Suggestions Needed! Switching from WWS to Windforce [Archive]

MaStAViC

27-07-2007, 22:49

Hi, Everyone,
How are you? I have read approximately a dozen threads concerning Witchwild String (WWS) and Windforce, but still had a few questions left, and I would also like specific recommendations.

My girlfriend's Amazon has been using an upped 166%ED Witchwild String (WWS) for a while, but I am thinking about getting her a Windforce because I just acquired an IST rune, which is enough to get a Windforce on USWest Ladder Softcore.

Her primary skill is Strafe, and she is hitting the 9/2 Strafe attack speed frame with 100%IAS. If I get her a Windforce, I will socket accordingly so that she can still hit the same attack speed frame. I have read threads where people stated that for the Windforce, it is recommended that it hit a different breakpiont. If this is so, why is that?

Should I get her a Windforce, or is the upgraded WWS good enough? She wants to be an overall monster killer in Hell difficulty, including in 8-player games.

The following is her current gear:
Cat's Eye Amulet (20%IAS)
Nosterafu Coil Belt (10%IAS)
Laying of Hands (20%IAS)
Tal Rasha's Helm socketed with IAS Jewel (15%IAS)
Two Raven Frost Rings
War Traveler Boots
Duriel's Shell

Should she be switching to a Windforce? Is it a better bow? Also, I am looking to replace her boots and armor, but have not found substitutes yet. I cannot afford Fortitude or really expensive armors just yet. Currently, her resistances in Hell is a major problem when she gets hit, so the Duriel's Shell helps. I am planning to either socket the Duriel Shell or the Windforce with a 15%IAS jewel so that she can reach the 9/2 Strafe breakpoint.

Any suggestions whatsoever would be geratly appreciated. Thank you!
Victor Ly
*mastavic

windwingwind

27-07-2007, 23:55

Hi, Everyone,How are you?

I'm fine, thank you, how are you?

Her primary skill is Strafe, and she is hitting the 9/2 Strafe attack speed frame with 100%IAS. If I get her a Windforce, I will socket accordingly so that she can still hit the same attack speed frame. I have read threads where people stated that for the Windforce, it is recommended that it hit a different breakpiont. If this is so, why is that?

I think 9/2 is fine. I suppose you know that due to different weapon base speed Windforce need 120% ias to reach 9/2.

Should I get her a Windforce, or is the upgraded WWS good enough? She wants to be an overall monster killer in Hell difficulty, including in 8-player games.

Definitely. I love WWS yet I cab't deny that windforce is more brutal. But even with windforce I doubt she can 'be an overall monster killer in Hell difficulty, including in 8-player games'.....well it's easier if she get a faith merc too.

Also, I am looking to replace her boots and armor, but have not found substitutes yet. I cannot afford Fortitude or really expensive armors just yet. Currently, her resistances in Hell is a major problem when she gets hit, so the Duriel's Shell helps. I am planning to either socket the Duriel Shell or the Windforce with a 15%IAS jewel so that she can reach the 9/2 Strafe breakpoint.

If you can't afford fortitude, the best budget substitutes is treachy. Resist isn't a problem. Mine bowazons ran around with negative resist :D. Just becareful in areas with soul....

MaStAViC

28-07-2007, 00:08

I'm fine, thank you, how are you
Thank you for replying. Glad to hear you're doing well; I'm also fine.

I think 9/2 is fine. I suppose you know that due to different weapon base speed Windforce need 120% ias to reach 9/2.]
Thanks for pointing this out. I saw in about three threads a similar statement, but am still slightly confused, actually. I see that the hydra bow has a Weapon Speed Modifier (WSM) value of 10, but Windforce has a 20%IAS mod on it, which should put the Windforce to -10%IAS, right? With that, wouldn't I only need 76%IAS more to reach the 9/2 breakpoint? Below is the IAS breakpoint table that I found for Strafe using WWS:

13/3 - 0% IAS
12/3 - 9% IAS
11/3 - 20% IAS
10/3 - 37% IAS
9/3 - 63% IAS
9/2 - 86% IAS
8/2 - 105% IAS
7/2 - 200% IAS

Do different bows have different breakpoints? I haven't really played Diablo in a while and cannot clearly remember that. If so, can you (or someone else) provide me with Windforce's breakpoints? Thank you.

Definitely. I love WWS yet I cab't deny that windforce is more brutal. But even with windforce I doubt she can 'be an overall monster killer in Hell difficulty, including in 8-player games'.....well it's easier if she get a faith merc too.
I do not think I will be able to afford a Faith runeword anytime soon, as the only good item I have is the IST rune (I have other uniques, such as a Shako, which is by far my second best item, but my magic find Sorceress is using it). I tried following KremBananX's Amazon with Windforce and A1 FaithMerc Guide (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?p=4744535) but found out that I could not even afford a tenth of the items listed in that guide.

If you can't afford fortitude, the best budget substitutes is treachy. Resist isn't a problem. Mine bowazons ran around with negative resist :D. Just becareful in areas with soul....
Glad to hear my girlfriend's Amazon isn't the only one low on resistances =P

Thanks again for all the information thus far!
Victor Ly
*mastavic

lazerlight

28-07-2007, 01:32

Thanks for pointing this out. I saw in about three threads a similar statement, but am still slightly confused, actually. I see that the hydra bow has a Weapon Speed Modifier (WSM) value of 10, but Windforce has a 20%IAS mod on it, which should put the Windforce to -10%IAS, right? With that, wouldn't I only need 76%IAS more to reach the 9/2 breakpoint? Below is the IAS breakpoint table that I found for Strafe using WWS:

13/3 - 0% IAS
12/3 - 9% IAS
11/3 - 20% IAS
10/3 - 37% IAS
9/3 - 63% IAS
9/2 - 86% IAS
8/2 - 105% IAS
7/2 - 200% IAS

Do different bows have different breakpoints? I haven't really played Diablo in a while and cannot clearly remember that. If so, can you (or someone else) provide me with Windforce's breakpoints? Thank you.

I think you're having trouble understand WSM. The WSM of a bow never changes, no matter what kind of ias mods are on the bow... or any mods for that matter. The 20% ias that comes on the windforce is simply added to your total ias for the character and is no different from getting 20% ias from an andy's visage or cat's eye. So, what I'm trying to say, is that you will still need 120% total ias for the windforce to hit the 9/2 breakpoint - which is 100% additional ias from your equipment/windforce socket to reach it. To be honest, trying to get to 120% ias might hinder your options for the rest of your equipment, and I would personally try to aim for a 9/3 strafe (9 frame normal attack) at 90% ias. You could then use atma's scarab and still let your girlfriend retain her amp damage to deal with most physical immunes.

Hope this helps.

MaStAViC

28-07-2007, 02:28

I think you're having trouble understand WSM. The WSM of a bow never changes, no matter what kind of ias mods are on the bow... or any mods for that matter. The 20% ias that comes on the windforce is simply added to your total ias for the character and is no different from getting 20% ias from an andy's visage or cat's eye. So, what I'm trying to say, is that you will still need 120% total ias for the windforce to hit the 9/2 breakpoint - which is 100% additional ias from your equipment/windforce socket to reach it. To be honest, trying to get to 120% ias might hinder your options for the rest of your equipment, and I would personally try to aim for a 9/3 strafe (9 frame normal attack) at 90% ias. You could then use atma's scarab and still let your girlfriend retain her amp damage to deal with most physical immunes.

Hope this helps.
Thank you for the information. I actually do understand WSM, though I may have phrased it poorly earlier. In any case, I appreciate your explanation. What is the Strafe breakpoints for a Windforce/Hydra Bow? I can't seem to find it anywhere and only have the Strafe breaks for a WWS/Short Siege Bow.

Thank you,
Victor Ly
*mastavic

lazerlight

28-07-2007, 03:00

MaStAViC

28-07-2007, 03:26

ok, sorry, it just sounded like you thought that the 20% ias on a windforce would change its WSM from 10 to -10... which it doesn't.

Here's a link to all of the breakpoints you need for both strafe and normal attack: (Just look under wsm 10 for windforce)

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=183692
No need for your to apologize; I see how you could have interpreted what I said incorrectly. Thanks a lot for the link to the table! Looking at it, I will need 120%IAS to hit the 9/2 frame, like you said. The following is the gear I am planning to use (can you make sure this will bring me to the 9/2 frame?):
Laying of Hands Gloves (20%IAS)
Cat's Eye Amulet (20%IAS)
Windforce's set mod (20%IAS)
SHAEL rune in Windforce (20%IAS)
Andariel's Visage Demonhead Helm (20%IAS)
15%IAS jewel in Helm (15%IAS)
Nosterafu's Coil Belt (10%IAS)

This should add up to 125%IAS, enabling the Amazon to Strafe at the 9/2 frame. If there are any other suggestions, I'd really like to hear them.

Thank you so much!
Victor Ly

Lyrs

28-07-2007, 04:36

MaStAViC

28-07-2007, 05:14

I opted not to have any decent res, instead opting for ias and dmg. However, here's what I would do:

Make any of the following armors:
Lion Heart
Hel + Lum + Fal
Good mods and good res.

Smoke
Nef + Lum
+50 all res is the major thing here

And as already recommended, Treachery.
Thanks for the recommendations. I will most likely make a Lionheart runeword armor... after I get a Windforce, Andarial's Visage, and a good 3-socket armor =P

Thanks!
Victor Ly

AnimeCraze

28-07-2007, 08:33

Treachery for 45 IAS. This will get you enough IAS to get an Atma's scarab for very speedy kills.

NASE

28-07-2007, 10:44

changing away from wws. the question that I have is, what have you don't with cs? If you haven't giving out points in cs, cause wws has ds anyway, then you are loosing a lot of damage. If you count in the possible lost of the /2 breakpoint, and I wonder if changing is even a good points - I know you won't, but anyway?
Perhaps you will be better served by getting her other gear up, or getting more ed on that wws. I'm thinking of razortails to shoot her pierce up, perhaps ias helm or armour so she can nef the wws for knockback, or going for giant skull for the knockback?
If you do plan on changing to ws, certainly hit the /2 breakpoint and perhaps try to get gear wise ds. Highlords come to mind, as does gores. Lacking ds/cs seems more important then amp. you can always carry the wws on switch.

P.S. note that wws has 40 res and wf has none. So wf is even less res, not that it should be problem, though perhaps it is.

MaStAViC

05-08-2007, 14:47

changing away from wws. the question that I have is, what have you don't with cs? If you haven't giving out points in cs, cause wws has ds anyway, then you are loosing a lot of damage. If you count in the possible lost of the /2 breakpoint, and I wonder if changing is even a good points - I know you won't, but anyway?
Thank you for replying. After you pointed out that not having Critical Strike/Deadly Strike may be a problem, I have been spending quite a few days thinking it over. For most of that time, I considered not switching to Windforce. However, the Amazon has about 6 skill points remaining, so if I put all of them into Critical Strike, there will be a 46% chance that the skill will kick in. With that in mind, I am thinking about getting her Windforce.

Perhaps you will be better served by getting her other gear up, or getting more ed on that wws.
Her WWS is 166%, which is just 4% short of the potential 170%.

P.S. note that wws has 40 res and wf has none. So wf is even less res, not that it should be problem, though perhaps it is.
That shouldn't be a problem, and I really hope it won't be. Thanks for pointing that out.

maiku

05-08-2007, 19:16

Yes, adding to Critical Strike will definitely help her WWS build transition to a more normal bowazon build. 5-10 points should be good. Atma's is also a superb little amulet.

Hector

05-08-2007, 19:43

I'd definitely switch to the Windforce. While WWS is decent, there is simply no way it can keep up with Windforce, specially if you add an Atma's Scarab (to counter WWS' Amp advantage) and enough IAS on the WF setup (probably from armor).

MaStAViC

06-08-2007, 00:49

The following is the gear setup that I am thinking about, but it does not include Atma's Scarab. If I switch my amulet from Cat's Eye to Atma's Scarab, I would be down to 105%IAS, which puts me at 15%IAS short of the 9/2 frame. In this case, I may have to use Treachary, but am not sure which items I should switch out.

Laying of Hands Gloves (20%IAS)
Cat's Eye Amulet (20%IAS)
Windforce's set mod (20%IAS)
SHAEL rune in Windforce (20%IAS)
Andariel's Visage Demonhead Helm (20%IAS)
15%IAS jewel in Helm (15%IAS)
Nosterafu's Coil Belt (10%IAS)
War Travelers Battle Boots
Raven Frost Rings (2 of them)
Lionheart Runeword armor

Please advise; thank you,
Victor Ly

Barrynor

06-08-2007, 16:55

maiku

06-08-2007, 18:56

I would definitely switch out the Cat's Eye and put in an Atma's Scarab. Cat's Eye works well with the Witchyzon build because of the 20% IAS and extra dex. You don't need find a source of Amp because WWS provides it. With WF, I'd think you really want to take advantage of that high damage with Amp from Atma's. If Critical Strike and Amp are both in effect, you will be doing 4X damage.

MaStAViC

06-08-2007, 19:05

maiku

06-08-2007, 19:32

It has to come from the armor. That's the last place you can get any IAS from.

Easy option: Twitchthroe. If you keep the Nosferatu's Coil and upgraded the Twitch using the Cube recipes and socketed it with a good all resist jewel or um to cover resistances, that might be all that's required. Or swap out Nos Coil, socket Twitch with a good IAS jewel (preferably one with 10-15 all resist), and put in Razortail to help increase damage and pierce further.

Mid-level: Treachery. Get a good defense 3os Dusk Shroud, Wyrm Hide, or Wire Fleece and make Treachery (Shael Thul Lem, IIRC). This is currently what my Witchyzon uses. You can pre-buff with Fade, if careful, to make up for lost resistances. It is one of my favorite armors, aside from Lionheart.

Creative approach: get a 3 or 4 open-socketed armor, such as a Dusk or Wyrmhide, and find or trade for good IAS jewels to socket in it. Whatever else is lacking, such as life, resists, etc. make up with jewels, runes, or perfect gems. What to put in it depends on whether you keep the Nosferatu belt or not.

This is just a theoretical example, but one could create a 4-socketed armor with...

2-3 IAS jewels w/ 10-15 resist all on them or
2-3 IAS 25-30 resist in fire, lightning, and cold
+15 max damage jewel (as a 4th jewel)
Perfect Ruby for more life
Perfect Emerald for more dexterity
Um (for more resists)

Depends on how her bowazon was built and what her strengths and weaknesses are.

Hope this helps.

MaStAViC

06-08-2007, 19:40

Thank you. In regards to the Nosterafu's Coil/Razortail debate, her Amazon already has very high pierce due to investment in the Pierce skills. I'll look over the replies for a bit. Feel free to offer more suggestions. Thank you.

maiku

06-08-2007, 19:58

If her Amazon already has high pierce, like in the range of 70-80%, then you could very well stick to the Nosferatu's Coil. Pierce is excellent for bowazons, but in my mind it's most critical for Frostmaidens or Frozen Arrow and Lightning Fury builds, where much or most of the power comes from special effects like cold damage explosions or extra bolts released with more piercings. In these cases, 85%+ pierce is excellent and 100% should be the ideal.

Nosferatu's Coil also has 10% slow on it, and combined with the knockback from Windforce, should keep her bowazon very safe. Slow and knockback offer extra crowd control, and that could be worth a slight loss in power that would be gained from adding Razortail. With a WF, she should not be lacking power. You could also put a +15 max damage jewel or two in a unique or socketed armor to make up for potentially lost damage.

Smackin

06-08-2007, 20:42

You could use the following for some nice killing speed and survivalbility(SP?):
Mav's helm(30 ias)
Atmas Scarab(Amp+AR)(or Highlords, I personally would go for highlords)(20ias)
Treachery(res+45 ias)
Nos Belt(slow, +str, 10 ias)
LoH(%350 to demon, res, 20 as)
Ravenfrost(aim for high AR)
Another ravenfrost or ring of ur choice
Gores(DS, OW, CB=GG)
WF(20ias)

With the above setup, u'll have good fire, cold, and poison res, huge dmg vs boss, Decent LL and ML to keep u shooting. If u go for Atmas, u'll have a bigger potential dmg, but less stable dmg, and u can hit 9/2 without using any of the sockets. However, If u go highlords with 20 ias and stick a 15 ias jewel in the Mavs helm, U'll hit the next BP, 8/2 strafing(Speed=Dmg=Faster killing=more leech), and u'll still have the socket in WF to use. Likewise u can shael and WF and use Atmas and still have the 8/2 BP. U'll get more AR and potential dmg with atmas, while u get more suvivalbility and stable dmg with highlords.

MaStAViC

06-08-2007, 21:38

Thanks for replying and offering such a complete setup build suggestion, Smackin. Is a 8/2 Strafe much faster than a 9/2 Strafe? If not, I was thinking of just aiming for the 9/2 breakpoint because I would need another 37%IAS to reach the next frame.

These are the items that I am thinking about now (keeping in mind your recommendation of a Highlord's Amulet:
Windforce (20%IAS; socketed with a SHAEL rune = 40%IAS)
Andarial's Visage (20%IAS; socketed with an IAS jewel = 35%IAS)
Highlord's Amulet (20%IAS)
Laying of Hands (20%IAS)
Nosterafu's Coil Belt (10%IAS)
War Travelers/Gore Riders (may be switching to Gore Riders as per your recommendation)
Raven Frost Rings (two of them; 8% mana leech from the Windforce should be enough)
Lionheart Runeword Armor

Other than the IAS, the Treachery armor doesn't look very useful to me (I have never used a Treachery armor before, so please enligten me on its usefulness if possible), so I would much rather get IAS from other items and use Lionheart until I could get a better runeword armor (just for reference; what would the ultimate armor be?).

Any thoughts on this setup? I would have 125%IAS, which would hit the 9/2breakpoint for Strafe.

Thank you,
Victor Ly
Volnteer Office, SHCS

AnimeCraze

06-08-2007, 21:42

8/2 and 9/2 is almost the same as far as strafing is concerned.

maiku

06-08-2007, 22:09

Vic, IIRC, level 15 Fade of Treachery adds +60 to all resists and 15% physical damage reduction. It also lasts for a while. I also like the Venom, because that does about 300 instant damage per hit right there. With very fast Strafe, you can repeatedly envenom one monster or several monsters and shave off their hps very quickly. While it's small damage in hell, every bit adds up at such a rapid rate of fire. However, if using Treachery, do not use poison charms with it, because it will shorten their damage duration to 0.4 seconds, the time in which the poison of Venom works. I find all the stats of Treachery useful for bowazons and some melee classes when compared with its price.

If you want, catch me online sometime and I'll get my Strafer to show you her Dusk Treachery.

NASE

06-08-2007, 22:18

the ultimate armour is fort, or perhaps coh if you need more defensive aspects. Enigma perhaps if you need mf, though there are better armours. Certainly fort as the offweapon ed will be much lower then with faith users, and even they use fort.

Threachery is great, aswell defensive as offensive, however there are much better armours, though not for the price.

Lets see:
45 ias, you know what ias is right?
20% fhr, though not that usefull, it can never hurt. certainly not if you have low life and will get in hit recovery often.
slvl 15 venom. Offers up too 300 instand poisons damage. This is very nice though consider this. You can't no longer use poison damage to cancel out monsters regereration, and with windforce, offweapon ed can get you to 300 extra damage fast.
slvl 15 fade. Great, gives up to 60 res and 15% damage reduction. The problem is that this is a ctc on hit with little chance. I found that it doesn't trigger often so you can count this in.
cold res. Res can't ever hurt right?

Barrynor

06-08-2007, 22:21

I'll indulge you in some pierce calculations, and why Razortail adds a lot more damage for any build, not just javazons and ice maidens.

80% Pierce

Chance to pierce target nr 1: 0.8 = 80%
Chance to pierce target nr 2: 0.8*0.8 = 0.64 = 64%
Chance to pierce target nr 3: 0.8*0.8*0.8=0.512 = 51%
Chance to pierce target nr 4 0.8(4) = 0.4 = 40%
chance to pierce target nr 5 0.8 (5) = 0.32 = 32%

Whilst attaining 95% pierce the numbers are as follows:
0.95(1) 0.95
0.95(2) 0.9
0.95(3) 0.86
0.95(4) 0.81
0.95(5) 0.77

I'm sure you can do the math yourself, and every hit has a 5% chance to let off AMP damage as well.

Just a thought though ;)

MaStAViC

07-08-2007, 11:24

Hey Vic,

Dunno how much IAS you need, but consider switching the Coil for Raizortail. 33% added pierce will greatly enhance your damage output. It would almost be worth it to add a 60% IAS armor with some good 2nd mods to the mix if you want speed. However, Raizortail combined with Atma's Scarab and a decent rate (9/3 is manageble here I think) will cause massive damage against any and every target as with Atma and a little patience even the physical immumes will die. And you'd be able to keep the Lionheart which is a very, very nice runeword and gets you an A for style.

Cheerio,

//Barry
I'll indulge you in some pierce calculations, and why Razortail adds a lot more damage for any build, not just javazons and ice maidens.

80% Pierce

Chance to pierce target nr 1: 0.8 = 80%
Chance to pierce target nr 2: 0.8*0.8 = 0.64 = 64%
Chance to pierce target nr 3: 0.8*0.8*0.8=0.512 = 51%
Chance to pierce target nr 4 0.8(4) = 0.4 = 40%
chance to pierce target nr 5 0.8 (5) = 0.32 = 32%

Whilst attaining 95% pierce the numbers are as follows:
0.95(1) 0.95
0.95(2) 0.9
0.95(3) 0.86
0.95(4) 0.81
0.95(5) 0.77

I'm sure you can do the math yourself, and every hit has a 5% chance to let off AMP damage as well.

Just a thought though ;)
Thanks for replying, Barry. I hope you've been well =)

Her Amazon actually has 80% Pierce from the skill (base) at the moment because it was originally a WWS Amazon and I planned for her to use Nosterafu's Coil, so pierce/Razortail won't be a problem.

I do have a question though. What do you mean by "every hit has a 5% chance to let off AMP damage as well?" You mean with Atma's Scarab on instead of Highlord's Amulet, right?

Vic, IIRC, level 15 Fade of Treachery adds +60 to all resists and 15% physical damage reduction. It also lasts for a while. I also like the Venom, because that does about 300 instant damage per hit right there. With very fast Strafe, you can repeatedly envenom one monster or several monsters and shave off their hps very quickly. While it's small damage in hell, every bit adds up at such a rapid rate of fire. However, if using Treachery, do not use poison charms with it, because it will shorten their damage duration to 0.4 seconds, the time in which the poison of Venom works. I find all the stats of Treachery useful for bowazons and some melee classes when compared with its price.

If you want, catch me online sometime and I'll get my Strafer to show you her Dusk Treachery.
Thanks for the additional information about Treachery. It sounds like a very nice armor, and I actually didn't know how great Fade was until you told me and I checked Arreat Summit; however, "5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Fade When Struck" does not sound very good. When that percentage, her Amazon would have to be struck 20 times in order to cast the skill, and her Amazon was built to not take hits (aren't most bow Amazons built this way?). Her Amazon, if struck more than a few times, would most likely die.

8/2 and 9/2 is almost the same as far as strafing is concerned.
AnimeCraze and NASE, thanks for the reply. I will consider both your input.

Thanks,
Victor Ly
*mastavic

Barrynor

07-08-2007, 16:04

Heya Vic,

I've been well, though I've stopped playing DII about a year and a half ago. Been busy with other things since ;)

At any rate, first about that Treachery and the 5% chance to set off fade... no, not entirely. You see, the actual mechanics is much like this: Your chance of Fade going off after say 10 hits is not 10*5%, but rather 1 - (chance Fade not going) which is actually 1 - 0.95(10) = 0.4. It will slowly drop to 0, but it will never quite reach 0. The same goes for Atma's amulet (which was indeed what I was talking about).. the more times you roll, the better the chance you trigger it to go off, but your chance will not be 100% after 20 attempts. You cannot simply add the chances together but rather must multiply them. I know, statistics are silly like that ;)

Pierce is capped at 95%, which is the maximum attainable. In ye olden (1.09) days people went for a pierce investment of 66% and let Raizortail do the rest, whilst using 60% IAS armor to get to a 7 or 8 fps guided and 9/2 Strafe. Cats Eye was indeed a popular choice, as was Mavina's helmet. With those two you'd already be at 110%. I'd suggest Atma's though because with a little patience you'd be able to shoot down any and everything in the game. Ideally you combine another source of Crushing Blow and Deadly Strike with Atma's/ You could for example wear Goreriders, so that you have a little of all. If you do manage to AMP a target and then trigger a CB on a DS or CS roll, it'll cause a LOT of pain. Also, remember to have a single frost damage charm in your inventory, as well as a fire damage charm... frost and a possible hit recovery are good things ;)

HeroXVII

07-08-2007, 16:29

Use Treachery or duress if you can't afford a Fortitude. War Travellers don't really fit a bowazon unless you're MFing so use Eth Treks, the universal boots. Windforce has the max possible damage for a bow.

Identified Name: Windforce
Unid Name: Hydra Bow
Two-Hand Damage: 35 To (241-547) (138-291 Avg)
Required Level: 73
Required Strength: 134
Required Dexterity: 167
Base Weapon Speed: [10]
+250% Enhanced Damage
+ (3.125 Per Character Level) 3-309 To Maximum Damage (Based On Character Level)
20% Increased Attack Speed
6-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Heal Stamina Plus 30%
+10 To Strength
+5 To Dexterity
Knockback

The only problem with Windforce is no Ignore Target Defense but the Knockback compiled with Strafe makes up for it, even better if you got a couple points into Pierce. WWS is probably second to Windforce because it has two sockets for IAS and also has the nice DS% on it.

Treachery... and Duress

Duress
3 Socket Body Armor
Shael + Um + Thul

+40% Faster Hit Recovery
+10-20% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 37-133 Cold Damage 2 sec. Duration (Normal)
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
33% Chance of Open Wounds
+150-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
-20% Slower Stamina Drain
Cold Resist +45%
Lightning Resist +15%
Fire Resist +15%
Poison Resist +15%

Duress gives a nice bit of resistances, better than Treachery but lacks the IAS. The Crushing Blow and Open Wounds help a great deal, though.

Treacher (Assassin)
3 Socket Body Armor
Shael + Thul + Lem

5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Fade When Struck
25% Chance To Cast level 15 Venom On Striking
+2 To Assassin Skills
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold From Monsters

Well, Treachery here gives a nice 45% IAS and 20% FHR. It also gives 30% Cold resistance but loses versus the Duress. The 25% to cast Lv15 Venom which can help with crowd control using Strafe. Level 15 Venom adds 305- 325 Poison damage over 0.4 seconds. Part of the resistance is made up for with the 5% chance to cast Lv15 Fade which increases resistances and reduced cursed time.

NASE

07-08-2007, 19:26

@ HeroXVII: Why would war trav be a bad boot for amazons? They add damage, this is good, very good if you have high dex build and other off-weapon ed.

and about duress crushing blow is not some thing most bowazons search for. It is lowered to 1/10 of the opponents life. And open wounds isn't either, it still is very good to have. Though it doesn't to that much damage and monsters regeneration can be stopped with poison just a good, if you don't use treachery this is.
Isn't duress a very defensive armour. Something you don't really need on a good bowazon, ceratinly not with some slow, good tank and knockback.

@Barrynor: why a fire small charm, is there something I don't know?

Barrynor

08-08-2007, 00:20

Mmm, a tendency to trigger hit recovery on monsters, IIRC. Mind you, that IIRC is indeed a Recall, as its been a year and a half ;)

Well, CB takes only 10% right? Amped monsters take double, so that's 20%, well worth it, and Deadly strike might trigger again at that point causing a 40% hit. Rare, but possible. There are a few builds which abuse this principle very well. I ran an amazone through hell with nothing but a Kuko and Goblin Toe, to be honest, and it worked quite well. Took some time to kill stuff, but it all died eventually.

PhatTrumpet

08-08-2007, 00:38

The fire damage charm triggering hit recovery was a myth AFAIK. If it did work at one time it definitely doesn't work now.

Regarding the second part, I don't think Amp affects Crushing Blow. CB is a direct reduction of a target's hitpoints rather than traditional physical damage. Also, again just working from memory here, CB damage can be reduced by positive physical resistance but it cannot be enhanced by negative physical resistance or other effects.

I do, however, know for a fact that Deadly and Critical Strike have no affect on Crushing Blow.

HeroXVII

08-08-2007, 06:04

MaStAViC

08-08-2007, 10:08

Travs are usually for MFing, and I meant Shadowdancers and not Treks. don't know how I got those two confused. Shadowdancers add 25-30 DEX and 30 FHR.
The problem with Shadow Dancer Myrmidon Greaves is that, even with its Requirements -20% mod, it requires 167 strength to use.

Barrynor

08-08-2007, 10:11

Ah, thank you Phat. Mmy meory is a little vague sometimes... I know fire charms used to trigger FHR ;)

maiku

08-08-2007, 12:07

The problem with Shadow Dancer Myrmidon Greaves is that, even with its Requirements -20% mod, it requires 167 strength to use.

167 strength isn't worth it. Stick with the Travs, IMO.

MaStAViC

10-08-2007, 03:18

167 strength isn't worth it. Stick with the Travs, IMO.
Shadow Dancer would not be an option. Would Gore Riders be a better choice than War Travelers though? Thanks.

Smackin

10-08-2007, 06:24

Gores beats travs anyday unless ur mfing.

NASE

10-08-2007, 10:15

Not always, gores five crushing blow - rarely sought after - openwounds - perhaps the most usefull mod though again, not needed - and deadly strike, again since you have high cs, this i not that usefull. On wws, You can always use high lords to get the last bit of deadly strike.
travs gives you straith damage, multipliable with you dex, offweapon ed, ed comming from deadly strike. On top of that it gives mf, and some stats, can't hurt anyway.

Smackin

10-08-2007, 10:20

Ur opinion is true when using WWS. However he is no longer using a WWS. Btw gores gives 15% CB, not 5%.

Barrynor

10-08-2007, 13:55

its halved on ranged attacks so thats 7.5% ;)

PhatTrumpet

10-08-2007, 15:59

It's the effective damage that's halved, not the chance of triggering.

loyalpeon

10-08-2007, 16:41

IIRC, my strafezon ran something like:

Windforce + Shael (40%)
Atmas
Gores
LoH (20%)
NosCoil (10%) (I'd maxed pierce)
2 Ravefrosts
Tals Helm + 15% jewel (15%)
Twitch +15%jewel (35%)

gave me the 120% and felt great all around.

That was before 1.11 though, so I donno if with treachery i'd do anything different. I might if I wanted to substitute for a Razortail, save some point investment and go hybrid, but otherwise I'd probably keep the same setup now.

Luichenwai

17-08-2007, 20:27

Here's what im going for

Shael Windforce 40% IAS
NosCoil 10%IAS
Laying of HAnds 20%IAS
Trechery 45%IAS
Andariels Visage with IAS jewel 35%IAS

This gives you 140%IAS... If you want to reach the 8/2 breakpoint, you just need 7%IAS more, which can be done with Cats eye, and u can take out noscoil if u want and replace that. Or else. Keep the above and use atma for ammy. That is what im contimplating on right now. is does 9/2 and 8/2 breakpoints make a big difference in game play.

Smackin

18-08-2007, 00:17

It only makes a diff if ur a speedfreak.

MuffinMan

18-08-2007, 01:42

bowazons usually are

NASE

18-08-2007, 11:13

then most bowazon are not smart or fundamentalistic.

ShazamLies

18-08-2007, 13:29

LoH are nice gloves for the +ED to demons, but I find for generaly play that I like my lavagouts better. The chance to trigger enchant really helps to bolster my AR, but thats just me. But I guess LoH is good for demon-intensive areas or bosses.

As for armor, my favorite armor on a WF zon is a 60ias armor. Recently found a 4os 71 life armor that I stuck 4 ias jewels into for my strafer. This way I can get enough ias for the 120 bp, (60 armor, 40 WF/shael, 20 gloves). This allows me to use a razortail (i love pierce), atmas (amp is best strafer amulet EVER), and kiras to help me with my res. I also sometimes use a vampiregaze when I feel lazy, it gives more cold duration, dr, mdr, and leech.

As for boots I think that Wartravelers > Goreriders on zons because if you have a dex heavy zon, you will get a decent boost to damage, and you need all you can get because of strafe's horrible 3/4 cut.

And btw, in an 8 player game, a bowzon will never be a massive monster killer relative to many other characters. But she's fun and very potent in smaller sized games as she can hit a lot of targets and they don't take that much to go down.