A rough idea of where to start?

[Lannister]

I've recently picked up Diablo 2 and LoD, after wondering what the damned fuss was about for so many years. I find it a pretty good game; its like DnD, but in real-time.

My mates and I have just started LoD after fooling around with the original for about 3 weeks. We've got multiple low-level characters (below level 30). I've picked up the basics, but am still unable to understand many of the contractions people use.

We're going to start LoD in a coupla days, and tentatively, there's gonna be a Druid (wolf), an Assassin (melee one with sword/shield) and a Necro (no idea) in our group. I'm considering building an Avenger.

My questions are:
1) What should my support skills be? I've read a bit about this build, and it seems people are divided between Fanaticism and Conviction as support skills. Which one should I pick, and why?

2) How does this build fare in PvP and PvM? My mates and I occasionally fool around with mock "duels", and I'd like my character to be able to hold his own without being overly dependent on good drops, since my mates are a fair bit faster at nicking the good loot.

3) What playstyle does this build suit? I like the idea of a character that doesn't get obsolete in Hell mode, even if he doesn't get uber-drops, but I have no idea if he's more of an aggro style or defensive style.

Any answers to these questions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[prion]

Make sure you're updated to the latest patch before reading the rest of this post.

My questions are:
1) What should my support skills be? I've read a bit about this build, and it seems people are divided between Fanaticism and Conviction as support skills. Which one should I pick, and why?

Not sure what you're reading, but there is no division. Conviction should be your main aura. Fanaticism won't help you much. Your secondary skills should be the defensive auras, particularly Salvation.

2) How does this build fare in PvP and PvM? My mates and I occasionally fool around with mock "duels",
No monster is immune to an Avenger. But there's various technical reasons that avengers are not common in online PvP.

and I'd like my character to be able to hold his own without being overly dependent on good drops, since my mates are a fair bit faster at nicking the good loot.
Well this build is dependent very specifically on a high damage weapon. you'd have to fight over it with the druid and the assasin.

3) What playstyle does this build suit? I like the idea of a character that doesn't get obsolete in Hell mode,
he won't be obsolete....again, there is no monster that will be immune to you, but you may have some trouble getting good gear. You may have a little easier time than the druid.
but I have no idea if he's more of an aggro style or defensive style.
Well I don't exactly know what that means. This is an in-your-face character. Play aggressively and run right up to the monsters, just don't get swarmed. Go toe-to-toe with any and all bosses; you might even be better than the others at this.

Hope some of that helps, welcome to the game :smiley:

[maiku]

My questions are:
1) What should my support skills be? I've read a bit about this build, and it seems people are divided between Fanaticism and Conviction as support skills. Which one should I pick, and why?

Conviction is both a support and offensive skill all in one. Everyone hits more often, spells do much more damage, and you as an Avenger will have nothing resistant to you. If you're using Fanaticism, you'll get a faster attack but probably not as much damage as Conviction, which will augment all your elemental damage and make things laughably easy to hit with crap attack rating. Fanaticism would be great if you're going for a standard Zealot. You want, no need, lots of raw elemental damage and one-hit kills. Conviction makes this possible.

2) How does this build fare in PvP and PvM? My mates and I occasionally fool around with mock "duels", and I'd like my character to be able to hold his own without being overly dependent on good drops, since my mates are a fair bit faster at nicking the good loot.

Er, as a pure Avenger, you'll probably suck against your friends. You will probably hit too slowly and their resistances could give some problems for your elemental damage. You could modify this slightly by going as a Conviction Zealot (1-20 in Zeal/Sacrifice, maxed Conviction) or dual Avenger/Conviction Zealot build (max Conviction, 1-4 in Zeal, pour points into Vengeance + synergies). PvM, we're talking one-hit kills most of the time. An Avenger has some problems with crowd control. There are ways to deal with this, like...

1. Holy Freeze merc. All the enemies are slowed for you to pick them off easily and for you to not get hit as often.
2. Act 2 merc equipped with Reaper's Toll. Decrepify curse cast constantly slows down enemies and makes them take more damage.
3. Act 3 cold merc. He can actually be useful with your Conviction running. Stack lots of faster cast and +skills items on him. He'll put a lot, if not most, enemies on ice.
4. Act 1 merc with Harmony bow (cheap to make and good damage). Stack lots of IAS items on her. Conviction will augment Harmony's massive elemental damage, making her more effective at sniping enemies. You and other party members will love the Vigor and mobility, maneuvering yourself on the battlefield quickly.
5. Insight/Prayer Merc. Let him keep your mana bulb filled (which Vengeance may drain rather quickly) and allow him to get mobbed by monsters while you smack them down as they're occupied. Merc, IIRC, should heal faster because of the Insight polearm and his Prayer synergy, causing him to gain health much more quickly than normal.

3) What playstyle does this build suit? I like the idea of a character that doesn't get obsolete in Hell mode, even if he doesn't get uber-drops, but I have no idea if he's more of an aggro style or defensive style.

Any answers to these questions would be appreciated. Thanks.

The die! die! die! playstyle. To keep your Avenger in tip-top shape, find him the biggest and fastest weapon you can. Go for speed and raw, physical damage, as this is what Vengeance turns into crazy damage of all kinds.

Read Asmodeus's guide for 1.11 Avengers:
http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=517192

[Lannister]

Thanks for the answers. I do have another question: should I aim to max out the synergies for vengeance, or should I leave that up to the skill boosts on some of the higher-level loot?

I was given the impression (from reading through some LoD resources) that you can only get up to level 20 on any given skill with your skill points, but you can shoot over that with boosts from your equipment. Is that right?

[foh pally]

Yes thats correct you can get all your lvls to lvl 20 by spending skill points, but to go beyond that you will need equiptment that has +1-2 to all skills or plus to any skills. Also being an avenger conviction will be your main aura, an avenger relies on the elemental damage the weapon gives. With conviction the aura reduces the resistance and defense of all enemies. Conviction can even make some elemental immune enemies unimmune. Plus with the minus defense effect, it will help your whole group.