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Post by wascalwywabbit on Jan 30, 2017 4:43:23 GMT -5
wascalwywabbit - I am in fact using CA with KJ, but I use PS on single targets, and use CA on groups of 2 or more. Now that you bring it up, it does make since to use CA, and drop a PS for tankier enemies. I'm gonna keep bows at 5 and see how that works. I'm a little nervous going full stealth with skills though because Fyona with SoC 4 is still taking hits; would hate to see how it looks when Selen is hit. If I go 1:1 with blades and stealth you think that would be good? My PS is at 4 or 5 so that's almost good. I was gonna focus on QsD next, but maybe DoS is better if I'm gonna go 1:1 with skills It's not uncommon for people to take SoC straight to 10 for party D. I don't know why you're using PS and CA on entirely different target groups, sure they both raise acc so there's a bit of overlap, but CA has -armor and PS -ap and they hit similar groupings in AoE in practice much of the game despite their slightly different templates... If you're prioritizing shouldn't CA go to the highest armor you're attacking atm and PS the highest damage (physical vs your armors plus magical vs your res) per ap enemies in range with at least 2ap that are likely to survive to hit you next round? Anyway, Strickening would be good for raising acc and magical dmg done by your team if you want maximum dmg, especially if you're not dropping CA on targets before PS... Going 1:1 blades/stealth is ok, maybe propping lore once in a while when pretty secure in stealth and D for extended buffs. Doing the same for QsD and DoS, raising PS as you have sp to power it and getting a few points to 4 into sly look to scout the blackness for targets and dangers, especially stealth round, since at lvl 4 plus it becomes effectively ap free (via ap refunds) in stealth, though still uses sp... |
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Post by En1gma on Jan 30, 2017 14:01:05 GMT -5
If there are waves of mobs, I'll split cursing duties between Selen and Kj. Anything ranged that needs to be brought to heel gets a shot of PS and left alone, preferably with Vraes/Kincaid as their target. Anything within striking range gets Ash to make sure they die that turn.
Once the flow of the enemies becomes manageable, then dual cursing makes everything fall as planned. Not double cursing mobs that don't require a full attack saves SP, which helps Selen tremendously.
In terms of Blades:Bows;Stealth, 2:1:1 is my standard build and should work fine. Sly Look is valuable, but only a single point should be spent until later-- she has far more valuable things to spend points on.
SoC 10 is a must if you want her to tank reliably or your group depends on it for defense. If you're running QsD with Selen and Phalanx for V, you might not need CoD as high. She shouldn't spend more than 2-3 points on anything else until she gets it, unless you don't want her to tank at all.
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Post by amongstshadows on Jan 31, 2017 5:19:29 GMT -5
I was thinking about using SS along with PS for Vraes, but perhaps that is not good. Any advice?
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Post by wascalwywabbit on Jan 31, 2017 5:51:19 GMT -5
I was thinking about using SS along with PS for Vraes, but perhaps that is not good. Any advice? SSw doesn't raise damage much... NM gives good acc too, better melee D and its dmg buff (if you're using Str) is more reliable if you're raising dmg via gear already. Combined PSh and NM will give noticably better D in melee and perform almost identically as well offensively combined with SSw left at lvl 1. |
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Post by amongstshadows on Jan 31, 2017 6:53:14 GMT -5
I was thinking about using SS along with PS for Vraes, but perhaps that is not good. Any advice? SSw doesn't raise damage much... NM gives good acc too, better melee D and its dmg buff (if you're using Str) is more reliable if you're raising dmg via gear already. Combined PSh and NM will give noticably better D in melee and perform almost identically as well offensively combined with SSw left at lvl 1. I was thinking about BoS to get +2MP since PS costs 3AP, and I want Vraes to get to the front lines rather than pull everyone behind him. Wasn't considering NM, but looks more in line with his build than Stone Skin(SS lol, savage sweep isn't that useful to me since KJ is an ash wizard) Edit: My build borrows from the Iron Curtain build that En1gma made(I assume) |
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Post by En1gma on Jan 31, 2017 8:02:50 GMT -5
Iron Curtain needs Phalanx more than it needs SSk or NM. Phalanx 10 first, then consider other options, but getting to 50+% ranged immunity is critical to group defense.
Once he gets it high enough, he's all you need to hold an entire swarm of enemies. Dual curses keep him hitting, so NM isn't useful until later unless you want it for the added STR damage.
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Post by amongstshadows on Jan 31, 2017 9:04:19 GMT -5
Iron Curtain needs Phalanx more than it needs SSk or NM. Phalanx 10 first, then consider other options, but getting to 50+% ranged immunity is critical to group defense. Once he gets it high enough, he's all you need to hold an entire swarm of enemies. Dual curses keep him hitting, so NM isn't useful until later unless you want it for the added STR damage. The biggest change I made with Vraes is he uses swords rather than maces. He's at PS 5 at the moment, but the SP cost is starting to hurt, so I was looking at other possible talents |
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Post by En1gma on Jan 31, 2017 9:53:42 GMT -5
How many points have you in Int? So long as you only have the one buff, and don't raise attack talents too far, you won't feel it so much, especially once you get some decent levels of SP drain. SP spent on buffs is more valuable than his attacks any day, exceptions being FEROCITY and Jugg, but again, Vraes is meant to be a tank in this group, with attack damage being raised not by talent levels but by Ash stripping armor and making every attack hit at close to max damage.
That being said, spending half his SP on buffs is totally worth it if it means he never takes hits hard and can hold the line.
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Post by En1gma on Jan 31, 2017 9:56:40 GMT -5
I was thinking about BoS to get +2MP since PS costs 3AP, and I want Vraes to get to the front lines rather than pull everyone behind him. \ This wording confuses me. Phalanx costs no AP if you buff before battle, so forgive me if this is a stupid question: You ARE using Auto-Buff, correct? |
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Post by amongstshadows on Jan 31, 2017 10:34:27 GMT -5
I was thinking about BoS to get +2MP since PS costs 3AP, and I want Vraes to get to the front lines rather than pull everyone behind him. \ This wording confuses me. Phalanx costs no AP if you buff before battle, so forgive me if this is a stupid question: You ARE using Auto-Buff, correct? If I buff outside of battle will the buff remain at max until a battle starts? I thought the buffs will run out if you walk around with them on outside of battle |
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Post by amongstshadows on Jan 31, 2017 10:35:29 GMT -5
How many points have you in Int? So long as you only have the one buff, and don't raise attack talents too far, you won't feel it so much, especially once you get some decent levels of SP drain. SP spent on buffs is more valuable than his attacks any day, exceptions being FEROCITY and Jugg, but again, Vraes is meant to be a tank in this group, with attack damage being raised not by talent levels but by Ash stripping armor and making every attack hit at close to max damage. That being said, spending half his SP on buffs is totally worth it if it means he never takes hits hard and can hold the line. Only lvl 7 so have only increase con 2 times and str 1 time. Next point is int |
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Post by En1gma on Jan 31, 2017 10:39:45 GMT -5
The buffs remain, yes. Some story sequences will count the buff timer a turn or two, but you should absolutely be auto-buffing!
Once he gets some points in Int, the impact from his buffs will go way down. I usually do 1-2 points in Int early, 1 point in Str to make it an even 8, and everything else in Con for added HP and toughness.
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Post by CdrPlatypus on Feb 2, 2017 14:01:58 GMT -5
How many points have you in Int? So long as you only have the one buff, and don't raise attack talents too far, you won't feel it so much, especially once you get some decent levels of SP drain. SP spent on buffs is more valuable than his attacks any day, exceptions being FEROCITY and Jugg, but again, Vraes is meant to be a tank in this group, with attack damage being raised not by talent levels but by Ash stripping armor and making every attack hit at close to max damage. That being said, spending half his SP on buffs is totally worth it if it means he never takes hits hard and can hold the line. Vraes is an interesting hero to choose he is very different from all the others. En1gma is right. His buffs are totally worth the cost. Most builds for Vraes that are time tested focus on his self buffs over active skills. Especially in the early game. Myself I like to rush Phalanx shield. Very useful on Nightmare, which is where I like to hang out. |
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Post by En1gma on Feb 16, 2017 16:29:23 GMT -5
Just got Lukai's Maul for Fyona and the Chaplain's Mace for Vraes... Iron Curtain just got serious.
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Post by En1gma on Feb 22, 2017 21:31:52 GMT -5
Iron Curtain Update Such a good group. 100 times better than my last run with them, and the newest rules for certain Talents and Attributes make this party an absolute beast on the battlefield. Vraes: Armored Beatstick, Professional Pincushion. (Combat Stats) 520 HP, 190 SP, 60 Armor. 8 Dodge, 21 Parry. Attributes: 8 Str, 10 Con, 5 Int Skills: 12 Hammers, 5 Leadership Talents: Phalanx Shield 10 --Vraes, Vraes, Vraes... Vraes likes Maces... Maces smash things. Vraes gives no shits about you, your attacks, how much damage you think you can do, or how hairy your girlfriend thinks your chest is. He walks through arrows like they're barroom darts thrown off-handed by a tired 3 year old. Fyona's 1 Handed Oskahold Mace was born for this build, as it has that blessed extra point of Parry. Now that he has his defenses, I'm thinking about how best to continue his progression... He could branch into BoS for the MP, but honestly that can wait. He could start in on Natural Mastery, in order to raise the low base damage Maces suffer from, simultaneously raising his melee defense and eventually his accuracy, all via one talent. He could invest in Berserk Rage, or save his remaining points for Juggernaut... Still thinking on it, and always open for suggestions. Kjartan: Ash Wizard and Direct AoE Damage. Attributes: 6 Con, 7 Will, 8 Int, 7 Kno Skills: 7 Sorcery, 8 Conj Talents: Immolation 5, Ash 6 -- I am SO GLAD I GAVE UP PfS!! Immolation is absolutely murder, and I have nothing better for him to invest in than Ash 10 and Immo 10 for the foreseeable future. Fyona: Heavy Armor Striker, 2H Hammer and +Crit gear. (Combat Stats) 537 HP, 200 SP, 48 Armor. 4 Dodge, 13 Parry. Attributes: 6 Str, 11 Con, 5 Int Skills: 10 Hammers, 4 Leadership Talents: Shield of Cortias 7, Battlefield Devotion 3 --Honestly for now I don't mind giving up the shield on her. Her high critical hit chance (5% for now) added to the rising Immo curse makes for quite the fireworks. She of course will have a shield and 1H mace for when it hits the fan, but for trash encounters she's just fine. Battlefield Devotion is amazing as well, and I am getting a great payoff by spending those 3 points there over Blessed Aura. Selen: Crit Building+Pinning Shot Attributes: 9 Dex, 8 Con, 6 Int Skills: 10 Blades, 4 Bows, 3 Lore, 4(17) Stealth Talents: Pinning Shot 5, Dance of Shadows 4 --It's odd not having her in melee combat. Not that I miss it here, and I would have moved her gear around to permit it had I not gotten the upgraded Oxenbone Bow (19-56) just before the Temple (Luckiest Chest Ever). Having another AoE with high base crit means her arrows hit hard... Love this damn group, and they're growing stronger by the minute  |
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