Is the Beastmasters (bow build) group fun?

[CavalierArcher]

Debating a fresh run (or a major respec) to try the beastmasters build. Just wondered if it was actually worth the effort of capturing all the wolves and bears, then juggling professions. Also, what are your group builds with beastmasters and animals? What is it like early on and end game?

[Vaati]

I wouldn't go full beastmaster (Infantry's active ability is too good to not have on an archer), that said being able to control bears and alpha wolves (Boars are too slow to use) is useful and archers getting perhaps strength in numbers (or whatever the wolf talent is that gives mega crit chance) is worth the dice roll.

I'v not used war ponies (too valuable as pack mules) but wolves early are super squishy and are only a little more mobile then rangers, if they can survive long enough to get their skills they become powerhouses. Bears are slower then wolves but are super tanky be default, they also slap really hard by default so they are easier to use out of the box.

That said all animals get slapped hard by bleed so you wanna keep that in mind and they eat more then the average mercs to compensate for not having wages.


TLDR : Yes they are fun but your gonna have to work hard for them to be as good as a mercenary.

EDIT #1 - You can also upgrade the beast master talent that lets you control animals which also causes the archer to heal all your warbeasts.

[DropShot]

Grain of salt, i don't actually use "beatmaster", just Beast Mastery; but, from my experience with it:

imo it's worth doing in Region locked; you can add a bunch of disposable fodder and extra damage for the cost of a bit of food. I prefer to have 4 Bears tho, Cosy Pelt is really nice because it generates 1 valor if a companion rests next to them, so if you arrange them right around the campfire, you can generate 8 valor for nothing. In additon, bears typically hit decent and have a large health pool, as well as an innate skill that lets them survive death with 1 hp once. Wolves, while cool are pretty much worthless. Boar the same but with a bit more health.

In Free mode, it is not worth doing. Each additional animal (not including pack poneys) will add another enemy you need to face. You will find yourself fighting large battles without the ability to output enough damage to overcome them.

If you end up doing it, you'll have to drop back in and let us know how it goes. With enough setup and 2 or 3 dudes with the ATTACK! skill, i bet it's really good.. Just probably a lot of hunting and capturing animals given anything that's not a bear will die a bunch

[CavalierArcher]

Hmm! Some really good thoughts here. Thinking of trying it just for the added challenge. Bleed is something I hadn't considered.

How well do the bears tank a boss?

[DropShot]

Depends on the boss. I'd imagine their health scales well enough with their level to be able to take a few hits from any boss. (for reference, my bears average 400hp at level 8 so they can take just about 3 hits from anything, +1 because they can't die from their first fatal strike) I'd recommend looking into scaling on the bosses tho, maybe someone can answer. I'm fairly certain the more units you bring into the fight, the higher the bosses healthpool (in Free Mode). Region locked, i think, went by level. My party hit level 6 and the swamp boss went up to level 9 with like double the heath and armor.

It's been a while since it happened and i only noticed it with the Swamp boss, so anyone who has more accurate info on this system, please correct me.

[Robin of Spiritwood]

Originally posted by CavalierArcher:

Hmm! Some really good thoughts here. Thinking of trying it just for the added challenge. Bleed is something I hadn't considered.

How well do the bears tank a boss?

They do much better if you attach a "Support Wolf" that gives them 30% Protection- it works like Guard. You can get bonuses from a Warrior class using one of the Tracker Shields too, or from a Swordsman with the Protection AOE.

Having self healing Collars and several Beastmaster archers can stack the animal heals. With multiples of animals and Beastmasters, your squad will generate hundreds of HP per turn.

[funkmonster7]

Originally posted by Robin of Spiritwood:

Having self healing Collars and several Beastmaster archers can stack the animal heals. With multiples of animals and Beastmasters, your squad will generate hundreds of HP per turn.

So animals can become nigh invincible then? If you get 6 Infantryman archers with beastmaster skill learned and upgraded, then animals will regen at least 30% hp per turn. This is on top of infantryman's aoe attack.

[CavalierArcher]

Originally posted by Robin of Spiritwood:

Originally posted by CavalierArcher:

Hmm! Some really good thoughts here. Thinking of trying it just for the added challenge. Bleed is something I hadn't considered.

How well do the bears tank a boss?

They do much better if you attach a "Support Wolf" that gives them 30% Protection- it works like Guard. You can get bonuses from a Warrior class using one of the Tracker Shields too, or from a Swordsman with the Protection AOE.

Having self healing Collars and several Beastmaster archers can stack the animal heals. With multiples of animals and Beastmasters, your squad will generate hundreds of HP per turn.

This actually sounds really fun! Do you remember where you get the self heal collar?

[Bebop]

Anyone know where I can find the self heal collar?