Looking for some ideas for my next Deadfire party

[Vasvary5050]

Hi folks. I'm planning on another playthrough of Deadfire (my 4th playthrough). My challenge to myself this time is to not to use any multi-class combination this time that I've used before to keep it fresh. I do play on POTD upscaled, but I'm a bit rusty as its been over a year since I last played, so I want characters that can pull their weight.

This is what I've got in mind so far:

1) Ranger/Cipher (I like rangers and ciphers but haven't used this combo before and I think it will be strong)

2) Rogue/Something (I really like ranged rogues, using Rod's Blast with Watershaper's Focus to apply rogue attacks as AoE). Not sure what to multi-class with this time (maybe monk or devoted?)

3) Psion or Psion/Something - never used a Psion so this is an experiment. Not sure whether to keep single class or multiclass

4) Someone who can tank. My favourites are fighter/rogue, fighter/chanter, fighter/paladin and paladin/chanter, but I've used all those before and not sure what to use this time. 

5) Someone who can heal. Probably a Druid/something or a Paladin/something

What I'd really like is (a) some ideas for how to build a Psion for a party (i.e. not a solo build) as I'm really not sure how best to use a Psion. And (b) suggestions for what to multi-class the rogue with, and what to put in slots 4 and 5.  Any ideas appreciated!

[Boeroer]

3 hours ago, Vasvary5050 said:

1) Ranger/Cipher (I like rangers and ciphers but haven't used this combo before and I think it will be strong)

It is strong, especially with Frostseeker as main weapon. Then the best combo is Arcane Archer/Ascendant imo. Very high ACC, lots of crits and weapon damage->focus. 

3 hours ago, Vasvary5050 said:

2) Rogue/Something (I really like ranged rogues, using Rod's Blast with Watershaper's Focus to apply rogue attacks as AoE). Not sure what to multi-class with this time (maybe monk or devoted?)

Maybe you should give Streetfighter/Helwalker a try. Dual mortars (Hand Mortar + Fire in the Hole) gives you full AoE attacks to pair with your strikes, absurd reloading speed and sneak attack bonus (the blunderbuss modal triggers the Streetfighter passive). And the absolutely best combo is AoE mortars + Stunning Surge (Monk). Also Duality of Mortal Presence (INT) is aweseome with AoE weapons and affliction durations. Dual mortar is better than rod + blast in this case because you will profit from all your Full Attacks more (two shots instead of only one).
Mirke can also use this combo, she can be a Streetfighter/Monk. No Helwalker then but that's not really important.

3 hours ago, Vasvary5050 said:

3) Psion or Psion/Something - never used a Psion so this is an experiment. Not sure whether to keep single class or multiclass

I highly recommend Psion/Troubadour. The following is a party build. Just make sure the Psion isn't the weakest party member in terms of deflection so he doesn't get attacked/shot at a lot: 

But any caster class + Psion is great imo.  

3 hours ago, Vasvary5050 said:

4) Someone who can tank. My favourites are fighter/rogue, fighter/chanter, fighter/paladin and paladin/chanter, but I've used all those before and not sure what to use this time. 

How about a Brute (Barbarian/Fighter)? This combo can have a ton of engagement slots, high health, high AR, high defenses, great self heal and at the same time attacks very quickly for a tank and does reasonable weapon damage per hit (esp. when bloodied). You can counter the deflection loss while frenzied with a large shield. Or not use frenzy as much (althoug it raises Fortitude by 20 points alone which can be very useful). Many resistances, too (Unflinching + Fighter resistances etc.) I like this as a "Mataru" Huana warrior with Kapana Taga (club), Reckless Brigandine (brigandine), Cadhu Scalth (large shield) and Death's Maw (hidden) so it looks properly like a Huana. My subclass pick would be Vanilla Barb/Unbroken (more AR with a shield) but it also works fine with both vanilla or Devoted or so.
For another look I would maybe take seomething like Gladiator Sword + Bronlar's Phalanx or so. 

Rekke can be a Brute, so he can fulfill this role as well.

3 hours ago, Vasvary5050 said:

5) Someone who can heal. Probably a Druid/something or a Paladin/something

A Sorcerer can be a very nice healer (and much more) if you pair Livegiver(Cat form) with Bloodmage. Healing counters Blood Sacrifice's self damage. Infuse with Vital Essence makes Spiritshift and healing last longer, Cat Flurry makes you cast very fast. Spiritshift of a Livegiver grants +5 PL for all Rejuvenation spells. If Spirithift ends it's -5 PL - but you can keep up Spiritshift for a long time with Wall of Draining. This also prolongs healing and buffs on yourself, making you very tanky, too. But ofc. this is only possible at PL7:

Fassina can be a Sorcerer. She isn't a Livegiver though - but ofc. a vanilla Druid still is a great healer.

A Herald (Paladin/Chanter), especially Kind Wayfarer/Troubadour can be a great healer, too. White Flames + Exalted Endurance + Ancient Memory + Mercy and Kindness + Lay on Hands and so on makes for a great combo of passive and active healing. I actually like this best with dual pistols and not melee. It makes your positioning for White Flames less dependend on enemies' position, reloading weapons make it possible to immediately cast a healing after shooting (reloading can be canceled, unlike recovery), so it's more reactive. Pistols have a decent range unlike blunderbusses and not acc penalty (you cannot miss with White Flames else the healing doesn't happen) and you will get a Full Attacks (two shots) per FoD use which means 2*White Flames healing. It's also easy to create a custom AI setting for such a Herald since he doesn't need to move as much as a melee one. 
But of course a Herald can be tanky as heck, so with a bashing shield (see Magran's Blessing for example) he can at least be a great offtank behind the brute, if not more and still proc two White Flames. Herald with Magran's Favour (Battle Axe) and Sun & Moon (Flail) can get +4 Power Level to FLames of Devotion (also raises the healing of White Flames) which would make him better at melee dmg and healing but less tanky.  

[Chaospread]

2) Rogue / Monk is ok
3) Psion / Chanter for auto replenishment of resource is a good combo / idea

4) I would always have tried a fighter / paladin with great defensens, engagment slots etc... maybe you can give it a try

5) Healer: Druid with Paladin or Chanter. If you have already enough chanters e paladins on your side and wanna try somenthing different, Druid / Priest is interesting but not such a great healer as others.

[Boeroer]

8 hours ago, Chaospread said:

5) Healer: Druid with Paladin or Chanter. If you have already enough chanters e paladins on your side and wanna try somenthing different, Druid / Priest is interesting but not such a great healer as others.

That's actually a good idea since the party lacks a Priest otherwise.

And I would say at least at the highest levels and with a Cipher (and Ancestor's Memory) in the party a Livegiver (Cat)/Priest of Eothas should be an awesome healer. Once you are brilliant from Ancestor's Memory you turn into Cat form (+5 PL to Rejuvenation on top of the +2 PL Livegivers get anyway for Rejuvenations) and cast Salvation of Time and then all sorts of healing spells. Rinse and repeat. Never switch back from cat form because of Salvation of Time (always +5 PL on Rejuvenation), never stop being brilliant (unless dispelled somwhow) and chuck out awesome healing spells without limits - AND healing over time effects will also stay on you. Might be able to stack an absurd amount of instances of healing over time effects on you and your party members...

Or don't use Livegiver but pick up the Spine of Thicket Green and enchant it with Empowering Lifeblood: enjoy +2 PL to Rejuvenation (Druid) and Restoration (Priest) spells and don't mess around with Spiritshift at all. Maybe pick Ancient instead (there's two nice sporeling summuns who can tank pretty well if you support them with healing - and one healing spell is a plant spell (Garden of Life) so that'd get a bonus Power Level from being Ancient, too). Maybe pick a Nature Godlike for the additonal +1 PL? Thematically fitting and good performance.

And as I sad: there isn't a Priest in he party yet (didn't realize before). So this multiclass could also buff at combat start and then switch to healing after that. Normally you don't need a lot of healing right at the start of battle - so a dedicated healer might just stand around and wait to be useful. Might as well cast a Blessing and Devotions otF first.   

[Vasvary5050]

Thanks Boeroer and Chaospread for the great ideas. I will definitely try these class combos!!