How do you plan your builds?

I generally start with an offensive skill, or perhaps item/mechanic. Then I match it with a general defense system (ES/life/AR/EV/Block/Regen/Leech...) and offensive scaling (damage nodes/crit/items/buffs...). Then I make the passive tree for around 70-80, unless there's something special that requires higher.

Then I run all the numbers, starting with damage. If it doesn't have at least 10k AoE dps (effectively, some things are more AoE than others), and preferably significantly more, I start over. If the damage seems reasonable, I figure out whether the mana is supportable, how strong the defense is (including how much trouble reflect will cause), and how much setup it needs to kill stuff. The last being whether it's something simple and direct like fp, or you have to do a bunch of stuff first like discharge.

If it looks like it will kill everything fast enough and have enough defense, then it's on to actual testing :)

What a strange question: take as many life nodes as I can in additional to required keystones.

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Pyrokar wrote:

I let my cat play with my keyboard and mouse, then i get a summary of the build from a random site and if it has over 200% hp i just try it. If not i hit the cat with my sandals until she thinks of a better build.

This is how I plan my builds. Except I don't use it unless it requires FGDHJPSHSDBIUG unique.

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Nephalim wrote:

What a strange question: take as many life nodes as I can in additional to required keystones.

I've noticed a disturbingly low amount of priority for life in global chat. I almost thought GGG actually made armour viable.

Ere

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benkeia wrote:

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DorenAlexander wrote:

The first and only time I planned a build was when I got my Face Breakers.

Beyond that I wing it.

Planning is for financial advice not video games.

Interesting opinion i guess our time is worth less than our money so spend money wisely and just waste your time farming new gear and buying more regret orbs. I think this works for casual players but if you play 2 hours+ a day, i would not recommend it.

I have never used a regret orb. And until the challenges i never used the respec points. I don't burn passives until i have 5-8 unused. Then decide where my toon feels weak, spend appropriately. It works well enough to have a couple of 70+.

I'm using the respec points just to get nearby keystones. Some of my toons are getting into their 40's with no life or resist nodes living solely on whatever keystones i'm chasing. Then i only respec the nodes that hinder that toons abilities. Then trash them when they don't level at a comfortable pace.

I use the unofficial offline skilltree planner.

Usually I think of some skill (possibly with a specific support combo) and items and choose my class. When I already have a character I plan the full build including the kinds of defenses and offenses I have.

Mostly I play with a keyboard and a mouse, then I let someone get a summary of the build from a random site. Sometimes that's just it and sometimes some idiot hits me with a sandal.
I still don't know why.

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Gorgarnar wrote:

Mostly I play with a keyboard and a mouse, then I let someone get a summary of the build from a random site. Sometimes that's just it and sometimes some idiot hits me with a sandal.
I still don't know why.

Thanks, you made my day. :D

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Udja wrote:

Plan my builds?? What's dat? LOL! I just pick witch, go "hmmm... she needs a bow and some undead friends" then pick all the appropriate fun stuff from the passive tree; no fuss no muss...

Even from CB, never "planned" anything out. Just made something that looked like fun to do and then pick the most appropriate passives that go with what i'm doing. And if i don't like it, i just kill it and make another.

and this is why you dont have any char above 80.
try planning your build and you dont hit a wall latr on.

I usually pick a weapon/general build then make a quick 60-80 point plan on the tree and go from there.

Gems are usually improv as I go.