TS/DTail - questions (speed & equip)

[Dal]

I am building a TS / Dtail and have a few questions

1) I was going to build with Treachery armor and 2 Jade Talons thinking I'd use a little BoS because i like the idea of running fast where I want to go... but then I realized 5% chance to cast fade on hit means every now and then fade will kick in and cancel out my BoS - so now I'm wondering if I should just take the fade (put one point in with plus skills it will be the same as when it kicks in eventually) and then try to just get my speed up to the 120 IAS it takes to get full speed without BoS - and here is where my understand falls appart....

What happens if you don't make the 7 frame speed, are you at 8 frames? If I shael both jades will I be at 85 IAS without BoS (which would put me 1 under the break of 120. I could actually just shael one of them. Does only the right hand (left screen) one matter?

Should I just accept recasting BoS now and then if the fade kicks in?

Should I skip treachery altogether? i was hoping I would just gain the venom for free and then... build TS/DTail and max DS/LS to cover three types of damage.

Lots of questions in there.... but one more...

2) Boots: I was thinking gore riders originally, but even upped to elite the elite boots have much less than shadow dancers - is that correct? that's what the arreat summit seemed to indicate.

wait... one more...

3) Merc.... I was thinking of using an act 1 merc actually since I won't need mana... I was thinking if I put a serious bow on her (probably can't afford the jah for the fantasm bow (Faith?) for a while)... but I could get some pretty swell damage out of her... thoughts? (If I used Harmony I'd have vigor and would get my running speed back... cheap too). Some guide mentioned that if you get over +2 skills (like a melody bow) on them they shoot lightning... was that a joke?)

Or other creative mer suggestions are welcome! (maybe there is some auro on a barb sword I didn't think of and tanks are fun.)





Thanks!

[dryzalizer]

1. TS/DT should use at least 1 Bartuc's for the increased str, dex, and dmg from +skills. Two Jade talons is overkill in terms of resists, just get some charms and maybe a mara's. Actually, I'm not a big fan of treachery because of the fade proc, if you can affort it you should try Chains of Honor and that will take care of your resists too. BoS and +skills should get you to a great attack speed, I wouldn't use fade unless under conviction or you want curse length reduced. Also, yes only the primary claw speed matters as long as both claws are the same base speed. Check the IAS Tables sticky for more details.

2. Upped Gores have the same dmg as dancers iirc, plus crushing blow and are the way to go unless you have a more shadow-tree based build than the typical TS/DT 'sin.

3. Faith would be awesome, Harmony is cheap and great as you said. In 1.09, +3 to all skills would provide a "lightning hose" attack on an act I merc, I assume that this was removed in a later patch but I'm not positive about that.

[MCPWTB]

It used to take like 21+ skills to get them to shoot that diablo lightning.(ie bugged items in single player)

If +3 does it <3, but I think I'd see a lot more lightning shooting act 1 mercs around if a measley +3 did it, worth it to find out lol.

If you're seriously using LS, then consider conviction in Infinity on your act 2 merc to break immunities of monsters, besides the lower defense, perhaps along with defense or holy freeze aura. Of course assuming you could afford Infinity.

Hmm, what if you didn't rely on BoS? Consider different weapons with CB and a shield, and note that Treachery comes with 45% ias. Just put +1 into venom and fade, use them ahead of time, and then just let treachery take over after you start killing/getting hit. Cheap alternative: Jade Talon(right hand) + Strength Greater Talons would give you 25% CB on your off hand, for instance. This would save you points into BoS, fade, and/or venom. Giving your lightning traps more syngergies.

The sticked kick/trap guide (http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572795) has a lot of suggestions.

[Dal]

Thanks for the thoughts - I should mention I play Hardcore Ladder - so while making an infinitiy is possible....at the moment, it's quite expensive... I think in 2 months prices for runes will drop as usual as duping becomes rampant of course... the nature of things... but for now... I have to be a little realistic.

My main focus is the TS/Dtail which means I will want as many plus skills as possible to make the final kick hurt which is why i was going C/C - but doesn't C/C hit a little faster than C/S anyway?

As for avoiding BoS - I guess (correct me if I'm wrong) but if I do use Bartucs in my primary claw I will just need 60 IAS. 45 from treachery and a shael would solve that instantly. then one point in fade/venom as suggested and I no longer need to worry about BoS. Is my interpretation and reasoning correct there?

Can I switch mercs later or do I lose something. At one point in time I know it mattered a lot, but even now, do you get more resists with holding onto your same merc for a long time vs. buying one later?

[dryzalizer]

If playing HC, I would focus more on safety and go with a Fade build that uses traps (DS pwns!) a lot. So you will need a lot of IAS, but I think Treachery and a shael would give you enough as you said.

All mercs should be gotten in Normal or Nightmare, the Hell Act 2 aura options are the same as normal iirc. Norm. mercs have the potential to reach higher totals, but the difference is negligible.