Some Hybrid Kick/Trap questions

[Kaleban]

I've read the guides, and there's a lot of useful info, but a couple of questions remain.

First, if going with Lightning traps, I plan on maxing LS and DS. Now every guide I've read advises maxing CBS as well, but to me that doesn't make sense. You can only have a max of five traps out, LS does more damage, DS has CE, so why not instead max Shock Web for the synergy bonus instead of CBS? Heck, then you can throw Shock Webs too!

Regarding the C/C or W/S combos, every guide lays out benefits/hindrances, but doesn't really say whats more viable in Hell untwinked. Assuming no access to high powered runewords, except things like Black or Insight, which way is better? Two Jade Talons seem nice, as does a Bartucs/Jade, but then you have no weapon based CB. With Black, Gores and 10% crafted Blood Gloves, that comes out to 65% CB chance. Which leaves the helm slot open for something other than Guillaumes' such as Vamp Gaze for the nice dual leech and DR.

Additionally, is it absolutely necessary to get max block? C/C you'll only get about 50% optimally right? It would be nice to have a Last Wish PB and SS, but I don't. I suppose my toughest decision atm is whether to leave str/dex at 79 base for Bartucs, or ramp them up for W/S and the heavier damaging boots? Of course, my main concern is that since I play HC only, and without access to BO regularly, I may not have enough life.

I suppose a pure trapper can afford to simply go just enough str/dex for their trap claws, but a hybrid kicker has to have more str and dex for the boots (like an upped Goreriders) and blocking right? I'm just a little wary of sticking 200 points into Dexterity for a hybrid melee character.

[templefugate]

cbs is a synergy to ls.

i have 55 chance to block on my lvl83 dtalon/trapper, and i've not had a lot of problems in hell. if you're worried about your life, i'd make sure that life leech is present on at least two or three of your items. i know we all cant afford dracs, but they'd be optimal.

of course, im not on hardcore realms...

EDIT: oh and i dont think claw block is affected by dex pumping? i c ould be wrong...but i think it is just what it is, whatever the slvl says

[BAMFSpecialOps]

Personal choice between CBS/Shock Web.

When I made a untwinked K/T I used claws as my main weapon, and then a W/S on switch for bosses. Tuc's make great cheap trapper claws, Black is a great cheap kick weapon choice.

Max Block is really all about how you play while in HC I always went the safety route with Max Block when I could get it. If you want to stand back more and use traps/claws to start the action than around 50% block on your shield side should be fine. If you are going to walk around with your kick set up most of the time, I would go with Max Block. It all depends how safe you feel playing HC, or how well you can play HC. >.>

Dex isn't required for boots. Elite boots will cost you some STR though.

[mephiztophelez]

First, if going with Lightning traps, I plan on maxing LS and DS. Now every guide I've read advises maxing CBS as well, but to me that doesn't make sense. You can only have a max of five traps out, LS does more damage, DS has CE, so why not instead max Shock Web for the synergy bonus instead of CBS? Heck, then you can throw Shock Webs too!

try using CBS on large targets, (Baal for example).

it does more damage than lit sentry if you place 'em so he gets hit by them bulk of the bolts.

Regarding the C/C or W/S combos, every guide lays out benefits/hindrances, but doesn't really say whats more viable in Hell untwinked. Assuming no access to high powered runewords, except things like Black or Insight, which way is better? Two Jade Talons seem nice, as does a Bartucs/Jade, but then you have no weapon based CB. With Black, Gores and 10% crafted Blood Gloves, that comes out to 65% CB chance. Which leaves the helm slot open for something other than Guillaumes' such as Vamp Gaze for the nice dual leech and DR.

both c/c and w/s have their advantages and adherants. the plus with claws is the extra +skills.

a black flail is awesome.


Additionally, is it absolutely necessary to get max block? C/C you'll only get about 50% optimally right?
remember c/c blocks nigh on anything, but drops to 0% when run/walk.

It would be nice to have a Last Wish PB and SS, but I don't.
stormlash > LWPB.

actually, LWPB is pure junk imho.

as for shields, a whistans, gerkes or even a Mosers will get you through and all can be gotten for pgems.

[NoXplode]

LWPB + SS is your best option for Hybrid Kick/Trap. The reason is, LWPB has -30 attack speed base. This will give you fast kicking rates. Traps are generally useless, but they are good if you are dueling sorcs. In PVM, DS is the only one you would be using. Dex is important but you also need enough str for SS. Don't use bartucs if you are going hybrid.

[SnickerSnack]

Regarding the C/C or W/S combos, every guide lays out benefits/hindrances, but doesn't really say whats more viable in Hell untwinked. Assuming no access to high powered runewords, except things like Black or Insight, which way is better? Two Jade Talons seem nice, as does a Bartucs/Jade, but then you have no weapon based CB. With Black, Gores and 10% crafted Blood Gloves, that comes out to 65% CB chance. Which leaves the helm slot open for something other than Guillaumes' such as Vamp Gaze for the nice dual leech and DR.

Wait, are you untwinked or not? It sure sounds like you are highly twinked.

For a t/k, Spirit is a good shield to use and a Black flail is also nice. So it can be done untwinked. On the other hand, two +3 traps claws are easier to get. They're both perfectly viable, but think about how, with c/c, blocking skill dependent, whereas, with s/s, it is item/stat dependent. I think that c/c is probably easier to do, untwinked.

[Sass]

LWPB + SS is your best option for Hybrid Kick/Trap. The reason is, LWPB has -30 attack speed base. This will give you fast kicking rates. Traps are generally useless, but they are good if you are dueling sorcs. In PVM, DS is the only one you would be using. Dex is important but you also need enough str for SS. Don't use bartucs if you are going hybrid.LWPB only gives you near max trap and kicking speeds. It's 1 frame off on both.

in a cost to effectiveness ratio, Black alone is superior, not to mention that Stormlash is superior still!

Traps are a very important part in PvM and PvP. In neither situation will they be generally useless.

Bartucs, while a great claw, is not good for a kicker. W/S is generally best unless it's PvP caster killing, in which C/C finally makes it work.