Grim Dawn - Now Content Complete!!

[bystander36]

Here is my current build with gear. The incoming damage is still high. I have been working through it.

I read your first post wrong. I thought you said Battlemage and not Blademaster. I guess I have Blattlemage on my mind.

I image the trick for you is to isolate smaller packs and use hit and run tactics until things get more manageable with blitz and shadow strike. You should do well on Log though. If fought in the most conservative manner, you'll never have to fight more than 2 melee at a time, followed by the tentacles, then get a nice shadow strike on Log between spawns.

I got thoroughly owned my first try at him. I went back and learned the mechanics of the fight on Elite. I picked up on the rhythm of the fight (slowing my damage a lot to make sure to not over power it). Then went back to Ultimate and got him without a death. It just took 15-20 minutes to fight him.

Edit: I also just started a blademaster myself, but going for Phantasmal Blades.

 

[Denithor]

How's your blademaster going?

I started a new Druid based on a melee build on the official forum. Built around Savagery and Feral Hunger, I could barely survive as I got into middle teen levels going into Burrwitch Village. Then talked to the OP in that thread and he suggested using Primal Strike for leveling, Savagery + boosts only works well toward end game as your OA increases from gear and Upheaval becomes a regular occurrence. Switched to PS with Wind Devil and life got a lot easier. Should be rolling up on the Warden tonight if all goes well. Fingers crossed, he's always been a serious pain on previous characters.

 

[Rhezuss]

Soldier/Shaman is nice but simple, limit boring lol...but powerful so there's that.

I'm using 16/16 Savagery|Some Might of the Bear on my LMB and 16/16 Blade Arc|1/3 Cleane Sweep on my RMB.
Passives are 8/16 Fighting Spirit 3/16 Military Conditionning
I'm maybe missing some points/skills but that's mostly it.

It's LMB and RMB, rinse and repeat...but it's effective and powerful.

Maybe I need to add some spells or other stuff since at level 25 I still don't use my 1-6 keys...

 

[Denithor]

What level are you? You could switch from Savagery/Arc to Primal Strike and add Wind Devils. That's how I'm running my Druid, lots better than I was doing with Savagery/Feral Hunger.

Or, if you want to push lots of buttons, Blademaster is VERY involved with lots of active use skills.

 

[bystander36]

How's your blademaster going?

I started a new Druid based on a melee build on the official forum. Built around Savagery and Feral Hunger, I could barely survive as I got into middle teen levels going into Burrwitch Village. Then talked to the OP in that thread and he suggested using Primal Strike for leveling, Savagery + boosts only works well toward end game as your OA increases from gear and Upheaval becomes a regular occurrence. Switched to PS with Wind Devil and life got a lot easier. Should be rolling up on the Warden tonight if all goes well. Fingers crossed, he's always been a serious pain on previous characters.

I agree. When I've played Savagery, I've started Primal. Then it's tough to switch back when Primal is doing so well.

My Blademaster is doing great. It has one flaw, it gives me a sense of over confidence. I'm tanking stuff I've never tanked before, as I'm going Phantasmal Blade, with Shield training maxed. I've never had such a tanky character before, and damage is great with Phantasmal Blades. This confidence has lead me to just stand there with 3 trolls hitting me on the head and 1 shot me together.

My biggest concern at the moment is how well the damage will scale and whether I can find more +Phantasmal Blade gear.

 

[bystander36]

It's a new day, and a new game. They did a major balancing patch. My Battlemage is much better now that Flash Freeze works on most mobs, with a large radius. My Blademaster is no longer face rolling everything, but still kicking.

 

[Denithor]

I didn't get on yesterday, did a new build drop already? The day before, however, I pushed to the Warden and beat him without dying! So happy. I've always died and died and died on him before, slowing wearing down his hp until finally make a last push to knock him down. It also doesn't help I'm usually in multiplayer with 1-3 friends when facing him so he has more HP and hits harder. But anyway, kited him with Wind Devils and hit him a bit with Primal Strike after his big stomps.

So you're running a sword & board blademaster build? Interesting, you don't get any of the dual wield procs with that setup. What's your LMB/RMB?

 

[bystander36]

I didn't get on yesterday, did a new build drop already? The day before, however, I pushed to the Warden and beat him without dying! So happy. I've always died and died and died on him before, slowing wearing down his hp until finally make a last push to knock him down. It also doesn't help I'm usually in multiplayer with 1-3 friends when facing him so he has more HP and hits harder. But anyway, kited him with Wind Devils and hit him a bit with Primal Strike after his big stomps.

So you're running a sword & board blademaster build? Interesting, you don't get any of the dual wield procs with that setup. What's your LMB/RMB?

My Blademaster uses a shield, but his primary attack is Phantasmal Blades. Basically it plays a lot more like a caster than a melee. I throw 5 daggers every attack.

 

[Adrenaline]

My Blademaster is finished. The last patch has left me with some mixed feelings. Specifically, they nerfed the Dual Blades line and increased the Blade Spirit pet. Now, I feel like I am playing a Warlock from WoW. I am doing fine on my own but better with my pet for the added boost in damage.

Right now I am just farming on my Blademaster. I have a level 55 Spellbreaker and a 28 Occultist that I was going to make a Conjurer but may make it a Warlock. I know I want a Warlock that uses DEE for sure. The pet master (Occultist to Conjurer) just really bored me before I had even chosen a second mastery.

 

[TidusZ]

does this game have a secure economy/servers like path of exile or are there dupes/cheats?

 

[bystander36]

does this game have a secure economy/servers like path of exile or are there dupes/cheats?

This is a single player game with some coop possibilities, which are hosted by the players. Cheats are possible, but you simply just have to not use them and play with friends to avoid the problem. It's very much like Diablo 1 was in that regard.

 

[Denithor]

Yeah, there are no secure servers, entirely player hosted game for multiplayer. No economy to speak of at all.

 

[Subyman]

I'm gaming with a buddy and we are blowing through coop games. Does this game have coop campaign? I notice you guys said multiplayer, but sometimes that is different than the campaign.

 

[bystander36]

I'm gaming with a buddy and we are blowing through coop games. Does this game have coop campaign? I notice you guys said multiplayer, but sometimes that is different than the campaign.

I have barely played in the multiplayer/coop games, but I am pretty sure they have all the same quests.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Thought this could use a necro. Grim Dawn was officially released V1.0 at the end of February and has already seen one hotfix since final release. Tons of new content, Arkovia was completely revamped, and lots of things have been tweaked.

 

[Denithor]

Sweet. Haven't played in about six weeks, will have to download the update and see what's different.

 

[norseamd]

What are the character mechanics like in this game?

 

[Stg-Flame]

What are the character mechanics like in this game?

If you played Titan Quest, expect that, but smoother and much more refined. There are many more variances to damage and the builds are expanded greatly with a devotion system.

Basically, if you liked Titan Quest, you will love Grim Dawn.

 

[digiram]

Is there any end game or trading?

 

[bystander36]

Is there any end game or trading?

The end game is basically creating more and more characters, or farming for legendary gear. Trading is done person to person with their multiplayer mode, which is basically a 1-4 man coop game.

 

[Denithor]

That's why I said, above, that there is no economy (at all) to speak of.

It's also not a locked system, there are tools to dup in whatever items you want.

Thanks to these two, I don't see this game having any real lasting value beyond trying out different characters/builds.

 

[zinfamous]

That's why I said, above, that there is no economy (at all) to speak of.

It's also not a locked system, there are tools to dup in whatever items you want.

Thanks to these two, I don't see this game having any real lasting value beyond trying out different characters/builds.

oh, that's bad. Are they legit tools, or can you actually create massive OP gear that breaks the game rules?

Yet another type of game that I used to love immensely, but not sure I honestly like them these days. At least, the time and attention. I liked Titan Quest OK, but played it way late and was the first time I realized that these games don't hold me as they used to. Same with Van Helsing, not too long ago (Still great games, though).

Same with POE, where I put in maybe 5 hours before calling it quits. Getting old here...

Granted, I have been playing Marvel Heroes over the last ~2 years now pretty regularly (though not once in the last ~2 months; but I do get into a kick for 3 or 4 months at a time)

 

[digiram]

oh, that's bad. Are they legit tools, or can you actually create massive OP gear that breaks the game rules?

Yet another type of game that I used to love immensely, but not sure I honestly like them these days. At least, the time and attention. I liked Titan Quest OK, but played it way late and was the first time I realized that these games don't hold me as they used to. Same with Van Helsing, not too long ago (Still great games, though).

Same with POE, where I put in maybe 5 hours before calling it quits. Getting old here...

Granted, I have been playing Marvel Heroes over the last ~2 years now pretty regularly (though not once in the last ~2 months; but I do get into a kick for 3 or 4 months at a time)

That's a problem I'll have with the game as well. It might be fun for a quick run through though. I'll have to check the price.

 

[Denithor]

I haven't used the tool(s?) to dup items, I play for fun & challenge not just becoming god in the game. I think the tool just dups in existing items so there's probably a limit to how overpowered you can make your toon.

I have over 100 hours played at this point, have had a lot of fun with it. Haven't played since early in build 30 though (not really enough there to really appreciate the changes they made). And so far I don't have a max character, have gotten to last fight on Veteran and got my butt handed to me (this was two builds ago, though, so things might have improved, I hear they softened him up a little).

Bystander has tons more hours than me and several maxed characters, active in the recent builds, he's the one to answer questions about this game.

 

[bystander36]

As long as you have self control, who cares what dup methods exist. Who cares what cheats people use. It's pretty much a single player game, unless you coop with some friends. If you guys don't cheat, it doesn't matter if some other person does. It has no affect on you.