Quick question about skills and equipment

[diablo loves donutz]

Hi guys, this isn't so much as a question about what to use, but sort of a technical thing thats confusing me. Online play had become boring to me so I decided to play single player (I've always loved sp). My plan for my sp character was to be a sort of ninja assassin. My plans were to pretty much put some points in tiger strike, then in dragon flight and try to focus everything else on the shadow tree. I really like my sin and she's fun to play with, I really enjoy the beginning portion of act1 too. But back to my question, I've already caught on to tiger strike and how everything works, but I'm upset that it only takes the damage from the claw on which side I have TS (right side skill-right claw, etc). So is there any point in dual weilding claws? I mean, I really like the ninja aspect of the sin and I'd really love to continue dual weilding and I really hate shields, but is the second claw pointless? Are any of the extra stats on my other claw benefiting me? Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks guys.

-Donutz

[Kijya]

Appart from the extra skills and such, that a second claw can bring, it will only benefit you if you use a two-handed attack like fof, cot, boi or dragon claw, and for weapon block ofcourse. If that still isn't a good enught reason, then dualwielding is still the way to go, as an ninja shouldn't hide behind a sheild! Looks are important :grin:

If you wish you can also take advantage of a bug wile dualwielding ... it explained here (http://e.domaindlx.com/JRichard/D2/aas22/aas22gm.html), just scroll down to "Dual Wielding Claws".

btw also add the blade skills, gota have them on a nin. Blade sentinell is really great in the beginning too...

[diablo loves donutz]

thank you very much for your help, i appreciate it. Yea i love the ninja aspect and yes, looks are important if you ask me, it's just another way to further immerse yourself into the game. I love running into a room filled with mobs and I cast CoS, use my BoS, and then my merc, my warrior, and me tear through em all. Btw, should i use dragon tail for crowds and dragon flight for more isolated monsters like bosses? So far I'm lvl 20 and i'm loving dragon tail, and i want to encorporate DF as well. Thanx again

Edit: One more question. That dual claw wielding section, to be honest, was very confusing and I doubt I'll use it (even the guy who wrote it said he doesen't bother to use it). My question is will any other suffixes from the second claw benefit besides skills? Regardless though, I'll always be true to the ninja-Dual wield

[Kijya]

In general any defensive mod on the second claw will help you. Meaning res, fhr, stats, life, mana and skills + some other minor I can't recall at the moment.

Dtail is a viable skill to max, but in hell it will encounter lots of immunes. Maxed tiger + dtail = 30k fire damage with a not to expensive setup, but it will still not work against fire immunes or physical immunes (the fire damage is baised on how much physical damage you make, if no physical damage the no fire damage). You will need good items or a backup damage skill, I reccomend venom.

Death sentry owns, but since this is a nin it might not fit into the profile. still blade skills in the trap tree is a must.

[diablo loves donutz]

but will the blade skills really be effective during hell? I mean my main plan was to invest points in TS, DT, DF, venom, Bos, Cos, mind blast, claw mastery, dual block, and shadow master or warrior(which ever one does random skills and not the one's I'm using) to become a decked out ninja.

[Kijya]

Blade Fury: It might not be a weapon of mass destructin, but you're still a ninja. Shouldn't a nin throw shurikens? As long as you have ok ar with it it will work fine with cb and venom, your best friend wile iron maidened. Simply see it as your normal attack with 3/4 damage but ranged and locked speed of 6 frames.

Blade sentinel: Not of much use in hell but usefull early on for leveling from level 6-12.

Blade Shield: Style points and simply a fun skill. Doesn't really kill but might trigger some on strike effects (blind, cause monster to flee and the like).

btw my reccomendations for the skills you listed:
TS 20
DT 20 (assuming Dtail and not Dtalon)
DF 1
Venom 20
Bos 1
Cos 1
mind blast 1
claw mastery 20 (or maybe less)
dual block 1-5
shadow master 5-15 (mostly 17-18 after skills)

[diablo loves donutz]

that is what im shooting for skill wise, except im in sp and that could take a while to hit 80+ lol.