Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Well done Wayne, I'm way behind. Calavera gets more lovin', after this weekend. I'm impressed that you've done so well with your golem points. That's very handy for boss fights (slowing).

I would use an open area in NM to experiment with those four points in Confuse, if you haven't already. That skill, even at a lower level, will bring bad guys from miles around. When they're in big clumps, hit them with DV/Amp as the tactical situation permits for Wulf (cool name BTW) and begin the corpse bombs. It'll spread the carnage farther than your mere 4 points in CE would otherwise take you.

Also, I haven't ever thought about the life leech sword. That's neat. You'll probably have tons of rubies by the early stages of hell. Can you tell me the formula for cruel damage with ilvl=30 again? I always forget that part of the game.
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Can you tell me the formula for cruel damage with ilvl=30 again? I always forget that part of the game.

When ilvl is lower than qlvl, qlvl is used for the affix calculation.

For 'high level' items (those with qlvl 66 or more)), alvl = 2*qlvl-99

alvl for Cruel on a magical weapon is 51 (there is another version of Cruel, with alvl=56 that can spawn on rares as well).

So if 51 <= 2*qlvl-99, the weapon can get Cruel at any ilvl.

51 + 99 <= 2*qlvl

150/2 <= qlvl

qlvl >= 75



@Insane Wayne: Good point about the sword of the Leech recipe. Maybe I should stop cubing my flawed rubies...

The first vendor that can sell Champion Swords is Hratli in Act III Hell. It´s probably a good idea to try to gamble one sooner than that.



 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Well done Wayne, I'm way behind. Calavera gets more lovin', after this weekend.
Yep, I've put some time in with Black. Now I'll be focusing on finishing my Peasant Azurewrath/Ampmancer, so I'll be away from Black for a bit.

Good point about the Confuse tactic, I will definitely experiment with that.

Regarding ilvl/affixes, I use this site, first selecting the item type, then adjusting the ilvl on the next page.

@Insane Wayne: Good point about the sword of the Leech recipe. Maybe I should stop cubing my flawed rubies...
I had already cubed a bunch of mine too. Whenever I find 3 in the same session, it's an automatic behavior. But I still have a small batch of them along with all my chips/regulars.

The first vendor that can sell Champion Swords is Hratli in Act III Hell. It´s probably a good idea to try to gamble one sooner than that.
Yeah, because who the hell has the patience to shop Hratli?! :badteeth:
I guess I could do it if necessary. I've got Sander's boots available. I never speak to Hratli when starting Act 3. That way, I get one free "easy-access" repair while he's still hanging out near Meshif. Might as well get a quick shop as well.



 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Hmm sorry for not saying this sooner, but I'd like to drop out of the tourney! Been a bit busy with school, and when I did have the time the guy was too much of a hassle to play to be enjoyable! Tourney has gotten me into the hardcore scene though, and I'm working on my first regular guardian.
Enough random chitchat, i wish everyone pro enough to do this tourney stuff good luck, and may the random gods be with you!
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

When ilvl is lower than qlvl, qlvl is used for the affix calculation.

For 'high level' items (those with qlvl 66 or more)), alvl = 2*qlvl-99

alvl for Cruel on a magical weapon is 51 (there is another version of Cruel, with alvl=56 that can spawn on rares as well).

So if 51 <= 2*qlvl-99, the weapon can get Cruel at any ilvl.

51 + 99 <= 2*qlvl

150/2 <= qlvl

qlvl >= 75

So for the chip/flawless recipes for A2 mercs, we're looking at base items of Ghost Spear (alvl 83), War Pike (85), Cryptic Axe (79), Great Poleaxe (84), Giant Thresher (85), and possibly Ghost Glaive (79) and Winged Harpoon (85). I'm not sure if you can get the cube to spit out those recipes on unsocketables like those javelins. Looks like I need to keep my eyes peeled in hell for Cryptic Axes!



 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

So for the chip/flawless recipes for A2 mercs, we're looking at base items of Ghost Spear (alvl 83), War Pike (85), Cryptic Axe (79), Great Poleaxe (84), Giant Thresher (85), and possibly Ghost Glaive (79) and Winged Harpoon (85). I'm not sure if you can get the cube to spit out those recipes on unsocketables like those javelins. Looks like I need to keep my eyes peeled in hell for Cryptic Axes!

The first chance to buy any of these are from Fara in Act II Hell. She can sell Ghost Spears (beware the nasty DEX requirement!), War Pikes and Ghost Glaives. Hell Hratli is the first chance for some of the polearms.

Yes, the chipped/flawless rerolling recipes do indeed work with throwing weapons.



 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

hello i have just joined the tourny with bloody-hell
an assasin
I will not report any progress until i get farther but all i can say is
4 points in fire blast
1 point blade senital
1 talons hold
1 dragon claw

Thats all for now. Over the weekend i hope to beat normal. GL to all.
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

My Barbarian Jallen - update.

Been a little busy so progress is slow, currently cleaning The Hole in the Black Marsh, A1.

Level 16 right now. I get a little worried every time I have to add skills, having 6 weapon spec skills isn't ideal. Fortunately I got 4 into Mace Mastery, however at the cost of 1 in Sword Mast, 2 in Axe and 1 in Pole.

Chippies have been dropping constantly, however topazes have not. Finally got 5, 3 for armor and 2 for head to complete my set, and 5 minutes later my first notable drop. Unique Buckler, Pelta Lunata.

Edit - My merc is an act 2, might merc.

Edit 2 - Up to the Jail level 1 now, from a locked chest drops a 26% Nagel :)
 
Last edited:
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

/unlurk

It seems I am a bit late for this tournament but I have none the less created a character and am working my way through normal now. This is my first tournament charactaer AND my first hardcore character, hope I don't die too soon :).
Well I wasn't able to wear leather armour until level 9!(with matching vitality) but I am continuing through Act 1 without much difficulties.
Character Specifics:
Sorcerer lv 12- Lorem Ipsum
Act three merc- fire
3 Firebolt
1 Frozen armour
2 Frost Nova
2 Telekinesis
1 Fireball
3 saved points
Edit: Am at stoney Field WP
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Slapdash is moving fairly slowly now. Part of that is my focus on MFing with another character, but a large part is just how darn slow he is! With skills all over the place, he's a very slow killer and he gets hurt quite a bit. But he's still plugging along!

Most notably, he's finally got a point in Might, opening up the offensive auras a bit. Vitality still gets a lot of points from random.org which is great!

str 57
dex 61
vit 75
ene 47

life 323
mana 112

Charge now has 5 points, making it my best attack when I can get into position. I also received 1 point in Vigor which is wonderful!! I especially like it for moving through town. ;)

Slapdash, level 31 Paladin, Travincal WP - Council next!
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Bit late but I'm joining this tournament as well.
Random Genius
Druid
Act 2 defensive merc
Did den of evil and reached lvl 9 on cold plains.
4 points in werewolf so forsed to use werewolf.
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

@stillirise: Welcome to the tournament!
First tourney, first in HC and you drew one of the hardest class/merc combos possible. If you make it far, your bragging rights will be immense! :jig:



Slapdash is moving fairly slowly now. Part of that is my focus on MFing with another character, but a large part is just how darn slow he is! With skills all over the place, he's a very slow killer and he gets hurt quite a bit. But he's still plugging along!

Yeah, and it´s pretty much impossible to get powerful gear for your merc at this stage of the game. If I have a character that can boost merc damage (Necromancer, Paladin with good offensive auras) I usually go with an 'IthIthIth' Composite Bow where you are now. When I find the first 2-socketed Razor/Cedar/Double Bow, I put Zephyr in that and add a circlet with elemental damage for her.


@QuickSlash: You are also welcome to the tourney, of course.
About your defensive merc, did you roll Defiance or Holy Freeze?



 
Last edited:
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Jiansonz, thank you for some advice! Slapdash has found one Ith and zero Orts, but that Ort will come later, I'm sure! The merc is currently using a Rare giving her 104 AR and a damage range of 33-56, including 5-6 fire and 7poison over 3 seconds. The armor and helm are topazes. Which I've been saving every little topaz since I first socketed two armors and two helms with flaweds and am looking forward to getting my first perfect... some day!

I have to say, I'm learning patience and strategy. ^_^
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Oh no! I just discovered stupidity. I had an enormous repair bill, which made me quite sad as I've been saving money for gambling. I just realized my staff of teleportation was still equipped and I restored all those charges... Ack!

Ah well, learn something new every day! :)
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

[highlight]Story[/highlight]
As Scarface came closer and closer to the encampment in the wilderness, he became increasingly more paranoid. Travellers in the taverns along the way, few as they were, started to whisper more and moer about vile monstrosities walking the lands, about beasts now fighting alongside of the evil one. Naturally, given his recent mishap with a bear, he wasn't very keen on encountering demon spawned animals.
Then, as he entered the encampment and thought he was safe, terror struck!
A menace came straight at him, with glaring eyes and a sharp beak, powerful legs churning away in the sand... Instinct took over, the instinct that made man survive in face of great danger and evil throughout the years, instinct that the barbarians oddly enough lacked... Scarface, or Chrysantheum as his father called him, swivelled around on his feet, and ran screaming back toward the entrance he had entered. Too bad one of his eyes wasn't working properly anymore, and he slightly misjudged the angle. The palissade received quite a shock, and Scarface could add another scar to his face... what a great way to start his new adventure!

Three hours later, with a bleeding head and a sheepish face, he was carefully introduced to all the chickens in the camp, including the one he scared the dickens out of when he started to holler. With everyone laughing at him, Chrysantheum decided it would be best to seek greener pastures. Or moors.

His latest animal encounter had steeled him though, at least enough for the terrible menaces up ahead such as quill rats. Fair enough, that was the very first opponent he had to fight. When scarface saw those eyes underneath a blanket of sharp quilts, he panicked AGAIN. Luckily enough, he ran straight forward this time. The quill missed, but his boot didn't. The end result: One dead quill rat, one mangled foot.
Raher then face the camp again, he bravely hobbled on. Another quill ra barred his way, but now he didn't lose his head (apparently, his survival instincts had grasped that the survival reactions of this body were probably far more lethal then anything it could face in the wild) and he clobbered the thing into submission.

Soon, he felt a lot stronger and he got a companion. A vine. Chrys quickly grew enamored of it, and was quite ecstatic when it soon became even stronger! But that was to be the end of the growth of the vine for now. Suddenly, he felt something shift in his body, and he found he could change into something hideous, with deadly claws and a likewise demeanor. For some odd reason, the name Paris Hilton floated through his head, but he shrugged it off.

Soon Scarface mastered the art of the club, which isn't really all that hard to learn to start with really. Near the end of the Blood Moor, he found a gem shrine, and soon thereafter, from one of the last chests in the moor, a chipped topaz. Nice!
Inside this little Den he found shaggy, hairy beasts that loved to use their fists. His first instinct was to run and embrace his barbarian friends again, but then he realized these had a bit more facial hair, so he resorted to the tried and true method of : Beat first, then beat some more, and only ask questions once it stops moving. It worked well for him. Corpsefire was dealt with with a pack of Throwing knives he found, and the bugger dropped a hand axe with +1 cold damage (I love those things! +1 damage, and it makes the hand axe worth five times more) and a nice rare buckler. Akara rewarded him with the power to throw big, flaming boulders. That would come in handy! He took the last remaining shrine in the moor, an experience shrine, and then tp'd back to town and to the Cold plains.

Killing was easy enough for now, Since he had shopped a nice sceptre of slaying with +7 max dam from Akara. He alternated between the Werewolf form (which was slowly developping) and the molten boulders for annoying bosspacks.
One annoying bronze shaman called Bishibosh was dispatched of by a bit of claw clobbering, and he dropped a rare dagger with nice fire and poison damage. Then, a monster shrine gave birth to a terrifying menace called Snot bite, a menace that was disposed of with one Molten Boulder. But soon, that same tenacious little Cold Enchanted tike was once again blubbering his snot all over the Werewolf Fur it was munching on again. That happened another time while Scarface started looking for the shaman who was busy vexing his patience. Finally, that shaman died, and Snot Bite remained dead after that.

Blood Raven took a fair amount of mana and health potions, as well as one trip back to town, but in the end, she succumbed to the boulders and dropped useless stuff.
With two chipped topazzes, and a 3os ringmail in possession, all Chrysantheum needed was enough strength to use it. So , [highlight]Hsaru's Iron Fist[/highlight] Was a useful find in the mausoleum, the +10 strength allowed him to wear the Ringmail.

After he killed all of those zombies and skeletons, he entered a cave. More zombies and skeletons, yay! The Sceptre of Slaying remained true to form, and Scarface made lvl 12 in the Cave lvl2, before he had faced Cold Crow. But alas, Gheed didn't feel inclined to give anything with MAgic Find to poor chrys. That lack of Magic Find translated in the worst drop from a Superunique for Chrys so far, a katar and an ethereal club. Blegh.

Scarface decided to call it a session, and went back to the camp to play macetag with the chickens.

[highlight] Progress [/highlight]
Everything is going surprisingly well skillwise and statwise. First level gave me 4 strength and one Vit, easily best stat level yet. Then again, lvl 11 gave me three dex and two energy, that kind of balanced it out :) Other then that, fairly even progress on all stats.
This time, all skill trees have been tagged:
Elemental: 1 Firestorm (level in Den), 2 Molten Boulder (1 from Akara, one next level up in Cold Plains)
Shape Shifting: 3 WereWolf (2 in Blood Moor, 1 in I think the Crypt), 3 Lycanthrophy (2 in Cold Plains, 1 in The Cave)
Summoning: 2 Poison Creeper (First two levels in Blood Moor), 1 Oak Sage (last lvl up in the Cave)

The Ringmail is completely filled with chippies, but I won't be using a 2os helmet I think, I probably want to use +skills from druid headgear, if it should happen to fall)

The Molten boulder, even with 2 points, will be very useful for the rest of the act, and with some good +werewolf and Lycanthrophy I can easily engage the rest by hand. Things are looking good so far, but I'd better go find some unlaquered wood, statwise the last two levelups were sub par.

Str 30, Dex 36, Vit 37, En 32

A lot of chippies have fallen already, at least 8 emeralds and 5 rubies, and I have a flawed topaz ready for the next gem shrine I come across.
 
Last edited:
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

[highlight]Story[/highlight]

Scarface quickly stopped playing sceptretag with the chickens.
There were several good reasons to stop, for instance
a) Chickens are ill equipped to wield sceptres
b) Scarface didn't really want to tag the chickens, but rather crush their heads into a bloody pulp.
However, the main reasons to stop were
c) He couldn't catch the chickens and
d) The camp inhabitants were starting to grumble about their livelihood, and Scarface didn't want to duke it out with a blacksmith, no matter if she was female or not.

Given the rather cool atmosphere in the camp, Scarface felt it would be best if he took his sceptre and play tag with the beasties outside.
The stony fields gave him ample opportuinities, as he faced Hungry Dead and skeletons again. Luckily, they were sporadically interspersed with Those hawks and the odd carver/fallen group.
Nothing terribly interesting to report here, Rakanishu couldn't deal with the Boulders, and he went to carver hell. He found first one, then another chipped topaz, and since his ring mail was filled, and he hadn't found a pelt yet, Scarface pondered if he should put them in some 2os headgear. He asked the gods for guidance, and in response, they provided a 2os cap in the very same run that gave me the 2nd chipped topaz. Well, that was sign enough
Once the stony fields couldn't provide anymore tagging opportunities, Scarface hit the experience shrine and went underground. No, not the underground resistance, allthough he did find resistance, in the form of even more skeletons! But these had bows.
However, our hero (probably, antihero is a better description), had Boulders. And the ancient equation still held true: Boulder trumps bow any day of the week.

In the Underground level 2, Scarface encountered a rather nasty Fire enchanted misshapen hero, that seriously tore into his health, but thankfully croaked before things would get really serious.
A new level up gave Scarface the power to scar the earth, opening heat vents in the ground. He could see this coming to good use when he returned to that cold mount arreat in the future. Floor heating, FTW!
New adventures awaited scarface in the Dark Woods. He slowly cleared out everything with the level 3 Boulders, since his early level up went into Molten Boulder.
Finally, when he had cleared almost three quarters of the map, Scarface encountered yet another XP shrine. That was nice, now, with a bit of running around, he might have some use of it in Tristram. Soon thereafter, he found an ancient tree, guarded by some very nasty Brutes. While running away from them, trying to clear out the rest and lead the brutes away so he could grab the scroll later, he found yet another XP shrine.
That sealed the deal.
He returned to the stony field, and opened the portal with the scroll he nabbed away while running around, then he returned, grabbed an XP shrine and hunted the brutes down. He managed to squeeze three more kills or so in Tristram before it ran out. No sweat, by a stamina potion, get the second XP shrine, run back to the waypoint (which, of course, was on the diagonal other side of the area) and use the TP to get back to Trsitram. Next he used his boulders to wreak mayham in the centre square, and mayham it was indeed, since there were two hero packs(A stone skin skeleton archer and a LE Black clan), Griswold, and Champion Black clans running around. Scarface managed to kill of the champions and the hero packs with his boulders just before the XP shrine stopped. By then, he had levelled and was halfway lvl 16 already!
Yet another skillpoint into Molten Boulder... Wow, lvl 4 Boulders, how sweet.
The loot in the square was massive, but before Scarface examined it, he killed of the rest of the town, including Griswold. Soon, everything was gone.
While examining the drops, Scarface found a nice pair of unique boots that could prove useful in certain bossfights, most notably Diablo. Hotspurs, nice.
With another stash crammed to the rafters, Scarface decided to call it a session.

[highlight]Stats & progress[/highlight]
3 levels, 1 fissure, 2 Molten Boulder.
My energy was raised the most, and my strength is just one point shy of 36 now.
I am not displeased about the Boulder boost, and the energy is a nice addition, it helps to spread them boulders around liberally. But I'd like a bigger Vitality percentage, to be honest.

Finds are quite ok.
I found two greed rings, one with 32, the other with 38%. A Grandcharm with an additional 16% GF, and 8% FR. The Hotspurs of course, but my sweetest find probably is a +6 to life, 7% LR Small Charm. That's a keeper!

[highlight]Scarface, level 15, Dark Woods waypoint.[/highlight]
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Merlin, your stories are a wonderful addition to this tournament! :)
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Hey guys, awesome progress so far :nod:.

Loving all the write-ups as well, keep them coming!

Just a small update on Keith. I got started on him but haven't ventured very far (up to the Stony Fields). I have got my end of semester exams in little under 2 weeks so i have been busy pre-paring for them. Once they finish which will be on the 25th of June (my birthday :)), i can finally get back to Keith as i will be on holidays.
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Morathi, if you are already preparing for your exams two weeks out, I'm confused. Today + 2 weeks does not equal June 25th, unless they last for two weeks. If that is the case, why don't you study for the later ones at the end of that period during the days leading up to them? All through college if I got to studying for any single-class exam earlier than about three days before the test (usually two) I'd end up forgetting it all. Of course the Fundamentals of Engineering test was far different as it encompassed multi-disciplines in the same session. Perhaps this is the case for your studies?

Calavera resumed her struggle against the Wanderer in the jungles of Kurast. She actually thought she found him nearly immediately upon stepping off of Meshif's boat, but alas it was some form of sorcery as he disappeared before her eyes.

Throughout the jungle areas, Calavera and Jemali fought hordes of smaller creatures such as night hawks and flayers. The wonders Calavera has laid eyes on did not cease, with a dead hawk wearing a pair of boots. She hadn't seen that before and even allowed herself a slight chuckle.

Soon after that brief moment of levity amongst the unending strife, she found a very powerful weapon, a unique mace. This weapon positively glowed with energy and it seemed to know how to find enemy skulls, like being drawn to them as a magnet. It also seemed to make Calavera far more likely to push her enemies back, staggering them under its weight, and the thing even helped shroud her against the fire attacks of the beasts of the wild. A powerful weapon indeed! A game changer, if she could ever figure out how to channel its energies into deadly shurikens.

True to her profession, Calavera was becoming proficient indeed with dispatching all who opposed her. In the Great Marsh, she learned the power of the axe endowed with the power to cause uncontrollable bleeding. This one will be saved for later, as Jemali's Malice Pike already causes much weeping and lamentation on the part of the demons and their kin.

However, there was one beast which proved unkillable: a Winged Nightmare of such unholy powers that it could attack Calavera from the sky, whilst cloaking itself from Jemali and his powerful pike. Calavera thought that somehow the demon used her Cloak of Shadows, now her favorite method of confusing her enemies and an integral part of battle, as a way to enter an ethereal plane and attack her without fear of retribution. As such her only defense was to run from the foul beast and let it know forever that she felled its brothers with swift swipes of her wrist blade.

In the Swampy Pit, Calavera ran into quite the mob upon entry and was glad that she could control such crowds.

Almost as she left the jungle, Calavera also found a strange Dirk Diggler. It has a strange property of being able to resist monster defenses completely and hit with impunity. Might be handy later on...

In the Kurast Bazaar, Jemali, who had been doing most of the combat work, supported by Calavera's shadow attacks, ran into a group of champions with the ability to heal themselves. They took a while to destroy due to being un-blindable and stayed focused on healing their brothers. As with the others, they fell.

Calavera and Jemali ventured deeper and deeper into the Kurast Durance, itself twisted by the hatred spewed forth by Mephisto himself. She was horrified at the site on the second floor as she saw her eldest son transformed into an undead zombie, feasting on the flesh of the innocent. Calavera mercifully ended his twisted existence, but the rage welled up inside of her and even Jemali was afraid of her. Superhuman strength infused her body as she prepared to end the life of the great demon Mephisto. Indeed nothing could stop her rampage, and Calavera spat and swore that she would not fall to him, indeed sure that her hatred of him and his brothers for their roles in her family's death matched his own. But Mephisto would not have time to corrupt her, as the crushing blows from the Crushflange made short work of him. Even as he lay at her feet, bloodied and mangled, she continued to bash his brains until they ran onto the dirty floor. Her face, smeared with blood, showed Jemali once and for all just how serious she had become these past days.

She stepped through the portal and was relieved to see a place of refuge to heal her wounds and rest her weary body. Even Tyrael was there to greet her. The trek has been difficult and will only get worse.

[highlight]Calavera, level 32 Assassin, Pandemonium Fortress[/highlight]
 
Re: Tournament: The Randomly Challenged II

Minor interim update from me (details at home which I will provide after Duriel falls).

Fate has conquered the Summoner and made it through to the Canyon of the Magi at level 27 (from memory, or was it 26?). No real nasty challenges on the way, although with MF in the vicinity of 160 for merc kills for a lot of Act 2, and full clears with the Merc killing everything minion or above (unless the pesky shadow warrior gets the final hit), the green and gold drops have been very disappointing. The sum total thus far with full clears is Arctic Belt, Hsarus' Belt and Bloodfist gloves. :(

Nonetheless, he proceeds well. Gut feel is that his stats have been pretty evenly apportioned, but I will confirm at the end of the act.

Skillswise, I delayed skill allocations to my benefit as much as possible, and got very lucky with I believe 5 Shadow Warrior points thus far, except now almost all of the MA tree is opened up and skills are all over the place of late, with very few indeed in the Traps tree where I would have preferred them.

Good luck all,
Butz. :coffee:
 
Back
Top