1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Well I have been following some of the early game guides to help me remember when to best find/gamble/shop etc. and decided to power shop for some "of sounding" knives and +1 skill gloves. Boy was I crazy to think that was a good idea.

Once I got started I couldn't stop... Almost two hours went by while I kept searching. I at least found a little bit of good gear to help out like 25 mf 10 fire res gloves for the barb. One of the guides said Asheara would have of sounding balanced knives and dirks so I started off checking only those for the suffix. After about a half hour I started checking all of the blades because I could remember finding war swords, long swords, etc with the suffix while playing and sure enough finally found a battle sword of sounding after about an hours time. After another 45 minutes or so the great( I think??) sword of sounding was in the shop. I was not as astounded by the boost I gained as I was hoping, but every bit for BO and Shout help.

I was also shopping Hralti and found a couple of decent hammers with some +ed% +max dmg to get me around 39 and 43 max damage I believe it was. The double swing speed and glitched crit strike make him a pretty wicked dude now. LCS showed ~110 max dmg which I am happy with for now. There were some +1 bow/xbow +2 str (crap mod but better than nothing) gloves and a decent starting horn bow for when I decide to start my old favorite multi/lf hybrid zon.

Looking forward to getting through A3 so I can get some Mephy runs or Trav runs for items and money to gamble with. Also looking forward to some +class skill gear in A4 to help boost those warcries a little more.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I would definitely say to get to Mephy and start running him as opposed to fretting too much with shopping. A Barb is especially good at that because he can jump the moat and can be loaded with some nice MF.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Are the drops from normal Meph really worth the running in comparison to trying to plow through A4/5 and get to NM Countess? I don't have ATMA atm(on work computer) so I can't check all of the drop rates for each of them. But going from your guide it sounds as though it may be better to switch to p1-3 and try getting to those special drops from Countess instead of running Meph.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Keep in mind that NM Countess is only bugged for TC, not ilvl, so she doesn't drop any uniques that she's not supposed to drop. She CAN drop runes, blues, yellows, and greens (including LoH) she's not supposed to be able to drop though. BTW, same goes for Griswold and the Smith.

But, if you want a Strength or Black Battle Hammer, she can provide the runes, so it might be worth it.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Well getting a Strength may be my best bet for a better weapon unless some amazing rare drops between here and there. That crushing blow and ll should make for some easy boss running and levelling even if the ed% is low. Would dual strengths get up to 50% cb or does it not stack from being on separate weapons? I just can't remember the rule on that one. Too bad steel can't be made in a hammer, that 25 ias would be great. Black has the KB so it won't go well with the frenzy.

Will go after Meph a few times for the fun of it and keep moving on to try and get some runes and a pair of LoH. The IAS and fire res will be very nice. NM Andy still a good place for jewelry in .09? And for a final question on your awesome expertise, where did you find your schaeffer's mallet? I'll be searching for those to optimally finish the build. With it being a higher TC I'm thinking those A5 85's are going to be the best place?
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

A85s as they exist now don't exist in 1.09. The closest parallel are the Hell Act 5 cold caves (CP, FR, GT, AW, etc.). That's actually where I found my Schaefer's. I also found Tal's Armor there as well.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Ahh, yes... Meant those 90 lvl (92/93) baddies, not A85's... I knew Pindle had a high TC from running him to death back then. The PindleBot was the first to hit the realms back then too b/c Pindle was capable of dropping, IIRC, anything or very close to it. That and it was such a simple process and easy map; no mass programming code line crap like how they run bots now. Re-reading the last bit of your guide cleared up my confusion. Been looking over it and so much stuff I keep getting mixed up.

I'm glad that I'm starting with the frenzy barb. I'm thinking/hoping that he will be able to tackle those cold caves with pretty good ease once I get there given no PI's. I'm especially glad I did not go with the FO sorc since it's mostly CI's down there. I guess being able to easily add a good second element skill (.09 bonus!) would cure that but I'm a big FO lover.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Be warned though, a PI Fana/might boss Frenzytaur (irritatingly common in CP/AW) will be a challenge for even the toughest Frenzy barb. I suggest a significant investment in Berzerk.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Well if that is the least of my worries I'm okay with that. I was hoping a 1 pointer would do the trick for those PI's but the frenzytaurs are lethal if not taken out fast.

I've been trying to decide what to pump more out of all the different skills. Frenzy is a must for the added speed, even though the damage increase is not that great per level. I've been spending other saved points in BO and will keep going with that and frenzy. Mastery will be a given but I'm going to put points in slowly there. But I can't decide on whether to put more points in shout to up defense later on since I won't be using a shield or to put those towards mastery and maybe item find to hork. I know that if I invest in shout I need to max to make it even start to be worth it once hell comes around. Shifting to a might merc in NM will also drop def some so maybe the focus on damage and leech will be more important. Choices, choices...

As for progress, I plowed through A3 and took out Mephy in about 2 hours last night. My fire res was awful vs the shaman's, blood lords, and hydra's. NDE several times in durance 3 versus mini council and 2 champ packs of blood lords. All rushed me and the meteors/FW were killer.

I finally started getting some decent drops! Hooray! Noteworthy was a Ravenclaw(!!:D) in Durance 1, chancies in Upper Kurast (only 28%), Iratha cuffs, and isenharts helm. I was stoked to see the Ravenclaw. Could not believe it! Even though I was not running through 1.09 to find one in particular it is a definite plus for if I make any 1.13 chars later on. Mephy dropped rares and I'm excited to see if more good questing drops come while working through A4 and A5.

While checking the drop rates I noticed the players setting only made a difference on Baal's drops for some of those high end elites. The bump was at p3 and p5 with a decent gain for each, but the others listed under cold caves super uniques did not show any difference based on /p setting in the ATMA calculator. When you've done your runs have you used the different /p settings to try for better drops and noticed a difference either way? According to the said info the cold caves could be ran at p1 and meph/baal at p3/5 for good mf returns.
 
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Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

You don't get any different drops from 1.09 act bosses on first kill than subsequent kills. Grats on the RC - I'm sure that will make it's way forward. Did you notice the Shaman packs, especially at the bottom of the Flayer Dungeon? Those can get hurty too.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Those shamans were where the trouble started. Luckily I rolled a 20 fire res ammy when cubing rings so that helped. Also had 10 fire res on my mf gloves so that started helping too. The bottom of the flayer dungeon put the icing on the cake for those shamans though. The 5 infernoes shooting off at a time were too much for the merc, though he lasted longer than expected.

I never remembered resists being such a big issue in .09 as I am seeing now (outside of MSLE's). Maybe my memory is failing me or lack of questing after so long from Bnet rushes. Like I've seen from you, I think the T-Gods solution took care of any real concerns with resists and the "easier" baddies made things less intense.

I did remember about the first kill bonus getting added in later. What about players setting scaling? Do you do your mf runs at p1 or bump them up to 3/5/8? The drop calculator shows that it only makes a difference on the bosses and not super uniques like those in the cold caves.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Doing boss or SU runs on any setting other than P1 would be for the XP. I think bosses drop a little better on P3, but Us/SUs do not and it's not worth the additional time for the drops alone. I ran cold caves on P3 for the XP and better chest pops, but they are much easier on P1.

Yeah, 1.09 isn't the cakewalk it's considered by some. The high level boss auras/curses, MSLE, unbreakable immunities, and certain boss packs (Shamans & Unravelers) are a definite challenge.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

BTW, as I was running 1.09 Mephy for TGod's last night, I noticed again something I had been noticing off and on for a while... when a monster hits my barb, het gets cold. That really had me scratching my head. There's nothing in his gear that should do that, but I've noticed it several times.

Well, a pair of 48%MF War Travs dropped, so I switched out those for the 42MF Travs he had on, and that's when I saw it - Attacker Takes Damage of 6. He has some cold damage charms too, so I think that ATD + Cold Damage acts like kind of a Frozen Armor in 1.09. Anyone want to test that?

This quest for a TGod's for my Zon project is becoming epic - no TGods, but a Stormshield, Occy, Shako, Glad Bane, Nos Coil (from Meph himself this time), BKWB, and Mara's (28) have all dropped in the meantime. I'm really not gonna complain about that, actually.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Yeah it's definitely not the cakewalk that I remember it to be. But that's after I got somewhat wealthy. I remember the difficulty when I first started. Part of that was the lack of good skill choices. But the rest is definitely showing that it's as difficult as 1.10+ from the gear changes and synergies, etc.

Grats on all the good drops so far and the nice roll on the Mara's. Can't wait to be in your shoes later on and start getting some real gear. I pushed forward into A4 last night but was too tired to go past the river wp from the late late questing of the night before. I'm dead tired today from the lack of moderate sleep. The daily commute (~95 miles each way) is taking it's toll too especially with the bad wind lately.

Anyways... Diablo will more than likely be taken out tonight as long as I can stay awake for it. I don't think I've been more excited to be playing this game for a long time now. It's great revisiting .09 and sharing the venture with some people while I'm at it.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I'm glad this blast from the past is rekindling your excitement for the game - the endgame challenges are actually pretty different from 1.13.

Get your Barb some quality time with Hell Meph, and you will be in my shoes soon enough.

Good luck with Big D. Have your finger on the fat purple for when he lays down that fire carpet.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Just a quick update to let you all know I'm still alive :)

I have been very busy at work and haven't had nearly any time for D2. Today I ran mephisto for an hour but after another rare shako I decided I prefer hitting the gym :) So I don't know how often I'll play from now on out, but I'm not quitting altogether! :)
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Yea mephisto is notoriously cruel.... I have been doing 100 runs a night and for a few days now not even picked anything up to identify.

Still looking for a war travs, vipermagi, string of ears, tgods, soj, mara, etc...

Running with 350 to 400% mf on the frenzy barb. Just a matter of time i suppose.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Yeah, the dry spells are tough, but just wait for one of the generous spells and it will all be worth it. Or, do what I'm doing and run for TGods, then he will drop you everything else.
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Well Im sure i havnt ran nearly as much as you. I started running meph at lvl 60 with the barb. Once i got 2 cruel swords cubed i switched from players 3 to players 8. He is now in the mid 80's strictly from meph exp. He did get a shako and an oculus for the nova sorc im planning. Would be great to get the wizzy and viper though.

Pretty sure but arach belt was much later then 1.09 right?
 
Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Unless you are doing it for the XP, I'd suggest running Mephy at no higher than P3. Wizzy and Skin are both very handy for a Nova Sorc - I'd also start rolling Caster Ammys so you can hit the 105 FCR with Wizzy, Skin, Lidless and the caster ammy - that will allow Frosties instead of Magefists (for the mana, which you will need for your Nova sorc).

Arach is 1.10+ only, yes. My sorcs ran with TGods.
 
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