New try at a possible-fail build

[MonkeyFace]

Hey all,

Bear in mind that I've already been told this build may not work and I'm aware that it's far from the best Paladin build. However, I've tried many a build for the Paladin and most of them bore me, especailly those involving one handed weapons and a shield - I'm more of a two-handed weapon player. So, here's my idea:

PLAN 1 (110 skill points):
Fist of the Heavens: 20
Holy Shock/Freeze: 20
Vengeance: 20

Resist Lightning/Cold: 20 [Synergy]
Salvation: 20 [Synergy]
Resist Cold/Lightning: 4 [Synergy]

Holy Bolt: 1 [Prerequisite]
Blessed Hammer: 1 [Prerequisite]
Holy Fire: 1 [Prerequisite]
(Holy Freeze: 1 [Prerequisite] - Depending on whether I use this or Holy Shock)
Sacrifice: 1 [Prerequisite]
Zeal: 1 [Prerequisite]

Okay, so the idea is that FotH is my main skill for attacking, and I'll switch between that and either Holy Shock/Freeze, depending on whetehr I want to go full-out for Lightning damage or incorporate some variety and use Cold, too. My physical weapon will have good physical and elemental (other than Lightning) damange, preferably. Basically, if this idea seems plausible to you, should I use Lightning or Cold?

Even if you think this build isn;t going to work and will fail at the first hurdle, I'd appreicate it nonetheless if you advised me anyhow. I'm going to state now that I'm pretty hung up on these ideas and intend to it of them through to the game.

Thanks for reading,
~MonkeyFace.

[dainbramage]

If you're appropriately geared, it'll work in the sense that you'll be able to kill whatever you need to. However, don't expect to be able to do so nearly as fast as your typical build. Note that even a dedicated FoH build kills anything not undead horrifically slowly. Without conviction you'd probably end up just playing as an angel/tesladin against non-undead because of higher kill-speed.


A fairly interesting build* that's somewhat similar is gimmershred + conviction + zeal (and throwing when IM is an issue). It also only takes 24 skill points (significantly less if you have a bunch of +skills) + pre-reqs and only requires a set of gimmershreds and a stack of IAS gearwise, which will let you combine that with pretty much anything you want to (i.e. foh).



*I built one of these a while back. Using gimmershreds, leviathan, vamp gaze and gerke's. Not the most effective of setups, but he was also called Green_Machine...

[MonkeyFace]

Thanks for your reply... I hear what you're saying. Reckon it's possible to pull it off, though? I'm certainly keen on trying.

[dainbramage]

Yeah, you'll be able to get through hell with it if you're patient.

[MonkeyFace]

Patience is my middle name (actually, it isn't but lol). I think Freeze would be easier, but I'm going to use Shock for greater damage and its synergy to FotH... I think I'll be covered with Vengeance and a weapon with some good elemental damage.

Last question to everyone... is it a better idea to max out one skill then proceed to the rest? Or max it out evenly (a few points for each)? Or should I just play it by ear?

[pwn-movie]

save ur points, and max the spells ur planning to use,
(FoH + Holy Shock/Freeze)
that way u wont be scratching for points

[aes sedia5]

yup i agree

[MonkeyFace]

Yeah, that's what I decided, and I'll synergise afterwards.

[MonkeyFace]

Pardon the double-post:

Which merc should I have accompany my Paladin? I was thinking a Paladin from Act 2 but I'm not really sure...

Also, I've just hit level 18 and have put my first point in Vengeance. Now, should I save points for Holy Shock/FotH or should I put some points in Vengeance? (I know I asked this before, but it makes no difference eitehr way to me and you guys are the experts, so...)

[aes sedia5]

If your going to use vengence then i would put points in it but i would suggest using foh on left click and light aura on right! So save the points.

[MonkeyFace]

Well, I was thinking, Vengenace at level 1 gives me 70%+ damage with the three elements, which is still a good amount of damage wherever I am in the game due it being dependant on my damage - which will steadily increase due to new, more powerful weapon as I progress in the game.

Therefore, Vengeance seems sensible to max out last. I get Holy Shock at Lv.24 but I think I will also save points then and only start maxing out it and FotH at Lv. 30 when the latter skill becomes available.

As for the left-right thing... Yeah, I was thinking I would do that, but also have Vengenace and normal attack also on the left side (F1, F2, F3) so that I can switch bewteen the skills as appropriate. FotH will be on most of the time and I'll switch it to normal attack when there's no need for it or when I want to save mana - and Vengeance will be backup for Lightning resistance monsters or when it's beneficial in other circumstances to use it.

Is that plausible?

EDIT: Actually, I'm just thinking, if I have Vengenace on the right side along with Holy Shock? Becuse if I come across a lighning-resistance monster than neither the added Lightning bonus to my attack nor the Lightning damage dealt out from the aura will be any use and therefore I can swtich to Vengeance on the right and normal attack on the left (in case my mana run short).

That seems like a slightly smarter thing to do...

[dainbramage]

I'd stick a single point in conviction and run that while you use vengeance. It only has 2 (iirc) pre-reqs that you wouldn't have otherwise.


Also; you're running some weird deviant hybrid thingy, get used to a lot of hotkeys :p. Also, you'll probably want to remap your hotkeys away from the f-keys to places you can reach easier. I personally use f-keys for buffing/minion spells only, and then

qwe
asdf
zx

for other skills.

[MonkeyFace]

What I usually do is hav the skills I need on my right side only (because I've enver actually use a build where more than one skill is requried at one time) and I assign them to the "F" keys and then scroll with the mouse, but if I need to use them with the actual keys then I'll use "q","w", etc.

[aes sedia5]

I honestly do not think you build will work.

[MonkeyFace]

I disagree but only time will tell.

[aes sedia5]

Vengence works really well when fully synergized. But once you hit a3 nm it will not work well.

[MonkeyFace]

Stats for Lv.20 Vengeance with maxed Resist Lightning and Salvation and 2 in Resist Cold:

Cold Length: 12.6 seconds
Fire Damage: +224%
Cold Damage: +244%
Lightning Damage: +424%
Attack: +210%
Mana Cost: 8.7

That's some rpetty nice damage as backup - why will it not work well in Act 3?

[aes sedia5]

I have one about the same but without fully synergizing it, it will be really slow!

[MonkeyFace]

What will be really slow?

[Taurean]

Aes: Here's your time to shine.

[N V]

A vengeance pala can be a one hit wonder (from what I've read), if you use the right base weapon. A high damage weapon will result in some insanely high elemental damage. Combine it with a nice conviction aura, and not much will stand in your way.

Ofc I've only read about vengeance builds, not hybrids, so this might be different ;)

[MonkeyFace]

Meh, this whole build is a test to see how it works out, so as soon as my exams are over, I'm going to play a lot more and see how he goes. But I do have until I've maxed out both FotH and Holy Shock to decide on an alternate skill to max if need be.