Howdy all, I am at my freaking wits end trying to figure this out and figure out wtf Im doing wrong, but ANY help will be MORE than helpfull and appreciated.
I am using the W/Me Smite Solo build here --> http://www.gwpvx.com/Build:W/Me_Hund...ades_UW_Farmer <-- and I have the same armor setup, runes etc etc.
My first problem, which might be a stupid one on my part, is that the guy in the vid at the bottom has ~536hp (its fuzzy, so thats my best guess) and my char has 470. Ive counted it up, and if i didnt use a major strength (-35hp) and a major sword (-35hp) rune, I would be at 540hp, plus, I have a minor vigor (30hp) instead of sup vigor bc im broke.
TL;DR -- Why do I have ~70 LESS hp than the guy in the vid
Second problem, and the main one that is driving me NUTS!!!!!!
After I do the "Clear the Chamber" quest and make my way to smite area, I aggro the first group of smites, which is 3-5 and get set up in the "safe spot" and follow exactly as in the video, except in the video, he 2-3 shot kills all the smites, where as when I do it, I lose my energy a lot faster than the video and I end up dieing EVERY SINGLE TIME!!!
I have been trying to get past that first group of smites for 2 days, about 10 different times.
Anyways, Im not sure if Im just a complete idiot, or if the build has 0 validity anymore for update reasons or whatever, but I am at a complete loss and am just wasting UW scrolls for 9 graspings more or less.
W/Me UW doesnt work
Dayquil
Naughty Nurse
Did you get the weapons he mentions in his PvX page? If not, the shield mod is 30 hp less. He also might have a few runes of vitae giving +20. Then you have a minor instead of superior, also 20 health. thats a total of 70 Hpo right there.
Damage reduction is key here as theres no self heals. the -3 in stance is vital, as is the superior absorption. -6 damage from that many hits is the difference between succes and failing, more then the health part.
Regarding energy, Bonettis defense helps you gain energy very fast, dont forget to cast that.
Make sure to use sympathetic visage before starting to attack, as it drains the energy from the smites, making them unable to cast their elite or any form of self heal.
Hope that helps
Damage reduction is key here as theres no self heals. the -3 in stance is vital, as is the superior absorption. -6 damage from that many hits is the difference between succes and failing, more then the health part.
Regarding energy, Bonettis defense helps you gain energy very fast, dont forget to cast that.
Make sure to use sympathetic visage before starting to attack, as it drains the energy from the smites, making them unable to cast their elite or any form of self heal.
Hope that helps
ap0c
use a zealous mod for the smites
Dayquil
Yeah, I have a weapon/shield setup JUST for this build, its a
Furious Greater Sage Blade of Shelter
15-22 q12
inscr: 15^50
double adren gain (10%)
+7ar vs physical
Destroyer Strength Shield of Fortitude
16 q9
HP +30
inscr: -2 in stance
Runes I have: Knights(5) and (from head to toe)major sword, sup abs, maj strength, attune(Just changed to vit), minor vigor. According to his setup, he has one slot open for a vit, which makes 480hp + missing 20 on sup vig would be 500max? Doesnt add up.
As far as Bonetti's, I use it just about every time it's up and I need to re-apply visage/resist.
From the video, after I pull the smites, I cast resist which usually uses all my energy, which MIGHT be the problem lol. Im going to go try visage THEN resist, see if that helps out any.
/EDIT
After the last suggestion of using my zealous sword for smites + me switching out attune for a vitae, I can actually kill 2 groups of smites at once, granted its a little hairy, but with practice, it will come! Thank you for the help, all that is needed now is practice practice practice....oh, and not getting body blocked and rubber-banded at the same time.....happens to much
Furious Greater Sage Blade of Shelter
15-22 q12
inscr: 15^50
double adren gain (10%)
+7ar vs physical
Destroyer Strength Shield of Fortitude
16 q9
HP +30
inscr: -2 in stance
Runes I have: Knights(5) and (from head to toe)major sword, sup abs, maj strength, attune(Just changed to vit), minor vigor. According to his setup, he has one slot open for a vit, which makes 480hp + missing 20 on sup vig would be 500max? Doesnt add up.
As far as Bonetti's, I use it just about every time it's up and I need to re-apply visage/resist.
From the video, after I pull the smites, I cast resist which usually uses all my energy, which MIGHT be the problem lol. Im going to go try visage THEN resist, see if that helps out any.
/EDIT
After the last suggestion of using my zealous sword for smites + me switching out attune for a vitae, I can actually kill 2 groups of smites at once, granted its a little hairy, but with practice, it will come! Thank you for the help, all that is needed now is practice practice practice....oh, and not getting body blocked and rubber-banded at the same time.....happens to much
Lord Mip
Always make sure you don't attack immediately. Rather, cast Sympathetic Visage, let the smites attack you for 4-5 seconds, then engage. If you attack earlier, they will cast Shield of Judgement and you're pretty screwed.
Venganza
Can I suggest you take a hero monk with you and flag off-map (greyed out), so if you die you can get a res (and it wont interfere with solo drop rare), that way you wont waste so many scrolls and can practice to your heart's content if you take some DP removal.
Krill
The more smites you are able to agro the faster they die because 100b and SV are compounded with more enemies; i.e. more damage and faster energy drain. The most annoying groups with this build are 3 smites because their energy won't be drained fast enough from SV to prevent SoJ from going up sometimes. If it does just attack through it with a small group and Lion's should keep you up if it's just 1 SoJ.
After you run to smites here's what you do:
If you have plenty of health just run past the first skely, then hit physical resistance with the first group of smites in tow. Drag them into the next group(s) of smites and wait for them all to ball on you before casting SV. With resistance up, knights armor, endurance handle and sup absorption you should take almost no damage from smites that are auto attacking you. It also helps to use a spear to build adrenaline while towing / balling smites so you can immediately use whirlwind, otherwise just auto attack with FGJ up then kill them. Large groups only take 2-3 swipes.
The hard part about this build is memorizing the coldfire patrols and safe spots, then getting the time down so it actually pays out. I've done it quite a few times and 8 minutes is really about the best you can do with a full run depending on how the west smites spawn.
After you run to smites here's what you do:
If you have plenty of health just run past the first skely, then hit physical resistance with the first group of smites in tow. Drag them into the next group(s) of smites and wait for them all to ball on you before casting SV. With resistance up, knights armor, endurance handle and sup absorption you should take almost no damage from smites that are auto attacking you. It also helps to use a spear to build adrenaline while towing / balling smites so you can immediately use whirlwind, otherwise just auto attack with FGJ up then kill them. Large groups only take 2-3 swipes.
The hard part about this build is memorizing the coldfire patrols and safe spots, then getting the time down so it actually pays out. I've done it quite a few times and 8 minutes is really about the best you can do with a full run depending on how the west smites spawn.
Plutoman
santotakahashi
I have been doing this farm for the past 4 months, and have gotten pretty good at it, so let me see if i can help.. 
1. HP problems
adding a rune of vitae on one of your extra spots should help and a sword + shield of fortitude will give you some extra HP.
However, you shouldn't be too worried about your HP, as the build focuses primarily on damage reduction, rather than tons of HP.
2. Killing smites
always cast physical resistance BEFORE you attack them. after you have pulled them, allow them to begin to attack you and use the visage skill, but DO NOT ATTACK, for they will use shield of judgment, causing you to die quickly. After the visage skill has been up for a few secs and the smites have lost tons of energy, begin to attack. You can kill them very quickly if there are 4+ groups and you use the build correctly. Hope i helped.
1. HP problems
adding a rune of vitae on one of your extra spots should help and a sword + shield of fortitude will give you some extra HP.
However, you shouldn't be too worried about your HP, as the build focuses primarily on damage reduction, rather than tons of HP.
2. Killing smites
always cast physical resistance BEFORE you attack them. after you have pulled them, allow them to begin to attack you and use the visage skill, but DO NOT ATTACK, for they will use shield of judgment, causing you to die quickly. After the visage skill has been up for a few secs and the smites have lost tons of energy, begin to attack. You can kill them very quickly if there are 4+ groups and you use the build correctly. Hope i helped.