Encourage has it's uses even when it seems pointless at the surface. But I've found after act 1 it's more of a utility than a combat choice, but still very useful. It allows characters to equip equipment that they normally wouldn't without having to invest another point into the attribute requriements.
ie.. Gloves with thievery on them that require 1 point more in str than your toon has. Pop encouragement, equip the gloves, pick the lock/steal/whatever. Can also be useful to pass skill checks in dialogs. Not enough str? Suppose you need to pass a str check... Popping encouragement gives you another point in str, which may or may not help. But pop encouragement to equip an item (when you normally couldn't) that has a bonus to str itself, then Encouragement and the item's bonus stack.
Granted that as a combat skill it seems undewhelming compared to other race's special skills. But the other race's special skills don't have utility outside of combat.
:shrug: take it as you will.
Last edited by DenverRalphy; 20/01/18 07:48 PM.
