questions about a thorns-a-din

[diablo2addict]

hello.

so i'm making a thorns pally. i'm not sure if this has been done or is actually a real build with really leet items or whatever...i just have a few questions.

(don't try to talk me out of it, either :) )

-main attack? zeal, charge? which would be best? zeal becasue i want to be in a crowd getting hit? maybe both?

-shield, or no shield? if I had a shield I would use Spike Thorn Blade Barrier, which has this nice mod:
+ (1.375 Per Character Level) Attacker Takes Damage of 1-136 (Based On Character Level)
is the attack takes damage of worth it? thorns won't go off if I block, right? should i then not have a shield? if i don't have much dex will the block be low enough for it to be ok to have a shield?

-other equipment ideas? I'm guessing I'd want a lot of damage reduction? maybe fhr? should i waste my time on attacker takes damage of x items?

any help is appreciated.

edit: so far, i'm about level 10, and I can take the entire black marsh only attacking the ranged characters :)


OH another question---if I put an "aura when equipped" item on myself, but also have a regular aura, I can have two auras, correct? I ask because redemption would be nice to have in addition to thorns.

[KaythonXE]

Well, definately have conversion and zeal. You convert some people then zeal away. I'd go about maxing these skills if I were to ever attempt this build, which I won't! :P Not in 1.11b anyways, because the ratio of monster damage from monster life is not good enough for this to be very viable in hell. You basically want max dr/maxblock/high fhr. And a LOT of life.

You'll also want to have a beast zerker, for the aura to get a high rate of attack much easier so you can suppliment your gear with things you need to survive with. A leviathon armor is nice, it has high defense and dr. And str. I would suggest one with a -req jewel and maybe another mod. For the helm you'd have to go coa or gaze for the dr. Coa put in bers or if gaze I'd suggest um for res. Dungos if you don't have the max of 50% dr. Then you'd likely want dex enough for max block so you should use hoz, and then the rest in vitality. My take on it, anyways.

[diablo2addict]

but if I convert them and they don't attack me, my thorns won't deal damage :)

perhaps i should also get a lot of +skills for very high % thorns damage for it to do anything at all?

[LordRigorMortis]

If you don't want to be talked out of it then I guess I won't. What I will do however is say that when you get to NM and HL your thorn will make little to no difference. (I haven't yet figured out why)
All I can come up with for reasons is this:
1. Few Monsters use melee and thats the only thing that deals dmg back.
2. Many/All Of the uniques have some kind of cold fire or lightning enchantment which they wont receive back even on a melee attack.
3. If you have thorns on that means you have to get hit in order to have them receive the damage back. You need to be able to get knocked around alot which limits your ability to do much else.

But ultimately its your call, I just wanted to let you know how mine went and give some insight to the future.

[LordRigorMortis]

Sorry I didn't mention that if you just want to have fun it is very effective through normal. VERY effective.