Slack83er Posted October 7, 2016 Posted October 7, 2016 Cheers! Need some info on the cipher that some of you expert players might share with me.. I've noticed how slow one can be in drawing focus.. does the drained focus depend on the damage dealt or from the weapon? I've also noticed that many powers reach not very far. The description itself paints it like a "spellknife"... Is there any sense in building a ranged cipher? I'm asking this last question because, among the soulbind-able weapons the ones for cipher are bow and crossbow....so I'm a bit confused about what's best for him.. I tought of firearms (not very long range) and stilettos maybe... but it's still hypothesis... - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Greensleeve Posted October 7, 2016 Posted October 7, 2016 Focus gain is based on damage dealt. I believe it's 20% of damage dealt, which can be increased with Draining Whip. I used Grieving Mother with a pistol during my first playthrough of the game. Work really well. Though, if you don't mind micro-managing positioning/buffs, a dual dagger Cipher would be brutal.
Slack83er Posted October 7, 2016 Author Posted October 7, 2016 I'll try firearms then. Too much micro would take too much effort for me... BUT.... come to think of it... would the apprentice sneak attack count as damage dealt for the sake of focus gained? - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Greensleeve Posted October 7, 2016 Posted October 7, 2016 Yeah, it should. Soul Whip does too. All damage modifiers should count, because I'm fairly certain Focus generation works off of damage dealt rather than 20% of base weapon damage or something like that.
DreamWayfarer Posted October 7, 2016 Posted October 7, 2016 I'll try firearms then. Too much micro would take too much effort for me... You could make a longbow or pike/staff using cipher of you want less micro.
Slack83er Posted October 7, 2016 Author Posted October 7, 2016 Longbow I have tried. No like. The distance is too far away, once focus is charged I have to move close anyway... Pike or staff, instead offer reach.... mmm viable... I'd like him to be sorta rogue with mental powers... I even did it death godlike... so even the godlike's added damage should stack for focus, right? - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Slack83er Posted October 7, 2016 Author Posted October 7, 2016 Update: tried with pistol... slow as hell... there must be something which is a good compromise between distance and speed... The bow seems the most indicated, mmm maybe should try again with wood elves along with hunter bow... and longer range powers... - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Slack83er Posted October 8, 2016 Author Posted October 8, 2016 I need an advice from you... is there any talent or ability one could take that "mimics" the rogue's escape? - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Ben No.3 Posted October 8, 2016 Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) I need an advice from you... is there any talent or ability one could take that "mimics" the rogue's escape? No, but a cape with that spellbind. You can get it through a stronghold adventures once you claimed caed Nua. About the balance between speed and damage... I'd say there are two options: war bow if you prefer speed and crossbow if you prefer damage. Personally, I prefer the crossbow due to the uniques... But the war bow is very viable as well. Edited October 8, 2016 by Ben No.3 Everybody knows the deal is rotten Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton For your ribbons and bows And everybody knows
Slack83er Posted October 8, 2016 Author Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) Well... I'd say bow, since the cipher already adds me 20% on its own... Now i'm trying to make it rogue-ish.... that is: sneak, use apprentice sneak attack and fire unseen, lot of damage, good focus charge. Escape, let the others go front, shoot mind magic from behind... Still undecided on the race... elf seems good, death godlike too.. orlan could also be.... Edited October 8, 2016 by Slack83er - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Ben No.3 Posted October 8, 2016 Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) Well... I'd say bow, since the cipher already adds me 20% on its own... Now i'm trying to make it rogue-ish.... that is: sneak, use apprentice sneak attack and fire unseen, lot of damage, good focus charge. Escape, let the others go front, shoot mind magic from behind... Still undecided on the race... elf seems good, death godlike too.. orlan could also be.... Many of the ciphers abilities don't gain a lot from positioning (while some do... Antipathetic field I'm looking at you). Take a look at boeroer's ditchomos soul twins... melee cipher might be interesting for you (more rouge like imo... It's a good build anyway). Otherwise ranged cipher is also a obviously good option Edited October 8, 2016 by Ben No.3 Everybody knows the deal is rotten Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton For your ribbons and bows And everybody knows
Slack83er Posted October 8, 2016 Author Posted October 8, 2016 I tried to bring him melee but I was very weak... casting mind powers is not very fast... I get hit a lot in the meantime... Maybe I'm missing something... - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Ben No.3 Posted October 8, 2016 Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) I tried to bring him melee but I was very weak... casting mind powers is not very fast... I get hit a lot in the meantime... Maybe I'm missing something... Wisphers of Treason has been changed to a "fast" casting time, so it might be of interest. Other than that you will soon get psychobampiric shield... As Boeroer said, it is ideal to first build focus up for the shield and then go into melee. On higher levels the low initial stats won't be that big of a problem as well. Edited October 8, 2016 by Ben No.3 Everybody knows the deal is rotten Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton For your ribbons and bows And everybody knows
Slack83er Posted October 8, 2016 Author Posted October 8, 2016 The dichotomous is a very particular build as I can see... BUT the stat allocation is clever.. 18 Dex means you will be very quick in firing and gathering focus. I'm not sure I want to move melee, as -after all- there's no particular advantage in doing so... But tell me... which race would you pick? Orlan as Boeroer? (even from a rp-point of view) - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
Kaylon Posted October 8, 2016 Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) During ch.1 it's best to start the encounters with an arquebus and then switch to a war bow for the rest of the fight. In ch.2 you can replace the war bow with the engwithan scepter (lash, exceptional, durgan enchanted). In ch.3 the engwithan scepter can be replaced with the rain of godagh field war bow (lash, durgan enchanted) which is the ranged weapon with the highest dps for a cipher. Edited October 8, 2016 by Kaylon
Raven Darkholme Posted October 8, 2016 Posted October 8, 2016 How to play ranged cipher: Get 3 weapon slots either through race or talent. Pick Quick switch. Pick 2 pistols/bb/arquebus and 1 bow. Open up with the heavy weapons voila you have between 60-100 focus, cast and switch to bow. If you get aggroed use whispers of treason if the enemy is very dangerous or Ectopsychic Echo if you can tank him for a little. My twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/victorcreed_twitch My youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VictorCreedGaming
Slack83er Posted October 8, 2016 Author Posted October 8, 2016 That's not the playstyle I have in mind. I hate weapon switchin' every fight... I want my playthrough to be natural, and in this case, roguelike. So: opening shot with the bow, go behind, let the frontliners do their job, help them with mind powers. I don't care if I'm not the strongest...I play easy, no need to search for "the strongest" or "the best" or "the absolutely fantastic". I just want a character that corresponds to my idea. No min-max, no strategies. - There are 10 types of people: those who understand binary code, and those who don't. -
DreamWayfarer Posted October 8, 2016 Posted October 8, 2016 Maybe you should open with a gun and switch to a pike? Bows are better for sustained damage.
prototype00 Posted October 8, 2016 Posted October 8, 2016 (edited) I've had quite a bit of success with Cipher and Stormcaller, but you have to stack DR piercing. Stormcaller gives -6 DR Shock on Hit Penetrating Shot gives -5 DR Ryona's Bracers gives -3 DR So thats a hefty extra -14 DR on each attack (14 extra damage basically) on a weapon that can be shock/pierce. Which basically means that my Cipher (Grieving Mother works well) does a lot of damage pers shot-leading to lots of focus gain on a Fast weapon. (She is basically up to max Focus in the time it takes Durance to fire one shot off his Arquebus, thank goodness I'm not paying him to look pretty and do damage). prototype00 P.s. Pick up Heart of the Storm for more damage. Edited October 8, 2016 by prototype00 2
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