ModsbyLaz

[HolyAvatar]

I would like to make a str based stormblast barb.
His skill points should be like this:
http://www.authmann.de/d2/mxl/skillpointplanner/?v=1A9&class=3&bonus=11111111111111110&skills=1_1_4_10_15_0_0_0_0_0_1_1_1_1_1_1_1_1_1_1_25_6_1_15_1_0_14_0_14_14_&name=Manliness

My main problem is his gear, I plan to use use the following items:
-Head: Bulkhato's voice
-Weapon: Wolfsangel runeword on sacred Labrys as the SU weapons seem to suck unless I missed something
-Armor : Arreat's Heart SU platemail or Hratli's craft for dmg reduce %
-Belt: Asteroid belt su plated belt or Truce runeword
-Boots: Akarat's Trek / Nephilim / Megalith
-Rings: No idea, I don't have SotNK maybe Mo'd empyrean bands, need advice
-Amulet: I guess klaatu would be good but I don't have so advice?

This is my 1st time playing a barb be gentle.

Ultranoobish question:
I have always assumed that you could only put jewels and one rune in a runeword is it true (i.e can you put many runes and the last one would make the rw)?
If it is true I guess I shouldn't use that many runewords with runemaster right?

Is the defense bonus from runemaster+ spirit guide overkill?

Thanks in advance for your advice/answers.

[stardragon12-1-8-27-57-52]

Take some points out of wolf companion and put them into stances to increase damage, either lion or bear, you don't need too many wolves to keep spirit guide.
Get shamans path from a charm to save 5 points.
Thundergod only needs one point.

Gloves: Creepy craft for strength.
Amulet: Death ward.

Only a few runewords so you get more runes for runemaster. Spirit guide is good if you don't use bear.

[HolyAvatar]

Actually my main problem is the low dmg reduce. Will it be ok?

I will use wolf stance for cb to take advantage of stormblat's multihit.

Stormblast doesn't leech, what kind of jewels do i need on weapon something like -3% lighting resist 1% AA?

How much strengh and strengh% can i get on creepy crafted gloves?

This is the 1st time it's been that hard to figure what gear to use on a char. No avoid/block, low reduce and no leech... Wonder how it will work.

Maybe bear stance is better so I won't have to worry about the reduce.

Can someone confirm that wolves' curse works with stormblast?

Didn't want to go the usual thunderbanes su war scepter+tojara's champion su guilded shield dex build but I guess that is hard to avoid...

[stardragon12-1-8-27-57-52]

Up to 20% strength on creepy craft after blessing, don't know about flat.

Wolf curse won't work with stormblast.

With wolfsangel the earthquake procs will provide a good source of leech so go for leech jewels.

I didn't notice that you had wolf stance but iirc the CB won't activate because of the 100% conversion(need confirmation).

[HolyAvatar]

Ah didn't notice that Wolfsangel has 10% avoid wich is quite nice.

I guess 15 points in wolves are enaugh then.

I would love to use Lion stance but instant death, no thanks.

Hope CB works because bear stance + runemaster+ spirit guide would be too much def I think.

[pneuma]

Does Stormblast get +life/mana on striking? I know it doesn't carry doom/ttad and has no physical component, so I doubt it. If so, then SU Gilded Shield is pretty much full life bulb all the time and more or less mandatory.

For SU 2handers, did you miss Area Effect Attack on the SU Valaska (along with 30cb and +50aa)? Wolfsangel is best of course, but Dreadarc is very viable endgame.

Rings: 2xEmpyreanBand with -15% light resist and hammers, maybe UMOs if you have some.

Armor overall looks melee-char standard, so gg.

EDIT: Oh yes, Stormblast carries CB. It absolutely wrecks big bosses with 100cb, which is why I'm not sure if it's a spell or not.

[aerslife]

i would put no more than 10 points in wolfs, because the're really only good because of the aura. Max spirit guide instead, add 10 points in wolf companion, and 5 in mountain king.

I'm starting to believe 5 points is enough in wolves... but i think 10 is a good choice. More is just a waste, because the TCD is amazing, and the extra damage from aura is unbelievable.