Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds
So, let me get this right (might be a noob question):
1) Player settings affect only the number of items being dropped (p3 is enough to eliminate no-drop chance on bosses)
2) It is completely random what type of items are dropped
3) Magic Find affects the quality of items being dropped (magic, rare, set, unique)
So players command just gives you more drops and that way more chances to get nice items, but you still need luck so that the game drops the type of items you need. And magic find helps you find more uniques of the type that do drop randomly and according to player setting.
Right?
Well, it depends on the source. From what I understand, uniques drop 1 item and SUs drop 2 items (aside from unique patterns like Countess) no matter the player setting. Player setting DOES impact the no-drop chance for regular monsters and regular chests, and for bosses. I'm not saying P3 eliminates the no-drop chance from Act bosses, but it makes it negilible. It does have a big impact on regular monster drops - so if you want nice things from cows, for instance, the higher the PX setting, the better.
Your understanding of MF is consistent with mine - the item generator picks the TC, etc. for the item drop before MF is considered (it's not completely random - each monster has it's own probabilities of each TC), then MF kicks in when the decision is made of blue, yellow, green, or gold.
***Update on GIEB_VEX***
Hell Act 5 Arreat Plateau WP - I'm finding that, even with 1500+ mana, questing on P3 requires regular blue pots, mana shrines, and/or springs. Monster HPs has really ramped up, but it's still true that an aggressive offense is her best defense - telestomping Nova still keeps the monsters on their heels, and it's a very effective way to keep the exploding turtles out of range. Thing is, she is about to take on CP with mana over twice health, so she has no hope of escaping Blood Mana. That means no telestomping, and FO will be largely useless. I've been pumping Meteor, and each point has a big impact on damage, but it's not where ClimateChange's Meteor was at this point, so this will put a big burden on the Merc to tank and be effective. She'll have to go as a classic MeteOrber through these caves (at least until all witches are eliminated).
I've been thinking about the Ancients, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to switch to Occy/Rhyme Hyperion for them. I've been pumping Dex for listed blocking, so the 64% will be much preferable to 40%. I still MAY put the last 26 points into STR to wear the SS (I have the Larzuk to put a pDiamond in that). Any thoughts on this?
Oh, one other thing - I absolutely LOVE having TGod's on her and Blackhorn's face on the merc. LE's are just like life leech (unless they are Conviction).