1.07 News, Info and Gossip

[helvete1]

Blue ones also have good potential a godly archon of the whale with four sockets would be nice...

True. But they are extremely more rare. Shopping them would probably be much faster. I'm much more excited about weapon racks, as I recently found this ama spear:

Matriarchal Pike
Two-Hand Damage: 55 to 343
Durability: 13 of 13
(Amazon Only)
Required Dexterity: 139
Required Strength: 122
Required Level: 60
Spear Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x5f85b760
+2 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired)

...Which, with 5 sox, would make an interesting death -death then making honor or some other 5sox high %ED runeword.

 

[Dodgydave]

True. But they are extremely more rare. Shopping them would probably be much faster.

I never see many elites for sale especially not archons, dusks and wyrmhides. (In fact can the last two even be shopped?)

I racked a godly wyrmhide of PDR (can't remember how much) and was going to socket it before hard drive died. Was using it quite effectively as a merc armour even without sockets in it.

 

[phool]

I've got a question for people who've made 1.07 javazons; is charged strike still good to max or what do you do to kill act bosses? Also, how would you recommend balancing +skills gear for lightning damage and melee gear for physical damage? I'm going hybrid with points in strafe though it seems a lot worse in 1.07 despite doing full damage - it doesn't have the same range as in 1.10 and will fire no more than one arrow per target. In 1.07 you should be able to shop a bow which does something like 2.5k poison damage over 15 seconds after adding 4 pems, I think that'll probably be my endgame switch at least until I'm a high enough level to shop hydra bows.

I'm laying off rack runs for a bit to concentrate on mfing hell trav for sets, I can probably just get enough mf to start on bosses for uniques but would need an act 3 merc to kill. Is the breakpoint for getting uniques from act bosses the same in all difficulties?

Couldn't resist burning one of my only 2 fals making this absolute beauty... it's going to make beginning my next char loads faster

Khalim's Will
One-Hand Damage: 1 to 26
Durability: 28 of 30
Mace Class - Fastest Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 50
Fingerprint: 0x20eee0e0
+79% Enhanced Damage
+40 to Attack Rating
Damage Reduced by 14
Magic Damage Reduced by 9
Adds 1-40 lightning damage
6% Life stolen per hit
6% Mana stolen per hit
50% Increased Attack Speed
150% Damage to Undead

Also crafted one nice orb, don't use fire though

Imp Heart
Vortex Orb
One-Hand Damage: 36 to 93
(Sorceress Only)
Required Dexterity: 44
Required Strength: 44
Required Level: 63
Orb Class - Normal Attack Speed
Indestructible
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 50
Fingerprint: 0x538021b2
+36 to Mana
+46% Enhanced Damage
Damage Reduced by 15
Magic Damage Reduced by 7
20% Faster Cast Rate
+3 to Energy Shield (Sorceress Only)
+3 to Fire Skills (Sorceress Only)

And got a pretty nice pair of gloves for my zon

Dread Hold
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 20
Durability: 14 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 38
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 91
Fingerprint: 0x3fe345d8
+14 to Dexterity
+72% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +10%
20% Increased Attack Speed
+2 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)
5% Chance to cast Level 3 Frost Nova when struck

 

[helvete1]

Whoa, nice orb! And GG khalim's will too. It never has any lvl req? Do vortex orbs drop, or was it an anya quest reward? (I take it they have high enough qlvl+magiclvl to always be able to have +3 tree?)

Haven't found any nagels (heard they're nerfed in 1.07 anyway) but I have aquired these:

Prefix 957 Ring of Chance
Required Level: 9
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 35
Fingerprint: 0x515653bc
Fire Resist +12%
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Prefix 957 Ring of Fortune
Required Level: 31
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x2af03476
33% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

 

[phool]

Can't remember where I got the vortex orb, pretty sure it dropped though as I think I crafted it before I realised you can craft rares. I've got another magic vortex orb stashed for crafting though and it's ilvl 95 - I'm hoping for an elite jared's stone. I've found a nagel, they're set to just 15% mf in 1.07, rubbish mf compared even to a single affix magic ring =/

 

[helvete1]

Just how input ilvl is used in crafting doesn't seem to be known atm. I read somewhere on these forums that it doesn't seem to have any effect on the craft whatsoever. BUT! All orbs have a magic lvl of 5. It doesn't add up on your orb, since its ilvl 50 and +3 skilltab is alvl 60. Which means its qlvl must be 55 or greater. So maybe there's hope after all, unless I'm overlooking something obvious.

 

[RTB]

Vortex Orb is Qlvl 63. I really need to make a list of 1.07 items someday.

 

[phool]

Just how input ilvl is used in crafting doesn't seem to be known atm. I read somewhere on these forums that it doesn't seem to have any effect on the craft whatsoever. BUT! All orbs have a magic lvl of 5. It doesn't add up on your orb, since its ilvl 50 and +3 skilltab is alvl 60. Which means its qlvl must be 55 or greater. So maybe there's hope after all, unless I'm overlooking something obvious.

I don't really know anything about magic level, except it's what makes diadem's great with the pskull recipe in 1.11. Does magic level means qlvl isn't important, so I can actually craft non elite orbs and still be able to get +3 skill tree or +2 all affixes? Seeing as they all have a dex req in the 40s in 1.07 and my sorc is sitting at base dex.

 

[helvete1]

I don't really know anything about magic level, except it's what makes diadem's great with the pskull recipe in 1.11. Does magic level means qlvl isn't important, so I can actually craft non elite orbs and still be able to get +3 skill tree or +2 all affixes? Seeing as they all have a dex req in the 40s in 1.07 and my sorc is sitting at base dex.

magic level means that the affix level will be whatever is highest of either ilvl or qlvl. So as long as you can manage ilvl 55 or qlvl 55 (or better) on any orb in 1.07, you can get +3 tree. I don't know about +2 all since I'm unsure of its affix level.

RTB: There are a few things I'd love to know about 1.07. Short list off the top of my head:

- When in the damage calculation are these things counted - Defense, block, energy shield, resistance, dr/mdr, absorb, bone armor, damage taken goes to mana.
- Just which items cannot be dropped by monsters (and thus must be aquired through shopping, gambling, racking, quest rewards)
- MF breakpoints

That being said, you've done a wonderful job this far!

 

[RTB]

- When in the damage calculation are these things counted - Defense, block, energy shield, resistance, dr/mdr, absorb, bone armor, damage taken goes to mana.

The closest order would probably be that of 1.09, and I can remember a problem with ES applying mana dmg when the hit doesn't go through.

1.09 damage calculation order
1) -x magic damage / - damage
2) Add up total Resistances (including PDR%)
3) Cold mastery!
4) Difficulty penalty -40 / - 100 (NM/Hell)
5) %absorb
6) +absorb heal part
7) Bone/Cyclone Armor
8) 1/4 PvP
9) Energy Shield

1.07 is a rather annoying version to test in, since there is no way to directly use the .txt files as a mod. And since I don't have any intention of reinstalling D2, I won't be testing it either.

- Just which items cannot be dropped by monsters (and thus must be aquired through shopping, gambling, racking, quest rewards)

Any base item (white, grey) with Qlvl 67 or higher cannot be dropped by a monster. Any wooden weapon with Qlvl 67 or higher generally cannot spawn, since monsters can't drop it and racks don't drop wooden weapons. You can still get a few through vendors, but a WF is impossible to get for example.

- MF breakpoints

The important ones are 374 for hell council (and (super)uniques) and 556 for hell act bosses. Good luck reaching 556 MF and still be able to kill hell Baal tho.

 

[JihadJesus]

Alright, I need some advice. I really want to do some shopping for Cruel XXXX of Quickness in 1.07 so I can get four sockets, but I've never played this version of the game. I read the guide and browsed/searched the thread but didn't find much info on shopping or good builds (although I gather a lightning fury zon is very good).

Really I just want to get up the the level necessary to shop a Cruel Thresher or Champion Axe of Quickness and then punch some sockets into it. I'll also plan on running cows to level and/or find some charms and fund my shopping exploits. Is LF the best skill to build around, what level would I have to reach to shop these weapons, and does it matter which vendor I shop from (I assume in hell) to get the weapon?

 

[helvete1]

374 is for uniques? W00t I'm soon there! Thanks again for some very useful info.

After I killed hell baal, I have no real intention of seeing him ever again (unless he can drop good, and I'm not aware of it?). I have a shako-dropping rack which is quite unstable, and which have a shrine right in front of it. When it's an exp shrine, I go open the cow lvl, go back for the shrine, and typically gain 1/6 lvl from cowing. I'm lvl 78 atm, still leveling.

As for build, I can really recommend the one I'm using myself which goes like this:

20 orb
20 nova
20 light mastery
a few points in cold mastery, enough that the diminishing returns discourage me from adding more points (after +skills, that is).
a few points in Energy Shield, enough that the diminishing returns discourage me from adding more points.
1 in warmth, static, thunder storm

str for gear
no dex
no vita
rest energy

(The no vita part is because it's a lot easier to compensate for low life than for low mana, and because of the full rejuv thing.)

Nova slaughters cows really really fast. It's quite amazing. Also, they are forced into hit recovery, so they cannot touch you. Cow King is immune, so no risk of killing him by accident. Leveling at cows goes really fast until about lvl 75

 

[RTB]

374 is for uniques? W00t I'm soon there! Thanks again for some very useful info.

No, a very high chance at sets.

 

[galtwish]

No, a very high chance at sets.

In the last 75-100 MF runs of The Council, Pindle, and Eldritch, my MF sorc w/376% MF has found Trang's Scales, M'vaina's Diadem, Tal's amulet, half a dozen Tal's masks, 2 Natalya's Totems, Iratha's set, infinite Sigon's and Angelic's jewelry, and some assorted other set items. They tend to drop from at least half The Council over time, so if you are looking to fill out your set stuff that doesn't have to be racked I recommend running them. Kelpie Snare is possibly the best merc weapon for this, due in no small part to the 50% FR.

One wave is fire immune, and the other is lightning immune. On boss is LE, one is usually cursed, and on it PI/FI which it the only problem w/Kelpie Snare. Runs take about 2 minutes on The Council because I am a bad player and have an old computer.

 

[helvete1]

I'll be able to run them much faster, due to a high lvl orb. I lack around 80% MF to get to 374%; I could push there by using a 3T helm and sigon boots/belt/gloves, and ali baba/milabrega switch. However, I'll rather just rack a shako first, then worry about MF later.

I've discovered that I'm lousy at rack runs. My shako rack only drops them about 30% of the runs....

 

[KrAzY3]

Congrats on the sarachen! Horrible roll, though (according to RTBs table, that recibe can spawn a lot more res than that just from the automods).

I don't know how many times I ran that goddamn russet armor rack (the rack was in NM, so it kept me from hell runs) and the first unique it decided to drop was ofc venom ward.....

Yeah well I was just happy to have one. I don't want to dwell on the roll too much since I know it will never happen again.

Heh, I know all about that. Nothing worse than a rack that can drop something really nice dropping a crappy green or gold (yellow is just plain rude) instead. You start to feel unlucky when you encounter three of four gold and greens on a map without getting a single one you wanted... I'm not even going to discuss my 13 Bul-Kathos' Sacred Charge. I finally got my second Grandfather but still, 13?

Good luck reaching 556 MF and still be able to kill hell Baal tho.

Tell me about it, my Barb finally does a decent job of it but that's with a lot of gear that took me forever to find and a lot of leveling... Not really worth the trouble to be honest.

I've discovered that I'm lousy at rack runs. My shako rack only drops them about 30% of the runs....

Don't bother with it. From my experience you're much better off relying on a rack that you can get near 100% (if you follow the correct path). You will eventually find a reliable rack that can drop it. Although mine did drop off one that only was 50% I was mainly running that map for a colossus blade (which dropped 100% of the time). I ended up spending a lot more time on that map trying to get the damn shako...

 

[galtwish]

I'll be able to run them much faster, due to a high lvl orb. I lack around 80% MF to get to 374%; I could push there by using a 3T helm and sigon boots/belt/gloves, and ali baba/milabrega switch. However, I'll rather just rack a shako first, then worry about MF later.

I've discovered that I'm lousy at rack runs. My shako rack only drops them about 30% of the runs....

The 3PTopaz hat takes the spot of my +3 cold skills/+100 life hat, as I don't have the Ali Baba to go with Milbrega's Orb. Hence the slow killing speed. I also have to finesse the herding because even at L26, my Orb kills the Council too quick for my Merc to get the final hit in with the needed +72MF from his PTopaz hat. I lack Skulder's/Occy, so my gear is not optimized for running, but I still pull some good stuff.

A quick question: are there any good 1.07 MF charms? I've only found 2% charms.

 

[helvete1]

IIRC 2% is max on small charms, as I have the same problem. My charms are mostly FRW and life.

Rerolled the map, and now the racks in nilly temple drop coronas, caduceii and ornates

That's an omen which means I'll never ever find a Vortex Shield rack.

 

[phool]

I've had a 4% mf sc, nice one actually

Prefix 978 Small Charm of Good Luck
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 33 [actually 40]
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0x5fa22efc
+15 to Mana
4% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Re java skills:I checked the damage progression on cs and it's not viable. The best secondary skills for a java seem to be imo multi shot (far better range than strafe) and immolation arrow (no timer, 25+ sec duration and the dot stacks so can do real damage IF you can keep your target still). Strafe is ok too, everything else does too little damage, at least without great gear, though fend could be viable. Looks like best way to deal with bosses is 1 pt guided with a fast bow and switching helm to gface. Particularly effective with baal as you can ga around a pillar safely.

 

[helvete1]

Balrog dropping rack found! 100% balrog skins. 7 teleports away from LK WP. Already found 3 Saszabi's Ghost Liberators. Is this set any use on act 5 mercs?

BRB gotta get that Arkaine!