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[PC] FBI & DC playstyle
rapo973
Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 831 Arc User
That's something that takes me busy for a while when FBI was unlocked and I joined the first groups running it.
If you have a steady group of mates, the job may be easier but when the composition of the group changes everytime, the task that a DC must fulfil is tricky because it's expected that you have to adapt your playstyle to the group and not the opposite.
Many players expect that the DC does everything: heal, buff, debuff, mitigate, protect and in the extreme cases tank and dps. While at high IL it's possible to have all of them to some extent, it quite difficult to have them at the same time in one rotation.
Here I would like to read your good and/or bad experiences, starting from mine. I will focus mainly on the defensive/mitigation side of the story while the offensive part may be object of discussion elsewhere.
As a righteous AC DC, I've tested two different approaches:
1st approach: I play as usual, I don't care less about the composition of the group.
At will: BoB + AS
Encounter: DG + CL + BtS
Daily: AA (no or limited space for HG).
Passive: HF + DF
It's a mix of mitigation, buff/debuff and, at high power, strong heals: it works very well when an OP prot is in. The idea is to cast AA as fast as I can which provide a good mitigation and a lower amounts of heals. Imo the combination of AA + OP bubble is very effective even if you have a low EF resistance: the Ancient Warding feat + GoF + high AP gain+ Artificer's Persuasion help the OP to recharge Divine Protector faster.
Generally speaking, that works very well from the first boss and beyond: it's very situational against the giants in the first part and sometimes the drama was on stage. I met some GFs not tanky enough and they should be supported in a different way.
Here an example of a conversation:
GF: "I need heals and AS"
DC: "I need a tank"
GF:"KITTEN, KITTEN, KITTEN"
DC:"KITTEN, KITTEN, KITTEN"
.....
.....
.....
LOL
2nd approach: adaptative playstyle.
Climb through the giants hordes:
At will: BoB + AS
Encounter: AS + DG/HW + BtS
Daily: AA (no or limited space for HG).
Passive: HF + DF
From the first boss and beyond:
At will: BoB + AS
Encounter: DG + CL + BtS
Daily: AA (no or limited space for HG)
Passive: HF + DF
This is something I'm forced to use when the group looks like DC+GF+ 3x DPS.
The idea is to better support the tank, increase his DR and survivability, in particular before the first boss.
The drawback is given by the slower AP regeneration and slower buff generation rate: the GF is better protected, but the overall efficiency of the group decreases. At the first boss I usually go back to approach nr. 1
Few words about heals: in my experience if the group knows how to do, they are not so needed, just for emergency. I always have an eye on the HP bars of the group to target DG or AS where they are needed more. Finally at least one point on the cleanse feat helps a lot.
If you have a steady group of mates, the job may be easier but when the composition of the group changes everytime, the task that a DC must fulfil is tricky because it's expected that you have to adapt your playstyle to the group and not the opposite.
Many players expect that the DC does everything: heal, buff, debuff, mitigate, protect and in the extreme cases tank and dps. While at high IL it's possible to have all of them to some extent, it quite difficult to have them at the same time in one rotation.
Here I would like to read your good and/or bad experiences, starting from mine. I will focus mainly on the defensive/mitigation side of the story while the offensive part may be object of discussion elsewhere.
As a righteous AC DC, I've tested two different approaches:
1st approach: I play as usual, I don't care less about the composition of the group.
At will: BoB + AS
Encounter: DG + CL + BtS
Daily: AA (no or limited space for HG).
Passive: HF + DF
It's a mix of mitigation, buff/debuff and, at high power, strong heals: it works very well when an OP prot is in. The idea is to cast AA as fast as I can which provide a good mitigation and a lower amounts of heals. Imo the combination of AA + OP bubble is very effective even if you have a low EF resistance: the Ancient Warding feat + GoF + high AP gain+ Artificer's Persuasion help the OP to recharge Divine Protector faster.
Generally speaking, that works very well from the first boss and beyond: it's very situational against the giants in the first part and sometimes the drama was on stage. I met some GFs not tanky enough and they should be supported in a different way.
Here an example of a conversation:
GF: "I need heals and AS"
DC: "I need a tank"
GF:"KITTEN, KITTEN, KITTEN"
DC:"KITTEN, KITTEN, KITTEN"
.....
.....
.....
LOL
2nd approach: adaptative playstyle.
Climb through the giants hordes:
At will: BoB + AS
Encounter: AS + DG/HW + BtS
Daily: AA (no or limited space for HG).
Passive: HF + DF
From the first boss and beyond:
At will: BoB + AS
Encounter: DG + CL + BtS
Daily: AA (no or limited space for HG)
Passive: HF + DF
This is something I'm forced to use when the group looks like DC+GF+ 3x DPS.
The idea is to better support the tank, increase his DR and survivability, in particular before the first boss.
The drawback is given by the slower AP regeneration and slower buff generation rate: the GF is better protected, but the overall efficiency of the group decreases. At the first boss I usually go back to approach nr. 1
Few words about heals: in my experience if the group knows how to do, they are not so needed, just for emergency. I always have an eye on the HP bars of the group to target DG or AS where they are needed more. Finally at least one point on the cleanse feat helps a lot.
Oltreverso guild leader
Maga Othelma - DC | Svalvolo - SW | Dente Avvelenato- GWF
Post edited by rapo973 on
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By the way, GFs should already be near the DR cap if they're using bonding runestones. The ones that get into trouble are the ones who use an augment or nothing at all. I also know at least one GF who doesn't die to giants even when I'm going full buffs with my divine oracle cleric, so this is definitely possible.
Lifesteal is absolutely needed for pretty much any damage dealing class- GFs are no exception. There is no way to heal the one shot but if players build well balanced characters with Offense and Defense in mind there is no reason why they can't be fine in any content with minimal healing.
I use BoB + AS at wills
BTS/DG and then the 3rd depends on what i have in the party. I still run AS sometimes if I'm running with Melee DPS or have a suicidal melee wizard in the group. ;P I've had to adjust my placement somewhat to focus AS on the dps rather than the tank for buffing purposes since the DR cap is enough in terms of self buffing from bonding stones. Problem seems to be in FBI is that no one can stand still long enough for AS to do much good generally speaking. I have taken to switching AS for Bastion if someone is particularly squishy for clutch healing purposes only in divinity.
--
I'll never retrace my steps.
Some of my best friends are Imaginary.
There's actually one place in which shield is relevant, it's the cave with trolls. This is a CC check, not all CWs master it, and trolls don't one shot, but do quite significant sustained damage. That, ironically, makes the cave significantly more challenging than many other parts of the instance, as heavy sustained damage is the only way to make lifesteal self healing irrelevant. AS helps the team overcoming that challenge and it's not slowing down a team in any way, as unlocking the next part of the dungeon is only a matter of waiting for a timer.
I always prefer to cast AA because of the well known benefits instead of casting (emp) AS and without being sure that it works when someone is spanked by some giants and bears.
While I'm sure that more or less AA does the job, I cannot say the same about AS: AA helps everyone, AS the GF only (or mostly).
Oltreverso guild leader
Maga Othelma - DC | Svalvolo - SW | Dente Avvelenato- GWF
i never switched to annointed army on my cleric because i find better a daily hallowed ground with longer duration much weaker than annointed army good builds but at least i know all my members will get the buff and even if they get hit they will still haave the buff.
NOTE also hallowed ground isnt bad your group to have 20% extra damage resistance and i am not talking about tanks i am talking about yourself as dc and the other members.
AND question. hallowed ground is a damage buff annointed army is power buff.IS Hallowed ground so really ground much weaker than a top aa build? hallowed ground mulitply with debuffs so is so much weaker than aa?(based on speed runs the question)
DO not forget also that divine oracle can add power too with weapons of light both paragons can have that.
I switch out DF for Hastening during 1st and 2nd boss, other than that I stick with the same set-up.
I was DO before and it was harder without AA and there was 1 person who refused to invite me because I couldn't use AA. It's understandable tho coz it does make a significant difference, especially if the tank sucks.
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What DR it has?
I use FF for debuff but seems it haven't any profit.