Which force powers should I pick?

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 5:17 pm

Basically the two choices are (I always pick Master Speed):

Heal, Master Valor, Stasis Field, Force Armor
vs.
Death Field, Force Storm, Force Wave, Kill

I am going to be 7 Soldier/13 Guardian dual-wielding focusing of Power Attack

Please help me I can't decide!

jeremiah · Post by **jeremiah** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:14 pm

If you have a Guardian then Force Wave is a must to push them back so you can Force Jump them. Also since Guardian and you don't focus on wisdom or charisma means Stasis field will probably be saved against for no effect except maybe slow while Force Wave always knocks them down and does damage unless they have Force immunity/resistance (only exceptions are the Rancors and Tarantateks).

Force Armor is useless as it is too short duration (master speed is short too but not that short). You are better off activating a shield to absorb damage instead. Those additional saving throws can be made up in other ways instead.

Valor line ain't bad as long as you remember to recast it before battle but it tends to eat up a round after you just cast master speed so better have someone else learn it (Bastila or better yet Jolee) if you have a Guardian (a MUST if your PC is a consular). Improved energy resistance is GREAT. Note improved not the regular one as it adds 15 damage resistance to energy (and is party effect plus poison immunity) so improved toughness plus the great duration improved energy resistance means blasters and enemy lightsabers damage are ABSORBED.

AVENGER · Post by **AVENGER** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 5:01 pm

My suggestions are put jolee with all the main stat building powers and then put yourself with power force powers like force wave and stasis field or if your DS then force storm and death field. Also you want force immunity and improved energy resistance because then you are immune to anything that they can cast on you and improved energy resistance helps armor wise. Also you'll want to have heal and master speed because besides master speed helping you by letting you throw in two extra attacks per round it will also help you to get around faster. Which is very nice instead of taking forever to walk everywhere. I wouldn't worry about any other stat building force powers besides those 3 and if you can't get one of them don't get master speed because force immunity and improved energy resistance will help you more in my opinion.

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:33 pm

Thanks for the replies

Energy Resistance sounds interesting but I don't quite understand it. Against what does it offer resistance (energy only or also elemantal?) and does it have a maximum amount of damage absorbed?

During my last few play throughs Force Wave didn't seem very good as against the only creatures I couldn't kill in one hasted power attack were teranteks (sp?) and it dealt minimal damage to others. Spamming it was also difficult because of low guardian force points (I was using a strength based build).

Death Field is often resisted by the enemies that I need to use it on, namely Malak and other powerful Sith.

The stuff about Energy Resistance really helped, thanks! I never even considered using it until now.

jeremiah · Post by **jeremiah** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:38 pm

As a Guardian you don't spam force wave, you only use it as an opportunity to use Force Jump attacks. A consular can afford to spam Force waves until all enemies in a given area are dead.

Death field is not used against powerful Sith. But you sure fight a lot of rank and file enemies even Sith apprentices against which this is effective. Against powerful Sith, then Force wave and then force jump or if consular, force breach then spam Force wave (they can't stand up long enough to do anything against you).

Regular energy resistance is as item description but IMPROVED energy resistance includes energy damage from lightsabers and blasters. So this with shields makes you untouchable for the most part (improved toughness is gravy).

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:34 pm

Why does a Guardian need to use Jump? It doesn't allow combination with feats (which do much more damage) and as I understand it, it only deals an extra 4 damage and give +4 to hit on the first attack. Where as say Power attack will deal an extra 10 damage of each hit which is alot when dual-wielding + haste.

I agree that death field isn't designed against powerful sith, but who else would I need it against (especially since I can only get it at level 18)? Also Breach seems a waste since it only targets a single opponent, I could simply use that round to kill him instead.

jeremiah · Post by **jeremiah** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 9:42 pm

Force Jump is like the signature property of a Guardian but you really don't appreciate it much unless it is a Scoundrel/Guardian I suppose due to the sneak attack bonus. It is still pretty darn good as I can usually bring an enemy down in one jump or close to death after one.

I don't know about you but level 18 is certainly doable by the Leviathan and that gives you a lot of time to use that power before reaching the final battle. It was also nice to suck Malak's Jedi batteries instead of him LOL.

Elyuss · Post by **Elyuss** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 3:51 am

About the improved energy resistance, does it mean you ignore the first 15 damage points of every attack for 120 secs, or just the very first 15 points and the you have to recast the power??
That´s how shields work isn´t it?

Noober · Post by **Noober** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:02 am

Energy Resistance will negate the first 15 damage of each energy attack (only certain types of energy attack) you suffer for 120 seconds. The shield-armour tree of powers increase your saving throws and AC, they do not negate any damage but rather reduce the chance of it being dealt.

I don't know about you but level 18 is certainly doable by the Leviathan and that gives you a lot of time to use that power before reaching the final battle. It was also nice to suck Malak's Jedi batteries instead of him LOL.

You misunderstand me. I meant that powerful sith & teranteks are the only enemies that are of sufficient threat to me that I need to use Death Field. Other enemies die before they have a chance to attack

.

jeremiah · Post by **jeremiah** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 10:01 am

Originally posted by Noober

You misunderstand me. I meant that powerful sith & teranteks are the only enemies that are of sufficient threat to me that I need to use Death Field. Other enemies die before they have a chance to attack .

Well it is very fun to see the run of the mill enemies do the disco thing when you do Death Field

Also I think Elyuss meant the energy shields not the shield line of powers and yes they do work that way but they reduce damage up to maximum specified. I.e. Echani shield protects from 50 energy damage so first attack deflects 23 damage for 0 damage means you have 27 pts left so if next attack is critical hit and you get 45 pts of damage your character suffers 18 pts of damage instead but with no protection for next attack or 200 seconds whichever comes first so you always have to remember to check your character sheet to see if shield is up or pay attention to damage rolls (if high then that means the shield is used and you have to reenergize). Improved energy resistance absorbs all first 15 pts of energy damage from every attack during its duration which includes blasters and lightsabers. 15 points don't seem like much but you can only really appreciate it during mass fights and looking at damage rolls.