Hey Guys, newish to this forum and sorcs in general, a few questions on meteorb!

[semisonic9]

Hey Guys, newish to this forum and sorcs in general, a few questions on meteorb!

Hey folks! :howdy:

Newish to this forum. I've been playing d2 for a year or so, but I stay away from sorcs for, I dunno, philosophical reasons. I usually like the weird or under-played builds, like my shockadin (love that guy!), or bowazon.

Anyway, I'm caving to build a MF and rushing character through nightmare and to MF Andy and Meph ih Hell, maybe Pindle too....

and some questions arose.

1) Max block or save it for vit? This char won't ever duel, so I'm thinking vit right now. The returns suck, though, 2 per point, so maybe dex is beter investment? I have decent life charms, and a few good small resist charms.

2) How high do you guys go with your cold mastery? I have decent gear, so I was hoping to slack here....at level 30 I'll have at least +5 to all skills, maybe more if I trade well by then.

3) Is meteorb really better than Blizzard for all-rounded-ness (made up my own word there)? I have a 19 blizzard I broke off to do my meteorb...wise decision or no? :scratch:


Thanks for the posts in advance, guys!

Also, I'm on now on *JoeReid if you guys are feeling generous and wanna throw me a norm rush or something. I'll hook you up with some low gear in return if you want!

Later Folks! :wave:

 

[Euro-Crash]

Hey folks! :howdy:

Newish to this forum. I've been playing d2 for a year or so, but I stay away from sorcs for, I dunno, philosophical reasons. I usually like the weird or under-played builds, like my shockadin (love that guy!), or bowazon.

Anyway, I'm caving to build a MF and rushing character through nightmare and to MF Andy and Meph ih Hell, maybe Pindle too....

and some questions arose.

1) Max block or save it for vit? This char won't ever duel, so I'm thinking vit right now. The returns suck, though, 2 per point, so maybe dex is beter investment? I have decent life charms, and a few good small resist charms.

2) How high do you guys go with your cold mastery? I have decent gear, so I was hoping to slack here....at level 30 I'll have at least +5 to all skills, maybe more if I trade well by then.

3) Is meteorb really better than Blizzard for all-rounded-ness (made up my own word there)? I have a 19 blizzard I broke off to do my meteorb...wise decision or no? :scratch:


Thanks for the posts in advance, guys!

Also, I'm on now on *JoeReid if you guys are feeling generous and wanna throw me a norm rush or something. I'll hook you up with some low gear in return if you want!

Later Folks! :wave:

1) Max-block. A sorc receives only 2 pts of health per 1 point placed in Vitality. A small charm of Vita (20 life) is the same as TWO LEVELS worth of attribute points placed in Vitality.

DO not attempt to acheive max-block using a shield that has a lower chance to block than a Sigon's shield...and after doing so, invest those points into Vitality.

2) 5-8 points in Cold Mastery is sufficient. Your Orb will mow everything over in Normal and NM. Once in Hell the killing speed of Orb will decrease...

Monsters in Hell are either immune to cold, or have NO resistance to it whatsoever. An investment over 8 is too much...an investment of 5 allows some customization as far as cold armors are concerned.

3) All-aroundedness = versatility. A lvl 19 Blizz sorc if built according to the guide that has switched to become Meteorb will need to be rebuilt. MEteorb is already tight for points...and if you were trying to build a Blizzard sorc, you have already invested into the synergies for that spell...and besides 19 is low enough to start over without a major headache.

Also, you should include the realm you play on. This way we can look you up. An account name without a realm is like an ATM card without a PIN code...if you are on West (ladder or non) I can help you out. I have a 91 Frost Zealot (NL), and a 90 Hammerdin (L).

I am Jar-Jar-Binks on USWest

 

[semisonic9]

Thanks for the help! :worship: (I'm still having fun with the smilies....)

My bad on the realm and stuff, on GFaqs we're all pretty mush e/sc/l, so I'm out of the habit.

Also, I'll be on from 6:30 or so until like 8-10pm if you want to look me up. She's like level 15 now, so I'll get some tomb run and be ready to rock at 25. Power level her in nightmare cows probably...

Yeah, what I meant was I ditched my 19 blizzard to start a new character, my new meteorb. The blizz was DammitKakarot, and the new meteorb is SuprSaiyan (saiya-jinn to some).

OK, I'll go the max block route and get some small charms of life...will eventually trade for a stormshield I guess. :yep:

Till I see you guys online, thanks, and lemme buy you a beer... :drink:

 

[Euro-Crash]

Thanks for the help! :worship: (I'm still having fun with the smilies....)

My bad on the realm and stuff, on GFaqs we're all pretty mush e/sc/l, so I'm out of the habit.

Also, I'll be on from 6:30 or so until like 8-10pm if you want to look me up. She's like level 15 now, so I'll get some tomb run and be ready to rock at 25. Power level her in nightmare cows probably...

Yeah, what I meant was I ditched my 19 blizzard to start a new character, my new meteorb. The blizz was DammitKakarot, and the new meteorb is SuprSaiyan (saiya-jinn to some).

OK, I'll go the max block route and get some small charms of life...will eventually trade for a stormshield I guess. :yep:

Till I see you guys online, thanks, and lemme buy you a beer... :drink:

Whenever I build a max block sorc, I use Whistan's Guard. It saves points on STR/DEXT and I can dump those into VIT. I know SS is a good shield, because it possesses far more mods than a Whistan's. But DR is not totally necessary unless playing PvP.

Also, an upgraded Moser's is good as well. It doesn't approach the high rate for blocking that a Whistan's has...but if upgraded it does get a good chance to block. Put 2 P.Diamonds in it and it will be very handsome.

So you are on west EH? Well, I can get you through normal, NM and bits of hell. Though I must admit, I really hate my Hammerdin...he is by far my least favorite character I have ever made. I am thinking of using the runes I have to get a Tesla-Froster going. I am thinking of DOOM and CRESCENT MOON...but that's not for this group...anyway....

 

[pryzmatik2]

DO not attempt to acheive max-block using a shield that has a lower chance to block than a Sigon's shield...and after doing so, invest those points into Vitality.

What are you trying to imply by this? Max block is easy to achieve with sanctuary in a troll nest (60% block).

 

[Euro-Crash]

What are you trying to imply by this? Max block is easy to achieve with sanctuary in a troll nest (60% block).

This comment is actually mentioned in another post/guide somewhere on this forum. Though I believe it was with a necromancer. What I am trying to imply is "Do not attempt to achieve max block with a shield that has a sh** chance to block".

60% is by no means sh**...it is good...in fact, using sanctuary would be a good idea. I believe Sigon's is 64%?

I wouldn't use anything with below 60% chance to block on a sorc if I was planning on Max-Block.

 

[semisonic9]

hey, sorry if I was unclear again....I'm east/softcore/ladder. I anyone want s to play, I'll be on soon. 7:30pm Thurs night, whisper *JoeReid

Whats the best block rate a sorc can get? The best all around shield with +to skills? Cuz my meteorbs gonna need some major +to skills!

 

[Liliel]

If you want +skill on your shield, you might want an upgraded Viscerataunt, which gives 72% block and +1 sorceress skills for a very reasonable strength requirement.

Oh, and with so much invested into blizzard already, I'd recommend you either start again or make a blizzard centered build (Blizzard + Fireball or Firewall works well).

 

[Euro-Crash]

If you want +skill on your shield, you might want an upgraded Viscerataunt, which gives 72% block and +1 sorceress skills for a very reasonable strength requirement.

Oh, and with so much invested into blizzard already, I'd recommend you either start again or make a blizzard centered build (Blizzard + Fireball or Firewall works well).

Best block a sorc can get is on a Whistan's Guard. The information given below should be helpful....

Lidless/Up'd Lidless 40% (+1 skills)
Visceratuant 60% (+1 all skills)
Sigon's 64% (+1 all skills)
Up'd Radament's Sphere 64% (no skills)
Upgraded Moser's 65% (no skills)
Stormshield 67% (no skills)
Upgraded Visceratuant 72% (+1 skills)
Spirit Ward 64%-74% (no skills)
Gerke's Sanctuary 74% (no skills)
Whistan's Guard 87% (no skills)

There you go...it took about 10 minutes looking at The Arreat Summit (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/). I highly recommend using this site in tandem with the D2.Net Strategy Forums.

Since this is information taken directly from Blizzard regarding a game they designed, I consider it to be reliable information.

 

[semisonic9]

I think my meteorb will need the +skills, and also some MF in the shield, so I may go with an isted lidless for the fcr and MF.

On the other hand, a six socketed MF shield on switch would owrk well with a whinstens, so maybe I can let the meager +1 go...

 

[Euro-Crash]

I think my meteorb will need the +skills, and also some MF in the shield, so I may go with an isted lidless for the fcr and MF.

On the other hand, a six socketed MF shield on switch would owrk well with a whinstens, so maybe I can let the meager +1 go...

uh wrong...take a look at the max number of sockets a shield can get...4 sockets is the maximum. 4 IST runes in a monarch is IMHO, a big waste. Diminishing returns on MF and a waste of runes are two things that come to mind.

 

[semisonic9]

uh wrong...take a look at the max number of sockets a shield can get...4 sockets is the maximum. 4 IST runes in a monarch is IMHO, a big waste. Diminishing returns on MF and a waste of runes are two things that come to mind.

You are correct, sir. I was thinking of the six-socketed swords I've seen with ists. Seems like a waste of runes to me too, but if your wealthy enough, why not?

 

[semisonic9]

For me, once my levels high enough I can afford a ali baba socketed for MF, no problem. I see lots of sorcs with them.