Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds
I rolled a nice Countess map with GIEB_VEX and started running her. My merc's resists were a bit low with Duriel's Shell, so I put a Smoke on him. LE bolts still hurt him, though... until a gold Death Mask dropped from Countess (I'll post a screenie in the GIEB VEX KOUNTESS! thread later), so the merc immediately became immune to lightning (actually it works like life leech for him now). Still looking for TGod's for GIEB_VEX to get the same effect with her.
She got to Countess at level 73 - at that level, Countess DOES provide XP - so I ran her at P3 to level 75 to help the merc. I have to say, with the combination of a level disadvantage and low blocking with the Lidless, as well as lowish life bulb, she takes a hit from the Archers if they spawn in the Countess' room, and it's a pain to have to interrupt spamming Nova to lob some orbs at them. Once I dropped to P1 at level 75, though, a single orb generally does the trick.
With the Wizzy/Lidless setup, mana is pretty much not an issue, allowing aggressive telestomping (and that's actually the safer way to play her - I found out the in NM CS that easing into a pack hurts a lot, but her red bulb stayed pretty full when aggressively telestomping). With nary a point in Energy, GIEB_VEX is sporting 1400+ mana. I think that may be her main setup, which means I won't be going with the Occy/SS. I still like Rhyme though, and I still like the Occy/Rhyme (currently Heater, but if a TGod's drops, that will be replaced by a Hyperion) for MF switch. I put a Topaz in the Shako and the skin... but I'm seriously thinking of spending a little wealth for the main setup...
wait for it...
I'm thinking the next Ist that drops goes in the Wizzy (I still have 4 socket rewards available from my rushees). What do you think - silly burning of wealth, or inspired, stylish idea? Gives me another sub-goal to add to hoping for a TGod's and the obvious Vex from Countess, and I still want 1 more Blackhorn's for ClimateChange's merc.