Billy the Snake - hardcore single-pass Necromancer

[Russell.s]

Billy the Snake

(A hardcore, single-pass, no extended stash journey)

The Name
I was on a nightshift when an elderly patient shuffled out of her room. She pointed her finger at me and said "I'll get you! I'll get you for what you did to me Billy, you snake!"
My name is not Billy. I thought it was pretty funny so I called my necromancer Billy.

The Plan
Hardcore, single-pass, no extended stash play through. This is part of a planned (extremely slow) Sept of Hardcore, single-pass, no extended stash characters (Barbarbian and Amazon completed already).
Billy was my third necromancer. My first died at level 30 when I decided to "help" my minions by hitting normal Diablo with my wand. My second died at level 79 in the Drifter Caverns in Hell when some Might Moon Lords surrounded me and I foolishly tried to teleport out instead of saving + exiting (or simply running backwards).

Skills & stats
Standard issue Summoner with Corpse Explosion. I put some points in Dex, knowing I could equip a Homonculus when he had finished Hell, and most of the rest in Vit.

The Journey
Smooth sailing all the way through! There really isn't much a Summoner can't handle, albeit slowly sometimes. The combo of Clay Golem and Decrep for bosses is especially fantastic.
He was quite lucky finding a few nice items for himself, courtesy of profuse shopping for low level MF items.
The standard items in a hardcore single-pass run made an appearance, including Smoke and Rhyme.

Notable Drops
Stormshield, which Billy was not strong enough to wield
A toxic small charm with 100 psn damage
Chromatic Amulet of the Whale (all res +25, life +88) that stayed around Billy's neck to the end.

The Future
As Billy has reached Guardian he is granted access to the GoMule stash Valhalla, shared with my other Guardians. He was gifted Trang Ouls armour, and the Homonculus shield.
Billy will try his luck farming some WSK, and find a way to motivate Waheed to actually do something for a change instead of standing around looking fabulous.

Spoiler: Stats and skills

Name: Billy
Class: Necromancer
Experience: 897393904
Level: 83

Naked/Gear
Strength: 65/71
Dexterity: 135/135
Vitality: 255/277
Energy: 25/45
HP: 708/850
Mana: 188/315
Stamina: 401/414
Defense: 33/494
AR: 630/659

Fire: 155/115/55
Cold: 179/139/79
Lightning: 228/188/128
Poison: 135/95/35

MF: 82 Block: 43
GF: 250 FR/W: 43
FHR: 75 IAS: 0
FCR: 31

Amplify Damage: 2/5
Dim Vision: 1/4
Weaken: 1/4
Terror: 1/4
Decrepify: 1/4

Teeth: 1/4
Bone Armor: 1/4
Corpse Explosion: 20/23
Bone Wall: 1/4

Skeleton Mastery: 20/23
Raise Skeleton: 20/23
Clay Golem: 1/4
Golem Mastery: 1/4
Blood Golem: 1/4
Summon Resist: 3/6
Iron Golem: 1/4

Spoiler: Gear

Nightsmoke
Belt
Defense: 23
Durability: 15 of 16
Required Level: 20
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0xeb5d4903
Item Level: 40
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+37% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+20 to Mana
All Resistances +10
Damage Reduced by 2
50% Damage Taken Goes To Mana

Chance Guards
Chain Gloves
Defense: 27
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 15
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0xb4a6cb8
Item Level: 47
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+25 to Attack Rating
+29% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
200% Extra Gold from Monsters
27% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Light Radius

Natalya's Soul
Mesh Boots
Defense: 152
Durability: 66 of 116
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0x842ee4e2
Item Level: 70
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+40% Faster Run/Walk
+109 Defense
Heal Stamina Plus (Based on Character Level) +20%
Cold Resist +24%
Lightning Resist +20%
+50 Maximum Durability

Smoke
Superior Ghost Armor
NefLum
Defense: 224
Durability: 22 of 22
Required Level: 37
Required Strength: 38
Fingerprint: 0x8bd5b757
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+90% Enhanced Defense
+280 Defense vs. Missile
+10 to Energy
All Resistances +50
-1 to Light Radius
Increase Maximum Durability 12%
Level 6 Weaken (18/18 Charges)
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Nef Rune
Socketed: Lum Rune

Lore
Full Helm
OrtSol
Defense: 25
Durability: 30 of 30
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 41
Fingerprint: 0x8ece86d3
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
+10 to Energy
Lightning Resist +30%
Damage Reduced by 7
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+2 to Light Radius
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune

Ring of Fortune
Ring
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x63e32c9a
Item Level: 52
Version: Expansion 1.10+
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Scintillating Ring of Worth
Ring
Required Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0xbee8d02f
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Minimum Damage
All Resistances +12

Chromatic Amulet of the Whale
Amulet
Required Level: 41
Fingerprint: 0xa3488b99
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+88 to Life
All Resistances +25

Gnarled Staff of Teleportation
Gnarled Staff
Two Hand Damage: 4 - 12
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 30
Fingerprint: 0xbd6030ef
Item Level: 57
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Lightning Mastery (Sorceress Only)
Level 3 Teleport (24/41 Charges)

Spirit
Superior Broad Sword
TalThulOrtAmn
One Hand Damage: 7 - 14
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 48
Fingerprint: 0xc64cc397
Item Level: 38
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
+31% Faster Cast Rate
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 to Attack Rating
Adds 1 - 50 Lightning Damage
Adds 3 - 14 Cold Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
Adds 75 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
7% Life stolen per hit
+250 Defense vs. Missile
+22 to Vitality
+107 to Mana
+7 Magic Absorb
Increase Maximum Durability 10%
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Amn Rune

Rhyme
Bone Shield
ShaelEth
Defense: 10
Chance to Block: 40
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0x5359710c
Item Level: 30
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+40% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +25
Cannot Be Frozen
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Eth Rune

Spoiler: Charms

Sapphire Grand Charm of Shock
Grand Charm
Required Level: 22
Fingerprint: 0x158d1c79
Item Level: 50
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 1 - 3 Lightning Damage
Cold Resist +30%

Coral Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 15
Fingerprint: 0xae3d2c07
Item Level: 20
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +25%

Bronze Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0xbd2d122b
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Attack Rating
+20 to Life

Garnet Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 20
Fingerprint: 0x3ee090df
Item Level: 45
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+8 to Life
Fire Resist +8%

Small Charm of Inertia
Small Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0xd158484
Item Level: 76
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3% Faster Run/Walk

Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x87223da3
Item Level: 69
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+16 to Life

Tangerine Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0x913e39fb
Item Level: 9
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Life
Lightning Resist +4%

Rugged Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x5849c7a8
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+13 Maximum Stamina
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Shimmering Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x63f08f64
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
All Resistances +5

Emerald Small Charm of Flame
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0xed70221
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 1 - 2 Fire Damage
Poison Resist +10%

Coral Grand Charm of Strength
Grand Charm
Required Level: 15
Fingerprint: 0xada64188
Item Level: 43
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+6 to Strength
Lightning Resist +24%

Spoiler: Waheed the lazy

Mercenary:

Name: Waheed
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Off-Nightmare
Experience: 69444992
Level: 83
Dead?: false

Naked/Gear
Strength: 183/188
Dexterity: 147/152
HP: 1687/1687
Defense: 1245/1714
AR: 1889/353243

Fire: 162/122/62
Cold: 192/152/92
Lightning: 162/122/62
Poison: 162/122/62

Duskdeep
Full Helm
Defense: 50
Durability: 23 of 30
Required Level: 17
Required Strength: 41
Fingerprint: 0xb9a97391
Item Level: 55
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+8 to Maximum Damage
+33% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
All Resistances +15
Damage Reduced by 7
-2 to Light Radius


Treachery
Superior Wire Fleece
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 419
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 111
Fingerprint: 0xd50ad0d7
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Chance to cast level 15 Fade when struck
25% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
Increase Maximum Durability 11%
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Lem Rune

Insight
Battle Scythe
RalTirTalSol
Two Hand Damage: 71 - 155
Durability: 34 of 65
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 82
Required Dexterity: 82
Fingerprint: 0x5aa9c888
Item Level: 43
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Level 13 Meditation Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Cast Rate
246% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
186% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
Adds 75 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
+5 to Critical Strike
All Stats +5
+2 to Mana after each Kill
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Ral Rune
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune

 

[DaveW]

Nice job russel, my first ever Patriarch and Guardian was a summoner Necro (aka the Fishymancer, altho NightFish did say he did borrow some of the ideas from other players)

Don't forget you can resuurect skellies from Pindle's garden prior to heading out on a MF run. Good MF targets include WSK 2 and 1. WSK 3 has too many high physical rezz monsters that can slow down runs. The Pits are also great as well and Najs Puzzler when you get it will do you way better than any tele staff (until we get Enigma :wink).

As for the merc a Tals mask is a good life leech option. You can give him a big bad Obedience (Partizan, Thresher, GPA) for the massive damage and make an Insight Iron Golem with your junky 4 socketed polearms (poleaxes, battle scythes). Just don't hotkey Clay Golem and accidently delete the IG. Decripify is enough for boss kills. If you need added safety on bosses, give the merc a Kelpie Snare or Blackhorns Face.

Being a HC player myself predominantly, I feel you need some form of crowd control, an attribute I believe you don't currently have. Please get a point in Attract. It's amazing. Anything that keeps monsters off your back is a good thing.

I'm sure other TZ MF areas are also suited for the CE/Summoner but I'm not expert on that. Hopefully others can help you out with that. Laters and GL!

 

[Maltatai]

I was on a nightshift when an elderly patient shuffled out of her room. She pointed her finger at me and said "I'll get you! I'll get you for what you did to me Billy, you snake!"
My name is not Billy. I thought it was pretty funny so I called my necromancer Billy.

You and Stan Marsh!

I have actually never thought about how incredibly fitting it is that a necromancer wears a 'ghost' armour.

My second died at level 79 in the Drifter Caverns in Hell when some Might Moon Lords surrounded me and I foolishly tried to teleport out instead of saving + exiting (or simply running backwards).

Ouch.

Have I missed something obvious or did he end up with a lot of unspent skillpoints?

@DaveW

Being a HC player myself predominantly, I feel you need some form of crowd control, an attribute I believe you don't currently have. Please get a point in Attract. It's amazing. Anything that keeps monsters off your back is a good thing.

Attract is powerful indeed but I found it can lure in so many monsters that sometimes the summoned army splits up too much, so each minion deals too little damage versus its opposite number. Bone walls can have a similar effect.

 

[Russell.s]

...Don't forget you can resuurect skellies from Pindle's garden prior to heading out on a MF run. Good MF targets include WSK 2 and 1. WSK 3 has too many high physical rezz monsters that can slow down runs. The Pits are also great as well and Najs Puzzler when you get it will do you way better than any tele staff (until we get Enigma :wink).

As for the merc a Tals mask is a good life leech option. You can give him a big bad Obedience (Partizan, Thresher, GPA) for the massive damage and make an Insight Iron Golem with your junky 4 socketed polearms (poleaxes, battle scythes). Just don't hotkey Clay Golem and accidently delete the IG. Decripify is enough for boss kills. If you need added safety on bosses, give the merc a Kelpie Snare or Blackhorns Face.

Being a HC player myself predominantly, I feel you need some form of crowd control, an attribute I believe you don't currently have. Please get a point in Attract. It's amazing. Anything that keeps monsters off your back is a good thing.

I'm sure other TZ MF areas are also suited for the CE/Summoner but I'm not expert on that. Hopefully others can help you out with that. Laters and GL!

Great suggestion about Pindle's skellies, I did not know I could steal those! Thanks for the tip. And insight IG is a good idea too, although I find it often dies, and I don't have a completely unlimited source of runes.

Have I missed something obvious or did he end up with a lot of unspent skillpoints?

Thanks Maltatai. You're right, Billy has a heap of unused skillpoints. I'm not actually sure what to spend them on. Nothing seems particularly worthwhile. Perhaps more points in Golem Mastery so an Insight Iron Golem can last longer?

 

[DaveW]

Yep Attract can bring the enemies closer together ...... but thats exactly what you want for CE to do it's magic!