There's little to no reason to play a damage caster in this game

[Snipermjc]

Archers output more damage every turn, don't use spell slots to shoot, don't need to worry about spell resistance, need less perks to make function, have less skills to worry about, and are effective from the start of the game. Why does every rpg dev have such a stiffy for making edgy stealth bows the best class?

[a ********]

You forgot to link your video of soloing Unfair with Core Monk.

[darkholyPL]

Well it's not the developers fault, since they use the Pathfinder rules, which are just updated 3,5 DnD rules.
But I don't agree with casters being usless.
First, you don't target the main ACs of your enemies, that's a great boon. You either go for touch, which is almost always quite a bit lower, or you don't even go for a roll to hit at all. AoEs don't need to roll to hit. If you build your caster right, you can do quite a bit of damage. If you sum up the AoE, from say a Firestorm cast, from a nuker mage, it can do bonkers damage.
But even my Dearan, who is in no way setup to be a blaster-caster (healer and buffer in my game) did 285dmg with boosted destruction cast. Not that bad for someone who is not setup to do damage, eh?

[Stormsong]

O.o that's an "act 1 on normal is as far as I've been" take if I've ever seen one. Exploiting low touch AC is huge.

Martials end up 3-4 multiclasses deep and often need every feat they can get their hands on unless they're some type of fighter.

Blasters often monoclass or 1/19, which real easy to keep track of. And after PB, prec shot and both spell pens (4 reg feats) and their mythic pen (5 total) they are free to do what they want. Can just walk into a room and just start blastin'. Enemy spell res stops mattering entirely after the Drezen siege if you've kept up with your spell pens.

[Selvokaz]

did 485 damage with devour on my current Demon Transmuter/Dragon Disciple/Eldritch Knight.... yes you heard me right, 485 damage, instantly killed The Priestess of Deskari. It took 3 castings, but on the 3rd casting it did 485 and pretty much did her in.

[Uzkin]

Eh, my late-game Ember could Fire Storm the entire screen for 350-400 damage/enemy. With sorcerous reflex that means 650-700 damage/enemy in the 1st round. Many fights on core had 6+ enemies so that my Ember could output around 4000 points of damage in the opening round, if needed. Not many melee could do the same. Screenshot included (endgame spoilers, beware).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2661664172

[provokastoras]

there are some enemies if you do the optional bosses and the end boss in unfair that melee and archers pretty much can't damage for the life of them.
Wendy chan was doing 5 damage per hit on areelu on hard. my main caster was doing 500
Areelu had 5000 hp.

[seeker1]

So ... with 6 party slots there's room for both. Personally, I always take an archer and a spellcaster. They each have their advantages, and occasional disadvantages. To me there's no either/or argument. I take both. Maybe especially because the game has both bows and crossbows that are devastating, plus quivers with trick arrows that would make Hawkeye smile. Just as an FYI, if you want a nice archer with up to lvl 6 druid spells, make or take a hunter.

[Player#2201]

Blackwater would like a word.

Archer

[Conquista]

ya its a six member party game so you can take both, archers peform pretty good throughout the whole game, damage casters only start around midgame and are really good at late game

[Gorwe]

Well, I kinda agree. What's the point of going Blaster when a Battle Singer(Skald) can do, probably, as good job as you while supporting, CCing etc. Why would you ever go something like Cross Blooded Sorc 2x Dragon + Fire(=ultimate Blaster)? Hell, even Priest of Balance does a better job and he outputs SERIOUS healing / support while doing what he does. Blast.

[Dryad]

Having completed the game on Core with a martial team of melees and archers... I can say it's possible, but is annoyingly time-consuming and is likely much faster and easier with blasters, so no. There's reasons to have the casters.

Edit: I did have Sosiel on the team, but he was there primarily for Mass Heal, Resurrection, Raise Dead, Heal, Breath of Life, and Cure spells, so...

[kirill-busidow]

Getting 60 dmg crits on Vital strike in Shield maze. (Rowdy rogue). At lvl 3.
30 dmg is common (= 1 shot most enemies from start).

[kirill-busidow]

Originally posted by Player#2201:

Blackwater would like a word.

:cozycastondeath: Archer

Why, can you explain?

[Gorwe]

Originally posted by kirill-busidow:

Originally posted by Player#2201:

Blackwater would like a word.

Archer

Why, can you explain?

No. Mixed Blood Rager makes Blackwater's gimmick moot. Just shift to a, idk, Blue Dragon bloodline and yeah. And Rager is a martial. Especially mixed.

And it don't take that much skill to take UMD or Woljief. Or both. :)

[Selvokaz]

Originally posted by kirill-busidow:

Originally posted by Player#2201:

Blackwater would like a word.

:cozycastondeath: Archer

Why, can you explain?

The augmented demons in that dungeon despite it being chapter 3 have AC's in the low to mid 40s. Considering you're likely 13 going on 14 at the most when you do that dungeon, a martial character will indeed have a rough time beating that class. Not to mention they require electric attacks to disable their regen most of the time.