Fortress Observations and Tutorial

Acumen

This content was shamelessly borrowed from u/bliznitch on r/harrypotterwu.

First, the observations:

• Players use different terminology. Some refer to the name of each level (Ruins I-V, Tower I-V, Forest I-V, Dark I-V), others the name of the level of the Fortress (Fortress levels 1-20), and others refer to the recommended Profession Grade
• Teammate bonuses are significant.
  • You earn +35% Challenge XP per added player (25% per teammate, another 10% if that teammate is an in-game friend)
  • My teammates were weaker than me. I can comfortably defeat Tower V (Fortress lv. 10), which nets me 77 Challenge XP using a lv. 1 Runestone. My teammates could only comfortably defeat Tower III (Fortress lv. 8), which netted me 100 Challenge XP in a team of 4 using a lv. 1 Runestone
• High level Runestones don't multiply Friendship bonuses
  • They only multiply Fortress level bonuses
  • If you can defeat higher Fortress levels solo, use high level Runestones solo.
  • If you can only defeat higher Fortress levels with teammates, use high level Runestones with teammates
• Profession Grade is an estimate
  • It was very obvious which players focused on attack and proficiency damage and which players did not... =/
• Constant communication is key
  • Basic strategies and strengths/weaknesses of each Profession are not immediately obvious to most players who have been playing for months
• Ideal teams have two Magizoologists, so they can revive one another and nobody has to use Healing Potions or Stamina Charms

That being said, I wanted to draft a quick tutorial that people can show to noobs for basic Team Fortress play without using potions, where the team has at least 1 of each Profession. (not advanced Fortress play, and not Fortress play where you're missing one Profession, since I don't have the experience for giving that advice)

Aurors

• Spells
  • Focus Charm - Essential
    • First give Focus to the Professor designated to cast the Proficiency Charm (they need 7 Focus to cast it)
    • Then give Focus to Magizoologists (keep their Focus slightly above 5)
    • Communicate with Professors and Magizoologists and stop giving them Focus when they tell you they don't need it
  • Weakness Hex - Awesome
    • Cast it on the strongest enemy that has full health if nobody else needs Focus
    • Prioritize Elite enemies or high star enemies
    • FTLOG, don't Hex an enemy that is just about to die
  • Confusion Hex - Awesome...if your Auror has memorized Confusion Hex weaknesses
    • Confusion Hex is only highly effective on 3+ Star (Imposing/Dangerous/Fierce) Werewolves, Dark Wizards, Erklings, and Pixies (thx u/Kaigen42)
    • Cast it on the strongest enemy susceptible to Confusion Hex that has full health if nobody else needs Focus
    • FTLOG, don't Hex an enemy that is just about to die
  • Bat Bogey Hex - Useless
    • Only spam at the end when you're waiting for your last teammate to **** an enemy
• Enemies
  • Prioritize Dark Forces (enemies with green up arrow next to them)
    • If there are no Dark Forces, attack any enemy enemy and run away to try to find another Dark Force to attack
    • If there are still no Dark Forces, attack any Oddity enemy (enemy without red down arrow next to them) and communicate with the busy Professors, letting them know that you are willing to back out and let them attack the Oddity when they are free.
    • If you can't attack any enemies at all, spam Bat Bogey Hexes at an engaged enemy
  • If a Magizoologist asks for Focus, **** your enemy first, then give Focus

Magizoologists

• Spells
  • Always tell Aurors if your Focus is close to falling below 5. You never want to lose your "Become the Beast" buff
  • Revive Charm - Essential, Awesome, Necessary
    • Ask players to tell you when they are just about to get knocked out (next hit knocks them out). Exit the battle and Revive them ASAP
    • In teams having two Magizoologists, communicate when you're low on health (not just when you're about to get knocked out) and make sure both don't get knocked out simultaneously
  • Bravery Charm - Awesome as needed
    • Will be useful against Elites, especially when it's leveled up (thx u/ThePeterpot)
    • May also be useful later when there are some Professors with Teamwork Makes the Dream Work (No professors have this yet)
  • Stamina Charm - Decent
    • If you have 2-3 Aurors throwing you Focus, it's nice to use this to heal yourself instead of using potions
    • Never worth casting if you have another Magizoologist on the team who communicates well
  • Mending Charm - Useless
    • Only spam at the end when you're waiting for your last teammate to **** an enemy
• Enemies
  • Prioritize Beasts (enemies with green up arrow next to them)
    • If there are no Beasts, attack any enemy enemy and run away to try to find another Beast to attack
    • If there are still no Beasts, attack any Dark Force enemy (enemy without red down arrow next to them) and communicate with the busy Aurors, letting them know that you are willing to back out and let them attack the Dark Force when they are free.
    • If you can't attack any enemies at all, spam Mending Charms at an engaged ally
  • If a teammate asks to be revived, run from the enemy, revive teammate, then come back to attack enemy

Professors

• Spells
  • Proficiency Charm - Essential
    • Only one Professor needs to cast the Proficiency Charm. Communicate with Professors and designate one Professor with the highest leveled Proficiency Charm to receive Focus from Aurors at the beginning
    • There is a visual bug with the Proficiency Charm. When you cast it, it appears that only one ally receives the buff, but in actuality all allies receive the buff
  • Deterioration Hex - Awesome
    • Cast on strongest enemy that has full health when you earn enough Focus
    • Prioritize Elite enemies (gold circle around enemy) and high-star enemies
    • FTLOG, don't Hex on an enemy that is just about to die
  • Protection Charm - Decent
    • Only worth casting on the entire team if you have 2 or more Professors, if you have oodles of enemies and time, or if you have Invigoration Potions to waste
    • Worth casting on your Magizoologist if you only have one. (thx u/Kaigen42)
    • Worth casting on yourself if you have Strength in Numbers, Confidence, or Teamwork Makes the Dream Work (I don't know any Professors who have any of these) (thx u/Kaigen42)
    • Will probably become more valuable in advanced play
  • Mending Charm - Useless
    • Only spam at the end when you're waiting for your last teammate to **** an enemy
• Enemies
  • Prioritize Oddities (enemies with green up arrow next to them)
    • If there are no Oddities, attack any enemy enemy and run away to try to find another Oddity to attack
    • If there are still no Oddities, attack any Beast enemy (enemy without red down arrow next to them) and communicate with the busy Magizoologists, letting them know that you are willing to back out and let them attack the Beast when they are free. Prioritize Erklings (thx u/Kaigen42)
    • If you can't attack any enemies at all, spam Mending Charms at an engaged ally

Dogoutlaw

Pretty sweet write up. It all makes sense... now to find others to battle with!

Osprey1

I would like to see something with similar depth written for solo or pair strategy.

For example, as a professor, I think it makes sense to attack your first opponent and then back out and attack pixies to build focus.

ElektrykalAJ

Wait, so @Acumen, we don't want to hex opponents that are almost dead?? 😂😋 Sounds like there was a bad experience...

Thanks for sharing, this is great. I agree with @Osprey1, a duos guide for the 6 combos would be sweet. Maybe I'll put something together for that if one doesn't pop up soon. I don't have many Aurors in my circles though... might have to leave that section out or just scour the internets.

Digitalis

so as a high level auror, who has a professor to play with often, i agree with the toss the professor all or most of my focus off the line. I have 4 starting and so does she.

my confusion hex is maxed out, so i will use that if i have focus. my weakness hex is 2 levels from max, if something hits hard it will get that.

i would add something that works well: i have the first strike skill, high power, pretty high critical damage, and pretty high precision. it is worth me jumping into a fight, making my first hit hoping for a critical hit, then running from it. if i get the bonus damage from the critical - cool, if not, still probably not a bad hit on whatever it is.

professor then takes that fight and finishes it off, while i am seeking my critical hit on everything else, starting with what she wants to fight next.

(sure, i give up kills this way, but i do not mind letting my lady get credit for kills - that said, can be a consideration.)

after i work my way through all the enemies once i will go back and go after any beasts to whittle them down until they knock me out so she can clean them up while i am sidelined. lastly go after the death eaters and dark wizards.

i give up kills, and see the knockout timer often enough - but is incredibly efficient process once you get into forest levels.

we have a magizoologist living here to, but he is level 18, professor is about to crack 30, and me as an auror about to hit 36.

when our zoo person levels up can comment on how he helps us, but for the time being its more us helping him at lower levels fortresses we can handle pretty easily when he is with us.

Acumen

I can't wait to put some of these ideas to use during the next community day. It's been difficult to get friends to meet up for the last month because it's SO EFFING HOT here in West Texas, but maybe a couple of them will be willing to brave the heat this weekend.

Neighborly

Good read. Learned a lot. I am solo most of the time so I don't have a clue about a well run team battle. I just dive in and pound away until I beat them all, lol. Pretty much clueless otherwise. For example, early on I lost a battle and that's when I figured out they were timed... duh ! And until reading this, I did not know you could back out of a fight and hit a different enemy for a bit. Interesting.

But I muddle through ok. Level 31. MagiZoologist is 2, Auror is 7, Professor is 13. Professor just unlocked Forest V, but it took half my potions to do it!

Cincinnati area, so give a shout if you are willing to put up with a Grawp on your team. 😀