Re: PvM 1.13 ExplosionMancer guide
I really like this build and I'm playing at the moment. I have a few questions I would like to ask.
1: Is it a nice twist to put one point into SM and RS? Not that they kill anything, but if they don't die to fast, is it a nice extra defensive kind of way?
2: I use a spirit at the moment. I feel some shame at the moment, but what do I need to do to make a good White runeword wand? I can't be a magic wand already right? And what if I can't find a wand with some extra skills, could I use a plain White wand, or is a Spirit better at the moment? (lvl82 got shako, viper, arach mesh, homu, magefist and waterwalk: Bad Amu, 2 FCR rings and no +skillers but I have a necro torch)
3: I need a new amu, but don't know if +necro skiller is expensive. What do I need to trade for it in runes?
4: My insight needs 210 strenght so merc using other weapon. Is it better to just go for a less expensive Insight (I don't have a etheral one and don't have a ist) amd what do I need to trade for it in runes? And is it also a good idea to trade my other Insight and just wait for a Etheral one?
(Sorry for my English)
1) waste of skill points. unless you have +4 or +5 in that skill tree or to all skills, those skeletons will die almost as fast as you raise them. If you have 2 extra points to spend, put them into clay golem or summon resist. those skeletons you raise will just run in a random direction and get smashed into bits. I know it sounds like a good idea to take some heat off of your merc, but just keep an eye on your clay golem and keep recasting him if necessary. saves you a couple of skill points.
2) Dol and Io are both really easy to come by. Dont feel you have to have the perfect white wand to socket. Pick up every grey wand you see fall, it doesnt matter if its normal, elite, etc...you're just looking for what the skills are. I was just goofing off today and found a 2OS tomb wand with +3 to decrep and bone spear. you can always dump a Dol and Io into a decent, but not great, wand in the meantime. Like I said, easy runes to come by. I think you can even find wands that have +2 to all necro skills and then +3 to individual skills as well. Rememer, necro wands have a maximum of 2 sockets. so if you find a wand that you think is perfect, just use your socket quest, and use the white runeword.
3) depends on what realm you are on, SP vs. bnet, etc. a plain +3 to one skill tree might not be too expensive, but one with resistances or life could be pricey. simple advice, but keep an eye on what you find. if you find a +3 to bow skills ammy or something along those lines, you can trade. people are looking for pgems a lot these days, so just pile those things up, you'd be surprised what you can get for them. gathering crafting items is the easiest way to get good items.
4) i am in the minority opinion here, but i dont feel insight is a must. it's not like blue potions are as hard to find as a stone of jordan or something. for my belt, i keep 1 column of life potions and 3 columns of mana pots. corpse explosion sucks up mana fast, but you kill so many things at once that you shouldnt run out of mana pots. when you kill 20 monsters at a time, odds are that you are going to get 1 or 2 mana pots at least.
to make things short, you have good gear as it is, you shouldn't have too many problems. the one thing that can hurt you, as well as other necros, is a lot of ranged physical or elemental damage. I cast my clay golem at the edge of the screen once in awhile, just to see what hits him. if he dies fast, no big deal, just recast...but it gives me a good idea as to what i'm dealing with. also keep your bone armor up.
one last note, from my own experience, this is a good build, but don't feel like you need both curses AND bone prison for crowd control. investing in confusion and/or attract while having a very strong bone prison is just a waste to me. there isn't any threat that confuse or attract helped with that bone prison didn't do better.
... but i didnt noticed ,,, got a ETH cryptic axe with insight (12 but its enough) for 1 ist . Friend told me that was a great deal . 
The first had 70 160 or so 
mouseman you stoped playing did you right?
