Conqueror Advice.

[Sans]

Basically I'm somewhere around Act 2, and just looking for advice on where I should be. This is my very first run through the game and I didn't really look up guides or anything for advice. I'm open to all advice and suggestions. Below you'll find my equipment and general statistics.

Obsidian Helm
54 Armor
2% Damage Resistance
7% Lightning Resistance
28% Stun Resistance
2-4 Piercing Retaliation

Bacalus of Carnage
39-54 Dmg
Slow
+19% Damage

Raging Bull
36-45 Dmg
Average
+24% Damage
30% chance of 1-3 Second Stun
10% Pierce Resistance
+6% Strength

The Jackal’s Festering Garb
72 Armor
15% Chance of:
15 Poison Retaliation
18-30 Poison Retaliation over 6 seconds
30-51% Slowed Movement Retaliation for 6 seconds
+15 Dexterity
+95 Health
+22 Defensive Ability
Grants Skill: Plague

Ramses’ Coil
84 Armor
12% Fire Resistance
8% Poison Resistance
+24% Poison Damage
+11 Dexterity
+20 Offensive Ability
+11% Attack Speed

Cleansing Banded Greaves of Travel
76 Armor
+20% Poison Resistance
+10% Movement

Moonclaw
+13% Damage
+13% Energy
+33% Energy Regeneration
Grants Skill: Blade Honing

Robust Ring of Strength
+11 Strength
+14% Strength
+7% Health

Ward Stone
8% chance of 51% Damage Resistance
+7% Pierce Resistance
+7% Cold Resistance
+17 Health
+13 Defensive Ability
+5% Energy Absorption from Attacks

Level: 23
Conqueror
1553 Health
339 Energy
267 Strength (174 Base)
50 Intelligence
158 Dexterity (90 Base)

12% Fire Resistance
12% Cold Resistance
7% Lightning Resistance
28% Poison Resistance
17% Pierce Resistance
28% Stun Resistance
All other are 0

Average Damage: 114
Attack Speed: 99%
DPS: 113

Combined Armor: 286
Block: 0%
Damage Blocked: 0

Thanks.

[Balshar]

Are you going for dual wielding?
There'll be someone that will say don't go dual wielding, and to get a shield! ... Do what ya like heh Getting a shield will help tonnes in survivability, and generally is what a conqueror uses, but hey, each to their own.
I'd advise taking points out of adrenaline,not all though, and try and get the -recharge synergy for it, and the synergy after that (extra damage). You can take 1, maybe 2, points out of Onslaught (more damage is good, more abilities is also good, and at low levels +%dam. has less affect then at high levels).
It's good to build up attack speed (the higher, the better for dualw) so leave all 6 points in Weapon Training, stick 1 point into armour handling.
Have a play with the skills. You will find what works best for you!

[Sans]

Yeah I'm going for the dual wield for now. I find in normal that surviving isn't really much of a problem, but I had planned to switch to a shield (And erase my skill points) later if things got difficult.

I understand the percentage thing about Onslaught, but I figure that the skill will translate well into higher difficulties and be useful later on too. Am I wrong?

For adreniline, how many points would you suggest? I find it as a really useful skill since it procs pretty much every fight, allowing me to go easy on my potions.

Lastly, does the equipment seem decent for this stage? I hate having things that don't benifet my style of play, and when trying to decide between certain amulets/rings I get lost easily.

For example, the Ward Stone I have, I've worn since a very early level. I found it in a chest right after killing Tessus...and I'm not sure if I should switch it out or not.

Thanks for the advice.

[Balshar]

Heh, good stuff. I like the dual wield tree. Onslaught is DEFINATLY a keeper! If you do 100 damage and you get 10% bonus, then you do 110. If you do 1000 damage and you get 10%, then you get 1100. 10 damage, compared to 100 damage.
At low levels go for flat ammounts, rather than percentages. +14 damage would be better then 10% in that particular case...
Well, you get it

Being in Normal, you don't REALLY need resistances, though they are nice for particular attacks, like Typhons flame attack etc.
So you could probably find something that benefits you more, maybe +str, or health... Your choice. While in the trade window with a merchant you can buy items, test them out, and sell it back if you don't like it for the same price you bought them for!
For adrenaline I would only have a couple/few points in it. It's nice, it procs a lot...but if you get the next skill (Resilience) then it will proc more often!

Something like the Jackal's Festering Garb isn't really helping you out too much. You're only really gaining Dex, health, and a little bit of DA. Go shopping around and you could find something with %dam. reduction, more str + dex... And I hope you have some relics around! You can definatly put some relics in your gear to help you out. Heracles' Might would go nicely in your armour, along with Dionysus' Wineskin, for LOTS of health and that other thing it does, in your rings!
Your ring COULD be:
Robust ring of Strength
+11str.
14% str.
7% health
6% damage resistance
45hp
Bonus
90hp
Or something to that degree!

And don't forget to put a Valour of Archiles into your weapon! Makes it faster and what-not...

Oh, and it's good to see ya didn't put any points into Int hehe

[Sans]

Yes, I thought that the most intelligent thing to do was to NOT put points in intelligence.

The Garb is a new addition to my armory. Before I was using some armor that was obviously made for a hunter/ranger type character, because it simply had higher armor than my old armor and a reduction to reqs, as well as some dex. The main thing about it is that I haven't really found anything better yet. The armor in the shop matches it only in raw armor, but rarely do I come across anything with (any) bonuses.

I know about the relics, of course. I stockpile them, it's just that very few have been completed so far. My old stuff had them, but eventually I switched them out for superior and am in the process of getting more.

Also, that thing you mentioned about the shops, I do that very often. How nice of the merchant to let me test drive before I buy!

Here's a bit of hands on advice: In the shop I'm at currently there is a helm with 76 armor, 56% Health Regen and -8% reduction to requirements. Is that better than the obsidian helm? (Although that Obsidian ones look very cool.)

[Balshar]

I would keep the Obsidian helm, it's really good with the Dam. Resistance. Really, the best thing to do is to advance in the game, where you'll get better equipment. If you're doing okay then there's no real need to change your gear until you find something that's an obvious upgrade. +40 armour to an item slot (especially the chest as it get's randomly hit 40% of the time, 20% for head, arms and legs), and if it is similar to the gear you've already got then it's a definate upgrade.
Being melee you're looking for: More health, more armour, chance to dodge attacks/projectiles, DA/OA, Str, +attack speed, and when you feel you're getting your beatdowns then move to more resistance based gear. You'll be able to mix and match, keeping the better offensive gear and swapping the lesser offensive for more defensive/resistance gear.
And that helm with -8% reduction to requirements COULD be good, if you can find a weapon/armour that you can't use because you don't meet the requirements but is better then what you're wearing. In that case you can sacrifice the good helm for an even better 'something else'.
The best way to shop around is to just hover over everything till you see a green item and compare it to what you've got equipped. Not many yellow items will be that great. Go with your gut instinct and you'll generally be alright.
You could definatly get some new greaves.
That item that grants Blade Honing will not work with Maces, so I would change to something a bit faster: This will make Dual Wield proc more often, dealing out more damage. That's the key. The faster attack speed you have, the MORE your skills will proc, as they don't scale with your speed.
Use thems relics, ya can always get more of 'em!

[Sans]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the help. Maybe if you're not busy we could play a game with one of your lower leveled characters?