Highly experimental build: Elder Vampire

If you want to run RF, you probably shouldn't use redbeaks.

1. RF provides a spell damage buff. It provides more spell damage. If your spell damage was zero to begin with it wouldn't provide additional bonus. Redbeak provides 100% increased damage which isn't spell damage I think and so can't benefit from RF's buff, plus there are wands out there that can get >100% increased spell damage anyway so redbeak is unnecc.

2. Next, I'm not sure if redbeak's increased damage would cause RF to burn you for more damage as well.

"

Falcord wrote:

Thanks! That looks pretty cool. I didn't think of the Templar route. However, why increased Fire damage?

Anyway, my issue is not so much keeping ES stable, but rather not killing myself through regular spellcasting. I use Blood Magic and I simply don't have any HP, which means I'm very, very likely to just murder myself. No matter how much I increase my ES gain, blood magic straight bypasses it, I could try and keep it up through surgeon health potions, but that sounds like an awful lot of micromanagement. So far pure HP leech seems to be my only option.

I usually build RF to make use of it's burning damage, which +fire supports. I had forgotten it was a low hp high es build. So take the +fire points out and put them in the associated + cold trees. I also made an edit talking about blood magic.

EDIT:

I don't think redbeaks will cause you to burn for more. As I recall the only things that effect RF damage are fire resist, +burning nodes, or higher HP. The other uniques that give + %hp regen might be good, especially the ones that give it when on low life.

"

Invalesco wrote:

If you want to run RF, you probably shouldn't use redbeaks.

1. RF provides a spell damage buff. It provides more spell damage. If your spell damage was zero to begin with it wouldn't provide additional bonus. Redbeak provides 100% increased damage which isn't spell damage I think and so can't benefit from RF's buff, plus there are wands out there that can get >100% increased spell damage anyway so redbeak is unnecc.

2. Next, I'm not sure if redbeak's increased damage would cause RF to burn you for more damage as well.

About point 1, you're right if it works like you suspect. however I assumed it works in regular "increased". Can someone confirm this?

About point 2 you got me too. It is "burn" damage which works in weird ways. I would need confirmation in this.

"

Invalesco wrote:

If you want to run RF, you probably shouldn't use redbeaks.

1. RF provides a spell damage buff. It provides more spell damage. If your spell damage was zero to begin with it wouldn't provide additional bonus. Redbeak provides 100% increased damage which isn't spell damage I think and so can't benefit from RF's buff, plus there are wands out there that can get >100% increased spell damage anyway so redbeak is unnecc.

2. Next, I'm not sure if redbeak's increased damage would cause RF to burn you for more damage as well.

Redbeak's increased damage applies to everything, including spells. But you're right that perfect wand rolls can outdamage Redbeak. I don't think RF damage gets increased, but I'm also not entirely sure, RF is a weird spell that way.

Further refined build. I like the block tree by the templar, and the dip into the mara tree is also good. You could also easily switch this build between mara, templar, and witch and not lose a lot.

"

Saffell wrote:

Spoiler

http://www.pathofexile.com/passive-skill-tree/AAAAAgUBBVuLjOFz7SBG14M4nYDdBX1TYG05ihBpMJeCmylPTdiMdny7JIs9D8T2J-3z3RRNBLMCcYV9FkBmnnFNms9DY7cxWPWdxPrS98GnCNgkNsUfAgQHl5VSUz1fTLMtH20ZwfPxdmsXIvQc3Ek6f8aio8HF7BjDbY_6e9c74eL3pyvb50cGX2qLervWEVBPvx3ZQ1Rdxt3zqZVRYBoygFZwfU99nqGvm448F1QigZ48gW8dFI9GGS7Uj7nd8i8=

Further refined build. I like the block tree by the templar, and the dip into the mara tree is also good. You could also easily switch this build between mara, templar, and witch and not lose a lot.

The problem with this build is that I still don't see how it doesn't kill itself because of Blood Magic.

Granted, I could do what you said and go with a BM gem for the aura and use mana for everything else (which I think is your intention here) but that would be something else entirely. A cool build, but I'd really like to save the concept of using life for spellcasting and sustaining through leech, so that BM auras can be much more efficient.

Very interesting concept. Look forward to videos and how you're going to go about offsetting the Chaos damage, especially for maps.

Which brings about the thought. You can completely focus on +Chaos Resistance and +Life and +Regen on rings, boots, gloves and belt. Mmm..That would still give you a reasonable and sizeable lifepool.

I daresay it would be wise to drop some damage nodes in favour of +Life% nodes so that even at "Low Life" its possible to maintain a good buffer:

136% increased maximum Life
+20 to maximum Life

And would solve the Chaos problem to some extent. Actually, just need to survive Poison Arrow. Most other Chaos attacks are easy to dodge.

There is one big problem with your build. Chaos damage. It ignores energy shield, so if your actual life is very low to avoid stupid amount of self burning from RF, then chaos mobs will one shot you. 75% chaos resist is a must. And that is kinda difficult to achieve.

I also run a templar caster using blood magic with leech and regen for survivability, but it's all about stacking life instead of running high es low life. This build is designed to eventually run on low life + stable RF + BM. However, he's at a wall right now to due lack of the frame.

Thanks for the feedback guys!

Here's an attempt at the melee version of this concept. As Onin suggested it would use Double Strike supported by Added Lightning Damage (as well as the chaos damage from covenant), Wrath Aura, lightning penetration, life leech and LGOH:

Melee Vampire

Of course there would be no Righteous Fire or Pain Attunement here (no spells anymore) : The idea is to have efficient auras, high damage output and leeching both life and ES to keep the shield high.