Archer/Hunter Boltslinger lv 67 choice

EDIT - meant to be a question to some degree. If I could make it a poll, I would. The question is whether or not others agree with my thoughts of choosing more power over more hp.

I am actually at 65 now, but have everything for either of the builds I think are most promising for lv 67. It's a matter of total hp, effective hp and damage. It's the hit harder or take more hits quandary.

Anyway, I lean toward hitting harder:
https://hppeng-wynn.github.io/build...120i1310000M10002410078G1007ES0zz++++-Vp+eFjK
WynnBuilder build:
> Spectre
> Millennium
> Kratke
> Bad Wolf
> Mirror
> Marble
> Remikas' Authority
> Electric Torc
> Spectral Slingshot []

Here is more hp:
https://hppeng-wynn.github.io/build...120M1310000M10002410008G1007ES0zz++++-Vp+eFjK
WynnBuilder build:
> Call of the Void
> Millennium
> Kelight's Shield
> Bad Wolf
> Mirror
> Marble
> Remikas' Authority
> Electric Torc
> Spectral Slingshot []

Both are somewhat different than what I have now at 65. Switching bows, to Spectral Slingshot, opens up more possibilities due to it not having the high intelligence minimum that Clairvoyance does. Anyway, current at 65.
https://hppeng-wynn.github.io/build...11000EG10072A1005eG10002S10005Azz++++-Vp+ehb2
WynnBuilder build:
> Call of the Void
> Millennium
> Kratke
> Bad Wolf
> Mirror
> Marble
> Great Brace
> Electric Torc
> Clairvoyance [t4t4]

I am very dependent on Guardian Angel to limit contact if I get into a small group. I always notice that when I progress to higher level mobs, I get more contact. Archers don't handle contact well. The simple formula is that if they are coming straight for me at walking speed, I can't count on angel hitting them more than twice. Arrow Bomb ideally will take out ranged weapon mobs in one shot. And of course arrow storm is the boss beater and crowd control spell.

These tradeoffs are hard to figure out without some trial and error. I had a higher hp current build that didn't handle melee as well. Killings mobs too slowly is a recipe for disaster.

 

It completely depends on your playstyle and preference. Some people like more damage at the cost of ehp, others like tanky builds.

I personally perfer builds with ehp more on the high side and generous life sustain to make up for my skill issue. I like not dying. Sure I enjoy a good challenge, but I also don't want to be completely swept off my feet.

I don't agree with your choice but also don't . . . disagree (I mean, considering I have a different choice of playstyle it could be seen as disagreeing, but I understand yours and don't oppose it or anything). Like, going for more damage is your playstyle and that's that. I can see why you may like that choice and accept it.

 

ehp is effective rather than total, right? I have really only started paying attention to the details in the last few levels and still not all that competent. Effective hp goes in the other direction, except the (no agil) number aligns with total. But the one with the higher total hp regens much faster; if I am reading the numbers right, it's more than double the rate. My current build has a lower number similar to the next one I am considering. Sometimes I run out of healing potion and if I take much damage I have to bolt for a town, farm or other attended gathering spot. Also running to a "no reason to climb" hillside and casting escape at my feet and pressing S on the way up (making sure there is a reachable place to land behind me) twice will usually put me where all the mobs ignore me. Twiddle my thumbs a minute or so and I am back to where I am comfortable continuing on playing a little more conservative. I also like not dying, but when I have the soul points (current max is 14), I am very willing to test my limits unless I am in a quest and would lose a lot of hard won progress.

 

Some poking around with the lv 65 build in next level mob territory is pushing me toward adjusting play style, so I may very well flip flop. Made 67 but haven't really tested yet. But the amount of damage I was taking with the 65 build isn't something an incremental change is going to fix.

 

Turns out the combat and resilience going with the aggressive build works out well. I even ended up backing off hp a little further to use the Photon instead of the Mirror. The walk speed and mana regen boosts are a very big deal; absolutely worth the 175 hp drop. Especially mana regen boost.

https://hppeng-wynn.github.io/build...120i1310000M1002k410078G1007ES0zz++++-Vp+eFjK
WynnBuilder build:
> Spectre
> Millennium
> Kratke
> Bad Wolf
> Photon
> Marble
> Remikas' Authority
> Electric Torc
> Spectral Slingshot []