CB/FW/ES/TK noob questions

[rwemerso]

Never made a ES sorc before, but very curious as to their durability, especially in HC. I know to watch out for mana burn uniques, but I'm looking to utilize ES primarily to tank bosses.

So here's my questions:

1. Does TK require hard points for MDR or can +skills supplement?

2. Assuming +skills boost MDR, could a "budget" ES (prebuffed from Memory) make a max vita sorc durable enough to tank bosses while I spam CB (and lay some FWs since they're stationary)?

3. Playing largely untwinked (at least through NM), is max vita the best way to go in HC? Max block just seems so restrictive and gear dependent. Max ES/TK just blows too many skills for a dual element sorc.

4. If the ES is a bad idea for tanking, is it possible to build a durable-enough CB/FW sorc in HC to take on bosses for mf? I envision Andy, Meph, Countess, Shenk, and Pindle runs more than anything...CB+FW=massive amounts of damage on paper at least.

5. Btw, Absolutely no infinity! That's just plain cheating (and impossible to trade for without serious work) in my book. Crescent moon is an option though :smug:

And just in case you're a bit lost on my skill layout, here it is:

Lite skills:
CB 20
Lightning 20
LM 20
TK 1+
ES 1? (might need 1 hard point until I can get a hold of a memory stick)
Static 1
Teleport 1

Cold Skills
Frozen armor 1

Fire skills
FW 20
Warmth 1
FM 1+

6. Anyone tried this build out before? Comments on survivability, leveling, killing speed, mf possibilities, etc.

Thanks for the help!

[Millard]

1. Does TK require hard points for MDR or can +skills supplement?

+skills do nothing for telekinesis, only hard points matter. with 0 hard points, you lose 2.0 mana per damage absorbed. with 20 hard points, you lose .75 mana per damage absorbed. all serious ES builds will max telekinesis.



2. Assuming +skills boost MDR, could a "budget" ES (prebuffed from Memory) make a max vita sorc durable enough to tank bosses while I spam CB (and lay some FWs since they're stationary)?

+skills don't boost mdr, and no.



3. Playing largely untwinked (at least through NM), is max vita the best way to go in HC? Max block just seems so restrictive and gear dependent. Max ES/TK just blows too many skills for a dual element sorc.
vita works. you just have to be careful and not die. ES (with max telekinesis, obviously) is a lot more survivable, but its hard to get enough damage with dual element with ES.... and do you really need dual element?



4. If the ES is a bad idea for tanking, is it possible to build a durable-enough CB/FW sorc in HC to take on bosses for mf? I envision Andy, Meph, Countess, Shenk, and Pindle runs more than anything...CB+FW=massive amounts of damage on paper at least.

why are you going CB/FW if you just plan to do boss runs? Bosses don't have immunities. why not single element?

[rwemerso]

Good points, Millard. Good to know about the TK hard points requirement. I should've also mentioned I pretty much play SP on HC since you can't trust anyone not to TPPK you these days on the realms. That said, making it to guardian (another one of my goals) will be quite difficult, considering the number of LEs in hell.

More questions:

a) how does blocking work in relationship to ES? I'm assuming ES takes whatever %absorb elemental damage (without applying resists) since that's not blockable. Physical damage if not blocked is then %absorbed by the ES?

b) Suppose I max TK and run a "partial" ES. Would a low-point FW+FM still serve as an okay backup skill against LI?

c) With a partial ES (20pt TK/~10-15pt ES) in HC what would a good distribution of vita/dex/energy points look like for optimal survivability?

[Millard]

i should probably mention that i don't play hardcore, my experience with ES comes from softcore runs and a lot of dueling sorcs. so i can answer questions about the mechanics of energy shield, but as for "whats best for hardcore" probably best to ask someone else.


Good points, Millard. Good to know about the TK hard points requirement. I should've also mentioned I pretty much play SP on HC since you can't trust anyone not to TPPK you these days on the realms. That said, making it to guardian (another one of my goals) will be quite difficult, considering the number of LEs in hell.

More questions:



a) how does blocking work in relationship to ES? I'm assuming ES takes whatever %absorb elemental damage (without applying resists) since that's not blockable. Physical damage if not blocked is then %absorbed by the ES?
if you block an attack with energy shield up, you do not lose any mana.



b) Suppose I max TK and run a "partial" ES. Would a low-point FW+FM still serve as an okay backup skill against LI?

probably, but i really think charged bolt is a terrible idea. if i were going dual element/ES, i'd go something like:

90 talent points (level 81 w/ 9 bonus skills from norm, nm and hell den quests):

fire: 51 points total
Fire:
20 points firebolt
20 points fireball
10 points fire mastery
1 pt warmth:

lightning: 22 points total
20 points telekinesis
1 point teleport
1 point static field
0 point energy shield (prebuff it with a staff or orb, preferably memory)

cold: 17 pts total
1 point each: icebolt/blast/glacial spike/frost nova/blizzard/cold mastery/frozen armor
10 points: frozen orb

if you're going lightning just to kill countess, don't bother. Your merc should be able to kill her very quickly, and that's assuming you even want to run countess on hardcore. If your merc can't kill her quickly, you definately aren't geared enough to run countess on hardcore. again, thats if you even want to run countess on hardcore, i mean... are you planning to walk or blind teleport? if you're planning to walk, why play a sorc? and if you're planning to blind teleport countess on hardcore, when you're not already very geared... i don't think thats a very good idea considering the nasty archer packs that sometimes spawn with her or on the way.

again, i'm no hard-core expert, but you may be better off with dual element/vita and running pits or something in NM, and being very careful. even with ES you still have to worry about mana burners.



c) With a partial ES (20pt TK/~10-15pt ES) in HC what would a good distribution of vita/dex/energy points look like for optimal survivability?

you shouldn't put more than 1 point in es on a partial es. just prebuff it from stash, it'll be high enough.