WoTeP Soulblade-Steel Garrote build/party idea (POTD/megabosses)

[Zoda]

Hi All,

So I'm nearing 100%  on my current Devoted/Tricster + Willbreaker run (Dorudungan, Auranic and Ukaizo left), and it was a pretty fun build, and I enjoyed it a lot, but I was stuck with a single weapon for the entire playthrough. Obviously comming back to Deadfire again I want more

I'm planning to play WoTeP for the first time on my watcher (did some trickster/garrote run up to like lvl 10 or so, but was unimpressed with it).

My idea is to not rely solely on WoTeP. I'm plannig to:

- start the fights I can from stealth with a double FoD from The Red Hand (hopefully triggering inspiring triumph too)

- then switch to WoteP without reloading, already with some focus to Soul Anihilate

- for big solo bosses I'm planning to use The Willbreaker + modal and desintegrate 

Stat allocation is pretty rough for this build: needs near max RES, INT with high PER and at least some might and dex, but I guess that'll be managable. Probably gonna have a buddy chanter (or two).

Not 100% sold on Steel Garrote yet, late game a Trickster multiclass would probably be stronger, but I just played trickster.

I honestly have very little experience with WoTeP, but considering how stretched on stats this build is going to be, a 2nd tanky character is probably in order. I usually have Edér, but it is kinda boring to have him on literally the same build every playthrough, so this time I might go for a different companion cast from my trusty Edér + Seer + Wildrhymer + Herald (full healbot).

Was thinking about covering heals with a Kind Wayferer + Troubadour built offensively and spamming buffed FoDs (although might compete with the Watcher for ring of inner fire, but I guess I can live with that). Add a tactician/priest for buffs and emergency heals and also some damage output. The kind wayfarer could use Grave Calling to kill of some skeletons to spawn chill fog for easy Brilliant Tactician trigger too (or just have the watcher cast Phantom Foes). As for the rest of the party, I'm not set on yet. Maybe a Troubadour/Psion, as I never played Psion and some high range autoattacker to interrupt casters. I usually use Spearcaster on a Wildrhymer for that, but since I want to change it up... maybe a Frostseeker using savage (arcane archer/mage slyer).

Aim is the same, POTD with all megabosses. Could this work? I'm normally worried about WoTeP builds vs the big endgame boss fights, but maybe this build would still be flexible enough to do well in the toughest encounters.

[Kaylon]

Since you already have a paladin in your party I would go with a trickster/soul blade instead. WotEP does great damage with SA against multiple targets and vs single enemies you can switch to Sun and Moon + Tuotilo's Palm/Best Defense for great dps because you can spam SA. 

[Boeroer]

I had most fun with the WotEP when I used it with a Steel Garrote/Bloodmage. I didn't use it to deal AoE damage but to drain health from melee enemies at the same time as casting spells (and using Blood Sacrifice). With Offensive Parry you daze enemies automatically which unlocks the Steel Garrote drain. You can then "passively" parry melee enemies and gain health from that and don't need to take action to heal yourself so often (good for your action economy).

Against single targets (or when I wasn't tanky enough with the WotEP) I used Concelhaut's Draining Touch with the Grimoire switching trick so the Draining Touch never goes away during fights (with a large shield of needed, else with a club+modal in the offhand to lower enemies' Will for the Draining Touch (targets Will instead of deflection). This is also a great weapon setup in combination with Miasma + Ryngrim spells against mobs: they disengage and get wrecked by the hefty disengagement attacks which drain health (Draining Touch + Garrote). Again: disengagement attacks don't use any action time so you can cast spells instead.

Obviously this isn't really a melee character in the traditional sense. It's more like a way to deal weapon damage and heal in the process without wasting action time but use this to cast (more) spells.

While casting spells with you as the center (like Torrent of Flame for example) I really like Inspired Beacon (one of the few characters where I felt it was worth its heal cost).

Naturally an Arcane Knight can become very tanky because of the combination of self buffs + Paladin passives. 

Not a striker though, so maybe it's not fun for somebody who likes to strike actively - then the aforementioned Soulblade/Trickster ist much better and also fun to play. 

[Zoda]

15 hours ago, Kaylon said:

Since you already have a paladin in your party I would go with a trickster/soul blade instead. WotEP does great damage with SA against multiple targets and vs single enemies you can switch to Sun and Moon + Tuotilo's Palm/Best Defense for great dps because you can spam SA. 

I know the SA scaling with rogue is great, I just wanted to do something different this time. Might just do it like that I guess.

2 hours ago, Boeroer said:

I had most fun with the WotEP when I used it with a Steel Garrote/Bloodmage. I didn't use it to deal AoE damage but to drain health from melee enemies at the same time as casting spells (and using Blood Sacrifice). With Offensive Parry you daze enemies automatically which unlocks the Steel Garrote drain. You can then "passively" parry melee enemies and gain health from that and don't need to take action to heal yourself so often (good for your action economy).

Against single targets (or when I wasn't tanky enough with the WotEP) I used Concelhaut's Draining Touch with the Grimoire switching trick so the Draining Touch never goes away during fights (with a large shield of needed, else with a club+modal in the offhand to lower enemies' Will for the Draining Touch (targets Will instead of deflection). This is also a great weapon setup in combination with Miasma + Ryngrim spells against mobs: they disengage and get wrecked by the hefty disengagement attacks which drain health (Draining Touch + Garrote). Again: disengagement attacks don't use any action time so you can cast spells instead.

Obviously this isn't really a melee character in the traditional sense. It's more like a way to deal weapon damage and heal in the process without wasting action time but use this to cast (more) spells.

While casting spells with you as the center (like Torrent of Flame for example) I really like Inspired Beacon (one of the few characters where I felt it was worth its heal cost).

Naturally an Arcane Knight can become very tanky because of the combination of self buffs + Paladin passives. 

Not a striker though, so maybe it's not fun for somebody who likes to strike actively - then the aforementioned Soulblade/Trickster ist much better and also fun to play. 

I've read your build guide, and I agree its a great build  
I really shy away from most classic casters in crpgs, I just enjoy strikers more. I love chanter/cipher in PoE a lot luckily.
I haven't had a single wizard/cleric/druid in my 5-6 POTD runs so far  
Even if I do go for a caster eventually, I don't want to use Salvation of Time or Wall of Draining. It just feels super cheesy to me.