Team Heavy Metal

[CdrPlatypus]

Ladies and gentlemen! Firstly we would like to thank our sponsor En1gma who without which this band would have never gotten together. 

Now let me introduce our line up for tonight. First we have our beautiful Lead Selen known for her shredding solos and heart piercing vocals! Next Is Vraes on bass laying down the heaviest beats of your life! Fyona the RIGHTEOUS drummer, and last but not least our amazing stage hand and pyrotechnics master Kajartan who always makes the show EPIC!

So after a long break from HoS I came back and wanted to make a group fit for Nightmare Ironman that would finally let Vraes unleash his inner 2-handed beast. But how could I give up phalanx shield I thought to myself. I looked at all the talent updates, the new crafting system, re read through the combat mechanics thread and a bunch of old theroy crafting and came to the conclusion that changing up en1gma's and I favorite old group (Iron Curtain) would offer the perfect solution.

Vraes, KJ, Fyona, and Selen have great talent synergy and become a group with 1 tank and 2 strong off tanks (Very useful as you progress in the game you will need a minimum of 1 tank and 1 strong off tank). 

Vraes, KJ, and Fyona will give you the highest possible armor and health in the game. Thus allowing Vraes to drop his shield and CHARGE like he always dreamed of. 

The Combination of KJ and Selen will allow you to strip the most armor off of enemies in the game (Ash + Immolation + Punishing blows)

Later Immolation will pair well with berserk rage, and frenzied blows to chase crits in the end game.

My current leveling scheme up to lvl 18. (This is a WIP that I plan to come back to and update and eventually lay out a properly formatted guide)

Vraes: I always star by dropping to atribute points into Int so I can make it 2-3 rounds without having to camp. We are rushing his self buffs which gets expensive fast. After that CON:STR 1:1. Skills are straight forward. Max Hammers then invest in lore. Talent scheme is SSK 3, NM 1, BOS 1, SSK 10, Juggernaut 1 and that's lvl 18

KJ: Attributes CON straight to 16 then some int and knowledge by feel. Skills Conjuring to 9 then Sorcery to 16. Talents Ash to 10 then Start working on Immolation and BB

Fyona: Attributes CON to 16 then STR and INT by feel, Skills 1 pt in leadership then Hammers to 16 then back to leadership. Talents SoC until lvl 12 Then righteous Fervor until 18 then 2 pints in Reckoning then back to righteous fervor

Selen: Attributes Dex:Con 1:1 int only when absolutely necessary , Skills Blades:Bows 1:1. Talents pinning shot to 5, then qsd 1, then DoS 3, then 1 more qsd before the storerooms. after that I will be deciding on where to go next not sure yet, eventually I will want pinning shot 7 for the extra Aoe and some punishing blades, crippling strikes and more dos and qsd I want it all!.

Anyways there is the current group I am working with. Please provide any feedback ideas and criticisms. 

 LEVELING GUIDE FOR ACT 1 EPISODE 1 LEVELS 1-13

Vraes 1-13

Level	Attribute	Skill	Talent
2	+1 Intelligence	+1 Hammers	+! Stone Skin
3	+1 Intelligence	+1 Hammers	XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
4	XXXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Stone Skin
5	XXXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Natural Mastery
6	+1 Constitution	+1 Hammers	+1 Burst of Speed
7	XXXXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Stone Skin
8	+1 Constitution	+1 Hammers
9	XXXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Stone Skin
10	+1 Strength	+1 Hammers	XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
11	+1 Strength	+1 Hammers	XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
12	XXXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Beserk Rage
13	XXXXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Stone Skin

Kjartan lvl 1-13

Level	Attribute	Skill	Talent
2	+1 Constitution	+1 Conjuring	+1 Choking Ash
3	+1 Constitution	XXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXX
4	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Conjuring	+1 Choking Ash
5	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Conjuring	+1 Choking Ash
6	+1 Constitution	XXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Choking Ash
7	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Sorcery	+1 Immolation
8	+1 Constitution	+1 Conjuring	XXXXXXXXXXX
9	XXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Immolation
10	+1 Constitution	+1 Sorcery	XXXXXXXXXXXX
11	+1 Constitution	+1 Conjuring	XXXXXXXXXXXX
12	XXXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Immolation
13	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Conjuring	+1 Choking Ash

Fyona Lvl 1-13

Level	Attribute	Skill	Talent
2	+1 Constitution	+1 Leadership	+1 Shield of Cortais
3	+1 Constitution	XXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
4	+1 Constitution	XXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Consecrated Defense
5	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Shield of Cortais
6	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Battlefield Devotion
7	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Shield of Cortais
8	+1 Constitution	+1 Hammers	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
9	XXXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Shield of Cortais
10	+1 Constitution	+1 Hammers	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
11	+1 Constitution	+1 Hammers	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
12	XXXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Righteous Fervor
13	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Hammers	+1 Sheild of Cortais

Selen Lvl 1-13

Level	Attribute	Skill	Talent
2	+1 Constitution	+1 Bows	+1 Pinning Shot
3	+1 Dexterity	+1 Blades	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
4	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Bows	+1 Pinning Shot
5	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Bows	+1 Pinning Shot
6	+1 Constitution	+1 Blades	+1 Pinning Shot
7	XXXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXX	+1 Dance of Shadows
8	+1 Dexterity	+1 Bows	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
9	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Blades	+1 Quicksilver Defense
10	+1 Constitiution	+1 Bows	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
11	+1 Dexterity	+1 Blades	XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
12	XXXXXXXXXXXX	+1 Bows	+1 Pinning Shot
13	XXXXXXXXXXXX	XXXXXXXXXX	+1 Sly Look

[fallen]

+1 great to see new team builds published!

[dagger]

Nightmare Ironman  
Team name: Watch for flying....heads!

Following your path word for word.  Problem is, I'll probably get ahead of you....  In the meantime, just for comparison's sake, I thought I'd keep a running total of my progress.

(Incidentally, I will be following the "Ideal Playthrough" thread by Nathan here: startradersrpg.proboards.com/thread/16233/ideal-playthrough-max-braeys-spoilers

Forgotten Way Station (escape from the dungeon)  Team points: 1,192,955
              Lvl/xp           HP            SP
Vraes-     3/149          242          100
Kjartan-   3/153          120          189
Fyona-     3/149          213          186
Selen-     3/165           188          116

Easiest I've ever made it through the dungeon.  Only went back to rest once to level.  Otherwise I never needed anything.  On to Oskahold....

Oskahold  Team points:  5,639,255

Vraes-    6/755            290        112
Kjartan-  6/765            165        230
Fyona-    6/761            282        154
Selen-     6/803            230        137

Killed the Shaman.  End of Ep1, Act 1 

Leaving Oskahold   Team Points:  56,123,355

Vraes-        13/8908        552        140
Kjartan-      13/8523        258        393
Fyona-        13/8453        539        268
Selen-        13/8456        329        205      These are all geared up but unbuffed, by the way....

_Riven Field_     Team Points:  77,364,055

Vraes-        14/12,058        594        144
Kjartan-      14/11,673        282        404
Fyona-        14/11,603        578        274
Selen-        14/11,607        343        212     Time to do a little crafting....yay.

_End of Ep1_ Baron dead   Team Points:  142,301,055

Vraes-        18/22,505        688        160
Kjartan-      18/22,120        346        500
Fyona-        18/23,132        618        398
Selen-        18/22,532        480        240

_Finished Orcin Caverns, about to start Underforge_   Team Points:  337,964,255

Vraes-        24/54,781        864        184
Kjartan-      24/54,142        502        616
Fyona-        24/55,043        958        254
Selen-        24/54,651        564        282   Again, all are geared up but no buffs, which is why Fyona has more HP than Vraes.

_Underforge Complete_   Team Points: 522,935,555

Vraes-        27/78,679        912        196
Kjartan-      27/77,768        542        609
Fyona-        27/78,769        993        272
Selen-        27/79,652        606        303   She struck the killing blow on Vurnak.  I tried to get KJ to do it but he's got zero offensive power right now.  That's next.  Ash and Pureflame are now both at 10.

A quick summary on where people stand: (every stat not mentioned is where it was at the outset)
Vraes-15 STR, 10 CON, 4 INT  Stoneskin 10, Burst of Speed 3, Natural Mastery 1, Juggernaut 5.  Hammers 16, Lore 11
Kjartan-16 CON, 7 INT, 4 KNW Choking Ash 10, Pureflame Shield 10.  Sorcery 13, Conjuring 9
Fyona-11 STR, 12 CON, 5 INT  Shield of Cortias 10, Righteous Fervor 5, Consecrated Defense 1, Battlefield Devotion 1.  Hammers 16, Leadership 5
Selen-15 DEX, 8 CON, 6 INT Dance of Shadows 7, Pinning Shot 6, Quicksilver Defense 5.  Blades 12, Bows 15, Stealth 3

[CdrPlatypus]

I made a couple changes for level 13 Took 1 more point in SoC before the torrent water shed to get +1 parry + 1 dodge, and Put 1 point in sly look for selen. I find the extra point really helpful to get a wuick idea of the battlefield.

I'm starting to second guess my KJ plan. Should I purse immolation for more damge or should I pump up pureflame shield to pack on even more armor and more importantly to give everyone + resist, or should I go into meteoric shock wave to lower incoming damage? sigh decisions decisions. Any thoughts dagger , En1gma ?

[CdrPlatypus]

Temple of the 13 Had Vraes charge the archers and Fyona tank the melee he left be hind, worked out nicely

[En1gma]

Trying this out today... Vraes has gotten amazing luck and got the 10 armor piece, and two +4 armor items, giving him 25 armor fighting only 8 battles so far. (Still level 2 I might add)

[CdrPlatypus]

Apr 12, 2018 9:43:42 GMT -5 En1gma said:

Trying this out today... Vraes has gotten amazing luck and got the 10 armor piece, and two +4 armor items, giving him 25 armor fighting only 8 battles so far. (Still level 2 I might add)

May the dice roll ever in your favor!

[contributor]

I've got a team similar to this going, because I've never actually had an epic Vraes build and I need to make that happen. I've got Tamilin instead of Selen and she will be focusing on Torrent of Steel for the -2ap and -Resistance. Fyona will go into Strickening, but not until a bit later. KJ is spread the most thin. He wants level 10 Choking, Pureflame, Burning Blades and Immolation. Not sure what to do there. Maybe Choking to ten and then bring the others up evenly? I hit level 6 before the Oska gates so that's a good sign for their leveling progression.

[CdrPlatypus]

For anyone following my build closely I have made 2 small tactical leveling changes so far at lvl 13 selen takes slylook 2 and at lvl 15 KJ takes warding words 1.

contributor my suggestion is straight to ash 10. All of your early game damage is primarily physical

[dagger]

I think I'm going to max Ash and then Pureflame to 3 and then Meteoric Shockwave to 6 then probably back to Pureflame.  Not sure yet where that puts me in the game so I might adjust but that's kind of my game plan for now.  I really would like 3 or 4 Burning Blades too but....it's not quite as nice with a two-hander and Selen so it's down the priority list some.

[contributor]

I couldn't resist giving KJ 1 Immolation at level 7. He just really wanted to get into the action. After this we'll go back to straight Ash. Depending on how they're doing I'm contemplating going straight up with Immolation once Ash is complete.

[CdrPlatypus]

Apr 12, 2018 15:47:25 GMT -5 contributor said:

I couldn't resist giving KJ 1 Immolation at level 7. He just really wanted to get into the action. After this we'll go back to straight Ash. Depending on how they're doing I'm contemplating going straight up with Immolation once Ash is complete.

I'm just worried about areas like under to the with a lot of elemental damage that's why I'm looking at pure flame and maybe ms since, but damage would be nice to aigj want it all

[CdrPlatypus]

Apr 12, 2018 14:13:38 GMT -5 dagger said:

I think I'm going to max Ash and then Pureflame to 3 and then Meteoric Shockwave to 6 then probably back to Pureflame.  Not sure yet where that puts me in the game so I might adjust but that's kind of my game plan for now.  I really would like 3 or 4 Burning Blades too but....it's not quite as nice with a two-hander and Selen so it's down the priority list some.

Just wait until you see that 2 hander crit. You'll be addicted. No kill like overkill

[En1gma]

I'm debating if 2h Spears could be of use for this group. Better minimum damage, workable Parry, and amazing accuracy. I might Respec Vraes into them to try them out. I'm burned out on 2h hammers

[CdrPlatypus]

Not a fan of the spears myself