[CLASS BUILD] The Spellbinder - a spellsword with the heart of a collector

[Boeroer]

This build was created for a collaboration with @Aestus who runs the Youtube channel Aestus_RPG. This is build 3 of 3 from that collaboration. A link to the published video will follow once it's out.
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This build is mainly meant for inspiration. You don't need to follow it in detail to have fun. If you understand the key features - the basic idea what makes this build special - you can usually deviate from non-core attribute-, skill-, gear- and ability selection and form the build to your own likings and ideas. 
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uvan Thanleyr was born into the aristocratic family of Thanleyr in the Aedyr Empire. From an early age, Tuvan was groomed for a life of refinement and diplomacy, but his heart was never content in the stuffy halls of power. His true fascination lay in hidden treasures: ancient artifacts, forgotten relics, and the mysterious forces that imbued them with power.

As a child, Tuvan spent more time exploring the family estate’s vaults and libraries than attending banquets and galas. Over time, he became enchanted by tales of long-lost magical items and the forbidden knowledge they contained. His quiet curiosity turned into obsession, and with the aid of discreet family contacts, he began to procure such artifacts.

Rather than following the traditional path of diplomacy like his forefathers, Tuvan adopted the role of an independent collector, traveling across the empire and beyond in search of rare magical items. Using his sharp intellect and quick fingers, he became an adept rogue - able to navigate both the political intrigue of the noble courts and the more dangerous, shadowy world of thieves and tomb raiders.

Tuvan's deep knowledge of enchanted items and his knack for discovering spellbindings allowed him to harness the power of these artifacts. By attuning himself to those spellbound items he was able to wield powerful magic that would have otherwise been beyond his reach.

However, his life was not without conflict: while his noble lineage granted him privilege, it also drew the attention of powerful rivals who sought to claim his treasures. With enemies closing in from all sides, Tuvan fled his homeland and lost all he had collected. He dicided to venture into the Dyrwood, where Engwithan ruins promised new adventures and better loot, albeit more risk. Tuvan must rely on his wits, his agility and his growing collection of magical items to navigate the dangerous waters of the nobility, the shadowy underworld and the merciless tribes of the Glanfathans protecting those ruins...

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The Spellbinder
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Difficulty: PotD
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Class: Rogue
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Race: Wood Elf (or Island Aumaua for more weapon slots)
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Background: Aedyr - Aristocrat (just for the vibes)
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Stats:
MIG: 12
CON: 08
DEX: 16
PER: 16
INT: 18
RES: 08 (+1 Aedyr)
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Skills: Mechanics 12, Survival 6 (use a +2 Survival item before camping to get the increased ACC against certain enemies)
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Talents (a=auto, r=recommended, !=important)
2: Weapon Focus Ruffian
4: Vicious Fighting (r)
6: Arms Bearer (r) 
8: Wilder Hunter
10: Primal Bane
12: Beast Slayer
14: Scion of Flame
16: Spirit of Decay

Abilities
1: Crippling Strike
3: Dirty Fighting(r)
5: Deep Wounds
7: Coordinated Positioning
9: Escape
11: Deathblows (!)
13: Smoke Cloud
15: Shadow Step

Story Talents:
- Mob Justice (just because it fit the treasure hunter theme best)
- Dungeon Delver
- Song of the Heavens
- Flick of the Wrist
- Hylea's Boon
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Items (!=important, r=recommended):
Weapon Set 1: Bittercut + Bittercut
Weapon Set 2: Bleak Fang + Azureith's Stiletto
Weapon Set 3: White Spire/Taluntain's Staff/Sabre of the Seas+Flames of Fair Rhian
Boots: Animancer's Boots/Bilestompers/
Head: Munacra Arret/Ethereal Helm (toss away after charges are depleted)
Armor: Sun-Touched Mail of Hyran Rath/White Crest Armor/Hunter's Mail
Neck: Amulet of Summer Solstice/Nidhen's Finger/Cloak of Minor Missiles/Swaddling Sheet
Belt: Coil of Resourcefulness
Rings: Bartender's Ring/Ring or Searing Flames/Gwyn's Band of Union/Ring of Changing Heart/Sigil of the Arcane
Hands: Rotfinger Gloves/Siegebreaker Gauntlets/Spirit Spiral
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Hallöchen,

a final last build for PoE (I think) - I was invited for a second interview by @Aestus again, this time for PoE. And since I talked about some PoE build ideas in the forum but never posted them, we thought this was a good opportunity to do so.

The Spellbinder is a variant of a build I posted years ago: the Sorcerer's Apprentice (see below).

https://forums.obsidian.net/topic/86156-class-build-the-sorcerers-apprentice-twisted-sneaky-dps-scroll-user/

The reasons why damaging spells work well with Rogues are explaned there. In short: Deathblows works with damage from spells, too - giving your spells +100% damage. And of course the Rogue has good accuracy.
But instead of using scrolls this Rogue is using spellbind gear to collect and cast a lot of per-rest spells. There are a lot of fitting items in the game, you can see a collection I mostly used above.

I chose Wood Elf because of the Distant Advantage (also applies to ranged spells). And then I focused on the mobility aspect of the Rogue and left out the melee abilities - just to do something different. I also leaned into spell damage even more by using mostly abilites and talents which work with weapon AND spells (Scion of Flame, Beast Slayer, pick up the Bartender's Ring and so on - even Deep Wounds works with spells if they deal crush, pierce or slash damage). But you don't need to do that! It's also nice to build the usual melee Rogue with all sorts of Strikes and put the spellbinding on top. The core idea is using Deathblows with spells. However, I enjoyed the focus on mobility abilities of the Rogue a lot for a change. Very useful for perfect positioning for the optimal cast.

I also threw some spellstriking (trigger a spell when you critically hit an enemy) and spellholding (trigger a spell when you get critically hit) into the mix. If you switch to Bleak Fang + Azureith's Stiletto or Sabre of the Seas while enemies are afflicted twice - and manage to crit one of them - the resulting AoE damage is extremely high. 

You have to force yourself to actually use the spells those items provide though. Don't make the mistake and try to spare them for the big encounter and then rest with lots of spell uses left untouched. At some point you'll have so many items in your inventory who have spells bound to them and are still full. If your currently equipped items are empty: just swap them with fresh ones. At some point only after lots of fights you will have to rest because of depleted spells. It's more likely that you'll have to rest because of low health than of low spells. And even then: you're still a full Rogue with great weapon damage, right? Especially with sabres like Bittercut you can always shine with great melee single target damage - even if your spells are gone. 

To me this way to play a Rogue is more fun than the traditonal single-target approach. And finally you get some more use out of those sepllbind items.

This is may also be a nice theme build if you want to play a Spellblade in Deadfire and wondered what class to play in PoE first. 

This apporach also totally works with a Fighter btw. - the combination of Disciplined Barrage and high base ACC of the Fighter is great for using CC-spells from spellbinds. A Fighter lacks the Deathblow ability to turn damaging spells into real nukes, but his accuracy with Whisper of Treason etc. is unmatched. If you thought about playing a Battlemage in Deadfire, maybe a spellbind Fighter is nice to play in PoE first. I played Edér that way recently - and despite his low INT it worked very well. 

Cheers!

 

  

Edited Sunday at 08:02 PM by Boeroer

[lazhu]

Oh yeah! Munacra Arret is just OP. To turn half the pack on each other can be such a fun, especially those annoying assassins. And being available so early in game. And cool-looking also - that stylish monocle which leaves your hairstyle visible ))

Edited Friday at 02:42 PM by lazhu

[Boeroer]

27 minutes ago, lazhu said:

And cool-looking also - that stylish monocle which leaves your hairstyle visible

Exactly!  

[Chaospread]

On 12/13/2024 at 2:44 PM, Boeroer said:

14: Shadow Step

"15:"

On 12/13/2024 at 2:44 PM, Boeroer said:

Hallöchen,

uh?

On 12/13/2024 at 2:44 PM, Boeroer said:

This is maybe also be a nice theme build if you want to play a Spellsword in Deadfire

"Spellblade"

Aside from corrections...

Very great variation on them from "Sorcerer's Apprentice" who I like so much - I think you should mention him in the video because he is fantastic, I remember very little things, if I still remember Sorcerer's Apprentice it means he is a special character

I love Tuvan's description, I think about him like an "Indiana Jones of Eora"

By the way, I think you can skip one or two talents for some cross-class talents as Aspirant's Mark, Enigma's Charm and Prestidigitator's Missiles, don't I?

And since he seems like a "ranged" rogue, what about some ranged backup weapons such as Fulvano's Blunderbuss (ruffian) or maybe even Cloudpiercer, Sabra Marie, Curoc's Brand, Red Reed Wand, Cgadob's Hazel and I think the best of all, Rod of Wind and Thunder?

Thank you very much for another awesome, original and interesting build as usual and many kudos as usual!

[Boeroer]

1 hour ago, Chaospread said:

"15:"

Whoopsi, thanks!

  

1 hour ago, Chaospread said:

uh?

https://www.dict.cc/deutsch-englisch/Hallöchen!.html 

 

Edited Sunday at 06:29 PM by Boeroer

[Boeroer]

1 hour ago, Chaospread said:

By the way, I think you can skip one or two talents for some cross-class talents as Aspirant's Mark, Enigma's Charm and Prestidigitator's Missiles, don't I?

Sure! I didn't recommend any abilities/talents besides 3 or 4 on purpose - because the core if he build only is to pay attention to spellbinding items and really use them a lot.
Since the Sorcerer's Apprentice already used Prestidigitator's Missiles and was a ranged Rogue I just wated to try out something different. Sabre Rogue has a certain appeal and three unique sabres (Flames oFR, Buttercut and Sabre of the Sea) do have spells on them, so I thought that's also a nice approach.
I tried to mostly pick talents/abilities which boost spells, that's why there are all those weird "Beast Slayer" talents there. I usually wouldn't take them for a "normal" Rogue - but in this case I thougt it should work. But you can absolutely build a spellbind Rogue in a lot of ways: ranges, with more crossclass talents/spells and so on.
Enigma's Charm as third charm option in addition to Munacra Arret and Spirit Spiral is btw. what I did with my last spellbind fighter - and it's really a great way to add very high accuracy CC to a party. Makes the fighter so much more useful imo. Would also work well with a rogue or any other high ACC class (Ranger, Monk...).