10-11-2006, 03:15 AM
(This post was last modified: 10-11-2006, 03:27 AM by FraterPerdurabo.)
Yet another Smiter discussion 
By the way, I think you should post all 3 guides separately, makes it a lot easier to read. Now, onto the build:
Defiance: You recommend maxing out Defiance, and using Exile. I think that this is a huge waste of skill points. I believe that if you are really intent on using eExile (which means that this is a PvM build), you shouldn't max out Defiance. Instead, put points into Resist Fire or Charge.
Also, how about adding a PvP section to this as well? Because at the moment, this is really PvM stuff. So for that, I'd recommend:
1 point in Holy Freeze for SvS
1 point in Vigor for easier desynch.
Upped Zaka instead of Exile - for obvious Life Tap reasons (and you can also max out Defiance).
Maybe elaborate a little more on amulets. You haven't mentioned Highlord's either.
Armor: I think that Forti is an awesome choice for a Smiter. Let's calculate the damage with Forti. I made a Smiter for some testing a while ago, so let's look at him (uses similar gear):
lvl 31 Fanatiscm = 560
lvl 33 Smite (lvl 33 Holy Shield) = 495%ed
210 STR (I think that this is added into Smite attack as well, isn't it?)
Forti
(actually I'm not sure whether this calculation is correct or not, since I cannot remember whether Fanatiscm bonus was calculated with or without the other mods)
So perf Grief and Upped Zaka and Forti:
(46+400)x(5.6+2.1+4.95+3) = 6979.9 (after PvP penalty and max DR%) = 581.7
without Forti:
(46+400)x(5.6+2.1+4.95) = 5641.9 (after PvP penalty and max DR%) = 470.2
Once again, I am not sure that the calculations are 100% correct, but from those figures, you can see that the damage difference is quite substantial. Enigma is nice for +skills, +STR, FRW% (better desynch), life%, but Forti also has very sweet mods (extra damage, even more defense, life, resi). Imo, CoH is a very bad option. Not enough +STR to be better than Enigma, resis don't matter (explained afterwards) and the +2 skills is abundant.
Gloves: The ones that you mentioned are nice, but also, you can get rare ones 20%IAS +20 STR +20 DEX +3x triple resi (light, cold, fire). If you want to BM, Cleglaw's are for you. Tear any barb or Smiter apart.
Boots: Shadow Dancers. If you are not keen on using them, at least mention them in your guide, especially since you are using CoA. The +25 DEX on them is awesome for getting max block, and the FHR% is irreplacable.
Rings: I'm not familiar with U.S. dupes, so it would be nice if you listed the stats. On Europe, Smiters use +20 STR +15 DEX +life +mana +3x triple resi rings. Other than that, use a combo of Raven/Wisp/Dwarf (according to the rest of your gear of course, you wouldn't want to go too BM. In Europe, GM duels allow 1 piece of max resi/absorb per element [Hotspurs are BM], so you could use Raven and Dwarf).
Belt: Verdungo is definately the best choice, but Arach is awesome when it comes to BMing. Combined with Cleglaw's, you'll tear apart any melee chars.
So much for the Smiter part then.
edit: you completely forgot to mention charms for your Smiter. I'd recommend 20/11s, 3/20/20s, or 20/3xs (+defense).
As in for a Hammerdin, it's an unusual way of building one, but I would certainly disagree on it's efficiency. 200%FHR is very, very unnecessary for a Paladin. You can already reach 4 frames at 86%. The only reason for why you would want to go 200%FHR would be vs Wind Druid, but with this setup, you will have such low DR%, that it will not change a thing.
Hammer skills: HS is not really needed for PvP imo (it's an option, but certainly not the only one). Get at least lvl 14 with all gear choices for max block% and put rest into resist lightning/resist fire.
Rest of gear: Your build is quite different to any PvP hammer's, but I don't think it's very good. The entire setup.
Charms: 20/11s are the only option (once you have enough FHR% scs). Pcombs are only for PvM. 20 life SCs are way more useful than skillers. Also, +20 life 5%FHR scs don't exist, both are suffixes.
By the way, I think you should post all 3 guides separately, makes it a lot easier to read. Now, onto the build:
Defiance: You recommend maxing out Defiance, and using Exile. I think that this is a huge waste of skill points. I believe that if you are really intent on using eExile (which means that this is a PvM build), you shouldn't max out Defiance. Instead, put points into Resist Fire or Charge.
Also, how about adding a PvP section to this as well? Because at the moment, this is really PvM stuff. So for that, I'd recommend:
1 point in Holy Freeze for SvS
1 point in Vigor for easier desynch.
Upped Zaka instead of Exile - for obvious Life Tap reasons (and you can also max out Defiance).
Maybe elaborate a little more on amulets. You haven't mentioned Highlord's either.
Armor: I think that Forti is an awesome choice for a Smiter. Let's calculate the damage with Forti. I made a Smiter for some testing a while ago, so let's look at him (uses similar gear):
lvl 31 Fanatiscm = 560
lvl 33 Smite (lvl 33 Holy Shield) = 495%ed
210 STR (I think that this is added into Smite attack as well, isn't it?)
Forti
(actually I'm not sure whether this calculation is correct or not, since I cannot remember whether Fanatiscm bonus was calculated with or without the other mods)
So perf Grief and Upped Zaka and Forti:
(46+400)x(5.6+2.1+4.95+3) = 6979.9 (after PvP penalty and max DR%) = 581.7
without Forti:
(46+400)x(5.6+2.1+4.95) = 5641.9 (after PvP penalty and max DR%) = 470.2
Once again, I am not sure that the calculations are 100% correct, but from those figures, you can see that the damage difference is quite substantial. Enigma is nice for +skills, +STR, FRW% (better desynch), life%, but Forti also has very sweet mods (extra damage, even more defense, life, resi). Imo, CoH is a very bad option. Not enough +STR to be better than Enigma, resis don't matter (explained afterwards) and the +2 skills is abundant.
Gloves: The ones that you mentioned are nice, but also, you can get rare ones 20%IAS +20 STR +20 DEX +3x triple resi (light, cold, fire). If you want to BM, Cleglaw's are for you. Tear any barb or Smiter apart.
Boots: Shadow Dancers. If you are not keen on using them, at least mention them in your guide, especially since you are using CoA. The +25 DEX on them is awesome for getting max block, and the FHR% is irreplacable.
Rings: I'm not familiar with U.S. dupes, so it would be nice if you listed the stats. On Europe, Smiters use +20 STR +15 DEX +life +mana +3x triple resi rings. Other than that, use a combo of Raven/Wisp/Dwarf (according to the rest of your gear of course, you wouldn't want to go too BM. In Europe, GM duels allow 1 piece of max resi/absorb per element [Hotspurs are BM], so you could use Raven and Dwarf).
Belt: Verdungo is definately the best choice, but Arach is awesome when it comes to BMing. Combined with Cleglaw's, you'll tear apart any melee chars.
So much for the Smiter part then.
edit: you completely forgot to mention charms for your Smiter. I'd recommend 20/11s, 3/20/20s, or 20/3xs (+defense).
As in for a Hammerdin, it's an unusual way of building one, but I would certainly disagree on it's efficiency. 200%FHR is very, very unnecessary for a Paladin. You can already reach 4 frames at 86%. The only reason for why you would want to go 200%FHR would be vs Wind Druid, but with this setup, you will have such low DR%, that it will not change a thing.
Hammer skills: HS is not really needed for PvP imo (it's an option, but certainly not the only one). Get at least lvl 14 with all gear choices for max block% and put rest into resist lightning/resist fire.
Rest of gear: Your build is quite different to any PvP hammer's, but I don't think it's very good. The entire setup.
Charms: 20/11s are the only option (once you have enough FHR% scs). Pcombs are only for PvM. 20 life SCs are way more useful than skillers. Also, +20 life 5%FHR scs don't exist, both are suffixes.