Pistolero2 [dominating]

[toro]

I decided not to pollute the main Underrail thread with my pistol build ramblings.

This is Pistolero's partial build - it's actually a base build for pistols, crossbows or snipers.



Generic remarks:
- Junkyard is absolutely trivial with Mutated Dog armor + Traps + Molotovs.
- Burrowers require Medium Shield + Molotovs.

Dominating remarks:
- Burrower Warrior has a shit tone of HP. Waste of ammo.

 

[toro]

Junkyard Pajama Party

Spoiler

I've put too many traps because I'm paranoid (and retarded)

They never reached me.

On Dominating I simply did not have the firepower to destroy two plasma sentries.
Therefore I've had to think outside of the box and my solution was:
1) entered from ventilation shaft,
2) dropped an EM grenade on the plasma turrets,
3) looted everything in 2 rounds,
4) pop an Andrenaline and got out from that room.

Thank God for Mutated Dog armor.

They look hungry

Final killzone.

Last Depo "fight".

The Drill Circuit Board is mine!

Depo Mutants were tough but killable.

Until this point the game was a breeze.

 

[toro]

The Wall (probably the first out of many)

Spoiler

After giving the Drill Circuit to Tanner I wanted to grind Lunatics. Bad idea in retrospective.

At level 8 I simply did not have the firepower to kill these guys.

They are easy-peasy on Hard with AR/Sniper but Dominating/Pistol is a completely different story.
It was a complete shitshow because I did not want to accept the reality and I don't want to abuse the changing map exploit.

Another retarded try. The same result.

The same story with the first Ironhead gang.

Honestly at this point I was pissed off but:
1) I realized that Grenadier is must-have for Dominating, regardless of build. More grenades on the battlefield mean more damage. Also grenades get another boost from Limited Temporal Increment.
2) These gangs are difficulty gates on Dominating therefore the only solution is to stealth past them. Not even precision attacks could help me in these situations.

Also I remembered that my build is a glass cannon therefore I decided to fuck off to another part of the map: Camp Hathor.

On the way I crafted my new Hammerer pistol.

Trapception - when you disarm a trap while you are stuck in a trap.

Picked Mushrooms because Psi builds really need another boost. Yeah, pistols are so OP. Fml.

Solved Camp Hathor rat problem ... with excessive fire.

Not pictured: Done the armistice quest and got a new armor and new friends.

On the way back to SGS I decided to explore the south part of the map.
Fought 5 Death Stalkers and surprisingly won because they are sensitive to Traps + Molotovs.

Found some kind of cemetery.

Found a dead man I could not loot.

Also before leaving to Camp Hathor I had the brilliant idea to leave my keys in SGS. Choices and Consequences.

Not pictured: Went back to Camp Hathor. Took the ship back to SGS. Got my keys. Went to Junkyard. Helped Eels again Scrappers.
Pictured: Informed Blaine about Eddy's death.

Went back to Rail Crossing for Buzzer quest.
The energy cube quest has some nasty surprises.
Ok guys, don't mind me. That robot deserves it.

Now I'm at the point where I need to choose what to do with the Free Drones.
I forgot: I finally managed to get the Grenadier feat and the Dragunov sniper rifle. I'm so tempted to use it.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[hell bovine]

Do burrower warriors have any acid resistance? Because you have enough chemistry to craft acid blob mkII traps, so instead of going psi, you could try traps instead.

Traps (even as simple as bear traps) work against the lunatics too. Nevermind, didn't read your post. But: acid traps rock (or rather melt), try them if you haven't.

 

[toro]

lukaszek hell bovine

You both are correct. I have to step up my trap game and I need to get an acid pistol asap.

I feel like I could beat them now with Grenadier but I'm on a short break from the game.

I'm not sure if I should go for DEX 14 or DEX 15 (!?)

.44 Hammerer (32 AP Base) + Rapid Reloader = 26 AP Base

Dexterity reduction
DEX 18 PER 10 -> 12AP/Shoot -> 5.83 shoots for 70 AP -> 6.00 shoots for 72 AP -> 7.50 shoots for 90 AP -> 7.66 shoots for 92 AP
DEX 17 PER 11 -> 13AP/Shoot -> 5.38 shoots for 70 AP -> 5.53 shoots for 72 AP -> 6.92 shoots for 90 AP -> 7.07 shoots for 92 AP
DEX 16 PER 12 -> 14AP/Shoot -> 5.00 shoots for 70 AP -> 5.14 shoots for 72 AP -> 6.42 shoots for 90 AP -> 6.57 shoots for 92 AP
DEX 15 PER 13 -> 15AP/Shoot -> 4.66 shoots for 70 AP -> 4.80 shoots for 72 AP -> 6.00 shoots for 90 AP -> 6.13 shoots for 92 AP
DEX 14 PER 14 -> 16AP/Shoot -> 4.37 shoots for 70 AP -> 4.50 shoots for 72 AP -> 5.62 shoots for 90 AP -> 5.75 shoots for 92 AP
DEX 13 PER 15 -> 16AP/Shoot -> 4.37 shoots for 70 AP -> 4.50 shoots for 72 AP -> 5.62 shoots for 90 AP -> 5.75 shoots for 92 AP
DEX 12 PER 16 -> 17AP/Shoot -> 4.11 shoots for 70 AP -> 4.23 shoots for 72 AP -> 5.29 shoots for 90 AP -> 5.41 shoots for 92 AP <- I'm here
DEX 11 PER 17 -> 18AP/Shoot -> 3.88 shoots for 70 AP -> 4.00 shoots for 72 AP -> 5.00 shoots for 90 AP -> 5.11 shoots for 92 AP
DEX 10 PER 18 -> 19AP/Shoot -> 3.68 shoots for 70 AP -> 3.78 shoots for 72 AP -> 4.73 shoots for 90 AP -> 4.84 shoots for 92 AP

Cryoliquid Blob Pistol or Incendiary Blob Pistol (25 AP Base)
Dexterity reduction
DEX 18 PER 10 -> 15AP/Shoot -> 11AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)
DEX 17 PER 11 -> 16AP/Shoot -> 12AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)
DEX 16 PER 12 -> 16AP/Shoot -> 12AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)
DEX 15 PER 13 -> 17AP/Shoot -> 13AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)
DEX 14 PER 14 -> 18AP/Shoot -> 14AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)
DEX 13 PER 15 -> 19AP/Shoot -> 15AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)
DEX 12 PER 16 -> 19AP/Shoot -> 15AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt) <- I'm here
DEX 11 PER 17 -> 20AP/Shoot -> 16AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)
DEX 10 PER 18 -> 21AP/Shoot -> 17AP/Shoot (with Advanced Catalyzing Belt)

I think DEX 14 is the sweet spot because I can get 5 Acid/Fire attacks with the Acid Pistol in the first round with 70 AP.

And if I pop a DEX consumable + Adrenaline then I can get 6 .44 Hammerer attacks in the second round.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[toro]

Some progress

Spoiler

As usual I cannot decide between Free Drones and Protectorate.

I have 300+ hours in this game and I never finished the questline for either one.

That being said, I skipped this part again ... until I can make my mind. Or not.

Anyway, first stop after saving Buzzer was Foundry ... looking for a sexy widow

It didn't worked out therefore I went to Core City to grind some gangsters.

Is this character new?

He's got a point

Biocorp Oil or Gutter Oil. What is the difference anyway !?

These fuckers required some special handling. The is a dog called Spike.

Looks like Free Drones or Protectorate is the same shit.

There is no good choice between these two factions. However at some point I think I will go with the Free Drones because the Protectorate messed around with the Omega Station which attacked SGS.

Bottom line: I've leveled up, crafted a new .44 Hammerer and started increasing the Chemical skill.

 

[hell bovine]

I don't think I've finished the questline for either, since I lost patience with both factions before the end. But FD have Kokoschka and he is one of the most entertaining NPCs in the game.

 

[toro]

I had good run ... for a while.

Spoiler

I really loved this fight. It was almost perfect.

Yeah. I'm no longer out of bubblegum.

Not pictured: fucked around Core City, in the end I decided to go to Foundry.

I thought that my traps were enough

Promising start.

But the spawns on Dominating are insane.

I resisted 2 or 3 waves but this is too much: in the end they reached my team and I rage quit

Fire doesn't do damage to the Bladelings and the Ambush did not trigger as consistent as I wanted (mostly because I did not position myself correctly).

I need a completely new strategy for this fight. Probably gas grenades, poisoned traps, tons of WC2 bullets and a much better chemical pistol.

 

[hell bovine]

Yep, you need gas grenades for that fight. And expedition has better acids, if you don't mind delaying the beast showdown.

edit: Also, if you are branching into chem pistols, get both cooked shot and mad chemist. That and the advanced catalyzing belt is all you need. There is nice synergy you can use here: incendiary pistols to set things on fire and start ambushes, acid pistols for robots and (possibly, I haven't tested them) cryo pistols for stacking hypothermia on top of gas grenades. Just checked the wiki, you need cryogas grenades for that.

 

[ItsChon]

If you can't get gas grenades, traps till about the end of the fencing right next to the plasma sentry, along with some level 3-4 grenades, and crawler caltrops will be enough.

 

[Sheepherder]

Ambush won't work against bladelings. They are immune to crits.

 

[toro]

Ambush won't work against bladelings. They are immune to crits.

I just noticed that Ambush is not working on them but I will be honest and admit that I never thought about it.

Now I'm reading the Bladeling description on wiki.

If you can't get gas grenades, traps till about the end of the fencing right next to the plasma sentry, along with some level 3-4 grenades, and crawler caltrops will be enough.

Are you sure? Because on Dominating they come with increased action points and other buffs.

Thanks anyway. I will probably try it because I don't plan to defuse all those traps.

Yep, you need gas grenades for that fight. And expedition has better acids, if you don't mind delaying the beast showdown.

edit: Also, if you are branching into chem pistols, get both cooked shot and mad chemist. That and the advanced catalyzing belt is all you need. There is nice synergy you can use here: incendiary pistols to set things on fire and start ambushes, acid pistols for robots and (possibly, I haven't tested them) cryo pistols for stacking hypothermia on top of gas grenades. Just checked the wiki, you need cryogas grenades for that.

Yeah. I will postpone this fight for at least 2 more levels. My tailoring skill is like 15 therefore I don't have a real reason to win the fight.

Incendiary pistols are not really needed because upgraded Incendiary Grenades are absolute insane on regular mobs. Magnesium Grenade is already a big improvement versus Molotovs and the AOE is bigger than for Incendiary pistols.

 

[Sykar]

Am I glad I never tried this fight with a pure crit knife build. Must be rage inducing.

 

[Sheepherder]

That fight is trivial if you use Assad grenades+bear traps+mk.1 molotovs+regular caltrops. Molotovs and caltrops become very effective once bladelings get Contaminated debuf from the gas.
Keep 3 active gas grenades at the entrance and a chug a molotov every time CD runs out.

Am I glad I never tried this fight with a pure crit knife build. Must be rage inducing.

It was okay with an energy blade knife. I did it with just bear traps and caltrops. Tedious but doable. The most difficult part was finding an energy emitter for sale.

 

[hell bovine]

Incendiary pistols are not really needed because upgraded Incendiary Grenades are absolute insane on regular mobs. Magnesium Grenade is already a big improvement versus Molotovs and the AOE is bigger than for Incendiary pistols.

True that. But cooked shot is worth getting anyway, if you are using chem pistols and have limited temporal increment, because it's on a 2 turn cd.

 

[just]

they better make dual wielding pistols in the dlc or else
i probably wont do anything

 

[ItsChon]

Are you sure? Because on Dominating they come with increased action points and other buffs.

Thanks anyway. I will probably try it because I don't plan to defuse all those traps.

Yeah I'm fairly certain. On dominating I did it with a Spear build, so I was literally just chucking grenades at them till they got to the very end of my traps, and I managed to beat it, so I'm sure you could manage just fine with a pistol build. My spear build was tanky af tho, so I was able to body block some of them which helped, but I'd say your ability to hit them from a distance equals that out. Napalm/Magnesium grenades help along with the MIII-MIV grenades, and crawler stuff really is hyper important because it stunning them lets you chunk a bunch of them with grenades and allows Saban, Dan, and the Plasma Sentry to keep dealing damage. Just make sure you have a fuck ton of bear traps covering the entire right side.

 

[toro]

I took a break from the game because the Foundry was a real downer for my Pistol build. The play-through was fun until enemies defense skills get out of hand on Dominating. I could kill Burrowers and Lurkers but Bladelings and Ironheads were a completely different story. The only way to progress was to bring tons of traps but that's simply unfeasible for Deep Caverns where all mobs have insane mechanical DT/DR. For example Bladelings have Mechanical: 75%/20.

It's probably possible to finish the game with a pure Pistol build but I'm not sure it could be enjoyable.

That being said, I've tried a Chemical Pistol build but I gave up because the ammo is expensive as shit. I guess these pistols can become really awesome from lvl20+ (with all the right feats).

And then I decided to stop being retarded and go Major Laser

Spoiler

Old Jonas is a bro

Someone was complaining about the writing in Underrail. In fact it's pretty great.

I've played this part so many times that I could do it in one try: traps everywhere, bait Psi Beetles and annihilate them all with 2 Molotovs.

I got lucky and I found a special crevice New content is always welcomed.

Unfortunately the location is pretty high level for me. I'm not sure about it but I will try to explore it again in my next game session.

Practicing Ambush in GMS compound.

Perfect Ambush. It just works

Grover spilling the beans.

Isle of Despair

Maura's Cell Key can be found in the Medical Bay. Awesome. The entire mission can be stealth-ed.

I've spent 20 min looking for one Oddity. Thank you God!

My para-olympic Laser Pistol avatar

Why Intelligence? Because of High-Technicalities -> 48% more damage at 11 INT. Not to mention the Crafting skills bonus.
Also 9 DEX + Eel Sandwich means 12AP/Shot. Just perfect until now.

To be continued. Next time I will do the Depot A with a Laser Pistol + Traps + Magnesium Grenades.

 

[toro]

I think this is it The most fun build I've played: no more fucking around with ammo, huge boost for Crafting skills and it's not boring as pure Psi or sniper builds are.

The damage from High-Technicalities is making a huge difference. In combination with Ambush is very effective.

Also I finally understood how Ambush works - always attack from the darkest tile. It's the only thing that works consistently.

The build is basically done with Psycho-Temporal Acceleration, Sharpshooter and Critical Power. Then Power Management and Practical Physicist will be like topping on the cake.

I'm really having fun with this build. I cannot wait to fuck those Bladelings.

The only unknown is if I should go for 13 PER 14 INT, 14 PER 13 INT or some other combination.

Spoiler

At this point I can dream the Depot A. This was a short game session (barely 2 hours with pauses and shit).

It took me like 5 tries to clean up this level ... with significantly less traps than before.

Goodies. I didn't know this blueprint was here.

I just need Biology 50 in order to craft it.

 

[lukaszek]

deterministic system > RNG

 

[toro]

id try ambush had it worked with throwing knives

This fight on Dominating without Ambush is hard for a Pistol build.



Edit: I don't know why the video quality is so low. Maybe it takes some time on utube servers.

 

[toro]

long post with spoilers

Spoiler

I've finally explored the new location found near Mushroom Cove.

The boss for this location is random. I got Mr. Dom. He died with dignity

Quest end. New NPC.

Grover is trying to be funny

Me when I see Burrowers

Corona virus

My favorite trick. How to get a free Death Stalker oddity

Jon the Beautiful I love the writing.

Evelyn almost destroyed that turret

My build is almost done.

Spoiler

I increased Dexterity to 10 because I was sick of Eel Sandwiches. I plan to put one more point in Intelligence and then go full Perception.

I just need 2 crafting feats for electronic stuff and high quality materials.

Not pictured but critical damage bonus is like 325% or something like this. I will screenshot it next time.

I really like this build because it's punchy and one critical it's one kill (most of the time).

This fight could have gone better but it's alright considering that I did not use Ambush. Also I only used a trap and a mine for it.

I have a feeling that most non-Psi builds can be divided in two categories:
1) Without crafting-> build must be focused on special attacks and the according feats for increasing damage with special attacks,
2) With crafting -> build must be focused on critical hit chance and critical damage bonus but the special attacks feats are not really required.

Of course, crafting and special attacks can be combined but it would be a shame not to go for that High Critical Bonus Weapon + Sharpshooter + Critical Power combination.

 

[hell bovine]

toro
That new location is a random dungeon; layout reminds roughly the same, what changes is the theme. I see you've got the bdsm psionic. :D