Act 5 is pretty nice, there seems to be tons of SU monsters, the monsters are a nice type for me, and you get loads of EXP!
Bloody hills were easy enough, but my damage is really starting to suffer, so things are taking far too many hits to kill for my tastes. Eldritch was pretty scary really, I had reset the game to mule after Shenk as usual, but Eldritch is rather dangerous being Extra fast, which is one of the most dangerous mods for me. Had to do a lot of running around and enranged many screens full of demon tricksters before I could get everything settled.
I was very much not prepared for this guy and his friends down in Abbadon. I knew they could be down there, but forgot how dangerous they are with frenzy and such, and there was very little room to work him since he was very close to the entrance.
I found an exp shrine near the Acheron area, and I know how good they are for exp, so I saved it, the game thought that was a good idea too!
The Frozen river was a bit tedious, and Frozenstein is very dangerous! That monster type is already very dangerous with stun and being relatively fast. My gold had filled up in the last session so I decided to do a gambling run in hopes of finding a usable weapon to socket with my quest. I gambled 2H Mauls and the higher tier 2H axe bases. A unique would have been lovely, but nothing materialized. But I did find a very nice hurty ancient axe. Here it is after socketing and upgrading. It is comparable to a "Bill" Insight in damage, which is the only base that has enough damage and no silly dex requirements. Ideally I could make insight in a staff eventually, but good enough damage bases don't drop yet. At this point I also decided to craft a couple things. I had a pair of boots for a caster craft, but they turned out terrible, would love some FRW as mobility is key for this guy! But I did craft this lovely amulet! I dropped a 4th blue ring from Eldritch, which I cubed 3:1 for an amulet.
Code:
Eagle Talisman
Amulet
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xcdfef5de
Item Level: 35
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Warcry Skills (Barbarian Only)
+10% Faster Run/Walk
+1 to Maximum Damage
1% Life stolen per hit
+20 to Life
Lightning Resist +32%
Poison Resist +39%
It could certainly be better, but I'm not going to complain about it!
After that the game went much smoother. Everything dies in 1-3 hits now, which feels amazing! I got rather tired of reanimated skeletons though, I feel compelled to kill them as many times as necessary, but it sure slows things down! Nihl was no trouble, I have 650 life now and redemption, so pretty safe. His drop was intriguing, but I wasn't too excited since you can't reroll or craft circlets, but I was wrong!
Code:
Artisan's Circlet of the Jackal
Circlet
Defense: 27
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x76ed9c81
Item Level: 68
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Life
48% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz
Socketed: Perfect Topaz
The 2 life is a bit of a troll, but it's pretty sweet, and finally gets me some real MF (I had 6% on a rare ring is all) And I can always change the sockets later if I want.
I was very excited by the prospect of finishing up the act, as there are 6 SU monsters in the last area! But boy was I in for some disappointment! Out of the Throne monsters I dropped only a single piece of equipment which came from Lister. And it was a wand! Did Baal on p8, which wasn't too bad. He had a nasty habit of spawning his clone, and I couldn't seem to get it to poof by going back to town. So much of the fight was twice the fun. His mana burn was also annoying, but after a little practice I seemed to get better at avoiding it. His drop was not amazing, but at least one item is usable. The Sigon boots have some much needed FRW and some resists. I'd be happy to find another piece for the 10% leech set bonus, but I have a fair amount already and it seems enough.
I was worried about the cow level, but it turned out to be quite easy. Cows died in 1 hit about 80% of the time, which made it quite safe and easy. King drop wasn't great, but green! Oddly I had found another angelic about 30 seconds earlier from a random cow.
I finished Normal by crafting a pair of blood gloves, but they were pretty base stat. The CB will be nice for act bosses though.
Resists are a bit sketchy, but I have salvation for when they're really needed. I'll finish maxing Vigor and drop another point or two into salvation/redemption soon. And pick up conviction. I usually run with Vigor on, as the mobility is helpful for positioning, would have been a painful normal without it and no FRW until late act 5!
Code:
Forum Name Hero Name Class HC/SC Last Waypoint Level Score
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
jiansonz Biter Druid HC NM Lut Gholein 52 73
Kestegs Drive_By Paladin HC NM Rogue Encampment 48 60
srrw Hrothgar Barbarian HC Lut Gholein 20 13
GooberGrape Einfuhr Druid SC Far Oasis 19 18
Dunedain Grelda Amazon SC Dark Woods 14 8
Wolron SuperTrap Assassin HC ColdPlains 8 1
Southpaw8668 Atalanta Amazon HC Rogue Encampment 1 0
Resting In Pieces
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wolron SuperWolf Druid HC NM Catacombs lvl 2 51 72
Wolron SuperSaint Paladin HC Diablo 35 41
logoutzero Sheev Paladin HC River of Flame 34 40
Nice write-up kesteg! I don't mean to detract from your accomplishment with this question - is that amulet you crafted usable?
The rules state you can craft and use items that are dropped by the SU's. But that amulet didn't come from a SU. (I'm being painfully pedantic I know, just a curiosity to be cleared up )
Nice write-up kesteg! I don't mean to detract from your accomplishment with this question - is that amulet you crafted usable?
The rules state you can craft and use items that are dropped by the SU's. But that amulet didn't come from a SU. (I'm being painfully pedantic I know, just a curiosity to be cleared up )
When he cubed three rings into an amulet, the amulet output is deemed equippable but it doesn't fit the description of "dropped by a SU" anymore, and shouldn't be able to be further modified. See where I was coming from?
At first, I thought that item level on the Circlet from Nihlathak must be way off but according to the Arreat Summit, Nilly in Normal is indeed a staggering monster level 68(!). I had no idea.
The Ice Spawns in Nihlathak's area are only level 40. Baal himself is only level 60.
(Btw, the old archived d2data.net has Nihlathak as being level 65. This is the first time ever I have found something there that has turned out to be incorrect.)
When he cubed three rings into an amulet, the amulet output is deemed equippable but it doesn't fit the description of "dropped by a SU" anymore, and shouldn't be able to be further modified. See where I was coming from?
Yes I see your viewpoint now. I rewrote the main rules page to read "Any item created using the cube may be equipped and used freely". This will allow any legally crafted item to be further modified however the player desires.
3 Chipped Gems + 1 Magic Weapon = Socketed Magic Weapon is a good example of a recipe where you might want to reroll the same item multiple times. Hope this helps, feel free to ask any further questions or clarifications and thank you for playing!
Thanks, everyone! and thanks for the rules clarification, that was how I had interpreted it myself.
I never actually looked at the circlet ilvl, that is quite crazy though. I did notice my item dropped by lister was ilvl 58, which I thought was nuts. I checked that one because he died near some other loot so I compared the ilvls to see if he dropped it or not.
I've been out of town on a work trip for a few weeks, so I think I'll drop a quick post for Atalanta. She killed off Corpsefire and he dropped the Triumphant Scepter, which she'll keep using until she's able to imbue the awaiting dagger in her stash. Here is a run down of all her current equipment dropped by the 8 Super Unique bosses up to this point.
Cap
Defense: 3
Durability: 12 of 12
Fingerprint: 0xea887070
Item Level: 5
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Hard Leather Armor of Balance
Hard Leather Armor
Defense: 22
Durability: 28 of 28
Required Level: 3
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0xf53dde5f
Item Level: 8
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10% Faster Hit Recovery
Spirit Chain
Sash
Defense: 2
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 5
Fingerprint: 0xd1284804
Item Level: 8
Version: Expansion 1.10+
10% Chance to cast level 3 Charged Bolt when struck
+3 to Mana
Lightning Resist +9%
Poison Resist +5%
Poison Length Reduced by 25%
Leather Gloves
Defense: 4
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 4
Fingerprint: 0x32236d5d
Item Level: 7
Version: Expansion 1.10+
10% Chance to cast level 3 Charged Bolt when struck
+12 to Attack Rating
+12% Enhanced Defense
+1 to Dexterity
+6 Maximum Stamina
Ring of Greed
Ring
Required Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0x60f1b3c6
Item Level: 7
Version: Expansion 1.10+
39% Extra Gold from Monsters
Triumphant Scepter
Scepter
One Hand Damage: 6 - 11
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 2
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0x5d9177a8
Item Level: 4
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+150% Damage to Undead
+2 to Resist Fire (Paladin Only)
+1 to Sacrifice (Paladin Only)
+1 to Mana after each Kill
Buckler of Thorns
Buckler
Defense: 4
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 1
Required Strength: 12
Fingerprint: 0x166a533c
Item Level: 8
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Attacker Takes Damage of 1
Andariel went down pretty quickly thanks for holy fire, Duriel however was a long and scary point blank shoot out with me chugging potions like crazy but eventually he went down too. Rangers are sooo much fun. Might have to make me a regular ranger and try twinking.
Mephisto should be manageable, but if I don't find some resists Diablo will eat me alive
Finally managed to get a bow from bane ash.
Andariel
A rare life leech bow from beetleburst! Little elemental damage too.
If that Skull Cap came from him, I think it was a mistake seeling it since it has runeword potential. As I wrote in an earlier post, only three or so 'boss monsters' in the game are capable of dropping non-magical stuff: Smith, Griswold and Blood Raven.
Well I have been in a D2 craze this week, joining most of the active tournaments! Two reasons for it! I love them and early areas let me clear a full area in a reasonable time, I rarely have many hours per day if at all to play D2 atm.
So in another tournament I'm playing a Blaze Sorceress, which I hope to backup with lightning damage. Since points are tight I wouldn't be also able to max Enchant and I wanted to play around it, so here I come with FrozenFire, an Enchantress to be backed up by Icy spells.
When she woke up and saw her whole stash missing she was on fire. She grabbed the only thing left, a measily Short Staff and proceeded to release her anger to the foes in the Blood Moor.
Having had to punch my way through the Moor in the Spirit Tournament, made me appreciate having a weapon, any weapon. The Short Staff is fast and does extra damage vs undead. Also the level in Firebolt which soon was complemented in weith the first level up made it OP. Short Staff was used for the Full Blood Moor and Den of Evil. Eventually I got javelins which in melee are worse then it, but they came with added fire damage which makes them ok for throwing.
My best find was a magic Bardiche in the Mausuleum or Crypt and here I'm sporting it using D1 tactics.
It will serve my Act II merc well If nothing better comes along. The other weapon I found was an Eagle Orb of the Mind with +2 charged bolt and +1 warmth which is stashed. I also stashed all the cracked wands, orbs and scepters, which while not usable because of not being SU drops, can be normalized for extra money to gamble something worthwhile to socket or personalize later.
Throwing potions were used and did some good, but the way to advance fast and to kill Blood Raven and Bosses was Static Field spam... it's just OP.
Looks like this tournament has kind of stalled somewhat, but I am still plugging away with Atalanta, who has been reset and converted into a Bowzon using Fire and Ice as her main attack. Going the Daggerzon route with such dismal equipment was far to tedious for my sanity, so I decided to respec her and she is far more enjoyable to play now so I continue on.
A decent rare Composite Bow was found pretty early on, but it was stashed when she was still wielding daggers. Also, a the Bronze Short Battle Bow of Fire was rolled with 2os after deciding to respec. A Tir rune and a jewel with +3 to Mana after each kill were socketed to recover some of the heavily used Mana. This was the primary used bow for quite some time until Diablo dropped the Hellclap Short War Bow which she will now use as her primary.
This was our somewhat wasted imbue in an attempt to get a fast jabbing dagger to use in the beginning, but then realized we didn't have enough dexterity yet, so we had to wait a couple more levels for her to become a actual Daggerzon.
In the meantime she was swinging everything from spiked clubs, to two handed swords. At least with the two handed sword she didn't have the retarded blocking mechanics she had with the shield and one handed swinging weapons.
This was Azrael first crafted polearm, which wasn't working too bad but couldn't hold a candle to his later crafted Brandistock that Ancient Kaa dropped and was rolled for two sockets and the CTC Amplify Damage on the second roll with chipped gems. The Ral rune that he dropped also was placed in one of the sockets with a Tal as well for some juicy damage on a speedy spear weapon. It was still viable for killing stuff all the way through Act 4. A magic Bardiche dropped in Act 4 as well, that we are trying to roll for another great modifier and hopefully two sockets again.
This was a nice drop from Duriel for once. Now she has a nice breast plate, Sander's Gloves and a rare amulet, which isn't all that great but it is a piece of jewelry nevertheless.
The Gidbinn reward ring, which was not worthless for once.
With our first Gem Shrine in the Flayer Dungeon Level 2, we bumped a Ruby up to perfect and crafted this belt. The open wounds definitely helped with Diablo, as I could see him dripping blood puddles all over the place.
Mephisto dropped this rare mask, which was eventually upgraded to a Death Mask for Azrael.
Hephasto dropped a slightly better pair of Heavy Boots of Thawing for half freeze duration. We got another rare ring and the Hellclap bow from Diablo and nothing else was of use to the party. I'll add the screen shot in the next update, since I can't upload anymore on this posting.
Snowy Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 6
Fingerprint: 0xf7de2343
Item Level: 11
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 1 - 3 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (25 Frames)
Ghoul Scarab
Amulet
Required Level: 16
Fingerprint: 0x2c74fea3
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Masteries Skills (Barbarian Only)
+10% Faster Cast Rate
+3 to Minimum Damage
+14 to Energy
Sander's Taboo
Heavy Gloves
Defense: 30
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 28
Fingerprint: 0xeb533530
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Increased Attack Speed
Adds 9 - 11 Poison Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
+25 Defense
+40 to Life
Death Loop
Ring
Required Level: 13
Fingerprint: 0x9f4164b1
Item Level: 21
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+100 to Attack Rating
+2 to Dexterity
+7 to Life
Replenish Life +5
+2 to Light Radius
Wraith Shroud
Breast Plate
Defense: 95
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 9
Required Strength: 30
Fingerprint: 0x4a619c91
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+17% Faster Hit Recovery
+38% Enhanced Defense
+9 to Life
Lightning Resist +19%
Poison Resist +18%
Beast Fringe
Belt
Defense: 5
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 22
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0xf7a7815d
Item Level: 27
Version: Expansion 1.10+
3% Life stolen per hit
7% Chance of Open Wounds
+18 to Life
+16 Maximum Stamina
Repairs 1 Durability in 33 Seconds
Skull Cap of Energy
Skull Cap
Defense: 11
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Level: 3
Required Strength: 15
Fingerprint: 0x2f77aaac
Item Level: 11
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Energy
Doom Turn
Ring
Required Level: 13
Fingerprint: 0xabc63a28
Item Level: 40
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+8 to Life
Fire Resist +8%
Poison Resist +6%
+1 to Mana after each Kill
Hellclap
Short War Bow
Two Hand Damage: 10 - 25
Durability: 27 of 48
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 35
Required Dexterity: 55
Fingerprint: 0x96afb075
Item Level: 40
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Fire Skills
+10% Increased Attack Speed
79% Enhanced Damage
+53 to Attack Rating
Adds 15 - 42 Fire Damage
+12 to Dexterity
Fire Resist +40%
Bronze Short Battle Bow of Fire
Short Battle Bow
Two Hand Damage: 5 - 11
Durability: 23 of 40
Required Level: 16
Required Strength: 30
Required Dexterity: 40
Fingerprint: 0x1787a541
Item Level: 25
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20 to Attack Rating
Adds 4 - 10 Fire Damage
+5 to Mana after each Kill
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Aureolic Jewel
Aureolic Jewel
Jewel
Required Level: 16
Fingerprint: 0x50ef8c1f
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Mana after each Kill
Larzuk gave us 4 sockets in some gothic plate, which I guess we'll have to try and repair at some point. Snapchip dropped a Sharkskin Belt, which might be utilized a little later on. Ancients was taken on /p8 and wasn't too bad. Baal dropped a set of Rattlecage Gothic Plate Mail that Azrael will be using as we head into the Cow Level and then NM. Sorry, had a much more detailed write up and then it just went poof for some reason and I didn't feel like coming up with it all again off the top of my head.
Snowy Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 6
Fingerprint: 0xf7de2343
Item Level: 11
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 1 - 3 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (25 Frames)
Ghoul Scarab
Amulet
Required Level: 16
Fingerprint: 0x2c74fea3
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Masteries Skills (Barbarian Only)
+10% Faster Cast Rate
+3 to Minimum Damage
+14 to Energy
Sander's Taboo
Heavy Gloves
Defense: 30
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 28
Fingerprint: 0xeb533530
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Increased Attack Speed
Adds 9 - 11 Poison Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
+25 Defense
+40 to Life
Death Loop
Ring
Required Level: 13
Fingerprint: 0x9f4164b1
Item Level: 21
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+100 to Attack Rating
+2 to Dexterity
+7 to Life
Replenish Life +5
+2 to Light Radius
Doom Turn
Ring
Required Level: 13
Fingerprint: 0xabc63a28
Item Level: 40
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+8 to Life
Fire Resist +8%
Poison Resist +6%
+1 to Mana after each Kill
Wraith Shroud
Breast Plate
Defense: 95
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 9
Required Strength: 30
Fingerprint: 0x4a619c91
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+17% Faster Hit Recovery
+38% Enhanced Defense
+9 to Life
Lightning Resist +19%
Poison Resist +18%
Beast Fringe
Belt
Defense: 5
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 22
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0xf7a7815d
Item Level: 27
Version: Expansion 1.10+
3% Life stolen per hit
7% Chance of Open Wounds
+18 to Life
+16 Maximum Stamina
Skull Cap of Energy
Skull Cap
Defense: 11
Durability: 17 of 18
Required Level: 3
Required Strength: 15
Fingerprint: 0x2f77aaac
Item Level: 11
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Energy
Yes this is by design, they don't drop any loot so I opted to leave them out of the scoring. I suppose they might technically qualify as super uniques since they are named enemies, but for the purposes of this tournament they do not. Thanks for pointing it out.