Paladins seem pretty strong as Main Protagonist. What would you build?

[thekdawg21]

I have the idea of going a Bleak Walker with semi "dialogue based" stats, which I really mean some levels of PER and RES and no dump stats.  I'm really interested in builds you've guys thought up of to multi-class with a Paladin (not just specifically BW).  

 

Personally I'm thinking Bleak Walker/Priest of Magran.  Buff up with priest spells, summon my Pistol/Sabre. Use Sworn Enemy/FoD to alpha strike with pistol, then wade in to autoattack with the Saber (with two weapon style).  When the summon ends I intend to have a good sabre and pistol as backup.  I haven't thought too far about the build past that.  I prefer being more weapon centric than priest abilities, but I'm curious what you folks are thinking.  More tanky?  Less gimmicky?

 

(A Devoted/Soul Annihilation Cipher sounds pretty nasty too for a low micromanagement  protag to bring along for a second playthrough or even as a hireling.  I've been using one in the beta with a Pike and she's really freakin useful.)

 

And what are your paladin builds so far? 

 

 

[Max_zero]

Paladin/Beckoner here.

 

I love that sort of mass buffing of a pet army.

 

Does the Bleakwalker/Kind Wayer FoD buffs affect the FoD your allies get if you have Shared flames?

[PatrioticChief]

I've been wrecking face running a solo dual wielding Devoted/BW in the beta. Mind you I haven't touched the Titan. The cool thing is FoD will trigger on both weapon attacks unlike say SA. 

[Boeroer]

Paladin/Beckoner here.

 

I love that sort of mass buffing of a pet army.

 

Does the Bleakwalker/Kind Wayer FoD buffs affect the FoD your allies get if you have Shared flames?

No, Shared FLames and Eternal Devotions are the same for all paladins.

[Orillion]

I don't have access to the beta, but I plan to make my first character a Darcozzi/Enchanter. Judging by the wiki, a whole lot of enchantment spells have a very short cast time and no recovery period, so it should work out okay with a character who'll be spending all his time in melee.

 

For flavour, I also mean to give him a large shield, then counteract some of the accuracy penalty by usually equipping a rapier.

[SummerAnne58]

I'm wracking my brain right now about it. I want to be a Paladin 100% and I want to dual wield pistols 100%. In terms of multi class I think I want to go Cipher/Priest. How this all shakes out I have no idea it's all just fluff and RP in my head. Stuff that makes sense to me in how my Protagonist would progress during those five years.

 

I think the broad stroke idea is to be in the center and be a major support class with maybe a dps tinge if Cipher is the Multi.

[GuyNice]

My main character that intend I to port over from PoE is a Barbarian, and I'm thinking of making a Berserker/Bleak Walker. RP wise, I find it an interesting direction to take given the big revelation at the end of PoE (I won't elaborate to avoid spoiling anyone, but if you finished the game you can imagine the mental implications). He would be a ruthless and aggressive leader, but not a sadist.

 

Mechanically, Mental Fortress will counter the confuse affliction that Berserkers are saddled with when they Frenzy. Attribute allocation should also be synergistic, given that both classes can greatly benefit from high intelligence and might. A strong FoD is also nice for an offensive dual wielder. And good defenses from abilities like Deep Faith should be very useful for any dedicated front liner.

Edited April 11, 2018 by GuyNice

[thekdawg21]

I also like the idea of the berserker/bleak walker. Would the sicken effect of FoD trigger sneak attacks if we want to multiclass a rogue for solo play?

Edited April 11, 2018 by thekdawg21

[SaruNi]

I don't have access to the beta, but I plan to make my first character a Darcozzi/Enchanter. Judging by the wiki, a whole lot of enchantment spells have a very short cast time and no recovery period, so it should work out okay with a character who'll be spending all his time in melee.

 

For flavour, I also mean to give him a large shield, then counteract some of the accuracy penalty by usually equipping a rapier.

 

Most wizard buffs don't benefit much from power level---it only increases duration, and many of them have relatively long duration to begin with. And the main drawback to using spells outside of your specialization is +% recovery time, so using enchantment spells with 0 recovery as any other specialist wizard won't have any penalty. Enchanters do get one automatic "free action" per encounter that gives temporary immunity to Dexterity afflictions---good for the old Binding Web combo etc (however all Wizard spells of that type so far are non-enchantment spells with non-zero recovery).

 

So unless it's for RP or party synergy there isn't much reason to pick Enchanter. Though it's nice that they get Evocation spells, since Flame Shield is Evocation and iirc has 0 recovery. It should stack with the Darcozzi Minor Flame Shield. However your Flame Shield will be 1 power level below that of an Evoker, which probably means it does 10% less damage.

[GuyNice]

I also like the idea of the berserker/bleak walker. Would the sicken effect of FoD trigger sneak attacks if we want to multiclass a rogue for solo play?

I believe the Sicken affliction should trigger sneak attacks (I don't have the beta to test). However you won't be able to multi class 3 different classes (barbarian+paladin+rogue). Bleak Walker/Rogue should be a fun and interesting character however.

[Heijoushin]

Your character seems fine, though personally, I'm not very impressed with the priest buffs. Apart from the chanter idea above (which is very good), a combo with a devoted or a rogue would boost damage and give you some extra toys to play with ability-wise.

[thekdawg21]

Sorry I meant the above reply in two parts. Paladin / Barb would be cool. And then the question about Bleak Walker / Rogue.

 

Yeah I also don't see an easy way to make the BW / Priest of Magran optimized. I just love the idea of Sword/Pistol and especially a summoned flaming version. Especially when it's conjured from thin air, flaming, by nothing but anger and the will to dispense red gifts among all who stand before me short range and far.

 

Paladin seemed the best choice for that since that since they can deliver a few fiery red gifts from afar and then have the toughness/healing to duke it out up front when the heretics break the front lines. Chanter looks great though.

[Yosharian]

I'm going Goldpact Knight / Troubadour.

MIG 16
CON 08
DEX 10
PER 15
INT 15
RES 15

The concept is he chants while tanking, dealing damage in melee, and using Paladin abilities.  Not tremendous DPS due to the low dexterity, but still decent.

That's during easy fights. The Troubadour's Linger bonus allows him to easily stack chants while doing Paladin things. He uses offensive Invocations to end fights.

In tough fights he switches on Brief Recitation and rapidly gets up defensive Invocations to protect the party.

His stats allow him to do well in conversations. Constitution is not super important as he can stack Ancient Memory chants when he needs a HP boost. I'd like more Dexterity but I don't consider it to be as essential as the other attributes for this build.  However, lategame I may respec points out of INT and RES and put them into DEX instead.

I'm going to be a Fire Godlike and take Scion of Flame. It'll boost my Flames of Devotion strikes.  I think?

Edited April 12, 2018 by Yosharian

[Yosharian]

I also like the idea of the berserker/bleak walker. Would the sicken effect of FoD trigger sneak attacks if we want to multiclass a rogue for solo play?

I'm pretty sure sicken does not trigger SA.

 

https://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com/Sneak_Attack

 

 

 

 Blinded, Flanked, Hobbled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Stuck, Stunned or Weakened

 

That's from POE1 obviously, they may have changed it, don't think so though

Edited April 12, 2018 by Yosharian

[thekdawg21]

Scion of Flame always improved it in PoE1. Is there even a Scion of Flame in Deadfire? Haven't looked yet. I though they took out many of the "generalist" skills. I know some are still in though

[Lamppost in Winter]

 

 

 

 Blinded, Flanked, Hobbled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Stuck, Stunned or Weakened

 

That's from POE1 obviously, they may have changed it, don't think so though

 

 

Deadfire Sneak Attack triggers on any Affliction (or Flanked).

[Boeroer]

Correct.

[Yosharian]

 

 

 

 

Blinded, Flanked, Hobbled, Paralyzed, Petrified, Prone, Stuck, Stunned or Weakened

That's from POE1 obviously, they may have changed it, don't think so though

Deadfire Sneak Attack triggers on any Affliction (or Flanked).

Well well, I stand corrected!

 

Does the Barbarian still have Sickening Presence and if so, does the Barbarian/Rogue basically have permanent Sneak Attack?

[mrmonocle]

Rogue/Bleak walker - dual weapon. Crippling strike + FoD synergy + aura. Very reliable dps, very sturdy.

[Boeroer]

I didn't see Threatening Presence in the beta. But the chanter has a phrase that weakens everyone in his chanting AoE. Pretty nice to set up Sneak Attacks.

[dunehunter]

I didn't see Threatening Presence in the beta. But the chanter has a phrase that weakens everyone in his chanting AoE. Pretty nice to set up Sneak Attacks.

 

Threatening Presence is from PL 6 in that list

[Madscientist]

Rogues can learn persistant distraction.

This way they will always cause sneak attack when using a melee weapon. No multi class needed. I do not think that enemies can get immune to flanked.

If death attack still requires 2 statusses that enable SA, then a rogue/barbarien or rogue/chanter could have permanent passive death attack when using a melee weapon, but only at max level. I think death attack was PL7.

[Boeroer]

Deathblows?

[Boeroer]

 

I didn't see Threatening Presence in the beta. But the chanter has a phrase that weakens everyone in his chanting AoE. Pretty nice to set up Sneak Attacks.

Threatening Presence is from PL 6 in that list

Yeah - but I don't know what it does in Deadfire.

[thekdawg21]

Biggest issue I see right now with Priest of Magran and it's summoned weapons is that say you fire a shot and then move in to melee, you'll stand there reloading your gun next to the enemy before you swing your weapon.  If this isn't fixed, that's gonna make sword/pistol pretty darn weak since the only value it has is it's versatility.