Dexterity or Vitality

[PiroMonkey]

I know there is some controversy about whether to max block or get tons of health.

Can some one please tell me what to put my stat points into dex. or vit.?

PLEASE>>>>!!! :scratch:

Thank you,

PiroMonkey

[Soepgroente]

You have teleport and should not get hit by melee all that much. Elemental attacks also hurt more. Go pure vit.

[leihotikan]

Always full 75 % block dude :) Enter Baal throne with pack of Fana+cursed Lords + pack of mana burn+freaky mod stygian dolls and you will love full block. With ANY vita build you will be dead in 0,0001 second in such a case. And this one is not the worst...

75 % block means you have virtually 3x more vita against any malee attacks (its theory but, yes, it works). And elemental attacks, hmm, thats why you need skill with teleport. Its always easier to avoid Oblivion Knight attack than charging Claw Viper or ancient barbs WW/throwed axes etc.

Going full vitality will cause you will have how much more life? 300? 500 with charms? Well, I prefer to have ~~1000 life without CTA with full block (so its like 3000-4000 life against malee hits) than have even 1500 and be vulnerable to every attack, malee or elemental. ~500 more in pvm is not much. In pvp its nothing.

[PiroMonkey]

Ok thanks..

So on average how many points should I put in Vitality and Dexterity?

PiroMonkey

[Soepgroente]

You can't block the explosion of stygion dolls i think? You can't block listers attacks. You can't block burning souls attacks. And if you're stuck into that you'll die anyway :xx:

[PiroMonkey]

Exactly like I stated in the 1st post. There is tons of controversy over the distribution of those stat points. I am a n0ob and I was just wondering who had the best idea.. It seems like it is a lose-lose situation....:( I do know that you can't really split the points up between Dex. and Vit....

Does anyone else have any information to throw in?

Also, like I asked before can anyone please tell me how many points I should put into each.. All's I'd like to know is whoever dies fewer time and what their distribution look like. PLEASE. and TAHNK YOU..

PiroMonkey

[Soepgroente]

I never die unless it's lag. I do save+exit once in a while, call me lame, but to keep my xp :). If you have really nice equipment then i guess you could do block more comfortably, as 1200 instead of 1500 life is no big deal. Though if you end up with like 600 life with blocking and 900 without, go for the pure-vit. I'll always go non-block, but the better your equipment, the more attracting blocking looks.

[PiroMonkey]

Exactly like I stated in the 1st post. There is tons of controversy over the distribution of those stat points. I am a n0ob and I was just wondering who had the best idea.. It seems like it is a lose-lose situation....:( I do know that you can't really split the points up between Dex. and Vit....

Does anyone else have any information to throw in?

Also, like I asked before can anyone please tell me how many points I should put into each.. All's I'd like to know is whoever dies fewer time and what their distribution look like. PLEASE. and Thank YOU..

PiroMonkey

[Soepgroente]

Whatever you pick, you can survive in hell properly anyway.

[pcpharaoh]

I'd have to say vitality...

If you go vitality, you aren't confined to using stormshield, you can use lidless instead. That gives you more freedom with the rest of your equipment. Also, I have no clue what leihotikan was saying about 3x more vitality...

75 % block means you have virtually 3x more vita against any malee attacks (its theory but, yes, it works).

If your in his scenario, you'll either get block-locked, or die from being too low on vitality while block only does one attack at a time...

If you go full vitality, leave dex at base (25) and put every extra point into vitality. My level 55 meteorb that I am making has 75 str, 25 dex, 225 vit, and 50 nrg.

If, however, you decide to go dex, your basicly confined to only using stormshield, which, at level 99, requires 222 dex, and will probably be your biggest str requirement.

[Stiertje]

I'd have to say vitality...

*snip*

If, however, you decide to go dex, your basicly confined to only using stormshield, which, at level 99, requires 222 dex, and will probably be your biggest str requirement.



This is a load of bull. Of course Stormshield is a mighty nice shield to have and to wear, but you are by no means confined to it. Whitstans is a nice, cheap and low-dex replacement, same as my currently favorite, the upgraded Viceratuant.

You see, the thing is that Stormshield is a nice shield WHEN you get hit. It doesn't do jack when you're actually successfully blocking an attack, which is 75% of the time. Same thing counts for a successfull elemental attack. Stormshield doesn't help you there either.

And as for the elemental attack being unblockable, this is only true for some attacks. The gloams attack is in fact unblockable. It is in no way a one hit kill when you have full resistance in lightning, so it's not that much of a problem. ALL other missile based elemental attacks or even magic attacks are blockable, and here the blocking sorc really outshines the vita sorc since the blocking sorc can have more attention at actually killing things instead of constantly having to avoid attacks.

So I say, go both Dex AND Vita. Don'[t touch mana unless you need it desperately, and go for max block on Whitstans (=cheap) whith still a very healthy Vita bulb.

[neeka_99]

This is the typical dump stat for spellcasters in Diablo 2.
Unless you plan to wield elite weapons or reach high blocking
with shields, keep this stat as low as possible. A few good
caster items require a little more than base DEX, so I recommend
you build your DEX to at least 35 (for a Heart of the Oak flail).
If you are just starting out and do not have easy access to good
items, I recommend 75 DEX so you can equip Wizardspike, which
provides huges boosts to cast rate, mana, and resistances;
and it is easier to obtain than some of the better weapons.
If you want a high block percentange with shields, be prepared to
invest many stat points into DEX. Below is a formula to calculate
the dexterity needed, where 'Total Block' is the block percentange
you are aiming for, and 'Chance to Block' is the block percentange
listed on the shield.

[neeka_99]

| Character Level
Shield (Chance to Block) | 75 80 85 90 95 99
-------------------------------+------------------------------
| Dexterity Needed
Whinstan's Guard (87%) | 145 153 162 171 179 186
Viscerataunt Heater (72%) | 172 182 193 203 213 222
Stormshield (67%) | 183 195 206 217 228 237
Sanctuary Tower Shield (64%) | 191 203 215 226 238 248
Sanctuary Monarch (62%) | 197 209 221 233 245 255
Sanctuary Troll Nest (60%) | 203 215 228 240 253 262
Sanctuary Dragon Shield (58%) | 209 222 235 248 261 272

VITALITY
This is a very important stat for the sorceress since it affects
how much life you have. Any spare points should be placed in VIT.
You should build it up to at least 200, preferably more, for Hell
games. You can get away with somewhat less if you rely on Energy
Shield to absorb some damage. Each point to VIT adds 2 points to
your life and 1 point to stamina.

[pcpharaoh]

Another thing I just thought of is the stygian (sp?) death explosion... blocking won't do sqat to save you against that...

[holabuster]

Sanctuary is the way to go. I use a HYPERION for it. I have no idea why ANYONE would use a different one. It provides the BEST block of all the shields and requires relatively low str (much less than monarch). I currently use this to get 75% block, and at lvl 85, I have 305 vitality. Base life with full mf gear is 990. I've never needed to take it off because I survive extremely well with it.

[PiroMonkey]

Well Thanks everyone for helping me decide, I enjoyed reading all of your guys's insights.

I think I will put 75 points or so into dextrity for weapons and stuff and just use vitality. Unless any of you can persuade me other wise, which is highly likely since I'm still a little hesitant on my choice but oh well..... :grrr:

Another way I thought I would go was to split the points half and half. That way I could block some attacks and still take other hits.. :bonk: :stoned: :teeth:

Umm, Thanks again..

PiroMonkey

[pcpharaoh]

probably not a good choice to go 50/50, but... since I haven't ever seen that, I'm not sure, might work... if your going to go vitality route, I suggest against the 75 dex, just for using wizard spike... unless you plan to use that at the end of the game, 50 stat points is not worth it just for leveling up...

[PiroMonkey]

Well then can some one please just tell me how many points to put in each please? It doesn't matter who has the best idea, just as long as I can at least make it through the game like any other player. I just don't want to screw up with this character like I did with my other one. GOD, my other character was a NIGHTMARE, she was lvl 78 and she could barely get to Mephisto in NightMare let alone hell... :(

thanks again,

PiroMonkey

[skygoneblue]

I always figure that if you are getting hit by melee attacks, you aren't playing your sorceress properly.

I would much rather fight from a distance and have a ton of life. Heck, I think Damage2Mana is more helpful than blocking, but that could just be me.

[zanex]

I think it's all depends on your playstyle. I have a lvl 86 meteorb with max block (Rhyme Troll Nest). I play very aggressive, (or careless) and I often end up standing in the middle of the pack when I'm teleporting. Max block gives me time to get out of there. Not to mention all ranged attackers in the pit. I think it's more fun to stand in the front than hide in the shadows. And with max block you have a chance to grab things when a boss falls (in multiplayer games).

[Soepgroente]

I always figure that if you are getting hit by melee attacks, you aren't playing your sorceress properly.
Voila.


Sure, ranged attacks are physical at times, but for example against burning archers fire resist nullifies their attacks, and many other attacks aren't even blockable. More than once have i escaped from many inferno'ing balrogs with only a sliver of life left, would've been dead with block.

[zanex]

You got a point there. It depens on your playstyle AND your equipment. Dwarfstar and Thundergods + max resists helps a lot.

[leihotikan]

The problem is that this guy wants to have prepared good solution. There is NO good solution and this game is so sweet because you can build your character the way YOU want.

I am freaky block maniac, played my first necro and sorc with maxed block about 2,5 years ago and never ever later I made vita. Never. I survived thousands of nasty encounters with dolls/lords/claw vipers/cows to advise you going vita. But if you want, and you are really convinced, go with it!!!!!
Just play as you wish, why not to try both builds? If you havent too many items to supply two sorcies, try vita then block. Or block and then vita, whatever. Good luck.

[Elu's Might]

I use always the Vita route, mainly because elemental attacks cannot be blocked (there are some elemental attacks that can be blocked, but still...) and because here in HC more vita = more time to hit Alt+F4 :D I have about 100 dex with items. 1100 health, then shako+storm for 45 % PDR and about 27 % block. I have never died with her :flip:

[Herald of Doom]

The way I did it: Rhyme Grim shield for mf, upped visc for pvm. I aimed to get 70% block, which is decent and blocks a lot, and the rest in vit. With all my stuff on (including anni) I survived any elemental+phys attack, with an occasional potion. I needed to split my points like that because I *always* play way too agressive, and I needed block for when I was stuck in a melee pack and vit for when i was getting hit with ele dmg :D If you have max res (imo all sorces need max res for fire/ice/light, poison is a tp at most) this works great. But as said before, with reasonable equip any build will do if you put your mind to it (ok, perhaps a maulsorc with max dex wouldnt work...)

HoD

[Shanksie1337]

str - for gear - usually about 95
dex - base (or for gear if needed- personally i don't waste points on being able to use a wizzie - and just Hel the wizze to lower the dex rqd)
Vita - everything else
energy - base

my sorc has just over 1.5k life, and when i get BO'd it rises to about 3.3k, couple this with max res's and everyone's a winner :D

[PiroMonkey]

Thanks everyone for your replies, It really helped me to hear everyones perspective. I guess since everyone has a different style I will make my own also.

Thanks Again,

PiroMonkey

[EmS.R]

75%block and rest in vit, that's my opinion.

[The_Sickness_101]

If you are playing a ww barb, charger, or high dmge melee...It does not really matter how much life you have as a ww is gonna screw you up if you have 1100 or 800 life. So in my experiences w/ my barb pure vit sorcs either die in a ww or 2 ww. Tjose who block me are 100000x more hard because it is hard enough to get in to to dmge in the first place let alone play someone who blocks 75% of my attacks.