Ranger/Cipher?

[tinysalamander]

In the first PoE I didn’t really played much with Ciphers (reading class description felt kind of weird with its “powers requried people to activate” or something to that effect… which in reality wasn’t really what I was imagining) even though I generally like playing psionic characters. Made a few GM quests and that’s it.

 

However, since we get this not yet dead wonderful multiclassing thing I thought of making my custom supporting ranger a Ranger/Cipher. She is a projection of protagonist’s mind so that should be fine RP-wise. (Current mass muscular atrophy aside) is there anything interesting cipher can add to ranger in battle who is primarily ranged specialist with her wolf knocking down dragons on the side?

 

// I don’t have beta access.

[ShakotanSolari]

As it is right now, cipher multi-class is pretty good for any damage dealer for the added penetration and soul whip bonuses, but aside from soul annihilation being really broken, cipher spells are a little underwhelming at the moment and nothing really jumps out at me as synergizing well with a ranger.

[Dr. Hieronymous Alloy]

As it is right now, cipher multi-class is pretty good for any damage dealer for the added penetration and soul whip bonuses, but aside from soul annihilation being really broken, cipher spells are a little underwhelming at the moment and nothing really jumps out at me as synergizing well with a ranger.

 

Yeah, mechanically it'd be not bad. Some of the debuffs and CC would be useful just for helping land crits and the like. 

[DigitalCrack]

you can target your pet with all the "target ally" specific spells and works well at least I find it fun. In general casting is broken all around so it will be pretty dang good once its all tweaked and fine tuned.

[tinysalamander]

you can target your pet with all the "target ally" specific spells and works well at least I find it fun. In general casting is broken all around so it will be pretty dang good once its all tweaked and fine tuned.

 

Oh, right. Interesting

[KDubya]

I've used a Sharpshooter/Beguiler using Dual Scepters to great effect on PotD Beta.

 

Casting a Phantom Foes at the start of combat gets 'flanked' on all enemies for -10 deflection and gets you past the beguiler problem with attacking non-sneak attack targets. The 4m range of the Scepters means that the increased penetration from Sharpshooter is always on, plus they are dual damage types and Wounding Shot is a Full Attack so dual wielding counts both weapons. Also scepters do not have an 'in melee' malus like many ranged weapons. Lots of synergy. You can have a bow in the other slot for longer range fire.

 

Low maintenance, good damage and lots of debuff/CC actions available. Plus you get a guided missile called a pet that bounces back up from death fresh as can be.

[Climhazzard]

In PoE there was an AI setting that made rangers target the same enemy as their pet.  That would probably make a really good use of tactical meld without having to micromanage it.  I wonder if it would stack with stalker's link and marksman, would be pretty amazing if they did.

 

Pain block should be pretty good for your pet too, and if your pet is fast (I don't know if some are faster than others) then he'll probably make a pretty good anchor for ectopsychic echo.  The only other notable spell in my opinion is phantom foes.  The rest need help, but you wouldn't really need them anyways.  Wish they had better level 1 spells since you're forced to pick one.

Edited November 30, 2017 by Climhazzard

[dunehunter]

In PoE there was an AI setting that made rangers target the same enemy as their pet.  That would probably make a really good use of tactical meld without having to micromanage it.  I wonder if it would stack with stalker's link and marksman, would be pretty amazing if they did.

 

Pain block should be pretty good for your pet too, and if your pet is fast (I don't know if some are faster than others) then he'll probably make a pretty good anchor for ectopsychic echo.

 

Ghost Heart seems perfect for both Pain Link and Ectopsyhic echo.

[Climhazzard]

 

In PoE there was an AI setting that made rangers target the same enemy as their pet.  That would probably make a really good use of tactical meld without having to micromanage it.  I wonder if it would stack with stalker's link and marksman, would be pretty amazing if they did.

 

Pain block should be pretty good for your pet too, and if your pet is fast (I don't know if some are faster than others) then he'll probably make a pretty good anchor for ectopsychic echo.

 

Ghost Heart seems perfect for both Pain Link and Ectopsyhic echo.

 

 

 

The description of pain link doesn't even say how long it lasts or anything really, so who knows, lol.

[SaruNi]

In PoE there was an AI setting that made rangers target the same enemy as their pet.  That would probably make a really good use of tactical meld without having to micromanage it.  I wonder if it would stack with stalker's link and marksman, would be pretty amazing if they did.

 

Pain block should be pretty good for your pet too, and if your pet is fast (I don't know if some are faster than others) then he'll probably make a pretty good anchor for ectopsychic echo.  The only other notable spell in my opinion is phantom foes.  The rest need help, but you wouldn't really need them anyways.  Wish they had better level 1 spells since you're forced to pick one.

 

Yeah the Lion is fast. 

 

Using the "target ally" spells on your pet seems fun from a RP standpoint at least, though aside from RP I don't think there's any benefit to having the pet be the Cipher's... except it makes Ranger less boring (when you feel like it) and Sharpshooter helps the Cipher with weapon accuracy and penetration. Between the Cipher penetration bonus and the Sharpshooter penetration bonus you'll have good penetration. 

 

Ranger's Evasive Roll gives a nice +15% speed boost for Cipher spells (from +5 dexterity), and Takedown makes enemies easier to hit.

[SaruNi]

(Though being able to keep your pet buffed/alive with Cipher abilities does help avoid Bonded Grief... and the Ranger's pet heal and defense bonuses help keep the Cipher's buffed target ally alive.)

Edited November 30, 2017 by SaruNi

[SaruNi]

 

 

In PoE there was an AI setting that made rangers target the same enemy as their pet.  That would probably make a really good use of tactical meld without having to micromanage it.  I wonder if it would stack with stalker's link and marksman, would be pretty amazing if they did.

 

Pain block should be pretty good for your pet too, and if your pet is fast (I don't know if some are faster than others) then he'll probably make a pretty good anchor for ectopsychic echo.

 

Ghost Heart seems perfect for both Pain Link and Ectopsyhic echo.

 

 

 

The description of pain link doesn't even say how long it lasts or anything really, so who knows, lol.

 

 

Got 13.2 seconds with what should be +5% from int and +5 from power level, so probably 12 seconds base.

 

It doesn't seem to do anything, though, judging by the logs and enemy health. (Not even for melee basic attacks....)

 

If it were working, though, you could use the Boar pet because it regenerates health....

Edited November 30, 2017 by SaruNi

[dunehunter]

In PoE there was an AI setting that made rangers target the same enemy as their pet.  That would probably make a really good use of tactical meld without having to micromanage it.  I wonder if it would stack with stalker's link and marksman, would be pretty amazing if they did.

 

Pain block should be pretty good for your pet too, and if your pet is fast (I don't know if some are faster than others) then he'll probably make a pretty good anchor for ectopsychic echo.  The only other notable spell in my opinion is phantom foes.  The rest need help, but you wouldn't really need them anyways.  Wish they had better level 1 spells since you're forced to pick one.

 

A Conjurer/Cipher seems to be a better candidate for Ectopsychic echo combo.

 

Summon your familiar and set Ectopsychic echo on it, it's immune to engagement, and you are very tanky thanks to Arcane Veil. So you can tank all enemies and let familiar run around do damage to enemies with the echo.

Edited November 30, 2017 by dunehunter

[Climhazzard]

Sad ranger can't make their pet immune to engagement, would be a nice touch if master's call did that but it doesn't.

[dunehunter]

Sad ranger can't make their pet immune to engagement, would be a nice touch if master's call did that but it doesn't.

 

Ghost heart pets immune to engagement.

[DigitalCrack]

 

Sad ranger can't make their pet immune to engagement, would be a nice touch if master's call did that but it doesn't.

Ghost heart pets immune to engagement.

My first beta run was with a ghost heart/cipher and its works pretty well. Since the pet summon is instant and 0 recover, you can actually drop the pet behind enemies and start utilizing him with different cipher abilities fairly quickly in combat. For example I would drop him behind enemy front and then send him to enemy backline and periodically use him to drop different spells on the backline.