u/Checked-Out13

I got inspired back in August thanks to a certain tcg I’ve been playing for an investigation, and I’d love to see how folks would expand upon it (especially with Halloween approaching).

Inspired by “The Deletor” archetype of Cardfight Vanguard, and a bit of the infamous “False Hydra” as well, the investigation begins with the streets beginning to feel emptier. Reports of thefts have been made, but none can recall who made these reports. Written names have no faces associated with them in memory. And rumors of things skittering in the shadows at the edge of vision have begun to be whispered.

The idea is the entity (or entities) has been stealing sentimental items, and when they do, so too are memories of the individuals stolen. While they walk about their lives, the victims of these thefts are ignored. Eyes with naturally glaze over and drift past them. They become living ghosts, unnoticed by the world around them. And, perhaps they eventually disappear completely.

Im not 100% on what the entity looks like (maybe a bit insectoid like Koh the Face Stealer), or if they are stealing things for themselves, or perhaps in some pact/partnership with someone who is making use of the stolen items (in a fey or warlock-type situation). Maybe if the latter, the items are being used for, like, a doll collection that represents the citizens who have been stolen from.

I decided as a way to prepare for finishing an HM run, I’d go back to the start and do another playthrough just to get some idea of how to handle things I am approaching (less the Combat encounters, but more some other challenges like the Iron Throne).

Part of this is also making my first Swords Bard Tav. I plan to go Half Orc for the race, but I’m not sure how to handle the class too well (I typically play Druids, Clerics, or Rangers, and if I have any Bards, they are just a few levels to support an Origin Character’s other class.

Pure Swords Bard is pretty strong from what I have heard. I also have seen folks say to add in Warlock (usually Hexblade), OR some levels of Paladin (the common thread for that one being to respec at level 8 so your first 2 levels are paladin, and the rest as Swords Bard) for Smites.

I’ve not seen anyone mention a three way multiclass of Swords Bard, Warlock, and Paladin, so I imagine that’s not TOO viable. But I’m curious what builds for Swords Bard end up being people’s favorite to play the game with (not necessarily STRONGEST, but rather feel the most Narratively fulfilling for your Tavs and Durges).

So thank you to all the folks who gave me advice about Astarion and the fight vs Cazador! We backtracked to ling rest and just use resources, and hit Level 11 in the park vs the Bhaal Cultists! Also raided the Sorcerous Vaults, and because we had plenty of resources still, teamed up with Aylin to take down Loroakan. All in all, went smoothly!

We swapped Shart out for Astarion, had Tav hold the Blood of Lathander so Gale could keep his new staff from the vaults, and returned to engage with Cazador.

I honestly was fine to just hit him even at level 10, lol! Never had to cast Daylight, as Cazador basically spent the entire fight running from my Tav with 6th level Spirit Guardians up, while everyone else focused on the Mobs (when Cazador wasn’t in range). Poetically, Astarion got the final blow, and we melted him on that third round. So round 4 was just clean up, then we got Astarion to end Cazador and release the spawns to the Underdark. My Tav is really benefitting from having the Woe staff equipped, making him even more of a tanky menace.

Since that, the only other thing I’ve done is deal with the Banites in the Fireworks shop and steal as many Smokepowder Barrels as I could for using in the House of Hope (I am planning to hit it, but not quite yet).

My next goals are the Steel Watch Foundry, the Iron Throne, the Murder Tribunal, the Sharran Conclave, and Orin (with Gortash and the House of Hope following all that).

I honestly think without respecing several characters, the only ones I’m ready for are the Foundry, the Sharrans, and the Bhaal plot. Gortash I need to deal with Foundry and Throne first, and House of Hope is going to need a LOT of planning to set up and prepare for, especially after reading the wiki.

My BIGGEST fear is the Iron Throne. My goal is to save as many as possible (and ONLY if I have the time and correct builds to go for the Vault Key there as well). Saving Ravenguard is my main priority though, since I am romancing Wyll and I dont want Mizora ending him.

So I need someone with a Globe of Invulnerability scroll as well as good healing to get to Ravenguard and keep him alive. Someone else will go with that character to kill enemies. I need a Fast character (ideally with a lot of Actions or a lot of attacks) to work on hitting as MANY levers as possible (I think I’ll Respec Halsin for this, since being a Wood Elf gives him a speed buff already). And the 4th character will go after Omeluum since the friendly illithid’s Dimension Door should (unless the game bugs out on me) guarantee he and that character can reach the Submersible.

If anyone has good FAST/Multi-attack/multi-action builds I can use for The Iron Throne, please share! Also, I’m unsure if Magic Missile (one the 5th level super-buffed version I taught Gale from a scroll in the Vaults) will work for hitting the levels. If so, that’ll definitely help make things easier (Gale IS getting a Respec of his own soon, after all).

I am continuing an HM run I put on pause months ago due to fear or failing. I dont have anything SPECTACULAR for my builds, but the characters are definitely able to hold their own for the run, having pretty easily decimated Myrkul.

I am Level 10, and paused my progress just at the doors to Cazador’s battle. My current party is my Tav (2 Star Druid/8 Light Cleric) with a Radiating Orb build, Shadowheart (a mixed cleric build, but mostly Support and some big AoEs), Gale (Evocation Wizard with a LOT of big AoE spells), and Wyll (Fiend Pact of Blade with Hex, Agonizing Blast Eldritch Blast, Potent Robe, and the Pelorsun Blade as his Pact Weapon).

Part of me can’t help but feel like I should turn around, Long Rest, then re-buff my party with the camp cleric-hirelings, but have Astarion join us. I have beaten this fight before in a multiplayer run, so I know I can get his good ending still even if I leave him at camp, unlike Shart with the final portion of Act 2. And I know that having Astarion actually makes the fight HARDER since I have to free him, or be down a character. But leaving him behind, when for this entire run I’ve done my best to have everyone there for fights and events tied to their quests (I’ll be having Karlach with me when I fight Gortash eventually, and probably during the Steel Watch Foundry too), just rubs me the wrong way.

So, should I bring him along? Or leave him behind and out of the choice for his fate?

So I’m onto a New HM attempt and I have a few BASIC ideas, though nothing guaranteed? Planning to test out on Balanced mode to get a feel for composition and synergies.

I want Shart/Halsin as a 2 Stars Druid/10 Light Cleric for Radiating Orbs and just big Radiant Damage/Cleric Crowd Control options.

Gale will be acting as either a Pure Evocation Wizard, OR, I found a build that mixes Draconic Bloodline Sorcery, Wizard, and Tempest Cleric for just a Storm Lord-Archmage type build (might try that one out).

Wyll is the Third, and I’m WANTING to have him be a Warlock/Ranger Multiclass, but may try something else out. DID see an optional build that goes 4 Swashbuckler Rogue/5 Hexblade Warlock/3 Swarmkeeper Ranger, so that might be something.

Tav/Durge is the hardest to decide for since they have no Canon class to try and bounce off from. I plan to have them act as Party Face, and possibly party lockpick if no one else has better Sleight of Hand. If I go Durge, I saw a Swashbuckler Rogue/Lore Bard build that culminates in using PWK on the final boss. While Tav, I could either try Smite-Bard (not a big fan of paladins though, with their ease of losing oaths), or a Warlock/Bard Multiclass to really focus on the social side. Pure Bard can work out fine (Swords being over used but only cuz it’s OP, or Lore for the buffs, debuffs, and utility).

If anyone has any ideas to tie these ideas together, PLEASE share them! I’m stuck with decision paralysis on some of these.

Sign down at Rear Gael Tunnel Entrance site, or at fog wall.

PW: Moon

Like the title says. I’ve not played Elden Ring in, several months honestly. Close to a year perhaps, even. I decided it was time to try and get back into the game.

I didn’t want to go a Pure Int Caster for my first run back (usually I just add on a sword for Ripostes and dealing with undead in the catacombs). But I don’t feel like it’s a good idea to deviate too far from my usual playstyle for a return-to-play character.

I settled on the idea of a Int Mage/Moonveil hybrid build, but I’m wanting Moonveil to take a bit more of the spotlight, and use the spells instead for PvE and supplementing the playstyle (so things like Loretta’s Bow for dealing with enemies at a range, plus giving this samurai a bow that doesn’t add to my carry weight. Moon spells since those feel right for Moonveil, while also being able to absorb projectiles. That kind of stuff).

I have, absolutely no idea how to build the Moonveil Samurai part of this character lol. The Int Caster portion is Second Nature for me, since that’s my main playstyle, but any tips for how to implement and prioritize the katana will be wonderful!

So I’m actually planning to do a SOLO Tactician Run in BG3, and am stumped on how I want to do this. Most Necromancer builds I see go for a 6 Death Cleric/6 Necromancy Wizard set up. I also saw an Oathbreaker Paladin/Necromancy Wizard set for a Death Knight. And a 3 Way multiclass of Death Cleric, Necromancy Wizard, and a touch of Spores Druid as well.

I know I’m going for a Dark Urge (going Blue or White Dragonborn since both Lightning and Cold seem fitting for a Necromancer). But I’m ultimately torn on what class or classes I want to use for this, and what stat distribution to go for. I might go for 16 Int, 16 Wis, 14 Con, and 12 Dex with 8 Str and Cha? Alternatively trying 16 Int, 14 Con and Wis, 12 Dex and Cha, and 8 Str. Both for a 6/6 Cleric Wizard split, but with one helping my Out of Combat checks for persuasion and such.

If anyone has done Solo Playthrough as a Necromancer at any difficulty, please share ANY tips for builds!!!!

I’m doing an Honor Mode Run, and 3/4 of my permanent party are decided. Tav is a Half Orc Shadow Sorcerer 7/Gloomstalker Ranger 5, focused on Dual Wielding. Gale is going to be Hexblade Warlock 1/ Abjuration Wizard 11, primarily as a nigh-unkillable Magic Missile build. And Wyll as the third will be a Fiend Warlock Pact of Blade/Swords Bard multiclass (still deciding the ratios).

For the most part, my 4th slot will either be based on whoever’s quest I’m working on (for example, Shart in the temple of Shar), but using Karlach as a tank otherwise. But once I can have him in the party, I plan to swap Karlach out for Halsin, and I’m not sure what build to give him.

Pure Moon Druid might work, since Owlbear alone is a real treat for tanking. I could also multiclass Moon Druid with something else for added damage and tankiness. At the same time, though, my previous HM run had a Star Druid 2/Light Cleric 10 tav, and the Radiating Orbs and healing versatility could prove powerful tools. And I saw a guide for an Oathbreaker Paladin/Spore Druid combo that might also be nice.

I’m usually never too worried about how all the characters synergize in combat, but I want to optimize this group without giving up on the roleplay my party will have. And I admit, as much as I love Halsin, I’ve never actually used him in my party since my Tav is usually a Druid.

Any advice for a build Halsin can use that’ll work well with the rest of my party is greatly appreciated. I’m still early-act 1, recently hitting level 3, so I’m hoping to take any pros and cons of various builds (and perhaps test them on lower difficulties before implementing them fully once I hit act 2)

I’m starting the Dancer Class, and I do enjoy the base gear you get for the class, with the exposed chest and arms. I AM hoping to get the Story-Spinner Set from Dawntrail eventually, BUT I either have ti wait until I reach the expansion, or save up nearly 5 Million Gil to buy it from the market boards.

If anyone has good glamours for Male Roe Dancers, ESPECIALLY that are showing some skin like the Story-Spinner Set or the Softstepper Set you get for starting the class, I’d love to see them and learn where I can get them. I’m currently in early Shadowbringers, but AM a subbed player now, so I have access to Market Boards and Trading.