05-30-2012, 04:54 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-30-2012, 06:15 PM by RiotInferno.)
An update on the non-bow build:
Arrows Optional
After playing this, it is a lot of fun in a group! Lightning Trap + Impale + Sharp Shooter makes for a decent amount of hit-and-run damage.
I did some research, looking at items in the Auction House, and it appears that there's not a lot of difference in weapon choice (aside from the basic differences in weapons ). Using a shield has greatly increased my survivability, and being able to switch to any better 1-handed weapon I run across is actually quite a boon.
If I find a 1H-xbow, then I can change out Fan of Knives for Nether Tentacles, but if not, the build still works, so far.
How it plays:
As long as you have someone to "tank", or at least keep the monsters off you, and near them, this build is fun. You can lay lightning traps as fast as your weapon allows, although they do have a 1.2 sec fuse, but you can have 3 out at once.
If it is a single creature, that's where Impale really shines. Impale + Grievous Wounds + Sharp Shooter = 25-30K crits, when my base damage (on the lying character screen) was only around 5k.
When monsters rush you, Fan of Knives helps (and reduces their damage, with the Numbing Traps as a passive ), then it's just a kite game with Spike Trap / Impale.
The increased "Oh Crap!" hatred reservoir in Preparation is really really useful, as is the increased Hatred generation from Grenades and the Companion.
Grenades, once I learned how to aim them, are a lot of fun.
All-in-all, if you're looking for something different, give it a try!
Update
After playing over my noon-lunch, and then switching back to the first configuration I had listed (using a 1H-xbow and shield), that this trap/grenade build doesn't really have the same DPS potential as an actual archery build. This might work okay in a group, but not really for soloing.
Arrows Optional
After playing this, it is a lot of fun in a group! Lightning Trap + Impale + Sharp Shooter makes for a decent amount of hit-and-run damage.
I did some research, looking at items in the Auction House, and it appears that there's not a lot of difference in weapon choice (aside from the basic differences in weapons ). Using a shield has greatly increased my survivability, and being able to switch to any better 1-handed weapon I run across is actually quite a boon.
If I find a 1H-xbow, then I can change out Fan of Knives for Nether Tentacles, but if not, the build still works, so far.
How it plays:
As long as you have someone to "tank", or at least keep the monsters off you, and near them, this build is fun. You can lay lightning traps as fast as your weapon allows, although they do have a 1.2 sec fuse, but you can have 3 out at once.
If it is a single creature, that's where Impale really shines. Impale + Grievous Wounds + Sharp Shooter = 25-30K crits, when my base damage (on the lying character screen) was only around 5k.
When monsters rush you, Fan of Knives helps (and reduces their damage, with the Numbing Traps as a passive ), then it's just a kite game with Spike Trap / Impale.
The increased "Oh Crap!" hatred reservoir in Preparation is really really useful, as is the increased Hatred generation from Grenades and the Companion.
Grenades, once I learned how to aim them, are a lot of fun.
All-in-all, if you're looking for something different, give it a try!
Update
After playing over my noon-lunch, and then switching back to the first configuration I had listed (using a 1H-xbow and shield), that this trap/grenade build doesn't really have the same DPS potential as an actual archery build. This might work okay in a group, but not really for soloing.