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Post by tenbsmith on Jul 20, 2014 14:44:35 GMT -5
Is it best to focus on just one each of Attributes, Skills and Talents (AST) and level those all the way up? Or, is it better to spread the points around. As with most things HoS, there are probably multiple right answers but also some wrong answers. Difficulty likely plays a role too--the harder the level, the more carefully you must allocate points. Is it necessary to specialize at Nightmare? The number of AST developed will vary depending upon the character you are developing. For example, Kyera get's 14 Skill points by level 17, whereas Fyona only get's 10. (See John Robinson's Leveling Table.) Those 4 extra Skill points should allow Kyera to be a bit more of a jack-of-all-trades than Fyona. On the other hand, Kyera can't do everything. I had built a Kyera on Hard focusing primarily on melee, curing and buffs/curses. When I tried to expand to direct damage the spells rarely hit and did minimal damage when they did. On my current game, Kyera is effective so far as melee, cure, buff/curse. |
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Post by crimsonking on Jul 20, 2014 16:24:05 GMT -5
In general, specialization trumps generalization in such games. This holds true even more on a game where not a single party member is ever allowed to fall to 0 h and you don't even need backups for specific tasks. Therefore, my advice would be to specialize every character in exactly one attack talent and as few support talents (buffs/debuffs/heals) as possible. Vraes might be an exception here because juggernaut is very feasible on attacks that probably kill but too expensive to use else, so juggernaut + a cheap attack is a viable combination.
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Post by fallen on Jul 20, 2014 16:52:07 GMT -5
My razor when picking how many talents / skills / attributes to specialize is how do I spend my 7 AP every round? I need to make sure that I am not picking too many specialties such that there are some that are wasted, or rarely used because others trump them or due to lack of AP. Will Kyera really use that Holy Retribution (3 AP) if she has to Heal (3 AP) and likes to blast everyone with Ethereal Anguish (2 AP)? Need to make sure this fits and that the talent investment will get a lot of play in my turn-by-turn, otherwise its a loss.
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Post by slayernz on Jul 20, 2014 17:22:12 GMT -5
My party have just killed a key enemy a second time (ack that was nasty) and sit at level 21/22.
I have Vraes maxed out on blades, and rely heavily on Crushing Blow (raised to level 6).
The rest of Vraes' talents are buffs that he casts pre/post combat: Stone Skin 4 (although ideally I want that higher), Natural Mastery 4, Burst of Speed 1. The only other skill I've added to is Lore to prolong the buffs I use.
Karjtan has Firebolt 7 (some say that's too high as it is, but it works for me) as his primary attack
Choking Ash 5 (for great area effect)
12 sorcery and 11 intelligence.
Tamilin is my other ranged specialist and is 16 bows, Armed Shot 6. I need to invest more into Ranged Onslaught though as it's only at 2 right now.
Kyera is my support character so has some attack, but primarily acts as clenser/healer/recharger. As such, I got her Lore up to 15 as a priority. She heals and restores MP so efficiently it's easier to use her than potions.
Holy Retribution 4 for emergency combat, but other wise
Myshana's Tears 4 (healing 230 HP)
Sacrifice 2 (restoring 48MP)
Tam, Kyera and ole Shifty Eyes can't hit anything with their melee weapons - I have not wasted any skills points in weapons at all.
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Post by tenbsmith on Jul 21, 2014 12:20:23 GMT -5
Lots of good feedback here. I especially like "Fallen's Razor"--consider how a given Talent will fit with others in the limited AP provided each hero each turn.
Interesting how the focus goes to Talents, these decisions always seem the most difficult. One could argue that the highest stakes decisions are for Attribute points, b/c you get fewer Attribute points than Skill or Talent points.
I'd been concerned that maxing out certain AST's too soon might lead to uneven advancement, especially late in the game. For example, at level 14 Tamilin has Dexterity 10. Dexterity is the bomb for T, improving both accuracy and dodge. I was concerned that a focus on Dexterity only might lead to a Tamilin who was super-awesome up to the point where Dexterity was maxed, then her awesomeness would fall off as she continued to level up but couldn't put points in Dex anymore. This would be disappointing and, more important, I might get some bad habits during the height of Tam's awesomeness that would come back to haunt me after her Dex was capped.
I'm reconsidering now. I think I will specialize in Dex for her, with occasional points to Con and Int as needed. Based in part of posts here. Also based on a post elsewhere indicating monster abilities max out around the same time as the Heroes.
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Post by crimsonking on Jul 21, 2014 12:35:22 GMT -5
Interesting how the focus goes to Talents, these decisions always seem the most difficult. Since talents are what you use in the end this should come to no suprise. Skill and attribute choices mostly derive from your talent and weapon decision, with extra HP and SP being useful to everyone, but not as critical as hitting and not getting hit. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 10:22:34 GMT -5
I'm reconsidering now. I think I will specialize in Dex for her, with occasional points to Con and Int as needed. Based in part of posts here. Also based on a post elsewhere indicating monster abilities max out around the same time as the Heroes. One thing I've found especially in late Episode 2 is that the equipment just starts getting so good. When my ASTs start to get in sight of plateauing, there's another real bump in efficiency that can be gained by specializing in equipment. This obviously is potentially temporary and there are limitless combinations after a couple of quests, but in my mind at least, equipment is going to be the difference-maker long term with staying ahead of the bad guys in the areas that are crucial for each of my characters. |
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Post by fallen on Jul 28, 2014 10:23:42 GMT -5
@rearick - your instincts are good  Trust them. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2014 10:33:49 GMT -5
@rearick - your instincts are good Trust them. Thanks fallen One example for others who happen by: before QsD got moved to lvl 9 for Selen, I had it bumped up to level 6 in the Underforge and every piece of equipment she had was boosting parry. I should open up the game again, but she was well north of 20 parry, (maybe 26 or 27?). For those of you who have been there, you can imagine the glorious moments that resulted with her facing off against multiple forged spiders for turns on end while everyone else mopped the floor with the cultists. Now I don't think I can replicate this exact experience but it was a sight to behold when all of my ASTs, equipment, weapons and armor were pulling in a single direction making me, dare I say, god-like. Bottom-line: specialize. |
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Trust them.