Meteorb Sorc weapon

[MonkeyFace]

Hi all, I'm playing a Meteorb Sroceress. I'm in Act 1 Normal (Level 15) and this is my current weapon:

http://i41.tinypic.com/34q0eua.jpg

I'm using it because of the +2 to Frost Nova, which seems to be my main skill at the moment. Like you can probably see... it's not exactly decent by any standards. Now, obviously I'm aware that Sorcs aren't supposed to be melee, but still... my current damage is like 9-25.

Is it wise to get a strong melee weapon and shield in the secondary weapon slot and just switch over? I'm only concerned that every time I need to sue Frost Nova, I'll have to switch back to my staff, which takes a precious second each time, and when you have monsters piling into you from all sides, not exactly ideal.

But yeah, suggestions? Should I keep as high damage I can with bonuses or should I grab some crappy little damage-dealing Short Staff that'll give me +4 to Frost Nova?

[Scudstorm]

If you plan on lvling up the hard way (no rushes, killing monsters by yourself untwinked), melee is effectively the best option early on. Don't bother with +to skills and grab a weapon with good damage + some life leech, only use Frost Nova as a crowd control.

[MonkeyFace]

If you plan on lvling up the hard way (no rushes, killing monsters by yourself untwinked), melee is effectively the best option early on. Don't bother with +to skills and grab a weapon with good damage + some life leech, only use Frost Nova as a crowd control.

When does "early on" qualify until and and that point I want to start grabbing a good staff with +skills?

[Kyrandia]

A turning point for me is when I can cast spells without constantly running out of mana. But it's mostly a matter of taste. At some point you'll find it's safer to stop melee-ing.

Since I tend to max firebolt and fireball first, this point may come earlier for me than for someone who develops the cold skills first.

[MonkeyFace]

I see... thanks for your help.

[AlabasterFilth]

When does "early on" qualify until and and that point I want to start grabbing a good staff with +skills?

For me, "early on" is until I get blizzard. Once I get blizzard, I use glacial spike/blizzard until I get frozen orb, then I use frozen orb/glacial spike until my fireball does decent damage.

Though if you have low-end gear, that means a lot of potions. To help, find a 4-socket armor and fill it with sapphires, do the same with a 3-socket helmet. 4-socket armor + 3-socket helmet filled with flawless sapphires is +217 mana, which should be plenty until you can find some decent gear.

[Addict]

Personally when I start a new sorc I do whatever I can to get a 2os staff, a tir, and a ral rune. Making a 'Leaf' runeword is almost always a big upgrade from what I was using (at least for a fire sorc). I try to socket a bow with elemental damage (gems) and use anything that adds to attack rating and that usually holds me over till lvl19 when I can equip 'Leaf'

[Shanksie1337]

Vendor Javs take me through the first levels easily enough, then melee a few levels until i have enough mana / belt space to cast spells to kill things.

[droid]

Personally, I start my new chars out with Sigon's set with Civerb cudgel and 2 Cathans seals+amulet. Good defense, crazy LL, physical damage that scales with your level, and a big mana boost. And all those are cheap if not trash-level items.

Thats usually enough to get you up through L24, when you can start equipping better build-specific runewords, uniques, etc.

[Shanksie1337]

We're digressing somewhat, but for what it's worth, my full twinking set (base str & dex)[if you aren't staying base str, then Sigons]:
Helm: Rare / Biggins
Neck & rings: Either Cathans for +str, or Angelic for +dex
Ring2: Usually Manald for ML and the rest
Chest: Twitchthroe - i have 2, 1 socketed flawless ame, 1 sock flawless emerald
Belt: +str rare, or Nightsmoke / Bladebuckle or Deaths
Gloves: Deaths, Bloodfist or +str Rare
Boots: Cow Kings / Tearhaunch
Weapon: Rare @ lvl 3 (it's a Scepter, but it has loads of +ele dmg), Crushflange
Shield: Hsarus' / Umbral