How much Sp should you use

[virtualrock]

So i usuallly use skills that use spirit but once  run out i have a really bad time so should i limit hkw much i use those talents. Once i got into the last part of the caves neded to go to so that you can escape the prison but i ran out of spirit and the ratkin destroyed me. When i got to oskahold i bought all the sp potions i could 

[tenbsmith]

Your post is a bit hard to understand, but it sounds like you use a lot of empowered attacks and don't use buffs. Empowered attacks are Talents like Crushing Blow that directly cause damage and have no duration. Buffs/curses are Talents that improve attack/defense stats and have duration. Using only empowered attacks can cause one to burn through the SP. The design of HoS almost requires the use of buffs/curses.

[fallen]

As a player, I never use basic attacks (0 SP). I manage my SP and use potions effectively and only when needed to restore a character's pool. Tinctures play a huge part of getting this right, and I use my spells and 100% empowered attacks.

[tenbsmith]

Good point Fallen, my original post may have been a bit off target.

I was trying to say that the most successful builds usually increase the Talent levels of both buffs/curses and empowered-attacks/spells. And, usually, use both in combat. If you increase the Talent level of only empowered attacks, that type of build will tend to burn through SP quickly, buffs/curses are SP-efficient.

[fallen]

tenbsmith - it is great advice. Also, give consideration to being careful not to raise your Talents past the level you can afford with SP.

[virtualrock]

Well I just simply have my outlander (haven't memorized the characters names) in the front taking all the damage and only using hard skin and crushing blow. I got my healer healing and the rest are in the back shooting from a distance at rats. The mage doesnt really do that much damage so i think i will have to switch something. I rarely use buffs and curses because i feel like they will do little difference and eat my sp and also ap.

[crimsonshadow]

Virtualrock,

I was against the buffs/debuffs too at first, but they really are critical to the game. Also, unless it is a really long battle and/or u aren't leveling your skills, AP shouldn't be an issue with buffs since you can cast them out of battle and the turns don't tick off till you engage in battle... Will last across multiple battles too! This is a great little nugget I did not notice about the game at first that has completely changed my thoughts and approach.

[En1gma]

virtualrock- probably the worst thing you can do in this game is to neglect buffs and curses! Choking Ash and curses that remove dodge and parry actually saves you sp by increasing the amount of damage everyone deals, saving you sp on using talents while not hitting as hard or as often. Boosting up parry and dodge with Shield of Cortias or Phalanx or Warders Shield saves you sp on healing because you don't take as much damage. If you don't have a good curse (or two, or three), and don't use any buffs, you can kiss your group goodbye once you hit E2 or even once you get to Riven Field. Check out the Group Build Feedback thread for a ton of awesome group breakdowns and ways people have made their groups.

[virtualrock]

Damn it, this game just got a whole lot harder.Why cant i just go up to the enemy and destroy them.

[fallen]

Jul 18, 2014 12:14:57 GMT -5 virtualrock said:

Damn it, this game just got a whole lot harder.Why cant i just go up to the enemy and destroy them.

Try an easier difficulty?

[virtualrock]

Nah thats not what i meant. I actually started the game on the hardest dificulty. I had a very bad time with my sp so i went down to normal.

[captain nemo]

Jul 17, 2014 10:52:53 GMT -5 fallen said:

As a player, I never use basic attacks (0 SP). I manage my SP and use potions effectively and only when needed to restore a character's pool. Tinctures play a huge part of getting this right, and I use my spells and 100% empowered attacks.

I use basic attacks very rarely, only as a last resort, I use empowered weapons & spells with all my characters and do my best to manage how much I'm using them. I can be very easy to blow thru all of your SP. Watch what your doing and when your attacking. If your using a Area of Effect spell make sue you have a good group to use it on & not just one or two people.

[algesan]

Heh, and I mainly use basic attacks against basic critters, but then I'm into heavy buffs, so it can be a toss up there. I could use enhanced attacks a lot more, but until we talk the Brothers into putting camps no more than two pathing distances AND one zone away, I'll keep using basic attacks to save mana for buffing the second time and curses so I don't have to spend so much time walking.

Nope, chugging pots doesn't work so well. I've got a group that almost has to do that just to survive and it costs waaaay too much coin, as in, you just got into town, there are new weapons & armor for sale....so you pick up one or two (instead of upgrading your party)...if you can afford to restock your potions.

[tenbsmith]

My heroes buff a lot and use a mix of standard (no sp used) and empowered (require sp) attacks. I'll use standard attacks when I know that'll get the job done--maybe an enemy has only 10 hp left OR maybe it's the last enemy standing. At the moment, three standard strikes from Vraes is generally enough to dispatch a Ratkin Archer choking on ash.

I play on Hard, I imagine if playing on Nightmare, it might be more necessary to use empowered attacks all the time.

[slayernz]

When I was leaving Red Rock, I did mix up the empowered and basic type attacks. Getting to the first way station is a big challenge if you go all out with SP usage.

After I get to the first way station and beyond, I'm losing points by visiting them often, but "usually" it keeps me alive At that point, I am almost purely using empowered attacks. I have to try out a Stealth build for Tami or Selen, but that's for the next game when I take the dueler out for a spin.