07-14-2003, 09:52 PM
Well, I'll toss my findings in on this one too...my Avenger is level 49, about to finish up Nightmare Act 1, so take this with whatever grain of salt you wish.
So far, I've maxed Holy Freeze and Cold Resist. Next up on the to-max list is Vengeance, then I'll dump probably ten points in Conviction and Salvation apiece. My game plan (which has changed a bit) is to use bows (complete with piercing) for crowd control, and switch to Vengeance with a high damage 1H weapon for heavy work -- Conviction will be reserved for Iron Skins and Cold Immunes.
Stat-wise, my heaviest investments will be Vitality and Dexterity. My Holy Shield will most likely have to stay at slvl 1, so points in Dexterity will be paramount to keep my AR and blocking rate up. High Vitality is a given, and I'm probably only going to raise my Strength just high enough to use an elite weapon of my choice (I'm thinking as of now, Berserker Axe or Scourge).
Equipment-wise, I'm going to go for standard Avenger fare: IAS and leach where I can get it, followed by resists and a decent DR. I'm currently planning on using the improved chipped recipe to try to cube up a Cruel elite weapon with plenty of sockets, if it's even possible (Cruel Berserker Axe/Caduceus of Evisceration with six sockets would be heaven).
Of course, right now I'm nowhere near that. I've been lucky enough to scrounge up a Bloodletter for Vengeance and a Kuko Shakaku due to Normal Pindleskin and Nightmare Crypt/Mausoleum runs, and using Sigon's belt and gloves with Tearhaunch greaves; four socket (PDiamond) Aerin shield; rare +1 Paladin skills Circlet; mediocre rare Full Plate; dual Manald Heals; and a +2 Offensive Auras amulet.
Right now I deal 900-1400 with Kuko with Holy Freeze, and comparable damage with Vengeance/Conviction and Bloodletter. That's without his new Might merc (I traded in his Blessed Aim merc ASAP). His only problem comes in with AR (~800 naturally), but getting him above the level curve solved that problem quickly (has anyone else noticed that it doesn't seem to be monster AR/DR that's been improved, but a much greater weighting to the clvl/mlvl portion of the to-hit/experience formulae?). Not to mention Kuko's exploding arrows, Conviction, and the option to Eth my Bloodletter (I'll opt for Eth due to Jah not applying towards bosses).
When I get the chance, I'm planning on importing my old Avenger and a couple mules to 1.10 and tweaking the poor Ranger/Avenger to Hell--either Harle's or Vampgaze, Shaftstop (or a very nice Gris' armor filled with +15 max jewels), War Travs, Herald of Zakarum, Demon Machine, possibly Razortail, and a couple other goodies I have laying around.
Another possibility I've entertained for this Paladin is, instead of maxing Vengeance and pushing points into Conviction and/or Salvation, is maxing Holy Shock and Resist Lightning and pushing as many points as possible into Vengeance. This way, I have two elemental auras to use as I need as well as a much stronger Vengeance (which should make up for a substandard Conviction). Any thoughts?
As a sidenote, has anyone experimented with the Assassin skill Venom? I noticed it's received a substantial power boost, but it's .4 second duration sends up warning flags in that any other form of poison could possibly seriously detract from Venom's usefulness. I've been working on a Venom/bow/trap Assassin variant for 1.10 and I'm curious if she'd be even viable before she's created.
So far, I've maxed Holy Freeze and Cold Resist. Next up on the to-max list is Vengeance, then I'll dump probably ten points in Conviction and Salvation apiece. My game plan (which has changed a bit) is to use bows (complete with piercing) for crowd control, and switch to Vengeance with a high damage 1H weapon for heavy work -- Conviction will be reserved for Iron Skins and Cold Immunes.
Stat-wise, my heaviest investments will be Vitality and Dexterity. My Holy Shield will most likely have to stay at slvl 1, so points in Dexterity will be paramount to keep my AR and blocking rate up. High Vitality is a given, and I'm probably only going to raise my Strength just high enough to use an elite weapon of my choice (I'm thinking as of now, Berserker Axe or Scourge).
Equipment-wise, I'm going to go for standard Avenger fare: IAS and leach where I can get it, followed by resists and a decent DR. I'm currently planning on using the improved chipped recipe to try to cube up a Cruel elite weapon with plenty of sockets, if it's even possible (Cruel Berserker Axe/Caduceus of Evisceration with six sockets would be heaven).
Of course, right now I'm nowhere near that. I've been lucky enough to scrounge up a Bloodletter for Vengeance and a Kuko Shakaku due to Normal Pindleskin and Nightmare Crypt/Mausoleum runs, and using Sigon's belt and gloves with Tearhaunch greaves; four socket (PDiamond) Aerin shield; rare +1 Paladin skills Circlet; mediocre rare Full Plate; dual Manald Heals; and a +2 Offensive Auras amulet.
Right now I deal 900-1400 with Kuko with Holy Freeze, and comparable damage with Vengeance/Conviction and Bloodletter. That's without his new Might merc (I traded in his Blessed Aim merc ASAP). His only problem comes in with AR (~800 naturally), but getting him above the level curve solved that problem quickly (has anyone else noticed that it doesn't seem to be monster AR/DR that's been improved, but a much greater weighting to the clvl/mlvl portion of the to-hit/experience formulae?). Not to mention Kuko's exploding arrows, Conviction, and the option to Eth my Bloodletter (I'll opt for Eth due to Jah not applying towards bosses).
When I get the chance, I'm planning on importing my old Avenger and a couple mules to 1.10 and tweaking the poor Ranger/Avenger to Hell--either Harle's or Vampgaze, Shaftstop (or a very nice Gris' armor filled with +15 max jewels), War Travs, Herald of Zakarum, Demon Machine, possibly Razortail, and a couple other goodies I have laying around.
Another possibility I've entertained for this Paladin is, instead of maxing Vengeance and pushing points into Conviction and/or Salvation, is maxing Holy Shock and Resist Lightning and pushing as many points as possible into Vengeance. This way, I have two elemental auras to use as I need as well as a much stronger Vengeance (which should make up for a substandard Conviction). Any thoughts?
As a sidenote, has anyone experimented with the Assassin skill Venom? I noticed it's received a substantial power boost, but it's .4 second duration sends up warning flags in that any other form of poison could possibly seriously detract from Venom's usefulness. I've been working on a Venom/bow/trap Assassin variant for 1.10 and I'm curious if she'd be even viable before she's created.