Tech specialist build

Lostname475

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Apr 3, 2023
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What's a decent attack drone tech specialist build? Abilities, equipment? Possibly doing a melee focused build. Any suggestions?
 

Anonymous Bat

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Feb 16, 2023
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Oh, melee/drone Tech Specialist is my build of choice! It's been over a year since I last played, so I haven't tried the level 13 abilities and some of my equipment might be a touch outdated, but here's my loadout:

Abilities:
  • Attack Drone
  • Charge Weapon
  • Power Surge
  • Gravidic Disruptor
  • Weapon Tweaks
  • Charge Shield (unused; see gameplay notes)
  • Second Attack
  • Drone Control
  • Linked Emitters
  • Overclock (unused; see gameplay notes)
  • Specialized Combatant

Equipment:
  • Reaper 'AA' Stun Rod (Use Custom Shock Gear if you don't have Specialized Combatant, or if you just prefer the idea of fisticuffs. Stun chance is really useful, so I try to stick to energy weapons with stun chance.)
  • Warden Shield
  • Paragon Hazard Armor
  • Prototype Pirate Shield
  • Siegwulfe Personal Droid (Fenris-Class Assault Drone, Version 2.0 also works well)

Combat Implant:
* Combat Tail (Use either Steroidal Muscle Augment or Cybernetic Subprocessor if you don't want to replace your tail, but the Combat Tail outperforms both of them by a fairly large margin in this build)

Gameplay:
  • 90% of the time you can just spam melee attack; in longer fights you'll want to activate Charge Weapon for a significant damage boost and then spam melee attack.
  • Paralyzing Shock is a virtually guaranteed stun (with max INT) which can lock down unusually dangerous foes.
  • Gravidic Disruptor is kept in reserve for enemies with electric resistance (looking at you, Janeria)—Thermal Disruptor was not chosen juuust in case someone ends up having simultaneous electric and thermal resistances.
  • Power Surge was chosen over Deflector Regeneration for its more reliable energy restoration.
  • I don't find Charge Shield or Overclock to be worth spending the turn/energy on, but I don't like Shield Hack or Deployable Turret either, so pick whichever of those you like most I guess.
  • As previously stated, I haven't tried the level 13 abilities, so I'll refrain from commenting on them. I'm pretty happy with my combat routine, though, so I reckon it's not likely I'd use either of them.

It's probably the most braindead build you can possibly use in this game. Appealingly simple for some, boring for others.

P.S. Make sure your character has wings so you can melee flying enemies. If you really don't want wings, you'll need to either equip a jetpack (superseding Siegwulfe/Fenris) or alter the build to make ranged attacks actually somewhat viable.


Edit: Not sure who's going to end up seeing this, but I finally did a new playthrough and, with that updated experience, agree with nearly everything said by Theron four replies down. Still prefer Specialized Combatant, though!
 
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Lostname475

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Apr 3, 2023
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Thanks for the advice, and i literally only ever play as half-gryvain so the wings shouldn't pose a problem. Is stun chance better than 10 extra damage? Because the dancing flashblade looks pretty strong
 
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TheShepard256

Well-Known Member
Is stun chance better than 10 extra damage?
If you can get the stun off regularly (which you can do by maxing Physique), yes. Stunning enemies means they can't attack you - in single enemy battles (i.e. the majority of all battles in the game), that means each stun is a turn your enemy does nothing, both allowing you to get more attacks in for free and allowing you to regen your shields a bit with Rapid Recharge (which all Tech Specialists get) since you're not taking any damage that turn.
 

Lostname475

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Apr 3, 2023
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That is unfortunate. On the one hand, i adore optimising my builds. On the other swords are cool. I'll need to condiser this
 

Theron

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Nov 8, 2018
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I also play Melee Drone tech, but my build differs from Anonymous Bat in a few ways.

I prefer Deflector Regeneration over Power Surge. It's 4/3 as many Shields and 40 Energy. It's spread over 4 rounds, but Tech has Energy problems. Power Potions are inventory items now, which helps.

I'd also recommend Deployable Turret over Overclock. The Turret has 200 Shields and Health and is a great distraction, which increases your survivability, especially when you factor in Rapid Recharge. It's not necessary every fight, but it's useful when it comes up.

I take Second Striker over Specialized Combatant because I like to be able to use my Ranged slot for things other than as a Stat Stick. Stun/Paralyze makes all your attacks hit, and Drones always hit. If you take Specialized Combatant, there's also the Hardlight Chakram, which has 10 Evasion.

Another melee option is the Magma Crusher. Burn actually does decent damage now, since it's based on the weapon's base Burning damage and stacks. Note that X Chance flags like Burn or Stun do not apply unless you're doing HP or Lust damage.

I also recommend you have a source of healing, like the Hirudo Devourer or NaN Deconstructor There are a few attacks that ignore Shields and Techs have no in-class way of restoring HP. You could also rely on consumables like Healing Poultice.

If your Melee weapon is Crushing, you might consider a Freeze Chance weapon like the Ice Lance. An extra damage type can be useful for getting around resistances and Static Strike is extremely good for detonating Deep Freeze (2x Melee damage + 2x Int) (x 2 vs Deep Freeze).

The Custom Weapon system should be made public next update, which might change recommended weapons considerably.
 
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Anonymous Bat

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Feb 16, 2023
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I prefer Deflector Regeneration over Power Surge. It's 4/3 as many Shields and 40 Energy. It's spread over 4 rounds, but Tech has Energy problems.
Not sure if this bug is still kicking around, but the problem I've had with Deflector Regeneration is that on any turn in which it doesn't restore shield (due to shield being full), it also won't restore energy. Bugs aside, I prefer Power Surge for getting a quick energy boost in random encounters which aren't likely to last more than 1-2 turns.
 

Lostname475

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Apr 3, 2023
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What's the difference between siegwulfe and fenris 2.0? Is it just damge types? Or do they have different stats?
 

Theron

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What's the difference between siegwulfe and fenris 2.0? Is it just damge types? Or do they have different stats?
They do have slightly different stats.
Siegwulfe does pure Kinetic, gives bonus Evasion and you can fuck her.
Tam-Wolf 2.0 does mostly Kinetic and a small amount of Electric (which is more impactful than it sounds).

There's a base damage readout in the Codex (Stats>Combat)
 
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Adda

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Jun 23, 2022
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Tech Op and Kineticist are my favorite classes. For Tech Op I go the drone rout but unlike many, prefer the ranged weapon (aim) options. In part, I prefer this because of how easy it is to max out my stats (I find Aim the hardest to raise outside of leveling). When leveling, I max aim and save the rest of my points until late game after I've spent a little time on a workout bench. Intelligence is the easiest stat to raise outside of leveling until a certain someone takes off for a different planet. This is usually at level 9 but I've had them stick around all the way to level 12. After they take off, I'll max Intelligence every level as well. When all mys scores are maxed, I usually still have more than 50 unspent leveling points.

I usually take the turret option and add a cybernetic combat tail and use some sort of shock gun. At high levels, my basic attack is three shock weapon attacks, a drone attack and a cyber tail attack (which benefits from drone control (or used too at least, not sure anymore)). It's been a while since I've played all the way to the last planet with a Tech Op but there's nothing on Dhaal that can compete against that build.
 
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Theron

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At high levels, my basic attack is three shock weapon attacks, a drone attack and a cyber tail attack (which benefits from drone control (or used too at least, not sure anymore)). It's been a while since I've played all the way to the last planet with a Tech Op but there's nothing on Dhaal that can compete against that build.
How are you getting three basic weapon attacks if you took the turret?

And what are you putting in the Melee slot?
 

Adda

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Jun 23, 2022
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Sorry, my bad. I'm taking Specialized Combatant at 12th. For some reason I was thinking that was three attacks rather than 2 full accuracy attacks. The only Tech I have saved right now is 11th level, she's using the Widow's Kiss in her melee slot. I use tease attack a fair bit at lower levels.

I probably should've said that I almost always have a strong tease build as my backup attack routine.
 
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