I'm starting to shoot video now. So hopefully I can get some videos showing more tactical advatage of using the shapeshifting forms.
I'm going through the Deep Roads so I should get some good one. I took my first video using all shapshifiting forms.
It'll be much easier to watch it instead of trying to type it.
Shapeshifting Guide ***OP Updated 2/8/10***
Débuté par
x-president
, janv. 24 2010 07:30
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#52
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 05:34
x-president
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Ok, lets see if this works.
www.wegame.com/watch/shapeshifting-attack-1/
Sweet, it working. I used Wegame and I'm not sure if you need account to watch or not. Camera gets kinda wild at times, but not too bad.
But, You can kinda see the use of shapeshifting using the various different forms and abilities. Also how effective the swarm is. You can see how the enmies focus all their attention on the swarm and either try to attack it or run.
All those little green numbers popping up are from the swarm's attack. You just have to be by an enemy to hurt them. It does a radius effect in dmg. You could even see the mage run from it in the end. It is an excellent distraction.
No health or mana potions used and you can see Allistar did very little. No need for tanking when you can overwhelm or distract the enemy.
When you face groups of around 5 to 8. It is no match for coordinated attack from 3 shapeshifters. Again this is Nightmare difficulty.
www.wegame.com/watch/shapeshifting-attack-1/
Sweet, it working. I used Wegame and I'm not sure if you need account to watch or not. Camera gets kinda wild at times, but not too bad.
But, You can kinda see the use of shapeshifting using the various different forms and abilities. Also how effective the swarm is. You can see how the enmies focus all their attention on the swarm and either try to attack it or run.
All those little green numbers popping up are from the swarm's attack. You just have to be by an enemy to hurt them. It does a radius effect in dmg. You could even see the mage run from it in the end. It is an excellent distraction.
No health or mana potions used and you can see Allistar did very little. No need for tanking when you can overwhelm or distract the enemy.
When you face groups of around 5 to 8. It is no match for coordinated attack from 3 shapeshifters. Again this is Nightmare difficulty.
Modifié par x-president, 27 janvier 2010 - 05:46 .
#53
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 06:37
x-president
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Swarm Videos:
I basically wanted to show the continual dmg they can give to a group of enemies. They are videos fighting the Deepstalkers. You can see how large groups get effective if the are close to the swarm.
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-01/
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-02/
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-03-deepstalkers/
I basically wanted to show the continual dmg they can give to a group of enemies. They are videos fighting the Deepstalkers. You can see how large groups get effective if the are close to the swarm.
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-01/
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-02/
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-03-deepstalkers/
#54
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 06:50
GM23
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amazing videos, good job x-president you really make me want to try a shapeshifter
Modifié par GM23, 27 janvier 2010 - 06:58 .
#55
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 07:36
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2 more videos.
1st video was interesting. It was a rough battle and everyone died but me. But the video showcases the swarms ability to distract an enemy mage and kill the mage by itself.
Edit:
-Also this video shows you why you can't always shapeshift before a battle. 1. The cutscene will transform you back. 2. The mage casted a cleansing spell. But I used glyphs and sleep spells to give me the time to shapeshift during the battle.
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-vs-mage/
2nd video is another video showing different tactics and abilities using shapeshifting. You can also see how well Overwhelm can stop and kill enemy mages.
www.wegame.com/watch/shapeshifting-attack-03/
1st video was interesting. It was a rough battle and everyone died but me. But the video showcases the swarms ability to distract an enemy mage and kill the mage by itself.
Edit:
-Also this video shows you why you can't always shapeshift before a battle. 1. The cutscene will transform you back. 2. The mage casted a cleansing spell. But I used glyphs and sleep spells to give me the time to shapeshift during the battle.
www.wegame.com/watch/swarm-vs-mage/
2nd video is another video showing different tactics and abilities using shapeshifting. You can also see how well Overwhelm can stop and kill enemy mages.
www.wegame.com/watch/shapeshifting-attack-03/
Modifié par x-president, 27 janvier 2010 - 07:39 .
#56
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 08:24
lessthanjake9
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First off, I see significant synergy and power in a Shapeshifter/Blood Mage combo. You can use Blood Magic until you are near death and then shift into a Flying Swarm and do a bunch of damage while having damage be done to your previously untouched mana pool. I believe someone else can heal your actual health while you are in Swarm mode, but there is another trick that I believe works, if I remember correctly. Once your swarm runs out of mana, you'll switch back and have low health (due to Blood Magic) and low mana (due to the swarm). You COULD use a health poultice, but Bear Form significantly increases your constitution. I am pretty sure that you can switch to Bear Form and then back, and keep the health increase from the Bear Form.
Thus, I see this as the battle progression:
1. Use Blood Magic until low on health
2. Use Flying Swarm until all mana is used
3. Switch to Bear Form
4. Use Overwhelm
5. Switch back to human form with full health
6. Use Blood Magic until low on health
7. Switch to Spider Form (which should also increase your health)
8. Use Overwhelm, Web, and Poison Spit
9. Attack until enemy dies.
This seems like a pretty good strategy. I am hoping that the health increase from the forms works as I think it does. Im going to test it now.
Thus, I see this as the battle progression:
1. Use Blood Magic until low on health
2. Use Flying Swarm until all mana is used
3. Switch to Bear Form
4. Use Overwhelm
5. Switch back to human form with full health
6. Use Blood Magic until low on health
7. Switch to Spider Form (which should also increase your health)
8. Use Overwhelm, Web, and Poison Spit
9. Attack until enemy dies.
This seems like a pretty good strategy. I am hoping that the health increase from the forms works as I think it does. Im going to test it now.
#58
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 08:35
x-president
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lessthanjake9 wrote...
First off, I see significant synergy and power in a Shapeshifter/Blood Mage combo. You can use Blood Magic until you are near death and then shift into a Flying Swarm and do a bunch of damage while having damage be done to your previously untouched mana pool. I believe someone else can heal your actual health while you are in Swarm mode, but there is another trick that I believe works, if I remember correctly. Once your swarm runs out of mana, you'll switch back and have low health (due to Blood Magic) and low mana (due to the swarm). You COULD use a health poultice, but Bear Form significantly increases your constitution. I am pretty sure that you can switch to Bear Form and then back, and keep the health increase from the Bear Form.
Thus, I see this as the battle progression:
1. Use Blood Magic until low on health
2. Use Flying Swarm until all mana is used
3. Switch to Bear Form
4. Use Overwhelm
5. Switch back to human form with full health
6. Use Blood Magic until low on health
7. Switch to Spider Form (which should also increase your health)
8. Use Overwhelm, Web, and Poison Spit
9. Attack until enemy dies.
This seems like a pretty good strategy. I am hoping that the health increase from the forms works as I think it does. Im going to test it now.
Master Shapeshifter gains health in swarm mode when it attacks. There would be no need to switch forms that much. If anything have a mage cast mana rejuvination on the swarm giving it more life. But swarms cannot regenerate mana so I'm not sure that would work.
But either way you could loose blood magic till you get low on health then switch to Swarm to gain health back. My plan is to Stun using Blood Magic switch to Swarm and deal continues Nature dmg while they are stunned.
Also it can be tricky to transform in all those shape during a battle. I believe it takes 5 seconds to shapeshift. That's a lot of down time while being attacked or leaving compainions without backup.
#59
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 08:38
lessthanjake9
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I just confirmed this.
Bear and Spider Form add huge amounts to hp due to constitution bonuses. That health stays with you after you switch back to human form. Thus, a switch to bear or spider form is a quick way to regenerate your health. For a Blood Mage, it is also a quick way to regenerate your "mana" pool (ie health).
You can essentially use Bear or Spider form for free until you get down to your normal top health. So for instance, let's say your normal top health is 180. Let's also say that you switch to Bear Form when your health is only at 60. You have lost 120 health. When you switch to Bear Form, you will still have 120 less than max health, but your max health will likely be around 350. Thus you will switch to Bear Form and have 230 health. If you switch back to human form right away, your health will instantly go back to 180. HOWEVER, you can stay in Bear Form and use Overwhelm and such until your health is down to 180 and THEN switch back, and you will also go back to human form with 180 health.
Bear and Spider Form add huge amounts to hp due to constitution bonuses. That health stays with you after you switch back to human form. Thus, a switch to bear or spider form is a quick way to regenerate your health. For a Blood Mage, it is also a quick way to regenerate your "mana" pool (ie health).
You can essentially use Bear or Spider form for free until you get down to your normal top health. So for instance, let's say your normal top health is 180. Let's also say that you switch to Bear Form when your health is only at 60. You have lost 120 health. When you switch to Bear Form, you will still have 120 less than max health, but your max health will likely be around 350. Thus you will switch to Bear Form and have 230 health. If you switch back to human form right away, your health will instantly go back to 180. HOWEVER, you can stay in Bear Form and use Overwhelm and such until your health is down to 180 and THEN switch back, and you will also go back to human form with 180 health.
#60
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 08:46
GM23
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lessthanjake9 wrote...
I just confirmed this.
Bear and Spider Form add huge amounts to hp due to constitution bonuses. That health stays with you after you switch back to human form. Thus, a switch to bear or spider form is a quick way to regenerate your health. For a Blood Mage, it is also a quick way to regenerate your "mana" pool (ie health).
You can essentially use Bear or Spider form for free until you get down to your normal top health. So for instance, let's say your normal top health is 180. Let's also say that you switch to Bear Form when your health is only at 60. You have lost 120 health. When you switch to Bear Form, you will still have 120 less than max health, but your max health will likely be around 350. Thus you will switch to Bear Form and have 230 health. If you switch back to human form right away, your health will instantly go back to 180. HOWEVER, you can stay in Bear Form and use Overwhelm and such until your health is down to 180 and THEN switch back, and you will also go back to human form with 180 health.
nice
#61
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 08:47
lessthanjake9
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x-president wrote...
lessthanjake9 wrote...
First off, I see significant synergy and power in a Shapeshifter/Blood Mage combo. You can use Blood Magic until you are near death and then shift into a Flying Swarm and do a bunch of damage while having damage be done to your previously untouched mana pool. I believe someone else can heal your actual health while you are in Swarm mode, but there is another trick that I believe works, if I remember correctly. Once your swarm runs out of mana, you'll switch back and have low health (due to Blood Magic) and low mana (due to the swarm). You COULD use a health poultice, but Bear Form significantly increases your constitution. I am pretty sure that you can switch to Bear Form and then back, and keep the health increase from the Bear Form.
Thus, I see this as the battle progression:
1. Use Blood Magic until low on health
2. Use Flying Swarm until all mana is used
3. Switch to Bear Form
4. Use Overwhelm
5. Switch back to human form with full health
6. Use Blood Magic until low on health
7. Switch to Spider Form (which should also increase your health)
8. Use Overwhelm, Web, and Poison Spit
9. Attack until enemy dies.
This seems like a pretty good strategy. I am hoping that the health increase from the forms works as I think it does. Im going to test it now.
Master Shapeshifter gains health in swarm mode when it attacks. There would be no need to switch forms that much. If anything have a mage cast mana rejuvination on the swarm giving it more life. But swarms cannot regenerate mana so I'm not sure that would work.
But either way you could loose blood magic till you get low on health then switch to Swarm to gain health back. My plan is to Stun using Blood Magic switch to Swarm and deal continues Nature dmg while they are stunned.
Also it can be tricky to transform in all those shape during a battle. I believe it takes 5 seconds to shapeshift. That's a lot of down time while being attacked or leaving compainions without backup.
Oooo I forgot that the Swarm gains health when you have Master Shapeshifter. That just makes this even better.
But read my post above to see the power of what I am talking about. When you transfer back to human form, you keep the health level you had in animal form. Bear and Spider forms add huge health bonuses due to constitution. Thus, a switch to Bear Form and back will almost certainly get you back to full health. And unlike using a health poultice, the switch to Bear Form is not useless in combat since Overwhelm is awesome. All you gotta do is use Blood Magic until you are low on health, switch to Bear Form, use a few abilities and attack a bit, and then switch back to human form with full health again. Use Blood Magic some more. You generally won't need to but you then switch to Spider Form, use the abilities and attack a bit, and then switch back to human form with full health again. Use Blood Magic again, switch to Flying Swarm, and gain health back while your mana goes down. You'll then be able to use Blood Magic AGAIN. This is FINALLY the end of the line, as everything will be on cooldown, but virtually no battle will last that long. And shifting DOES take a while, but it's not 5 seconds. It's 2 seconds.
EDIT: The interesting implication of this is that you kind of create a Blood Mage that can get Spellpower up higher than any other Blood Mage reasonably could. Willpower hardly matters because you will only be using it to increase the swarm duration. Unlike normal Blood Mages there is not a huge reason to increase Constitution much because you have a pretty quick method of regenerating your health anyways. Thus, you can pretty reasonably dump all of your points into Magic and create an UBER high spellpower blood mage (ie. really effective spells) who can regenerate his health 3 times a battle, as well as Overwhelm and such.
Modifié par lessthanjake9, 27 janvier 2010 - 08:55 .
#62
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 09:17
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Shapechanging takes 5 seconds from the time you hit the spell to the time you can actually move on any form. I just double checked it. Also Swarm has a faster cooldown of 60 seconds where spider and bear take 90 seconds.
YoungNV asked a qustion about sustainables and buffs so I did some testing wiht them. Here's what I found out.
Any personal sustainable like Spell Wisp, Spell Might, Haste, or any weapon enhancements like Frost weapons will not keep or transfer over if the caster is the shapeshifter who transforms. They will be lost without the bonus.
But if another mage casts Haste, for example, it will be applied to any other mage who shapechanges as long as the casting mage stays in human form.
Also spells like Heroic Offense, Defense, and Aura, which are time based spells, will keep and give bonuses to the shape you choose if you cast them before transforming.
As a Spider, Heroic Defense stacked +30 Defensive points onto my already +16 Defensive points that the Spider form gave me. All total I had a 105. I started with 59 +16 for spider = 75 +30 for spell = 105.
Also it added 15% resistance to all categories, except Nature becasue Spider has a cap limit at 75% and it doesn't stack. Other forms you would get the 15% for nature though.
- The only problem is the time you loose from casting to transforming. Those Heroic spells wear off quickly and you loose a lot of spell time. The best thing would be to have another mage cast them on a spider, bear, or swarm after they transform.
Also Spellbloom does work even if the mage who casts the spell transforms. Sense it's an AoE type spell it's not directly connected to you and anyone in it's radius gains the effect. But keeping within the area could be problematic and it would also help enemies.
I'm not sure if it would help the Swarm. Swarms aren't supposed to be able to regenerate mana in battle. So I don't know if they would be effected by the spell.
I may test it. It would work very good if you casted Spellbloom on a group of archers, then had a swarm attack them and gain mana in the process.
YoungNV asked a qustion about sustainables and buffs so I did some testing wiht them. Here's what I found out.
Any personal sustainable like Spell Wisp, Spell Might, Haste, or any weapon enhancements like Frost weapons will not keep or transfer over if the caster is the shapeshifter who transforms. They will be lost without the bonus.
But if another mage casts Haste, for example, it will be applied to any other mage who shapechanges as long as the casting mage stays in human form.
Also spells like Heroic Offense, Defense, and Aura, which are time based spells, will keep and give bonuses to the shape you choose if you cast them before transforming.
As a Spider, Heroic Defense stacked +30 Defensive points onto my already +16 Defensive points that the Spider form gave me. All total I had a 105. I started with 59 +16 for spider = 75 +30 for spell = 105.
Also it added 15% resistance to all categories, except Nature becasue Spider has a cap limit at 75% and it doesn't stack. Other forms you would get the 15% for nature though.
- The only problem is the time you loose from casting to transforming. Those Heroic spells wear off quickly and you loose a lot of spell time. The best thing would be to have another mage cast them on a spider, bear, or swarm after they transform.
Also Spellbloom does work even if the mage who casts the spell transforms. Sense it's an AoE type spell it's not directly connected to you and anyone in it's radius gains the effect. But keeping within the area could be problematic and it would also help enemies.
I'm not sure if it would help the Swarm. Swarms aren't supposed to be able to regenerate mana in battle. So I don't know if they would be effected by the spell.
I may test it. It would work very good if you casted Spellbloom on a group of archers, then had a swarm attack them and gain mana in the process.
#63
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 10:31
Mr_Raider
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Can anyone verify if casting spell might efore shifting increases the power of the form.
#64
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 11:31
x-president
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Mr_Raider wrote...
Can anyone verify if casting spell might efore shifting increases the power of the form.
Read my post directly above your last. It doesn't. Any personal sustainable spell doesn't stay active or carry over the benefits. I tested both Spell Wisp and Spell Might.
- More video to come. I got an Ogre Alpha battle that was pretty fun and I got a final killing sequence in it too. :happy: I'm uploading them now.
#65
Posté 27 janvier 2010 - 11:48
lessthanjake9
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Mr_Raider wrote...
Can anyone verify if casting spell might efore shifting increases the power of the form.
I'm pretty sure it doesnt since it is a sustainable and thus turned off. Ill test it later though (unless someone else tests it first).
Shapechanging takes 5 seconds from the time you hit the spell to the time you can actually move on any form. I just double checked it. Also Swarm has a faster cooldown of 60 seconds where spider and bear take 90 seconds.
Even if it DOES take 5 seconds, I still think what I was talking about is useful. The way I strung it together, you are able to take SO much damage (or cast SO many blood mage spells) without any potions before dying. Obviously, in 95% of battles it will not be necessary to be shifting left and right for this purpose, but the fact remains that it is REALLY nice that you gain huge health from going spider or bear. It is also quite nice to have this ability in "oh ****" moments when you suddenly are having to solo a battle because your party died. Using the Shapeshifting, you can essentially give your mage an extra like 500 hp.
Here's where I see the use. Normally, a mage needs to chug lyrium in longer battles. A dedicated Blood Mage needs to switch off off Blood Magic, getting a Heal (which likely won't entirely heal him) or chugging a poultice, and then putting Blood Magic back on. Either that or they could use Blood Sacrifice, but that is sometimes risky. A character who is a hybrid CAN use their mana and then turn to Blood Magic to cast more. This is pretty much enough for any battle. A Shapeshifter/Blood Mage has a similar, but different take on this. He can cast only with Blood Magic but not waste poultices on healing, instead just shifting for the heal. There will really be no battle in which the health reserves gained from this are not enough to finish the battle off with constant Blood Magic. This is great for role playing of an evil character (as shapeshifting and constant blood magic is about as evil as you can get in DAO). But it is also just an effective way to not have to use potions. Crafting is really tedious to most people, but if you don't do it, you will frequently run out of them (or at least run out the good versions of them). You can leave the potions for your party members, and not use them yourself, which IMO makes me feel like a strong character.
A Blood Mage who uses mana and then blood magic can generally have the same effect without the 5 second shifting time, yes. But Shapeshifting will never be the BEST build out there, and a Blood Mage like that is pretty much the best the game has to offer.So you can't expect it to outdo such a build.
The casting time is the real kicker with this strategy. Personally, I have a mod that makes shapeshifter casting instant just like Fade shapeshifting, so this is a truly great strategy for me.
Modifié par lessthanjake9, 28 janvier 2010 - 12:10 .
#66
Posté 28 janvier 2010 - 12:37
soteria
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Thanks for doing this. It looks like shapeshifting is just about worth it just to get that swarm for running around the deep roads. Stuck at Broodmother and need to run back and make more poultices? No prob.
#67
Posté 28 janvier 2010 - 02:59
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lessthanjake9 wrote...
A Blood Mage who uses mana and then blood magic can generally have the same effect without the 5 second shifting time, yes. But Shapeshifting will never be the BEST build out there, and a Blood Mage like that is pretty much the best the game has to offer.So you can't expect it to outdo such a build.
The casting time is the real kicker with this strategy. Personally, I have a mod that makes shapeshifter casting instant just like Fade shapeshifting, so this is a truly great strategy for me.
I'm not saying it's bad idea. It sounds like a solid plan in theory. Just gotta see if it works. Using a mod with instant change then I wouldn't see a problem at all. Personally I don't like to change the game like that with mods. To me it goes against what the makers are trying to do.
But if you wanna do it and it's fun, more power to ya. :happy:
#68
Posté 28 janvier 2010 - 03:13
x-president
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Here are some more vids. I changed up the shapes some and used more direct attacks with Bear & Spider. Or I did multilpe switches.
***My main focus when fighting the battles is to really showcase shapeshifting. I try not to revert back to casting spells or just trying to support a Tank character. I wanna use the shapeshifting abilities strategically and throughout the entire battle, not just in the begining or end and then fallback on what I can always do
The first vid is the Ogre Alphs battle in the Deep Roads. It was a fun battle to try with shapeshifting and gives you a look at changing shape in battle and what can be used against more boss type enemies. I also got the kill sequence in the end which is always fun to watch, Actually during the fight I didn't even know it was happening. That's why you'll see me pause right at the beginning of the killing sequence. Then I realized the Ogre was dead and let it go.
The other videos show attacsk without swarm and using shapeshifting in a crowd of different enemies.
www.wegame.com/watch/ogre-alpha-battle-vs-shapeshifters/
www.wegame.com/watch/mixed-enemies/
www.wegame.com/watch/attack-without-swarm-01/
- Also here is a screenshot of one of the attempts at killing the Ogre Alpha. I though it was a pretty cool shot. You really get to see the trye size of the bear matched up against the Ogre.
***My main focus when fighting the battles is to really showcase shapeshifting. I try not to revert back to casting spells or just trying to support a Tank character. I wanna use the shapeshifting abilities strategically and throughout the entire battle, not just in the begining or end and then fallback on what I can always do
The first vid is the Ogre Alphs battle in the Deep Roads. It was a fun battle to try with shapeshifting and gives you a look at changing shape in battle and what can be used against more boss type enemies. I also got the kill sequence in the end which is always fun to watch, Actually during the fight I didn't even know it was happening. That's why you'll see me pause right at the beginning of the killing sequence. Then I realized the Ogre was dead and let it go.
The other videos show attacsk without swarm and using shapeshifting in a crowd of different enemies.
www.wegame.com/watch/ogre-alpha-battle-vs-shapeshifters/
www.wegame.com/watch/mixed-enemies/
www.wegame.com/watch/attack-without-swarm-01/
- Also here is a screenshot of one of the attempts at killing the Ogre Alpha. I though it was a pretty cool shot. You really get to see the trye size of the bear matched up against the Ogre.
#69
Posté 28 janvier 2010 - 08:57
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I'm currently working on a strategy for the Spider Queen using Shapeshifiting. It is proving to be tricky.
Any type of nature based creature or other animals you fall at a disadvantage using shapeshifting. Spiders are paticulary tricky because they have very high nature resistance. That kinda rules out swarm and Spider vs Spider doesn't seem strong enough when they out number you. Also they resist the poison just like you would.
Bear seems to be the most effective and I have gotten close to wining a couple times but the Spider Queen poison kills me before I can finish her.
Any type of nature based creature or other animals you fall at a disadvantage using shapeshifting. Spiders are paticulary tricky because they have very high nature resistance. That kinda rules out swarm and Spider vs Spider doesn't seem strong enough when they out number you. Also they resist the poison just like you would.
Bear seems to be the most effective and I have gotten close to wining a couple times but the Spider Queen poison kills me before I can finish her.
#70
Posté 28 janvier 2010 - 10:22
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Updates:
I beat the Spider Queen using shapeshifting and should have the video posted and uploaded soon.
- I did completely confirm that increasing strength alone will increase your damaga in spider, bear, or swarm. But you have to be beyond the bonus that each form gives which is dependent on spellpower.
- So I would recommend if someone wanted to build a high dmg shapeshifter just slowly add your points. Maybe 2 Magic, 1 Strength. Basically substitute strength points for willpower points. This will give you a high dmg shapeshifter and a high level mage. As a shapshifter, willpower really isn't that necessary sense if you plan to utilize the different forms, you will not by using that much mana.
But your strength has to be past the capped limit. My PC Mage which I am doing the strength test on I stopped raising magic and only raise strength. I currently have Spellpower at 49 and I think strength is in the low 30s. I have the strongest shapeshfting out of the 3 mages. I do have some strength boosts.
Getting strength past the cap is critical for it to matter and this really can't be done until you have Master Shapeshifter. So if you plan to shapeshift you won't be able to get the comlpete shapeshifting line until lvl 12. I think that's when it unlocks so a slow build of strength points will be fine and you can have a very good mage at the same time.
I beat the Spider Queen using shapeshifting and should have the video posted and uploaded soon.
- I did completely confirm that increasing strength alone will increase your damaga in spider, bear, or swarm. But you have to be beyond the bonus that each form gives which is dependent on spellpower.
- So I would recommend if someone wanted to build a high dmg shapeshifter just slowly add your points. Maybe 2 Magic, 1 Strength. Basically substitute strength points for willpower points. This will give you a high dmg shapeshifter and a high level mage. As a shapshifter, willpower really isn't that necessary sense if you plan to utilize the different forms, you will not by using that much mana.
But your strength has to be past the capped limit. My PC Mage which I am doing the strength test on I stopped raising magic and only raise strength. I currently have Spellpower at 49 and I think strength is in the low 30s. I have the strongest shapeshfting out of the 3 mages. I do have some strength boosts.
Getting strength past the cap is critical for it to matter and this really can't be done until you have Master Shapeshifter. So if you plan to shapeshift you won't be able to get the comlpete shapeshifting line until lvl 12. I think that's when it unlocks so a slow build of strength points will be fine and you can have a very good mage at the same time.
#71
Posté 28 janvier 2010 - 10:37
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Spider Queen Battle:
www.wegame.com/watch/shapeshifting-vs-spider-queen/
For this battle I had to keep Wynne (healer) in human form. I tried several times having Wynne in different shapes or switching between forms and I just couldn't hold out long enough. Even keeping her as a healer companions died. Also at first I didn't think Spider Form was good enough to hold out, but I proved myself wrong.
One major benefit from being either Bear or Spider, you can't be overwhelmed. That is a huge advantage, but you can't overwhelm them either so it balances out. Second, being in Spider form you have very high nature resistance, so you resist all those poison shots just like the other spiders do.
So going Spider vs Spider is very beneficial and effective in the long run. I'm a farily powerful shapeshifter and I can get a max of 24 dmg per hit. Also I love to web those spiders right back after they web me. That was very enjoyable.
Team:
PC Mage - Spider
Morrigan - Bear
Wynne - Healer
Allistar - Warrior
Morrigan stays Bear until she dies. Unfortunately I couldn't get her revived. Allistar died first and the spell just didn't cooldown fast enough. Also I do switch forms in the end to Bear once I get low on health.
Overall I trid to use shapeshifting as much as possible and kept 2 characters in different forms for pretty much the entire battle.
www.wegame.com/watch/shapeshifting-vs-spider-queen/
For this battle I had to keep Wynne (healer) in human form. I tried several times having Wynne in different shapes or switching between forms and I just couldn't hold out long enough. Even keeping her as a healer companions died. Also at first I didn't think Spider Form was good enough to hold out, but I proved myself wrong.
One major benefit from being either Bear or Spider, you can't be overwhelmed. That is a huge advantage, but you can't overwhelm them either so it balances out. Second, being in Spider form you have very high nature resistance, so you resist all those poison shots just like the other spiders do.
So going Spider vs Spider is very beneficial and effective in the long run. I'm a farily powerful shapeshifter and I can get a max of 24 dmg per hit. Also I love to web those spiders right back after they web me. That was very enjoyable.
Team:
PC Mage - Spider
Morrigan - Bear
Wynne - Healer
Allistar - Warrior
Morrigan stays Bear until she dies. Unfortunately I couldn't get her revived. Allistar died first and the spell just didn't cooldown fast enough. Also I do switch forms in the end to Bear once I get low on health.
Overall I trid to use shapeshifting as much as possible and kept 2 characters in different forms for pretty much the entire battle.
#73
Posté 29 janvier 2010 - 02:17
daddytat
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The only place I see where willpower would come into play is if you plan on being swarm alot. Since mana = life you could stay in form longer. If one of your companions used that form mostly then that could be the one with the high willpower.....say a shapeshifter/healer like Wynne in your game. Then she acts as your supporter with lots of mana to cast healing and such in human form (for those difficult battles) and lots of mana to stay in form w/ swarm to distract your enemies.
#74
Posté 29 janvier 2010 - 03:36
lordrawker
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Your stat distribution determines the form you will most likely main. My say into this is to increase Magic to gain bonus from Constitution(Bear and Spider only) and then apply the following as you wish:
1. For Bear Shape, focus on Strength/Dexterity
2. For Spider Shape, focus on Dexterity/Strength
3. For Swarm, focus on Willpower/Strength
If my assumptions are correct, it is possible to sub swarm for both Bear and Spider but you can only sub a bear from Swarm.
Edit...
Hex Mages, IMO, could be the best Shapeshifters. I mean, who hates to deal criticals?
1. For Bear Shape, focus on Strength/Dexterity
2. For Spider Shape, focus on Dexterity/Strength
3. For Swarm, focus on Willpower/Strength
If my assumptions are correct, it is possible to sub swarm for both Bear and Spider but you can only sub a bear from Swarm.
Edit...
Hex Mages, IMO, could be the best Shapeshifters. I mean, who hates to deal criticals?
Modifié par lordrawker, 29 janvier 2010 - 03:44 .
#75
Posté 29 janvier 2010 - 03:52
x-president
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lordrawker wrote...
Your stat distribution determines the form you will most likely main. My say into this is to increase Magic to gain bonus from Constitution(Bear and Spider only) and then apply the following as you wish:
1. For Bear Shape, focus on Strength/Dexterity
2. For Spider Shape, focus on Dexterity/Strength
3. For Swarm, focus on Willpower/Strength
If my assumptions are correct, it is possible to sub swarm for both Bear and Spider but you can only sub a bear from Swarm.
Edit...
Hex Mages, IMO, could be the best Shapeshifters. I mean, who hates to deal criticals?
You get really good boosts in dexterity. I've never increased dexterity at all and in Spider form I get into the 30s and bear is just a little under. Also once you go beyond the strength cap, the dmg is the same for both spider and bear. Swarm is just acouple points lower.
So really if you focused just on strength you would have both avery good bear and spider. ALong with a good attack score on swarm. Also if you wanna boost willpower, there are many items that do it for you.
- Also I wouldn't reccomend a Shapeshifter/Healer. Healers are characters you always need and to eliminate that support will hurt the entire team. I have Wynne playing that role currently and in the harder fights with large numbers or just strong enmies, you need her healing the entire time and supporting.
That is what I have been experiencing. I would recommend a combination that complimants the shapeshifter more like additional crowd control or like mentioned hexes or buffs.
You cannot take health potions while in bear or spider forms. So to have no health using a healer to shapeshift can be problematic.
Modifié par x-president, 29 janvier 2010 - 03:54 .
