01-27-2004, 05:24 AM
Ok, I got the Beast runeword in 5 socket Caduceus now with +3 to Vengeance (self-found, although needed to use socket quest for it! :)). I must admit it ain't so good that I hoped, but still consider it worth the investment. That Ber rune alone cost me IK and Tal armors :o
However, Fanaticsm surely helps around, it fastens your Vengeance and when need for Zeal leeching, you don't fall far behind from Zealoth Paladin :)
I have 19% ML with my current setup, and that certainly hasn't been any issue. I'm going to drop it down to around 7-10% soon, and think that will be well enough for full time Vengeance upkeep. Life leech is still an issue though, think I have around 25% of it now, and it still ain't enough when fighting really large monster crowds. Situation has improved though, earlier I needed to use Zeal around 3/4th of all time when crowded, when now around 1/5th is enough unless in really bad situation.
Still using that HF merc, although I'm now planning to build Doom runeword (with Holy Freeze active when equipped) next in ethereal Cryptic Axe and replace the merc with Defiance merc... Yes, my insanity has gone beyond normal boundaries with this character build, I'm going to get him all sweets I just can, no matter what is the cost. My defense is around 14k now when using Holy Shield though which starts to be quite good enough already, so for the moment Holy Freeze is top priority with me, and would recommend you to get one instead of Defiance too. Large crowds is the major problem, and you really want to get them slowed down, the hits coming in ain't as large problem as the speed in which they come.
Delirium runeword with the merc is a real life saver too, especially since the runes in it are fairly easy to obtain. The lvl 50 Delirium has it's drawback though, as it makes Baal bug and his minions will not appear if your merc has transformed into Stygian Doll in the game, so you can't use it while baal running, but in other arreas it's almost irreplacable.
So, in a nutshell: Yes, leeching is an issue no matter what you do. Enough mana leech is easy to obtain, but you just cant leech enough with Vengeance alone but need to use Zeal. I don't see this as a problem though as that happens only in really large crowds, and what better your equipment gets, less you need to do it.
In the end, I've found the build to be fun and challenging to play. And there seldom is a game where some of the elemental attack users wouldnt thank you or positively comment your Conviction aura, I find this much more rewarding than getting higher Blessed Hammer damage than the guy next to me :)
However, Fanaticsm surely helps around, it fastens your Vengeance and when need for Zeal leeching, you don't fall far behind from Zealoth Paladin :)
I have 19% ML with my current setup, and that certainly hasn't been any issue. I'm going to drop it down to around 7-10% soon, and think that will be well enough for full time Vengeance upkeep. Life leech is still an issue though, think I have around 25% of it now, and it still ain't enough when fighting really large monster crowds. Situation has improved though, earlier I needed to use Zeal around 3/4th of all time when crowded, when now around 1/5th is enough unless in really bad situation.
Still using that HF merc, although I'm now planning to build Doom runeword (with Holy Freeze active when equipped) next in ethereal Cryptic Axe and replace the merc with Defiance merc... Yes, my insanity has gone beyond normal boundaries with this character build, I'm going to get him all sweets I just can, no matter what is the cost. My defense is around 14k now when using Holy Shield though which starts to be quite good enough already, so for the moment Holy Freeze is top priority with me, and would recommend you to get one instead of Defiance too. Large crowds is the major problem, and you really want to get them slowed down, the hits coming in ain't as large problem as the speed in which they come.
Delirium runeword with the merc is a real life saver too, especially since the runes in it are fairly easy to obtain. The lvl 50 Delirium has it's drawback though, as it makes Baal bug and his minions will not appear if your merc has transformed into Stygian Doll in the game, so you can't use it while baal running, but in other arreas it's almost irreplacable.
So, in a nutshell: Yes, leeching is an issue no matter what you do. Enough mana leech is easy to obtain, but you just cant leech enough with Vengeance alone but need to use Zeal. I don't see this as a problem though as that happens only in really large crowds, and what better your equipment gets, less you need to do it.
In the end, I've found the build to be fun and challenging to play. And there seldom is a game where some of the elemental attack users wouldnt thank you or positively comment your Conviction aura, I find this much more rewarding than getting higher Blessed Hammer damage than the guy next to me :)