Battlemage, Zealot, or SC Wizard?

[mjo2138]

Hello everyone,

 I was wondering if you could share your thoughts about some Watcher builds. I didn't finish my Solo run (Swasbuckler), but it was fun experience.  Without further ado, here are my ideas

1. Battlemage who uses Whispers of the Endless Paths WoTEP (haven't tried an Offensive Parry build). I think this build would be the best way to stack Deflection easily. Not sure which direction to go with the classes, however. Tactician looks fun, but lots of variables to consider. Bloodmage might be fun, but most encounters are decided in 60 seconds or less in Deadfire, so I am not sure it is worth losing empower. I guess bloodmage and tactican would be overkill for the resource regeneration (one is enough) 

 

Is it work pumping RES to ensure offensive parry gets the most returns, or can I keep it at 10 and keep my options open? I wanna try out the Spirit Lance summon.

2. SC Wizard (Bloodmage?) . I have never played an SC Wizard Watcher. I was thinking I could pump PER and MIGHT, and focus on spells. Might try out melee summons. Not sure how useful they are for SC wizard (Blackbow aside, that has potential to be a great PL 8 spell that multiclassers cannot get)

3. Zealot (Streetfighter / X?) Perhaps Wodeica , but I am not sure. Was reading that the lashes are quite strong. However, the power level of the summons will be affected if I multiclass, so I am not sure if it is worth it . I will have to read up on it!

4. SC Transmuter: It probably isnt worth it to do this build just for +PL to Cobra strike.  

 

Much thanks in advanced!

 

 

Edited November 5, 2021 by mjo2138
Forgot something

[Boeroer]

Summons scale with character level, not Power Level. So summons of any kind (weapons, creatures) are no problem with multiclassing.

[mjo2138]

4 minutes ago, Boeroer said:

Summons scale with character level, not Power Level. So summons of any kind (weapons, creatures) are no problem with multiclassing.

Thanks. I will add that to my mental library haha. I guess I was thinking about monk's fists (which scale with the classes PL, if I am not mistaken) 

[Boeroer]

That's right. Fists with Transcendent Suffering/Monastic Unarmed Training scale with power level. But Monastic Unarmed Training uses the PL-progression of single class (maybe oversight) even if you are multiclassed - so even there Single Class vs. Multiclass doesn't matter. With a monk it does matter though. 

By the way: Ranger's Animal Companion also scales with char level, not Power Level. 

Edited November 6, 2021 by Boeroer

[mjo2138]

5 hours ago, Boeroer said:

That's right. Fists with Transcendent Suffering/Monastic Unarmed Training scale with power level. But Monastic Unarmed Training uses the PL-progression of single class (maybe oversight) even if you are multiclassed - so even there Single Class vs. Multiclass doesn't matter. With a monk it does matter though. 

By the way: Ranger's Animal Companion also scales with char level, not Power Level. 

That is interesting to keep in a mind for future MC builds with monk. What happens if you 'choose' Monastic Unarmed Training on a Multiclass monk / x character? Are the 'fists' always going to be based on the Monk (Multiclassed) Power Level, then? 

I honestly don't use Range Animal Companion as much as I should. I always love to AOE (blunderbass or spells)  , so sometimes the pet dies lol. There are ways around that, of course. 

On another topic,  Firebrand would then work with multiclassed characters (though I could use scrolls , too for 2 arcana only) Thanks again for the info! 

 

[Boeroer]

2 hours ago, mjo2138 said:

What happens if you 'choose' Monastic Unarmed Training on a Multiclass monk / x character?

You cannot pick Monastic Unarmed Training when you have a Monk multiclass. The MuT ability gets removed from the ability tree because you will already have Transcendent Suffering and the game doesn't want you to stack them.  

You could add it with the console or a mod. In that case the two abilities will stack completely (PEN-, ACC- and damage bonus).

 

 

2 hours ago, mjo2138 said:

On another topic,  Firebrand would then work with multiclassed characters (though I could use scrolls , too for 2 arcana only)

Yup    

Edited November 6, 2021 by Boeroer

[mjo2138]

So, I am strongly considering re-rolling the Tactician/Wizard I made. It just feels like I am neither a potent caster, not a damage dealer. I am , however, a good tank that does mediocre damage. Eder dishes out much better damage than I can as a swashbuckler.  It also is pretty hard to make sure every enemy is flanked, and none of my party is. Besides, most fights finish quickly, so I am not sure brillant is all that necessary.... lots of micro involved to keep it active.  Also, I need betray the Princip to get the Gipon Prudesco armor, which by the way looks amazing. I know I can get squids grasp and the club for flanking immunity, but  I really want that armor!!!

I can see brilliant really shining in a solo run, on a swashbuckler who has Persistent Distraction.  would really pay off mid/late game. I  might just focus on being an engagement hog who tanks the mobs.  I must say, the melee buffs from the wizard tree are great- but it feels like they would be better suited for a rogue, monk, or barb. 

The other option would be for me to play as a caster who takes advantage of the Intuitive buff from the fighter's tree. Seems like a waste, however, to just use that skill. I might try to 'wait it out' for Spirit Lance, and see how that is.I can imagine all the buffs would go well with spirit lance, and then the fighter skills come into play nicely for the active and passives. haven't been impressed with WoTEP - its damage is bad, and the offensive parry is also very little dmg.... the cone of attack is nice, but not ground breaking.

On another note, Serafan is pretty weak as a witch early on  - not a lot of defensive buffs. Seems like I have to get him the highest AR armor, otherwise he gets killed quickly. I really like his character however. Have been running a party with Tekehu (druid/chanter), and he is really good. 

 

[NotDumbEnough]

You should avoid over-prioritizing flanking everyone. In most conventional fights you don't really need Brilliant. That said Tacticians are definitely not ideal for dealing damage as the accuracy and penetration penalties are pretty crippling.

[mjo2138]

Yes @NotDumbEnough, that has been my thought process.  I would rather just play in a normal way, so a devoted/wizard would better serve the purposes of being a tank with good stats, and good battlefield mobility. I can see it being quite fun at level 20, using wall of draining, and trying out Draconic Fury.