Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Stolcor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 9:17 pm I think expertise is a non-negotiable (otherwise I'd drop INT to pump other stats). If you look at the build, it helps him to get low 60s AC (with UMD help) But I likely won't have ICE (or AT, for that matter) on coming out of HIPS the first round, which means a fair portion of my combat won't have Deadly Defense as a factor, but the +2 on one hand with DWaxe will always apply.

I'd still advocate for ICE. I haven't played with AT myself so I don't know how it works with TWF but if you are only gaining +4 ac and damage for losing 9 attacks, it doesn't look good on paper. If it reduces only from the main hand sequence like Northlander Hewing, I'd consider it. But no AT means that you will have 45 ac when dispelled(48 with CE) which can be dangerous.

Stolcor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 9:17 pm I mean, Whetstone/Lodestone (easily available and affordable at later levels) makes this a non-issue. Even with dispels, you can just reapply

Power Critical is not Improved Critical, they are different effects. Power critical makes your less likely to hit portion of attacks crit more reliably when they threaten for a critical hit.

Stolcor wrote: ↑Sat May 23, 2020 9:17 pm Anyone have thoughts on KD/IKD? Only one person has suggested dropping it, but after playing a melee without it, I am frickin sick of not being able to push down spellcasters. I have a character who can go toe-to-toe with plenty of big, beefy mobs and bosses, but the second he faces someone with Bigbys Interposing or Greater Invisibility, he's doomed to whiffing while he soaks up fire, ice, and lighting until he has 25% hp and spells finally wear off... but he could have avoided all of that with a knockdown on the first round (looking at you Skeleton Mages, Naga, and Ogre Mages).

I mean, with a +14 modifier, it's pretty good (not cavalier +19 good, but not many are), but if this build can really be counted on to kill casters in one round anyway and the bosses are immune, it makes sense not to bother. I *do* like the idea of HIPS up to some mob mage or miniboss and opening with a +14 IKD that makes sure he is dead or nearly dead before casting a single spell. PVP isn't my thing, but I'd be lying if I said it's not something I consider in the build.

I think Knockdown is pretty useful. There will be times where you will get unlucky flurries that it is going to take time bring down spellcasters down and for those times, IKD is very useful in my opinion.

If you can free one feat slot I'd also consider Steadfast Determination. You already have Toughness from being a ranger and overall a decent fort save. It's very annoying when you fail a save that you would have passed but got sent into fugue due to a 1. It doesn't happen a lot but when it happens its infuriating in my experience.

Okan wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2020 9:13 am I'd still advocate for ICE. I haven't played with AT myself so I don't know how it works with TWF but if you are only gaining +4 ac and damage for losing 9 attacks, it doesn't look good on paper. If it reduces only from the main hand sequence like Northlander Hewing, I'd consider it. But no AT means that you will have 45 ac when dispelled(48 with CE) which can be dangerous.

If you can free one feat slot I'd also consider Steadfast Determination. You already have Toughness from being a ranger and overall a decent fort save. It's very annoying when you fail a save that you would have passed but got sent into fugue due to a 1. It doesn't happen a lot but when it happens its infuriating in my experience.

I meant that when hiding, neither CE/ICE, nor AT would be active in order maximize attacks on flat-footed opponents. If I get CE, I'd probably just as well get ICE.

AT works like NH. It only reduces mainhand, so you have 9 attacks with +3 and +3 AC. +4 is only when hasted. I like the balance of gaining just a little damage but also some AC whereas NH, in comparison, is 5-6 AC lower for 6-7 more damage. In that light, it looks like a bad trade.

If you had to choose between Steadfast and KD/IKD, which would you choose? Steadfast matters 5% of the time. Think KD will come up more than that?

Are you sure that you get bonus damage from AH to your off-hand, and not only to main hand?

I've not tested it myself, but I saw on here somewhere that someone did and it worked. I'd imagine that the scripting is nearly identical to Northlander Hewing and many people testify that that does work by subtracting attacks from main hand but adding damage to both hands.

As I recall originally PTWF or GTWF could originally be utilized to have AT or SF give ridiculous bonuses. Yeah, 2 or 3 APR, but insane bonuses to DEX, AC, Damage, etc. They were changed to not work together and to cap the number of attacks lost and thus the bonuses gained from lost attacks. This was done as an alternative to the fighting styles basically being duelist/swashbuckler only (i.e. only working with nothing in the off hand/no single hand weapons only). I think this also allows Monks to use the modes which was discussed back in the day as well.

That said, iirc for AT you are still supposed to CAP at 3 APR and with SF 2 APR. So even with PTWF you should not be getting your offhand attacks. You are supposed to lose all attacks, except for 3 or 2 while you still have the capped benefit of no more than 4 for AT and 8 AB/Damage and 4 DEX for SF...

Here is someone saying it does work:
viewtopic.php?f=64&t=70846&p=873520&hil ... wf#p873520

Balthomer wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:41 pm Only main hand loses attacks, off hand retains + slashing damage and also gets full attacks, only right hand loses attacks, this feat is very powerful with PTWF

I agree it would be dumb if you could get +9 to all, but if what this guy says is true, it's both balanced and useful.

It's not that hard to test it out. Get a lvl 6 ranger with AT and you should have 4 attacks. Turn it on and see if you lose your offhand attacks.

Stolcor wrote: ↑Thu May 28, 2020 2:49 pm Here is someone saying it does work:
viewtopic.php?f=64&t=70846&p=873520&hil ... wf#p873520

Balthomer wrote: ↑Sat Aug 10, 2019 11:41 pm Only main hand loses attacks, off hand retains + slashing damage and also gets full attacks, only right hand loses attacks, this feat is very powerful with PTWF

I agree it would be dumb if you could get +9 to all, but if what this guy says is true, it's both balanced and useful.

It is capped at +4 according to the wiki.

It only susbstract main hand attacks indeed, making the description of the feat rather incorrect, and the bonuses are capped to 4.

Valefort wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 8:45 am It only susbstract main hand attacks indeed, making the description of the feat rather incorrect, and the bonuses are capped to 4.

I'll update the wiki to be clear about TWF.

It says it doesn't' work with other combat styles. Does the reworked Expose Weakness feat count as a style? Does it work with AT?

EW is not a style, NH, AT and Sembian fencing are.