even if it's a bit of an antisynergy)

 

the tier 7 dragon enchantment spell is pretty darn good though.

[Elric Galad]

Oh my, I realized how good Rods are during this run. Having a modal that allows switching instantly from Single Target to AoE is like being playing with a Black Jacket except Rods are arguably even more convenient than any other AoE weapons due to their range. Dual types of damages make them undead proof.

Running Rods on a Helwalker / Rogue is disgusting. Bonus INT for AoE area, bonus damages of all sorts, Stunning Blows and Afflictions attacks (in an AoE of course), this character is really amazing. I took Fast Runner and Long Stride : having a character with +40% movement speed all the time is crazy good. I picked Escape too, which sounded like an overkill but has proven useful on my paper-made Helwalker.

I become infatuated with Amira's Wing even with its relatively mediocre enchantments (for auto-attacking), just because it is a Superb Rod and isn't that hard to get (and arguably more well rounded than Rod of the Deep Hunt).

 

I'm still trying to find the optimal weapon pair with Whirling Strikes. Stalker's Patience + Scordeo's Trophy feels really good and pretty simple. Strategic Blitz + Driving Flight often lead to 6+ stacks with Whirling Strikes. Each stack is ~11% recovery speed, which is very nice even if it only stacks additively with DW Style. After your big whirling of the death, you'll be quite fast at auto-attacking. Having a left hand mortar could be cool too but it feels a bit suboptimal with small crowds.

 

Kind Wayfarers' White Flame is as good as I thought (never choosen this subclass till now). For a FoD Paladin, I would recommand it over Bleak Walkers. You're basically doing everything in 1 move for 1 zeal ! 

 

This is a good thing that the most (over) powerful stuff doesn't come from my mod (even if it brings good options)  

Edited August 8, 2021 by Elric Galad

[Not So Clever Hound]

3 hours ago, Elric Galad said:

After your big whirling of the death

After your big whirling strike “de la mort” [en français dans le texte]

Interesting stuff about your rogue/monk, glad you are having a “blast” with it (pun intended ). 

[Elric Galad]

3 minutes ago, Not So Clever Hound said:

After your big whirling strike “de la mort” [en français dans le texte]

Interesting stuff about your rogue/monk, glad you are having a “blast” with it (pun intended ). 

Yeah, now I'm wondering about using a SC Cipher as a Rod user. Shared Nightmare + Time Parasite should be fun auto-attack.

[Not So Clever Hound]

Related but maybe not relevant… I recall a discussion between @Boeroerand @Raven Darkholme about an obscene SC Cipher using Watershaper’s focus with an absurdly beefed up Shared Nightmare, destroying everything with Ondra Wrath procs. Raven might have made a video. Just for food for thoughts. Can’t find it now but can dig it up tomorrow if that’s of any interest. 

[Boeroer]

3 hours ago, Elric Galad said:

Running Rods on a Helwalker / Rogue is disgusting. Bonus INT for AoE area, bonus damages of all sorts, Stunning Blows and Afflictions attacks (in an AoE of course), this character is really amazing. I took Fast Runner and Long Stride : having a character with +40% movement speed all the time is crazy good. I picked Escape too, which sounded like an overkill but has proven useful on my paper-made Helwalker.

Try SC Monk with Watershaper's Focus (best rod imo) and Whispers of the Wind.   

3 hours ago, Elric Galad said:

I'm still trying to find the optimal weapon pair with Whirling Strikes.

Keeper of the Flame (watch out: self damage by fire) + Fire in the Hole imo. Dual AoE*AoE - and Fire in the Hole jumps 2 times (including AoE).
Fire in the Hole + St. Drogga's Skull is also nice.
Scordeo's Edge + Current's Rush if it's a lot of enemies. If Current's Rush goes into a crit chain all enemies can die from one single(!) shot. 

[Boeroer]

22 minutes ago, Elric Galad said:

Yeah, now I'm wondering about using a SC Cipher as a Rod user. Shared Nightmare + Time Parasite should be fun auto-attack.

Yes, lots of fun.

Also fun: Barb/Ranger, Barb/Helwalker or Barb/Rogue or even SC Barb with Watershaper's Focus. Once there is Blood Thirst to circumvent the recovery completely the fun starts. Heart of Fury with Watershaper's Focus and then it's just *blam* *blam* *blam*   The only thing I don't like about rods is the low PEN.

[dgray62]

49 minutes ago, Not So Clever Hound said:

Related but maybe not relevant… I recall a discussion between @Boeroerand @Raven Darkholme about an obscene SC Cipher using Watershaper’s focus with an absurdly beefed up Shared Nightmare, destroying everything with Ondra Wrath procs. Raven might have made a video. Just for food for thoughts. Can’t find it now but can dig it up tomorrow if that’s of any interest. 

If I recall correctly, this thread discussed getting a huge AOE with watershaper's focus using a SC soul blade with shared nightmare, with a huge amount of focus, achieved by extending the soul blade's increased focus after melee kills using the strand of favor.

[Elric Galad]

My issue with Watershaper focus is that it is suboptimal vs single target. The beauty of other rods is that you're always 1 click away from single target mode.

Also AoE bounce can bounce on a suboptimal (isolated) target. Don't get me wrong, it certainly works well much of the time, but as a general rule, I like unconditional stuff the most. It's a bit my playstyle (and strand of favor abuse is definitely not  )

Ranged weapons can bounce during Whirling Strikes, I just don't get exactly where the additional hits are made. Seems to be within the original 1.5m area.

I think Mortar can hit stuff out of the original area, which is good because a single hit from WS cause the full bleeding effect.

 

A minor note about Bouncing weapons : the damage reduction does not come from driving flight but is intresic to the weapon. Most weapons (which bounce only due to abilities such as driving flight). Watershaper focus has a 75% bounce value. 1st bounce is 75%, the second is 75%x75% (confirmed to be multiplicative). Not sure there are many weapons in this case. 

 

PS : And I'm planning to side with Furrante this run, so no Scordeo's Edge  

Edited August 8, 2021 by Elric Galad

[Boeroer]

9 hours ago, Elric Galad said:

My issue with Watershaper focus is that it is suboptimal vs single target. The beauty of other rods is that you're always 1 click away from single target mode.

Also AoE bounce can bounce on a suboptimal (isolated) target. Don't get me wrong, it certainly works well much of the time, but as a general rule, I like unconditional stuff the most. It's a bit my playstyle (and strand of favor abuse is definitely not  )

Ranged weapons can bounce during Whirling Strikes, I just don't get exactly where the additional hits are made. Seems to be within the original 1.5m area.

I think Mortar can hit stuff out of the original area, which is good because a single hit from WS cause the full bleeding effect.

 

A minor note about Bouncing weapons : the damage reduction does not come from driving flight but is intresic to the weapon. Most weapons (which bounce only due to abilities such as driving flight). Watershaper focus has a 75% bounce value. 1st bounce is 75%, the second is 75%x75% (confirmed to be multiplicative). Not sure there are many weapons in this case. 

 

PS : And I'm planning to side with Furrante this run, so no Scordeo's Edge  

True, Waterhshaper's Focus is only awesome against groups. It's Ondra's Wrath that makes it especially good - and you need enough hit rolls for that to proc often.
Rod of the Deep Hunter would be way cooler if the debuff on hit wouldn't be capped at 5 stacks.   

Yes, there's only Fire in the Hole and Watershaper's Focus with build-in bounce. Aloth's Keybreaker Scepter had it at release but it was nerfed (why?). Fury's shifted attacks have build-in bounce but don't stack with Driving Flight (as you know). Caedebald's Blackbow has a ridiculously long (12m) and "in all directions" bounce - but it's SC Wizard only so no Driving Flight either. I'm a bit mad that it's not PL7 - seriously. What a great weapon for a Geomancer that would have been. 

Kitchen Stove can have 2 build-in bounces with Wild Shot - but since it's per rest not many players use that I guess.

 

 

[Elric Galad]

2 hours ago, Boeroer said:

True, Waterhshaper's Focus is only awesome against groups. It's Ondra's Wrath that makes it especially good - and you need enough hit rolls for that to proc often.
Rod of the Deep Hunter would be way cooler if the debuff on hit wouldn't be capped at 5 stacks.   

Amira's Wing as 5% chance of prone (sounds fun on a SC Cipher) on Hit and a 10% healing received bonus (not that important for backrow, but still nice. Basically 10% more defense for long fights). This or Rod of the Deep Hunter is probably a matter of preference (debuff per hit also sounds fun with SC Cipher).

Amira's Wind also has an alternate upgrade for +5 deflection instead of prone. +5 Def and +10% healing sounds even... good for a front row ? Only issue is you can't engage. But standing in front while poking every target 8m away sounds like a valid playstyle. Granted the access to spells, it feels a good choice for a Black Jacket.

2 hours ago, Boeroer said:

Kitchen Stove can have 2 build-in bounces with Wild Shot - but since it's per rest not many players use that I guess

Also is mutually exclusive with Thunderous Report... which is great, fun, and per encounter.
I would only pick Wild Shot with an Arcane Archer.

Edited August 9, 2021 by Elric Galad