Re: 1.07 News, Info and Gossip
Brief character update:
S_words the axe frenzy barb got up to level 68 and killed Hell Meph at the cost of 3 potions. Leap Attack got me past the extra-fast conviction Council pack and the HF SU council guy to the right, straight into Meph's lap. This left the merc to deal with the Hydras/Conviction/HF guy offscreen and somehow she didn't die while I frenzied Meph and drank 3 full rejuvs. The exact opposite of the travincal council experience which required 3 trips to town to get more rejuvs and axe repairs. Manaburn/stoneskin/teleport on one council SU and LE/ES/EF on another. No decent drops, but no NDEs. I was running LK for a shadow plate rack to complete Aldur's set, but I got bored with it since it wouldn't stay stable and moved on to Kurast Bazaar. On my 10th run, Gerke's Sanctuary dropped--wow this thing is good! 15 MDR/PDR and +1 vitality per level plus some other mods means that it is likely going on Fireface in short order. Resists are 75/7/75/-20 with 2500 life, so A4 is going to be easier than most, but not a cakewalk. No CBF gear for this guy yet.
Fireface the Hurricane/Hunter smashed his way through most of NM A5. The Ancients killed all but my Solar Creeper and HotW before I dispatched the last one with Buriza socekted with an Eth rune. Most the time I don't even need the xbow, as Hurricane was at L25 with + skills gear and the 3 L30 Dire Wolves + HotW + Might merc kill so quickly that I spend all my time running and recasting. I'm still wearing Sigon's Shelter and Spirit Shroud, but this armor is quickly becoming my favorite for A4 and A5 in NM--CBF, 10 pts MDR, and +1 skills make up for the lack of resists. This is the first character I've ever used Steel GCs on instead of +max damage due to his horrible AR on his own, but if Hell makes Buriza a poor choice I may have to switch them out for resist charms and keep the Spirit Shroud for the MDR and skills as the Gerke's will get socketed with a PDiamond. That CBF is pretty sweet as well, allowing me to reposition my Hurricane at will and get behind my meat shields.
I took Klaatu_Barata, the Bone/Golemancer out for a jaunt in the Arcane Sanctuary on Normal and the 4 PSapphire Gothic plate was an excellent choice. He throws spears and curses at will, though at L19 he is far from finished--lots of good twinking heads and wands coming up at L30!
I think I'm going to try out Cleglaw's set on my L6 paladin, though dropping the IAS of Arctic or Sigon's will be hard. The DS and increased damage of the sword is pretty tempting, though.
I tried out BF on my Assassin with + skills gear and it doesn't appear that poison carries over. However, CB may. The damage seems too swingy to just do the LCS damage, and I don't think it is taking 3/4 claw damage. Death Sentry is a beast even at L9 on Hell.