Posted May 19, 2022
edit: Most up to date version of my post and comment on the Steam Discussion.
Just gonna mention that I'm using Windows 7 64bit because maybe other systems won't have these problems.
Resurrection build
The resurrection build is broken. Rez'd enemies don't deal or receive damage.
Eventually realized that the rez'd could be used as cannon fodder that refuse to drop. Guess that'd make you a Dark Souls Necromancer and your rez'd non-stopping skeletons.
Throwing Weapons build
Also broken.
Throwing Knives have an 80% chance to phase through solid objects and land blocks away (new bug). This combined with them not being visible on the ground most of the time (old bug worsened) makes the Throwing Skill unusable unless you're drowning in wondons.
This is sad, btw, because there are new types of throwing knives now. :|
Stealth Thrower was my original build (pre-v1.1) and it was damn near OP. The only weakness was a mofo with a helmet.
Plasma Guns
Plasma's been working wonderfully, though. Having 2d and 2p in Plasma Guns along with 2d in Perception feels like overkill. 3H Harry almost died from a single headshot.
Repair
Repair started off working fine for me and, a session or two later, ended up bugged. Out of 5 tries, it failed to do anything (and wasted my repair kits) 4 times. Test this out for yourself before settling on your character's build. That all being said, the main thing I used it for was creating a Wrench Drone, so it was a worthwhile investment for me anyway, especially since Hacking lets me acquire the wondons needed to buy new items.
Tried it 3-4 more times on 2-3 items between 2 sessions. It ain't workin', y'all.
Others
Having 2p in 1-Handed Edge just for whatever knife I find has worked well so far. Don't wanna waste the Plasma shots on low-hp enemies.
Should clarify that I eventually spent a skill chip on 1-Handed Edge to get myself to a fairly needed 3p. 2p was manageable, but dem 3's be makin' a difference.
Hacking's been working fine.
Burst fire is great for crowd control.
Laser shots ricochet off walls.
[And Plasma shots disintegrate wonderfully.]
My Plasma Tech build's been working very well for me so far, but I admittedly haven't faced a second boss yet. The Wrench Drone supplements my absent Burglary skill excellently (generally speaking, highest skill in the party is the one that's used).
XP vs Exploration Mode
I've been exploration-only since the first major patch, but haven't really played the latest long enough to say if it's still worthwhile. I assume it's still the challenge run of the two, though. Keep in mind that the game originally was exploration mode only. I'm guessing most players just weren't having it and the developers compromised.
Thinking about it, it might be accurate to see XP mode as easy mode that allows jack of all trades and exploration mode as challenge mode that restricts your build rather realistically.
Difficulty
The game might've been made so much easier that 1) our builds are no longer restricted to two things (basically) and 2) the "expect to reroll" idea is effectively thrown out the window if bugs aren't taken into account.
inb4 somebody tells me I'm wrong.
Burglary & Hack
Burglary and Hack uses the companion with the highest stat who's on-screen (or whichever is the closest to you?), so command them to stand somewhere off-screen when needed.
Companions
If you give them items, expect those items to disappear. If they say "This will be an upgrade", assume they're using those items. If you want to control which items they use, put them in the corresponding group (e.g.: melee vs ranged) and hover over their group icon to see which weapon's their current favorite (because that's the one they're using). Everything they have will be loot upon their death (yes, I've tested this... with explosive plasma rounds).
Discord
As always, gonna recommend the Discord in general for information and answers. Pretty much everything here is my own advice based on my own experience. There's plenty more to be found in the #mechajammer and #character-sheets channel.
This comment and the ones around it are hella helpful for figuring out your build, btw. Highly recommended.
Additionals:
Durability
If you somehow have a 0% durability armor in your inventory (because it didn't break for some reason), it's probably not factoring into your stats. On the flip side, my acidic knife has been stuck at 77% for multiple sessions now. :D
The infi-durability bug/blessing doesn't apply to everything. Upgraded a Machete with acid and hallucinogen then noticed the new main actually being affected for hitting crates and doors. I'm assuming the same will apply to hitting enemies. Hopefully, the acidic knife is still infi-durable.
I'm really unsure of whether or not durability affects companions. Still waiting for Aldo's club to break, but he seems to still be using it.
I thought it did for a sec, but seems to have been a bug considering his favorite switched back from Wrench after I put him in a Ranged group for a short while.
Not sure why companions stop autohealing from time to time, but it seems to kick back in without a problem during combat, so I don't mind it much.
My Wrench Drone, on the other hand? Tends to autoheal up to a certain %.
Just gonna mention that I'm using Windows 7 64bit because maybe other systems won't have these problems.
Resurrection build
The resurrection build is broken. Rez'd enemies don't deal or receive damage.
Eventually realized that the rez'd could be used as cannon fodder that refuse to drop. Guess that'd make you a Dark Souls Necromancer and your rez'd non-stopping skeletons.
Throwing Weapons build
Also broken.
Throwing Knives have an 80% chance to phase through solid objects and land blocks away (new bug). This combined with them not being visible on the ground most of the time (old bug worsened) makes the Throwing Skill unusable unless you're drowning in wondons.
Stealth Thrower was my original build (pre-v1.1) and it was damn near OP. The only weakness was a mofo with a helmet.
Plasma's been working wonderfully, though. Having 2d and 2p in Plasma Guns along with 2d in Perception feels like overkill. 3H Harry almost died from a single headshot.
Repair
Repair started off working fine for me and, a session or two later, ended up bugged. Out of 5 tries, it failed to do anything (and wasted my repair kits) 4 times. Test this out for yourself before settling on your character's build. That all being said, the main thing I used it for was creating a Wrench Drone, so it was a worthwhile investment for me anyway, especially since Hacking lets me acquire the wondons needed to buy new items.
Tried it 3-4 more times on 2-3 items between 2 sessions. It ain't workin', y'all.
Others
Having 2p in 1-Handed Edge just for whatever knife I find has worked well so far. Don't wanna waste the Plasma shots on low-hp enemies.
Should clarify that I eventually spent a skill chip on 1-Handed Edge to get myself to a fairly needed 3p. 2p was manageable, but dem 3's be makin' a difference.
Hacking's been working fine.
Burst fire is great for crowd control.
Laser shots ricochet off walls.
[And Plasma shots disintegrate wonderfully.]
XP vs Exploration Mode
I've been exploration-only since the first major patch, but haven't really played the latest long enough to say if it's still worthwhile. I assume it's still the challenge run of the two, though. Keep in mind that the game originally was exploration mode only. I'm guessing most players just weren't having it and the developers compromised.
Thinking about it, it might be accurate to see XP mode as easy mode that allows jack of all trades and exploration mode as challenge mode that restricts your build rather realistically.
The game might've been made so much easier that 1) our builds are no longer restricted to two things (basically) and 2) the "expect to reroll" idea is effectively thrown out the window if bugs aren't taken into account.
Burglary & Hack
Burglary and Hack uses the companion with the highest stat who's on-screen (or whichever is the closest to you?), so command them to stand somewhere off-screen when needed.
Companions
If you give them items, expect those items to disappear. If they say "This will be an upgrade", assume they're using those items. If you want to control which items they use, put them in the corresponding group (e.g.: melee vs ranged) and hover over their group icon to see which weapon's their current favorite (because that's the one they're using). Everything they have will be loot upon their death (yes, I've tested this... with explosive plasma rounds).
Discord
As always, gonna recommend the Discord in general for information and answers. Pretty much everything here is my own advice based on my own experience. There's plenty more to be found in the #mechajammer and #character-sheets channel.
This comment and the ones around it are hella helpful for figuring out your build, btw. Highly recommended.
Additionals:
Durability
If you somehow have a 0% durability armor in your inventory (because it didn't break for some reason), it's probably not factoring into your stats. On the flip side, my acidic knife has been stuck at 77% for multiple sessions now. :D
The infi-durability bug/blessing doesn't apply to everything. Upgraded a Machete with acid and hallucinogen then noticed the new main actually being affected for hitting crates and doors. I'm assuming the same will apply to hitting enemies. Hopefully, the acidic knife is still infi-durable.
I'm really unsure of whether or not durability affects companions. Still waiting for Aldo's club to break, but he seems to still be using it.
I thought it did for a sec, but seems to have been a bug considering his favorite switched back from Wrench after I put him in a Ranged group for a short while.
Not sure why companions stop autohealing from time to time, but it seems to kick back in without a problem during combat, so I don't mind it much.
My Wrench Drone, on the other hand? Tends to autoheal up to a certain %.
Post edited September 18, 2022 by yarow12