Larian Studios Forums Divinity - Original Sin Divinity Original Sin - Help/Tips/Tricks very basic question re gameplay/combat

Have just started playing the game, EE version.

How do I use melee characters together with AOE effects? Let´s say I spread and set fire to oil on the ground in order to slow and burn an enemy. I´m assuming that any melee character I send there to hit the enemy will also catch fire, so that´s not a bright idea?

Melee vs enemies that burn or have other states(?) is OK as long as there is no terrain AOE effect going on?

So AOE should be used to cc and attack areas that are away from any of my melee characters? Just want to be sure I´m not missing something, like the possibility for my characters to somehow be immune to AOE effects that my other characters are tossing around. :)

Short answer: carefully.

You can raise the resistances of melee characters (armour bonuses, a talent available with Man At Arms maxed, etc), and get immunity to some status effects (such as stunned) from traits, spells or equipment. There are also teleport spells or the scoundrel skill Winged Feet to get over surfaces, and with appropriate positioning, it may be possible to either wait for melee opponents to approach, or use a teleport spell to put them next to a melee character.

Melee vs such opponents is generally ok, but some opponents can bleed fire or poison, etc, when hit (it will mostly go in the opposite direction of the melee character, but there can be some splashback if you are close enough).

Near the beginning of the game it would probably be safest to keep melee characters away from surfaces and AOE effects (though the Zombie talent would allow a character to heal from poison, at the cost of taking damage from normal healing).

Hold your melee fighters back, and force the enemy to walk through the damaging surface. Concentrate your summons, mages and archers on enemy ranged opponents.

Thanks!