Max CS?

[khorpulent]

Anyone know the optimal allotment of spell ranks for max empath CS? As best I can figure, the last three ranks I place don't seem to make any difference. With 67/67/169, my CS is 508, but I can drop empath ranks as low as 167 without any difference.

I guess my real question is, if these last three ranks don't change anything, do I really need them?

[BigWorm]

I put the other 3 ranks into 100s. It is useful to me for +3 CS with 100s circle for 135 and for an extra +4 DS/TD from 102/120.

[audioserf]

Yep, I think the winner is 166/70/67 Empath/Minor/Major. Same CS, more DS.

[khorpulent]

Hmm, this makes me want to untrain my 301st and 302nd spell ranks and put those points in MMC instead.

What minor spirit warding spells do you use? I pretty much haven't used a warding spell in either spiritual circle in years cause my CS is so lousy.

[audioserf]

I use Unbalance to keep a defender or combatant too busy to maneuver me while I deal with other stuff sometimes, and Blinding Light (135) can be fun in bandit groups for a novelty. You're right, though - I could not give less of a shit about my CS with any circle but Empath base.

[BigWorm]

135 is mainly for Reim but also a good secondary option for bandits.

[khorpulent]

Seems like 1108 would be more effective against combatants. I did use 135 for a while in Reim, but once I got enough telepathy lore I switched to 1120 and now I can actually hit more than like 1/4 of the creatures in each wave.

[audioserf]

Not sure why I didn't think to lob a 1108 at combos instead of 110, but yeah. If it's good enough to keep GWEs busy/make them go away, it'll work on the tritons.

I haven't gone in Reim but 135 makes a lot of sense since you want to hit everything... but unless the spiritual TDs are real bad I can see missing plenty too with a standard max Empath base CS spell setup.

[khorpulent]

Yeah, 1108 is my go-to disabler. It's nice cause of the chance of insta-kill, too (unless you're trying to disable it for someone else to hit, then that's annoying). It's bullshit that you can't use it against undead even with lore, though.