Question about PoE Planner

[Paul101]

In terms of usefullness, is PoEplanner.com an accurate representation of the skill tree and the points that you'll actually earn throughout the game? Also, was wondering if anyone would mind giving critiques on this 2h-duelist build I'm building towards using the above website.

http://poeplanner.com/AAQAAPsEAAB7dPEppSFgQKBeE4ZguR0V7MqQhNlHfr02qZSHaqkneHqE79rBU7tEniFVLPuKIicg3D0HdcCm6wk5DgmWl3nkUVBH7w4UIF8_8awpLny4Gj72SIzPPfyCB_JBNugB5xv6Jd-2LKQZWK-pbsAabzt4DbXybqpKyJ5XfuB2f4TEe4yZK72BpzCfyzWS2L3zb0nVCbuKr5ARguS-vPTGRQo11jGee8NXDdIh8i-ezfObaGX3MnzZcqmJ2GhY15ZVqZe0agHE9sauDF8Y11Ol_TCIjxrkaqXZYa2Nz34aVWEhZU2-p3as6hg8LYNfLlPTb0a3WGO_1cbYAAAAAAA=

Is the lack of weapon type specialization harmful, or is it acceptable to not choose between a single class of 2h weapons suchs as axe, sword, or mace? Any advice is appreciated.

[The_Driver]

Originally posted by Paul101:

In terms of usefullness, is PoEplanner.com an accurate representation of the skill tree

Yes.

Originally posted by Paul101:

and the points that you'll actually earn throughout the game?

Not really. Or maybe "it's misleading" might be a better answer. Do not plan for level 100 and all the theoretical possible passive points to get. Neither is it likely that you get to 100 (90 is hard enough for your first self-planned build), nor is it likely you'll really succeed on a life based build without oaks life on normal instead of a passive point and possibly an endurance charge from merciless. And should you reach level 100, you would probably be able to respec for less than 2ex, and at that point, you'd pay half a dozen of ex (or more) for a weapon upgrade, so why bother to optimize for that before that point, when you can optimize the way to 100?

Plan for level 80 (max-23 points) with some nice bonuses to level 90 (max-13). For your first build, your build should probably be feature complete at level 65ish.

Originally posted by Paul101:

Is the lack of weapon type specialization harmful, or is it acceptable to not choose between a single class of 2h weapons suchs as axe, sword, or mace?

Well, the optimum would probably involve a choice to specialize (and change specialization should you change your weapon type thereafter), but you don't need to early on (dunno, say <85). You know you can respec right? There's like 20something respec points from sidequests alone that shouldn't take more than a few minutes to do at the levels you'd need them... and after those there's always orbs of regret...

[FearJudge]

I'm not much of a build guru but about poeplanner itself:
It's a useful tool, much like a lot of offline skiltree planners it's main feature (to me at least) is to be able to see how much damage, life etc. you really get from the tree.
However, you do need some knowledge of the game in order to do so.

From your tree:
-> 123/123 points is basically not going to happen, especially if your starting out. This would require you to get to level 100 and ignore all 3 bonuses from the bandits (act 2). My builds generally aim for ~90 points which is more reasonable unless your willing to buckle down and play aprox. 24/7. (90 pts. is a personal choice, you can plan higher when you know your builds actually work)

-> You have no ascendancy, Ascendancy is a feature that allows you to gain pretty powerful, sometimes build defining nodes outside of the normal tree progression. You can gain 2 points from each labyrinth completion: normal, cruel, merciless and map (endgame). Starting out, I recommend planning around 4 points, as those are pretty much guaranteed to get no matter the skill level. (might want to overlevel before attempting) 6 points is doable, but usually requires a bit of knowledge or at least the ability to get to mapping and overlevel a bit. 8 is also doable but is generally not worth the hassle for most builds (at least in my experience).

-> You generally don't want elemental resistances from the tree. In general, if you can't get capped (75% effective) fire, cold and lightning resistances from your gear from cruel onward, your gear is not good enough. Patching this from the tree is almost never the answer.

-> Why do you have so many jewel sockets? Is there a reason for this? Especially the ones you have to travel more than 2 nodes to seem like waste if you don't have a plan for them. If you do then it might be ok, otherwise I'd advise cutting all that require more than 2 node travel and the one below duelist's start, the life is way better there imho.

Generic 2h weapon (even though somewhat unpopular of a weapon type) is acceptable , the more specific is usually slightly better than the generic nodes but either will do.

[HELDER]

Hello there, for your first build may i recomend u a earthquake gem skill build, its easy and fun and will make u "enter" in the game better:
Earthquake - Less Duration - Melee Physical - Faster Attacks with a 4 link
Earthquake - Less Duration - Melee Physical - Faster Attacks - Added fire with a 5 link
Earthquake - Less Duration - Melee Physical - Faster Attacks - Added fire - Weapon Elemental Damage with a 6 link

For mobility a very standard Leap slam setup is used
Leap Slam - Faster Attacks -Blood Magic

For Defenses the following Cast when Damage Taken setup is used:
Cast when Damage Taken - Immortal Call - Increased Duration - Molten Shell

For single target damage u can use Ancestral Warchief totem with the following setup:
Ancestral Warchief - Concentrated Effect - Melee Physical Damage - Faster Attacks with a 4 link should do the trick.

Some similar tree: with more life and life regen (u will need it) with less armor but that u can pick up from gear just like elemental resistences:
http://poeplanner.com/AAQAAPk0CwB6QKBeE7kdFezKkITZR369NqmUh2qpJ3h6hO_awSFVLPuKIicg3D0HdcCmmSu9gWVNvqcuU9NvdO0FLXrvAdx346lueWjBBF8_FCDvDlBH5FFnm64-xq4LYa9saPLwH6IABLMaPny4KS7yL5d5CZY5DusJhVLZYa2Nz352rOoY9zJ82XKprKpZ8xo4kFUnL_jrFHHZfIIHDjw6UryfGJH8SxRNAeenMJ_LDF8cp1Ol_TCIjxrkaqXAGngNtfI1kti9_gryQcBmPAXvfCFgdPEppfZIjM89_FhjxtjyRTrhpldN4_6P7FyElIlxe9SqzWvUYhcslAAADQAAAgAH0AEB9AEBAgAAAA==

[Paul101]

Thank you all for your advice, but some of it has raised new questions. I don't entirely understand the use of jewels, I just saw them as useful buffs that I could flexibly choose and wanted to have as many open as reasonably possible, is being at 7 unfeasible without any plan? And about the ability to respec, is it really that easy to refund your points once you reach the end of the game, part way through act 2 on 2 different characters and I've only found 1 orb of regret.

Originally posted by The_Driver:

And should you reach level 100, you would probably be able to respec for less than 2ex, and at that point, you'd pay half a dozen of ex (or more) for a weapon upgrade

What form of currency is an ex?

[OhhPaigey]

Originally posted by Paul101:

Thank you all for your advice, but some of it has raised new questions. I don't entirely understand the use of jewels, I just saw them as useful buffs that I could flexibly choose and wanted to have as many open as reasonably possible, is being at 7 unfeasible without any plan? And about the ability to respec, is it really that easy to refund your points once you reach the end of the game, part way through act 2 on 2 different characters and I've only found 1 orb of regret.

Originally posted by The_Driver:

And should you reach level 100, you would probably be able to respec for less than 2ex, and at that point, you'd pay half a dozen of ex (or more) for a weapon upgrade

What form of currency is an ex?

While leveling I don't take Jewel sockets. They are more useful around mid 70's or 80's. Generally by then you will have most of your important nodes.

You get a couple free refunds from the quests. It depends what level you decide to respec at, but it shouldn't cost a whole lot.

1 Exalted Orb is around 55~ chaos orbs, which is around 55 Regrets (at least on breach SC)