Thanks to each of you for your insights.:) NobleExperiment has bested Diablo, and is now starting Act V at level 27.
At 15, I charmed his Dex up to use a Throwing Spear of Ease, and at 16 he was sufficiently Dextrous to wield a Massive Throwing Spear, which served him well until level 21. At that point, I switched to Zeal with a Malice Grand Scepter with +1 Zeal. I might have pursued a better one, but by the time I found this scepter I had already bought another with two sockets and +3 Zeal. He has +1 All Skills from Tarnhelm, and four hit Zeal was quite sufficient to take him to the Travincal WP at level 24.
At that point, I decided to experiment with Smite, even though the damage from his Heraldic Shield as shown on the LCS was still paltry compared to the other available options. NobleExperiment Smote his way from Stormtree through a full clear of Lower Kurast, the Bazaar, and both Temples, while wielding the Malice Grand Scepter, taking a most unholy delight in watching Smitten, stunned monsters bleed to death from single hits.:D
At level 25, NE was joined by my son's Werebear. He switched to the Strength Grand Scepter and Zeal for the Council and Mephisto, but Smote other monsters with the Malice Grand Scepter. He soloed with Smite to the City of the Damned WP, switching to the Strength weapon for Izual (but sticking with Smite rather than Zeal). From the CoD WP to the RoF, I had the pleasure of playing with my son and my grandson together for the first time ever.:wub: NE stuck with Smite and Malice except for Hephasto, whom he Smote with Strength.
A Snowy Balanced Knife of Storms enabled NobleExperiment to avoid any risk from IM, and he soloed the Chaos Sanctuary cautiously but quickly.B) He Smote Diablo while wielding the Strength Grand Scepter.
@ Doc: NE's faithful, fierce, and fiery companion so far has been Tylena, whose gear since level 12 has included a Short Battle Bow with a flawed Sapphire and a pair of standard Rubies and a gemmed BP giving her +7 max damage and 2-6 Cold damage. At 16, she received a circlet with +3 minimum damage. I'm a total twinker within the limits of my means, and normally my Rogues are much better equipped by this point (typically with an Edge Razor or Double Bow and much more damage from hat and armor). However, Tylena is still so effective that I haven't felt a strong need to improve her gear. I will likely switch to a Prayer merc when NE hits 28, mainly because I have a +16 Meditation ethereal Insight Partizan sitting idle on a mule.
@ librarian: Thank you very much for the screen shots.:) I opened each of them in separate tabs, so I could view them as a slide show. My later experience replicated yours, with the added bonus of not needing to re-Smite many monsters, thanks to OW.
@ Dirsch: Thank you very much for your insights into the possibilities of auraless auto-Smiting. I have used auto-attacking extensively with Dragon Talon Assassins, Spearazons, melee Javazons, and melee Enchantresses. In fact, the Paladin's inability to auto-attack with an aura active has been as big a factor in my reluctance to play the class as the lack of a summonable minion. It may well be that Malice's 100% OW, combined with Smite's 100% CtH, could make auto-Smiting effective even in Hell. I'll be aggressively searching for a three-socket Phase Blade...
My first attempts at slvl 2 Conversion did not excite me. However, since my previous post I've gambled +3 Combat Skills hat and amulet for NE, and I have an otherwise useless-to-me Gul which will no doubt find its way into a Principle. I'll evaluate Conversion further when +skills items can boost its level.
Thanks again for all the help.:)
At 15, I charmed his Dex up to use a Throwing Spear of Ease, and at 16 he was sufficiently Dextrous to wield a Massive Throwing Spear, which served him well until level 21. At that point, I switched to Zeal with a Malice Grand Scepter with +1 Zeal. I might have pursued a better one, but by the time I found this scepter I had already bought another with two sockets and +3 Zeal. He has +1 All Skills from Tarnhelm, and four hit Zeal was quite sufficient to take him to the Travincal WP at level 24.
At that point, I decided to experiment with Smite, even though the damage from his Heraldic Shield as shown on the LCS was still paltry compared to the other available options. NobleExperiment Smote his way from Stormtree through a full clear of Lower Kurast, the Bazaar, and both Temples, while wielding the Malice Grand Scepter, taking a most unholy delight in watching Smitten, stunned monsters bleed to death from single hits.:D
At level 25, NE was joined by my son's Werebear. He switched to the Strength Grand Scepter and Zeal for the Council and Mephisto, but Smote other monsters with the Malice Grand Scepter. He soloed with Smite to the City of the Damned WP, switching to the Strength weapon for Izual (but sticking with Smite rather than Zeal). From the CoD WP to the RoF, I had the pleasure of playing with my son and my grandson together for the first time ever.:wub: NE stuck with Smite and Malice except for Hephasto, whom he Smote with Strength.
A Snowy Balanced Knife of Storms enabled NobleExperiment to avoid any risk from IM, and he soloed the Chaos Sanctuary cautiously but quickly.B) He Smote Diablo while wielding the Strength Grand Scepter.
@ Doc: NE's faithful, fierce, and fiery companion so far has been Tylena, whose gear since level 12 has included a Short Battle Bow with a flawed Sapphire and a pair of standard Rubies and a gemmed BP giving her +7 max damage and 2-6 Cold damage. At 16, she received a circlet with +3 minimum damage. I'm a total twinker within the limits of my means, and normally my Rogues are much better equipped by this point (typically with an Edge Razor or Double Bow and much more damage from hat and armor). However, Tylena is still so effective that I haven't felt a strong need to improve her gear. I will likely switch to a Prayer merc when NE hits 28, mainly because I have a +16 Meditation ethereal Insight Partizan sitting idle on a mule.
@ librarian: Thank you very much for the screen shots.:) I opened each of them in separate tabs, so I could view them as a slide show. My later experience replicated yours, with the added bonus of not needing to re-Smite many monsters, thanks to OW.
@ Dirsch: Thank you very much for your insights into the possibilities of auraless auto-Smiting. I have used auto-attacking extensively with Dragon Talon Assassins, Spearazons, melee Javazons, and melee Enchantresses. In fact, the Paladin's inability to auto-attack with an aura active has been as big a factor in my reluctance to play the class as the lack of a summonable minion. It may well be that Malice's 100% OW, combined with Smite's 100% CtH, could make auto-Smiting effective even in Hell. I'll be aggressively searching for a three-socket Phase Blade...
My first attempts at slvl 2 Conversion did not excite me. However, since my previous post I've gambled +3 Combat Skills hat and amulet for NE, and I have an otherwise useless-to-me Gul which will no doubt find its way into a Principle. I'll evaluate Conversion further when +skills items can boost its level.
Thanks again for all the help.:)
Zyr