A list of questions... started play torchlight recently.

[Conan123]

Hi guys,

I'm a big fan of Diablo II so I thought I'd give torchlight a go and..... well I love it

Great game!

Anyhow I have a few questions.... see below.

1. What is the lvl cap for characters (ie how many skills can you max out)?

2. Is there a link or a stickie to stratergy guides or build guides for the different classes?

3. I've been playing the destroyer only since I bought the game a couple of days back (I'm a sucker for pure melee characters) I intend to max out the following skills...

Dual Wielding
Adventurer
Critical Strikes
Treasure Hunter
Martial Weapons Expertise
Block and Parry
Armor Expertise
Pet Mastery
Barter
Slash Attack *

As you can see nearly all passive... I've found slash attack to be devistatingly effective even at lvl 1 I will max it out but not till later.

Is this a good skill selection? Admittidly I'm only at lvl 19 on normal setting.

Also which magical skill would I be best investing in?

From reading the skill description it seems either Frost Shield or Spectral Decay would be the best?

Thanks in advance

[burbs]

Hi there, welcome to the form.

Playing a destroyer is a lot of fun and offers a fair bit of flexibility in builds, especially on normal difficulty.

1. There are 100 experience levels and 55 fame levels, for a total of 155 skill points to be allocated. But I think you begin with one in Slash already, so you get to decide on 154 of them(?). Plus you can find gear with +skills, so you can actually have more.

2. Just search each classes sub forum for build guides, I know for destro there's a good vhhc Spectral Echo build here viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8306, and a Devastate build found here viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5133

3. Skill selection can be very personal, especially in the order of skill choice. On normal difficulty you really can just put them just about anywhere. This game is pretty forgiving in build design and you'll have a hard time creating a character that's unplayable.

Keep in mind that this is just my opinion.

Firstly you are correct, Frost Shield should be on your list. It is the best skill for survivability, and really helps keep you alive. I like to max it as soon as possible.

Dual Wielding - You can read my thoughts here viewtopic.php?f=18&t=10327#p96089, bottom line, unless you're using the normal-attack/Spectral Echo for the majority of your attacks, you really don't need this skill until you've maxed everything else. That isn't to say that you shouldn't carry a weapon in each hand though, Slash and Devastate both benefit from 2 x 1h weapons.

Adventurer - Sure, but not all that important IMO, I'd put points in this after Treasure Hunter. If you start to out-level the floor you're on this game gets way too easy.

Critical Strikes - Great skill

Treasure hunter - Another good skill, if not only for the gold find thogh. The gambler is your best place to get uniques and sets, and Barter is the skill that will reduces the prices in shops and at the gambler, and will convert your loot to more money.

Martial Weapon Expertise - Another solid skill.

Block and Perry - You actually get more block out of Shadow Armor

Armor Expertise - I max this first

Pet Mastery - I've never used it. But it'll help with town travel time and if you want to use summoning spells or let your pet do a lot for the dps, sure why not.

Barter - See above

Slash Attack - You really only need one point in this. That will do just fine until you get Spectral Echo or Devastate.

Titan Stomp - Is another one-point-wonder in the early levels, but since you're almost at SE and Devastate its not really worth it.

Spectral Echo and Devastate are the two most commonly used high dps attacks. Read the linked guides for better advice on these two skills.

Have fun.

[Conan123]

Thanks for the detailed advice

I'll look into the guides you've linked.... I must admit I am finding normal a bit too much of a walk through at the moment I may try a harder setting when I go on torchlight next.

Thanks again

[Roberticus]

Three things I consider when selecting skills: damage output, defense, and debuffs.

Damage output: Devastate or Spectral Echo. Slash isn't great at higher levels. Martial Weapons, Dual Wielding, and Critical Hits all boost your primary damage output skill.

Defense: Frost Shield, Shadow Armor, and Block & Parry.

Debuffs: Spectral Decay and, if playing a Spectral Echo build, Entropic Aura. These will reduce the damage you take and increase the damage you dish out.

[clavarnway]

Just to reiterate: Slash Attack is great when you first start. I used the hell out of it. If you like Slash Attack, though, wait until you get Devastate. It's like Slash Attack on crack.

[Trux]

1. What is the lvl cap for characters (ie how many skills can you max out)?

2. Is there a link or a stickie to stratergy guides or build guides for the different classes?

3. I've been playing the destroyer only since I bought the game a couple of days back (I'm a sucker for pure melee characters) I intend to max out the following skills...
Pet Mastery

My answer is from modder perspective so keep that in mind
1. There is a mod that rises level cap to 999 and fame cap to 200, but some skills are capped at lvl 20 (like adventurer) some you can rise to 35lvl
2. Was answered by other dude
3. [Trolling alert] Pet mastery for pure melee character sucker? Why would you want a pet to get half YOUR fun?

Side note on mods:
Mods you should consider using (if you are not allready using)
TotalRespect mod, lets you buy potions that reset your skills or some (or all) of your stats, in case you want to try other builds without rerolling new character or when you screw up on skill placement
A mod that changes your pet skin, cause the default one gets boring fast right
If you don't like default look of your destroyer, consider a mod that changes his appearance.
For example you can see how my destroyer looks like.

If you have any further questions feel free to reply or PM me.

P.S.

If you start to out-level the floor you're on this game gets way too easy.

Hey man, any advice how to avoid that? Out level the floor that is. My destroyer is lvl 50 and I face enemies lvl 46, but I get so much expierence that I get a level before the monsters level increases

[zebramatt]

Trux, the Shadow Vault Elevator mod will set Vault monsters' level to match the floor level and add a vendor who sells portals to specific floors.

[Trux]

I see, but I don't really like using gameplay altering mods, just kinda going along with it until I feel like going on a higher difficulty.