hammerdins and dext

[fliker]

Has this ever been debated before?? Why give the hammerdin enough dext for max block when he is a caster and should not really be getting hit. I wonder if it wouldn't be better investing more in str for a high def armor, or more in vitality. Second of all, holy shield boosts chance to block. Okay maybe not to 75% if ur pally has no dext but still wouldn't having no dext and maxed holy shield be enough blockage for a caster??

[Ce Olba]

Has this ever been debated before?? Why give the hammerdin enough dext for max block when he is a caster and should not really be getting hit. I wonder if it wouldn't be better investing more in str for a high def armor, or more in vitality. Second of all, holy shield boosts chance to block. Okay maybe not to 75% if ur pally has no dext but still wouldn't having no dext and maxed holy shield be enough blockage for a caster??

Hammerdins are close range casters, so they need block to have a chance to beat melee characters. Same with ele druids. Also, while hammerdins charge to create desynch, their block drops to 25%. A defensive barb will easily beat a no-block hammerdin. Only casters such as orbers and FBers are NOT supposed to get hit. Blizz sorcs need to be on-screen to deal dmg, lightning sorcs need to be on-screen to effectively aim their hits, tornados vanish in a short range, hammers never go off-screen. Foh however, is possible to aim off-screen, due it aiming at the closest target.

[gorash]

hammerdins dont need a high defence to survive but maxing block is explained above.
since the are close range casters, they will need the most vit they can get and therefore there are many hammerdins who use base str builds.
it also depends on what fcr bp u want to hit as spirit will require more dex and therefore less vit.