Need help with a good build for a newbie.

[Jnx]

Obviously this game is hard as nails, and I want to have a good a start as can be so I won't end up extremely frustrated by my dumb choices in the beginning of the game.

I am not going in solo, so I expect I'll need some charisma. I'm also thinking I'll go spear/shield with dodge as my main defense on my first character. How much charisma is enough to not run into a lot of woes, and how much of everything else is a good idea?

Or is it better to perhaps go with a main character that has max charisma and intellect, and max crafting & alchemist?

[Vince]

First, I'd suggest to play on the lower difficulty to reduce frustration. Second, shield requires Block skill, but you can still play a spearman relying on dodge (goes well with a two-handed spear).

As for the stats, I'd suggest CHA 7 or 8 for your first playthrough. You need CHA 7 to have 2 companions, but CHA 8 will allow you to recruit a good crossbowman early (he will join you instead of fighting you, so it will make that particular fight easier as well).

Thus I'd suggest something like:

STR 7-8, DEX 8-9, CON 5-6, PER 6-7, INT 4, CHA 7-8

[Jnx]

Oh ok. I saw multiple people suggesting spear/shield, so I thought that'd work. Thanks for the suggestions. What's the take on needing alchemy+crafting. Is that heavily recommended, or is it just fine without. I've seen quite a few people saying they had trouble with people casting bombs and whatever it was.

[Vince]

Spear/shield works if you stick with one-handed spears and Block (skill).

Alchemy and Crafting are very important skills and your party should have them (you can do without them but it will be harder); the only question is whether or not you should give these skills to your main character. You will have some 'civic' (i.e. non-combat) skill points so you can use them to gain some alchemy skills, mainly for healing and such.

Once you fight your way to the upper level, you will gain a party member more suitable for crafting, so I'd suggest to delay your decision until then. You can spent Marcus' civic points on some crafting levels in the meantime.

Bombs are a problem, both for your enemies and your party. The best way to handle them is either high CON or attacking the alchemists first (they are usually poorly armored and an aimed: head attack can knock them out, making them an easy target - 95% to-hit chance for the rest of your party.

[Jnx]

Right on, thanks! I'll give this a whirl with one or the other. I appreciate the pointers.

[Scathe]

Originally posted by Vince:

As for the stats, I'd suggest CHA 7 or 8 for your first playthrough. You need CHA 7 to have 2 companions, but CHA 8 will allow you to recruit a good crossbowman early (he will join you instead of fighting you, so it will make that particular fight easier as well).

Originally posted by Vince:

Alchemy and Crafting are very important skills and your party should have them (you can do without them but it will be harder); the only question is whether or not you should give these skills to your main character. You will have some 'civic' (i.e. non-combat) skill points so you can use them to gain some alchemy skills, mainly for healing and such.

ok, I'm confused, I think you're talking about a different game or something Vince, or you forgot the exact numbers of your game.

I think CHA works like this:
CHA 6 = 2 followers
CHA 7 = Hire the early crossbowman
CHA 8 = 3 followers

my reccomendation for CHA for a first playthrough is to pick either CHA 6 or CHA 8, since with only 2 followers it is hard in my opinion to fit that crossbowman into the team.

I agree that alchemy and crafting are important, but I don't see any chance at "civic" points. any skill point I've acquired has been eligible to be spent on combat if I choose to. my reccomendation for early game alchemy and crafting is to put these skills on 2 of the 3 weakest followers, the ones that stand around the fire. there is 3 mandatory fights against Ants before the first chance to fight barca, use those 3 ant fights to get cyrus alchemy 4, then stop using cyrus, except bring cyrus into your party any time you gather resources or do alchemy. alchemy 4 should be high enough to get you all the way to a guy that joins later with higher alchemy. give silas crafting 3, which he should have enough unspent points for immediately when you acquire him. this should be enough crafting to get far enough into the game to unlock a better crafting follower.

sorry for my long delay responding to this thread.

edit - so on the main menu it says my build version is 1.0.6.0029. is that the newest version of the game? steam does not say the game needs an update.. it feels wierd calling a developer wrong about his own game though so maybe he was talking about a different version?

[arhin]

Are there any stat checks for the achievements? I know that achievement "collect all teammeats" requires 10 CHA. What about other achievements?

[Scathe]

Originally posted by arhin:

Are there any stat checks for the achievements? I know that achievement "collect all teammeats" requires 10 CHA. What about other achievements?

I am not 100% sure about this answer, but I believe the achievement "negotiator" also requires a certain amount of charisma. this is an achievement for seeing a certain ending to the game. I don't know exactly how much charisma it takes. this is the only other achievement besides the recruit all followers one that I believe requires any stat check.

[Scathe]

Originally posted by arhin:

Are there any stat checks for the achievements? I know that achievement "collect all teammeats" requires 10 CHA. What about other achievements?

I wasn't thinking when I gave that answer last night, also, all of the achievements for beating the game in solo mode require playing in solo mode. playing in solo mode locks your charisma stat at 2, so it could be said that those achievements require you to have a 2 charisma stat.

[arhin]

Originally posted by Scathe:

Originally posted by arhin:

Are there any stat checks for the achievements? I know that achievement "collect all teammeats" requires 10 CHA. What about other achievements?

I wasn't thinking when I gave that answer last night, also, all of the achievements for beating the game in solo mode require playing in solo mode. playing in solo mode locks your charisma stat at 2, so it could be said that those achievements require you to have a 2 charisma stat.

No, it's not about them, it's about "Negotitaor" and "We are not in kansas anymor". I think I shall not solo this game :)

[razvedchiki]

8/8/8/8/4/4
swords (scimitars)- block, you can have one follower with 4 char so the best one is the alcemist because you can use him to craft potions plus he is a decent figher.
curved swords are an excellent choices because of the chance to bleed and you poison your weapons you will kill enemies without even penetrating their armor.

[Eugene]

10/10/10/4/4/2 with sword and block is surprisingly good for me. With high str and con you have + to defence and block, with 10 con you take 0 damage from start poison.