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TJinSDofUSA
08-04-2008, 22:50
Hi folks! I'm new here, but don't let that stop you from reading this thread. :wink3:

I love the Assassin class. I'm not really sure why, but it seems to fit my play style better than any other. Anyway, I have a level 16 Assassin right now in single player, just about ready to travel to Lut Gholein, and I've got a couple of questions. I've sort of got a build in mind, but for those of you more experienced, I'd like some of your opinions on it.

So, here's the bare bones build I'm trying out. I'll further explain the situation after. And yeah, I'm not looking for an 'uber' build, or power build.

20 in Tiger Strike
05 in Dragon Claw
18 in Shadow Master
05 in Claw Mastery
01 in Burst of Speed
05 (or so) in Prereqs for SM

For a total of 54 skill points in Normal, assuming I get to level 50.

That's my game plan anyway. I figure I'll make it through Normal, but I doubt I'll go much farther than that. I don't really have the time or patience to keep playing the game in the higher levels.

So is this viable? I'm sticking to single player, and I'm not going on with magic finding runs or anything like that. Whatever gear I find, I find. I leave it up to the game. (If I find a good piece of equipment with magic find in it, I'll use it. But it's not a necessity.)

I'm not trying to challenge myself or anything. I'm not purposely making a 'bad' build or something. My main goal here is simplicity. I tire of switching skills over and over. I want one good Charge Up skill I can rely on, and one good Finisher to add to it. Besides casting on Speed, and having my merc and SM tag along, that's all I really want.

No traps if at all possible. I'll let the SM mess with those. I just want to walk (run, really) to a monster, beat the hell out of it, and continue on, while my Rogue merc provides range support with her cold arrow (and other enhancements on her bow). So am I totally off here, or am I on to something?

BAMFSpecialOps
09-04-2008, 00:41
Well if your just planning on playing through normal that build should work...any build should ; ). It shouldn't be to hard to make strength runeword claws to help you walk through normal.

chronowarp
09-04-2008, 00:46
If you're going to want to venture into NM or hell I'd suggest not pumping your SM, and instead, pumping an elemental charge and pheonix strike and/or putting 1 into death sentry.

TJinSDofUSA
09-04-2008, 02:08
I might not pump TS clear up to 20. I was thinking about fiddling around with Phoenix Strike, so I might save some points from TS for that. (One point in PS, one in the prereqs to get it.)

Is Dragon Tail more useful than Dragon Claw? DT costs 10 mana and DC costs 2 mana. Is the difference worth it? (I'm not planning to raise Energy at all.)

(I'm thinking by the time I get all these answered, I'm going to end up replaying Act I with a newer build...)

zarirazz
09-04-2008, 03:46
I might not pump TS clear up to 20. I was thinking about fiddling around with Phoenix Strike, so I might save some points from TS for that. (One point in PS, one in the prereqs to get it.)

Is Dragon Tail more useful than Dragon Claw? DT costs 10 mana and DC costs 2 mana. Is the difference worth it? (I'm not planning to raise Energy at all.)

(I'm thinking by the time I get all these answered, I'm going to end up replaying Act I with a newer build...)

Dtail is great when used in conjunction with TS (against non PI/FIs anyway). decent fire splash damage when using the correct boots. with some mana leech gear, mana should never be a problem =)

TJinSDofUSA
09-04-2008, 04:50
Yeah, that's what I was going to use DTail for, but when I got into the game and noticed it had a mana cost of 10 versus the cost of 2 for DC, I changed my mind. Maybe I'll have to change it again.

I wonder if a TS/DTail Assassin with Speed, the SM, and a merc can make it through the tougher difficulties. It'd be pretty awesome to be able to beat Hell Baal with what must be about the most simple build you can have in this game...

chronowarp
09-04-2008, 06:16
Dtail loses its punch in Hell. The splash damage gets negated if you release it on a PI or FI monster, since it deals both. However, when used in conjunction with BOI or COT it can be pretty effective even in hell.