Has it been tried to build a STR focused mage, with perhaps some points going into DEX and or CON?
The idea would be able to wear massive armor and have high attack and damage output from your beat forms.
Been tried?
Shapeshifter build
Débuté par
USArmyParatrooper
, janv. 28 2011 11:40
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#2
Posté 28 janvier 2011 - 11:56
Ser Kory
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#3
Posté 28 janvier 2011 - 11:58
Ser Kory
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I know it isn't a shapeshifter, but you may be able to take something from it.
#4
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 12:11
ussnorway
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I've played the (entire) game through twice as a Shapeshifter mage with all points going into STR except the 36 magic needed for 'Death Hex' (Origins) and increased to 61 magic for 'Time Spiral' (Awakening).
You end up with a S&S warrior that is practically immune to overwhelm and can cast spells from 'Hand of winter' to 'Entropic Death'... when fighting dragons or if all else fails I go Bear!
I didn't put any points into DEX or CON ( got plenty from gear through) and I'm not saying this is the only way to play a SS or that it is fun for everyone to be the party tank but I enjoyed it, a bit too easy to win with this set up... I play on hard.
You end up with a S&S warrior that is practically immune to overwhelm and can cast spells from 'Hand of winter' to 'Entropic Death'... when fighting dragons or if all else fails I go Bear!
I didn't put any points into DEX or CON ( got plenty from gear through) and I'm not saying this is the only way to play a SS or that it is fun for everyone to be the party tank but I enjoyed it, a bit too easy to win with this set up... I play on hard.
Modifié par ussnorway, 29 janvier 2011 - 12:14 .
#5
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 12:14
USArmyParatrooper
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Well, I just tested by creating a new character in Awakening and the damage output was still dismal.Still, shapeshifter might be more interesting if damage and attack came from magic and not STR.
They should really give you more compensation for not being able to cast spells in Animal form. Does anyone with lots of Shapeshifter experience have anything to add? The specialty intrigues me, but it just seems weak.
They should really give you more compensation for not being able to cast spells in Animal form. Does anyone with lots of Shapeshifter experience have anything to add? The specialty intrigues me, but it just seems weak.
#6
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 12:17
USArmyParatrooper
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ussnorway wrote...
I've played the (entire) game through twice as a Shapeshifter mage with all points going into STR except the 36 magic needed for 'Death Hex' (Origins) and increased to 61 magic for 'Time Spiral' (Awakening).
You end up with a S&S warrior that is practically immune to overwhelm and can cast spells from 'Hand of winter' to 'Entropic Death'... when fighting dragons or if all else fails I go Bear!
I didn't put any points into DEX or CON ( got plenty from gear through) and I'm not saying this is the only way to play a SS or that it is fun for everyone to be the party tank but I enjoyed it, a bit too easy to win with this set up... I play on hard.
Can you elaborate more on the benefits and strategy? My brief test run on Awakenings showed a fairly slow attack rate and low damage per strike. Overwhelm was very nice, but then you have that cool off period....
I DO love the side benefit of wickid fast traveling in swarm form.
#7
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 12:23
ussnorway
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What weapon did you have on?USArmyParatrooper wrote...
Well, I just tested by creating a new character in Awakening and the damage output was still dismal.Still
At level 20 my Bear averaged 90 points per on auto-attack with out any buffs (put up a 'Death Hex' and this number will climb) against the ogres... I was using 'Duncan's sword' at that stage.
P.s.
My late game play style is this... I don't spend a lot of time in form but play more as a very tuff mage.
Modifié par ussnorway, 29 janvier 2011 - 12:33 .
#8
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 03:24
Ace Attorney
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I am liking your concept...questions:ussnorway wrote...
I've played the (entire) game through twice as a Shapeshifter mage with all points going into STR except the 36 magic needed for 'Death Hex' (Origins) and increased to 61 magic for 'Time Spiral' (Awakening).
You end up with a S&S warrior that is practically immune to overwhelm and can cast spells from 'Hand of winter' to 'Entropic Death'... when fighting dragons or if all else fails I go Bear!
I didn't put any points into DEX or CON ( got plenty from gear through) and I'm not saying this is the only way to play a SS or that it is fun for everyone to be the party tank but I enjoyed it, a bit too easy to win with this set up... I play on hard.
1. How well can this be played on 360?
2. What is your second specialization? What was your party?
3. Is it good to try do DPS and not tank?
4. Since Magic affects your defensive beast stats, would more Magic be better?
#9
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 03:32
USArmyParatrooper
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ussnorway wrote...
What weapon did you have on?USArmyParatrooper wrote...
Well, I just tested by creating a new character in Awakening and the damage output was still dismal.Still
At level 20 my Bear averaged 90 points per on auto-attack with out any buffs (put up a 'Death Hex' and this number will climb) against the ogres... I was using 'Duncan's sword' at that stage.
P.s.
My late game play style is this... I don't spend a lot of time in form but play more as a very tuff mage.
Weapon? I thought in animal form you're bare handed by default. Was I wrong?
#10
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 03:57
Mccoyn
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I played once with a shapeshifter, Dual weilded a Rose's Thorn and starfang Or Reapers Cudgel.. Both give great damage and or dex boost
#11
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 04:36
ussnorway
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Yes and no... you are bare handed but your attacks are worked out from your gear so e.g. a mage staff will make all your attacks hit but you can't get any Crits (best at the low levels). things like mana reg and magic resist also carry over, hence the duncan's sword.USArmyParatrooper wrote...
Weapon? I thought in animal form you're bare handed by default. Was I wrong?
Modifié par ussnorway, 29 janvier 2011 - 04:38 .
#12
Posté 29 janvier 2011 - 05:16
ussnorway
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Sorry T3hAnubis, some how I missed your questions before, lets see;
1. I don’t play a 360 but as I understand it you can’t pause the game as much so that will cause you some problems in your early game... there are a couple of ambushes but you are also tougher than say a healer.
2a. I take Blood magic for the ‘Blood Wound’ spell because it allows me to stun them long enough to shift into bear without worrying about taking a mana drink (safe to use in a party as well)... once you hit awakening you get the battlemage sub-class and ‘Hand of Winter’, an amazing spell!
2b. I had Liliana (romance) and Wynne (heals), then I circled through the other companions to do there quests… mostly the dog (RP reasons).
3. I played most the game in mage form and concentrated on crowd control spells eg. Drop a ‘Paralysis Explosion’ then a ‘Death Cloud’ to open or in the early game I ‘Force field’ to stun something nasty before going bear/ killing adds.
4. Do you mean mental resistance? I don’t understand this question m8, magic does not affect your defensive stats… you get a set number of increased attributes based on what form you pick unless you already have a higher stat in which case that one is used. All attacks in bear form are based on STR, the Spider attacks melee using STR and spits using DEX the swarm is the only form that uses Magic and that damage is an automatic area of effect around you but (Bonus) only hits enemies. Having a lower magic score does allow some spells like ‘Force field’ to occasionally bounce off a boss but that can be off set by using ‘Spell Wisp’ (hard) or ‘Spell Might’ (insane).
p.s.
I did some more research and think I can see what you are asking now, yes your magic stat DOES add some points to a form based on which stat normally gets increased and subject to diminishing returns.
For example I’ll use the bear and a starting human.
STR = 11, MAG = 16, & CON = 12; this human has all the Shapeshifting spells but that’s it i.e. he is nude. After casting bear form his new stats are STR =16, DEX =18 & CON =21.
If we increase his stats to STR 33 and CON 42 then cast bear again we get STR 33 & CON 42… we get these numbers because his new base stats are more than the 16 STR and 21 CON that being a bear gives so he keeps the higher of the two numbers.
If we wanted to achieve the same stats by adding only to his magic then he would need a magic score of 100! So with STR 11, MAG 100 and Con 12, we get the same result as above… my math might be out by a point or two but you get the idea.
:wizard:It is worth mentioning that these stat increases can come from different permanent effects like gear (Reaper's Vestments) or passive spells like (Attunement) but not temp effects like (Rage).
In short a mage that only pumps Magic can still turn into a bear an get a nice CON (hit points) boost but unless he invests in STR that bear can’t do much damage in melee… presumably used to run away or just for a fast overwhelm but see TBastian thread for discussion on this play style also see the x-president thread as he really pioneered the STR based SS.
Sorry this post is so long.
1. I don’t play a 360 but as I understand it you can’t pause the game as much so that will cause you some problems in your early game... there are a couple of ambushes but you are also tougher than say a healer.
2a. I take Blood magic for the ‘Blood Wound’ spell because it allows me to stun them long enough to shift into bear without worrying about taking a mana drink (safe to use in a party as well)... once you hit awakening you get the battlemage sub-class and ‘Hand of Winter’, an amazing spell!
2b. I had Liliana (romance) and Wynne (heals), then I circled through the other companions to do there quests… mostly the dog (RP reasons).
3. I played most the game in mage form and concentrated on crowd control spells eg. Drop a ‘Paralysis Explosion’ then a ‘Death Cloud’ to open or in the early game I ‘Force field’ to stun something nasty before going bear/ killing adds.
4. Do you mean mental resistance? I don’t understand this question m8, magic does not affect your defensive stats… you get a set number of increased attributes based on what form you pick unless you already have a higher stat in which case that one is used. All attacks in bear form are based on STR, the Spider attacks melee using STR and spits using DEX the swarm is the only form that uses Magic and that damage is an automatic area of effect around you but (Bonus) only hits enemies. Having a lower magic score does allow some spells like ‘Force field’ to occasionally bounce off a boss but that can be off set by using ‘Spell Wisp’ (hard) or ‘Spell Might’ (insane).
p.s.
I did some more research and think I can see what you are asking now, yes your magic stat DOES add some points to a form based on which stat normally gets increased and subject to diminishing returns.
For example I’ll use the bear and a starting human.
STR = 11, MAG = 16, & CON = 12; this human has all the Shapeshifting spells but that’s it i.e. he is nude. After casting bear form his new stats are STR =16, DEX =18 & CON =21.
If we increase his stats to STR 33 and CON 42 then cast bear again we get STR 33 & CON 42… we get these numbers because his new base stats are more than the 16 STR and 21 CON that being a bear gives so he keeps the higher of the two numbers.
If we wanted to achieve the same stats by adding only to his magic then he would need a magic score of 100! So with STR 11, MAG 100 and Con 12, we get the same result as above… my math might be out by a point or two but you get the idea.
:wizard:It is worth mentioning that these stat increases can come from different permanent effects like gear (Reaper's Vestments) or passive spells like (Attunement) but not temp effects like (Rage).
In short a mage that only pumps Magic can still turn into a bear an get a nice CON (hit points) boost but unless he invests in STR that bear can’t do much damage in melee… presumably used to run away or just for a fast overwhelm but see TBastian thread for discussion on this play style also see the x-president thread as he really pioneered the STR based SS.
Sorry this post is so long.
Modifié par ussnorway, 30 janvier 2011 - 10:36 .
