Class: Anyone But Mages
Tag: N
Naked Mages are quite well-known, but what about other nudists? Is a Naked Warrior viable? What about a Naked Rogue? Naked Barbarian? Naked Bard? Naked Monk??
Similar to the Naked Mage, you will use no items that you can equip. Well, not exactly. +To Hit% jewelry may be needed in higher difficulties, and reading glasses are the way to go for those interested in spellcraft.
Damage
Damage ramps up more-or-less comfortably. Critical hits are nice.
(STR x Clvl)/100 is your damage calculation.
Other Combat Factors
No blocking, no resistances. Pain will be all you know.
Spells
If you use reading glasses, you can get some decent spells. You'll still need to pump magic if you expect to get half-decent mana. Unfortunately, the opportunity cost is stun damage and/or your ability to hit.
To Hit
Maximum of 80%. Unless you use +To Hit jewelry, you won't be able to hit the broad side of a barn in later difficulties.
Viable?
In Normal, yes, though difficult. My NBAR_L¹ is clvl 26 and can handle a good many monster mixes (albeit slowly) in the early parts of normal hell. He drinks like a fish, though.
For Nightmare and Hell, you will need +To Hit% jewelry in the deeper parts of the labyrinth.
¹: BAR is the Barbarian variant. L stands for "luminous," meaning he equips +Light Radius% items (rings) so that he is more easily seen.
Damage
It'll be a struggle. Dexterity is suggested over strength since you get the same increase from either stat, and Dex also helps your To Hit%.
( (STR+DEX) x Clvl)/200 is your damage calculation.
Other Combat Factors
No blocking, no resistance, low life.
Armor Class will be a tad better than a Warrior's in the early levels, especially if Dexterity is focused on. This is still negligible though.
Spells
Better potential than the Warrior, but reading glasses would still be required to get Teleport. Opportunity cost of damage and To Hit% for Magic is present, as with the warrior.
To Hit
The best of any Naked Character, and could potentially go without any +To Hit% jewelry.
Viable?
In Normal, yes, though it won't be easy. Her damage will stink.
For Nightmare and Hell, one-hit-kills are likely. Spells apt to play key role.
Damage
Fantastic! His damage goes up smoothly, so he should have very little trouble except when starting off (1-1 starting damage). Like the Rogue, Dexterity is the recommended pump skill.
( (STR+DEX) x Clvl)/150 is his damage calculation. However, after finding this value you must modify it by adding Clvl/2 to the minimum and Clvl to the maximum. This gives you your total damage, and I think you will be quite pleased with it. (Note: If clvl is odd, you will end up with X.5 for the value, round up to get char screen value.)
Other Combat Factors
He can block, and *very* well! This is both a curse and a blessing. Blocking spells can be irritating when mobs are present, not to mention blocklock from physical combat.
No resistances and low life plague him.
Armor class will be excellent for early/mid normal difficulty.
His feet are HASTED! It's the fastest bare-handed attack IN THE GAME!
Spells
Slightly better spell-casting potential than the Rogue, and he might be able to get away with (i.e. suffer less from the opportunity cost of) neglecting his damage stats in order to pump magic a little. He'd still need reading glasses for Teleport, however.
To Hit
Good, but supplementing him with one or two +To Hit% jewels would help.
Viable?
In Normal, most definitely.
In NM and Hell, he'll be in for one-hit-kills. Like the Rogue, spells will be his greatest ally.
Damage
Good damage, and he can do Critical Hits.
( (STR + VIT) x Clvl)/100 is his bare-handed & shieldless damage calculation. I'd recommend pumping Vitality over Strength since both give you the same amount of damage, but with Vit you get some hps in addition to damage.
Other Combat Factors
1% resistance per clvl will be helpful.
Higher than average maximum vitality (150) will be nice, especially since there's no opportunity cost for pumping it.
Rage skill will add some fun.
Spells
His ability here is almost nil. Max base magic is 0, and he doesn't get any mana for a clvl up. Even if he uses reading glasses he will be unable to cast any spells (save from Scrolls). Just be thankful a Town Portal scroll requires no magic to read. ;)
To Hit
Worst of any class. Maximum dex is 55, which translates 77% maximum To Hit%. Maxing Dex early and +To Hit% jewelry is highly recommended.
Viable?
In Normal, yes.
In Nightmare and Hell, you'll be a monster chew toy with hps better than the other nudists. You'll also have good damage, IF you can hit anything. Don't count on spells to save your ass, other than Town Portal scrolls.
Damage
Terrible.
(STR x Clvl)/100 is her calculation. With a max str of only 120, that makes for really crappy damage.
Other Combat Factors
No resistances, no blocking, low life.
Spells
Best spell caster of this bunch (non-Naked Mage nudists). With a max magic of 120, she can learn any spell (except for Apoclypse) without the use of reading glasses. While her cast speed is slower than a Mage's, her spell power should be decent.
To Hit
Not bad. 120 dex gives her 110% max To Hit. She might not need +To Hit% jewelry if she uses Stone Curse.
Viable?
Rough start but doable. Spellcraft will be a major part of her life, else she becomes a monster chew toy that dreams of stunning something. Think of her as a neutered version of the Naked Mage. One major difference between the two would be her ability to be her own Golem. She, unlike the Naked Mage, can get semi-useful bare-handed damage.