Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue <

maareek

Member
May 12, 2007
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Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Yep, an Avengerzon. Maybe not one of my more lucid ideas, but stuffed to the brim with stylepoints. After all, what baddie in his right mind wouldn't be afraid of this pain train? The women have taken the men's skills and made them their own as their band of merry ladies use Vengeance, Fanaticism, Battle Commands and Battle Orders, all to great effect.

The bow came courtesy of a loan program instigated by our remarkably regular moderator, sirpoopsalot. Thanks, again.

[highlight]The Character[/highlight]

Name: HopeThisWorks
Class: Amazon
Level: 81

Naked/Gear
Strength: 174/237
Dexterity: 75/103
Vitality: 231/248
Energy: 15/22
HP: 903/1062 (2092)
Mana: 135/296 (489)

MF: 102
GF: 90
FR/W: 31
FHR: 20 (8 frames)
IAS: 75 (10 frames)

Reists: (add 60 res all when Fade is active)

Fire: 75/35/-25
Cold: 105/65/5
Lightning: 114/74/14
Poison: 75/35/-25

Skills:

Valkyrie: 20 (29)
Penetrate, Inner Sight: 20 (25)
Critical Strike: 19 (24)
Slow Missles, Decoy: 5 (10)
Dodge, Avoid, Evade: 1 (6)

Another point in Critical Strike wouldn't have netted any gain, Slow Missles was effective for long enough already and neither the Decoy nor Valk needed more life so I maxed Inner Sight, in case the Rogue died or got stuck.

Gear:

Code:
Kingslayer
Glorious Axe
MalUmGulFal
Two Hand Damage: 211 - 436
Durability: 43 of 50
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 164
Required Dexterity: 55
Fingerprint: 0x3ce8d1db
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Increased Attack Speed
252% Enhanced Damage
-25% Target Defense
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
33% Chance of Crushing Blow
50% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
+1 to Vengeance
+10 to Strength
40% Extra Gold from Monsters
4 Sockets (4 used)

Harlequin Crest
Shako
Defense: 132
Durability: 8 of 12
Required Level: 62
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x26272487
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
All Stats +2
+121 to Life (Based on Character Level)
+121 to Mana (Based on Character Level)
All Resistances +15
Damage Reduced by 10%
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Um Rune

Um Rune
Required Level: 47
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 25% Chance of Open Wounds
Armor: Cold Resist +15%
Lightning Resist +15%
Fire Resist +15%
Poison Resist +15%
Shields: Cold Resist +22%
Lightning Resist +22%
Fire Resist +22%
Poison Resist +22%

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0xa543c7e9
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
All Stats +5
All Resistances +30

Shion's Treachery
Dusk Shroud
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 445
Durability: 14 of 20
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 77
Fingerprint: 0xda1dc98e
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Chance to cast level 15 Fade when struck
25% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
3 Sockets (3 used)

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x7672ccb4
Item Level: 60
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+249 to Attack Rating
Adds 15 - 45 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
+20 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
Cold Absorb 20%
Cannot Be Frozen

Doom Touch
Ring
Required Level: 66
Fingerprint: 0x301ff760
Item Level: 97
Version: Expansion 1.10+
8% Chance to cast level 5 Chain Lightning on attack
+95 to Attack Rating
5% Mana stolen per hit
+20 to Strength
Lightning Resist +29%
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

String of Ears
Demonhide Sash
Defense: 106
Durability: 21 of 22
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0x61ee07f6
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
7% Life stolen per hit
+162% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
Damage Reduced by 15%
Magic Damage Reduced by 10
+10 Maximum Durability

War Traveler
Battle Boots
Defense: 123
Durability: 44 of 48
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 95
Fingerprint: 0x746f9fd7
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+25% Faster Run/Walk
Adds 15 - 25 Damage
+158% Enhanced Defense
+10 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
40% Slower Stamina Drain
Attacker Takes Damage of 5
46% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+30 Maximum Durability

Dracul's Grasp
Vampirebone Gloves
Defense: 143
Durability: 12 of 14
Required Level: 76
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x6d371647
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Chance to cast level 10 Life Tap on striking
10% Life stolen per hit
25% Chance of Open Wounds
+117% Enhanced Defense
+12 to Strength
+9 Life after each Kill

Call to Arms
Superior Flail
AmnRalMalIstOhm
One Hand Damage: 3 - 85
Durability: 30 of 30
Required Level: 57
Required Strength: 41
Required Dexterity: 35
Fingerprint: 0x5a8e2440
GUID: 0xe9054427 0x98f19e0b 0x0
Item Level: 90
Version: Expansion
+2 to All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
258% Enhanced Damage
+1 to Attack Rating
+150% Damage to Undead
Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
7% Life stolen per hit
Prevent Monster Heal
+11 to Battle Cry
+15 to Battle Orders
+6 to Battle Command
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
5 Sockets (5 used)

Spirit
Monarch
TalThulOrtAmn
Defense: 147
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Level: 54
Required Strength: 156
Fingerprint: 0x9f0912fc
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
+30% Faster Cast Rate
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense vs. Missile
+22 to Vitality
+98 to Mana
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+5 Magic Absorb
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
4 Sockets (4 used)

Charms:

Code:
Sharp Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 23
Fingerprint: 0xfd50aaa3
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Maximum Damage
+68 to Attack Rating
+25 to Life

Sharp Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xc557b5cd
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Maximum Damage
+62 to Attack Rating
+13 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Inertia
Small Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0xce13a645
Item Level: 64
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3% Faster Run/Walk
+2 to Maximum Damage
+18 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm of Inertia
Small Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0x44cbb0a6
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3% Faster Run/Walk
+2 to Maximum Damage
+19 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x7cef4f9
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+19 to Attack Rating

Sharp Grand Charm of Burning
Grand Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x28e84f33
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Maximum Damage
+53 to Attack Rating
Adds 2 - 4 Fire Damage

Amber Small Charm of Winter
Small Charm
Required Level: 38
Fingerprint: 0xedd8f992
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 5 - 8 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (25 Frames)
Lightning Resist +10%

Fine Small Charm of Lightning
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xeb7dfb38
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+17 to Attack Rating
Adds 1 - 8 Lightning Damage

Fine Small Charm of Strength
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xdc6a7baa
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+14 to Attack Rating
+2 to Strength

Sharp Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x56a2955b
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Maximum Damage
+73 to Attack Rating

Sharp Grand Charm of the Icicle
Grand Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x9429dac8
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Maximum Damage
+74 to Attack Rating
Adds 2 - 3 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (25 Frames)

Fine Small Charm of Dexterity
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xa59f1549
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+14 to Attack Rating
+1 to Dexterity

Fine Small Charm of Strength
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xd1f8f684
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+14 to Attack Rating
+2 to Strength

Oriana, Fire Rogue:

Code:
Crown of Thieves
Grand Crown
Defense: 468
Durability: 26 of 26
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 93
Fingerprint: 0x8f6ab63c
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+15% Increased Attack Speed
10% Life stolen per hit
+174% Enhanced Defense
+25 to Dexterity
+50 to Life
+35 to Mana
Fire Resist +33%
95% Extra Gold from Monsters
Ethereal
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Jewel of Fervor

Jewel of Fervor
Jewel
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0xb09920df
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+15% Increased Attack Speed


Fortitude
Archon Plate
ElSolDolLo
Defense: 1572
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0x41bc1e52
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
20% Chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
300% Enhanced Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+91 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Replenish Life +7
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +25
Damage Reduced by 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 to Light Radius
4 Sockets (4 used)

Faith
Crusader Bow
OhmJahLemEld
Two Hand Damage: 64 - 270
Durability: 23 of 44
Required Level: 65
Required Strength: 97
Required Dexterity: 121
Fingerprint: 0x1f6b0f21
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Level 12 Fanaticism Aura When Equipped
+1 to All Skills
330% Enhanced Damage
Ignore Target's Defense
300% Bonus to Attack Rating
+75% Damage to Undead
+50 to Attack Rating against Undead
Adds 120 - 120 Fire Damage
All Resistances +15
10% Reanimate as: Returned
75% Extra Gold from Monsters
4 Sockets (4 used)

Leveling:

Envy gear -> partial Sigon's + Crystal Sword with 6 perfect Jewels of Wrath -> 1.09 RC, Full Iratha's, Treads of Cthon and Twitchthroe. Swapped in Kuko and Natalya's boots at 34.

Moved to NM at 52, bringing in dual Ravenfrosts, SoE, Vamp Gaze, War Travelers, Lava Gout, Treachery, Mahim-Oak, Harmony(233%ED) in a 13%ED Great Bow with Kingslayer Silver-Edged Axe on switch (thanks to sirpoopsalot). Merc got Duriels, Crown of Thieves and Witchwild String. Level 67 brought in the Glorious Axe Kingslayer, beta CtA + Spirit, Harley, Mara's, mana leech ring and the Faith and Fortitude on the merc. Moved to Hell at 76, swapping in Dracul's in the changeover.

[highlight]Q&A[/highlight]

-Q: How did the build perform in-game compared to your plan?
A: Better than I expected. Significantly better, in fact. She killed quickly, handled bosses well and only spent maybe 3% of the time hiding behind the valk (either because of dolls or because Fade hadn't triggered yet and there was elemental damage afoot).

-Q: Any particularly rough places?
A: In the sense of a whole area being tough, no. But there were some tough monsters and situations. Ghosts were a hassle. This guy took forever. Just past him was a little rougher boss - that guy's pack tore through two valks, 4 decoys and very nearly the zon, as well.

Worst of all was on the third level of the WSK. The spawn was witches (PI), OK's and ghosts (obviously the d2 gods love me) and I had checked every branch but one. I head down the last one, and there's a bosspack of OKs backed up by a bosspack of ghosts with a couple packs of witches and another OK pack. In the first “room†of the branch. With liberal use of Slow Missles and Decoy, we managed to clear out the room and find that behind that is a long corridor (~3 screens) filled with ~5 witch packs, 2 packs of OKs and 2 bosspacks of OKs. Guess I've been a good little boy this year. Had to lure out all the Doom Knights, then go back in and just wail away on the witches, taking down the OKs by throwing a decoy on the next one in line just before attacking the forward one. Progress was incredibly slow, and the PI witches rendered the valk practically useless.

Cleared the corridor, granting us access to a small room leading to the corridor to the Throne's entrance. This room was, of course, also packed with witches and OKs. Santa's really in the holiday spirit. This was a little more manageable as I was able to use Slow Missles to some effect and decoy kept the OKs I wasn't working on in check. Finally, the last little corridor and the room with the Throne's entrance. Roll call: 3 more OKs, one a unique, a bosspack of witches and another small pack of regular witches. I picked out the two OKs I could, but the third was hiding behind all the witches. I start hewing my way through the witches and it happens. As I start to swing at the boss I hear that sound we all know so well. The swing connects, and I'm left with ... an almost full red bulb! These witches are PI, who cares about IM?! Fade clears away the curse and the rest of the crowd goes down.

-Q: Close call with the Iron Maiden there, but were there any actual deaths?
A: Three. One in NM Underground Passage, got surrounded, the second in NM Plains of Despair, surrounded by Balrogs and the third in Hell Plains of Despair, to conviction gloams.

-Q: Would you recommend this build to others?
A: Well, the gameplay was very interesting - she was powerful enough to tear down anything, but fragile enough to require good use of strategic assets. However, this particular build needs good gear (Faith not required, but the changes in gear will make for an even more fragile build) so going with a big 2-handed Passion would probably be a better idea. Death or Oath could work, but you need a PI solution.

-Q: Any notable find?
A: A few.
-NM Forge: Um
-Hell Forge: Pul
-This imbue
-Amber (4) SC of Greed (10)
-Russet (7) SC of Life (7)
-+2 FO/+2 ES staff
-Hsarus' Iron Fist from NM Andy
-Wizardspike in Flayer Jungle

-Q: Any last thoughts about the build?
A: She hit with five different damage types every strike while under the effects of Fanaticism and had the aide of an incredibly sturdy tank. What's not to love?

-Q: Anyone you'd like to thank?
A: Indeed.
-sirpoopsalot, for the loan of the Kingslayer and Faith
-NagisaFurukawa and sirpoopsalot for giving me some feedback on my original idea for the build

And, of course, to you, for reading.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Congrats on a very stylish and unique mat. :) The SPF compendium does need a lot more Tankazons in there. :d This one has GG damage too.

According to your image there, you actually have normal attack on left-click. Did you actually use normal attack > Vengeance at any point after you equipped the 'Kingslayer'?

Great choice of weapon base. Glorious axes look deadly amazing, and imo gives the best appearance out of all weapons.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Congrats on your Matriarch, and a nice little writeup as well. :).

Since you mentioned doing good damage, does that mean the fool who ran the maths and said your elemental damage would be putrid was actually wrong?! Basically I'm asking how you performed against PIs in general with Vengeance itself (since the 'Faith' mercenary can hold its own plenty well), at least in terms of damage.

EDIT: Cute name, by the way.
 
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Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

@omg: Not sure you can count a build that has <1000 defense as a tank anything, but yeah. ;) The axe is pretty gg, but what sold me was the average damage, nice requirements and the range 4 - I can attack over the valk's shoulder with little danger to myself against manaburners or hard hitters.

I just leave normal attack on left click with all chars except for barbs and zealots. Didn't use any kind of attack except Vengeance after I equipped the axe(s).

@Nagisa: I believe they were. ;p She had to take down PI Frenzytaurs, Ghosts and Witches along the way and did all with little trouble. Damage slowed down noticeably against targets with high physical and elemental resists (I think all of them are documented in the writeup, actually) and even then she wasn't any slower versus them than most other melee builds would be. Pure PI monsters I didn't really notice any slow down on, largely because they tend to have much lower hp, I imagine.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Nicely done! What was your FPA under the Fanaticism and without it? Going two-handed is a good solution to the dreadful amazon block rate with a non-dagger/non-javelin. And it's good to see a diadem imbue work out well!
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Very nice Mat and write-up!

Same question as purplelocust: Did you try this build without the Fana from Faith? I can't afford one right now and would be interested in attack speed without it :crazyeyes:

Congrats and ... more of these!!!
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Cool writeup, and a cooler character. I'm looking forward to the next one (iirc, you said it was an assassin - knowing you're looking for non-standard ideas, hopefully you don't steal my new idea :p).
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Congratulations! That's an interesting build, even though I imagine it would be hard to come up with a build that would not work with CtA and Faith merc. :p

Who's Shion?
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Congratulations on the Matriarch, glad to see you went 2h - liking the look of the axe.

I am yet to plan the Amazon for my scond 2h sword sept, there are some interesting ideas there. Nice Imbue too.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

A great writeup for an original char (had to reread the thread's title to check I hadn't misunderstood it the first time :p), well done maareek :thumbup:
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Gratz on the Mat.

Was the flayer jungle like playing whack-o-mole going through with a single attack?
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

maareek said:
The bow came courtesy of a loan program instigated by our remarkably regular moderator, sirpoopsalot.
Ahh, I get it: regular. Haha!

Seriously, good job on beating the game with this character. I've been considering a Vengeance necromancer (I know they've been done before), so I found your post interesting. Did you have troubles hitting stuff in the later game, even after Faith's aura and all those points in Penetrate? I don't have Faith myself, but I do have an Infinity on my boltress's merc that I could bring over. That would help not just by lowering my enemies' resistances, but by helping my to-hit%, which is probably going to be the hardest part. It'd also let me maintain my damage output without Lower Resist, letting me use something more defensive like Decrepify or Life Tap.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Thanks, all. Though I was expecting more posts questioning my sanity. Guess there's no question left. ;)

@purplelocust and Grisu: 10 frames with fanatacism, 13 frames without. 13 frames isn't fast enough to let any sort of pack attack you (not an issue of damage received v damage taken, really, but of D/A/E throwing you out of too many attacks to make up ground) and so would require a much less aggressive style. If you were trying this build without Faith, I'd suggest swapping Nosferatu's for SoE to hit 12 frames (BP of 83) to maintain 100% damage from Vengeance. For a 2 handed Passion wielder you'd have more leeway.

@poops: Unless your indication in your mat thread was a cover for a different idea, we should be on drastically different paths. Neither Blade Fury nor Death Sentry will see any love with my build. I'm definitely looking forward to what you've come up with, though.

@Kefir: It's tough for me to come up with a build that wouldn't work with a high level Valkyrie. She's kind of slow, but you could easily finish the game following her around with something to take down physical immunes.

Shion was NagisaFurukawa's Titan Berserkeress. He held a giveaway a couple months ago where I got the Treachery above and the Passion Thunder Maul in that thread.

@max: It'd be tough to go wrong with a Kingslayer for the job. All those utility mods make bosses pretty easy (I took down all of them except Baal at p3; could've easily done higher - forgot to up the setting for Baal). Good luck with whatever you end up going with.

@Ziggyzug: Typically in the jungle all three of us would be working on different monsters and all of our killspeeds were similar (lots of OHKOs) so baddies seemed to drop 3 at a time, so it didn't take long enough to get boring. Of course, I've taken 3 or 4 single-target attack chars to pat/mat so it's hardly a new thing to me.

@pharoah: No problems hitting anything all game (including Baal), except for when D/A/E would throw me out of attack animation or she'd get knocked back. Inner Sight is awesome and, combined with the -25% Target Defense on Kingslayer, I probably would have been fine with much less AR.

Conviction should lower monster's defense to such a point that you'll have no or very little trouble hitting anything. Your character plan should definitely be viable.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

A very nice character and good write-up. :thumbup:

It almost makes me start thinking about twinking (ha, that sounds funny when you say it fast!) but then I would probably not twink anything in the early game (to make the early game more challenging). I´d go straight from untwinked gear to end-game pieces as soon as I could equip them all.

maarek said:
However, this particular build needs good gear (Faith not required, but the changes in gear will make for an even more fragile build) so going with a big 2-handed Passion would probably be a better idea.

Yes, I have tried Passion with an amazon, in a Champion Sword. It was awesome to use that with Berserk. Unfortunately, I got to use it only for less an act (found the socketed sword in Tal´s tombs, got killed in a temple in Upper Kurast).


There are two pieces of gear I don´t understand:

* Crown of Thieves on the merc. I understand the Jewel of Fervor and the +DEX boosts physical damage a bit, but this would be a too defensive choice for me. A simple Static Circlet or something would have been better, IMO. It can even get 2 sockets.

* Um rune, for +15% resist all. I think this is a colossal waste of a pretty rare rune (I´ve seen 3-4 of them in my entire "career"!) that is one of the most useful runes in the game, for SO many things. I´d much rather use a Scintillating jewel, even if I only had one with 11% resist all or so...
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Masterfully done hero! That's definitely a sech-say character with a mountain of style points. I don't have much else to add, but you definitely deserve a hearty backslap for such originality. Kudos muh man.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Monster character and sounds like she was enjoyable to play as well. Keep up the good work, always nice to see interesting builds like this one. Unbelievable imbue by the way.

-PP
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

Thanks for the comments. Making a char that makes jiansonz think about twinking fills me with quite a bit of pride, I don't mind saying. ;)

@jiansonz: I like my mercs to be sulf-sufficient, so the main reason for the Crown of Thieves was the 10% life leech, secondary reason of it was the only helm with leech available to her that had an IAS jewel in it (moves her from 12 frame attack to 11 frame). Since I knew the character could handle any monster, the only thing I wanted from the rogue was the Fanaticism aura.

As for using the Um: I have every runeword I'd need an Um for (and if I did need one I still have 3 Ums saved), the Harley is useful to almost any character and I like to save my scintillating jewels for items with required levels under 47. I would have agreed with your sentiment about it completely a couple months ago, but the Um this char found was at least my tenth and it no longer seems like a problem with other options shored up (could stand to make a Duress in a better base, but I've grown attached to my Chaos Armor). Untwinked, though, yeah it'd be a huge waste.

@L_E: I accept your kudos and offer my own to your superior commenting abilities.

@poopie_pants: My eyes bugged out a little bit when I read the stats on the imbue. Now to figure out what to do with it (200FCR fire sorc sounds like a start).
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

This character just drips with coolness, not to mention huge style points for the "pain train" of butt-kicking ladies! Very nicely done. :thumbup: I always love seeing builds that promote the Act1 Rogue, I really get tired of using the desert moron all the time.
 
Re: Matriarch HopeThisWorks, Vengeance Amazon with Faith Rogue

As for using the Um: I have every runeword I'd need an Um for (and if I did need one I still have 3 Ums saved), the Harley is useful to almost any character and I like to save my scintillating jewels for items with required levels under 47. I would have agreed with your sentiment about it completely a couple months ago, but the Um this char found was at least my tenth and it no longer seems like a problem with other options shored up (could stand to make a Duress in a better base, but I've grown attached to my Chaos Armor). Untwinked, though, yeah it'd be a huge waste.

It´s easy to see here that I am not used to the twinking mindset: required levels is not something that I am generally aware about. The only times they come into play for me is when I find a set/unique item or craft something that has a higher clvl requirement that my character´s current level (and then it´s just annoying and seems unfair! :rant: ). Good point about Scintillating jewels having a lower level requirement.

It´s not just runewords the Um runes are good for, they can also be used in a weapon for the Open Wounds (my Set/Unique Worshipper Tourney Phoenix Striker put one in her Rune Master), and they can be used to upgrade rare weapons to elite (but I guess this desire comes more into play when playing untwinked (less access to powerful runewords and excep/elite uniques)).



 
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