New Hardcore Start

[arrunique]

Is this with or without friends in Hardcore?

Alas the only person I can rely on is myself so this is a completely clean, untwinked start.

Orb + Synergy, Cold Mastery, Mana Shield + Synergy

Would that still work without a lot of points in energy? Also does the telekinesis synergy make eshield that much better? I had a sorc in softcore with 1 point in ES and 1 in TK and usually instead of just dying she died with an empty mana ball. Since I don't have any gear to start with I can't rely on using the powerful Nightsmoke. Would it still work without damage to mana gear?

I personally like the game just the way it is and would rather play it slowly level by level than rush and do baal runs.

I try not to rush (I'm usually the guy starting the "Duriel Have Staff" game) but playing a build that needs gear to be effective and not having at least a good poor mans suit is just painful. Some builds, like the conviction zealot I mentioned, are about 100 times more effective with gear than without. And some builds, like your orb sorc, have a slow time making it to 30 because they rely on top end skills for damage and lower skills for support.

The shockadin was a good idea that I hadn't thought of for starting build. It is melee guy that can even overcome iron maiden because he can just remove his weapon be almost as effective punching.