17 réponses à ce sujet

[bossk-office]

 Hi all,

I’m wrapping up Act 2 on my first Nightmare playthrough, as a mage, and I’m stuck on the Nexus Golem gauntlet. Do you guys think it’s doable with a party of

- Mage Hawke
- Aveline
- Anders
- Merrill?

My guys are all level 18. Nothing in the game has felt impossible up to this point, but now I’m stuck. I’m thinking of using a few Maker’s Sighs. Any suggestions as to how I should spec my party, what gear to use, etc?

[Catalol]

That group should work well. What parts of the fight are causing you problems?

Build Aveline to be you tank and stagger bot (shield pummel and vanguard tree), have your mages spec into the primal tree to exploit CCC (chain reaction) and demons weakness to electricity damage (also grab some electric staves!)

If you're finding that your casters are getting overwhelmed, you might want to look into your tactics - setup some interaction between the three so that they help each other out e.g. have Anders place a glyph of paralysis on an enemy attacking Merrill. If that's not enough you can sub Merrill for Varric and use armistice and goad.

Modifié par Catalol, 20 mai 2011 - 10:48 .

[bossk-office]

Yes, I suppose I’ll have to work on tactics ... I admit it’s not my favorite part of the game, but it’s starting to feel neccessary.

The problems I’m having is I can’t kill all the enemies fast enough so I get overwhelmed.

[Catalol]

Tactics are essential, without well thought out tactics an encounter is going to be that much harder. I suggest taking a look at Suicidals advanced tactics guide if you need help on that front. The suggestions I made above (if your not doing them already) will make a big difference in increasing your damage output. You could also use some focus fire to pick off enemies though that sometimes gets in the way of the tactics set for your party.

[AreleX]

It's definitely doable, but I think the gauntlet is by far easiest with an all-ranged party (Anders, Merrill, Varric/Sebastian, Mage Hawke).

I have a Nexus Golem tutorial video in my mage tutorial thread (though it's using no healer and 2 archers, and at level 14), but it should still give you some tips on how to clear the gauntlet. Check my guide threads, and feel free to PM me if you need help.

[bossk-office]

Wow. This is really a tough nut to crack. With an all-ranged party I do stay alive a lot longer, but still! Looking at your video, I can’t believe how fast you take them out.

I guess I’m having problems with my CCCs, because I’ve set up some ”enemy: BRITTLE -> Archer’s Lance” on both Sebastian and Varric, but it doesn’t seem to trigger. I’ve never been able to take out the first rage demon before it’s gone into stealth. Probably not even before it’s gone to stealth twice.

If you select all your companions and target an enemy for focus fire, does that make them autoattack only and disregard tactics?

Your damage numbers are a little higher than mine, but not dramatically. Perhaps this encounter scales up between levels 14 and 15?

Nah, it must be about Learn to Play. A fascinating opportunity for me. But I’m worried because I’ve been making such scant progress.

Here are some of my party specs for people to criticize:

Hawke: MAG 49, WIL 25, CON 26.
Merrill: MAG 44, WIL 24, CON 26.
Varric: DEX 33, CUN 26, CON 25.
Sebastian: DEX 45, WIL/CON 20.

Weapons are the Heaven’s Answer bow from Bonny Lem’s plus Channeled Staff and an Elegant Runed Staff, both 31 electricity.

By the way I really appreciate the overall helpful tone on the gameplay forum and all the comprehensive guides!

[AreleX]

I had issues with that too, and I figured out that they weren't in range for the the Archer's Lance. What you don't (at least, I don't think) see in the video is me selecting all my companions and moving them up a little bit once combat initiates.

You don't HAVE to go without Anders, I just wanted to see how smoothly it would go with no healer, and no tank, but it's definitely doable.

Remove all points from WIL for Merrill, she doesn't need it. Instead, get Blood of the First, and pump CON and MAG. You shouldn't need more than 30 CON for her if you give her the Talisman of Saarebas and at least 1 Ring of Minor Cantrips, or the Ring of Ruin.

Varric shouldn't need much CON at all, maybe 13-15 tops, things should be dying fast enough that he shouldn't be getting hit often, or you can just keep an eye on him.

Enemies do indeed scale based on level, and I have pretty much all my companions built to deal damage, with less of a thought for survivability, save Merrill's high health pool for blood magic.

Tactic should be:

Enemy: BRITTLE - Use current condition for next tactic
Enemy: Target rank is Elite or higher - Archer's Lance

If you select all companions, and are actively attacking a target, they will only auto-attack. You shouldn't need more than this to finish off the trash (shades, abomination), though. Target them in order based on proximity to your party. Open the book if you want to feel like a hardass.

Check my guide for the builds I used for myself and my companions, and let me know if you need further help.

The gameplay/builds forums are a much more jolly and light-hearted environment than the rest of the forums. Much, much less arguing, whining, and trolling, and much more helping, joking, and calling mr afk the worst player. We're awesome.

[brazen_nl]

panchamkauns wrote...

By the way I really appreciate the overall helpful tone on the gameplay forum and all the comprehensive guides!

Best compliment for all forum participants! 

[Chugster]

are you using the 'block the door' method?

Cuts down on the number of mobs you deal with at any one time

[Skilled Seeker]

AreleX wrote...
The gameplay/builds forums are a much more jolly and light-hearted environment than the rest of the forums. Much, much less arguing, whining, and trolling, and much more helping, joking, and calling mr afk the worst player. We're awesome.

Indeed, there are many people that have decided they hate DA2 and simply refuse to watch or learn anything that could improve their enjoyment. I have tried many times to get people to come to this part of this forum if they have difficulty with the combat or think there's no tactics involved, but they either ignore me or say they should be able to figure it out on their own. Ridiculous!

[bossk-office]

I finally cleared it!! Getting that archer’s lance on every elite sure did the trick. Unfortunately the last one went right through Hawke’s head  but my party managed to ride it out. 

I wonder though how I got this far on nightmare without understanding autoattack versus tactics use! 

Now, after this battle, which required much more of my attention and concentration than anything since the rock wraith, I feel like reflecting a bit on an aspect of gameplay. The cooldowns, which struck me as being so painfully long when the game came out in March, seem perfect now. Most things are available when you desperately need them but you can’t spam anything. It’s great.

Many thanks everyone!

PS I won’t be opening the book during the battle any time soon

Modifié par panchamkauns, 21 mai 2011 - 08:28 .

[bossk-office]

double post

Modifié par panchamkauns, 21 mai 2011 - 08:28 .

[AreleX]

Good work! I expect you to take the book next time, though. NO EXCUSES!

Also, what is a panchamkaun(s)? I have no idea, but it's adorable. Makes me think of a mischievous little bunny or leprechaun playing tricks!

Don't ask.

Modifié par AreleX, 22 mai 2011 - 12:45 .

[bossk-office]

Panchamkauns is a raga (melody type) in Indian music. It adds the fifth (pancham) note of the scale to the pentatonic raga Malkauns, which skips the fifth and second. But perhaps even more than that it’s just such a delightful word!

You’re right, on future playthroughs I must take the book. There’s no point in playing this fight again without upping the ante!

[andraip]

Skilled Seeker wrote...

AreleX wrote...
The gameplay/builds forums are a much more jolly and light-hearted environment than the rest of the forums. Much, much less arguing, whining, and trolling, and much more helping, joking, and calling mr afk the worst player. We're awesome.

Indeed, there are many people that have decided they hate DA2 and simply refuse to watch or learn anything that could improve their enjoyment. I have tried many times to get people to come to this part of this forum if they have
difficulty with the combat or think there's no tactics involved, but they either ignore me or say they should be able to figure it out on their own. Ridiculous!

The gameplay/builds forums only are what there are becuase there is a playground (General Discussion and Story Forum) for the 3 year old kids.

A: DA2 sucks!
B: You're just dumb, DA2 ROCKS!
A: No one with a brain can like DA2, it's the worst game EVER!
Stanley Woo: LOCKDOWN!

C: Why is Leliana still alive? I killed her! RETCON!
David Gaider:  We will explain it further in the series.
C: RETCON!You not givin us choices! I killed her!
David Gaider: But I said...
C: *interrups DG* RETCON!

Now imagine those guys in the gameplay/builds forums. *shudders*

Modifié par andraip, 22 mai 2011 - 11:26 .

[Kaylord]

panchamkauns wrote...

I finally cleared it!! Getting that archer’s lance on every elite sure did the trick. Unfortunately the last one went right through Hawke’s head  but my party managed to ride it out. 

I wonder though how I got this far on nightmare without understanding autoattack versus tactics use! 

Now, after this battle, which required much more of my attention and concentration than anything since the rock wraith, I feel like reflecting a bit on an aspect of gameplay. The cooldowns, which struck me as being so painfully long when the game came out in March, seem perfect now. Most things are available when you desperately need them but you can’t spam anything. It’s great.

Many thanks everyone!

PS I won’t be opening the book during the battle any time soon

Congrats, I am still stuck. Did you respecc, or was it just the archer´s lance ccc which made it this time? I did not understand this autoattack thing; does that mean whenever I handwalk a partymember, the tactics will be not working until the hand-targeted enemy is dead?

[mr_afk]

it means that the party member you control won't be using tactics and that you have to control what they do?
If you select all of them and call them to attack an enemy (focus fire) the party members besides the one you're controlling will still use tactics - unless you spam the attack button.

But if you're really struggling even though you're doing all the things you see in the vids, maybe there's something wrong with your build (not strategy) so respeccing might be called for.

What might help (don't quote me on this) is giving merrill the primal school up to galvanism and anders/hawke the elemental school up to elemental mastery. What that should do is allow consistent brittling/CC via petrify and large dmg/less consistent brittling/CC via cold spells.
I'm not sure if you'll have enough points for this while maintaining haste, but if you have a three mage party haste is pretty useless anyway (though I suppose a few seconds of dual haste could be handy).

On top of that, have either Varric or Sebastian with full dex (you can respec them back later) and the archer's lance. Merrill with an upgraded hex of torment also could be useful.

Modifié par mr_afk, 24 mai 2011 - 01:24 .

[bossk-office]

What helped me through was:

1. Getting CCCs with Archer’s Lance to work. That means Varric has to be close enough to the enemy and using his tactics. Which means:

2. I used to get nervous in battles, Ctrl-A and spam mouse button for attack, attack, attack. This seems to disable tactics. I had to get used to controlling only Hawke and leaving the others alone. Then, with the right tactics programmed, Merrill death-hexed the opponents I needed her to hex, and Varric put an archer’s lance through brittle elites. (They even help draw enemies away from each other, shoot enemeis that try to attack another companion etc.)

Amazingly I had made it all the way through acts I and II with only accidental use of tactics! For me, this was a big breakthrough but most people probably already know about it. Maybe it’s because the default tactics are so far from perfect that I never learned to trust my companions without Ctrl-A?

3. Yes, I did respec with Maker’s Sigh ... took points out of CON and put them into damage. My ranged people are less durable now and it felt weird at first, but seems to work well.

Of course using electricity staffs against the shades is a must, they do double damage against them so even a lacklustre electricity staff takes them down faster than a good fire staff.

PS: My clear was not as smooth as in the videos, I can tell you that! It never felt easy and I thought I was going to die all the time. The experts on here don’t just know how to build their characters, they sure can play as well ...

Modifié par panchamkauns, 24 mai 2011 - 11:10 .