Some Misc. Notes on Vaal Skeletons and the Generals' powers.

Hey all,

For anyone wondering about this gem, some random notes in no particular order;

- The general can be an archer, mage, or melee type.

- The 'mage' general will cast the raging spirit minions.

- The 'archer' general will cast arrow rain.

- The melee general will cast anger.

- It summons in tandem with normal skeletons. I can easily fill a screen with pets, exceeding 50+ minions on screen with a level 16 vaal gem (thus far).

- It can have extremely high burst when coupled with flesh offering. Can melt dominus (normal game version) in a couple seconds, however the skeletons are very weak, like normal skeletons. It's a good burst skill, but rather useless beyond this effect.

- It works with statues skin. The generals will be large female statues, like the ones found in the base game, however the giant melee will still wield a 2h hammer unlike the regular ones.

Cheers,

EDIT* I believe the passives +max skeletons apply to the gem. I cannot accurately test, as I have all the passives ;) A level 16 gem summons me 40-41 skeletons.

You missed the other melee general, the colossal skeleton that hits quite hard.

This vaal skill is beyond broken. Any summoner not using it is a fool.

"

kasub wrote:

This vaal skill is beyond broken. Any summoner not using it is a fool.

I disagree here.

The gem is not that powerful overall, and the general is often instantly taken out, as are the rest of them.

In order to be as powerful as you imply, you would need to provide it the links of a normal summon, and this is really not possible after you consider the sockets already required.

It's more a flashy cool move, that's fun. It's nothing near overpowered. They are still skeletons. A level 16 version, the minions only have approx 1200 hp base.

Summoners are already forced to snap-shot in a sense to have enough sockets. - I have changed my stance on 'snap-shot' in this light, where before I was vehemently opposed to it. Without the ability to snap, I would not have near enough sockets to function, and I'm not over using skills either, the gear design simply does not allow for enough sockets in the case of summoner, and it has nothing to do with being the proverbial 'OP', I'm talking the ability to function;

- zombies
- skeletons
- spectres
- curses
- auras
- totem
- smoke mine
- bone/flesh offering

There aren't even enough gem slots to use supports for anything but minions, just considering these base summoner necessities. I am not talking at all about giving each spectre type different supports etc, even. Strictly the ability to function. You have to snap for this. There are not enough sockets, and this makes linking the vaal gem to anything quite imposing.

Get on my level

"

kasub wrote:

You missed the other melee general, the colossal skeleton that hits quite hard.

This vaal skill is beyond broken. Any summoner not using it is a fool.

It's a good Vaal skill gem, even perhaps the best one, but where's your vid showing how broken it is??? Let's see your vid and how you kill and insta gib Atziri with it.

I think the only one being fooled is yourself. HAH!

"

Baskerville wrote:

"

kasub wrote:

You missed the other melee general, the colossal skeleton that hits quite hard.

This vaal skill is beyond broken. Any summoner not using it is a fool.

It's a good Vaal skill gem, even perhaps the best one, but where's your vid showing how broken it is??? Let's see your vid and how you kill and insta gib Atziri with it.

I think the only one being fooled is yourself. HAH!

I've been instakilling pretty much every mapboss with it. Not sure why you're being so defensive.

"

kasub wrote:

"

Baskerville wrote:

"

kasub wrote:

You missed the other melee general, the colossal skeleton that hits quite hard.

This vaal skill is beyond broken. Any summoner not using it is a fool.

It's a good Vaal skill gem, even perhaps the best one, but where's your vid showing how broken it is??? Let's see your vid and how you kill and insta gib Atziri with it.

I think the only one being fooled is yourself. HAH!

I've been instakilling pretty much every mapboss with it. Not sure why you're being so defensive.

A fair number of bosses are EASY. Prof is in the pudding, show how you insta gib Atzizi-Dominus-Piety, perhaps a number of other hard bosses. Otherwise it's you who are on the "defensive". Hehe

"

kasub wrote:

I've been instakilling pretty much every mapboss with it. Not sure why you're being so defensive.

Are you linking it? I have it on increased duration. I cannot spare another minion dmg or the like, slots are impossible.

I have the gem, it seems more a big pizazz than killer. Hey look! I got 60 pets!
- EDIT* Which admittedly, is pretty cool.

I love this gem and it comes in handy for more than just summoners. Great mob distraction and the burst damage is really nice.

"

gr00grams wrote:

"

kasub wrote:

I've been instakilling pretty much every mapboss with it. Not sure why you're being so defensive.

Are you linking it? I have it on increased duration. I cannot spare another minion dmg or the like, slots are impossible.

I have the gem, it seems more a big pizazz than killer. Hey look! I got 60 pets!
- EDIT* Which admittedly, is pretty cool.

It depends on your build I guess. I'm the kind of summoner that runs several damage auras.

I use multistrike, faster attacks and remote mine. I always use flesh offering after summoning for an even bigger speed boost. I don't need increased duration since anything will die before the summoning time is up.