I posted this over the Brute forums but it was hidden in an unrelated thread and either flew under the radar or none felt like trying it, so I bring here to the +4x8 buffed enemies, debuffed players solo crowd.
I went to look for the same Shepherds that crushed my Fire/Ice Tanker and got crushed again, but this time without Ice Patch to save the day it is safe to say that doing it at +1x8 was going to be impossible (I stopped after dying twice to the first group of mobs I found, both times under ten seconds). I wanted to test to see if the extra damage would make a difference and if my first experience had been a fluke, but it wasn't, and it didn't.
It has to be said that Shepherds are a bit insane. Just look at all that they can do:
https://archive.paragonwiki.com/wiki/Shepherds
Broadswords attacks to -def, Tar Patches to -res, Vengeance when killing enemies, World of Pain. And on top of that stacking -tohit from regular attacks. Booyah.
Cimerorians are a joke compared to these guys. An ITF with them instead of romans would not make an ITF a walk in the park.
For someone who wants bragging rights the only place I found them was in the First Ward first chapter. Bracket 24-29:
Got to do a bit of talking first then two quick missions. The third one is all Shepherds.
Eagerly waiting for tales of victory or defeat!