Author Topic: Psi/melee or gun build questions  (Read 4858 times)

Psisexual

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Psi/melee or gun build questions
« on: July 29, 2020, 06:23:50 am »
Hey there! Just a gamer trying to make a viable Psi/Melee build and possibly gun build as well. I made a build, but I fully expect it to suck ass. If possible, I'd like some tips/ modifications to the build to help me understand what I can do to make a viable build.  :D

Here is the build I made already, if you want to modify it, by all means do it.  ;)
https://underrail.info/build/?AQcFBQcFBQYLAAAKDAwFCAgABAAAAAAABQ8PDwAAYQg

TheAverageGortsby

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Re: Psi/melee or gun build questions
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2020, 08:00:51 am »
Well, that's terrible.  So much so I have to wonder if you're joking/trolling.

Focus your stats.  You want some stats to be high, and as a result you have to accept some stats being low.  A general stat profile will not serve you well.  Make your strengths strong, or you will be frustrated at how hard UnderRail feels.

Focus your skills.  Especially early on, keep your skills maxed.  If you're going to use a skill, be good at it.  You've got skills with 4 points, your combat skills aren't maxed...that's all just setting yourself up for failure.

Conditioning is always a waste. Do not use it.  Sure Step is perhaps worth it if you're going to go with melee, since you'll have need to get to a target in a fight, and sometimes there will be acid or caltrops in the way.

The only way to make a useful tri-focus build (psi + melee + guns) work is with Versatility.  You'd want to go with a high stat for melee or guns (perception or dex) and let your other skill fill in from Versatility.  Then you can use psi at a support tier or strong support if you run with 10 Will.

HulkOSaurus

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Re: Psi/melee or gun build questions
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2020, 01:42:56 pm »
I prefer high Dex melee for such hybrids. Your weapon of choice could be combat gloves and you can take the feat which increases your Dodge based on your melee skill as long as you have your gloves equipped. You could operate some form of ranged weapon that benefits from high Dex such as a chemical blob pistol or an SMG with the Versatility perk - either are fine, but if you put only a small investment of 35 into Guns you could get Cooked Shot for extra AoE with chemical pistols. Otherwise SMG will operate quite well without anything else than the Versatility Perk. You should put some points into Throwing, but not max it as it will scale nicely with high Dex. Having explosives and throwing nets as support is nice with such a build.

Because you will be saving off of Dodge you will be able to get your Evasion quite high, as well.

For such hybrids I'd choose only one school of Psi. Running two might not be feasible because of too low a skill point pool. I notice you show a non-Expedition character. This means there will be only 20 levels. If this was Expedition you might be able to make a 2 Psi school hybrid, but I also doubt that quite a bit... better stick with one. I suppose the choice comes down to Metathermics or Psychokinetics. Personally, I lean towards Psuchokitecs. If you take a feat called Expose Weakness your Proxy with your Implosion will do a lot of work.

From Subterfuge I'd take only Traps and Pickpocket. Because of high base Dex those will scale nicely and will cover some of the weak points of such a build without asking for too much of an investment over the long run. Stealth is always nice, but without sufficient investment early on it can only work in late game and only if you add in additional items which boost it. You could go full Stealth from the beginning, but it won't leave points for Pickpocket or Traps.

Some form of Crafting is always good for such builds. I'd focus on Mechanics, Electronics and Chemistry. You might not have enough points for Biology and/or Tailoring, but you should aim to put some into those eventually. Neither of the Crafting disciplines need to be maxed, plus there are crafting benches later on to help you with that. Still, I don't think you will be able to get all 5 to optimal levels.

Finally - Social. I lean heavily towards Mercantile, but I suppose it comes down to personal preference. I think you will be able to get Mercantile to adequate levels, though, which will boost the late game quite a bit.

Psisexual

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Re: Psi/melee or gun build questions
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2020, 12:03:48 am »
Sorry to say, but I am certainly not trolling. I genuinely have no idea what I'm doing with this, so I sorta went with a hodgepodge build to see what I'm doing wrong. As I always say, If at first you don't succeed, it's an epic fail. Just go study your shit idiot. :D

I really, truly do appreciate the feedback though! It really helps me to understand the game and what I need to focus on. I've played other TBSRPG's before, but Underrail is so facinating to me, and has a difficulty to match. and I want my build to be well built enough to make my play through fun, challenging, and form fitting to how I like to play.

TheAverageGortsby

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Re: Psi/melee or gun build questions
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2020, 05:44:40 am »
I genuinely have no idea what I'm doing with this, so I sorta went with a hodgepodge build
Hulk gives you good advice on tightening up that build, and I hope I haven't scared you off with being a little terse in my initial reply.  If you've got more questions, hope you do come back and ask them.  UnderRail does have a rather niche approach to character generation compared to most RPGs nowadays - it rewards specialization very heavily, and throws hard enough challenges at the player that sometimes you just have to take a moment and think about a new and better approach to some problems.  If that's your jam, you should get many enjoyable hours from the game; and if you end up getting stuck or having a hard time getting started, this is the place to hammer out why.

Psisexual

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Re: Psi/melee or gun build questions
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2020, 07:55:39 am »
No, don't worry at all! after looking into all of the things that were mentioned from only those two comments, I actually have a really well made build now! I took all of the advice given, and I have a pretty nice build right now. I decided to forego the Psi abilities though, as I figured it was probably just another thing that I probably shouldn't focus on too much, and It paid off! Also, Mercantile and Persuasion were amazing investments. I managed to politely swindle Old Joe and I feel no remorse. That watch was a bitch to get. Also, I do have Expedition, I just figured I should focus on early game first and then look towards late game when the time comes.

Also, once again, I thoroughly appreciate the help. Hands on problem solving does happen to be my jam, so I'm already enjoying this game a lot. Thanks again! I'll be referencing this post a lot to iron out what I should do for my developing build.
« Last Edit: July 30, 2020, 08:05:20 am by Psisexual »