Newbie DH asking for build suggestions

[Kutsa]

Hi there, just recently (finally) got my hands on D3 and started out with a DH
I'm currently 43 with a defensive-ish build in NM act 2, running 2k DPS and 19k-ish life. (and some measly 1300 armor). I've been doubting about my skillbuild for a while though. This is what I have currently:
LC: Hungering Arrow - Devouring Arrow <- This is what gets me the most, I was thinking of maybe trying out spray of teeth when I get it, but what else is there? I dislike evasive fire. Thought about Bola - Imminent Doom when I get there. Is it any good?
RC: Elemental Arrow - Ball lightning <- How is Nether Tentacles after the fix? Love Ball lightning for the AoE of it.
1: Caltrops - Jagged spikes <- Thought about Torturous Ground for some mad kiting but Jagged helps killing them faster
2: Vault - Rattling roll <- The stun-knockback component has saved me quite a few times from icky situations
3: Preparation - Battle scars <- O-shi button for when I get low (has happened!)
4: Shadow power - Blood Moon <- Will be swapped out for Gloom when I get to 51.
Passives:
Steady Aim - Nice little damage boost
Vengeance - Really helps keep my hatred/disc up
Archery - Since I'm using a bow currently, it's a nice boost
I see a lot of people favoring sharpshooter because it makes their OMGDPS-E-PEEN-METER double but I dont really see the point of having one crit and otherwise a useless passive.

I don't really like smoke screen because I tend to forget to use it. What else is there that I missed? Companion just doesn't look very good. How well does Guardian Sentry work? What of my offensive skills? Most spenders are pretty derp for their cost/cooldowns. Any help/suggestions are appreciated.
This is for softcore currently, trying out HC when I complete SC.
Thank you for your help.

[Hadrial]

First off, do you have a reason to doubt your build? Are you having difficulties with the content?

If you're unable to kill the mobs by the time they get to you, try using a skill that snares them. Frost Arrow is a nice alternative to BL and NT, if you prefer BL switch out Hungering Arrow for Entangling shot/Chain Gang.

You shouldn't need caltrops, vault, and shadow power. Get rid of one of them (I recommend Shadow Power) for Bat Companion for increased hatred regen, Marked for Death with any rune, or Rain of Vengeance with Stampede(have to get used to positioning with this one but its useful).

Personally, I use Bait the Trap(54) for Caltrops, 10% crit chance for free is nice, and Tumble on Vault for reduced discipline.

Sharpshooter is a useful passive. Being able to start almost every encounter with over 50% crit chance might not sound useful, but when you have over 200% crit damage, you'll love it.

[gakky]

Trouble with bait the trap is you have to be in a triggered trap to get any benefit. Also you lose Steady Aim because monsters are close. So you end up with less damage even when you get it to trigger.

When you get to Inferno you'll want SmokeScreen. It's a life saver. It also breaks freeze/jail.
SS is good too. Although the damage boost is small in a long combat, it has a guaranteed 3% crit chance boost, and I find it gives on average 10% crit chance boost in a long combat. It really shines as a situational advantage. Firstly you can normally clear a room with it. And against tough elites where you have to kite it really boosts damage.

[lucidlore]

Trouble with bait the trap is you have to be in a triggered trap to get any benefit. Also you lose Steady Aim because monsters are close. So you end up with less damage even when you get it to trigger.

Uh no. Bait the trap will give you the crit% bonus regardless of whether it is triggered or not. Not sure where you got this idea from since it's not exactly hard to spend 5 seconds and test the rune's functionality out for yourself.

[Vanadin]

Hi there, just recently (finally) got my hands on D3 and started out with a DH
I'm currently 43 with a defensive-ish build in NM act 2, running 2k DPS and 19k-ish life. (and some measly 1300 armor). I've been doubting about my skillbuild for a while though. This is what I have currently:
LC: Hungering Arrow - Devouring Arrow <- This is what gets me the most, I was thinking of maybe trying out spray of teeth when I get it, but what else is there? I dislike evasive fire. Thought about Bola - Imminent Doom when I get there. Is it any good?
RC: Elemental Arrow - Ball lightning <- How is Nether Tentacles after the fix? Love Ball lightning for the AoE of it.
1: Caltrops - Jagged spikes <- Thought about Torturous Ground for some mad kiting but Jagged helps killing them faster
2: Vault - Rattling roll <- The stun-knockback component has saved me quite a few times from icky situations
3: Preparation - Battle scars <- O-shi button for when I get low (has happened!)
4: Shadow power - Blood Moon <- Will be swapped out for Gloom when I get to 51.
Passives:
Steady Aim - Nice little damage boost
Vengeance - Really helps keep my hatred/disc up
Archery - Since I'm using a bow currently, it's a nice boost
I see a lot of people favoring sharpshooter because it makes their OMGDPS-E-PEEN-METER double but I dont really see the point of having one crit and otherwise a useless passive.

I haven't been through Inferno yet, but I will tell you that Caltrops + Jagged Spikes becomes even better as your weapon damage increases. I have a weapon with about 400 LOH, and JS has a proc coefficient of 67%/target per tic, so I can get about 250 per enemy per tic. On Hell, Caltrops + JS become health globes that can kill trash mobs.

[gakky]

Uh no. Bait the trap will give you the crit% bonus regardless of whether it is triggered or not. Not sure where you got this idea from since it's not exactly hard to spend 5 seconds and test the rune's functionality out for yourself.

You're right. I tested this out a couple of weeks ago and dps did not change. Now it does.

[Galtrovan]

First off, do you have a reason to doubt your build? Are you having difficulties with the content?

If you're unable to kill the mobs by the time they get to you, try using a skill that snares them. Frost Arrow is a nice alternative to BL and NT, if you prefer BL switch out Hungering Arrow for Entangling shot/Chain Gang.

You shouldn't need caltrops, vault, and shadow power. Get rid of one of them (I recommend Shadow Power) for Bat Companion for increased hatred regen, Marked for Death with any rune, or Rain of Vengeance with Stampede(have to get used to positioning with this one but its useful).

Personally, I use Bait the Trap(54) for Caltrops, 10% crit chance for free is nice, and Tumble on Vault for reduced discipline.

Sharpshooter is a useful passive. Being able to start almost every encounter with over 50% crit chance might not sound useful, but when you have over 200% crit damage, you'll love it.

Interesting. I use caltrops, vault, and shadow power and I don't foresee getting rid of any of them. My demon hunter will be my forth character to hit 60 / Inferno (witch doctor is the class not played yet) and I have chosen these skills due to what I've experienced playing the other the classes, as well as seeing what happens to demon hunters in inferno. Demon Hunters rock and roll, but die quickly and often. My aim is to prevent this from happening to me. And so far it working, as I built my character around knowing there is no escape. I caltrop my shooting position and don't move, even when the caltrops trigger. My response to the trigger, keep shooting, drop another caltrop, and pop shadow power when I start taking damage. As long as my DPS from shooting and the caltrops + the shadow power leech is enough to out heal the damage I'm taking I stand and fight. After the first shadow power is up, I evaluate whether I'm going to caltrop/shadow power again or vault and leave. If I am going to win the battle before the second shadow power is up, I don't move. I've not really seen any DH's fight like this, but it's what I do. And it's fun being able to tank a bit while others that should be better at it are running away for their lives.

Having said this, yes, there are times you just have to vault. Molten, arcane, mortar, you have to move, and keep moving/kiting.

[EoB]

It seems like the OP might be trending towards this build - http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/5911503749

Might be a good resource to tap into for some extra ideas/knowledge.