Which route do you think is most optimal

[nether]

After starting this game and doing all of the questing bits, I decided not to grind for L\E's on my first character due to the fact that I didn't think he was OP enough. I'm aware that some might play games just for the fun and don't care about having the best of everything, but I unfortunately love walking away from a game and feeling like I completely annihilated every monster, every possibility, every area, just everything. A lot like how Kratos wants to kill everybody in God of War.

So my question is that what do you guys think is the most optimal build in terms of everything really? I already had an idea in my head of being high in DR\block with good damage to boot but after reading many a thread on this forum I can't exactly put my finger on a build I should pick. There are just so many good ways you can go really.... mainly either crit, AD, or defensively... I've even seen mixtures that look really good. There certainly isn't the 1 best build ever, period. But I'm sure there is something that comes close in peoples eyes I'm also aware there are new skills coming out I believe, I haven't seen them in any thread though.

Thoughts on this?

In addition, when I do make a new character, I think I may end up avoiding skills (cleave and evasion in particular, maybe even corpse eater?) that I can make up for by not taking on too many mobs\being careful without hurting my character (for example, not taking fortitude). What do you guys think of this as well?

[Lavic]

I make fortitude do the HP work for me, most of my levels go to AC and AD and BC comes from armour. So in a sense I am balanced and whoop @## All over the place generally. I'm not saying I'm right or the best, but this is my opinion. Combat Speed, Regeneration, Corpse Eater, and Magic Finder are also essential to an awesome character.

[Wyrmspawn]

Well, tne most interesting build I had so far was my DR/damage/hp build. It was sooooo good, watching mobs trying unsuccessfully to get in a point of damage on me while I kept swinging my sword around and killed them with one strike.

[Tulkas]

I lay waste to everybody too, and I went the critical route with lots of hit points via increased fortitude. I've got high damage and my crits can one-shot anything currently in the game. My high hit points should future proof my character as well as the insane critical damage. I haven't worried about DR due to hp's. And I swear I notice enemies hit you less simply by increasing your level even if u don't add to BC. I also have 6 pts in increased crits so I'm currently at 38%. I switch to quickstrike dagger when immune to crits, and still one-shot most characters. Cleave allows me to obliterate mobs which equals faster kills/sec.

[Pyrizzle]

I use Increased Fortitude at level 5 on every build,

For a fast pace try adding mostly to your AC and AD to start out, for a slower (and stronger build) try using more BC and DR.


I have started a lot of builds and the strongest was my Crit Damage build, but the one i have to worry the least about getting killed is my DR/BC build.

[Wyrmspawn]

DR is not one of the slower and stronger builds. IMO, it is actually one of the fastest ways to success. Here's why: With 2 damage resistance, you can breeze through the snake cave without breaking a sweat. With seven DR, you can get right through the dog caves taking no damage. With enough DR, your character will become invincible. At least, that was how it worked in the old days, before poison and bleeding wounds became commonly inflicted ailments...

But despite all of that, DR is, besides quickstrike, the fastest way to success.

[Pyrizzle]

Because you are consentrating on Defence more when doing a DR/BC build you will not end up being as deadly.


Also DR maxes out at a total of 14. (5 from SP, 9 from equipment)

There are pleanty of monsters that will hit for waaaaay more than 14, yes it does help alot at the begining but later on in the game the HP that you are protecting gets less and less important (expecially when monsters can hit for 60+ in a single swing)

[nether]

I love the idea of just massive damage from crit. Im no slouch so I can grind the areas that would be quicker with DR initially. Could anyone tell me how they would go about it? I'd love to hear some more input on this, like skills/levelups /gear even. And keep your opinions coming, all good insights

I was actually reading through the thread that a lot of you old timers here were posting the builds you were working on as well, all very neat indeed!

[Pyrizzle]

I love the idea of just massive damage from crit. Im no slouch so I can grind the areas that would be quicker with DR initially. Could anyone tell me how they would go about it? I'd love to hear some more input on this, like skills/levelups /gear even. And keep your opinions coming, all good insights

I was actually reading through the thread that a lot of you old timers here were posting the builds you were working on as well, all very neat indeed!

One of the things i do that helps me get going faster on a new build is to pick out which equipment you will want to have in the end and start saving up for them right away insead of buying things as you can afford them.

The snake caves are the best spot to start out but dont be afraid to wonder.

Hmmmmmm.... more advice to come soon.

[Tulkas]

I also got Increase Fort to level 5 and stopped there. If I manage to get to such lofty levels as Sarumar, i will have over 700 hit points! If monsters get more powerful with new releases, i can easily add to better crits but currently with Dagger of the Shadow Priests, I'm at 5.25 crit multiplier. Also that sets me up for high level skills fracture and internal bleeding. I didn't bother with those skills yet because my crits one shot anything currently in the game. It will be interesting to see how my character turns out as I've largely ignored both BC and DR.