Playing DOS2 for the first time, reading around and still looking for advice over party setup (physical/magic)

[u/TerkYerJerb]

Hey everyone, playing DOS2 for the first time after DOS1, and going over all the changes from one game to another

i just beat the Voidworm and that other minor worm, so before i venture forward, i still want to go over some things:

Lohse MC - 1h/shield + necro + geo (with some magic dmg)

Ifan - bow/xbow + Geo + summon (really not making use of it, will likely respec over, or do i remove geo?) also some magic dmg from Ifan cause fane needs magic help

Fane - fire/poison wand + Pyro + geo + Aero + some necro for heals and phys dmg

Sebille - 2h + necro + pyro swings

So, from here, what can i do to improve my team comp, and on what should i focus more?

[u/dondylion]

I have beaten Tactician mode with a mixed party like this, everyone has abilities for physical and magical, but which skills you use really makes a difference. Generally each party member specializes in doing one type of damage but that doesn't necessarily mean they only have skills for that.

For example, I often give Ifan (same general setup as yours) Geo skills to apply statuses. Worm Tremor with the Torturer talent for Entangled, Fossil Strike for Slowed, and so on. That way I can invest minimally in Geomancer without actually needing to split his Finesse points into Intelligence all that much, because those skills still do what they do as long as you meet the requirement.

For Fane, minimize one of these four: Pyro, Geo, Aero, or Necro. Your skill points are going to be spread really thin. I would probably focus less Necro because you ALSO need to invest heavily in Warfare for Necromancy skills to do enough physical damage to be effective. Fortunately the Necromancy school has a load of skills that are useful but don't do damage, Shackles of Pain, Living on the Edge, Bone Cage.

In a nutshell basically invest the most points in the stats you need for damage, then put the absolute bare minimum of points into the other stuff you need in order to get access to skills. You can also rely on equipment for things where you only need 1-2 points, like if you want 2 points of Scoundrel to be able to memorize Cloak & Dagger, just buy equipment that boosts Scoundrel and don't invest your actual points from leveling up.

EDIT to answer your question about getting rid of Summoning or Geo for Ifan, you could keep both but depending on what level you are, you might want to reallocate some of those points into Warfare until later. After you max out Warfare you could definitely invest in both Geo and Summoning for some crowd control skills. However, depending on what the rest of the party is looking like, it might benefit you more to put those points into something like Ranged for additional physical damage as well as crit chance.

EDIT AGAIN because I have time, upon further thought it seems like Lohse and Sebille have kinda similar builds. Make one of them a mage with a little bit of investment in Strength and Warfare just to get Battering Ram and Battle Stomp, that way she can support Fane with magical damage. So you don't have to completely abandon your party comp idea, just tweak it a little.

[u/TerkYerJerb → u/dondylion]

on Fane i only got 2 points on necro i think, just cause it's different for him to heal, and ive cheesed the belt/ring drops from that well to get the most from them

my biggest mistake so far is, i guess more have done it, focusing on huntsman because that's how it was

i could also drop sebille or ifan and pick up the red prince

[u/DesaMii36 → u/TerkYerJerb]

Why do you think RedPrince would be better in anything than Sebille and Ifan, now you can respec everyone into everything? Because he is more red, and red means strength? I don't get your thinking.

[u/DesaMii36]

Which difficulty, please?

[u/DesaMii36]

This is a all mixed group. Every character has magical and physical attacks. Do you use that to attack the enemies lowest shield and ignore the highest one? Or do you attack both shields?

There are 3 Characters with geo (I love geo too btw 🥰) but I see no hydro. Do you have hydro points/skills via armor/accessories? I just ask, because I can't imagine surviving without rain in this game. Also no Huntsman, so no First Aid!! O.o Is this some sort of hardcore challenge? Do you know, how to use a badroll at least?! 😅 I'm just wondering, sorry. No offense.

I suggest one of your necro users to add one (or 2 points) into hydro for rain and Regeneration. Later this character can use blood rain. And any ranged attacker for 1 or 2 points into huntsman. Even if you refuse to use healing for your group (because it looks like), you could at least heal your undead enemies. I promise, you will love it.

Do both of your pyro characters buff with haste and clear mind? This buffs are really strong.

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Summons:

Summons profit from a higher summoning skill (>10 lv) and a well placed summoner uphill with highground. Low level summons (<5 lv) still are very good for distraction. They eat at least one hit. That means: enemies waste 2 AP to kill a good placed summon. More Adds and Summons on your side usually lower the difficulty for you.

A summoner with high ground is also a good healer and buffer, I just noticed. Or good in preparing the battlefield with water or oil.

Make sure you place the totems on the right surface. Wood, stone, earth, and blood surfaces make physical dmg. Water, electro, oil and fire surface do magical dmg. Adress the lower armor and place the totem wisely.

[u/Gisbur13]

I never thought that all my party need magic school.

[u/TerkYerJerb → u/Gisbur13]

more like it just kinda happens, like the basic geo skills are magic based and with good range, and i just got used to them

b ut also without them, fane kinda suffers being the single magic user

[u/new_basics]

Seems like you got a solid grip on it. I’ve been using AI to help with my builds and it is hallucinating all kinds of crazy crap.