Group build feedback and advice thread

[tenbsmith]

Thanks CdrPlatypus, you're definitely right about the gamble of using Ferocity. I've seen the occasional disappointing damage total. Overall, it's still good.

I've taken to using Crushing Blow frequently, and Ferocity occasionally. En1gma had posted about using both Crushing and Ferocity a while back and I didn't really get it until now.

I was trying to level up only two of the three--Crushing, Savage, Ferocity. But now I may allocate points to Crushing. With recent increases in Kjartan's Choking Ash Vraes is hitting consistently, so I may reallocate that point from Savage and/or Natural to Crushing.

I'm also not sure I need so many points in Phalanx given Warder's--melee attacks rarely hit big V.

One interesting thing about this game is that the optimal level for talents varies by level of difficulty and by ironman versus classic. I don't need as much Phalanx on Hard as someone would on Nightmare. Finding optimal talent point allocations fro specific playing conditions is no small feat.

[En1gma]

tenbsmith- The parry bonus on Phalanx is great, but at some point it becomes more of a way to mitigate more and more ranged attacks. I've been bouncing anidea for party around using Phalanx and Frigid Air to basically ignore ranged attacks altogether...

[tenbsmith]

En1gma, Frigid Air is powerful and a build that could virtually ignore ranged attacks would be awesome. You can't rely on Phalanx to stop attacks, but with Frigid Air and other approaches to prevent ranged hits--Warder's, Ethereal, Burst o Speed--I could see how it could be part of a strategy. Maybe the build should be called

For my build the combination of Ethereal Anguish and Warder's may come close to Frigid Air, but I'm preparing my party to take some hits from ranged attackers with Attribute points to Constitution. The auto-block aspect of Phalanx is great. When it works well Vraes and Kyera can just continue to plow through the bad guys. When it I get an unlucky turn and many ranged attacks hit, V and/or K have to get V healed up. The overall result is more attacking less healing.

[En1gma]

tenbsmith, I'm thinking max out Phalanx, while keeping an attack in mind, maybe 3:1:1 Phalanx:Attack:Burst of Speed just so he comes up relatively even... Frigid Air and Flash Freeze similar to Crimson Rain builds. Kyera built for ranged attacks with Warders Shield and the new and improved Retribution. I'll need something to answer ranged attacks with after all... I just don't know whether to use Selen or Tam (I'm kidding, of course it'll be Selen) I just don't know if I'll want her to be a curse bot or not... I guess it's pretty much like Crimson Rain.... /sigh....

Once again, John Robinson, Crimson Rain is awesome..... I wasn't even trying to copy it but look what happened...

[bobc]

tenbsmith remember phalanx shield blocks ranged magic too, i've found it really good countering the shamen & cultists.  I'd consider lowering warders shield by 2 & moving them to ethereal anguish too. Having -2 ap really made ep2 a lot more friendly, especially the underforge. Being able to shut down the summoning spiders is so relaxing!!!!

[En1gma]

mrsarfa- continuing our conversation from the Kincaid thread.

I would run Selen as a curse machine anyway... Punishing Blades is just too good to pass up when she's around. Plus, the -damage from both Crippling Strikes and PB is a match made in heaven. I was thinking about Ash KJ, with Burning Blades and Immolation to give maximum damage output for groups of enemies. If you went pure support with KJ, and not Immolation, then Direct Damage Kyera would be a great option, though that would split her attribute and skill points thin.... I think running her as the support would be best, while focusing KJ on maximizing damage.

This lets Kincaid and Selen absolutely crush the front lines, KJ on crowd control and archers, while Kyera boosts heals, shields, and Anguish- she would definitely need the AoE on it by the end of E1, as E2 really ramps up. Once Crippling reaches AoE -ap, then you can have him cut anything close down to size, while Kyera and KJ work the ranges.

I think I have my next group (I think I have an addiction to this game)

[mrsarfa]

En1gma - That group does sound sweet. Let me know how it goes.

I can't shake the idea of combining Holy Strickening with Energy Storm and Thundering Blades, though. It just seems like it has the potential to be a devastating combination. The only problem is that leaves the party all melee unless you build Selen for Pinning Shot, which then leaves you without an armor reduction curse (and melee Selen is so much more fun anyway! )

Clearly, I need to think about this more, but the seed is definitely there.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2014 18:22:02 GMT -5 mrsarfa said:

I can't shake the idea of combining Holy Strickening with Energy Storm and Thundering Blades, though. It just seems like it has the potential to be a devastating combination. The only problem is that leaves the party all melee unless you build Selen for Pinning Shot, which then leaves you without an armor reduction curse (and melee Selen is so much more fun anyway! )

I'm running this group while Crimson Rain takes a break. I've built out Selen with both Pinning Shot and Punishing Blades. She can really do it all with a 1 AP dagger and Dance of Shadows to close the distance. I may get to the point where I'm not able to stay ahead of the curve with her, but I'm expecting the Lightning damage to start to pick up the slack when I get behind on armor reduction. Anyway, the group is just level 8 now so they have a ways to go.

There's no rushing to anything with this build for Selen with any of her skills but she still is bringing a lot of utility even at low levels.

Fyona hasn't gotten to Holy Strickening yet but even without it, I'm seeing some good damage increases once Ratkin get hit with Energy Storm level 2.

Additionally, I've got Kincaid in the mix with a 1 AP blade. My thought is that I want to maximize the lightning damage potential, but I can always swap out later. I'm finding basic attacks really effective with both Kincaid and Selen when I add in the bonus accuracy with Thundering Blades. Vincent is also able to step in and do some serious damage with a level 1 Storm Strike.

Would love for others to share their thoughts on this combo if they've taken it into E1A2!

[John Robinson]

En1gma bobc Hi Phalanx Shield has turned out even better than expected and I am taking it to the max.

I have added some new information about how the group is doing at Level 23 in the Crimson Rain thread.

[CdrPlatypus]

mrsarfa I've run that group with pinning shot selen and its great fun. By giving everyone +lightening dmg and killing resistance with holy strickening armour is not an issue

[mrsarfa]

CdrPlatypus @rearick --

Thank you both for your comments. The start of the conversation with En1gma about this idea for a build was actually around using Kincaid's Crippling Strikes melee AOE, prompted by a dream that I had about a group built around melee AOE. (Yes, I dreamt about a build for HoS. )

Have either of you tried Crippling Strikes along with the Thundering Blades/Energy Storm/Holy Strickening combination?

[En1gma]

Kinetic Energy just stomped through the Storeroom with zero deaths. I'll do a write-up later, seeing that they all hit 18. I'm so happy with this group. My only regret right this minute is spending a point on Sacrifice 3... I only got an extra 8 SP for spending an extra 10. Hoping that gets adjusted soon group's awesome though!

[CdrPlatypus]

mrsarfa I haven't tried a build set up for melee aoe. play with it and tell us about it

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2014 10:14:28 GMT -5 mrsarfa said:

Have either of you tried Crippling Strikes along with the Thundering Blades/Energy Storm/Holy Strickening combination?

My group that I described is on its way with Kincaid to melee AoE but the group as a whole is based around the Thundering Blades/Energy Storm/Holy Strickening combination to start. I'm planning on adding in melee AoE (probably with SoS, just for talent point efficiency) but am working on building his survivability as a primary tank in these early levels.

So, no, I'm not there yet.

What is your idea of Crippling Strikes over Storm of Steel as AoE melee? The -1 AP, having it before lvl 18, or something else? I'm wondering if I should reconsider where I go for my AoE goodness.

[En1gma]

Using Strickening alongside AoE Crippling Strikes is not going to be feasible without investing major points into Int... I've tried this before, and even with points into Int, I had to scrap the build before the Shaman. Sacrifice support will be critical, I think... It's just too expensive otherwise.