Kick//Trap: C/C or C/S?

[Matt]

I'm making an untwinked assassin and soloing through the game. I'm debating whether to go C/C or C/S.

I'm thinking of using Death Sentry and DTalon, the idea being to get some CB, lay traps and jump in there and start kicking. I'll be using Fade and CoS in the interest of safety.

My question is, given that I'm playing untwinked, is it going to be worth it to go with a shield, or dual claw? I'm leaning toward C/C, with Fade my resists should be good enough (I'm also usually a hardcore player, so I wont play her recklessly, though she's a SC character) With Weapon Block, her blocking should also be around 50%.

So I'll lose roughly 25% blocking, and likely some resists. I don't know that I'd be able to get a spirit shield until halfway through hell-ish, and short of that, I'm not sure there are many shields (maybe rhyme) which are real tempting. Given the extra skills and crushing blow I could get from another claw, I'm really leaning towards that route. Anything I'm missing here?

Also, what should my stats look like, end-game? I'm thinking I'll keep str around 100, Dex around 80, and the rest in vitality. I don't really want to drop 208 str for myrmiddeon greaves, since the purpose of the kicking is to sliver baddies with crushing blow, and then let death sentrys go to work. I'm not really seeing a need to invest in higher stat claws either.

Any thoughts on C/S vs C/C or what her stats should look like? Thanks

-Matt

[stephan]

So I'll lose roughly 25% blocking, and likely some resists. I don't know that I'd be able to get a spirit shield until halfway through hell-ish, and short of that, I'm not sure there are many shields (maybe rhyme) which are real tempting.
If you are only going to focus on DS, Rhyme is preferred over Spirit. It is the only reliable source of CBF you have being untwinked, and on top of that it's a decent blocking shield. +skills are not that important for DS.

Given the extra skills and crushing blow I could get from another claw, I'm really leaning towards that route. Anything I'm missing here?
An extra claw wouldn't give extra CB. For kicks, only the mods on the primary claw count (normally the claw on your glove side). Elemental damage, OW, CB and other mods you get on the other claw do nothing for your damage.

Also, what should my stats look like, end-game? I'm thinking I'll keep str around 100, Dex around 80, and the rest in vitality. I don't really want to drop 208 str for myrmiddeon greaves, since the purpose of the kicking is to sliver baddies with crushing blow, and then let death sentrys go to work. I'm not really seeing a need to invest in higher stat claws either.
I would at least get 118 strength so you can use Boneweaves, which have very acceptable damage. For dex if you go C/C that should be about enough, otherwise enough for max block when using a blocking shield, or enough for gear when not.

[Matt]

Thanks for the reply Stephan.

What would be the advantage to going c/c then, just more skills on the secondary claw?

I'll shoot for 118 strength for boneweave boots :smiley:

I'm also having a bit of trouble figuring out the IAS breakpoints for DTalon. I looked through the stickies at the top, and I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out the breakpoints for Kicking without using burst of speed. IIRC it's quite a bit to hit 7 frame initial kick, but I couldn't find any info on breakpoints before 7.

[stephan]

What would be the advantage to going c/c then, just more skills on the secondary claw?
Skills and weapon block.


I'm also having a bit of trouble figuring out the IAS breakpoints for DTalon. I looked through the stickies at the top, and I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out the breakpoints for Kicking without using burst of speed. IIRC it's quite a bit to hit 7 frame initial kick, but I couldn't find any info on breakpoints before 7.
Use this calculator (http://diablo2.ingame.de/tips/calcs/speedcalc_titanseal/speedcalc_english.php). Note that if you go C/C also put in your secondary claw because its base speed (WSM) does affect kick speed.