Steel wrote:
How about strength then? I have Ironward but it requires 190 str, is it worth getting 150+str and rest into vita?
Edit: well Ironward doesn't have +res hm.
And skill wise, is it better to max conc/synergies first or hammers/conc as mana cost on hammers rise fast, 0.5 per skill.
Well, talking end-game gear, nothing gets better than Heaven's Will in a +3 Hammers Scepter. It has basically every mod you would want (-mag pierce, +5 skills, fcr, resists) and nothing end-game will surpass it. This can obviously be made in a very low strength requirement weapon.
As for significant strength breakpoints you have Dragon Scale, which is 148 strength and if you choose Crown of Ages, 176. You can however roll a +1/+3 Combat caster craft diadem with awesome mods, only really losing the 5% DR CoA offers you.
As far as base strength goes, it's really your preference. If you want to delegate more charms, sockets, and lucky strength mods on crafts you can keep base strength relatively low.
As far as skills orders, I prefer to max Hammers & it's synergies first and then Concentration last. I do agree though, Hammers are pretty mana thirsty, especially without BO.