Ok so my inquisitor has a fair share of a few stats, and pairing up with an ice elf is REALLY humbling me.
My inkie is-
level 97
Pure caster Astute/Nefarious
59% deathblow
45% spell intensity
44% cast speed
level 69.4 Levin Array (roughly 4,100 damage)
The reason for the above listed stats and inclusion of the Levin Array is for my topic's question.
I understand how both deathblow and spell intensity work, so that isn't the issue. The issue is my Levin Array while listed at about 4k damage, realistically does around 2400-2800 damage (on plat and niob) and whereas I know deathblow has diminishing returns, I'm forced to use it because of the partial damage I'm doing.
Now when I had 113% spell intensity, I was still doing around the same 60% of damage. So I guess what I'm asking is... should I sacrifice the casting speed for more spell intensity, or to get my deathblow back up to around 68%?
I REALLY want my spells to do the listed amount, but unless I unsocket all my +skill jewelry from my gear, I don't know how to get above 120% spell intensity.
Also is it worth it to use the blacksmith for +damage (pure caster remember) over socketing?
Seeing a high elf that used to be around same level having 2k ice shards and my extended levin array only doing 1300 (at the time) was really frustrating me. Now the ice elf one shots everything whereas I'm using my whole combo (maelstrom+levin+thrust) just to kill the same mobs.
I don't know if I'm equipping the wrong rings or what... but I roughly have 4 rings for deathblow, 4 for spell intensity, 2 for cast speed, and around 6 for +magic (which I don't use since I'm only getting 60% out of my spell, all for rings of 25-30% each only adds about 400 to my tooltip of levin array).
Please keep in mind I'm not looking for an explanation of how the skills work, I'm looking for help from someone who has had this same problem and has an understanding of how to improve an inquisitor's damage output.
=)