I'm running cold sorc, just started in hell - at level 106 now.
I went fire as the 2nd tree for the regen passive. Flamefront at 1pt atm, but I notice it does ok damage in early hell, even at 1pt. So I'm trying to work out where all teh points should go when I can use them (I don't have the mana / regen for more than a few points in Frigid Sphere atm). I'm thinking along the lines of the build below (blue means "optional"). If anyone has any better ideas, please shout...
COLD TREE
smax Frigid Sphere (say, 24); 1 STF, 15 Snow Queen, 1 Abyss, 8 Ice Elementals
Total 49
FIRE TREE
smax Flamefront (say, 24); 23 Living Flame
2 prereqs to get to Firedance for occasional 20% spell damage boost
Total 47 (50 if Firedance taken)
REWARD TREE
5 Symbol of Esu; 1 Force Blast; 1 Twilight Havoc (this never seems to do anything much?)
1 Witch Blood [or more???? Maybe max, for the LAEK?]
Total 8 (approx 11 if Witch Blood maxed)
ARCANE TREE
1 prereq & 1 Familiar (OR add points in groups of 4 for more familiars)
1 in others for antimass / Mana Sweep? = 3
Total 2 (5 if antimass /mana sweep)
OVERALL 106 points minimum - other points depends on which options chosen
By level 110 (rougly 121 skill points available) could have the base spec plus 3 familiars with 4 in Witch Blood, leaving out the antimass stuff.
Other basic questions:
1. Is there a better idea than fire for 2nd tree? Or just have it for the passive because...
2. Is flamefront really needed? Cold is a bit slow to kill cold absorbs now but it may get better later with some pierce.
3. If not, maybe it's worth spending 10 points to remove the cooldown from Firedance?
Hoping for some feedback.