Two crafting questions

Shryke · Oct 21, 2008

Two crafting questions

I've taken up crafting for my barb, as the drops for him are craptastic. Last night I made two zerker axes, both with over 200 damage high end. One axe is 226, and the other is 212, with both having almot identical low end. However, the 212 has 10% IAS.

My first question then: which is better for main hand, given my main attack is WW? Ignore all other mods, just the high end and IAS.

I am unable to determine this from the various breakpoint tables and such found here (I am a noob).

Second question: I crafted a Hellforge Plate BP with roughly 1100 defense, 24% FHR, and self repair. Granted, it is "blood", so it has a little life drain, but the rest of the mods are kinda meh. Are the three main mods good? Godly, 24 FHR and repairing?

Thanks.

Raskah · Oct 21, 2008

Re: Two crafting questions

1) It's indiferent. When dual-wielding, the game alternates between both weapons. From Arreat Summit (I think this info is correct):

In Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, Whirlwind is affected by weapon speed as follows. After you click to start your Whirlwind attack, the game checks for a hit on a target in range at the 4th and 8th animation frames (recall that the game runs at 25 frames per second). After the first two "free" hit-checks, the frames elapsed in-between subsequent hit-checks will depend on your weapon speed. Note: increased attack speed from items outside your weapon DOES NOT affect whirlwind - only the speed of the weapon itself counts. The dependence on weapon speed is obtained by subtracting your weapon's increased attack speed (IAS) to its base weapon speed (the number between square brackets listed in the weapons section of the Arreat Summit) and checking where the number you obtain fits in the following table:
One-handed weapons
Breakpoints: 15, 10, -10, -35.
Number of frames in-between hit-checks after frame 8: 12, 10, 8, 6, 4

Two-handed weapons
Breakpoints: 15, 0, -10, -30, -60.
Number of frames in-between hit-checks after frame 8: 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4

Examples:

#1 War pike of quickness (two-handed weapon)
Base weapon speed: 20
Weapon increased attack speed: 40
Whirlwind speed: 20 - 40 = -20
Breakpoint reached: -10
Number of frames in-between checks: 8
Hit-checks at frames 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, etc.

#2 Falchion (one-handed weapon)
Base weapon speed: 20
Weapon increased attack speed: 0
Whirlwind speed: 20 - 0 = 20
Breakpoint reached: none
Number of frames in-between checks: 12
Hit-checks at frames: 4, 8, 20, 32, 44, etc.

#3 Grandfather colossus blade with 'Shael' (one-handed weapon)
Base weapon speed: 5
Weapon increased attack speed: 20
Whirlwind speed: 5 - 20 = -15
Breakpoint reached: -10
Number of frames in-between checks: 6
Hit-checks at frames: 4, 8, 14, 20, 26, etc.

Note: two-handed swords are treated as one-handed weapons for Whirlwind purposes, regardless of the sword being held in one-handed or two-handed mode. The above calculation for Grandfather therefore holds for any way the sword is held.

When dual-wielding, both weapons try to score a hit against the target. In other words, the game does a hit-check for each weapon. Since both weapons are given the chance to score a hit, the damage done over time is roughly the sum of the damage of both weapons, which is comparable to the damage done whirling with a two-handed weapon. The effect of weapon speed in dual-wielding Whirlwind is as follows. While a target is in range, one of the weapons' speed is constantly used to calculate the next hit-check frame. If there's no target in range, the game will alternate between weapon speeds to calculate the next hit-check frame. The best way to make sure you have maximum Whirlwind speed when dual-wielding is to use weapons that both reach the final breakpoint, like for instance a Lightsabre phase blade and a colossus blade with 40% IAS.

With your BA with 10% IAS reach the 6 frame WW, which gives you hit checks at 4, 8, 14, 20, 26, etc, while the other BA reach 8 frame WW, which gives you hit checks at 4, 8, 16, 24, 32, etc. As it's said above the game uses constantly one the weapon's speed until no monsters it's in range, if so, it switches to the other weapon speed...

2) That armor seems weak, very weak... But if you don't anything else its better than nothing

Shryke · Oct 21, 2008

Re: Two crafting questions

Thanks very much.

The armor is weak? Other than 4 unique elite armors and rune words...I don't see how to get better? I believe my chance to be hit in Act 5 is around 30% or so.

The self repair bit saves me quiet a bit of money, too. I am quite poor.

purplelocust · Oct 22, 2008

Re: Two crafting questions

Crafted armor doesn't usually give very good results- if you're not having good luck on armor drops, you can make some pretty reasonable runeword armor that may serve you well (Duress, Lionheart, Stone, Treachery, Wealth, etc.)

Shryke · Oct 22, 2008