A couple of n00b questions

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Liberator

Diabloii.Net Member
A couple of n00b questions

1)I am confused. Does increased Dexterity actually increase damage in ranged weapons? Or does it only improve the overall per second damage by improving the hit rate?

2)What is the best 1 handed weapon to build Heart of the Oak in?

3)I have a Buriza crossbow, is there a more potent ranged weapon before windforce?

BTW, this is my skill distribution at level 44
Summoning
Raven - 5
Spirit Wolf - 6
Dire Wolf - 12
Grizzly - 5
Oak Sage -1
Heart of the Wolverine - 5

Elemental
Firestorm - 6
Molten Boulder - 1
Fissure - 6
Volcano - 2

I am also receiveing skill bonues from the following items:
+2 from Stone(s) of Jornan
+1 from Silks of the Victor(I like the look better than Skin of the Viper Magi)
+2 Jalal's Mane
+2 from Isle Strike
+1 to elemental skills from a charm

I would welcome any advice on equipment.
 
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digital_mana

Diabloii.Net Member
I know this doesn't really answer any of your questions... but try equiping that buriza and transforming into a Werewolf. I don't think it gets much better than the burrito shooter before Windforce unless you're using some of the new runewords.

A flail is probably your best bet for the HOTO.
 
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psuedoenviro

Diabloii.Net Member
Congrats on choosing the fun build of huntermentalist.

1) Yes dex increases damage from ranged weapons and it increases your chance to hit.

2) 4 open socket flail

3) I believe the 1.09 bow comparison is still in the Strat Compend. Check it out. An upped WWS might work as well as the buriza if you factor in the ds, resists, amp. Kuko is a great bow and makes nm a breeze. Widowmaker;s guided arrow could be something to consider. I have heard good things about Faith bows and that fanat aura combined with grizzly....... So many possiblities.....
 
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det

Diabloii.Net Member
I cannot yet see, what kind of character you are trying to build. A summoner? Summoning Hunter? Then why the points in firestorm?

If you actually want to be a summoner and dish out ranged damage, the buriza is great because it pierces and freezes. WF really is a zon weapon IMHO, because she has the skills and can get the speed to strafe with it.

Dex (on a zon and I suppose on any other character) increases the damage output on ranged weapons while str. increases it on melee weapons. For javelins its half and half.

HotO is a great wepon for a caster... +skills, FCR, res all and it allows you equip a shield (again, a bowazon has DAE, you don't as a Druid.) In hell you will have to decise if you really want the AR increase from HoW or if you are lacking life and die too often.

Maybe we can help out more if you state where your build is going?
 
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itsPizzarific

Banned
i agree .. kuko/buriza are ur best bets for any non zon char, like det said wf is too slow to use without major ias gear + strafe, and generally zons are the ones who sacrifice half their item slots to reach the next strafe BP =p
 
L

Liberator

Diabloii.Net Member
det said:
I cannot yet see, what kind of character you are trying to build. A summoner? Summoning Hunter? Then why the points in firestorm?

Maybe we can help out more if you state where your build is going?
Click to expand...
I don't believe in builds they take what little creativity D2 allows in character design away.

I'm really in the process of strengthening my summons at the moment and will likely end with 20 is both wolves and as much in grizzly as possible I also want to pump fissure and possibly firestorm some as well. If you don't like firestorm you haven't tried in on non fire immune "boss" creatures and watched their life melt away.
 
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det

Diabloii.Net Member
Well..usually whatever is fun is indeed fun until late NM...

..its kinda when you also plan to do hell that one finds out where certain points have been spread out to far and skills are too weak.

But, hey..yeah..if its fun for you, play it :)

I just cannot avoid this little edge off my comments: If you say you would welcome advice on your equipment it would be great if we know in what direction your build goes.

And I do have a lv 74 summoner, so I know the shortcomings and advantages of summons...and I currently see the power and shortcommings of a fire druid. And since I play both in Hardcore I am also extra careful where I place my points, both skills and stats.
 
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det

Diabloii.Net Member
I was always a bit worried that I would not have enough life, because my summons need HoW. So I invested one point into Werebear and Shockwave. Towards the end of NM there were some situations where I would support my minions with a ranged weapon (kuko), but sometimes I shifted and shockwaved monsters.

But I would try that with a helm that gives WB/Shockwave first..maybe you don't like it and regret those points.

From what I read in this forum, Summoning Elementalists with a powerful Grizzly and 20 in Fissue/20 in Firestorm work rather well. And Buriza is a great support.
 
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