Ivels wrote:Okay, lets rephrase the question.
What is the minimum amount of work you need to do on a class that starts with no spells whatsoever to be able to qualify for the Hexes tree from GC?
Spend 11 generics on either an arcane escort's unlocked category or the Staff Combat tree (purchased unlocked at Angolwen). That's the simplest, most guaranteed way, though it's pretty expensive build-wise (particularly since your end goal is to unlock
another generic tree). You can, of course, inscribe runes instead of spending generics, but category points are more valuable than generics.
Note, however, that if you are a Shalore, your racials count as spells, so points spent there count as well. Only Shalore talents count, though (yes, on top of being a madman bent on creating a second Spellblaze, the Grand Corrupter is a racist, as well).
Hard Mode: with as little dependency on escort spawns as possible
As I mentioned above, you're guaranteed access to Staff Combat (it even saves you a category point).
European Extreme Mode: without using more than 3 generic talent points
Okay, now things get interesting. First off, you can always juggle a few points: Unlearn three generics, put the points into Staff Combat, smack down the Grand Corrupter, then unlearn them when you get to Zigur. That gets you down to 7 generics permanently invested.
Even if you don't want to spend any category points, you can fill the three inscription slots you start with with runes and keep some decent infusions on hand to replace them later. That gets you down to 4 generic points.
You can always keep a staff as your alternate weapon and swap to it when the Corrupter is injured. Staves grant you Command Staff, which counts as a talent. Of course, it means that the already dangerous Grand Corrupter is now even harder; viability depends on the class (a Bulwark would be better served just spending another generic point, for instance). That takes you to 3 generic talent points (and zero category points) permanently invested.
If using a staff seems too risky, you can instead hope to find a volcanic, striking, or void wand, using the wand's granted talent to replace Command Staff. Unfortunately, such wands are not as guaranteed as a staff. Still, it doesn't hurt to check the shops, just in case (keep your eyes open for any short staves, as well; weapon talents are generally compatible with those).
