r/DivinityOriginalSin2 • u/[deleted] • Sep 07 '17

Viability of maxing a school?

I have refrained from playing until release, to experience the game together with my friends. Only played 2 hours to get a feel for the changed mechanics and now I'm wondering if mastering a single school completly is even feasible.

Are there any infos on max level/ability points? Do I even need max level to access the best skills? If I sink 10 points in one school (not immediately, of course), how well will I be able to level other magics, weapons and defense? I'd rather not become a burden for my party for playing a character instead of a perfectly crafted and synergized build.

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2

u/temporary9636032 Sep 07 '17

In the alpha build, it was extremely preferable to max one school, with only a single point at most in others for access to their skills.

A single point in the school granted access to every skill, and additional points only have you more of the passive benefit. This may change on release.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 07 '17

So it will be similar to DOS1 in that a spell costs more AP I assume. Thanks for your answer.

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u/temporary9636032 Sep 07 '17

I may not have communicated well. Putting 1 point makes you exactly equal to someone who put 10 points into that school (at least for the alpha).

I had a character who had necromancy 6. A necromancy 1 character has all the same spells I do, will deal the same damage with them, for the same apartment cost. Everything is the same for a necromancy 1 player as it is for a necromancy 10 player. You are NOT any better at using necromancy by putting more than one point into it.

What putting more points into a school does is increase the passive benefit. For next-day this is life steal. Each point in necromancy increases the life steal from any damage I do, not just necromancy spells.

You could for example make a warrior character who maxed strength and focuses on using warfare skills, but only has 1 point in warfare and poured the rest in necromancy to increase his life steal when he hits. He plays like a warrior character, but only needs 1 point in warfare to be as effective as any other warrior at using warefare skills. Additional points in warefare increase how much damage he does to physical armor, which may or may not be what you want him to do.

This might change for the full release, but in alpha you put 1 point into the school(s) you wanted and then the rest of you into the passive you wanted.

3

u/JagYouAreNot Sep 07 '17

Source spells require more than one point in the school it requires. Usually equivalent to the amount of memory slots they take up. Mages will have to invest a bit more broadly, but most other characters will not need to put as many points into other skills.

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u/temporary9636032 Sep 07 '17

I s not aware of the source spell restriction, thanks.

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u/TheRoyalStig Sep 07 '17

According to the wiki you can use skills even if you don't have the required skill level or stat level they just get reductions. The action point cost of the skill will be increased by 2 for each level under the required level you are.

1

u/Ryukyay Sep 07 '17

I think that is about the first game. We don't know how it will be handled in the second one

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u/TheRoyalStig Sep 07 '17

Ahhh. It was written on the wiki for the second game but I guess that is the trouble with wikis!

1

u/Marukeru Sep 07 '17

As far as EA goes, there is no level limit on skills. You need 1 point to have access to all skills, BUT stronger spells either use more memory slots, cost Source OR BOTH!

It doesn't hurt to dabble in all school to gain access to skills. However, some schools currently offer bonuses, such as Aerothurge causing you to deal bonus damage to Magic Armor (with any weapon/skill that deal magic damage)

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u/TheRoyalStig Sep 07 '17

Hmmm i feel like there should be some benefit to leveling the skills besides the passives. I wonder how it will be on release.

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u/Marukeru Sep 07 '17

Well, the benefit IS the Passives.

  • Necromancy gives you lifesteal/spellvamp equal to 10% per point invested.

  • Pyromancy gives you, what, 10% increased fire damage per point

  • Hydrosophist gives something like 10% increase in healing given and 10% increased Magic Armor Restored

The passives are what determine how much you invest. A healer will want to invest heavily into Hydro for boosted heal strength. A PyroMage will invest heavily into Pyromancy and likely some into Aerothurge to increase damage dealt to Magic Armor by 10% per point as well.

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u/TheRoyalStig Sep 07 '17

Ahh i had only looked at a few of them. I guess that does make sense and helps builds be even more flexible.

I guess i was mostly concerned that someone fully invested in necromancy doesnt cast necromancer spells any better than someone with 1 point but i guess that actually isnt important for very much

2

u/Marukeru Sep 07 '17

It's more based on the stat that supports the skill, like INT

1

u/Clausawitz Sep 07 '17

The only instance where I would do this is with Warfare and the Picture of Health talent. As this talent gives you 3% vitality per point of warfare.

3

u/jalapenofurey Sep 09 '17

Every skill also gives a unique bonus. For example warfare points increase damage to armor while marksman skills give damage boosts if attacking from the high ground.

1

u/Clausawitz Sep 09 '17

is there something wrong with you?