#1 - April 7, 2013, 9:27 a.m.
First of all, do not complain about how much your followers dps is weak regarding yours. They are not weak, they are very powerful. It's just that your character is tremendously strong : that's just the difference between Nephalem and regular humans.
If your followers dies too often, that just mean he's poorly stuffed and there's many way to improve a followers survivability. The Templar and the enchantress for example can easily become immortal even in Inferno PM10.
To equip a followers search in that order : main stat, vita, AS, @res. CC and ChD are very optional. With PM it is more suitable to choose socket on equipment when possible, that gives flexibility to improve damage or LoH, vita or main stat (note : vita is the main stat of the templar).
For their skill, remember that some of them depends on the weapon DPS, so seek high DPS when possible. Some skills don't have cooldown so an only fast skills template is often a good idea.
I have tested all templates described here, prices goes from "very cheap" to "what the hell?". Some item are optional and only serve to max out a specific effect.
Set bonus do not applies to followers.
Follower's buff goes away when he dies, that goes only for passive buffs, equipment bonus stays active (note : a followers never "dies", just goes KO).
MF/GF/%xp/+ptsxp buffs applies to you with a 1/5 ration, they don't fade away even if your followers goes KO.
Follower will appreciate legendaries you thought were crap for you.
Templar
Follower token : vita, block chance, @res
MF max : 32%
GF max : 32%
Block chance Max : 78%
Dps Max : not much
Exp Max : 13%
+ pts exp Max : 144
ChC max : 33%
ChD max : 400
AS max : 55%
MF weapon : Sun Keeper http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/sun-keeper
DPS weapon : Devil Tongue http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/devil-tongue
Postion : in front of you.
Templar is not here for damage but to disturb foe's actions.
SKILLS :
Heal : useless in Inferno mode.
Intervene : works great with crowd control templates.
Loyalty : useless in Inferno mode.
Intimidate : nice, works well with "Cull the weak" passive.
Charge : idem.
Onslaught : most powerfull templar attack but a bit usless in Inferno too.
Inspire : the best templar skill.
Guardian : useless in Inferno mode.
TEMPLATES :
Slaughterror (Max bleed chance : 130%)
The Butcher's Sickle (with bleed chance) socket + amethyst http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/the-butchers-sickle
Band of hollow whispers http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/band-of-hollow-whispers
Band of hollow whispers [pre-patch]
Shield with max bleed chance
Blackthornes Duncraig Cross http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/blackthornes-duncraig-cross
This template offers two advantages : very cheap and the templar make more effective damages than his DPS sheet.
Tank (Max block chance : 78%)
Follower token with 15% block chance
Doombringer + amethyst http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/doombringer
Stormshield with +34 block chance http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/stormshield
Justice Lantern http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/justice-lantern
Bulkathoss Wedding Band http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/bulkathoss-wedding-band
With an Amulet of Vitality your templar is now immortal. To max out block chance, replace the Bulkathoss Wedding Band by a second Justice Lantern (pre-patch) (price is crazy with socket ^^).
Troublemaker
Skycutter http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/skycutter
Monlight ward http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/moonlight-ward
Band of hollow whispers http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/band-of-hollow-whispers
Puzzle Ring http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/puzzle-ring
Lidless wall http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/lidless-wall
This template is a fireworks, very fun to play!
Scarecrow (Max fear : 32,6%)
Echoing Fury + amethyst http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/echoing-fury
Shield with fear chance
Justice Lantern http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/justice-lantern
Broken Promises http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/broken-promises
Broken Promises (prepatch)
The star of Azkaranth (fear) http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/the-star-of-azkaranth
Your templar is still weak, hits like a little girl but everyone fears him.
IceCube (Max freeze : 22,6%)
Azurewrath http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/azurewrath
The star of Azkaranth (freeze) http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/the-star-of-azkaranth
Shield with freeze
Very usefull against bosses and elites.
