Shapeshifter Solo Build Progression

Gave thought-provoking information. Thanks.

Hmmm. I don't know if I have noticed that. In the base game it wouldn't matter since Howl doesn't apply the debuff.

Either spiders are immune to that debuff, or it was simply passing the resistance checks and it didn't apply.

Continuation of Mage SS solo-PT (for now - no-pot) mostly using SS forms

But before

To be honest do not really know what I am doing - what I mean: will try to follow above tips about attributes/armor/weapon.

This spec - shapeshifter - is sort of confusing in everything.
Investing points into str/dex for bear/spider, but try to invest in mag and will as well.

Hope the build will end up useful and playabel at all.
******

Got Zevran as have mod Zevran ASAP to replace Leliana.


Frostback Mountains

For sort of practice to use SS form (simple spider now only) and checking out what to use (weapon and armor) wanted to get at leat some spiders action. There are three encounters near Orzammar.


Bounty Hunters

Several reloads.
No spider for them.

Failure.
Left them live for now.


Imrek

Million of reloads, million of resists/no resists, can't take even 1-2 punches from enemies - so annoying.
Anyway, what was clear - better no spiders for warriors, but for a mage could try.
In the end: used sleep (mage resisted), ran behind the tree, used spells to kill both warriors, got rid of half of mage health, used sleep to give me time for casting spider form,
after web + poison + hits (finally).
Nothing interesting, but as have mentiond - at least some practice with SS forms.


Left Desertes as no ponit now - will be forced to use only spells and just some spider hits.
Tired already of those spells /ranged attacked/one-hit-deaths.


Orzammar

Went there to get Key to the City ring at least + some small quest.


Tunnel Thieves

All killed by Spider (lured in spider form).

The same everything (robe, bijouterie), changed weapon for daggers though was no point - with 2h simple sword was better.


Dust Town

Gang

Damn mage, so many reloads as...well, mage.
Used my usual hiding place.
Spider was too big to hide its ass there, so in this encounter had to use only spells.


Thief of some book

Sleep, after bear form, damage was nice, but incoming damage was also nice, so finished him as a mage.


Thugs with a book

Million of reloads. GW w/o armor. Period.
Million and one - finally managed to kill. Using SS was out of question.


Deserters (decided to try)

Used spells, in the end last ranged was killed by a Spider, though always resisted Web.


Denerim

Ser Landry

Sleep, horror, bear form. Did not resist slam, bear resisted SB.


Encounter "Have you seen me?" Chanther's Board: died deveral times. Ran around that tent casting WF, WG etc. In the end finished with a bear form.


Encouner "Loghian Push": used bear all he time.

Went to the lake (cult ambush, deserters and the tower). But stopped there.



What bought (with no gold left):
- robe  + 2 wilpower; + 2 magic; + 6 defense;
- imperial weaver boots + 20 chane to dodge.

+ bought some simple witch robes with stats like + .75 maga regen, another with dodges and + 10 cold resist (bought as do not know what is better)



Build

level 4

followed advice

+ 3 str

Talent bear.



Some notes:

- for now the best way to use melee is to use spells and leave only one enmy w/o getting much damage;
- spider attack was always 9-12, poison - 17. Spider got some crits - 14;
- wanted to write some attrubues in spider/bear form, made some notes about that, but think to early.


Need to go to the tower w/o health regen and spells which are not the best for that place.

Mage SS-no-pot-solo-PT


Folllow advice: armor/weapon, str for bear/dex for spider/mag and will for spells and damages of spells and all SS forms (and swarms).

The main purpose is still the same: more SS melee encounters, spells are only as helpers here.

Now, as usual, go here and there to get gold, exp, try encounters, make checks and comparisons.

Need to buy some armor and weapon to check. The probleme - no gold at all. Thus nothing to check. The only way out now - quests where can get armor/weapon for free.



Encounter "Five Pages, Four Mages":
spent several days for that, hell of attempts. Spells were good for combos.
No-resist was the probleme - paralyzed in 99% of attemps.
Have tried everything (tactics, balms, etc), but no resist, spam, level.
In the end already was hoping for simple luck or glitch/exploiting (which can be in DAO).

Finally got lucky: used swift salve to run away ASAP to the tree (the best tactics), used sleep, glyphs. Got lucky that that mage ran very close to me first, after started to run away from me (killed him with spell). During that time two enemies were still paralyzed (used WB), horror for the leader. After running from three of them, used again spells, last was repultion glyph that worked with three of them.
Used lesser lyriuum 3-4 times.
So no SS in that encounters, but first tried - the mage always killled.

Fuck that anyway. Got lucky to pass this encounter at least. Was already thinking - "end of SS PT" - which is very frustrating. Fucking mages.

----
One thought: the staff has "range". According to the encounter the enemy mage had a staff made from "dragonbone", no less. He used simple hits without moving, my GW with Silverite Staff with range 56 had to run closer (killed him anyway).
Tried to find any information about those enemies, nothing that could help actually.

Wonder how one can understand the "range" of an enemy staff on the battlefiled. Turns out only during encounter?
----

Another thing: take again Zevran - see the same probleme as with "DW Rogue-no-pot-solo-PT" - enemies attack him if he is even in stealth.
----


Encounter "Careless Accusation"

Five attempts
For now the best option is to get rid of simple enemies and use SS against the leader.
So tried different combinations to kill everyone there but did not touch the leader.
Used "horror" and "repultion glyph to give me time to change.

Bear: used slam twice and it worked; damage even with rage was not enough and almost died (defense penalty? so what, need better armor?)

Spider: web used twice and the first time had resist. Ran in circles waiting for "web CD". Dodges worked - the leader tried to hit several times.
Seconde web worked and killed him.

------

NOW: again will mention that the main thing now is TESTING and using different armor/weapon/attrubutes. And that is really terious, but how else can at least try to understand SS spec? Sacrafices are inevitble.


Lower will describe "bear" and "spider" with changed weapon (but did not compare them in that encounter).


Had the following armor/weapon/bijouterie during encouner with the Leader


Armor
thane Helmet + 3 def
arms + 20 fire dmg (had nothing else)
tevinter robe + 0,5 mana regen during combat/+ 3 sp
imperial weavers (boots) + 10 % dodge

Staff "Final Reason" (bought in the camp) + 3 dmg/+ 10sp/+10 fire dmg

Bijouterie
hardy's Belt + 1 con
warden's Oath + 2 con
rings +1 mag/key to the city


SPIDER

Used "web" twice- one resist, dodges worked + poison

str 21        def 60 + 3/sp 31 + 9/AP 40
dex 30
will 27
mag 41
cun 10
con 29
MR 29
PR 25


BEAR

Slam worked (used twice)

normal attr + with rage

str 25(35)     def 57 + 3(57 -12) ???????????/sp 31+15/dmg AP 40
dex 27(27)
will 27(27)
mag 41(41)
cun 19(19)
con35(35)
MR29(29)
PR29(31)
------------

Changed weapon for "Engraved Mace" (Landry encounter): + 1 dex/+1 dmg + 5 MR/rune + 5 PR
dmg 6,50/crit chance 0,65%/AP 5.80/SM1

Attributes changed


SPIDER

str 21      def 54+3/sp 31+3/dmg melee crit chance 3,65/AP 10
dex 27
will 24
mag 41
cun 19
con29


BEAR

normal attr + with rage

srt 22 (32)      def 55 +3(55-12)?????????????/sp 31+3/dmg melee crit chance 3.65/AP10
dex (25)
will 27(27)
mag 41(41)
cun 19(19)
con 31(31)
MR34(34)
PR29(34)


So what tested: changing weapon changed str but did not check it in some encounerts. But it really means can get somethiing else to be more useful in SS forms - get other armor/weapon/bijouterie/ and be careful while distrubuting attributes.
--------

Another thing: "rage" of the bear form. In game itself there is no full description but turns out the is "defense penalty" while using "rage"


Description (wiki)

Bear:
The shapeshifter can transform into a bear, gaining large bonuses to nature resistance and armor as well as the bear's Slam and Rage abilities.
The caster's spellpower further enhances this bear's statistics and abilities. With Master Shapeshifter, this form transforms the caster into a powerful bereskarn and gains the Overwhelm ability.

- In Bear form, the shapeshifter gains +10 armor. No nature resistance bonus is gained (need to test somehow)

Rage
The bear becomes enraged, gaining bonus to damage for a short time.

- Increases the bear's strength by 10 for 30s, while suffering a penalty of 15 Defense (had 12 penalty because had + 3 def from the belt I suppose?)


So penalty is shown in the game but there is no mentioning of it.
Plus 10 str is at least shown.


And if I should have -15 def penalty, but had -12 (+ 3 def from the belt if I am right),so the qustion is: had + 10 str according to decsription but had bijouterie with str (+2 attr from the ring). Why did I still have only + 10 str and not + 12 str?

------
Next is Honnleath

Mage-SS-no-pot-solo-PT


Most of the rest enemies outside finished with spells as there was nothing new. The only enemy wanted to test - Alpha, so tried not to touch him till deal with the rest. Used spider and bear forms (as usual to give me time to change used spells).

Result:
- used Staff all the time and Bear gear actually (forgot to change)
- first attempt ended bad as my spell has been resisted and got MB in my bear face
- spider form was very good, dodges worked
- resist to bear Slam in both attempts in the beginning only (was stunned), after - fine
- the only thing - damage: it was so low with exactly Alpha (in both forms 10-12); guess armor rating was better
- finished Alpha with spider without any running (got lucky)
- lurium was not used - good


Cellar

Before meeting Shades and Desire Demon:
- used animal forms and spells
- used Staff and mixed gear with dodges and defense (for bear) - too long to change all the time
- the only trouble - a mage: spams all the time; used SS forms mixed with spells to finish him but took me about 10 attempts. He used without stop mortality curse/lightning/mana regen/life drain - tbh do not recall him to be so active. So killed his helpers with poison or simple spells, after bear form (had nice damage but spamming spoiled everything), after just spells. That mage resisted different spells that need PR check e.g.
- in general it was fine: nice damage, crits, dodges


Shades
- spells mixed with SS forms: used combo with WB to eliminate some smaller shades
- after Bear to try against Greater Shade: worked very nice (damage I mean) but incoming damage was nice too
- then used Spider with half health: was surprised about so many dodges as could finish one smaller shade and the greater one without any reloads; and the damage was good too


Kitty
- no SS for me - wanted to try SS forms agains DD but did not have an opportunity
- very many attempts: mostly because of spell spam, several times locked myself into glyph combo; several times did not resist (horror, WG)
- in the end just used usual combo with WB + 1 acid flask + 1 bomb + some other spells (almost died as DD froze my ass, Life Drain was very helpful again)


On the way back with Lesser Shades ambushes tried SS forms:
- first ambush: used spider - was good, but got damage as well, three lesser shades (there are two) and think would have died
- second ambush: spell combo and bear form - good as well (damage, slam, rage)


------
Side Note: still check Zevran Stealth - most on the time his stealth did not work. Remember no problemes here and in other places, with this and other levels. Do not know what is going on.
------

Have only 3 gold.

Next stop: need to think.

Mage-SS-no-pot-solo-PT


Some notes for now:
- go here-there to test SS forms I have for now against different enemies
- gear, well, it is what it is - nothing, so will use what have and try to get something else
- need ASAP to get SS rank 4 to check again SS forms against the same enemies
- getting lvl 14 with AW spec point to use heavy armor and different weapon would be nice of course, but depends on the situation



Went to the Dalish

Did quests in their camp (not all due to lack of skills).

Forest (first part).

Tried tanking and dodging with every type of enemy.
In general - nice.
Of course if there is a horde of enemies, no point to use SS, first step - eliminate most of them and leave 1-3 to use SS.
Sylvans are better-looking under spells only; used each SS form to try though see no point: damage only, no dodges at all now.
Other enemies could be fought in SS form.

Died many times trying to figure out when use spells, when use SS.

Was interesting to fight a Great Bear as a Bear: in the very end had to use spells as poor defense.

Some werewolves kindly gave me time to kill them while they were activating their sustained abilities.

Encounters with: werewolves, bears, blighted wolves, sylvans, darkspawn, one shade to get gloves for Zevran.

Before talking to a Poet got lvl 12
--
lvl 12
+1 STR
+2 MAG

Coercion 4

Master SS
--

Shade (to get gloves): some spells, killed in Bear Form (will call them simply "spider"/bear" as other names are long to write). Very-very good. Still need more defense.


Forest (second part)

Killed 5 sylvans and some werewoles: bear was the most useful, spider was good if not for "no dodges"-thing,; swarms? Was useless at all.

Got the red scarf to finish the quest in the dalish camp.

My bag was full so left the dalish for now. Only on the way back there are wolves and bears.

With werewoles died hell of times. Damn, thought would not be able to kill them at all. Annoying. But what was interesting: it was the first time saw my mage resisted their special attacks. Only several times died from that. Slim mage with a staff. Guess putting attribute points not only into MAG and WILL paid off. Something new and useful at least.

With several bears wanted to try SS forms though also died several times and barely killed them. Well, another time.


Encounter "pack of wolves and traps": used only spells. There was some glitch as after WB combo the rest of the wolves did not approach me. Bear Slam for them.


Crow task "Kadan-Fe Hideout": used Overwhelm in Bear and Spider forms in full force.

------
Must say - so satisfying to use OV myself, though the outcome/ the benifit/ the profit is rather small. Maybe need something else to get higher damage.
------

Went to the tower to buy lyrium as in that forest used many lyrium pots.

Now have 47 gold.

Gentle Path: bought Tome and spent it on Herbs 2

The Tower: bought another Tome and spent on "Arcane Shield" (crawl to "full spellpower" ), a bag and lyrium.

Bought some gifts since today Independance Day in our country (stupid).
Now again out of gold.


Returned to the camp to rearrange the bag.

Next stop: think will visit some part of the Ostagar to get useful (I hope) things.

It has been so long, I can't quite remember what I observed exactly, or if I looked very closely. But the SS mechanics for what stats / enchants on gear carry over is a bit convoluted so may be why the differences may not be much or observable here.

IIRC the weapon base damage is supposed to carry over (if higher than natural base damage which is only like 3 on bear or spider), and AP too. If weapon is a staff, then you are supposed to have full AP and also hit chance but criticals not allowed.

+damage enchant isn't supposed to apply, but the +attack, +critical chance and +critical damage are supposed to work.

I think nearly all defensive enchants are supposed to work, so Maric's should give the small 0.75 health regen buff, and the stamina. But the darkspawn damage probably doesn't work, and the weakens enchant is broken without a fix anyway.

I think I probably just used a staff most of the time by mid game since I was investing in magic.

Mage-SS-no-pot-solo-PT

Orzammar

Fanatics: two encounters one of which could pass (from the second attempt), the second with several more attempts could have, though was enough 5 to understand the build is useless in a way. Need to go elsewhere to wave staff.

Wanted to proceed adventures in the forest and kill the Hermit (leave him alive is not an option): the game crashed after X attempts to fight him.

Reloaded save in Orzammar.
Killed those fanatics.
Stole from Rogek. Went to the Tower to get gold and a dagger and gold. Returned to Rogek to get gold.

There was a tower Revenant left who changed his usual pattern behavior for some reason. There was a way to kill him using WB and Life Drain though with those Pulls in a row no matter the distance did not have enough health and health regen. The most could have done - get rid of about 1/2 of his health.
Said "Hi" to Dagna and left.

Bought Lifegiver.

Dust Town
Several attempts to kill everyone in that small room to get info about Jarvia. Left only the leader. Tried Spider. The damage is the same. Just killed him with OV.

The Carta
Did not count the number of deaths as was tired - too many. Closer to Jarvia deaths stopped. Though in general can say - not bad. Used SS forms against several enemies as well. In the Zoo place near the end killed everyone as a Spider: surpise for me, in the end almost died but whatever. Bear is better against SnS Thugs: seems they have better armor, but why only Bear is suitable and can crack that armor? Noticed Bear damage was higher. In Spider and Swarm cases did not see changes. Will compare numbers at lvl 14 with some armor only with AW spec. For now play just as simple mage healing with Life Drain only and waiting for lvl 14.
Jarvia: cheating bitch. Good riddance. Again was tied to count attempts. Used grenades.


Fanatics: almost all are 2hs. Two attempts with running in circles.


Denerim

Crim Wave (silver bars): left two thugs to try a Bear.

--
lvl 14
Spec AW
Combat Magic
+1 STR
+1 DEX
+1 MAG
--

Finished Crow Task: one thing to notice - when switch to Aegis + Maric's Blade weapon set in Bear form, damage was better (fought with thugs with red names). After switch to Spider to finish ranged thugs: poor damage, nothing to notice. As a mage noticed my mage evaded attacks like rogues do. Maybe dump all almost all point into DEX and MAG.

Marjolaine: some spells, after a Bear who in this encounter was indeed a good tank; killed Marjolaine in Spider form.
Before that visited a camp to change armor and weapon.

Maybe will try to get Sonya's armor.
After with lvl 15 or 14 want to check those numbers.

I think Starfang would be better on SS than Veshialle anyway.

I also imagine Sophia counts as undead class, so probably has high resistance or immunity to nature damage (I might not have tried to use this on her before).

I would guess because base damage is higher, and AP is higher. Also has +3 dexterity, which is supposed to carry over. +damage doesn't, but Veshialle's advantage is mostly the crit damage. I think attribute modifier may be form specific rather than carried over from the weapon. If it was then Veshialle might end up better at high enough spell power.