1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

While the Torch still eludes me, I do have another...

GRAILER ALERT!

Thunder Maul

The Cranium Basher

Grail -9 now - running out of non-TC90 S/Us to hope for.

WildBetty's on a freaking roll! Loving that Tal's 3-piece!

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Well the squid ate my last post. I said I figured RobbyD would be a little jealous of that torch of iro...

For the screen issue problems, glide wrapper might help? I've never tried it, just dealt with the smaller screen when playing windowed. You have to be a little more careful with your clicking but you get used to it after a while. The glide wrapper is linked somewhere in the SPF FAQ sticky. It might not work for the older patch, but I assume it shouldn't matter since it only affects the Glide GLI (AFAIK). Either way, let us know if you come up with a good solution.

Man RobbyD, you are tearing things up with your MFing. I am way out of the loop. It sounds like teh windeh is on it's way at least... Keep it up!

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Thanks, cheer - hopefully that motivates you to get your MF runners going (I didn't really start running Pindle in earnest until recently - I focused on Mephy for a very long time - enough to score a Doombringer and an Eaglehorn from him).

Here's my updated Flavie (In the hope that whenever I update and post a Flavie, I end up having to update it). Hopefully Pindle coughs up what I'm running him for so my poor Druids stop getting neglected.

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Hopefully I don't get the stink eye if I pick up the computer tonight to try and do some runs. I did help clean the whole house and installed our new washer last night... Our landlord is doing a walkthrough before we re-sign our lease so she's been worried about everything looking perfect. Looks 100x better than when we moved in. I've been trying to win some of those beta keys from CVG and have been totally unsuccessful. I hadn't realized they were only giving out 11 at a time every hour. What miniscule chances...

Have you been getting any good exceptionals dropping from Pindle? Other than what you mentioned a few posts ago? Pretty good odds or about as evenly spaced out as anything else? I'm debating on running Pindle for the chance at getting anything and everything versus running Meph for the higher chances of getting the useful exceptional gear I'm missing.

That cranium basher is pretty sick; too bad it wasn't eth with the indestructible mod on there. I wonder what that would look like on a whirler or zealadin with such high cb. Might even be a good item for your Drood with fury. Idk about the frame rates though... Always wanted to do something cool with a really big hammer like that.

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Hopefully I don't get the stink eye if I pick up the computer tonight to try and do some runs.

I actually had my game disc broken when I first got back into playing, so I'm feeling you there!

Have you been getting any good exceptionals dropping from Pindle? Other than what you mentioned a few posts ago? Pretty good odds or about as evenly spaced out as anything else? I'm debating on running Pindle for the chance at getting anything and everything versus running Meph for the higher chances of getting the useful exceptional gear I'm missing.

Pindle's an interesting case - yes, I've gotten some interesting and useful exceptionals from him - the ever-useful TGod's, a good Hone, a Skullder's - also some rarities like a Warpspear (more rare than the Windeh) - but his drops skew very much to high-end item types - quite a few Myrmidon Greaves, Thunder Mauls, Colossus Blades, etc. from him, but the unique frequency is a lot lower than Act Bosses. I've even gotten some TC90 item types from him.

But, if you're looking to gear up some characters with utility items like Skuller's, Blackhorn's (and, I've run Pindle, who never spawns MSLE, with a merc wearing Vamp's instead of Blackhorn's, and I reiterate my contention that Blackhorn's is much better for merc survivability for a well-equiped merc than Vamp Gaze except for Cows and Ancients - even normal LE will wear down a merc w/o Blackhorn's), Hone, LoH, Skin, Occy, Shako, etc., you are much better off running Meph OR EVEN Countess than Pindle. Countess actually drops really well if you have good map and a good runner (and, if I recall, you DO have a Nova Sorc - which is my #1 pick for a Countess runner) - but it's so easy to load up a Barb with obscene amounts of MF and run Mephy. Skuller's + Stealskull + War Trav and dual Ali Babas on kill switch and he destroys almost any other MF setup.

The only reason I prefer my Zon for Pindle running is that she does it so quick and clean with FA shattering the minions. But look at the comparison with the Tal's 3-Piece:

Helm (pT) + Armor (pT) + 15% Belt = 216% MF (and no light abs, but good MDR) Assuming 45% Travs, we're at 261% MF - good MF that comes with dual leech, good resists, etc. making it by-far the best setup for an MF Zon. A decent Langer Briser does get that over 300% so it is really good, but very hard to find the armor.

But look at what you can do with a Barb with his Nat Resists and dual wielding:

SS (45% + pT) + Skullder's (pT) + War Trav (45) + 2x Ali Baba on kill is sporting 424% MF on kill and that's with TGod's providing immunity to MSLE (for Baal running). You put some LoH on a good Frenzy Barb with a single point in Leap Attack and you have a Mephy-running machine.

That cranium basher is pretty sick; too bad it wasn't eth with the indestructible mod on there. I wonder what that would look like on a whirler or zealadin with such high cb. Might even be a good item for your Drood with fury. Idk about the frame rates though... Always wanted to do something cool with a really big hammer like that.

Yes, it IS quite sick! Thing is, I don't think anything indestructible spawns eth, so I don't think an eth Crainium Basher is possible. It's such a slow weapon, and the STR req is statospheric, so I don't think it well actually see use, but it looks VERY pretty in my Flavie! Somebody has mentioned a Cranium Basher Maul Zealot in my post about the best unique weapon, and if I were ever to do a Maul Zealot, I don't think any other build would come close in style. I know from experience that you can get a Pally to Zeal surprisingly fast with a slow weapon.

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I actually had my game disc broken when I first got back into playing, so I'm feeling you there!

That's a rofl my waffle right there! Definitely sucks! I'm sure my wife has felt that way about me playing before.

I'll get to work on my awesome Meph running barb again then. No baba's, no stealskull, no skullder's, no wartrav as of yet though. I do have goldwrap and LoH to go with my lovely CCBoQ though I'll be doing some p3 Meph runs if I can get away with it. Hopefully the wife doesn't have homework she needs to do on the laptop so I can play.

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Drop some pTopazes in any 4os armor and you have a Skuller's replacement. I actually used a number of different MF combinations as I advanced in my Mephy running. One was a wierd set combo where boots and ammy gave MF on the ammy and 8 res@ on the boots! And 3 pTopazes in a Barb helm with some nice staff skills is an easy way to get some MF as well. Just make sure to get some CR for those cold fastballs Mephy throws and some dual leech - have you socketed that sword yet?

If Mephy spawns with a might pack near him (Mephy gets Mighty), take extreme care!

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I put on a 4os pTopaz armor and the shako I traded you for. Should help with the res and the DR is a nice little bonus. The first run went very smooth, but then I had to get off. I have a nice map though at least. Put on some 30% boots (no other mods) vs. a 25% pair with some fire/poison res(neither of which I really need right now). I think I'm around 200 altogether. Shako w/ pTopaz, 4 pTopaz armor, 30% boots, a couple small charms with 5-7%, Goldwrap with 30, and Milabrega's on switch with the cruel mythical sword I rolled for the pally way back. Have a ll ring and a ml ring to take care of leeching, so I'm in pretty good shape thus far.

All I've put in the CCBoQ/CCB is an eth for the autohit. Haven't had any nice ED jewels yet to stick in there. Otherwise I'd have stuck something in there. I'm hoping for some 35+ ones to drop in the midst of all the cows runs but it hasn't happened yet. I had a low 30's one and a 30 one in my stash, but haven't beared down to use them yet in hopes of something slightly better. The thought of a 40/15 max... mmmmm

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Something like one of these?

Ruby Jewel of Carnage
Required Level: 58
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 74
Fingerprint: 0x4692c198
+36% Enhanced Damage
+15 to Maximum Damage

Ruby Jewel of Bliss
Required Level: 58
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0xc4eef44a
+37% Enhanced Damage
+7 to Minimum Damage

Ruby Jewel of the Icicle
Required Level: 58
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0xe36b8347
+40% Enhanced Damage
Adds 3-8 cold damage over 2 seconds

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

As a matter of fact, that's exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for 36/15 max, perfect 40%... yeah, yeah, yeah. You've just about got it all. Except those 9 grailers! yeah! And I've got one of em!

I just might get a little bit of playing in before I pass out from exhaustion here. Just maybe...

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Well, I stayed up wayyy too late now to get some runs in. I've got 341 MF on the kill switch after an ALI BABA dropped about 15 runs in. So I dumped the milabrega's and kept the eth'd cruel mythical sword to be able to hit quick and clean for the finish. Tried doing the ali baba with the melabrega's shield and it wasn't working out so well. Also managed to get ma'avina's gauntlets and naj's staff. Now I could have a teleport on switch solution for any of my non-sorc characters while they do runs. Another druid shapeshifting skiller dropped too. That gives me two of those now. And other than that no noteworthy drops. An undead crown two runs in a row was a little strange. I was very happy to see the ali baba drop though, that's the biggest jump I could have gotten to increase my MF. 341 is definitely feasible for me at this point. ptopaz shako+4ptopaz armor+ali baba(no ists yet )+goldwrap+30% boots+18% ring+12% charms makes me happy camper :drools:

Now I'm going to go get about 5 hours of sleep and go to work! woo hoo! Love being tired and trying to deal with gangsta hoodlums destroying my art room/supplies. At least I'm going on a mini vacation to a casino/hotel/indoor pool/arcade/bowling alley/laser tag/go karts/hibachi grill on Friday! Actually very excited for that one and not sarcastically like work!

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

GOGO Mephy-running Baba! Gratz on the sweet Ali Baba! Mila's shield? Really? "Rhyme" has more MF and also is actually a good shield, but even better would to just keep the Ali Baba on offhand and have a big stick for the kill (though an Eth and a Sheal in the Ali Baba would make it a lot better too). I wouldn't dump precious 1.09 Ists in an Ali Baba since those make nice 1.10s RWs (though, to be fair, I did drop one in my Nova Sorc's Wizzy, but that was after I had a tidy collection of them). If you get a good Stealskull, I think that's a better helm than Shako for a Mephy-running Baba because of the dual leech.

I had a lot of fun tweaking my Meph runner as stuff became available, and there are so many options for a Barb. I remember using Vidala's ammy + boots for a good while, and just upgraded gear as it became available.

I think a good discussion here would be good 1.09 MF builds, since I don't think it's the same as 1.13. For my money, my choices are:

Countess - Nova Sorc
Mephy - Frenzy Barb (use Leap Attack to jump over the moat and bypass the Council dudes and other random spawns)
Pindle - FA Zon - that right - she runs Pindle clean and fast and shatters the minions from a distance and avoids the FE bug
Cows - MeteOrb or LF Zon
Baal - WW Barb with max Zerk for PI Lister

What are your choices for MF runners in 1.09?

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I agree with all listed for the MF runners.

I might suggest LF/Multi/GA burizon for Baal as well. If there's some knockback with the buriza it puts a hurt on those waves and the GA destroys Baal.

I don't have results for the Pindle Pally yet, but I assume flashing sanctuary and then fanat+zeal or charge would quickly take out Pindle.

And I do think that a strategically played nova sorc can rock the socks off of cows as well.

I just haven't taken the time to find a good 2os shield to make a rhyme out of. for the 5% more MF, I'll stick with the cruel mythical paired with the ali baba. Ensures I get a quick, clean kill for now. I'll have to check into the Vidala's thing. Might be more beneficial than the 30% I'm getting for rare boots. It definitely seems worth it for the 20% boost to MF. I'd lose out on some +attributes from the Mahim Oak Curio I'd be taking off though and that will make me unable to equip my swords again. Tancreds ammy+boots nets even more with 78% mf, that'd be a boost of 48% and push me to 389%! But I'd run into the same issue with my stats. Will be looking at both of those options and going with one for the future. I'll get something worked out. The Stealskull will be nice if/when I find one so that I can switch out my leech rings for mf rings. I think I've got a couple of decent nagels. Maybe Andy will join my run list for some jewelry sometime soon.. Meteorb good for Andy in 1.09?

Taking the day off from work tomorrow, so I just might get some more runs in tonight. Hopefully the higher MF will help net me that many more items:scratchchin: I know it wouldn't be that much... but every little bit counts!

 

[thefranklin]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Great progress Robby and Emo10. I whirled with the cranium basher a bit in 1.13, so I can attest that it is slow . I don't think I ever shaeled it, though. I agree that zeal would be the best way to hit with it fast and hard. Add Atma's, and you have a 9% ctc amp.

What is the amount of runs required for your windy with the zon? If only you could rack one in 1.07. Do you have a lot of mf charms to load up on?

Darkness: Are you running the expansion and do you have it set at 800*600? It shouldn't be too bad and the best answer has already been mentioned which is just adjust your screen resolution to a lower value to play. What setup do you have, size and # monitors, os, etc? Do you have access to xp mode on win7?

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I never ran Andy in 1.09, but MeteOrb pwns Andy in 1.10a. Probably have to take care of the merc, but I think it's like 1.10a where all the monsters die when Andy dies, so 5 secs of static and meteors and she's dead - plus the 'port for the journey - yeah, I bet that's the best for Andy running.

I'd suggest picking up gray Heaters and Hyperions - those are my favorite Rhyme bases.


***EDIT***

Doing some theory crafting - seems like a Maul Zealot Pally (Cranium Basher, though he would have to rely on IK Maul to Pat) would actually be a build to put that Veil of Steel to use for the huge resists (no shield) and +Str - but would the partial set of Gris Helm + Armor (Gris Helm is my only TC90 S/U) be better for when the Cranium Basher becomes available? I'd have to verify the +20STR partial set bonus exists for 1.09.

and do I really want to add to 1.09 builds past my hoped-for WF Strafer? This Maul Pally would definitely be my most stylish build if I did it, though, especially if I put my Gris pieces to use.

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

Ohh so some inspiration did come through for that cranium basher. It has to be a killer weapon. Shame it will take so long to get to though. Bonesnap should last you quite a while as well with the CB and give you a feel for how it goes. I'm not so sure about what to do for the armors. I remember trying out the Gris set on battle.net and it was not so stupendous... I might not have made the best build for it though at the same time. Worth a shot at least!

I'll even make it official. RobbyD, I challenge you to put that Cranium Basher to use! I'm sure you'll figure something out with your savvy planning skills.

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I agree with all listed for the MF runners.

I might suggest LF/Multi/GA burizon for Baal as well. If there's some knockback with the buriza it puts a hurt on those waves and the GA destroys Baal.

I don't have results for the Pindle Pally yet, but I assume flashing sanctuary and then fanat+zeal or charge would quickly take out Pindle.

And I do think that a strategically played nova sorc can rock the socks off of cows as well.

BuriZon does destroy Baal (bad) and his minions (especially with FA) UNLESS Lister is PI - then I usually find myself parking him because he's already FI - that's why the WW Barb gets the nod - nothing slows him down.

Fact is the BuriZon can do pretty much any MFing target if you manage to get some MF in her gear. That's why I like Tal's so much.

Sanctuary Pally runs Pindle just fine - the reason FA Zon gets the nod is the fact that she keeps the guys from resurrecting by shattering them.

I think I may have done one cow run with my Nova Sorc, but I would need to give up the 105 FCR for the safty of a Stormshield over Lidless. You're right though - play style makes all the difference with her.

 

[Klonki]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

So far i'm in act3, looking for the last piece of organ.. Just became 26 and pumping some points into HS. I have an idea to use the act3-merc but so far i still use my rouge, abit more effective so far. Found some runes, up to tir. I really want that tal to make stealth into a nice base.:scratchchin:

 

[cheerupemokid10]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

I wouldn't do too many in HS off the bat. Bank some points to double up in Fanat and Conviction. That way if you're having trouble hitting things ever you can switch to conviction. Or you can always throw an Eth in the weapon once you find one of those. Makes for an instant CtH solution.

I was just saying other builds that worked well, not the best per se. I find that teleporting to the side of a cow pack and then nova'ing while the HF merc slows everything works out really well. They slowly walk into your nova ring and you can keep your distance that way. Then you still have the 105 fcr bp and the hit recovery gets most of them from getting to you/your merc. A DR setup on the merc helps keep any hits he does take from knocking him out. Shaft+Vamp ftw in cows. I don't have a shaft yet unfortunately, so I've been using an Eth Viper and the extra skill seems to help out.

If you keep the sanctuary up, it does KB all the minions and you can tank on just pindle for the most part. Just have to worry about the others charging you and hope that the KB kicks in before they get to you. Otherwise you can Charge at him and push him back some then switch to zeal and keep the Sanctuary up. Gravepalm's work just like LoH for act bosses. The 200% ed to undead helps out.

When I used to MF with my old burizon, I went with a similar setup to your Meph barb setup. Skullder's, Stealskull, Wartrav, Goldwrap, MF rings/ammy, and it was great. Knockback anything with a Nef'd buriza or use Cleglaws for the KB/slow and it keeps everything from getting to you. That way the resists and other lacking things don't make as much of an impact.

 

[RobbyD]

Re: 1.09 Roll Call - Goals, Progress, Finds

What is the amount of runs required for your windy with the zon? If only you could rack one in 1.07. Do you have a lot of mf charms to load up on?

About 30,000 per ATMA - down to about 27,000 with my Frenzy Barb, but I find him a little more tedious to play and he uses the HF merc, so Pindle shatters fairly often, taking away from the benefit of horking. I've got the Zon pretty well packed with MF and FRW charms. Thing is, I've aleady gotten a number of items at approximately the same rarity, so I'm optimistic it won't take THAT long.

I'll even make it official. RobbyD, I challenge you to put that Cranium Basher to use! I'm sure you'll figure something out with your savvy planning skills.

I'll get back to you on whether I accept your challenge. The fact that Amp doesn't work with PIs makes that weapon a little less awesome, but of course a Pally has a good built-in PI solution, so we'll see

So far i'm in act3, looking for the last piece of organ.. Just became 26 and pumping some points into HS. I have an idea to use the act3-merc but so far i still use my rouge, abit more effective so far. Found some runes, up to tir. I really want that tal to make stealth into a nice base.:scratchchin:

I'm with cheer on this - I'd not worry about pumping HS at this point - it's most effective and worth maxing if you go with a Defiance merc. BTW - I checked my characters, and my Pally's Defiance merc has better resists at level 96 (46) than my NM mercs at level 98 (44). I wouldn't stick with a Rogue merc for a Pally unless you just want to run with a Lightning Hose merc (+3 skills), and a Pally is much less in need of that than, say, a Druid. If you DO stay with a Rogue merc, make sure she's a Fire Arrow merc, as that gets the same bugged damage as a Zon gets with the skill.

I wouldn't do too many in HS off the bat. Bank some points to double up in Fanat and Conviction. That way if you're having trouble hitting things ever you can switch to conviction. Or you can always throw an Eth in the weapon once you find one of those. Makes for an instant CtH solution.

I was just saying other builds that worked well, not the best per se. I find that teleporting to the side of a cow pack and then nova'ing while the HF merc slows everything works out really well. They slowly walk into your nova ring and you can keep your distance that way. Then you still have the 105 fcr bp and the hit recovery gets most of them from getting to you/your merc. A DR setup on the merc helps keep any hits he does take from knocking him out. Shaft+Vamp ftw in cows. I don't have a shaft yet unfortunately, so I've been using an Eth Viper and the extra skill seems to help out.

If you keep the sanctuary up, it does KB all the minions and you can tank on just pindle for the most part. Just have to worry about the others charging you and hope that the KB kicks in before they get to you. Otherwise you can Charge at him and push him back some then switch to zeal and keep the Sanctuary up. Gravepalm's work just like LoH for act bosses. The 200% ed to undead helps out.

When I used to MF with my old burizon, I went with a similar setup to your Meph barb setup. Skullder's, Stealskull, Wartrav, Goldwrap, MF rings/ammy, and it was great. Knockback anything with a Nef'd buriza or use Cleglaws for the KB/slow and it keeps everything from getting to you. That way the resists and other lacking things don't make as much of an impact.

All your points are solid - I've not tried that strategy for my Nova Sorc running cows, though - I'm just too used to telestomping. I'll have to try that. I agree with all points on a Pindle running Pally - my Pally got to 96 on Pindle - the FA Zon is just the "Easy Button" - just quick shatter, see what Pindle drops, curse, and S&E. I'm going for ease and speed here.

I had to go with the whole slow-target getup for my Zon to get past Ancients - I had a hard time with them with her.