Brand RW demon machine for a werebear?

[Zombiedog]

Brand RW demon machine for a werebear?

Hi everyone!
I am considering making a Kodiak based werebear, and was wandering about the viability of a "Brand" demon machine for a werebear..

Here are the stats:

35% Chance To Cast Level 14 Amplify Damage When Struck
100% Chance To Cast Level 18 Bone Spear On Striking
+260-340% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Ignore Target's Defense
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
+280-330% Damage To Demons (varies)
20% Deadly Strike
Prevent Monster Heal
Knockback
Fires Explosive Arrows or Bolts (15)

This will be my first werebear, and i would appreciate feedback from anyone who already has a Kodiak, or perhaps have already tried this RW themselves.

Thank you :smiley:

 

[slothkin]

get ribcracker and shael it

 

[Zombiedog]

Thanks for the reply and also the suggestion, but it's the "Brand" runeword in particular I'm wondering about. I've read the guide and I've seen the suggested weapons lists..so I already know the common weapons used. What I need is any information from other people who have considered and/or used "Brand" themselves..

 

[Liquid_Evil]

Massive style points at the cost of an 8 frame attack.

I like the Amp Damage and the ITD...both are awesome on a Werebear, the DS and %demon damage are also gravy, but I think the knockback on a range 1 weapon might make for some infuriating moments.

If you do go this route, let us know how it turned out for you.

 

[Zombiedog]

Wow.. 8 frame attack?? SSoG's PVM Kodiak hunger bear guide says it only takes 25%IAS to hit 5 frames with a demon crossbow. Or does the runeword somehow slow it down further? Well, either way, surely it could'nt be too hard to add a lil IAS via items and such. I'm starting on the druid tonight. I'll post here within a few days and let everyone know how it went.

I'm on US East ladder, Acct name: *Pheral

Thanks for the encouragment, Liquid_Evil :thumbsup:

P.S. Do you think I'll get little explosions with a hit from the "Fires Explosive Arrows or Bolts (15)" mod? :devil:

 

[Skullbash]

It will hit 7 Frame Hunger and 6 with 20% Off Weapon IAS, and 9 Frame Maul, 8 with 20% OIAS. SSoG's guide is right, you just need that 25% IAS on the weapon itself to hit 5 frames. Did that explosive arrow thing work? It sounds cool.

 

[Liquid_Evil]

It will hit 7 Frame Hunger and 6 with 20% Off Weapon IAS, and 9 Frame Maul, 8 with 20% OIAS. SSoG's guide is right, you just need that 25% IAS on the weapon itself to hit 5 frames. Did that explosive arrow thing work? It sounds cool.

Yeah, I posted 8 frames under the assumption you'd be using Maul (and wearing Highlord's or LoH or some minor IAS to net the 8 frame)

Hunger is a nice skill, but is next to pointless when you have full life. Why would you hit for -75% of your effective damage if you don't need to leech? (Unless you're a stickler and just want a *pure* Hunger Bear I suppose)

Also, the explosive bolt thing sounds counter intuitive. You're not firing anything so there should be nothing to explode. Let us know if it works contrary to that though. Good luck on your quest.

 

[Zombiedog]

I just started the druid a hour or so ago..so it'll be at least a couple days before I'll be able to say wether or not the explosive arrow works. I'll be sure to post it here when i find out though. Thanks for the information about the IAS breakpoints and such.

1 more question. If I were to decide to go for the highest damage possible, which weapon would you recomend? I was thinking maybe EBOTD thunder maul? Heh, maybe a 2handed grief?

Thanks again. :smile:

 

[Verashiden]

EBotD GPA is better overall than a TM.

 

[stephan]

I believe the point of a hunger bear is using the natural faster speed of Hunger over FC and Maul to apply effects like CB. Now you have the CtC Bone spear there, but for the rest it offers very little and the knockback is going to be very annoying I think.

I must assume the arrows won't work. A bear is not firing arrows and evenso, the explosive effect only works with normal attack.

 

[Zombiedog]

Just to update everyone who's waiting to find out about the Brand RW. I'm having trouble getting rushed, I've just now gotten over lvl30. Heh. Slow and steady wins the race though, I suppose. Well, more updates as they become available.

Again, Thank you all for the help and sharing of information and opinions. It's all very appreciated. :thumbsup: