Trying to make a strength stack shrapnel ballista build using Replica Iron Commander. Feels shit so far so I am submitting my failure to you all for some advice on how to move forward.

https://pastebin.com/veV1CDbr Current character (level 74 Champ)

https://pastebin.com/mSkKWXFc my idea for where the tree might go

First off, this character started out intended to be a Champion impale based shrapnel ballista build. However I gave up on that around level 65 because that shit was terrible feeling. I probably did it wrong, whatever. Now the character is full (90% for now) fire conversion with the mastery and Avatar of fire, and I plan on getting the rest from EoW mod. My idea is to strength stack and use the Replica Iron commander for flat damage, then scale from there with the tree and other gear (self diagnosis, I have no idea how to scale damage in this game). Defense wise I want to scale primarily armor, then get spell suppress and a decent level of evasion, as I also intended to try and use Perseverance for some more damage scaling.

My Current build has a whole ton of issues that I was going to fix as I went, namely change to VMS, get a better chest, equip Perseverance once i can, get spell suppress cap, and like 1000 more strength. I also probably should re level as a Chieftain if I'm going to stick to fire strength stack. There is likely more, but I cant think of them right now, I just got home from work.

I have included another PoB of where I see the build going in the next 15 levels or so for the tree. But honestly I should just burn it all down.

P.S I'm trying to ball on a budget of roughly 5-10 ex, so I know stat stacking was a stupid choice.