CW's and companions in Module 2

pointsman

Which companions are best in terms of their active bonuses for a CW?

Right now I have the cat, a jagged dancing blade, the man-at-arms that I leveled up with, and an armored orc wolf. Should I be thinking about getting something else?

pers3phone

It's a **** system designed to make you grind even more. Like the grind to get perfects and rank 7+ and gear is not enough, now you gotta have 5 companions too. Instead of adding more content to diversify the farming, they add a single very small dungeon and additional "opportunities" to grind for something else. Yet another move that builds up my certainty that I will never spend a dime for this game.

I will personally just go with whatever is affordable, so Stone, the cleric chick, the glory and the seals companions (one is useless tho' so I'll need to find replacement). Maybe I'll continue to grind for a Blink Dog in Celadaine's, just to fill a spot.

The only good part in this whole charade is that they are disabled in PvP. They should disable artifacts too.

xelliz

Or the flip side is YAY! active pet bonuses and we now get 5 active slots for free.

Most likely it will come down to what stats you might be missing. Maybe you need some regen or deflect or AP gain. So you'll want to look at those companions that give that. In all fairness I'm sure Cryptic is hoping this has the underlying effect of moving more zen pets.

daswooly

xelliz wrote: »

Or the flip side is YAY! active pet bonuses and we now get 5 active slots for free.

Most likely it will come down to what stats you might be missing. Maybe you need some regen or deflect or AP gain. So you'll want to look at those companions that give that. In all fairness I'm sure Cryptic is hoping this has the underlying effect of moving more zen pets.

Interestingly enough they put Active Companion bonuses on sale about a week ago full knowing they'd eventually be free...

oriyellow8

why not put the reagular ones - power, 2*crit , arp ,? isnt that the best? cheaper than 10 lvl enchantment -all 300+

focusman

Lets stick to the question asked. Although I agree it is a way to Ensure more income for them, but hej it is an company making profit. But just gather some AD and exchange it. Do 10-15 cn runs with split profit and you have your epic companion.

The only 2 certain choses I made:
- Galeb Duhr, 10% more dmg based on the amount of damage you have taken.
- Fire Archon, 5% dmg boost to mobs under 30%
- Stone of course.

For the other two I will wait, they will certainly release some new companion with the launch of module 2, at least I am guessing that.

grimah

I think the ones that would make most impact is

dancing blade (regular version)
book imp
sprite
archon
blink dog (upgraded to epic if renegade)

pers3phone

focusman wrote: »

Lets stick to the question asked. Although I agree it is a way to Ensure more income for them, but hej it is an company making profit. But just gather some AD and exchange it. Do 10-15 cn runs with split profit and you have your epic companion.

It doesn't work like this.

- you don't just do ANYTHING as a company just because it brings profit, it tends to make your products undesirable
- there are 5(?) companions to be had and upgraded as necessary, not one
- there are other priorities: do you have perfects on your char(s)? Rank 8+ enchants? If yes, and you PvE A LOT, then yeah, maybe get companions and upgrade when needed
- what if you have more chars?
- there will be Artifacts to upgrade as well...

In this context, this is a hugely greedy move from PW which I hope smart people will ignore and give as negative feedback as possible.

ianthewizard2012

focusman wrote: »

Lets stick to the question asked. Although I agree it is a way to Ensure more income for them, but hej it is an company making profit. But just gather some AD and exchange it. Do 10-15 cn runs with split profit and you have your epic companion.

The only 2 certain choses I made:
- Galeb Duhr, 10% more dmg based on the amount of damage you have taken.
- Fire Archon, 5% dmg boost to mobs under 30%
- Stone of course.

For the other two I will wait, they will certainly release some new companion with the launch of module 2, at least I am guessing that.

Isn't Galeb Duhr's Active Bonus for melee?

ianthewizard2012

grimah wrote: »

I think the ones that would make most impact is

dancing blade (regular version)
book imp
sprite
archon
blink dog (upgraded to epic if renegade)

Does Sprite's Active Bonus stack with Elven Haste (Sharandar boon)?

s3ven0fmine

Is there a page listing which pets give which bonus? I would appreciate a link if anyone could.

kozi001

focusman wrote: »

- Fire Archon, 5% dmg boost to mobs under 30%

Will Fire archon stack with Tiefling?
Or just like the tempest magic again...

hrodvalder

From the Neverwinter Wiki:

http://neverwinter.gamepedia.com/Companion#Active_Bonuses

kozi001

Will comp bonus improves if I improve comp for 300/750kAD?

kozi001

Yes. nevermind

focusman

ianthewizard2012 wrote: »

Isn't Galeb Duhr's Active Bonus for melee?

I havent read that anywhere if so well bummer :P

ianthewizard2012

focusman wrote: »

I havent read that anywhere if so well bummer :P

Its Active Bonus is: Deal up to 10% more damage based on the percentage of damage you have taken.

IIUC, that bonus is only useful for melee who take significant damage, such as GWF or GF. Wizards aren't supposed to take that much damage.

j0shi82

Augment
Fire Archon (hopefully this correctly stacks with Tiefling racial)
Hunting Hawk (for all those who want to purchase the new pack. Alternatively you can go Skyblade Kobold, which should work with Steal Time, Chill, maybe even Entangling?)
Dancing Blade (easy call as it's a nice direct DPS boost especially with EotS)
Wild Hunt Rider or Con-Artist or Dual-Stat-Companion (Mercenary, Wolf, Hawk, can even go defensive as CWs do tons of damage already and the diminishing returns shouldn't be as bad)

oriyellow8

"you don't just do ANYTHING as a company just because it brings profit, it tends to make your products undesirable"
that how should companies work.....except for cryptic. if u dont know that u pretty new to game.

gannicus15

For my Thaumaturge Thiefling (with nightmare wizardry) I will go probably for these:

Ioun Stone - augment
Blink Dog - +2% (3% 5?%) Combat Advantage Damage
Cantankerous Mage - +15% Control Bonus
Wild Hunt Rider - On Encounter Use: 2% (3%? 5%?) chance to increase by 10% damage for 5 seconds (like EoTS, which procs quite often...) -> needs testing
1 of the following:
Archmage's Apprentice - +55 (+105 +165) Life Steal and Power (going for LS with artifacts and boon anyway...)
Dancing Blade - +3% (5%?) Critical Severity

fondlez

Now that the Active Bonuses are settling in and we have a definitive date for the Module release, I think the following are the most interesting offensive bonuses for CW, in no particular order,

Stat rating based (also impacts Gear Score):

• Armored Orc Wolf - +100 (+190 +300) Critical Strike
• Wolf - +55 (+105 +165) Armor Penetration and Recovery
• Mercenary - +55 (+105 +165) Power and Critical Strike
• Hawk - +55 (+105 +165) Armor Penetration and Critical Strike
• Dog - +25 (+100 +190 +300) Armor Penetration
• Sellsword - +25 (+100 +190 +300) Power
• Lightfoot Thief - +25 (+100 +190 +300) Critical Strike
  

Non stat-rating (no Gear Score impact):

• Book Imp - +2% recharge speed
• Sprite - +2% Action Point Gain
• Fire Archon - Increase damage against targets with less than 30% Hit Points by 5%
• Dancing Blade - +3% Critical Severity
• Hunting Hawk - On At-will Use: Damage bonus increases as the range increases with a maximum of +7% (+10%) bonus damage at 100'.
• Slyblade Kobold - Increases damage against Rooted or Stunned targets by 3% (?%)
• Blink Dog - +2% (3% ?%) Combat Advantage Damage
• Con Artist - On Critical Hit: Foes nearby target will bleed for level based damage every 2 seconds for 10 seconds

And this may be the most useful defensive pet at highest rank (also has a Gear Score impact):

• Cave Bear - +400 Hit Points (?% ?%)

I only mention Gear Score for two reasons:

1. Such a stat rating bonus could most likely be used to replace for Power on yourself.
2. It makes clear the opportunity cost of slotting a pet that does not improve your stats.

kozi001

Guess It wont stack so you cant have 5 blink dogs?

My possible choice:

Stone
Blink dog(Thaum with Nightmare wizardry)
Dancing Blade

The first 3 is a nobrainer.

Then:
Book imp (probably you can hardly get it)
Fire archon(fingers crossed for tiefling)
Hunting Hawk
Sprite

fondlez

kozi001 wrote: »

Guess It wont stack so you cant have 5 blink dogs?

My possible choice:

Stone
Blink dog(Thaum with Nightmare wizardry)
Dancing Blade

The first 3 is a nobrainer.

Then:
Book imp (probably you can hardly get it)
Fire archon(fingers crossed for tiefling)
Hunting Hawk
Sprite

In Module 2, you can no longer have multiple of the same companion in Active Slots.

kozi001

And how about the Arp, crit, rec soft caps which already has been reached?

In mod2 we got around 1k gear stats thanks to the new slots. No point in getting more expect of course the soft capless Power.

gankdalf

No point stacking useless stats on your companions since they dont work in PVP.

If you have 24% armpen, no point of stacking it.
And the softcaps for crit/recovery will be met with the artifacts most likely.
The only stats that might be worth stacking is power.

Im going all-in on companions that gives other stuff.

Ioun Stone of Might - 5% Stamina Regen
Dancing Blade - +3% Critical Severity (more on epic)
Fire Archon - Increase damage against targets with less than 30% Hit Points by 5%
Galeb Duhr - Deal up to 10% more damage based on the percentage of damage you have taken.

Dont know for last spot yet, but i have:
Blink Dog - +2% (3% ?%) Combat Advantage Damage
Wererat Thief - On Encounter Use: 3% (5%) chance to poison target
Ioun Stone of Allure - On Encounter Use: 7% (10%) chance to slow target
Phoera - On Resurrection: +1000 Regeneration and Power; Duration: 10 seconds

grimah

blink dog is 5% at epic

also you crit more than 50% with eots.

So 5% severity = 2.5% extra damage atleast.

also nightmare wizardry with eots on has around 40% uptime.

ianthewizard2012

kozi001 wrote: »

Book imp (probably you can hardly get it)

But +2% recharge speed to encounter power cooldown is like nothing, isn't it?

todesfaelle

ianthewizard2012 wrote: »

But +2% recharge speed to encounter power cooldown is like nothing, isn't it?

By itself, that's true. But it gets you nearer to your desired RSI if you're using the type of build that needs high RSI. Plus it's free, so might as well take it when we get the chance.

kozi001

fondlez wrote: »

In Module 2, you can no longer have multiple of the same companion in Active Slots.

I am unfamiliar with the math of what gives more damage. +300power or +5%crit severity(on p.vorpal)
Can someone give me a link for it plz. I didn't find so far.
Then Sellsword or Mercenary are also good choices.

ianthewizard2012 wrote: »

But +2% recharge speed to encounter power cooldown is like nothing, isn't it?

I think plain +2% Recharge speed with the Book Imp is a good choice.

angrymanagement

I'm thinking the following may be a good option:

1. Ioun Stone (Zen)
2. Dancing Blade - Crit Severity (PVP Honor)
3. Blink Dog - Combat Advantage Damage (Think I have one in the bank)
4. Fire Archon - Increases damage against targets with less than 30% Hit points by 5% (Zen??)
5. Cleric - Regen (Gold)

Backup Options:
Skeletal Dog - Life Steal
Sellsword - Power
Skeleton Warrior - Life Steal/Power
Archmage's Apprentice - Life Steal/Power
Mercenary - Power/Crit

xelliz

angrymanagement wrote: »

I'm thinking the following may be a good option:

1. Ioun Stone (Zen)
2. Dancing Blade - Crit Severity (PVP Honor)
3. Blink Dog - Combat Advantage Damage (Think I have one in the bank)
4. Fire Archon - Increases damage against targets with less than 30% Hit points by 5% (Zen??)
5. Cleric - Regen (Gold)

Backup Options:
Skeletal Dog - Life Steal
Sellsword - Power
Skeleton Warrior - Life Steal/Power
Archmage's Apprentice - Life Steal/Power
Mercenary - Power/Crit

the problem with the white quality companions like the Cleric is that regen is +25 and I'm personally not spending about 1.5M AD to get it to purple to get +300 regen.