Request for Nenio Build

[forkofspite]

Starting a new run soon, and it seems like a "proper" caster just doesn't fit my style. However, I want to try to experience it, so I'm hoping someone can link and/or post the enchantress Nenio build championed by @MjKorz (updated if necessary). Maybe it's a combined enchantment / conjuration specialist these days? I think it's scroll savant 10 / crossblooded sorcerer 1 / loremaster 9, but I'm looking for more details (i.e. order for class progression, feat choices, mythic choices, etc.)

I am looking to try that particular build for Nenio, but of course, feel free to propose others.

[Lord Hawkeye]

There is a 10 scroll / 10 loremaster on the website neoseeker. The goal is some buffing before combat and lots of crowd control in combat. She also takes care of your 4 lore skill check needs as well.

[MjKorz]

Originally posted by forkofspite:

Starting a new run soon, and it seems like a "proper" caster just doesn't fit my style. However, I want to try to experience it, so I'm hoping someone can link and/or post the enchantress Nenio build championed by @MjKorz (updated if necessary). Maybe it's a combined enchantment / conjuration specialist these days? I think it's scroll savant 10 / crossblooded sorcerer 1 / loremaster 9, but I'm looking for more details (i.e. order for class progression, feat choices, mythic choices, etc.)

I am looking to try that particular build for Nenio, but of course, feel free to propose others.

Here you go:

Nenio Enchanter-Conjurer

Illusion - early game until Nulkineth via Color Spray, Rainbow pattern and Phantasmal Killer. Inferior to using Conjuration spells with a (Greater) Spell Focus, but this is the price you pay for higher Conjuration spell DC later.

Enchantment - most of the main campaign starting from Nulkineth and a good chunk of Inevitable Excess.

Conjuration - anything immune to mind-affecting spells and without means of bypass like Gallu demons and many Inevitable Excess enemies and bosses; early game use of Grease is effective on Core and below as well even without the Spell Focus feats in Conjuration.

Classes: ScrollSavant10/X-bloodedSorc1/Loremaster9
Sorcerer Bloodlines: Undead + Fey

Leveling:
Levels 1-7: Scroll Savant (reach level 7 before the Vescavor Queen for Phantasmal Killer).
Level 8: Cross-Blooded Sorcerer (Undead Bloodline Arcana + Best Jokes + Hideous Laughter to mass disable ghouls in Lost Chapel).
Levels 9-17: Loremaster.
Levels 18-20: Scroll Savant.

Feats: 10 base + 1 Sorcerer + 2 Loremaster = 13 total
Lvl.5 - Greater Spell Focus: Illusion
Lvl.7 - Skill Focus: Knowledge World/Arcana
Lvl.8 - Metamagic: Heighten (Sorcerer bonus feat)
Lvl.9 - Spell Focus: Evocation
Lvl.9 - Lvl.1 Loremaster Secret (Wizard Feat) - Greater Spell Penetration
Lvl.11 - Greater Spell Focus: Evocation
Lvl.11 - Lvl.3 Loremaster Secret (Combat Feat) - Improved Initiative
Lvl.13 - Spell Focus: Transmutation
Lvl.15 - Greater Spell Focus: Transmutation
Lvl.17 - Spell Focus: Abjuration
Lvl.19 - Greater Spell Focus: Abjuration

Bonus Loremaster spells:
Lvl.5 Loremaster Cleric Spell - Greater Command (Non-Compulsion Enchantment to bypass Compulsion immunity).
Lvl.7 Loremaster Cleric Spell - Primal Regression (-4 Will Save debuff and INT/CHA caster disable that requires only 1 save).
Lvl.9 Loremaster Druid Spell - Slowing Mud (AoE Stagger as a non-mind-affecting Conjuration spell for the endgame and Inevitable Excess).

Mythic Abilities and Feats:
MR.1: Best Jokes or Enduring Spells I
MR.2: Expanded Arsenal - Enchantment
MR.3: Second Bloodline - Serpentine or Enduring Spells II
MR.4: Mythic Spell Penetration
MR.5: Abundant Casting 1
MR.6: Expanded Arsenal - Conjuration (rush MR6 to get this before you fight the first Gallu demons)
MR.7: Abundant Casting 2
MR.8: Mythic Spell Focus - Illusion
MR.9: Abundant Casting 3
MR.10: Mythic Spell Focus - Evocation

You can take Mythic Improved Initiative instead of one of the Mythic Spell Focus feats, but the reality is that Nenio will never reach exceptional initiative due to lack of Hare familiar and Pickpocket background as well as no Divination Wizard Forewarned bonus. Losing 2 spell DC on Conjuration spells is a non-negligible loss, because it is a school that gets no school-specific spell DC bonus from items and you will fight for every point of spell DC against endgame unfair bosses with massive saves (Areshkagal, Areelu, Valmallos and especially Inevitable Darkness).

It would be very nice to take Selective Metamagic and Favorite Metamagic Selective to make Grease, Glitterdust, Confusion, Waves of Ecstasy, Primal Regression and other spells selective at no increase of spell level, but this Nenio build is already starved for feats. Something had to be considered as luxury and sacrificed. Heighten metamagic is absolutely essential to maximize the spell DC of your Mind Fog, Primal Regression and Chains of Light - the Inevitable Excess Nenio boss slayer spell.

If you're using Ember for hexes and arcane buffs, have Nenio ignore Enduring Spells I-II and make Ember take them instead. If Nenio is your sole source of arcane buffs, have Nenio take Enduring Spells I-II, but you will lose the extremely powerful Hideous Laughter + Best Jokes synergy.

Make sure you let Nenio get the Demongraft surgery in Battlebliss. It's an essential +2 spell DC bonus for all schools including Conjuration.

[Gregorovitch]

What you do with Nenio is heavily dependant on what difficulty you want to play on. Specifically if you play on Hard or Unfair you need to consider serious theory crafting to make sure she can land whaever spells you want her to major in against very stiff saving throws and spell resistances.

@MjKorz's ideas are very counter-intuitive and based round an exploit of a bug in the Expanded Arsenal mythic. It's bordering on cheating really. What he does is deliberately not take feats in the school he actually wants to major in, rather put them into various other schools, then he takes Expanded Arsenal in the school he really wants to power up and the bug in the mythic enables him to stack bonuses from all the other schools into it.

On Core or below Nenio's cannon Illusionist build is more than viable, it makes her the strongest companion by far. The key spells for a cannon Illusionist build are Phantasmal Killer, Phantasmal Putrification and Weird.

Three build guides giving a good selection of possibilities for Nenio, the first one being closest to cannon I would say:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDts4ofbGdQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_imCzwF1gyo&list=PL8LVeoHzXqxBbcYljS602n64WvrkrA2ln&index=7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flknog0mZt4&t=1214s

[MjKorz]

Originally posted by Gregorovitch:

exploit of a bug in the Expanded Arsenal mythic. It's bordering on cheating really.

Are the developers also "cheaters" and "bug exploiters"? My build isn't doing anything that their official build isn't doing already:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2871177705

Why do you hate Owlcat so much?

[forkofspite]

Thank you.

Yes, the difficulty certainly affects potential builds, and presumably, this build will be overkill for Core difficulty. I'm more of a buffs + martials player, so Nenio won't be with the group most of the time. However, I at least want to experience the super mage.

[MjKorz]

Originally posted by forkofspite:

Thank you.

Yes, the difficulty certainly affects potential builds, and presumably, this build will be overkill for Core difficulty. I'm more of a buffs + martials player, so Nenio won't be with the group most of the time. However, I at least want to experience the super mage.

Also remember that there are tools to make your life easier when it comes to beating saves, especially in the early game:

1. Double Evil Eye (Saves) from Camellia + Ember (they stack).

2. Vision of Madness (Skillchecks) obtained from Madness domain taken on Sosiel via Impossible Domain. Up to -10 debuff on attack rolls and saves. Make sure Sosiel gets spell penetration feats ASAP, if you get this.

3. Touch of Law obtained from Law domain taken on Sosiel via Impossible Domain. Sets enemy rolls to 11 for one round, resulting in an effective -9 save debuff relative to their maximum possible roll of 20.

4. Bit of Luck that Sosiel has inherently allows you to roll spell penetration twice. Very good early to beat Darrazand and Blightmaw SR.

5. Court Poet 16, either a merc or Daeran, is a good addition to the party with a DC caster due to Insightful Contemplation granting a good +4 morale INT/CHA bonus at an early level of 8 and a +6 bonus at level 16.

You should also keep in mind the Enchantment spell DC boosting items (find their locations on the wiki): Ring of Chaotic Fascination, Glass Amulet of Clarity, Twisted Temptation, Bracers of Mindbreak, Goggles of Mind Control.

Other useful items to keep in mind are: Quarterstaff of the Warmage, Robe of Determination and Display of Power.

If you build and equip your Nenio right she will be unstoppable.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2803215671