One Turn Man | .44' pistol Bullet Time | DOMINATING | OP(aF)

[jthibtoo]

Do you use the TM PSI at all during early levels? I have tried using Temporal Distortion on various enemies, but it seems to have no affect.

At what skill level do you start to use this skill? If anyone has the time, can you provide tips on how to use TM with this build? What to use, when and how?

Another question I have is concerning the Premeditation skill. When you use that, are you able to perform multiple TM casts with no AP cost? Is that how that works?

Also, any tips for surviving the early levels? The 5mm Hawker pistol is so weak and ineffective (yes, I'm a noob at this game). What is the weapon progression for this build?

[Ravager]

That's a good question, and I can't answer it off-hand, having not restarted the game in a while.

But I remember I started a game on Dominating when it first came out, with an SMG character. He was doing alright, until I came to having to fight the PSI Beetles in the early rescue quest.

5.56 just wasn't cutting it against them, and there weren't enough Molotovs on hand. I had already spent money getting a 5.56 SMG or something.

What I should have done is go for 7.62 SMG - they are more effective on armoured insects. I didn't know 5.56 would be so ineffective against low-tier enemies when I started the playthrough.

[Turbodevil]

Do you use the TM PSI at all during early levels?

Yes, A LOT, and I recommend taking premeditation as soon as lvl 6 for this reason while keeping TM maxed until reaching 70 hard skill points. Main use cases:

- high armor enemies (dominating robots). Pistols won't hurt them at this stage, distortions are long range armor piercing 100% chance to hit thing
- kiting strong enemy thanks to dillation, with premeditation (and taking few steps back) you can disable one enemy per fight for free
- LTI when you want to throw another grenade, or use special attack

TM is cheap (both in terms of action points and in game money) so keep casting!

Another question I have is concerning the Premeditation skill. When you use that, are you able to perform multiple TM casts with no AP cost? Is that how that works?

No. Your next one cast costs 0 AP and less mana. That's it. Practically it's one free cast every fight. Which makes huge difference.

[Kujo qtaro]

Right now im playing a similar build, and role-playing Jacket.
Currently im in depo A, and am yet to start with psi.
Difference: im going with versatility+gun-fu.
Wrong choice?
I shall see...

[ycaruz14]

hi! i saw this build, now i'm at lv20, seeing that this build, like u said, is not that powerful on early encounters, is really good, not bulldozing enemies from the start to mid. It really made me think how to approach every single enemy, up until i got stasis. I followed the character build from your guide, lv1, lv12 and lv20. Will you be making a character build for max lv? I would like to see what would be the full potential of this build before I make my own.

[Turbodevil]

Lvl 30 build link is above the meme picture in first post. After lvl 20 you should have maxed Bullet Time specialization so next step is maxing Hit and Run spec and getting crit feats.

[DashingRabbit]

Is a pistol build without TM viable for hard or dominating?

I've taken this build through Deep Caverns on Hard, and I really loved its high mobility, extremely high initiative, and power.
Now I want to try a build that doesn't use TM, but I really relied on the Stasis + Bullet Time combo to carry my previous run.

Is there a variant of this build that could work (on Hard+) without TM?
Would I be better off trying SMG or melee builds instead?

[Turbodevil]

^ I Don't know, I never tried it but Temporal Manipulation triples pistol's power.

That being said, ability to dominate everything in sight during 1 turn is so good in this game so such build should work. It would require some additional tricks to handle content, fortunately high Dex means you can get most of your grenades. I would add Grenadier, Three Pointer, possibly Sure Step, and Sprint. Typical fight would start with grenade or two, caltrops, Aimed Shot to the face, hide from line of sight, enemies come closer, next turn activate Bullet Time. I would reduce either Int or Perception and max Dexterity, possibly going into Versatility (probably not though, I hate Versatility, but still...)

As for SMGs, they are extremely viable with or without magic but I hate them as much as Versatility. Low hit chance + extremely high ammo consumption + low range + boring 'burst burst reload burst burst' playstyle = not fun for me.

[ycaruz14]

oh, it is up there, i'm sorry i'm so excited to try out this build that i didn't even noticed that lv30 build was there, thank you for pointing that out! again, thank you for this build

[PaposikG6]

Is a pistol build without TM viable for hard or dominating?

I've taken this build through Deep Caverns on Hard, and I really loved its high mobility, extremely high initiative, and power.
Now I want to try a build that doesn't use TM, but I really relied on the Stasis + Bullet Time combo to carry my previous run.

Is there a variant of this build that could work (on Hard+) without TM?
Would I be better off trying SMG or melee builds instead?

I am currently playing psiless DEX versatility pistol on dominating. It's still good but obviously worse than variant with tm. With high dex you can shoot stuff more times so the lack of stasis and contraction hurts less.
Here's what i am using atm: https://underrail.info/build/?HgUQBwMHAwVGOgDCoB4AZFoeLQBuwoIsMm4AAAAAAABOARcZWR5bOibDksKjw5ENEU7CszHita4K4r2EBd-_

Basically almost everything is viable on Hard+ but it may require some metaknowledge or cheesing for certain areas.

[Vokial]

Shameless necro as this build is pretty timeless and good in conserving it's relevance.
I fiddled around in the character planner, trying to set up a pistol build and eventually arrived here. With a specialized Hit & Run, it was very tempting to make one with Versatility, Gun Fu, Dirty Kick and Execute, but I had to come to the conclusion that it just doesn't worth to give up a lot of feats and the convenience of being able to precisely land shots from afar.



So, the main thing I thought I would change is to remove the Throwing skill and Fatal Throw altogether.
It would not only save us some skill and specialization points, but the main reason behind this is that it's simply not that useful being a free finishing move for those below 25% health - not to mention it can only happen once.
Instead of this, with a heavy heart, we drop 2 DEX in order to raise STR to 5. This would make Bullet Time shots cost 8 AP instead of 7... a dire price to pay.


However by dumping Fatal Throw and the now even less useful Pack Rathound, we can take Snipe and Shooting Spree and specialize the latter for 1 point in order to get two completely free shots from a sniper rifle.
That's TWO surekill attacks for free - instead of a single, very situational finisher that might still not even kill it's target.



So for +1AP cost of each pistol attack, you can alpha-strike with a free Snipe and Aim Shot from a 12.7mm sniper rifle. That's making each battle having -2 contestants of your choosing throughout the game - and now you can also add Steadfast Aim.

https://underrail.info/build/?HgUMBwMJAwfCoEgAAAAAwqBXPQA9eHAsO3AAAABGYQBBKxcBHRkqNX7DkjE6HlszS8KFwrXCpOKgigXio7oE4q-9AeK9hAXfvg


PS: I also switched Point Shot with Kneecap Shot - just made more sense with our mobility, but leaving Gun Nut instead or Psycho-temporal Acceleration for +5AP can also work I guess.

[Valor]

Fatal throw is not about the "finisher", its about the AP refund, you spend +-9 AP, and get 27 in return, giving you 2 shots extra in BT, and unlike killing spree you can do this before and after stasis.

[Vokial]

So the net gain is 18 points.
So IF the constallations are right, the planets are align - meaning the target is alive, but below 25% HP and it's getting killed by the throw... you get two pistol shots for free.
2 pistol shots are on one side of the scale (that might happen, might not) and 2 sniper shots in the other thats guaranteed.

Let's say you are fighting the 4 Nagas. With this - it's just 2 Nagas. How better you are with 2 extra pistol shots against 4 Nagas? (if you successfully drop one with Fatal Throw)
Of course that's not the entirety of the trade here as you get about one less pistol shots in general due to the increased AP cost of the lower DEX, but it's still a no-brainer in my book - especially when you crit more with Steadfast Aim and save 2 spec point.

[Qwertyisme]

Shameless necro as this build is pretty timeless and good in conserving it's relevance.
I fiddled around in the character planner, trying to set up a pistol build and eventually arrived here. With a specialized Hit & Run, it was very tempting to make one with Versatility, Gun Fu, Dirty Kick and Execute, but I had to come to the conclusion that it just doesn't worth to give up a lot of feats and the convenience of being able to precisely land shots from afar.



So, the main thing I thought I would change is to remove the Throwing skill and Fatal Throw altogether.
It would not only save us some skill and specialization points, but the main reason behind this is that it's simply not that useful being a free finishing move for those below 25% health - not to mention it can only happen once.
Instead of this, with a heavy heart, we drop 2 DEX in order to raise STR to 5. This would make Bullet Time shots cost 8 AP instead of 7... a dire price to pay.


However by dumping Fatal Throw and the now even less useful Pack Rathound, we can take Snipe and Shooting Spree and specialize the latter for 1 point in order to get two completely free shots from a sniper rifle.
That's TWO surekill attacks for free - instead of a single, very situational finisher that might still not even kill it's target.



So for +1AP cost of each pistol attack, you can alpha-strike with a free Snipe and Aim Shot from a 12.7mm sniper rifle. That's making each battle having -2 contestants of your choosing throughout the game - and now you can also add Steadfast Aim.

PS: I also switched Point Shot with Kneecap Shot - just made more sense with our mobility, but leaving Gun Nut instead or Psycho-temporal Acceleration for +5AP can also work I guess.

Question!
How did you take "snipe" at lvl 8, if it needs 10 perception?

Looking at your lvl 30 planner, I see 11 perception. With Increased Perception feat, taken at lvl 28, it means that base perception is 9 in the end, right?

So how is it possible to take "Snipe" with 9 perception then? Or am I misunderstanding something?

[Vokial]

Question!
How did you take "snipe" at lvl 8, if it needs 10 perception?

Looking at your lvl 30 planner, I see 11 perception. With Increased Perception feat, taken at lvl 28, it means that base perception is 9 in the end, right?

So how is it possible to take "Snipe" with 9 perception then? Or am I misunderstanding something?

That's a good question - I did not take that into account.
If one does not want to take it at level 28 (which would defeat the purpose), then INT needs to be lowered to 6 in order to get PER to 10, like so:
https://underrail.info/build/?HgUMBwMKAwbCoE4AAAAAwqBfPgBKZ2cvP3AAAABGZQA0KxcBHRkqNX7DkjE6HlszS8KFwrXCpOKgigXio7oE4q-9AeK9hAXfvg

This is fine, as some crafting skills were unnecessarily high anyway. One could also use Trap Expert/QT instead of Blindsiding too if they really want to utilize Traps, but a build about 1 turn might not find the opportunity to use them, so that skill can be lowered. It's just that they are really powerful and we have the point capacity with high DEX.