Working Ranged/Melee Switch Tactics

[LEGACY]

I've been trying to get this to work for Leliana for ages.
The result was always that she just stood there switching weapons non stop.
But no more!

https://i.gyazo.com/3b80747a78d5f7f7b6b63859013a5136.jpg

Leliana is an assassin in my playthrough. With these tactics she will switch between sword/daggers and bow depending on how far away her enemy is.

[Ilja]

To your question: it is better to use Self: conditions, when swapping weapons between ranged and melee. That is the most reliable way to prevent her from swapping weapons in wrong times.
- Self: Being attacked by Ranged or Magic Attack -> Switch to Ranged Weapon.
- Self: Being attacked by Melee Attack -> Switch to Melee Weapon.

You can also set those according to target (Enemy:) types, but she will then usually run around in melee combat almost all the time.

To be honest, I do not see any point of using Leliana for melee. Her Bard class makes her a supreme archer. Using her in a melee would require making her tougher, but I rather spend all her points to other traits.

• Strength: 20, unless you wish to give her items to boost the strength. I personally give them to my melee rogues and warriors.
  
• Dexterity: at least max required for all Archery talents. Extra is bonus for both Attack and Damage, but she also needs adequate Cunning.
  
• Cunning: to make best of her Bard talents and Armor Penetration. Song of Courage relies on it.

Song of Courage, Aim and Master Archer will make her so strong that she competes with any other character in DPS. I also gave her Assassin class, but only picked the first talent. She uses that to any enemy attacking in melee against my mage and then attacks that enemy. She also had full Stealth, so she could hide in shadows, when ever her health got below 90%, clearing all threat while at it.

Downside of this build is that any melee Assassin will get higher critical change, which is not optimal for them. Duelists and all warriors enjoy Leliana's Bard talents best.

[LEGACY]

Ya well, everyone can play how they want.
I don't use Leliana's bard skills. I did indeed make her tougher.

I play on Nightmare difficulty and make use of a lot of stun, paralyze, freezing and petrify.
The critical hits will then shatter targets all around. Either with stone fist, critical shot or some shield bashing. Whatever works. My Leliana has a very high chance to do critical hits, both with melee and ranged.

It works out great for me. It makes Nightmare difficulty almost laughable easy at times.
And I think the assassin class works well because of Leliana's background story.

[Ilja]

Originally posted by LEGACY:

Ya well, everyone can play how they want

That is an honest truth. I bought the game when it came out and later bought it again from Steam in discount. I have developed sort of combinations that would make "purists" gasp from disbelief and anger. XD

For me, Leliana is the only exception. I tend to use just few plausible paths for her, because her starting talents and attributes make her very painful to manage in Hard and Nightmare difficulties. Either she is flimsy or generates a lot of threat from enemies. Her low Cunning score does not help at all.

I once had two tanks, both using Taunts to tie enemies around them. Lelilana was constantly attacked despite of that, which caused me to waste a lot of spells and potions to keep her alive. She is the easiest or hardest character to develop - depending on the path you take.

As you said: each player plays the game how they like. Leliana makes a fine melee character. Trying to divide her talents between melee, ranged and defence is a big balancing act.