Am I going to make it to the end?

[Scleameth 19]

I'm playing the game the first time through with my seraphim on silver. So far it's been plain sailing and as far a mini bosses go, only the White Griffon posed a serious challenge, but I did manage to inflict enough damage to see the little light at the end of the tunnel. Well today I encountered the Banshee and this mini boss smacked me silly! I must have popped about 60 health potions! and it felt like I just could not get the right weapon to inflict any amount of hopeful damage! I managed to beat it in the end with a sigh and it felt like a good fight, but if this is an indication of things to come, I don't see myself surviving toward the last 2/3s of the game? Even Gar'Colossus did not make me sweat as much! And I could stand toe-to-toe with him and slug it out with a bit of health here and there...

 

I'm in the Orc region now and even though it's not really plain sailing anymore, I still manage to make it out of a mob fight with only 1 health potion down the hatch.

 

I don't use the Warding Energy buff, since it was never part of my plan initially, but is it something I should be investigating? My armor is not actually up to par with my character level, but if I equip new armor items, I'm going to have to sacrifice magic find and xp gain bonuses, since I've not found any armor so far that have these bonuses at around my character level.

 

So basically I just need to know if the Banshee is a real toughie, or did I get a glimpse of some seriously nasty mini bosses yet to come? Was it a mistake to choose the shield and sword option? I took the shields skill also rather than duel wielding. Unfortunately so far I have not yet found THE shield... I have the Wall of Flames equipped at the moment, but it's not really blowing my mind out with all the pros?

 

Well that was a mouthful, but please let me know how you managed your initial hurdles

[Stormwing 40]

Never really tried, but what I've heard of, the Banshee is a tough cookie. IIRC it was fire it's most woulnerable. Correct me guys if I'm wrong!

Might give it a try now that I got my seraphim to Gold. (Finally! )

 

Griffin didn't give me thrills, just lost some chance to hit from debuff but that was all. Will be testing the boar too, ou of curiosity.

And this lady's supposed to be my sunday shopper.

 

Going all melee? Never really used sword 'n shield on seraphim myself, but that's supposed to give you some extra protection. And if you have the shield lore, all the more.

[Scleameth 19]

I just faced Thranak and he was bit of a pushover (and I got a set drop), so I suppose I just had all the wrong equipment for the Banshee... I'll keep the faith.

 

I had a think back on my fight against the Banshee and realized that I had a lot to thank for my Radiant Pillars - I think my chance to hit was just too low for melee weapons? Also the Banshee does the Cheshire Cat-thing and targeting with the PS3 is not yet my greatest accomplishment. So every so often my seraphim would just stand there and stare into empty space while I'm mashing health potions and smacking triangle to a pulp!

[essjayehm 58]

The Banshee is indeed a tough cookie. Tough enough for me to consider a special setup whenever I go to fight him. In my opinion, the toughest mini-boss in Fallen Angel, maybe toughest boss aside the 4th Guardian (depending on the toon, obv).

 

Not only is he tough to hit, but he has high resists vs. everything but fire (as Stormwing said).

 

I had a shield/sword seraphim as the first toon I "designed" and managed to get into Niob difficulty. With only Battle Stance buff, and Bargaining to find good equipment, I made it past Platinum in the early 80's, but the Guardians were a VERY tough battle. IIRC, I had Armour Lore, Constitution and EP masteries, with everything else very low (but boosted by allskills).

 

Keep the faith! I think you will be fine, as long as you don't try to push her too much (finishing Plat in the 80's is pushing it).

[Scleameth 19]

Thanks essjayehm - since this is my first play through I'm doing as many of the side quests I can find. I think I'll probably end silver at a fairly high level? I'm not sure how far along I am main quest-wise but I'm sure I'm not even 1/3 of the way done and I'm at level 48 atm. So I estimate that I'll be level 80 when I finish silver. If I just stick to the main quest in gold, I think I'll finish it by 100 or so? The I'll take it from there. That is if I make it past gold: I'll probably start a ton of other characters once I'm done with my first play through...

[S-P 6]

Thanks essjayehm - since this is my first play through I'm doing as many of the side quests I can find. I think I'll probably end silver at a fairly high level? I'm not sure how far along I am main quest-wise but I'm sure I'm not even 1/3 of the way done and I'm at level 48 atm. So I estimate that I'll be level 80 when I finish silver. If I just stick to the main quest in gold, I think I'll finish it by 100 or so? The I'll take it from there. That is if I make it past gold: I'll probably start a ton of other characters once I'm done with my first play through...

 

You may find it difficult getting to level 80 on silver, most enemies will give you no experience after about level 60. So it's best to move on to gold after that. Also what skills have you picked? Some skills are a must for a Seraphim imo.

[locolagarto 15]

I'm playing the game the first time through with my seraphim on silver. So far it's been plain sailing and as far a mini bosses go, only the White Griffon posed a serious challenge, but I did manage to inflict enough damage to see the little light at the end of the tunnel. Well today I encountered the Banshee and this mini boss smacked me silly! I must have popped about 60 health potions! and it felt like I just could not get the right weapon to inflict any amount of hopeful damage! I managed to beat it in the end with a sigh and it felt like a good fight, but if this is an indication of things to come, I don't see myself surviving toward the last 2/3s of the game? Even Gar'Colossus did not make me sweat as much! And I could stand toe-to-toe with him and slug it out with a bit of health here and there...

 

I'm in the Orc region now and even though it's not really plain sailing anymore, I still manage to make it out of a mob fight with only 1 health potion down the hatch.

 

I don't use the Warding Energy buff, since it was never part of my plan initially, but is it something I should be investigating? My armor is not actually up to par with my character level, but if I equip new armor items, I'm going to have to sacrifice magic find and xp gain bonuses, since I've not found any armor so far that have these bonuses at around my character level.

 

So basically I just need to know if the Banshee is a real toughie, or did I get a glimpse of some seriously nasty mini bosses yet to come? Was it a mistake to choose the shield and sword option? I took the shields skill also rather than duel wielding. Unfortunately so far I have not yet found THE shield... I have the Wall of Flames equipped at the moment, but it's not really blowing my mind out with all the pros?

 

Well that was a mouthful, but please let me know how you managed your initial hurdles

 

 

the banshee is arguably the toughest miniboss in the game. it does make a difference based on what character and build you have. but the Banshee is also probably the least fought boss as well, since it is so far out of the way from any portals

[Scleameth 19]

You may find it difficult getting to level 80 on silver, most enemies will give you no experience after about level 60. So it's best to move on to gold after that. Also what skills have you picked? Some skills are a must for a Seraphim imo.

hmmm- so what do you propose? Should I continue side questing until I reach 60 and then focus on completing the main quest? Then I'll come and finish all the side quests I missed out on in gold and later difficulty levels? Or should I just get the race to gold going now, since I might hit 60 when completing the campaign in silver - I'm at level 49 now and my stats state that I'm 32% done with the campaign...

 

I picked (no particular order):

Combat Discipline

Sword Weapons

Armor Lore

Shield Lore

Tactics Lore

Exalted Warrior focus

Celestial Magic Lore

Celestial Magic Focus

 

I have 2 to go - I was thinking:

Combat Reflexes

Toughness

 

 

@locolagarto - thanks, I'll be sure to bring my A-game (and equipment) to the next fight with the Banshee!

[essjayehm 58]

hmmm- so what do you propose? Should I continue side questing until I reach 60 and then focus on completing the main quest? Then I'll come and finish all the side quests I missed out on in gold and later difficulty levels? Or should I just get the race to gold going now, since I might hit 60 when completing the campaign in silver - I'm at level 49 now and my stats state that I'm 32% done with the campaign...

 

I picked (no particular order):

Combat Discipline

Sword Weapons

Armor Lore

Shield Lore

Tactics Lore

Exalted Warrior focus

Celestial Magic Lore

Celestial Magic Focus

 

I have 2 to go - I was thinking:

Combat Reflexes

Toughness

 

 

@locolagarto - thanks, I'll be sure to bring my A-game (and equipment) to the next fight with the Banshee!

 

Well, what you do is really up to you... but I would suggest ensuring the enemies have "red" circles... or at the very least yellow circles, when you target them. This is the "threat" level of the enemy, and red means they are above your level, yellow at your level, green below your level and white very, very below your level. White circle enemies give very low experience, and red the highest. If the area you're in has mostly green and white circles, then you really should move onto the next areas until you get enemies with the red circles. Then you can slow down and do some sidequests, etc until the threat level drops again.

Until I got to this site/forum, I was rarely finishing Silver lower than 60 anyway, so you should be OK to keep going as you want to - finishing sidequests and exploring the furthest reaches of the map, etc... just watch the threat levels.

 

Sorry, I am no seraphim expert, so cannot comment on your skills, other than they should be fine for anyone (beginner or expert)!

[kriv 14]

I learned this the hard way. Purple circles = run like you stole somethin!

[essjayehm 58]

I learned this the hard way. Purple circles = run like you stole somethin!

 

Ah, young jedi. Beware Furian's Rules!

 

They work like the criminal code - ignorance does not excuse you from the concequences

[Arperum 3]

But console doesn't has purple circles? or am I mistaken on this one?

[Ryanrocker 200]

But console doesn't has purple circles? or am I mistaken on this one?

 

Nope your right on that, no fancy warning system on the consoles.

[Etherian 76]

I learned this the hard way. Purple circles = run like you stole somethin!

 

[r00ster 1]

I'm going to have to sacrifice magic find and xp gain bonuses, since I've not found any armor so far that have these bonuses at around my character level

 

It's all what you want out of builds.

These mods, offer nothing for defense, or offense, so you must understand using them your character will be at a lower fighting level than it could be.

 

That said, of course leveling up quicker and finding more is great fun, so it's all 'what do you want?'

If you're not playing hardcore, I would say 'whocares!' lol. You can't actually die, so use things as a learning tool on your first go through, and blast the magic find/+xp kind of things, and just use everything as a learning possibility, and you will get more loot!

 

Lastly, on the banshee, just equip magic/ice relics and have a fire weapon.

If you are primarily celestial based, he is very resistant to magic attacks, so that could have been the cause of your trouble. Ancient magic skill can solve that, at the cost of a skill choice.

 

edit for: I can't spell.

 

Cheers,

Edited August 10, 2010 by r00ster

[Scleameth 19]

I'm going to have to sacrifice magic find and xp gain bonuses, since I've not found any armor so far that have these bonuses at around my character level

 

It's all what you want out of builds.

These mods, offer nothing for defense, or offense, so you must understand using them your character will be at a lower fighting level than it could be.

 

That said, of course leveling up quicker and finding more is great fun, so it's all 'what do you want?'

If you're not playing hardcore, I would say 'whocares!' lol. You can't actually die, so use things as a learning tool on your first go through, and blast the magic find/+xp kind of things, and just use everything as a learning possibility, and you will get more loot!

 

Lastly, on the banshee, just equip magic/ice relics and have a fire weapon.

If you are primarily celestial based, he is very resistant to magic attacks, so that could have been the cause of your trouble. Ancient magic skill can solve that, at the cost of a skill choice.

 

edit for: I can't spell.

 

Cheers,

 

Thanks - actually I did not start with any build in mind... I'm playing offline SP, but I don't want to loose my hard-earned SB and have no intention of dying! Gotta keep the pumpin'

My first play through is just based on getting to know the enemies and environment. I think when I faced the Banshee, my swords just had a conversion to magic item in, so basically between my magic swords and my radiant pillar, I realize now why I had such a hard time against the banshee. I faced the Octagolamus yesterday and it certainly was not such a tough fight as the Banshee! (Cool fight, though with the Octagolamus loosing tentacles as the fight progressed!).

All the enemies are circled red, so I suppose I'm still gaining as much xp as I can. Some of the Ogre Champions are a real tough fight at the moment and they seem to get some nasty criticals sneaked in sometimes!

I might drop the xp gain bonuses, but I'd like to focus on magic find, since it will help my next characters out a lot (and I also like to change my appearance from time to time...).

[r00ster 1]

Well, to give you a more direct answer then;

 

You build skill choices etc are sound.

However, your armor values and offensive/defensive stats are probably the cause for your alarm, due to the +xp/magic find.

 

This can be normal for 'utility' characters that are not purely socketed for fighting.

In sacred 1 there wasn't much of a penalty for using +xp etc in every slot (in terms of challenge), but in sacred 2 it will definitely increase the power monsters have over you and get more noticable the higher you go.

 

Again though, it's all what you want.

 

Cheers,

[S-P 6]

I'm going to have to sacrifice magic find and xp gain bonuses, since I've not found any armor so far that have these bonuses at around my character level

 

It's all what you want out of builds.

These mods, offer nothing for defense, or offense, so you must understand using them your character will be at a lower fighting level than it could be.

 

That said, of course leveling up quicker and finding more is great fun, so it's all 'what do you want?'

If you're not playing hardcore, I would say 'whocares!' lol. You can't actually die, so use things as a learning tool on your first go through, and blast the magic find/+xp kind of things, and just use everything as a learning possibility, and you will get more loot!

 

Lastly, on the banshee, just equip magic/ice relics and have a fire weapon.

If you are primarily celestial based, he is very resistant to magic attacks, so that could have been the cause of your trouble. Ancient magic skill can solve that, at the cost of a skill choice.

 

edit for: I can't spell.

 

Cheers,

 

Thanks - actually I did not start with any build in mind... I'm playing offline SP, but I don't want to loose my hard-earned SB and have no intention of dying! Gotta keep the pumpin'

My first play through is just based on getting to know the enemies and environment. I think when I faced the Banshee, my swords just had a conversion to magic item in, so basically between my magic swords and my radiant pillar, I realize now why I had such a hard time against the banshee. I faced the Octagolamus yesterday and it certainly was not such a tough fight as the Banshee! (Cool fight, though with the Octagolamus loosing tentacles as the fight progressed!).

All the enemies are circled red, so I suppose I'm still gaining as much xp as I can. Some of the Ogre Champions are a real tough fight at the moment and they seem to get some nasty criticals sneaked in sometimes!

I might drop the xp gain bonuses, but I'd like to focus on magic find, since it will help my next characters out a lot (and I also like to change my appearance from time to time...).

 

Combat Reflexes and Toughness are OK, you may want to drop one of those in favour of Constituition for the extra health bounus or put all attributes into Vitality to get the extra health. I hope you are using the Battle Stance Buff, this is a must for melee combat IMO.

[Scleameth 19]

Well, to give you a more direct answer then;

 

You build skill choices etc are sound.

However, your armor values and offensive/defensive stats are probably the cause for your alarm, due to the +xp/magic find.

 

This can be normal for 'utility' characters that are not purely socketed for fighting.

In sacred 1 there wasn't much of a penalty for using +xp etc in every slot (in terms of challenge), but in sacred 2 it will definitely increase the power monsters have over you and get more noticable the higher you go.

 

Again though, it's all what you want.

 

Cheers,

 

Thanks - I suppose as long as I don't die I'm in good shape? But I think I'll let go of the +xp bonus and replace with defensive values. I'm adding points into Sword Lore at the moment to up my chance to hit. I seem to smiting flies a lot...

 

Combat Reflexes and Toughness are OK, you may want to drop one of those in favour of Constituition for the extra health bounus or put all attributes into Vitality to get the extra health. I hope you are using the Battle Stance Buff, this is a must for melee combat IMO.

 

Thanks, I thought about Constitution in place of Combat Reflexes... choices choices I thought that I'll save my +Hp rings for socketing in place of Constitution, but, as I said, I will have to add a bit of defense. Ideally I will find a few items with 10 gold sockets and get the best of all 5 worlds.

[r00ster 1]

Well, you kind of can have 10 gold slots if you create a toon that can forge....

 

They can put amulets in silver and gold slots, rings in bronze or better.

Just sayin'

 

Cheers lol.

[Scleameth 19]

The problem is that the forge skill is busted on consoles... But I was just kidding a little there - I was just saying that I wanted 10 slots in each of my armour, shield and sword. That would make it make it around 100 sockets in total? Then I could have +LL, +xp, +mf, +defence, +attack, +Hp, +All skills, +All CA all fit into one package

[S-P 6]

It's a shame Seraphim can't forge, I'd actually have an excuse to use general skills then.

[r00ster 1]

Just make a forging shadow warrior, that uses shadow viel modded to a buff.

Once shadow viel is a buff, with mods creep, fade, sinister pact, he will never be threatened again, so it's smooth sailing to make sure your forger doesn't die.

You don't need to shop for him, get gear etc, as after you memorize 25 shadow viel runes, NOTHING will ever attack him in the buff, and you can do combat arts without losing the viel.

 

Takes very little time to raise, and is the perfect solution to having a hardcore forger.

 

Cheers,

[S-P 6]

Wouldn't that get a bit boring though? It's a bit like a BFG Seraphim, no real threats means boredom.