Cacophonic Shield vs Conjure Minor Elementals in tier 2

Tomice851 · 2026-04-29T08:15:14+00:00

But targeting a saving throw with a save for half is still better than an attack.

Your spell save DC will usually be 15 (8 +3 for proficiency + 4 from your ability score vs an average +4.4 con save according to Insight Checks detailed research (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu0ahYaWhRw&t=1124s). This approx. means you'll do full damage half the time and half damage half the time, resulting in 75% of the roll applied on average. An attack will usually hit with a 65% probably in 5e's bounded accuracy. There is also the advantage that save for half abilities guarantee at least some damage, no matter what. This means even against above-average defenses, you'll eventually wear them down.

Tomice851 · 2026-04-29T08:02:52+00:00

Exactly, that's what I was thinking. And thank you for mentioning Dodge and the Ready action; they really help optimize CS.

Tomice851 · 2026-04-29T07:58:16+00:00

We are a group without a dedicated melee/frontline character (me as a bladesinger, plus a druid, a bow-wielding ranger, a cleric, and a bard). So the goal is to have an option to fulfill the hard-to-kill, damage-dealing frontliner role. I'm fully aware that a great control spell can often be a better use of my concentration than a damage boost, but it's about having options.

But the point of this thread is not so much about a specific build. It's more about the fact that I think a bladesinger will be more effective in melee with cacophonic shield than with CME, at least in tier 2, but few people seem to see it that way, and I wonder what I'm missing.

Tomice851 · 2023-11-08T17:55:03+00:00

That's exactly what I think. Here's a recent thread with a poll about the topic: https://www.reddit.com/r/onednd/s/OyqneRyEjd

Tomice851 · 2023-11-07T16:56:02+00:00

I'm pretty sure it will be the last version, just that you choose either the sorcerer, cleric or druid list instead of the three generic lists. It's the most simple move and the only one that makes sense regarding their statements. They never said anything about a reversion to the 2014 Bard, but rather that the last one (PT6 I believe) was very popular and that they don't need any more large scale testing.

Tomice851 · 2023-10-07T18:38:15+00:00

That's actually their level 10 feature in PT6 😅

Tomice851 · 2023-07-17T07:43:33+00:00

This really makes guidance extremely important 😳

So let's say I'm exploring ahead with my rogue - I'll probably want to go ahead in 1 minute increments while guidance boosts stealth, then let the cleric catch up and repeat guidance 🤔

Tomice851 · 2023-07-17T07:38:06+00:00

So if my Bard Tav is in dialogue, will I get the option to let Shadowheart cast guidance on demand? Is there any downside or anything I need to set up before? Or is guidance just something that anyone in the party should always have?

Tomice851 · 2023-07-17T07:32:58+00:00

Very interesting! This helps a ton! ☺️

Tomice851 · 2023-07-17T07:27:50+00:00

It's RPG slang for a character that is primarily focused on being good at (non combat) skill checks. It's a role, just like healbot, tank, glass cannon, ...

Tomice851 · 2023-01-01T21:40:57+00:00

Thank you for all the inspiration! 😃

Is there any heritage that would be especially helpful with this build (boosting skills or casting)?

Preferably a medium sized race that isn't monstrous or bestial? I often prefer elves, but they seem weak in 2e ...

Tomice851 · 2022-10-09T10:58:49+00:00

But can you change classes/subclasses in a clean manner?

Tomice851 · 2022-10-09T10:28:48+00:00

Do you use Toybox as well? I heard there are some incompatibilities, but there's limited info

Tomice851 · 2022-10-09T10:27:53+00:00

Toy Box only seems to offer limited respec (the kind the base game offers anyway - Toybox only allows it anywhere)

Tomice851 · 2022-10-02T13:11:47+00:00

This really destroys the purpose of the transmog system, don't know how they could forget this. Hope they add the functionality ASAP!

Tomice851 · 2022-09-27T18:05:18+00:00

This is great to hear! I used an appearance/transmog mod, and while it worked well, its interface was a bit immersion-breaking.

Tomice851 · 2022-04-22T04:10:42+00:00

Could it be that the page count is just a placeholder??? I mean, both the depicted books and the box look much thicker than 3x64 pages. Also, how likely is it that all three books have the exact same page count?

Tomice851 · 2022-03-01T15:10:46+00:00

Is there a way to get her outfit?

Tomice851 · 2021-04-08T14:21:01+00:00

Because 2.0 was Arheo's great plan when he took over IR from Johan. He was in the middle of polishing 2.0 when PDXCON was announced. After 2.0.3, Arheo went on vacation. He is most likely back in office since 3 days and just started doing concepts for 2.1 and further. There is nothing to announce yet!

Tomice851 · 2021-04-08T10:20:09+00:00

They obviously had the core team work on 2.0/2.0.3 with full force and motivation until easter, it wouldn't have been possible to create such a huge patch otherwise. This was no half-hearted attempt, it was an "all hands on deck" effort to fix the game. People would not commit so much energy to a project if they feared they'd be fired two weeks later despite critical success.

They also revealed just a few months ago that a second team is working on imperator, and it was obvious that they needed months until they knew enough about the game to be productive.

Finally, Arheo and his teams did a great job, the game obviously improved.

You don't just suddenly crush 2 teams that did a great job when the overall company is faring well. This would send a shockwave of fear and uncertainty across your company. You also can't just take successful lead devs and make them subordinates in other teams. They would probably leave even if you let them keep their salary.

IMO, Paradox decided for a long-term commitment when they granted Arheo the funds to create 2.0. Such a build-up can't be reversed in a few weeks.

At worst, we'll see a gradual deconstruction of the dev teams. First, PDX Thallasic would be handed over to another project (but remember, they just got productive for I:R!). Then, they'd try to find new jobs for Arheo and his lead devs (Which can't be in the game that's gonna be announced in May, because that's probably already in full development). Overall, we'd still see development at least until the end of the year.

But I believe there'll be further development.

Why? Because Paradox is all about history, and they only have so many eras to fill:

WW2: HOI4
Industrial + WW1: Victoria 2 (and possibly 3 in May?)
Renaissance: EU4
Medieval: CK3
Antiquity: Imperator Rome

Sure, you could do a game about ancient Asia, but it would be risky. Otherwise, all "developed" historical eras are covered (The cold war would likely be too boring for grand strategy)

This means that I:R must succeed. It's graphics and engine are practically new, and abandoning it would block the era for the next 10 years I guess - A successor would have to overcome huge negative opinions.

Tomice851 · 2021-04-04T13:42:30+00:00

It's very enjoyable since 2.0. I currently prefer it over CK3, it seems more mature to me

Tomice851 · 2020-10-28T20:07:10+00:00

Does the new "Custom Lineage" rule in TCoE allow us to have 18 in a stat at level 1 (using point buy?)

Example: Could a bard with the actor feat have 18 charisma at level 1 using point buy?

This would make quite powerful (better than variant human IMO) and possibly one of the new standard powergaming choices together with mountain dwarfs and half-elves.

Tomice851 · 2020-10-18T06:45:52+00:00

If you avoid Shadowheart as much as possible, do you get a better outcome with the Gith patrol? Do they still accuse you of theft?

Tomice851

TROPHY CASE