215 replies to this topic

[LazyBoy]

For the uninitiated :
Tactics work by running down the list 1 item at a time checking for conditions set in those tactics. When it finds a tactic that has its conditions met, it will trigger that tactic then return to the begining of the list. Rechecking each condition untill it fires again, repeating the process. Which explains the occasional delay when firing off status oriented CCC abilities. Adding a second instance of the CCC ability in the later end of the tactics may solve existing delays in larger tactic builds.

Now everything is clear. Im mistaken. I was conviced that tactics try any condition and back from last to 1st. running that what happen. My fault, i dont read this post carefully :/ thats mean. Ty mate for u answer and help.

[SuicidalBaby]

no problem.

[Grimling]

7. self: mana <75%: activate: Heroic Aura
8. self: mana <75%: activate: Elemental Weapons

Seems an odd condition to see for activation. Why mana less than 75? And not self any or mana greater than 25? Sure there's a solid rationale, just seeking clarification.

[SuicidalBaby]

Rock Armor is on 100% of the time.
Heroic Aura consumes 15%, making 75% the perfect point in which to turn it on.
50% on EW resulted in a very limited uptime making it all but worthless.
Results in 20% standing when Healing Aura is applied with Heroic Aura deactivated just prior.

Effective conservation of, at minimum, 30% mana.

[DeaHamlet]

This is an old thread but I am trying to setup complex tactics this time around.
I have 20 tactics for Merrill, for example. The jump to only allows maximum "jump to tactic 20".
Does that mean I can't get it to jump to the very last line (20)?

[SuicidalBaby]

correct. place something that works with your idea at 19. much like stagger in my 2nd lesson.

[SuicidalBaby]

Lessons : 3, 4, & 5 - (5/4/11)
Arelex has requested that I take a look at the tactics suggested in the popular guides he has produced.
The following is just that. We begin with the Berserker Vanguard - Mach-5 Massacre (Nightmare Guide) Companion builds.

Lesson : #3
Subject:
Identifying utility spells

Editorial Note : I had to clean up the build on display, as it was out of order and lacked Shackling Hex and Tempest.

Merrill

Build :

1. Blood of the First
2. Stonefist
3. Golem's Fist
4. Rock Armor
5. Chain Lightning
6. Chain Reaction
7. Tempest
8. Elemental Weapons
9. Mind Blast
10. Crushing Prison
11. Paralyzing Prison
12. Hex of Torment
13. Horror
14. Despair
15. Misdirection Hex
16. Shackling Hex
17. Death Hex
18. Petrify
19. Desicate
20. Galvanism

Tactics :
Self: Health >=50% - Activate: Blood of the First
Self: Health <50% - Deactivate: Blood of the First
Self: Any - Activate: Elemental Weapons
Self: Any - Activate: Rock Armor
Self: Health <25% - Use Potion
Self: Mana or Stamina <25% - Use: Lyrium Potion
Enemy: STAGGERED - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Crushing Prison
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: STAGGERED - Chain Lightning
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Horror
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Hex of Torment
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Misdirection Hex
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Stonefist
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Attack

A clear case of over managing, which is on display in the videos of the guide.

Clear Issues :
When Hawke is not targeting an elite and one is present, everything is cast regardless.

When Hawke is not targeting anything, Merrill will simply auto-attack, even as Anders is being mauled by everything.
(as present in the Xebenkeck video.)

Wasteful use/lack of utility spells. (Mind Blast ignored completely)

Let us use:
self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Blood of the First
self: hp: <25%: use Health Poultice
enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
enemy: STAGGERED: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: elite or higher: Crushing Prison
self: being attacked by melee: Mind Blast
self: hp: >75%: activate: Blood of the First
enemy: attacking Varric: Stonefist
enemy: attacking Anders: Misdirection Hex
enemy: elite or higher: Hex of Torment
enemy: elite or higher: Horror
enemy: elite or higher: Petrify
enemy: clustered with 3 enemies: Tempest
self: any: activate: Rock Armor
self: any: activate: Elemental Weapons
self: hp: <50%: use current condition for next tactic
self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice
enemy: target of Hawke: Attack

In this set we have improved the value of spells previously used as filler by tranforming them into prioritized utility spells, ready to save Varric or Anders at a moment's notice.

This structure also evolved Merrill into a free firing terror. Laying waste to everything visable.

Lyrium Poultice now has a control condition preventing waste and is placed out of the path of all other spells, preventing tactics failure should the inventory be exhausted.
________________________________________________________________________

Lesson : #4
Subjects:
Controling Martyr
Working with 2 independant limiting Sustained Abilities

Anders

Build :

1. Mind Blast
2. Barrier
4. Heal
5. Greater Heal
6. Heroic Aura
7. Valiant Aura
8. Glyph of Paralysis
9. Glyph of Binding
10. Glyph of Repulsion
11. Glyph of Defiance
12. Haste
13. Great Haste
14. Panacea
15. Aid Allies
16. Regroup
17. Vengeance
18. Swift Justice

Tactics :

Self: Any - Activate: Heroic Aura
Self: Any - Activate: Panacea
Self: Health < 25% - Use: Potion
Self: Mana or stamina <25% - Use Lyrium Potion
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Haste
Hawke: Health <25% - Heal
Self: At least two party members below 50% health - Aid Allies
Ally: Dead - Regroup
Ally: Being attacked by a ranged attack - Glyph of Repulsion
Enemy: Target Rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Glyph of Paralysis
Self: Being attacked by a melee or magic attack - Glyph of Repulsion
Hawke: Health <50% - Barrier
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Attack

Other than being writen in an alcoholic haze, I have no understanding of why these tactics appear as they do.
So we will ignore them and produce something that lacks a preschool finger painting motif as its inspiration.
sorry bro

Build :

Respec asap
1. Chain Lightning
2. Rock Armor
3. Chain Reaction
4. Heal
5. Greater Heal
6. Heroic Aura
7. Valiant Aura
8. Glyph of Paralysis
9. Glyph of Binding
10. Haste
11. Great Haste
12. Panacea
13. Aid Allies
14. Regroup - Vengeance acquired during Dissent
15. Martyr
16. Swift Justice
17. Blood of my Enemy
18. Wrath
+19. Direct Damage or Walking Bomb set

Tactics :

1. self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Vengeance
2. ally: hp <50%: Heal
3. ally: hp: <50%: jump to tactic 16
4. self: any: deactivate: Panacea
5. enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
6. self: at least 1 enemy is alive: Haste
7. enemy: clustered with 2 enemies: Glyph of Paralysis
8. self: mana <75%: activate: Heroic Aura
9. self: hp: >75%: activate: Vengeance
10. self: mana: >50%: skip tactics
11. self: hp: >75%: Martyr
12. self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice
13. enemy: target of Hawke: Attack
14. self: any: skip tactics
15. self: any: deactivate: Vengeance - *actual jump destination*
16. self: any: deactivate: Heroic Aura
17. ally: hp: <50%: activate: Panacea
18. ally: status: dead: Regroup
19. ally: hp: <50%: Aid Allies

NOTE: manual activation of Rock Armor

Here we have kept the original design with Anders as a support bot but with the the added advantage of dealing some serious damage. 

Chain Lightning will be on a rediculously short cooldown with the introduction of Martyr.

Having Martyr also removes the need for Barrier as Heal and Aid Allies are both availible more often. This build is a bit of overkill because of Martry's ability to reduce cooldowns. No one is going to die by attrition ever, leaving Regroup to only be needed when someone happens to be assasinated.

Martyr is controlled by a second version of skip tactics. In this paticular instance Anders sits at 45% consumed mana before the fight starts. This set will allow him to join the fray with out the random wasteful firing of Martyr at the start of an encounter.

The jump, much like Lesson #1 will keep Anders in a perpertual Heal state until everyone is above 50% health.
________________________________________________________________________

Lesson : #5
subject:
efficiency
group synergy 101

Varric

Build :

1. Pinning Shot
2. Bursting Arrow
3. Rapid Pinning Shot
4. Disorienting Shot
5. Blindside
6. Truce
7. Goad
8. Corral
9. Back-to-Back
10. Brand
11. Rhyming Triplet
12. Nameless Grace
13. Well-Oiled
14. Bianca's Song
15. Embellishment
16. Kickback
17. Backlash

Tactics :

Varric
Self: Health <25% - Use: Potion
Self: Mana or stamina <10% - Use: Stamina Draught
Self: Any - Activate: Bianca's Song
Self: Health <50% - Use current condition for next tactic
Anders: Any - Back-to-Back
Anders: Being attacked by a melee or ranged attack - Use current condition for next tactic
Hawke: Any - Goad
Merrill - Being attacked by a melee or ranged attack - Use current condition for next tactic
Hawke: Any - Goad
Self: Being attacked by a melee or ranged attack - Use current condition for next tactic
Hawke: Any - Goad
Self: Being attacked by a melee attack - Armistice
Anders: Being attacked by a melee attack - Armistice
Anders: Being attacked by a melee or magic attack - Kickback
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Brand
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Pinning Shot
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Rhyming Triplet
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Attack

Clear Issues :
The vast majority of Bianca's tree(Archery) is quite unnecessary.
The Goad set can be reduced significantly.
Back-to-Back lacks purpose as well as effectiveness.
Utility spells need to be focused.

Ok, here we go:

Build :

1. Pinning Shot
2. Rapid Pinning Shot
3. Blindside
4. Back-to-Back
5. Invisible Friend
6. Armitice
7. Goad
8. Brand
9. Rhyming Triplet
10. Bianca's Song
11. Kickback
12. Well-Oiled
13. Embellishment
14. Nameless Grace
15. Truce
16. Follow-Through
17. Corral
18. Speed
19. Precision
20. Power
21. Harmony
22. Lightning Speed
23. Energizing Speed

Tactics :

1. self: hp: <25%: use: Health Poultice
2. enemy: target of Hawke: use current condition for next tactic
3. enemy: elite or higher: Brand
4. enemy: attacking Varric: use current condition for next tactic
5. Anders: any: Back-to-Back
6. Anders: being attacked by a melee attack: Armistice
7. self: being attacked by melee attack: Armitice
8. enemy: attacking Anders: Kickback
9. enemy: elite or higher: Pinning Shot
10. enemy: target of Hawke: Rhyming Triplet
11. self: stamina: <50%: activate: Speed
12. Anders: Being attacked by a melee or ranged attack: jump to tactic 15
13. Merrill: Being attacked by a melee or ranged attack: use current condition for next tactic
14. Hawke: any: Goad ----- *actual jump destination*
15. self: any: activate: Bianca's Song
16. self: stamina: <10%: use: Stamina Draught
17. enemy: target of Hawke: Attack
18. self: at least 1 enemy alive: skip tactics
19. self: any: deactivate: Speed

Bianca's Song 100% active - manual activation

Pinning Shot takes on the role of locking down an elite long enough for the player to engage the target. This helps encounters involving rogues to a great degree.

Goad is stripped down to its bare needs, working exactly as before, in a priorty based set. Removing Varric from the set forces a dependancy on his Back-to-Back and help from the other group members. This synergy of each companion helping the others when needed will work amazingly throughout the experience.

Speed is introduced to lower cooldowns by 10% as well as fit in as many attacks as possible so Follow-Through will keep this dwarf rolling. Its application will come only after the initial abilities have used the stamina it would have otherwise consumed by activating eariler.



Here endeth the lesson.

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 11 May 2011 - 10:00 PM.

[SuicidalBaby]

Lessons : 6, 7, & 8 - (5/4/11)
Subject:
Dual-Wield Assassin - When Overkill Isn't Enough Companion Builds.

Lesson : #6
Subject:
Conditions with two targets.

Merrill

Build :

1.Rock Armor
2.Stonefist
3.Chain Lightning
4.Elemental Weapons
5.Hex of Torment
6.Chain Reaction
7.Blood of the First
8.Mind Blast
9.Crushing Prison
10.Paralyzing Prison
11.Petrify
12.Horror
13.Misdirection Hex
14.Dessicate
15.Despair
16.Shackling Hex
17.Death Hex
18.Golem's Fist
19.Tempest
20.Galvanism
21.Barrier
22.Arcane Fortress
23.Arcane Shield
24.Elemental Shield
25.Arcane Wall

Tactics :

Self: Health <50% - Deactivate: Blood of the First
Self: Health <25% - Use Potion
Hawke: Health <10% - Barrier
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Hex of Torment
Enemy: BRITTLE - Skip Tactics
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactics
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Petrify
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: STAGGERED - Crushing Prison
Enemy: STAGGERED - Chain Lightning
Enemy: Using ranged or magic attack - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Attacking Hawke - Stonefist
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Attack
Self: Mana or stamina <10% - Use Lyrium Potion
Self: Health >=50% - Activate: Blood of the First
Self: Any - Activate: Rock Armor
Self: Any - Activate: Elemental Weapons

Clear issues : Minor, if anything.
Barrier application is after the problem not before, making it useless.
Stonefist application needs to be simplified and upgraded in priority.
Tempest is ignored.
Lyrium Poultice needs a control so as not to waste it.

self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Blood of the First
self: hp: <25%: use Health Poultice
enemy: attacking Hawke: Barrier
Aveline: hp: <75%: Barrier
enemy: target of Hawke: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: elite or higher: Hex of Torment
Hawke: being attacked by ranged or magic: Stonefist
enemy: BRITTLE: skip tactics
enemy: target of Hawke: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: elite or higher: Petrify
enemy: STAGGERED: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: elite or higher: Crushing Prison
enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
enemy: clustered with 3 enemies: Tempest
enemy: target of Hawke: Attack
self: hp: <50%: use current condition for next tactic
self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice
self: hp: >=50%: activate: Blood of the First

Arcane Shield, Rock Armor, and Elemental Weapons activated manually.

enemy: BRITTLE: skip tactics

Allows the character to continue to function as intended but limited to a set of tactics that will not interfere with the CCC of BRITTLE/Assassinate.

What may be overlooked is the understanding that several conditions have 2 targets as interpreted by the code:

enemy: attacking Hawke: Barrier

will cast Barrier on Hawke when the character is under attack from any source even though Hawke does not seem to be the target of the condition.

The same works in reverse in the situation of

Hawke: being attacked by ranged or magic: Stonefist

You certainly do not want Merrill fisting Hawke. ....That came out wrong.
You certainly do not want to get Hawke stoned. ...That came out wrong.
You certainly do not want to cast Stonefist on Hawke. ..../phew

The code will understand that the target of Stonefist will be the enemy attacking Hawke with a ranged or magic attack. Moving it before the skip allows Hawke to Assasinate unhindered.

Understanding of how conditions work will help reduce the number of tactics necessary to accomplish what you want.

Note: Be aware that as of patch 1.02
"enemy: using magic attack" is broken and does not work.
"enemy: nearest visable mage" does work.
Certain non-mage enemies are classified as mages, such as Desire Demons.
________________________________________________________________________

Lesson : #7
Subject:
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

Anders

Build :

1.Heal
2.Heroic Aura
3.Valiant Aura
4.Greater Heal
5.Chain Lightning
6.Stonefist
7.Haste
8.Chain Reaction
9.Rock Armor
10.Panacea
11.Great Haste
12.Aid Allies
13.Petrify
14.Dessicate
15.Regroup
16.Golem's Fist
17.Vengeance
18.Martyr
19.Swift Justice
20.Blood of my Enemy
21.Wrath
22.Tempest
23.Galvanism
24.Glyph of Paralysis
25.Glyph of Repulsion
26.Glyph of Binding

Tactics :

Self: Health <50% - Deactivate: Vengeance
Self: Health <25% - Use Potion
Self: Mana or stamina <10% - Use Lyrium Potion
Self: At least two party members below 50% health - Activate: Panacea
Self: At least two party members below 50% health - Aid Allies
Ally: Dead - Activate: Panacea
Ally: Dead - Regroup
Aveline: Health <10% - Heal
Hawke: Health <25% - Heal
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Haste
Enemy: BRITTLE - Skip tactics
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Hawke - Petrify
Enemy: STAGGERED - Chain Lightning
Enemy: Using ranged or magic attack - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Attacking Hawke - Stonefist
Enemy: Target at short range - Glyph of Repulsion
Enemy: Using ranged or magic attack - Attack
Self: Health >=75% - Martyr
Self: Health >=50% - Activate: Vengeance
Self: Health >=75% - Activate: Rock Armor
Self: Any - Activate: Heroic Aura

Clear Issues :
Build needs structure.
Stonefist needs clarity.
Martyr needs control.
Panacea needs streamlined.
Making everything fit.


Build :

Respec asap
1. Heal
2. Chain Lightning
3. Rock Armor
4. Stonefist
5. Heroic Aura
6. Chain Reaction
7. Valiant Aura
8. Haste
9. Panacea
10. Aid Allies
11. Great Haste
12. Greater Heal
13. Petrify
14. Dessicate
15. Regroup - Vengeance acquired during Dissent
16. Martyr
17. Swift Justice
18. Blood of my Enemy
19. Wrath
20. Tempest
21. Galvanism
22. Glyph of Paralysis
23. Glyph of Binding

Tactics :

1. self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Vengeance
2. ally: hp <50%: Heal
3. ally: hp: <50%: deactivate: Vengeance
4. ally: hp: <50%: deactivate: Heroic Aura
5. ally: hp: <50%: activate: Panacea
6. ally: status: dead: Regroup
7. ally: hp: <50%: Aid Allies
8. self: any: deactivate: Panacea
9. self: at least 1 enemy is alive: Haste
10. enemy: attacking Anders: Stonefist
11. enemy: attacking Hawke: Glyph of Paralysis
12. enemy: BRITTLE: Martyr
13. enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
14. enemy: elite or higher: Petrify
15. enemy: clustered with 3 enemies: Tempest
16. self: mana <75%: activate: Heroic Aura
17. self: hp: >75%: activate: Vengeance
18. self: mana: >50%: skip tactics
19. self: hp: >75%: Martyr
20. self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice

K.I.S.S.
Keeping it simple. Because this paticular build has so many activated talents we have to leave the tricks by the side of the road and just plow through everything.

"enemy: BRITTLE: Martyr" in place of skip tactics. This is next level. This ability will serve the build much better than a skip tactics will. Everything before this set will still function and drive Anders to operate as normal while the Brittle is active, but this allows him to function at full speed the entire time.
________________________________________________________________________

Lesson : #8
Subject:
Identifying Purpose

Aveline :

Build :

1.Shield Bash
2.Taunt
3.Bolster
4.Might
5.Control
6.Shield Defense
7.Muscle
8.Immovable
9.Indomitable
10.Cleave
11.Claymore
12.Retaliation
13.Bodyguard
14.Perception
15.Rally
16.Battle Synergy
17.Hero's Synergy
18.Unite
19.Scatter
20.Safeguard
21.Fearless Synergy
22.Elite Bodyguard
23.Thick Skin
24.Destroyer
25.Second Wind

Tactics :

Enemy: BRITTLE - Jump to: 10
Self: Health <25% - Use Potion
Self: Mana or stamina <10% - Bolster
Ally: Health <75% - Taunt
Enemy: BRITTLE - Skip tactics
Enemy: Target at short range - Cleave
Self: Surrounded by at least three enemies - Activate: Shield Defense
Self: Surrounded by no enemies - Deactivate: Shield Defense
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Rally
Enemy: BRITTLE - Skip tactics
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Shield Bash
Self: Any - Activate: Battle Synergy
Self: Any - Activate: Might
Hawke: Any - Activate - Bodyguard

Clear Issues :
Build needs to reflect Aveline's role as a true tank.
Build needs to progress with the same rate and purpose of PC.
Bolster working with the build.
Tactics are a mess.

1. Shield Defense
2. Taunt
3. Shield Bash
4. Perception
5. save ability point for level 6
6. Pummel - Scatter
7. Safeguard
8. Immovable
9. Bolster
10. Rally
11. Thick Skin
12. Might
13. Indomitable
14. Control
15. Unite
16. Muscle
17. Retaliation
18. Bodyguard
19. Elite Bodyguard
20. Battle Synergy
21. Fearless Synergy
22. Cleave
23. Destroyer
24. Massacre
25. Claymore

Tactics :

self: hp <25%: use Health Poultice
self: Avaline being attacked: use current condition for next tactic
self: hp <75%: activate Shield Defense
enemy: attacking Avaline: Cleave
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: Taunt
enemy: BRITTLE: Rally
enemy: BRITTLE: Bolster
enemy: elite or higher: Shield Bash
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: normal or higher: Shield Bash
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: activate: Battle Synergy
enemy: Boss or higher: activate: Battle Synergy
Hawke: hp: <90%: activate: Bodyguard
self: stamina: <25%: Bolster
enemy: target of Hawke: Attack
self: at least 1 enemey is alive: skip tactics
self: any: deactivate: Battle Synergy
self: any: deactivate: Shield Defense
self: any: deactivate: Bodyguard

Focused passive damage reduction early.
Targeted Stagger to elites over normals.
Bodyguard and Battle Synergy only applied when necessary.

enemy: BRITTLE: Rally
enemy: BRITTLE: Bolster

As of patch 1.02, Rally correctly shares the listed activated sustained abilities with all active party members. In this build, that would be an upgraded Might, which provides bonuses to damage and critical damage. This raises the CCC BRITTLE/Assassinate to astronomical levels.

enemy: BRITTLE: Bolster

This serves to recharge stamina in this extremely demanding build while still avoiding interrupting the CCC BRITTLE/Assassinate after all previous tactics have their conditions checked and fired if met.



Here endeth the lesson.

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 13 May 2011 - 03:51 PM.

[SuicidalBaby]

Lessons : 9, 10
subject:
Team Red Mist (Anders/Sebastian or Varric/Aveline or Fenris)
Elemental Force/Blood Mage - Nuclear Warfare (Nightmare Guide) by Arelex

Lesson : #9
subjects:
Pushing great builds to their limits
Group synergy 102
Understanding damage sources

Anders

Build :

1. Heal
2. Greater Heal
3. Heroic Aura
4. Valiant Aura
5. Haste
6. Spirit Bolt
7. Walking Bomb
8. Glyph of Paralysis
9. Chain Lightning
10. Rock Armor
11. Great Haste
12. Chain Reaction
13. Glyph of Binding
14. Spirit Strike
15. Martyr - Vengeance acquired during Dissent
16. Corrosive Walking Bomb
17. Virulent Walking Bomb
18. Blood of my Enemy
19. Swift Justice
20. Wrath
21. Dispel Magic
22. Death Syphon
23. Spirit Mastery
24. Elemental Weapons


Tactics :

1. Self: Health <50% - Deactivate: Vengeance
2. Self: Health >=50% - Activate: Vengeance
3. Self: Health <25% - Jump to: 15
4. Self: Mana or stamina <10% - Use: Lyrium Potion
5. Self: Any - Activate: Heroic Aura
6. Sebastian/Varric: Health <10% - Heal
7. Aveline/Fenris: Health <10% - Heal
8. Enemy: Paralyzed - Walking Bomb
9. Enemy: Clustered with at least two enemies - Glyph of Paralysis
10. Enemy: Paralyzed - Use current condition for next tactic
11. Enemy: Target of Anders - Spirit Bolt
12. Hawke: Any - Haste
13. Enemy: STAGGERED - Chain Lightning
14. Self: Any - Use Potion
15. Enemy: Target of Anders - Attack
16. Self: Health >=75% - Martyr

Clear issues :
Poultice tactics remain uncontrolled.
Walking Bomb is acquired before Spirit Ward rune is available
Spirit Mastery does not affect Walking Bomb's explosive properties
Too many sustained abilities; Blood mages should have Elemental Weapons
Build order needs reworked

Build :

Respec asap - typically level 6-7
1. Rock Armor
2. Heal
3. Chain Lightning
4. Heroic Aura
5. Glyph of Paralysis
6. Chain Reaction
7. Haste
8. Valiant Aura
9. Glyph of Binding
10. Greater Heal
11. Great Haste
12. Spirit Bolt
13. Walking Bomb
14. Spirit Strike
15. Martyr - Vengeance acquired during Dissent
16. Swift Justice
17. Blood of my Enemy
18. Corrosive Walking Bomb
19. Virulent Walking Bomb
20. Wrath
21. Stonefist
22. Petrify
23. Desicate
24. Tempest
25. Galvanism

Tactics :

1. self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Vengeance
2. ally: hp: <50%: Heal
3. enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
4. enemy: paralyzed: Walking Bomb
5. enemy: target of Anders: use current condition for next tactic
6. enemy: paralyzed: Spirit Bolt
7. enemy: target of Anders: use current condition for next tactic
8. enemy: DISORIENTED: Spirit Bolt
9. enemy: clustered with at least two enemies: Glyph of Paralysis
10. enemy: attacking Varric: Stonefist
11. enemy: attacking Hawke: Petrify
12. enemy: at least one enemy is alive: Haste
13. self: any: Heroic Aura
14. self: any: activate: Rock Armor
15. self: hp: >75%: activate Vengeance
16. self: mana: >50%: skip tactics
17. self: hp: >75%: Martyr
18. self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice


Tempest is omited based on its casting cost and real time impact on flow of tactics. If the situation calls for it, manually cast it.

Primal is filled out instead of Spirit as Spirit Mastery does not affect Walking Bomb's damage output. The damage from Walking Bomb is based off the target's total health and any multipliers based off disorient, nothing else.

The build now reflects the availibility of Spirit Ward runes.

5. enemy: target of Anders: use current condition for next tactic
6. enemy: paralyzed: Spirit Bolt
7. enemy: target of Anders: use current condition for next tactic
8. enemy: DISORIENTED: Spirit Bolt

The build now abuses the, Martyr induced, incredibly low cooldown of Spirit Bolt. This will fire twice in under 10 seconds during Glyph of Paralysis' duration. All of this is contingent on a rogue's Overpowering Fog laying Disorient status on the target, which will match up with the Walking Bomb target if it is still paralyzed or not.

16. self: mana: >50%: skip tactics
17. self: hp: >75%: Martyr
18. self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice

Martyr and Lyrium Poultice are both under control now.
Anders will have 45% sustains leaving him in the situation of being just 5% from the "skip tactics" mark. He's not burning a useless Martyr at the start of combat or a 2nd cast right after the first one. Because of this, his overall dps is up.  However, this will cut into the mana generated back though. You will end up with 2.65% of total mana from Martyr per cast.
________________________________________________________________________

Lesson : #10
subjects:
Controling companions through triggers and corresponding tactics
Recognizing wasted ability points
Recognizing the increased value of abilities over time

Aveline

Build :

1. Shield Defense
2. Shield Bash
3. Taunt
4. Might
5. Control
6. Pummel
7. Cleave
8. Bravery
9. Elemental Aegis
10. Muscle
11. Claymore
12. Bolster
13. Immovable
14. Indomitable
15. Rally
16. Unite
17. Bravado
18. Thick Skin
19. Perception
20. Scatter
21. Safeguard
22. Bravura
23. Destroyer
24. Retaliation
25. Bodyguard
26. Elite Bodyguard

Tactics :

1. Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Jump to: 13
2. Enemy: BRITTLE Jump to: 12
3. Ally: Health <75% - Taunt
4. Enemy: Target at short range - Cleave
5. Self: Health - 25% Use Potion
6. Self: Mana or stamina < 10% - Bolster
7. Self: Any - Activate: Elemental Aegis
8.Self: Any - Activate: Might
9. Self: Surrounded by at least four enemies - Activate: Bravery
10. Enemy: At least one enemy is alive - Deactivate: Bravery
11. Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Rally
12. Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Shield Bash
13. Self: Mana or stamina <50% - Skip tactics
14. Self: Surrounded by at least four enemies - Activate: Shield Defense
15. Enemy: At least one enemy is alive - Deactivate: Shield Defense

Clear Issues :
Bodyguard is filler, unnecessary
Bravery serves to only soak up ability points as everything dies too fast
Critical Immunity placed too late to do any good

Let's get to it:

Build :

1. Shield Defense
2. Taunt
3. Shield Bash
4. Perception
5. save for level 6
6. Pummel + Scatter
7. Safeguard
8. Bolster
9. Rally
10. Immovable
11. Thick Skin
12. Elemental Aegis
13. Indomitable
14. Disperse
15. Might
16. Control
17. Muscle
18. Unite
19. Cleave
20. Destroyer
21. Massacre
22. Claymore
23. Pommel Strike
24. Bellow
25. Pommel Blow

Tactics :

self: hp: <25%: Health Poultice
self: any: Elemental Aegis
self: hp: <75%: Shield Defense
enemy: paralyzed: Rally
enemy: DISORIENTED: Scatter
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: Taunt
enemy: elite or higher: Shield Bash
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: normal or higher: Shield Bash
enemy: short range: Cleave
enemy: STAGGERED: attack
enemy: nearest visable mage: Pommel Strike
self: stamina: <25%: Bolster
self: at least 1 enemy alive: skip tactics
self: any: deactivate: Shield Defense


enemy: paralyzed: Rally

Brittle targets are also considered paralyzed. This will trigger for both BRITTLE and Glyph of Paralysis.

enemy: DISORIENTED: Scatter

This will be the general trigger for Walking Bomb detonations as anything involved will be disoriented by Fatiguing Fog. This also serves as a control feature for Aveline, preventing allies from being on the receiving end of this ability. Placement prevents Shield Bash from overwriting Disoriented status.

enemy: STAGGERED: attack
enemy: nearest visable mage: Pommel Strike

This prevents wasteful triggering Pommel Strike.
________________________________________________________________________

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 13 May 2011 - 04:15 PM.

[brazen_nl]

You truly are the goto guy for tactics!

Edited by brazen_nl, 05 May 2011 - 06:54 PM.

[SuicidalBaby]

Lesson : #11 - (5/7/11)
subject: continued from lessons 9 & 10
Team Red Mist (Anders/Sebastian or Varric/Aveline or Fenris)
Elemental Force/Blood Mage - Nuclear Warfare (Nightmare Guide) by Arelex

subjects:
Trimming the fat
Recognising value of ability points

Varric

Build :

1. Bursting Arrow
2. Pinning Shot
3. Rush
4. Miasmic Flask
5. Hail of Arrows
6. Improved Formula
7. Archer's Lance
8. Rhyming Triplet
9. Bianca's Song
10. Shattering Arrow
11. Storm of Arrows
12. Punishing Lance
13. Kickback
14. Embellishment
15. Well-Oiled
16. Fatiguing Fog
17. Impenetrable Fog
18. Overpowering Fog
19. Blindside
20. Speed
21. Precision
22. Precise Attack
23. Precise Criticals
24. Power
25. Harmony

Tactics :

Self: Health <25% - Use Potion
Self: Mana or stamina <10% - Use: Stamina Draught
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: BRITTLE - Archer's Lance
Enemy: Target of Anders - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Paralyzed - Fatiguing Fog
Enemy: BRITTLE - Bursting Arrow
Enemy: Target at short range - Kickback
Enemy: Target between medium and long range - Hail of Arrows
Enemy: Using melee or ranged attack - Pinning Shot
Enemy: Paralyzed - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target of Anders - Attack
Self: Any - Activate: Bianca's Song
Self: Any - Activate - Precision

Clear issues :
Blindside acquired very late
Fatiguing Fog removes Brittle when Archers Lance is on cooldown, rendering Bursting Arrow all but useless
Hail of Arrows is uncontrolled and just plain unnecessary in this group

Build :

1: Pinning Shot (default)
2: Miasmic Flask (default) - respec to Rhyming Triplet @ lvl 7
3: Speed (default) - respec to Smoking Arrow @ lvl 7
4: Bursting Arrow
5: Rapid Pinning Shot
6: Blindside
7: Archer's Lance
8. Kickback
9: Bianca's Song
10: Shattering Arrow
11: Punishing Lance
12: Well-oiled
13: Embellishment
Respec at the start of Act 2

1. Bursting Arrow
2. Pinning Shot
3. Rapid Pinning Shot
4. Smoking Arrow
5. Shattering Arrow
6. Archer's Lance
7. Punishing Lance
8. Rush
9. Miasmic Flask
10. Improved Formula
11. Fatiguing Fog
12. Impenetrable Fog
13. Overpowering Fog
14. Blianca's Song
15. Blindside
16. Rhyming Triplet
17. Well-oiled
18. Embellishment
19. Kickback
20. Precision
21. Speed
22. Precise Attack
23. Precise Criticals
24. Nameless Grace
25. Overtime

Tactics :

self: hp: <25%: Health Poultice
enemy: BRITTLE: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: elite or higher: Archer's Lance
enemy: BRITTLE: Bursting Arrow
enemy: Paralyzed: Fatiguing Fog
enemy: Paralyzed: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Anders: Rhyming Triplet
enemy: Paralyzed: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Anders: attack
enemy: attacking Hawke: Kickback
enemy: attacking Anders: Pinning Shot
Aveline: being attacked by melee: Miasmic Flask
self: stamina: <10%: use: Stamina Draught
self: any: activate: Bianca's Song
self: any: activate: Precision

Removal of Harmony set based on value of 2 ability points that granted 1% stuns and 5% speed vs stamina regeneration and stronger Rhyming Triplet.

Moving BRITTLE conditions to fire before paralyzed conditions reduces instances of the 2 situations interfering with each other. As a majority of these instances will be directly triggered by the player while controlling the PC, it falls to the player to know when to hold off on a BRITTLE action when the Walking Bomb sets are in effect.

enemy: Paralyzed: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Anders: Rhyming Triplet

Rhyming Triplet is now an enforcement tool used to ensure detonation of Walking Bomb. Resulting in increased effectiveness verses elites.

enemy: Paralyzed: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Anders: attack

Moved up in priority to avoid interference from companion assist tactics.

Sebastion:
Mirror Varric's build.
Leave Wounding Arrow simple.
enemy: elite or higher: Wounding Arrow

Here endeth the lesson.

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 14 May 2011 - 07:16 PM.

[Irish Porkchopp]

I'm loving these lessons. That Goad set in lesson 5 is smart. I've learned a lot from these so far, and I've incorporated some of these ideas into my game with great results. Thanks!

[SuicidalBaby]

Lessons 6, 7, & 8 done.

[mangiraffedog 000]

Spam removed

Edited by RaenImrahl, 05 May 2011 - 11:22 PM.

[SuicidalBaby]

omg that was fast, 2 mins from spam notice sent to removal.  Ty mod.

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 05 May 2011 - 11:42 PM.

[Stabby McGoodstab]

SuicidialBaby wrote...

self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Blood of the First
self: hp: <25%: use Health Poultice
enemy: attacking Hawke: Barrier
Aveline: hp: <75%: Barrier
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Hawke: Hex of Torment
Hawke: being attacked by ranged or magic: Stonefist
enemy: BRITTLE: skip tactics
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Hawke: Petrify
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: STAGGERED: Crushing Prison
enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Hawke: Winter's Grasp
enemy: clustered with 3 enemies: Tempest
enemy: target of Hawke: Attack
self: hp: <50%: use current condition for next tactic
self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice
self: hp: >=50%: activate: Blood of the First


1. self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Vengeance
2. self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice
3. ally: hp <50%: Heal
4. ally: hp: <50%: deactivate: Vengeance
5. ally: hp: <50%: deactivate: Heroic Aura
6. ally: hp: <50%: activate: Panacea
7. ally: status: dead: Regroup
8. ally: hp: <50%: Aid Allies
9. self: any: deactivate: Panacea
10. self: at least 1 enemy is alive: Haste
11. enemy: attacking Anders: Stonefist
12. enemy: attacking Hawke: Glyph of Paralysis
13. enemy: BRITTLE: Martyr
14. enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
15. enemy: elite or higher: Petrify
16. enemy: clustered with 3 enemies: Tempest
17. self: mana <75%: activate: Heroic Aura
18. self: hp: >75%: activate: Vengeance
19. self: mana: >50%: skip tactics
20. self: hp: >75%: Martyr


self: hp <25%: use Health Poultice
self: stamina <10%: Stamina Draught
self: Avaline being attacked: use current condition for next tactic
self: hp <75%: activate Shield Defense
enemy: attacking Avaline: Cleave
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: Taunt
enemy: BRITTLE: Rally
self: stamina <25%: Bolster
enemy: BRITTLE: Bolster
enemy: elite or higher: Shield Bash
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: normal or higher: Shield Bash
self: surrounded by 3 enemies: activate: Battle Synergy
enemy: Boss or higher: activate: Battle Synergy
Hawke: hp: <90%: activate: Bodyguard
enemy: target of Hawke: Attack
self: at least 1 enemey is alive: skip tactics
self: any: deactivate: Battle Synergy
self: any: deactivate: Shield Defense
self: any: deactivate: Bodyguard

Can you explain the highlighted portions for me? Wouldn't "BRITTLE: Skip tactics" effectively stop the character from doing anything is there's a brittle enemy on the field?  Same for "BRITTLE: Bolster." Bolster has no cooldown so wouldn't the character just keep using Bolster over and over under the brittle status wears off? Why would you do that?

Edited by Stabby McGoodstab, 05 May 2011 - 06:52 PM.

[tonnactus]

Isnt pinning shot still bugged?

[SuicidalBaby]

tonnactus wrote...

Isnt pinning shot still bugged?

just the disorienting effect, it still works to cc targets

[SuicidalBaby]

Stabby McGoodstab wrote.....
Can you explain the highlighted portions for me? Wouldn't "BRITTLE: Skip tactics" effectively stop the character from doing anything is there's a brittle enemy on the field?  Same for "BRITTLE: Bolster." Bolster has no cooldown so wouldn't the character just keep using Bolster over and over under the brittle status wears off? Why would you do that?

enemy: BRITTLE: skip tactics
I'll refer you to Lesson #1 where I explain how tactics operate. Each tactic placed before those you highlighted will have their conditions checked and fired if met. Allowing the character to continue to function as intended but limited to a set of tactics that will not interfere with the CCC of BRITTLE/Assassinate.

enemy: BRITTLE: Martyr
Fiills the same roll as the skip tactics but grants the unique benefits of Martyr.
As with all tactics, everything placed before this will have their conditions checked and fired if met.

enemy: BRITTLE: Rally
self: stamina <25%: Bolster
enemy: BRITTLE: Bolster
As of patch 1.02, Rally correctly shares the listed activated sustained abilities with all active party members. In this build, that would be an upgraded Might, which provides bonuses to damage and critical damage. This raises the CCC BRITTLE/Assassinate to astronomical levels.

The Bolster set could be seperated, but generally serves the same purpose in this extreme stamina demanding build. Aveline will still avoid interrupting the CCC BRITTLE/Assassinate while focusing on recharging after all previous tactics have their conditions checked and fired if met.

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 06 May 2011 - 02:11 AM.

[Veovim]

SuicidialBaby wrote...

self: hp: <50%: deactivate: Blood of the First
self: hp: <25%: use Health Poultice
enemy: attacking Hawke: Barrier
Aveline: hp: <75%: Barrier
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Hawke: Hex of Torment
Hawke: being attacked by ranged or magic: Stonefist
enemy: BRITTLE: skip tactics
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Hawke: Petrify
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: STAGGERED: Crushing Prison
enemy: STAGGERED: Chain Lightning
enemy: elite or higher: use current condition for next tactic
enemy: target of Hawke: Winter's Grasp
enemy: clustered with 3 enemies: Tempest
enemy: target of Hawke: Attack
self: hp: <50%: use current condition for next tactic
self: mana: <10%: use Lyrium Poultice
self: hp: >=50%: activate: Blood of the First

This is from lesson 6.  Are those three elite or higher > target of Hawke instructions done that way intentionally, or is that a mistake?  My understanding is that if you want to use the ability on Hawke's target only if it is an elite (as opposed to if there are any elites on the field), the conditions need to be reversed (and lesson 3 supports this).

Also, right below the second pair I highlighted, there is elite or higher > staggered.  Do you know if staggered causes the target to change?

[SuicidalBaby]

i was tried heh, all mistakes i over looked after copy/paste

fixing now

edit: all fixed

Edited by SuicidialBaby, 05 May 2011 - 09:40 PM.

[Irish Porkchopp]

SuicidialBaby wrote...
...
What may be overlooked is the understanding that several conditions have 2 targets as interpreted by the code.

enemy: attacking Hawke: Barrier

will cast Barrier on Hawke when the character is under attack from any source even though Hawke does not seem to be the target of the condition.

The same works in reverse...

Ahhh...I wondered about this.  The tactics code is smarter than I thought.  This should save me a couple slots.  Thanks for all the work you put into these lessons.

[SuicidalBaby]

lessons 9 & 10 up

[Irish Porkchopp]

SuicidialBaby wrote...
Spirit Mastery does not affect Walking Bomb

Does Spirit Mastery affect the Corrosive upgrade to Walking Bomb?

[trunglefever]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm so bad at creating tactics for my allies, this guide has helped me out immensely.