High resistances vs. + to Skills

[Jyde]

I'm having a bit of a dillema. I'm now a Level 53 Zealot on NM and have the option of using either a shield which gives me +2 to Skills or alternatively, +lots (I think it's about 30-40%) to resistances. My resistances are quite crap (all about 40 or lower). What would your advice be? TIA!

I've maxed out Fana and Zeal and am now working on maxing out Sacrifice too (a few more points should do it).

[BartXeno]

All other things being equal I'd use the resist shield for fighting and have the +2 shield on switch for when I cast holy shield. If it's just a magic shield you could socket it and hope for two sockets to put perfect diamonds in for 38 to all resists (19 if you only get one socket). I did that with a +2 bone shield and used it for a long time before I found a better +2 rare. Having a decent level of crushing blow does a lot more than +skills on a zealot. My zealot is around lvl 75 and I now use no +skill gear since all my slots are filled with crushing blow, leech, damage reduced, and resist gear. Mele gets tough in hell difficulty.

[Dodgydave]

I'd go with the resists personally, +skills are not of great benifit to a melee character.

[Diabolico x64]

As far as I could tell from testing, prebuff doesn't work with Hold Shield; its bonuses are only at the level of the equipment that you usually wear, not the equipment that you wear for prebuff. Therefore, it would be useless for that.

I would use the +resist shield, as res's become more and more neccessary in later difficulties.

[BartXeno]

As far as I could tell from testing, prebuff doesn't work with Hold ShieldHoly Shield prebuff works. Just tested it. Numbers below are all with the same gear:
751 def w/o HS
2853 def w/ lvl 18 HS (lvl 15 + 3 from amulet & charms)
3304 def w/ lvl 22 HS (as above + 4 from prebuff weapon & shield)

[Diabolico x64]

Are you using the same shield for prebuff, as for normal wearing?

[Jyde]

Thanks y'all - I'll try and hunt for a shield which hopefully does both (+skills & +res) but for the time being, I'll use the +res shield.

[Nolomite]

Thanks y'all - I'll try and hunt for a shield which hopefully does both (+skills & +res) but for the time being, I'll use the +res shield.


Once you finish NM and get to Hell, your resists will take a big hit - for me, that's the toughest part about Hell. So hang onto anything you find with + to all resists (especially jewels!), so you've got some flexibility with your items when you get to Hell. Even with the excellent gear I have acquired (lots of characters, playing SP w/ ATMA) I still have to cube a Prismatic Amulet for playing in Hell.

[Matrixnetuk]

Hi Guys,

just reading your pre buff bit I have a +3 to Shadow Master Helm
Can I pop the helm on cast SM and then put my MF 72% back
Will my Shadow Master stay at +3 levels until she dies? or does she lose the +3 origional cast?

Thx in Advance
:drink:
Matrix

[BartXeno]

Are you using the same shield for prebuff, as for normal wearing?
No, hence the use of the term prebuff. The 2853 defense is what I have if I cast HS with what I use fighting. 3304 is the defense of that gear if I cast HS with my switch weapon and shield that add +4 to skills and switch back.

[GIR]

I'll say this to you.

+skills aren't any good if you're not staying alive long enough to use them.

[BartXeno]

just reading your pre buff bit I have a +3 to Shadow Master Helm
Can I pop the helm on cast SM and then put my MF 72% back
Will my Shadow Master stay at +3 levels until she dies? or does she lose the +3 origional cast?
It should stay at +3 as long as it stays alive, same as with using prebuff claws. As far as I know, "sticky" skills/spells all work like that, staying at the level cast even if gear is switched. Battle orders, blade shield, holy shield, energy shield, bone armor, venom, Valkire, cyclone armor, and many more.

[Baboon]

I'll say this to you.

+skills aren't any good if you're not staying alive long enough to use them.

Yeah, it's really a softcore dilemma. Everyone should try HC for a bit and value life and resistances more :)

[Jyde]

I'll say this to you.

+skills aren't any good if you're not staying alive long enough to use them.
Words of wisdom!

[Krushedice]

Here's what I do with my now barely used paladin (Love my Zon -- Smooches)

I have a crown shield with crappy defense (32 def of something garbage like that), but it has four sockets, which with 4 pdiamonds give me 108% res or so. The other is a moesser's blessed circle with two pgems in it for +63 res. In tight hell areas where I am getting attacked by creatures that dish out more elemental than physical damage (ranged attackers with fire, cold, lightning enchants), then I switch to this for higher resists. Of course, you could do this with the aura that raises your resists too, but auras don't stack anymore :rant: ) -- maybe not the best solution, but something to think about.