Dexterity for single player necro only nightmare

[claudius]

Hi this is an extension of this thread: here (didn't want to hijack)

I am just playing single player self determined to use my own items finds. I am only going through nightmare, thus my status is much different from the post I linked..

Anyhow the question I have is for only say 60 levels should I spec any points in dexterity? So far in andariel land I have found a shield with 40% block rate.. I understand that the lower the level you are that changes the formula. So the question would be if the life gain I get for hosing block would be worth it?

Thanks!!

[Black Lotus]

40% block rate is crap. You should aim for 60%+. Then you will need 1.5-2 points per level for dex (which is like 2/5 of all your stats points) to get max block. Note that you have max block (75%) only when standing or walking, you get only 1/3 (max 25%) when running, and running is probably what you do most of time, until you get enigma.
While the whole point of max block before hell is questionable, I wouldnt recommend going for maxblock before you get a really good shield for it (sigon at early game, then homunculus/stormshield).

[claudius]

Thanks that makes sense. Didn't know about the run/walk thing! Usually I walk everywhere because it is frustrating when stamina runs out and the walking is pretty fast.

I guess what I am asking is granted that I do not find Sigon, which is highly likely, should I just say 'screw block' and spec vitality. The reason I won't find Sigon is that drops are random and I am a casual gamer who will probably only spend 30-50 hours per character at most.

And just to reiterate, I am only playing up through nightmare.

But thanks for your help!

[scollin]

Yep spec vitality, screw dex. Before Hell its not a huge deal to play without max block, and even then I would never go for it unless using Homunculus. Even with Sigon's i wouldnt go for it.

This is all assuming you are softcore. If you are hardcore it might be a different story.

[claudius]

Thanks! Now next question Should I go for just enough strength to wear a four row belt? More/less?

[Gorny]

Why don't you take a look at the stickies?

Read up on the build you are playing and then make sure you have enough strength to wear your gear, not just for a belt...but consider endgame is you're planning on taking a necro that far.

For example (from Nightfish's Skellymancer guide):

Strength (Str) : Strength lets you wear equipment. How much you need depends strongly on available gear. I'd shoot for 115 after items if you want to wear Guillaume's Face (check out the section about Baal running to see why you will want to wear this helmet), or 156 if you want to use Stormshield.

[claudius]

Gorny, I stated in the opening post that I am only going through nightmare! Thus it is hard to convert the fishymancer sticky to my unique situation. The purpose of my own thread is that I can get custom advice for a single player in nightmare untwinked. Since I am untwinked I do not know what gear will drop. I have surely read the fishymancer guide, but thanks for the recommendation

[Gorny]

Umm.... I'm going through Nightmare as well.

And the quote is only an example, it's meant to point out planning ahead

[claudius]

Hmmm I also said I am untwinked. Which the gear listen in the fishymancer guide does not drop readily. The fishymancer indeed says that you can play naked... and it even says you don't have to spec stat points. But I am looking towards my fellow forum members to fill the hole in the guide and provide a suggestion for: untwinked, only nightmare, and IS specing stats. Does that make sense? Thus the fishymancer guide is lacking information and thus I created the thread.

So as I understand I will spec vitality in preference to dex and I am unsure how much strength. edit: oh now I see the section about strength in the fishy guide, he takes over 100 and sees what drops

[magicrectangle]

untwinked dex is almost always a bad idea, go vitality. You can respec max block if you get a homonculus later. Going wishy-washy dex is just terrible, you either want max block (75%) or no dex at all and max vitality.