Advice for melee sorc?

Long time Diablo 2/3/PoE/etc vet, looking for a new challenge. Leveled a bowzon to 90 and decided I wanted to try something else. Decided to restart on realm as a solo self found melee sorc. I've read the short question thread, game guide, tips etc., currently farming for some honorifics to tank up a bit in a2. Just looking for any general advice for leveling as a melee sorc, as I haven't found any decent guides for it. Any input is appreciated.

first you have to choose your path between a full physical damage/elemental proc machine/a mix between those 2 . Each 3 options require different gear/skillplan . what do you have in mind ?

There was someone in a similar position recently, check the replies in the below thread for some general/early endgame tips

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2132

Thanks for the very fast replies.

@ChuckNoRis I think I was leaning more towards the proc machine. Seems like a more exciting/entertaining experience.

@suchbalance Thanks, reading through that thread now.

Running a Melee Sorc too, and while there are certainly more knowledgeable people here than I, this was/is the setup that allowed me to complete the main storyline and all Ubers up to and including "Hard" (where I am currently) as melee (except D-Baal, b/c it was just taking too long, so I respecced to caster). It's just what worked/is working for me, from my experience:

Early Game:
Stats:
STR: Enough to wear gear. (MO-ing jewellery w/+Str orbs took care of STR needs for me, though)
DEX: Everything else.
VIT: None
NRG: None

Skills:
Ice/Lightning kept me alive longer than any other combo through lvl 120.
Points into Familiar, in increments of 4, but no more than 20
Max Warp Armor, Snow Queen, Baneblade (when it becomes available)
20 points Moonstrike
1 point everything else
Rest into either Moonstrike or Frigid Sphere (for +life to Ice Elementals)

Gear:
TU Warp Blade (MO'd w/%ED, +LoSiM, and socketed w/Ith/Jah runes)
TU Helm, TU Heavy Belt, TU Kite Shield (MO'd w/%ED, then %TCD)
Honorific gloves+boots (MO'd w/+resist orbs, +STR orbs, some faster run/walk orbs, and minion life/resist orbs)
Armor socket fillers: Perfect Amber, Bloodstone, Onyx, Turquoise.

Playstyle:
Melee Sorc=/=tank.

I played a lot of hit-and-run games w/enemy mobs, letting Ice Elementals occupy the front line, while Sorc attacked the flanks w/Bladestorm, and an Act 1 Rogue merc--equipped w/Shockwave bow and TU chainmail chest--picked off enemies from a distance. Melee Sorc really seems to suffer from mana problems, but %Base Dex to NRG on Nova Charge really helps.

Mid/Late Game:
Stats:
Same as Early Game, aim for full DEX, w/STR needs met by gear

Skills:
Same as Early Game

Gear:
Gehenna (Xar) RW in Sacred Warp Blade
Erawan (Nih) RW in highest grade Sacred sorc armor you can find
Cauldron (Yul) RW in highest grade Dex helm you can find (e.g. Circlet, Tiara, etc.)
Wall of Fire (On) RW in Sacred Bone/Spiked shield
Truce (Vith) RW in Sash, or in Sacred Sash if you can meet the STR requirement
Rare gloves w/+1 Sorc Skills and CTC Stormblast (so nice)
Keep Honorific Boots, or dex-craft (Abandoned Shrine) boots and MO w/+resistances

Playstyle:
Same as Early Game

My Current Setup:
Stats:
STR: Enough for gear (trying out some different SU items)
DEX: Everything else
VIT: None
NRG: None

Skills:
Currently using Fire/Lightning as my main build, while switching to Fire/Ice occasionally for some Ubers (e.g. Judgement Day
Max Living Flame, Warp Armor, Baneblade
20 points Familiar, Moonstrike
10+ points Firedance
1 point everything else, w/spare points to Firedance

Gear:
Same as Mid/Late game (b/c I can't find better gear qq), except trying Baron Sludge light gauntlets.
Using +4 Skills rare ammy, and two +1 Skills w/CTC Supernova on kill rare rings.

Playstyle:
Same as Early Game, except substitue Blade Spirits for Ice Elementals. Cast Firedance, let Blade Spirits occupy enemies' attention, attack mobs' flank w'Bladestorm, let Rogue merc pick off the rest from a distance.

Again, this is just from my own experience from my short time playing this build, so take it for what it's worth.

Advice for meele sorc:
Stop playing hard mode and play light/cold sorc and don't bother with meele sorc until you get a Starhawk.

Seekers wrote:Advice for meele sorc:
Stop playing hard mode and play light/cold sorc and don't bother with meele sorc until you get a Starhawk.

Translation:
Don't try something different; just be like everyone else because it's easier that way. :lol:

Solfege wrote:
Seekers wrote:Advice for meele sorc:
Stop playing hard mode and play light/cold sorc and don't bother with meele sorc until you get a Starhawk.

Translation:
Don't try something different; just be like everyone else because it's easier that way.

Exactly my point.

Melee Sorc is fine it's just difficult when it comes to slaying some uber bosses. I think it's ok if you don't care too much about some ubers whereas light/cold sorc mops the floor with almost every non purify uber

just keep swinging.