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Post by hobiecat on May 12, 2014 17:43:04 GMT -5
Was curious to see if anyone has tried running with an unconventional character build? For example: - A melee-focused Tamilin? (My thought – Focus on Torrent of Steel and Blacknight, with supporting points in Farsight, Precision Pick and Disarming Touch. Plus, items to boost damage and possibly mobility.)
- A melee-focused Kjartan!?! (My thought – This is basically a buffer/curser Kjartan with focused skills in Polearms. Definitely needs one of the cooler staves from E2 and then lays the physical beatdown with it. Burning Blades / Choking Ash to help with damage dealing and Pureflame Shield / Meteoric Shockwave for protection.)
- A non-melee-based buffer/curser Fyona!!?! (My thought – Holy Strickening as the main offensive “weapon” besides the default attacks. Otherwise focus on Shield of Cortias, Righteous Fervor, and a LOT of healing.)
- A DEX-based light blade-wielding Vraes (http://startradersrpg.proboards.com/post/83247/thread -- Thanks kbprinceo for giving me this post idea!
- Other ideas?
How did you build out the character and how did you build out the other party members to support them? What equipment did you outfit them with? How successful was the build? Any pleasant surprises or did it all go down like a lead balloon as conventional wisdom would dictate? |
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Post by johndramey on May 25, 2014 18:31:14 GMT -5
I, myself, haven't tried any. That said, I think that someone (maybe contributor or John Robinson?) tried dex Vraes and found him relatively ok until episode 2? Am I right? I'm kind of running a non-melee based Fyona since her primary duty was Shield of Cortias and Consecrated Defense. I lost that save however, and need to restart. Focusing on the 4X right now though  |
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ncaoa
Templar
Getting killed by Deathkin. Again.
Posts: 972 
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Post by ncaoa on May 25, 2014 19:05:11 GMT -5
I like combining Tamilin's low Ap melee with Kajartan's choking ash to support Vrase and Kyera. Never gone full melee though. Melee focused Kjartan. Souds crazy, yet awesome! Or just masochist. |
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Post by hobiecat on May 27, 2014 17:24:31 GMT -5
ncaoa - I'm glad to hear that someone is using Tamilin's Torrent of Steel skill! I kind of wish that Torrent of Steel had a bit more to it (maybe a buff, curse or other additional effect) so that it would entice people to actually max it out. Short of being contrarian and doing an unconventional build for Tami, I can't imagine why there should be 10 levels of Torrent of Steel. Looking at Selen as an example, I can't actually think of what would be an "unconventional" build for her because she can go quite effectively in either melee or bows. Like Tami, she only has one skill focused on her "off" weapon, but that one skill has the -AP AoE curse that causes it to be a very legitimate skill to build around. Tami just doesn't have that with her one melee skill. Sorry, end rant.  In the meantime, another Vraes idea that I have is what I like to call the "Zen Pacifist" Vraes. Talent points only in Stone Skin, Phalanx Shield and Burst of Speed (and then Natural Mastery in the late game after the other 3 are maxed out). Attribute-wise, maxing out Dexterity and Constitution. He'll be armed with a shield (natch) and the highest parry light-blade he can find. His only role will be to get others to attack him and either bend like a willow or unyielding like a rock. Never hits back. Completely ridiculous, but the thought really amuses me.
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Post by En1gma on May 27, 2014 18:25:56 GMT -5
Pacifist Vraes, lol I love it. Shield of Cortias and dodge boosting gear... Full melee group... Why does this sound like a shit-ton of fun, even if E2 becomes impossible?
Even role-playing it makes sense- the Vraes who renounced violence altogether. Points into constitution and willpower (finally) and lore...
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ncaoa
Templar
Getting killed by Deathkin. Again.
Posts: 972
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Post by ncaoa on May 27, 2014 18:28:19 GMT -5
hobiecat I know. Maybe an armour debuff? I always see Tami as stabbing through armour. Selen is stabbing circles around Tamilin right now with her curses. Haha, the Zen Pacifist Vraes sounds hilarious.
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Post by En1gma on May 27, 2014 22:22:16 GMT -5
The more I think about it the more I want to try this Zen Vraes, even if it's on easy, just to see if it would be as fun as it sounds... Just for poops and hahas I'm gonna try it he is going to fall sooooo far behind in xp tho. |
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Post by contributor on May 28, 2014 3:40:55 GMT -5
I don't quite have a Zen Vraes. I do have one who is supposed to be a 2H hammer wielding Ferocity nightmare, but he just refuses to kill things. Bring them down to 10 or 20 HP sure, but 9 times out of 10 he can't finish them off. Even if they start at 10 HP at the beginning of his turn, he'll swing two big whiffs. The rest of the team is starting to chortle behind his back, which doesn't help his confidence at all.
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Post by narana on May 28, 2014 6:41:20 GMT -5
My warrior is level 19, has maxed lore and stone skin, some points in natural mastery and burst of speed, and 100% tank equipment. Only deaths on nightmare so far were when my party got repositioned in a cutscece with enemies in front and behind (episode 1 gatehouse, episode 2 orc cave). When in the orc levels, he was tough enough to tank 6 or more enemies at a time, including berserkers, and with just those few points in natural mastery and curses, he manages to hit over 1/3 of the time with level 1 savage sweep.
It works very well to have one massive main tank, the trick is quickly figuring out how each enemy acts (which melee enemy move after attacking and which don't, which ranged shoot closest and which shoot backline) and have the mage and archer prioritize the trouble enemies. Also, leaving the team a bit behind at all times while the warrior explores, otherwise on turn 1 the enemies will trounce the mage.
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Post by En1gma on Aug 14, 2014 12:12:34 GMT -5
Have a dust-off for this one... Was seriously thinking about pacifist Vraes whilst folding some laundry earlier and I had to share. Do pacifist Vraes, only in the first episode. Bring Phalanx and Mastery, as well as BoS as high as possible. The rest of the group naturally gravitated to AoE damage to make up for the lack of power from V. Bank the last 2-3 points and save up for Juggernaut. He does nothing but withstand blows for the entire first episode, but becomes completely unhinged in E2... He can make use of defensive daggers for the extra parry, or a high parry sword, but keep him focused on blades (ot at least don't let it fall behind). Patience pays off, and you're left with a defensive powerhouse that ends up steamrolling everything he comes across, especially once the AoE weakens everything for him to bury.
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Post by En1gma on Sept 6, 2014 16:36:38 GMT -5
This just in... Melee Tamilin with Deadly Intuition and Torrent of Steel. Also Blacknight. High accuracy melee with insane critical hit percentage. That is all.
Haven't tried it, but this could make for a fun spin on neo-stealth...
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Post by abysmal on Sept 28, 2014 20:14:32 GMT -5
Ive been doing a near pure parry/dodge build with kyera/selen/kincaid/kjartlan. Its amazing that I still have 30+ health and spirit potions each without buying em.
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Post by Cory Trese on Sept 29, 2014 7:08:56 GMT -5
Ive been doing a near pure parry/dodge build with kyera/selen/kincaid/kjartlan. Its amazing that I still have 30+ health and spirit potions each without buying em. A solid build! How are you getting by without Warders? |
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Post by abysmal on Sept 29, 2014 7:56:21 GMT -5
Well... I am using Warders.
Kincaid is focusing on Sure Parry and Cunning Footwork and only uses a 1 handed low AP light blade.
Selen is focusing on Punishing Blades and Dance of Shadows, soon Quicksilver Defense.
Kyera is Myshana's and Warders Shield.
Kjartan is focusing on Choking Ash, Burning Blades, and Pureflame Shield.
The idea is that Kincaid and Selen do all of the fighting, getting critical hits when needed and while the opponents miss, I can keep hitting. Kjartan and Selen strip away armor allowing for Selen and Kincaid to quickly deal damage.
To see how well my defense was, I went to the Warm cavern at Level 8, got Kincaid and Selen swarmed by 10 Underdeep Beetles. Even with no -AP buffs, after 4 rounds I took 11 damage total.
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