Just started WotR

[Entreri]

I look at online builds before deciding how I'll make characters. I noticed Ember is said to do significantly less damage with Neoseeker's DLC 5 build.

Is that because different choices were made to make the character better in other ways, or were there nerfs that made the original build do less damage?

[Razer]

Kind of matters what difficulty you are playing on. For a first playthrough you're better off keeping companions on their base class except maybe Lann. Ember is totally fine as a pure witch.

[Damedius]

Ember doesn't really do much damage at the start. Shes more utility until you level her.

[Chronocide]

Originally posted by Entreri:

I look at online builds before deciding how I'll make characters. I noticed Ember is said to do significantly less damage with Neoseeker's DLC 5 build.

Is that because different choices were made to make the character better in other ways, or were there nerfs that made the original build do less damage?

No, classes aren't designed for the characters.

Pathfinder makes generic classes, and then WotR designs NPCs to embody examples of those classes. Owlcat doesn't really nerf game rules, just fix them when they aren't doing what they are supposed to do (such as recently, the update fixed an issue where the crit range was being improperly added together to make weapons crit way more often than they are supposed to).

Regarding ember, I mean, as a witch, she's more of a support character than a DPS, so her damage per round seems kinda meaningless.

[Matunus]

Originally posted by Razer:

Kind of matters what difficulty you are playing on. For a first playthrough you're better off keeping companions on their base class except maybe Lann. Ember is totally fine as a pure witch.

I tend to disagree on most companions here, because I did so in the first playthrough and was far better off in playthroughs, where I didn't. For Ember however, you can keep her pure witch, although a loremaster build would be slightly better.

As a general note: The sooner you get a companion the better they are to customize. Some basic tips here:
Give as many companions pets as possible, preferably dogs and/or wolves, they are very powerful in this game.
Lann: best multiclass as either hunter or inquisitor, chose a subclass with a pet and chose a dog or wolf there.
Wenduag: You can use her as basically for any dexterity based build.
Seelah: Add one level beastrider cavalier before she gets a pet. That way you can get a dog, which is better than a horse.
Camellia: You can keep her pure shaman, learn battle and nature.
Sosiel: Learn impossible domain for the animal domain, stay cleric.
Nenio: Loremaster is the best choice for her in most cases.
Regill: Give him one level beastrider or sacred huntsmaster, then go sohei. As a gnome he can ride dogs and wolves from start and because he has weapon training as a fighter, he can flurry with his gnome hooked hammer and get an insane amount of attacks from first round on.
Arushalee: Unfortunately she has one of the worst ranger subclasses. You could either give her some fighter levels to get more feats that improve her archery or inciter skald to add some buffs.
Ulbrig: No multiclassing for him or any other shifter that is not a main character with the legend mythic path.
Daeran: Stay orcale, learn nature mystery for wolf.
Woljif: You get him early and 3 rogue levels are enough to pick your locks and disarm your traps, as long as you increase trickery and perception. Arcane rider and tandem executioner are good choices.
Trevor: Whatever classes you give him, he is better off at the camp than in your active party.

[reidj062]

Ember can do damage fine. But for the first half of the game, she can also do a solid job just putting enemies to sleep. Her vulnerability hex also helps you bypass those elemental resistances in the first act.

[GunStarX]

Ember used to be capable of massive damage, being able to delete a boss type enemy in one turn. They "fixed" a lot of the exploits people were using to stack massive amounts of fire damage. Mallanders belt, ring of pyromania, 3 dragon bloodlines were all fixed, lowering damage output drastically.

Ember can still work as a blaster caster, she's just not op anymore

[Jiroa]

Originally posted by GunStarX:

Ember used to be capable of massive damage, being able to delete a boss type enemy in one turn. They "fixed" a lot of the exploits people were using to stack massive amounts of fire damage. Mallanders belt, ring of pyromania, 3 dragon bloodlines were all fixed, lowering damage output drastically.

Ember can still work as a blaster caster, she's just not op anymore

She can still one shot bosses if the MC is a merged Angel as Sun Marked still triple procs on every ray if you are using Asp+Mallanders adding adding a total of 63d6 holy damage to every ray cast. Apparently this one is working as intended as was left untouched.

[no_idea_for_a_name]

If you want to customize your companions as much as possible, there's a mod that automatically resets companions at level 1 as soon as you get them.

[GunStarX]

Originally posted by Jiroa:

Originally posted by GunStarX:

Ember used to be capable of massive damage, being able to delete a boss type enemy in one turn. They "fixed" a lot of the exploits people were using to stack massive amounts of fire damage. Mallanders belt, ring of pyromania, 3 dragon bloodlines were all fixed, lowering damage output drastically.

Ember can still work as a blaster caster, she's just not op anymore

She can still one shot bosses if the MC is a merged Angel as Sun Marked still triple procs on every ray if you are using Asp+Mallanders adding adding a total of 63d6 holy damage to every ray cast. Apparently this one is working as intended as was left untouched.

Of course merged angel remains virtually untouched for being ridiculously OP

[IlluminaZero]

If it’s first playthrough Lann should definately be kept as a Zen Archer. The class basically builds itself (great for newbies) and he will likely be the most reliable form of DPS for a significant portion of the game among the default companions.

On replays Lann is basically begging to be multiclassed but doing such things as delaying Precise Shot and BAB progression will make even the Shield Maze significantly harder than it needs to be.

Originally posted by Razer:

Kind of matters what difficulty you are playing on. For a first playthrough you're better off keeping companions on their base class except maybe Lann. Ember is totally fine as a pure witch.

[IlluminaZero]

If you’re a legit newbie best advise is to just play normal and keep the characters their default classes.

Theorycrafting loses some its charm if you’re simply copying someone else with absolutely zero understanding of the logic behind the build.

———

When it comes to Ember just use bolster metamagic. The guides are old and much of the info is outdated.

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by IlluminaZero:

If you’re a legit newbie best advise is to just play normal and keep the characters their default classes.

Theorycrafting loses some its charm if you’re simply copying someone else with absolutely zero understanding of what the logic behind the build.

———

When it comes to Ember just use bolster metamagic. The guides are old and many of the info is outdated.

Not to mention creating your own unique playstyle which works is also a huge enjoyment and a reward in itself.
Since Ember by me is usually healing, putting enemies to sleep, buffing, and reducing enemy stats i went with her for Necro Focus.
Having someone do good enervations (Ray Focus) really helps a lot. Especially against some of those OP optional enemies.
I use Greybor as a throwing axe specialist. Having him reduce 2 str, 2 dex and 1 con on a sneak attack is hillarious:)

[la_nague]

Originally posted by Entreri:

I look at online builds before deciding how I'll make characters. I noticed Ember is said to do significantly less damage with Neoseeker's DLC 5 build.

Is that because different choices were made to make the character better in other ways, or were there nerfs that made the original build do less damage?

Ineffect makes good builds, but he makes very specific ones with many taking 1-2 levels in all kinds of classes, there might be better guides to follow. I dont like all thise 1-2 level dips in all those classes all the time.



He is being overdramatic, there was a change with the subclass he took for ember which gave a bonus to her spells. Now he had to take another class that gets slightly less bonus to her spell damage.


Ember is still very good with fire damage, make sure to keep your eyes open regarding certain items in the game that are very good for fire mages.


Also, i would suggest if you new to just go 20 levels in a class unless you really want to do something for roleplaying or take an prestige class later and you understand how it works. You will be fine and less confused just keeping the classes the way they are.

[Entreri]

Originally posted by GunStarX:

Ember used to be capable of massive damage, being able to delete a boss type enemy in one turn. They "fixed" a lot of the exploits people were using to stack massive amounts of fire damage. Mallanders belt, ring of pyromania, 3 dragon bloodlines were all fixed, lowering damage output drastically.

Ember can still work as a blaster caster, she's just not op anymore

Thanks. This helps. He said the new build can do 600 hp with hellfire ray, and he said that it was a lot less than his other version of the same build. I figured it was due to updates to the game, but I wasn't sure.

[Entreri]

Originally posted by no_idea_for_a_name:

If you want to customize your companions as much as possible, there's a mod that automatically resets companions at level 1 as soon as you get them.

That's probably Toybox. I'll most likely use it on my 2nd playthrough.