Using a Dimensional Blade for Spirit ... waste of runes?

[Pendraig]

Greetings,

My mid-level fanatic zealot (clvl 58)stumbled across a rather nice
dimensional blade (15 - 37, very fast attack speed) while clearing the
Crystalline Passage.

Have the necessary runes to create a Spirit (enough for both weapon &
shield, heh). But I'm not too impressed with the base weapon ... low
initial damage, lousy durability.

Opinions please? Should I spend runes to upgrade the weapon and then
create the Spirit? Or would I be better off saving the runes and
hoping for a better quality base weapon?

Thanks!

Pendraig-HKW
Warrior, Holy Knights of Westmarch
http://hkw.diabloii.net/index.php?l=paladin.php

[Shawn M. Winnie]

Post by Pendraig
My mid-level fanatic zealot (clvl 58)stumbled across a rather nice
dimensional blade (15 - 37, very fast attack speed) while clearing the
Crystalline Passage.
Have the necessary runes to create a Spirit (enough for both weapon &
shield, heh). But I'm not too impressed with the base weapon ... low
initial damage, lousy durability.
Opinions please? Should I spend runes to upgrade the weapon and then
create the Spirit? Or would I be better off saving the runes and
hoping for a better quality base weapon?

1. If I recall correctly, one can upgrade rares and uniques, but not
whites or greys.

2. Mods from the Spirit runeword are lousy for melee - I suspect you
will be very frustrated trying to whack things in the head with one. A
Spirit sword (+2 skills, +mana, +FCR) is a caster's budget HotO
substitute.

[~misfit~]

Post by Shawn M. Winnie

Post by Pendraig
My mid-level fanatic zealot (clvl 58)stumbled across a rather nice
dimensional blade (15 - 37, very fast attack speed) while clearing
the Crystalline Passage.
Have the necessary runes to create a Spirit (enough for both weapon &
shield, heh). But I'm not too impressed with the base weapon ... low
initial damage, lousy durability.
Opinions please? Should I spend runes to upgrade the weapon and then
create the Spirit? Or would I be better off saving the runes and
hoping for a better quality base weapon?

1. If I recall correctly, one can upgrade rares and uniques, but not
whites or greys.

That's my understanding also. Annoying when I found a 3 socket ethereal
superior Dimensional Blade a while back the would have made a nice Cresent
Moon if upgraded to Phase Blade.

Post by Shawn M. Winnie
2. Mods from the Spirit runeword are lousy for melee - I suspect you
will be very frustrated trying to whack things in the head with one. A
Spirit sword (+2 skills, +mana, +FCR) is a caster's budget HotO
substitute.

I agree, the only exception being the 7% LL. Spirit in a weapon isn't really
a melee weapon at all, it's more caster-oriented. That said, if you were
playing a Holy Freeze, Holy shock or Holy Fire zealot it *could* be a viable
option for the price of the runes. However, even with 7% LL you're always
going to be limited by the low physical damage meaning you're not leeching
much life.

[Pendraig]

Post by ~misfit~

Post by Shawn M. Winnie

Post by Pendraig
My mid-level fanatic zealot (clvl 58)stumbled across a rather nice
dimensional blade (15 - 37, very fast attack speed) while clearing
the Crystalline Passage.
Have the necessary runes to create a Spirit (enough for both weapon &
shield, heh). But I'm not too impressed with the base weapon ... low
initial damage, lousy durability.
Opinions please? Should I spend runes to upgrade the weapon and then
create the Spirit? Or would I be better off saving the runes and
hoping for a better quality base weapon?

1. If I recall correctly, one can upgrade rares and uniques, but not
whites or greys.

That's my understanding also. Annoying when I found a 3 socket ethereal
superior Dimensional Blade a while back the would have made a nice Cresent
Moon if upgraded to Phase Blade.

Post by Shawn M. Winnie
2. Mods from the Spirit runeword are lousy for melee - I suspect you
will be very frustrated trying to whack things in the head with one. A
Spirit sword (+2 skills, +mana, +FCR) is a caster's budget HotO
substitute.

I agree, the only exception being the 7% LL. Spirit in a weapon isn't really
a melee weapon at all, it's more caster-oriented. That said, if you were
playing a Holy Freeze, Holy shock or Holy Fire zealot it *could* be a viable
option for the price of the runes. However, even with 7% LL you're always
going to be limited by the low physical damage meaning you're not leeching
much life.
--
~misfit~

Had a feeling this was going to be something of a rhetorical question
(heh)!Guess I'll just save the runes for a worthy shield.