Witchwild string

[Detrean]

I used to just play pure characters.... no twinking of any kind. Then I realized that I actually wanted to play characters in hell that need equipment and chances where I wasn't going to get a barb through hell easily without some decent equipment. Anyway I decided to use ATMA as a minor way to finally collect the equipment I needed. So I have been MFing with my necro and came across a Witchwild String bow. It's a decent bow from what I read in the forums (yes, I did try to find an answer to this before I posted the Q).

My question is this: What 2 things should I socket it with? I don't want to waste this bow by just putting in a few P gems and calling it a day. It only fires at normal attack speed so do you guys think I should put some runes in that increases speed? Also keep in mind that while I am using ATMA I do not intend to trade in a public area. That means that I'm not going to have amazing Jewels or very high level runes. Any suggestions?

[KremBanan]

Check your IAS equipment. If you need some more to reach a higher breakpoint, then socket it with one or two Shaels/IAS-jewels. If you are good in that department, consider Nef for Knockback. Eth for -25% Target defense, Ith or Sol for Min/Max damage, Amn for ll, Um for soem Open Wounds.. whatever fills your gap in your equipment.

[WrongdayJ]

I agree with Krem. . .I think most people would automatically jump on the IAS from a Shael, but if you are already getting a GOB from some other source (like say, Treachery armor, or some other combination of gear), then something that would further enhance your damage would get the nod.

The way I see it, there is absolutely nothing wrong with tossing 2 Shael's in it. Or maybe a Shael and a Nef. Increased attack speed is always nice and knockback is never a bad thing for a Bowie, either.

Jewels or facets are also nice if you happen to have a some really juicy ones.

If it were me, though, I'd dump in 2 Shaels in the bow and get the Knockback from a set of crafted gloves.

[DudSpud]

If it were me, though, I'd dump in 2 Shaels in the bow and get the Knockback from a set of crafted gloves.I play SP and of course the gear is therefore limited. That said, I love my WWS strafer. What KremBanan and WrongdayJ said is key, though - get to the 9/2 strafe BP with whatever gear/jewels you can muster for KB/Slow/ED, and enjoy. MS-Zons, I don't have the experience to call on, though here the Buriza seems/sounds best.

Good luck,
DudSpud

[oswiu]

I'll take this opportunity to pump the idea of %ED jewels in the WWS again...

IF you can find the ias you need to reach your desired breakpoint (9/2 for a strafer is a good one to aim for) then ED jewels can be a VERY competitive choice, giving a boost of 20-25% or more to your TOTAL damage output, depending on the exact build, gear, stats etc.

[maiku]

My question is this: What 2 things should I socket it with? I don't want to waste this bow by just putting in a few P gems and calling it a day. It only fires at normal attack speed so do you guys think I should put some runes in that increases speed? Also keep in mind that while I am using ATMA I do not intend to trade in a public area. That means that I'm not going to have amazing Jewels or very high level runes. Any suggestions?

20-30% ED jewels if you have enough IAS or KremBanan's suggestions because they're good too. Just think about what would help to round out your equipment or build.

[AnimeCraze]

Unless you are missing a breakpoint, I strongly recommend shael nef. Laying of hands is too good to miss for PvM.

[DudSpud]

I have played many WWS strafers, SP (mostly) and East. The key to them, in my opinion, is hitting the right strafe BP.

0 IAS - 13/3
13 IAS - 12/3
26 IAS - 11/3
56 IAS - 9/3
86 IAS - 9/2
113 IAS - 8/2

Of course, the key to hitting the right BP is gear...
Also keep in mind that while I am using ATMA I do not intend to trade in a public area. That means that I'm not going to have amazing Jewels or very high level runes. Any suggestions?Therefore, with this in mind, let's look at the options...

The goal (again, IMHO) is the 9/2 BP (9 frames faster than the 9/3) which effectively means 90 IAS. With none on bow, that's a lot to make up. IF Detrean is RRW, s/he has access to Treachery, which makes things easier. Assuming so...
Treachery - 45 IAS
Gloves - 20 IAS

That's the easy(er) to acquire part, but it still leaves Detrean 25 IAS in the hole. Sure a couple of 40/15's would do the trick nicely, but they are very hard to come by. Goldwrap and a 15 IAS jewel in the Helm or 15 IAS Stealskull is more my budget (yes there are other, better but more expensive options). But this still puts strong restrictions on the gear. The most flexible option, IMHO, for the no-trade SP'er is 2xShael. By the time you find the IAS gear and ED% jewels, I'll also have found the Hel to unsocket the WWS...

Good luck,
DudSpud

[stephan]

You don't need RWM for treachery. It's a 1.11 RW.

If you have a Stealskull and Treachery, shael+nef the bow. It saves the trouble of having to craft knockback gloves with 20 IAS (any glove with 20 IAS will do) now and it opens up the way to LoH.

[DudSpud]

You don't need RWM for treachery. It's a 1.11 RW.You are correct. My mistake.

Oh, and with Treachery, you could IAS the Stealskull, and Nef (a great idea) and ED% the bow.

Thanks for the correction,
DudSpud