1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

[mouseman1]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I've got a big find.

With Static Field lvl 17 you can use Static with the moat trick. With lvl 17 static, Mephisto is in range and won't attack you at all.

If you combine that with 1.09 static bugs, that means you can safely static mephisto to a sliver even with p3 or p8.

If you combine that with 1.09b and the ability to change players settings up to 64...

Right now I've been running hell mephisto on p16. I've got about 300% MF on me, negative resists and what not. But it's 100% safe, just moat trick him, static to a sliver and cast FW (or any ranged AoE attack, even orb reaches, but only barely).

The XP is good and it's very fast with some FCR. I tried going up to p32 but static didn't work at all. I find p16 to be quite good, since you still have to kill Mephisto with some spell - so really high player settings would slow down the process (even the sliver would take some time).

So I would recommend anyone starting 1.09b to do it with a sorceress. Just boost static field so you can start static moat tricking mephisto as soon as you reach him. That way you can lvl and get items at the same time in an efficient way. Remember, lvl 17 static field is enough, but I find that lvl 18 static field speeds up the process (because sometimes mephisto wanders off a bit).

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Yeah, thefranklin did some testing with 1.09b Mephy and I think he found the player setting cutoff at 19 for the static bug effect.

That's a great find and I will reference it in my 1.09 Guide - level 17 static has a wide enough field to work over the Moat.

I'm surprised you haven't found a Wizzy yet - those tend to drop with some regularity in my experience, but we all know just how fickle the game is with drops.

Yeah, 1.09 CS is tough - I think Steven Q Urkel called 1.09 de Seis a "complete n00b" - he spawns with a group of OKs in 1.09.

 

[mouseman1]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Yeah, after some thinking, I'm probably going to push the players setting as high as possible. I'll report back here what is the exact number. Though I found out that it can varie from game to game - p7 Shenk is sometimes bugged and sometimes not. p16 Mephisto was at least bugged solid.

It would be good to mention that while lvl 17 static fields range (14 yard) is enough, it is more confortable with, say, lvl 20 static field (16 yard). That way you won't have to be right on the edge of Mephistos range (it can be dangerous if you don't know the range exactly) and it doesn't matter if Mephisto wanders back a little bit (he moves a little, sideways and back and forth sometimes). But lvl 17 is the minimum requirement.

Yeah, only elite unique I've found is a nosferatu's coil. But with this static moat trick I'm going to speed up the process, pile on MF and gain some levels while doing it. Wish me luck!

 

[thefranklin]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Here is my post related to bugged static-ing meph:
http://www.purediablo.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7743547&postcount=8

 

[Steven Q Urkel]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Yeah, 1.09 CS is tough - I think Steven Q Urkel called 1.09 de Seis a "complete n00b" - he spawns with a group of OKs in 1.09.

Wouldn't be at all surprised if I did. :whistling: What really gets me is de Seis is an Oblivion Knight, which is classified as a Mage, I thought, and Mage does Elemental and/or Magic damage, but de Seis always spawns with Fanatacism, which is supposed to boost Physical Damage only. :crazyeyes: So either I have a fundamental misunderstanding regarding how the game mechanics work (which is very possible, to be honest) or the nub nubs at Blizzard North really screwed something up with the game code for de Seis.

But now that I think about it, I think that little bugger Duriel in Hell is an even bigger n00b than de Seis. I've seen that big ugly roach take away half my life in just one hit.......and he was half a screen away!!!!!! WTF. My sorc even has a Stormshield, too. And if the moron manages to 1) survive NM Baal, and 2) survive Hell Andariel, 99% of the time Duriel one hit kills him. Epic duh. I don't know if his charge attack is major bugged or if it was designed to be that strong, but even with the static bug Hell Duriel is definitely no picnic.

 

[mouseman1]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Here is my post related to bugged static-ing meph:
http://www.purediablo.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7743547&postcount=8

Interesting. Did you static him over the moat, too? Because what I really like is to be able to static mephisto from a safe distance. You have to be tough to take on mephistos melee attack on p19! Not much room for MF gear, I think.

However, according to the wiki player settings over 8 increases monster HP by 50% but experience only by 5%. So going from p8 -> p19 you get only 55% increase in experience and 550% increase in life. Even if you static him down, that will slow you down and not be efficient. He doesn't drop any better and you gain more XP by killing him faster.

At p8 he already gives 450% (4,5 times) XP and at p19 he gives 505% (~5 times) XP. At the same time you've gone from 6,2 times life to 11,5 times life. So while it feels like a criminally good thing, it actually isn't.

But yeah, I could use that shako

 

[thefranklin]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

It was a rushed sorc from 1.07 with a 1.07 setup of only orb, static, and tele. I did not use the moat trick, although I did have maxed static and could have. Mephistos ranged attacks are not hard to dodge at all. I have also found a few wizspikes so my resistances are fine, I just have to be careful on the mf switch.

You are correct in saying it is probably not helpful to run him at higher players settings. My sorc is a lower level so I liked the experience, although most of my runs were at p3. I would argue that p8 and p19 take the same amount of time due to static, but I am not sure of what exactly the bug is. Does he get static'd to 50% of his p1 life? Either way, at p8 or p19 you are going to overstatic because you cannot tell exactlly how much of a sliver he has left. Using the moat trick and firewall I bet you wouldn't really notice a difference because you can let the flames burn him while you keep using static field.

 

[mouseman1]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Normally, on p1, mephisto is static'd only to 50%. On higher player settings (p2-p19, afaik) he can be static'd down to a sliver.

I find it faster to finish him off with a firewall, once he has something like between 1/10th and 1/20th of life left. Firewall just starts to make more damage at some point than static. And at that point, p8 is faster than p19. So, if you'd like to optimize mf run time and XP, I'd personally say p8 is best.

I'd estimate that it takes about 50 runs on p8 to level from lvl 79 to lvl 80. So it's great from lvls 70-75, but nice from 75-80. Don't know after that.

Quick question about crafting: is there something I should know about 1.09 crafting? At what level can you start crafting the best caster amulets?

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Normally, on p1, mephisto is static'd only to 50%. On higher player settings (p2-p19, afaik) he can be static'd down to a sliver.

I find it faster to finish him off with a firewall, once he has something like between 1/10th and 1/20th of life left. Firewall just starts to make more damage at some point than static. And at that point, p8 is faster than p19. So, if you'd like to optimize mf run time and XP, I'd personally say p8 is best.

I'd estimate that it takes about 50 runs on p8 to level from lvl 79 to lvl 80. So it's great from lvls 70-75, but nice from 75-80. Don't know after that.

Quick question about crafting: is there something I should know about 1.09 crafting? At what level can you start crafting the best caster amulets?

I did my crafting with level 90+ characters for the chance for +2 skills - but that has a hefty lvl req of 89 to use, too.

 

[mouseman1]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Ok, thanks, so I have to hold on to my crafting supplies for a little bit longer.

I've been running mephisto and I'm now lvl 81½. Even with 294% MF and p8 I've been unlucky. Well, I got Arreat's Face, which is a great find, but I've yet to find anything truly great for my character or mercenary, even if there are lots and lots of stuff I'd really like. I've seen a lot bone knives and shakos, but not unique ones.. Oh, also found a perfect Kelpie Snare - too bad it isn't ethereal!

MF'ing on SP is a new experience for me. I always hated that I had to search the boss on every run in bnet. It's refreshing and I've found uniques I have literally never heard about, such as:

Spoiler

The Dragon Chang
Spear
Two-Hand Damage: 13 to 15
Durability: 29 of 30
Required Dexterity: 20
Required Level: 8
Spear Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 90
Fingerprint: 0xdbe5d87
+35 to Attack Rating
+10 to Minimum Damage
Adds 3-6 fire damage
+2 to Light Radius
100% Damage to Undead

Or:

Spoiler

Crow Caw
Tigulated Mail
Defense: 537
Durability: 30 of 36
Required Strength: 86
Required Level: 37
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 90
Fingerprint: 0xf5964570
+15 to Dexterity
+180% Enhanced Defense
15% Increased Attack Speed
15% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Open Wounds

I now have found over 50% of items in 1.09, but I'm still missing the following items I've originally set out to find: wizardspike (1:542), harlequin crest (1:970), skin of the vipermagi (1:459), the oculus (1:1412), hone sundan (1:723), duriel's shell (1:549), blackhorn's face (1:551), tal rasha's mask (1:236), silkweave boots (1:1145), ali baba (1:554), thundergod's vigor (1:1279), moser's (1:736), shaftstop (1:1150), raven claw (1:224).. Out of unique jewelry I've only found nokozan relic, two nagelrings and one raven frost. Good finds have been few and far apart and I haven't even found that much useful stuff for other character classes. Maybe it's just 1.09 droprates that are getting to me. Usually people say that something like 500 hell mephisto runs will get you most of the not-too-rare useful items. I won't expect them all to drop, but some of them could. Well, I guess I just have to give it another 500 runs! Maybe some of the really good items will drop and balance my luck (like war traveler's, vampire gaze, tal's amulet, SoJ or something like that).

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Welcome to the wonderful world of SP MFing - it sure is nice knowing where you are going, isn't it? The ease of muling with ATMA is just cake.

So you are finding all the worthless uniques and the useful ones elude you.... hmm, that doesn't sound like D2 at all! :whistling:

That's a lot of stuff to elude you - the Tal's Mask especially surprises me because those dropped like crazy for me. Stick with it, those items should drop for you soon enough (The gold Death Mask is also good for a merc if you can get leech somewhere else). TGod's is my favorite belt in 1.09 - the immunity to MSLE it grants (combined with decent LR) makes it pretty hard to replace, and I think you will agree once you give it a try and laugh at the first MSLE you encounter.

1.09 drop rates are indeed lower than 1.10+ - I THINK you get a default 100% MF by 1.09 standards as the baseline in 1.10+.

Keep in mind that Honor in a spear or polearm will work until the Hone drops - also Blackleach Blade and The Meat Scraper are also good alternatives.

 

[Kestegs]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

What would be the best barb build to get up to level 99? I assume that this is best done in cows, but what is the best skill to use? I'm pretty sure I remember Robby saying he has a level 99 barb, or close at least, so I am curious as to your experience with barbs.

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

My Frenzy Barb is level 98, but WW barbs have always been a little more popular, from what I understand. I would not suggest a slow hitting barb like a Concentrator for cows. I know for a fact that a good frenzy barb is P8 Cows-capable.

 

[Kestegs]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Cool, I miss my frenzy barb, so that would be fun!

I am not sure on how skills stack up to 1.13, are they the same as 1.13 just not synergized? or is there a skill planner or resource of some kind for higher skill levels?

 

[jiansonz]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I am not sure on how skills stack up to 1.13, are they the same as 1.13 just not synergized?

Pretty much, yeah. Monster life (in NM and Hell) is a lot lower in 1.09, though, so the skills do not need to do as much damage. However, there is a +50% global physical resistance in Hell (which means that Stone Skin bosses are nearly always PI).

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

At least a point, and preferably a few points, are required in Berzerk for all the PIs in Hell.

 

[mouseman1]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Welcome to the wonderful world of SP MFing - it sure is nice knowing where you are going, isn't it? The ease of muling with ATMA is just cake.

So you are finding all the worthless uniques and the useful ones elude you.... hmm, that doesn't sound like D2 at all! :whistling:
...
1.09 drop rates are indeed lower than 1.10+ - I THINK you get a default 100% MF by 1.09 standards as the baseline in 1.10+.

Keep in mind that Honor in a spear or polearm will work until the Hone drops - also Blackleach Blade and The Meat Scraper are also good alternatives.

You are right in many things, there! I probably shouldn't get frustrated so easily! I'm just at a point where I can play only a couple hours per week but I still think D2 more than that.

I actually have Meat Scraper and I have both rockstopper and stealskull, so I'm not that bad off. I put Ort Shael and Sol runes in my Griswold's armor, so my merc stays alive in Hell quite good. It's my own gear I'm more worried about!

However, I've been doing more mephisto runs and the XP is still good, altough it changes funnily. I'm not sure about what I'm seeing so I decided I should get to the bottom of this (and maybe make a miniguide about static moating 1.09 meph for items and xp). If anybody can help me with 1.09 knowledge / math, feel free to check here!

EDIT: Ran mephisto some more. Found a 200% ED Bartuc's (range 150-200)! Too bad the life leech is only 5% (range 5-9) :\ Still, a very nice find!

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

EDIT: Ran mephisto some more. Found a 200% ED Bartuc's (range 150-200)! Too bad the life leech is only 5% (range 5-9) :\ Still, a very nice find!

If you want to see some buggy 1.09 action, take an Assassin through the game. She tries to attack her SM and Merc if Phoenix Strike is on the RMB.

 

[Enochdarg]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Hello to anyone who still plays 1.09. I too have long ago played 1.9 on the bnet realms. i recently tried to get back into the game on 1.13 but with the new "progress" i couldnt do it.

I found it to be so much more fun when you could find usefull items. And not just wait for others to dupe the required runes to make a good item.

So my first character back was a orb meteor sorc. Just finished hell and will now concentrate on finding some goodies to make her a better cow killer and to make my second character a barb.

Still deciding on whether to go with frenzy or WW. From reading Robby's posts frenzy seems to be the way to go?

Well i am off to try getting a oculus and vipermagi to drop. It has been years, but i think mephy is the best place to get both of those eh?


This game was so fun for me back in the 1.9 days. Hopefully there are a few straglers out there still.

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Glad to have you, Enochdarg.

I like my Frenzy barb a lot, but to be honest I've never actually tried WW. I think WW was actually more popular, so either one is viable and a good character to use that famous 1.09 3-chip recipe on. A Barb makes an excellent Mephy runner since you can jump the moat, load him up with MF, and an extra benefit of Frenzy is that you can use a big 2-hand weapon on switch with Berzerk with that speed-up from Frenzy.

Mephy is indded the go-to for the majority of your gear needs. Hell Countess for runes (and she's actually really good for gear as well), but a MeteOrb is not well suited to running her.

Cows should cough up something nice too from time to time. My MeteOrb did the drop meteor/static/static/static/meteor-lands-all-dead approach.

You thought about a Bowazon too?