How can you complain about stat bloat then in the same breath claim that builds are gimped because the stats are one or two from max? You're making no sense.
What is the relation between the two? Optimization means taking every edge you can get. It's specially relevant when enemies are getting boosts to saves and AC due to higher stats on Unfair and Hard. One point in spell DC and attack bonus can be difference between hitting or not hitting.
One of the strengths of the game is how it makes all the stats matter (yes even CHR with all the Intimidation effects), but Jewb's already pretty Munchkined.
Flat out untrue. You CAN make CERTAIN stats matter by investing precious feats into your build. What use does Amiri have for intelligence? What use does she have for charisma? Charisma you can salvage by giving her cornugon smash and other intimidation feats, but, again, you could've built a custom merc with higher Cha and Str from the ground up for this. Again, U N O P T I M I Z E D.
Mercs get a lower point buy
Factually incorrect, with a few exceptions. Amiri, in fact, has a 5 POINT LOWER stat buy than normal and so does Jubilost. If you've played the game and theorycrafted as much as you seem to, you're either being disingenous or making egregious mistakes. Also, higher point buy means squat if they're tied up to the wrong stats.
and don't get Jewb's huge Companion quest reward.
Most of them are decent and just barely cover up the poor stat buys and class choices, others are borderline meaningless. Case in point, Amiri's swords are superseded by a ton of weapons in the game, even at the point where you get them. Jubilost's reviving on first world ability is nice, but ideally you want to be not dying in the first place and his +10 do knowledge checks are laughable.
But the main point to be made here is that these bonuses from companion quests come in at about 3/4 of the way through the game and the context of our discussion was whether I was giving myself a harder time in the beginning, which we've both agreed is BY FAR the biggest difficulty hurdle in the game, specially on Unfair and Hard - so much so that you yourself increase the difficulty gradually as the game goes on. Yay Valerie gets +2 STR and +2 CHA at a point where the game is already a cakewalk. Whoop-de-whoo.
Grenadier looks great and unfortunately is strictly better
Oh, so it's strictly better to make a Grenadier than a regular Alch? So Jubilost is strictly worse than a merc based on his class alone, while also having a 5 point lower stat buy than normal, suboptimal stat allocation AND a crappy companion quest reward?
No Archetype Barb (like the other Unchained classes) has one of the strongest first two levels in the game. You'd want to splash them if she didn't have them.
Uncanny dodge and Rage for 2+Con modifier is not worth a 2 lvl splash, what? Also if you're going straight barbarian route unkitted barb is worse than just about every other option.
Val's Bastard Sword proficiency fits perfect with Oppressor if you're using her high CHR (which you should be, as it gets boosted by her companion quest).
Yes, you can salvage her build in this way. OR make a main tank with better STR and DEX and leave the bastard sword and intimidation feats to someone else.
C'mon man, we've all figured this all out already. Why haven't you?
Are you capable of having a discussion without sounding so petulant and pedantic?
Last but not least you're missing the biggest point by far in why having mercs is superior: the ability to come up with a specialized party composition with whatever classes and races you want. Make a party of Alchemist + Cleric + 3 rangers + Ekundayo with the grossly overpowered animal companions of the base game and you'll trounce anything in your path 5 times easier than you would with companions.
The point was that making mercs makes the game easier, and that's true everywhere except for this imaginary realm where getting a small reward at fucking Act 6-7 makes up for everything else I mentioned.
