melee Vincinet

[fallen]

crimsonking - looking like a mighty group, great to see all the level 10 focus in there!

[En1gma]

So any tips on raising him as a melee combatant? Respeccing him late game shouldn't be the only way to do it...

[fallen]

matrim mentioned it is the only way he did it, maybe he wants to share his secrets?

Definitely one of my favorite builds throughout the game.

[crimsonking]

He's got only two melee talents, and one of those is very lackluster. You could build him as a curser and buffer though, but his melee damage won't make the crowd cheer without the Strickening/Sundering combo running.

[En1gma]

I wish Storm Strike had something other than pure damage... I get that he can be built as a curser, but that sacrifices so much of his potential damage over the course of the game.

Having two equally rewarding (damage(spell vs melee)) paths to take just isn't there right now, at least how I see it, though like always, I could be wrong

[crimsonking]

If I'd plan not to respec I'd definitely go the ranged route.

[En1gma]

I don't like that the only way to efficiently build him as melee is to just respec him. He's billed as a spellsword, but so far that path just isn't anywhere near as good as his ranged option... Until late game with a respec...

I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers, and I'm not saying I don't like Vincent by any means. I'm looking for a good way to build him start to finish as a melee fighter, and if it's even worth it.

[crimsonking]

Feb 18, 2017 18:36:49 GMT -5 En1gma said:

I don't like that the only way to efficiently build him as melee is to just respec him. He's billed as a spellsword, but so far that path just isn't anywhere near as good as his ranged option... Until late game with a respec...

The switch would be the time when Strickening is up and running, and that would happen at level 31 in my plan, early in Episode 3. At that point, due to the supposed length of the fourth episode, more than half of the game lies still in front of you. If you forego some points into shield of cortias until later and/or don't wait until Strickening is up to 10, you could switch even earlier.

In general, you can start him as a melee fighter though. He just won't be very good at it during the first episode and probably the first half of the second one.

From a design view the issue is that he's got only two melee attack talents, coming in at level 1 and 18, no quality melee attack buffs except for his group buff, and the level 18 talent is so much better that you shouldn't ever consider putting a single point into the level 1 talent, which means that until you hit level 18 you will attack with a 1 point level 1 talent and very little buffing. Though I rarely level up non-buffing/debuffing weapon attack talents anyway.

[wascalwywabbit]

Storm Strike Vinny is definitely not too great in my experience either...

Sure you get 2 pools of dmg rather than leveling just phys type, but the enemy gets 2 soaks too, and he's really squishy early on without sundering's buff and chrgd spd.

All the 1 enemy attack talents that don't curse, buff, have good range or do massive dmg dice/crit/crit dmg are weak enough to not ever level. There are just better builds for every character. The only way it's even acceptable is if you don't know to raise acc by other means, even then the alternative options give similar acc except crushing blow.

[matrim]

I find he is #1 or #2 in damage depending on where in the story you are. He is a little weak against Beetles and giant rats in the first episode, no getting around that. He does fair against Ratkin and spiders though. The nicest thing about melee Vincent during those early levels is you can level TB without sacrificing anything, bringing everyone's damage up. When the scything blade becomes available at end episode 1 he is usually top damage. This is because his movespeed talent is so effective and you don't need to itemize any defense and can go pure attack (tank and rogue often need to itemize for defense or sneak). He also has the added bonus of being able to curse and because his melee uses no SP, he is really efficient.

I have only respecced him from ranged to melee 1 time and it is because I missed all his melee version had to offer. Melee Vincent 4 Lyfe!

[En1gma]

Good to know, but how do you build him and what does your group need to support him?

[matrim]

Vincent 1 FF, 10 TB, 2 CS, 1 ES, 10 FA, 6 FF, end is flexible, I personally keep ES at 1 if I have Fyona, I would up it to 10 if I had Kyera.
Support for him
Kincaid - I find him pretty essential for melee Vincent. The ranged option means he can be the solid line that Vincent needs to perform.
Tamilin - -res and -AP means more lightning damage and even if something does hit Vincent it only hits once.
Fyona - she raises Vincent's damage to monstrous levels with strickening. SoC is very handy for the extra parry to block errant melee mobs.

His weakness is definitely archers. Episode 2 and on you need Tamilin or Kincaid beside archers in range or he will get hit by them. I treat archers carefully with any build but they are especially dangerous with melee Vincent.

Most important factors - 1 AP sword for maximum maneuverability and damage, AP cursing is a must.

[En1gma]

ES = Energy Storm or Elemental Sundering? Also FF is there twice, is this intentional? Any investment in Storm Strike, or rely on TB instead?

[matrim]

ES = Elemental Sundering, FF there twice because this is the order in which I level talents. 1 early point for spot AP cursing (shaman, Deathkin) and get to 6 later when points are in excess for some good AE cursing that Tamilin cannot get to. I use Level 1 Storm Strike on really evasive targets but mostly normal attacks with TB and FU up.

[En1gma]

Really appreciate the help, matrim! Looks like I have a new build to try out