Yes, I currently have a venom-ww assassin. Massive +skills is not needed to increase venom damage. The items which increase venom damage the MOST would be +% to poison skill damage. And yes, CtA is heavily recommended for characters in duelling situation. It does not necessarily have to be on the switch, can just be on switch for when you BO with it, then cast venom.

And duel bartucs are useless. +3 shadow disciplines are much better, and give much more + to skill. Bartucs don't specialize in much and are way to general, which makes them useless.

When the hell did I say that there is a "Stone-cold" rule for every class, quote the usage of the word "should" in my sentence.