Which path to take? [Archive] - Diablo 3 & Diablo 2 Forums

Mitch Turnbuckle

25-06-2006, 01:16

Hello,

This is my first post on the Necromancr forum so please excuse my newbishness. I am currently playing a lev. 45 summon necro (real original!) and have just began act 1 nightmare. My skill point breakdown is as follows:

Summoning

6 - skeleton mastery
13 - raise skeleton
4 - skeletal mage
2 - golem mastery
2 - fire golem

Poison & Bone

7 - teeth (was going to go dentist, then changed mind)
3 - bone prison
2 - bone spear

Curses

1 - amplify damage

Originally I was going to go for max teeth, max bone prison and max bone spirit for a "dentist" type build, and put a bunch of points into fire golem. Now however, I'd really like to make a damage return build, and was wondering if it is still possible? I recently read (on some guide whose name I can't recall) that using amp damage returns 100% more of the damage reflected by (for example) thorns aura, which would eliminate the need to use iron maiden. This would free up a lot of points that could go into golem mastery (to increase life of iron and fire golems). Add in an act II thorns merc & the aforementioned amp damage to complete the basics of the build. Is this viable? Does anyone have any suggestions? I have many more questions, but this post is long enough already. Any advice/assistance is greatly appreciated . . .

IRoK

25-06-2006, 01:51

Mages aren't that great so i'd go Maxing Bone Spear and one of it's synergies and max skellies and mastery :)

Stompwampa

25-06-2006, 03:00

welcome to the Necro forum!

My first advice to you: Scrap that character and rebuild. You've wasted too many points in order to make a Hell-playable build, regardless of which skill path you take. For a Summoner, you should have maxed Raise Skelton and Skeleton Mastery by now. ANd the only points you should have on the bone tree are 1 pt in teeth and a few into Corpse Explosion.

Also, Amp Damage does not return damage...whatever you read was wrong, or you misread it. Sorry to pee in your cornflakes on that one.

Also Iron Maiden's power is pretty nil in Hell, and even in Nightmare...damage return builds are pretty hard to play.

As far as golems go, the only golem you need is Clay Golem. And you only need 1 pt in him along with 1 pt in golem mastery...with plus to skills you'll have a super golem tank that slows monsters.

For curses (assuming you're gonna be a summoner) put 1 pt, and only 1 pt, into Amp Damage, Life Tap, Decrepify, Lower Resist, and Dim Vision. YOu can do others if you want, but those are the biggies and the ones that you'll for sure use.

If you'd like more direction, feel free to PM me, or just post again and we all can help you out.

But mainly, you should rebuild.... sorry ;-)

HarbingersOfSkulls

25-06-2006, 19:22

If your on east ladder I can help ya.

*OrdoNoxNoctis

HoS

monte cristo

25-06-2006, 20:20

Also, Amp Damage does not return damage...whatever you read was wrong, or you misread it. Sorry to pee in your cornflakes on that one.

I believe he meant that monsters cursed with Amp have their physical resistance lowered which may in fact lead to them taking more damage from thorns. I'm not sure if it works, but at least now it seems logical, don't you think?

To the thread starter: I also agree you should start again with the necro. Max skeletons and mastery as was said. Also, whatever build you are making of it, consider a few facts:

- golems have high life as it is, with 1pt golem mastery. Points here are usually a waste
- other 1pt wonders are: all curses, natural res, corpse explosion (this can actually be maxed on pure summon builds), revive, clay golem

However, it would always be interesting to see a necromancer running with something else than gumby (clay golem) =)

With this setup you have enough points to max, for example, bone spear or spirit and more than one synergy to it, be it teeth or something like bone wall, which also helps your bone armor a lot.

If your on east ladder I can help ya.

*OrdoNoxNoctis

HoS
Well then.. If you happen to be on Europe, you can message me instead.

*pk13

Mitch Turnbuckle

26-06-2006, 03:58

Thanks for all of the replies!

Stompa Wompa, I know I could save a few points if I rebuild, but I could just use the points "wasted" in teeth to synergize bone spirit, as I will have enough points to max it. I will still have around 40 skill points left after that, hence my desire to do something moderately original with them . . . Harbinger of Skulls, I have no idea what ladder I'm on as I haven't played online yet (I also don't even know how to find out! But, I'm in "Chicagoland", and would appreciate your help). Monte Cristo, that is what I meant by amp damage + thorns aura, if this is true then I will still have enough points to max bone spirit, skeletons (I am not putting any more points into mages), and get close to maxing fire golem, I know what the consensus is on fire golem so don't worry! The only reason I'd use FG is to have lower defense damage reflector than IG, as points in IG increase def at the same rate as damage returned, hence making it's damage return less effective. The FG has no innate thorns aura but has lower def and other benefits (fire aura, attract effect?, absorb, elemental damage). The end result of continuing from where I am now would be:

Summoning

15 Skeleton Mastery
18 Raise Skeleton (for 8 skleletons)
4 Skeleton Mages
5-10 Golem Mastery
1-5 CG
1 IG
18 FG

P N B

7 teeth (synergizes with Bone Spirit)
5 Bone Prison (synergizes with Bone Spirit)
20 Bone Spirit

Curses

1 Amplify Damage

Mercenary

Act II Thorns

I could still shuffle a few points into Iron Maiden as well if Thorns + amp damage doesn't work. But it is really necessary to start over!? I'm only really losing the 4 points in Mages, and if I skip putting points in FG I could put a lot more into IG or Iron Maiden. Comments?

Stompwampa

26-06-2006, 04:53

I could still shuffle a few points into Iron Maiden as well if Thorns + amp damage doesn't work. But it is really necessary to start over!? I'm only really losing the 4 points in Mages, and if I skip putting points in FG I could put a lot more into IG or Iron Maiden. Comments?

First, you would be on USEast ladder if you're in Chicago. Since you haven't played online yet, you'll have to start over again anyways since you can't take your singleplayer character onto the realms.

Second, yes, I do feel you really should start over. I play on East, and I'd be more than happy to help you out. You can be back to level 45 in a couple hours of play, if that.

The thing you need to realize about necromancers is that there are only a few builds that actually work out well: The Summoner, The Poisonmancer, The Bonemancer, Summon/Poiosn Hybrid, and possibly a Bone/Summon hybrid.

With the way you have your skills situated out now, you won't be able to do any damage with your bone skills once you get to hell. Since you want to use Teeth so bad, in order to make it worthwhile at all, you MUST also max out Bone Spirit, Bone Spear, Teeth, Bone Wall or Prison, just for the synergy damage.

But if you want to be a summoner, you wasted too many points in teeth and in your golems/mastery to be able to use your other points maxing out Corpse Explosion, Skellies, Mages and Skelleton Mastery.

Also, Iron Maiden is completley worthless in Hell. So is your Iron Golem and Fire Golem. Like I said before, the ONLY golem you need is Clay, and even he only needs 1 skills point, along with one more in Golem Mastery. You could do a damage return build, but you would do far more damage if you just used your summons, or you chose a bonemancer build.

I understand your desire to try something that is different than everything else out there, I respect that. However, since you are new to the necromancer, I honestly recommend that you start with a simpler build so you can get a handle for the character, the skills and the synergies. Once you figure out all that, then you'd be ready to try out an experimental build. Because as I see it now, you don't quite know what works and what doesn't work...so you be best to learn the "tricks of the trade" before you venture off.

Like I said too, I'd be more than happy to help you out when you make a ladder character. Feel free to PM me and we can work something out if you'd like.

Good luck! Glad to see that you're enjoying yourself!

Mitch Turnbuckle

27-06-2006, 02:17

Stompwampa

27-06-2006, 16:15

Thanks for the advice Stompa Wompa,

If I were to rebuild I wouldn't make a damage return build anyhow, it was just an idea to apply to the necro I have. If I do as you said need to start from scratch to play on the realms (no idea what these are) than I would have to go the "lord o' mages" lower resist route. I refuse to cookie cut and I think that would be fun/challenging build, only question is to go corpse explosion, or poison spells. What do you think?

if you're going with mages, you'll need to use Lower Resit anyways...so I'd take the poison spells...But even still, CE has the potential to be a one point wonder with all the plus to skills you can get. So you could put one point into it, and still be a slaughter house.

Mitch Turnbuckle

30-06-2006, 21:40

Stompa Wompa,

I will be taking your advice and building a new Necro for realm play. Since my having to rebuild is your fault (by convincing me to do so with cogent arguments on behalf of your stance), and I will have some free time over the upcoming holiday weekend, I would like to take you up on your offer of aide. Besides, according to you it should only take "a couple of hours" to get back to lev. 45. If I go onto U.S. East to start the new Necro, how do I contact you?

Stompwampa

03-07-2006, 23:26