07-19-2003, 05:36 PM
Just a couple of votes for new terminology;
Hit Causes Monster to Flee = Fear
This build? Shursin. Short for Shuriken Assassin, and pronounced sure-sin, since this is a sure sin to get so much use out of one skill point. :op
As much as I enjoy this build, I think it may be a little broken. If testing finds it to start owning Hell, I might suggest it gets 10% weapon damage at level one, +3% per point after, giving it 37% at level 10, 67% at 20, and 100% at level 31. That way it's still viable, you just have to make a couple of more skill point sacrifices to make it work. It would reach approximate current effectiveness at slvl 22, which is almost a given for anyone choosing to focus in it - any +2 traps or +2 assassin skills will do. I think at the LL we assume any skill one focuses in will hit at least level 25 - 82% weapon damage. Downside will be increased mana costs and loss of some of the efficiency here, but since it leeches, I believe such cost can be mitigated in most areas. As it stands now it doesn't even require any investment in energy. I think it MAY be balanced now by AR, requiring a dump into CoS and/or massive AR boost items, preferably by %. ITD is only a lukewarm solution unless you want to rely on DS for act bosses and all. I intend to hit A2 today with my rebuild (original used claw mastery - really a waste for this build) and when I do, I'll pick up a weapon of vileness and test PMH if no one else has by then; it will probably be a key to making this build survive in Hell.
My current try is pumping str and dex to 103 and 100 respectively for archon plate and good base AR, putting a point in vit every level along the way. Once str/dex goals are met, I plan on 3 vit/2 energy every level, mostly to increase natural mana regen and give me a bigger pool against phys/leech immunes. And the expectation that something will be done to make this skill require more points to be effective to get the higher casting cost in play. The only other suggestion off the top of my head for encouraging more point investment is to simply reverce the mana scale; have it start at 8 mana per additional blade and reduce by .4 per level, to a minimum of 1.
Here's to more suggestions and hoping Blizzard reads this, so sayeth The Hermit.
"UBER UBER UBER UBER UBER!!!" Tool - Wait, that's not a Tool song. Bugger.
"Someone above the crowd, someone who seems to feel the same." Tool - Eulogy
Hit Causes Monster to Flee = Fear
This build? Shursin. Short for Shuriken Assassin, and pronounced sure-sin, since this is a sure sin to get so much use out of one skill point. :op
As much as I enjoy this build, I think it may be a little broken. If testing finds it to start owning Hell, I might suggest it gets 10% weapon damage at level one, +3% per point after, giving it 37% at level 10, 67% at 20, and 100% at level 31. That way it's still viable, you just have to make a couple of more skill point sacrifices to make it work. It would reach approximate current effectiveness at slvl 22, which is almost a given for anyone choosing to focus in it - any +2 traps or +2 assassin skills will do. I think at the LL we assume any skill one focuses in will hit at least level 25 - 82% weapon damage. Downside will be increased mana costs and loss of some of the efficiency here, but since it leeches, I believe such cost can be mitigated in most areas. As it stands now it doesn't even require any investment in energy. I think it MAY be balanced now by AR, requiring a dump into CoS and/or massive AR boost items, preferably by %. ITD is only a lukewarm solution unless you want to rely on DS for act bosses and all. I intend to hit A2 today with my rebuild (original used claw mastery - really a waste for this build) and when I do, I'll pick up a weapon of vileness and test PMH if no one else has by then; it will probably be a key to making this build survive in Hell.
My current try is pumping str and dex to 103 and 100 respectively for archon plate and good base AR, putting a point in vit every level along the way. Once str/dex goals are met, I plan on 3 vit/2 energy every level, mostly to increase natural mana regen and give me a bigger pool against phys/leech immunes. And the expectation that something will be done to make this skill require more points to be effective to get the higher casting cost in play. The only other suggestion off the top of my head for encouraging more point investment is to simply reverce the mana scale; have it start at 8 mana per additional blade and reduce by .4 per level, to a minimum of 1.
Here's to more suggestions and hoping Blizzard reads this, so sayeth The Hermit.
"UBER UBER UBER UBER UBER!!!" Tool - Wait, that's not a Tool song. Bugger.
"Someone above the crowd, someone who seems to feel the same." Tool - Eulogy