An Quandry of Max Block and Poison Dagger

EDIT: Man, I do a well-written post and then notice a really basic grammar error in my title much too late. A QUANDRY. A QUANDRY.

So, just calculating my life here with my present Poison Dagger Necro plans. I haven't started him yet, not really anyway. He's level 5 on the Cold Plains, green as a leaf.

But I digress: I want to use Trag's Wing for the -25% Poison Resist bonus it gives. I also want max block since a Daggermancer is hopping around in the middle of monsters and no matter how good I am at cursing, something is gonna hit me at some point. Problem: I've calculated the dex I'll need for max block with that thing and it's 230@lvl87, when leveling up becomes mind-achingly monotonous. 230 is . . . disgustingly high of a dex total to dig out of my stat pool, especially for the frail necro. I'm left with a mere 130 points to sink into vit if I do all 3 Black Book quests, and I think in the end, not including equipment, my life hits around 400. That's not quite hell viable, right? Bowzons have more life than that.

SO, any suggestions on how I could get that total into, at the very least, the four-digits? I'm too poor to afford a CtA right now. I'm planning to be using a Treachery for the delicious Venom damage-stacking effect and the Fade, Trag gloves of course, and Trag's belt. Rings, gloves, helm and amulet are all open for customization right now.

My main questions are thus:

Should I choose a diff. source of -%PR than Trag's set and use the Homunc@197dex instead to protect me? Perhaps facets in a 3sox helmet?

OR

Should I load up on +stat items and +life charms and just hope for the best? If so, what gear would be good for helm, boots and jewelry?

OR

Should I not do max block and rely wholly on using curses and evasive tactics to survive?

Also: if I've made some gross miscalculation about my stats, lemmie know. My projected build-done level of 87 + 3 for the stat quests x 5. That's 90 x 5 = 450 stat points - 91str - 230dex = 129 points into vit. 129 x 2 life per point = 258 life + 87 levels x 1.5 for life per level = 388 life rounded down.

I did have to take remedial math in college, but I remember being pretty good at arithmetic in 3rd grade. PAID OFF TONIGHT.|||Heh, quandary is the right word



And + stat seems to be the best if you want to lower res (after said curse). Raven gives a nice + dex along with more you'll need. A safety amulet boosts chance to block, and I think can potentially get dex as well, so crafts are a consideration.

At the very least, cat's eye amulet has +25 dex.





Not sure about how STR will turn out, but Shadowdancers also come with a lof of dex.|||I've done max block with Trang's shield on my daggermancer. It wasn't too bad, but you will need life charms. It isn't like you are suddenly going to be able to tank in Hell if you go pure vita. Necros dont' get a lot of hp from vitality anyway.

In either case, you'll need to rely on curses and your merc to stay alive. 1pt Revive gives great meat shields.|||230 isn't that bad. At that level, it'll probably be about half of your actual stat points. Remember that you're going to get some +dex from the wing itself and likely get a lot more from other items. You'll also get some HP from trang set and can again get more from other items. Afterall, there's not a lot else for a necromancer to get in terms of mods.|||Quote:








Also: if I've made some gross miscalculation about my stats, lemmie know. My projected build-done level of 87 + 3 for the stat quests x 5. That's 90 x 5 = 450 stat points - 91str - 230dex = 129 points into vit. 129 x 2 life per point = 258 life + 87 levels x 1.5 for life per level = 388 life rounded down.




Did you forget the 3x20 life from the ashes of Ku Y'leh?|||Also, at level 87 you have 86 levels worth of stats, not 87. You don't get any stats at level 1. It should be (86 + 3) * 5 expendable stat points. Same goes for the life gained per level, you only gain 86 * 1.5. If you meant your build finishes at level 88, then yes, your math is correct if you incorporate the +60 life from potions.|||Wheeeee I knew I'd **** my math up.

But nevertheless, I've recently made offers for some GCs including a lifer curse GC . . . noooobody cares about curse GCs so it'll go cheap I'm sure. I believe I'll compensate for my low life as best I can with gear and then pump my curses high to act as my "tank" besides a well-equipped merc and my golem.

I'll go with max block on the Trag's and hope for the best. Skill will have to prevail over all frailty.|||Twitchthroe of however it's spelled armor gives you a big old boost on blocking. It's low level, but it can be upped with the cube.|||Twitchthroe isn't worth upping, it's defense is terrible regardless. If you want to use the mods, then go for it.|||I'm lvl 49 now into NM, and I'm able to wear my treachery, Blackbog's, Trag's Claws, skillers and a Homunc for until I can equip the Trag's Wing. My block is maxed and my AR is brilliant for NM, and my poison kills anything dead. Ever. A single stab can kill even mummies and sand maggots in short order and that's even without Lower Resist. <3 poison.

My life is, however, at 309 and if I wasn't playing alongside a Spearazon /w lifetap I'd be dead, dead and dead some more. 303 life is a one-hit-kill in Hell guaranteed. I'm still waiting on some skill GCs including a lifer. I'm going to try to make a CtA as well.

Would Waterwalks or a good Sandstorm be a better choice for boots? And is a Harly Crest the best choice for such a character for a helm?