A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell HF!!

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Haha! Yesterday I couldn't even imagine restarting from scratch. A few moments ago, I did it! =D Charachters, stashes, backups, I discarded them all My Diablo 2 folders are now cleaner than a surgery room ^_^

I have only one charachter - Vantek the level 1 Sorceress. She has nothing but a Short Staff of Firebolt, four minor healing potions, and a scroll of identify and town portal each. At first sight she is nothing compared to her predecessor... However one thing makes her infinitely superior - she is as innocent as a newborn child. There are no sins on her conscience, and she will never taint herself with one.

Apparently I had about 60% vanilla set items, 20% expansion set items, 30% of Normal Uniques, 16% of Exceptional Uniques and NO Elite Uniques So I really had nothing to lose. On the contrary, I'll get to be happy over Isenheart's again :laugh: I will make a Chain Lightning/Orb sorceress - on one hand I'd like to try something else, but as far as I can tell that is the only build that compares to Meteorb in MF efficiency and versatility, and although I've even grown to like the idea of restart I'd still like to get back on track quickly.

So, if you let me know what items you need, I'd gladly offer them to you in case of a restart

That's so very nice of you to offer, thanks! =D If it really is no problem at all, I actually would indeed be AWFULLY grateful for restoration of ANY of the following items, (all of which I had a few minutes ago ):
*) one Sigon's set
*) one Angelic set, plus one extra Angelic ring
*) a PTopazed 4-sox Gothic Plate or similar
*) a PTopazed 3-sox Crown or similar
*) two Skins of the Vipermagi
*) Infinity... er, I mean Insight X) made in a Partizan or similar
*) Rhyme made in an exceptional small shield (forgot the name ><) or similar

I hope that doesn't come off as greedy It's just that I'm afraid self-finding the GEAR for initial MF-ing all over again would be too slow-paced for my taste.

 

[saracen85]

I hope that doesn't come off as greedy It's just that I'm afraid self-finding the GEAR for initial MF-ing all over again would be too slow-paced for my taste.

read the stickies in the sp trade forum. make a trade profile.

check out the giveaways. people would be glad to help out =)

 

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

OK, will do! In other news, can you imagine, when I first started, I misassigned points AGAIN D: dumped two into charged bolt! It's pathological! I promptly deleted the charachter (she was in Den of Evil still, so no problem , and immediately started again. I promised myself to never assign a skill point without thinking twice. I have now rescued Cain :laugh: I am at level 9 I think. Fun! XD

 

[Grisu]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

I'll quickly check my stashes and see what I can do about those socketed items - I have a lot of elite ones, but normal and exceptional...I'll see

As for the other things - no problem at all. Only thing I want to stress again is that I'm RWM/RRM and HC. So if you want to stay Vanilla, it'd be better to ask someone else. The same is true if you're SC and don't want to accept HC items - some people don't like it since it's not possible without ATMA, but most people think it's ok since items in HC are harder to obtain because of the possibility of dying...(opposed to SC-->HC trade, which isn't accepted at all).

@everyone who knows about trading: I think I should declare this as a giveaway in the Trade forum, right?

EDIT: Just checked - I do have a 3 os Crown, a 4 os Partizan (will send both) and a 4 os Ancient Armor (steep Strength requirement of 100) - but I think I can shop a Gothic Plate if you'd prefer one of those. Oh, and I've got a 2 os Grim Shield for Rhyme, too

EDIT2: OK, I have everything you listed in my stashes - so if you're ok with RRM/RWM HC, just PM me or post here, and if you're not - Tigereye was so kind to offer vanilla SC items

 

[Tigereye1]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

So if you want to stay Vanilla, it'd be better to ask someone else.

If you want I can find the stuff you want, I am vanilla SC. Just let me know.

Edit: And it looks like I have all of your requests also, and it is a round shield.

 

[xxnothing]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Vantek.... be sure to keep us (or me at least) posted on the progress of your sorc! I'm curious to see how it goes for you, and what you do with your build.
My initial thought were to go cold/lightning, but I might change that to cold/fire. I've dropped one point into charged bolt and one into lightning already, but to me two points lost isn't the end of the world. I've dropped way more than 2 points into the "wrong" skills before, and still managed to come out okay in the end...
Maybe we should make a "Vantek/n0thing sorc progress" thread and post updates as we go? Heheh...

 

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

:shocked: I could have sworn I posted a reply! Who stole my post?! Well, here we go again...

Grisu, Tigereye, thank you SO much! =D I play 1.11 RRM/RWM and don't have a problem with HC to SC trading, so I can gratefully accept your offer, Grisu! Only I can't ask you to powershop for me =P Tigereye, if you have them sitting around and it's no problem at all, maybe you can throw in a 4os Gothic Plate and a 2os Round Shield? Then I'd have everything exactly as what I had the time of the restart =D Thanks again, I really appreciate this!

Maybe we should make a "Vantek/n0thing sorc progress" thread and post updates as we go? Heheh...

Let's do that here! =) I have a bunch of n00b questions anyway, so let this be my n00b thread where you give me advice and post your own progress in comparison =P Although if I get my old equipment restored (again, thanks guys!), I will want to use them and race ahead at full speed, so we won't be in equal conditions.

Today I offed Andy =) Static Field quickly took her down to a tenth, and Lightning finished her off. Things became so much easier once I got access to Lightning! Sorceresses are fragile, but my god do they have firepower! I have only placed points in Charged Bolt, Telekinesis, Warmth, Static Field and Ice Bolt&Blast, so it leaves me with 11-6=5 unused skill points waiting for new spells. IIRC I'm lvl15. Having to put up with absolute junk gear is hilarious XD

Had a bit of an AAARGH moment while killing Andy - so far I thought I get thrown out at Act advancements in windowed mode, so I did Andy in fullscreen. But today, I added -ns command to my fullscreen shortcut. I kill Andy, I go to Act II and guess what? I get thrown out -_- The genius I am, I thought I must have had selected the 3D version and forgotten about it, I selected the 2D option and finish Act I again. I get thrown out >< Then I realised it must be the -ns command. It also explains why I seem to remember being able to switch acts in windowed mode - must have been before I added the -ns command to it. I remove it, try again, and finally it works. Thankfully, I visited town during the previous Andy fights, so I didn't lose much (apparently the game saves upon area transitions). At least I now surely know all the tricks my graphics drivers have for me.

I'd also like to ask two n00b questions:
1) Impale??? The numbers for this skill seem pretty darn impressive to me, but I've never seen it used anywhere and I have never tried it out myself either. Is it useless?
2) What are the rules about losing gold upon death? From somewhere I read that you can't lose any from your stash - but I certainly remember losing from stash quite a few times in past, and earlier the same day I restarted I died to a pack of Slingers like 5 times in a row in Hell Act 5, and I noticed I had lost almost all of my 2,5 million :shocked: I had only 300K left! Then again I have died lots of times in various places, and never noticed losing any? So what's the logic behind that? Or did Malah sell me some potions for 100K each or what?!

 

[Grisu]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Grisu, Tigereye, thank you SO much! =D I play 1.11 RRM/RWM and don't have a problem with HC to SC trading, so I can gratefully accept your offer, Grisu! Only I can't ask you to powershop for me =P Tigereye, if you have them sitting around and it's no problem at all, maybe you can throw in a 4os Gothic Plate and a 2os Round Shield? Then I'd have everything exactly as what I had the time of the restart =D Thanks again, I really appreciate this!

Well, Thyiad just informed me on how to do this giveaway.

EDIT: deleted my post about me advising you to make a trade profile - just discovered you already have one :banghead: It was basically something like this, but with what you wrote everything's covered I guess

But make sure to state you accepted HC items and know that you'll have to consider yourself almost like me concerning playing style - i.e. I hotmule Gheed's, do HF rushes (although the items I'll send you are 100% from the period before my HF rushing career, so I think you can leave that out), recovered maps with the -seed command ro recover an accidentally lost map and linked two PCs for Cow King running.
If you rather not want items under that circumstances (because you'd have to declare yourself accordingly to those facts), just leave a note.

I'll send the stash (minus the Round Shield and Gothic Plate) as soon as you confirmed you still want it and posted a trade profile. Afterwards I'll post a thread about with the items including readouts in the SP trade forum to keep track of the giveaway - but you don't have to mind about that (meaning you don't have to post anything there).

I'll send you the stash as soon as I have your email (everything except for the 2os Round Shield and the 4os Gothic Plate)! (PM me or post here)
I'll make that giveaway thread as soon as the stash is on its way (you don't have to do anything else but confirm you received the stash).

I'd also like to ask two n00b questions:
1) Impale??? The numbers for this skill seem pretty darn impressive to me, but I've never seen it used anywhere and I have never tried it out myself either. Is it useless?
2) What are the rules about losing gold upon death? From somewhere I read that you can't lose any from your stash - but I certainly remember losing from stash quite a few times in past, and earlier the same day I restarted I died to a pack of Slingers like 5 times in a row in Hell Act 5, and I noticed I had lost almost all of my 2,5 million :shocked: I had only 300K left! Then again I have died lots of times in various places, and never noticed losing any? So what's the logic behind that? Or did Malah sell me some potions for 100K each or what?!

1) Impale has a VERY slow attack speed, and people even prefer Jab over Impale therefore...but I always wanted to make a build around it. Can't tell you how viable the build is in Hell though, since I haven't tried it yet.
2) Don't know about that, since the last time I played SC has been over 1.5 years

 

[xxnothing]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Not sure about SP, but on the realms if you die in hell you lose a ton of gold each time... nbot just dropped on the ground, but GONE.

As for Sparkles, my new untwinked SP sorc, she's doing pretty good. Finished the Anya quest last night. Still only one point spent in any skill, though now I need to make a decision about what skills I'm going to settle on. Currently she is...

Character name : Sparkles
Character type : Sorceress
Character level : 33
Character exp : 7809864

Strength : 46
Energy : 37
Dexterity : 39
Vitality : 50
Stat Points Rem : 73
Skill Points Rem: 23

Life : 219 / 172
Mana : 204 / 103
Stamina : 209 / 146

1 Frozen Armor
1 Ice Bolt
1 Ice Blast
1 Frost Nova
1 Glacial Spike
1 Blizzard
1 Cold Mastery

1 Telekenesis
1 Teleport
1 static field
1 Charged Bolt
1 Lightning

1 Warmth

Gear:
Rare 1os mask with +10 energy, some resists, socket with Ral
Stealth in a light plate
Arctic Furs belt
Rare eth staff with +mana, damage to mana, +1 Telekenesis, +3 static field, + 2 Warmth, cold and poison resist
On switch: Rare orb with +2 Enchant (My Charsi imbue!), 30/20 bone shield w/ +5 Fire resist
Misc rares for boots, gloves, ring.
blue ring +2 energy, +19 poison resist
blue ammy +6 energy, +20 lightning resist

Merc is act 2 defiance, wearing 2os splint socketed with +max damage jewel and 13& enhanced damage jewel, 2os helm with topazes, Strength poleaxe.

I'm starting to be unhappy I spent points in the lightning skills, I'm so familiar with cold/fire (my lvl 92 MF sorc on the realms is cold/fire)... I'm not entirely sure lightning will be the way to go. I figure I have until Hell to decide, as cold should carry me all the way through NM. If I wanste two points in the lightning tree, it's not the end of the world. I'm currently deciding between Blizzard/Glacial Spike/CM or Frozen Orb/Ice Bolt/CM for the cold tree...
So far things have been pretty easy, with the exception of Diablo...he was tough... tele in, static, merc dies, go revive merc...repeat a bunch until big D dies. Wish I had that Strength poleaxe before hitting that point in the game!

I've had 5 greens and 2 golds drop... Angelic weapon, Tancred's weapon, Cathan's armor, Vidala's bow, Arctic Furs belt... Venom Ward armor, Razortine Trident.

 

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Yep, made that profile only yesterday =) The email (and MSN at that) is [email protected] =)

Finished the Anya quest last night. Still only one point spent in any skill, though now I need to make a decision about what skills I'm going to settle on.

:shocked: Getting that far in the game with 13 skill points spent, no more than one in any skill?! I must be a total n00b compared to you! :laugh: I think it'll be impossible for me to catch up even with getting my gear restored!

'm starting to be unhappy I spent points in the lightning skills, I'm so familiar with cold/fire (my lvl 92 MF sorc on the realms is cold/fire)... I'm not entirely sure lightning will be the way to go.

Why not? Do you think it isn't powerful enough, or is it simply personal preference? On another note, I think Sparkles will be unhappy with her name if you decide she will not invest into lightning tree

I've had 5 greens and 2 golds drop... Angelic weapon, Tancred's weapon, Cathan's armor, Vidala's bow, Arctic Furs belt... Venom Ward armor, Razortine Trident.

No Isenheart's? Oh my, I think you might be having a lucky streak :grin:

 

[xxnothing]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Getting that far in the game with 13 skill points spent, no more than one in any skill?! I must be a total n00b compared to you! I think it'll be impossible for me to catch up even with getting my gear restored!

Hehe... it's not too bad really. I took Baal down last night, still having only spent one point in any skill. :thumbsup: The key is static field, and putting the Strength runeword on my merc for Crushing Blow. One point blizzard w/ one point cold mastery took care of all thre regular monsters.

Why not? Do you think it isn't powerful enough, or is it simply personal preference? On another note, I think Sparkles will be unhappy with her name if you decide she will not invest into lightning tree

No, lightning can do insane damage, I just have never used it, aside from a couple of Lighting Fury Javazons (those things RIP through non-LI mobs like a chainsaw!!!). I'm also thinking of how it'll play in hell with only blizzard/glacial spike or frozen orb/ice bolt against LI monsters (Souls!). On my big sorc, my general tactic is cast blizz to start damaging and slowing stuff, while blasting fireballs in between blizzards. Glacial spike to freeze fast and dangerous monsters. For cold immunes, fireball away, and drop meteors on the bigger targets or packed mobs...

I suppose it might be cool to try something new though, so I'll probably end up going cold/lightning in the end. Like I said, I have until Hell to decide....cold skills will rip NM apart all the way through Baal.

No Isenheart's? Oh my, I think you might be having a lucky streak

LOL.. I actualy was surprised to have not seen an Isenharts yet! I've had pretty crappy luck on drops so far. Picked up Clegaw's gloves and Iratha's gloves on the way through WSK. I'm hoping for a set of Sanders boots, or Treads of Cthon or similar.... anything really! Best drop so far was a decent-for-untwinked Barb helm dropped by Baal...

Dread Brow
Lion Helm
Defense: 64
Durability: 24 of 35
(Barbarian Only)
Required Strength: 73
Required Level: 30
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0xb2bfd224
+15 to Life
+5 to Mana
+1 to Barbarian Skill Levels
+5 to Light Radius
+1 to Natural Resistance (Barbarian Only)
+2 to Battle Command (Barbarian Only)
+1 to Battle Orders (Barbarian Only)
5% Bonus to Attack Rating

 

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Grisu, Tigereye, I have recieved all the items! =D Thank you SO much for this! You have my eternal gratitude =)

Yesterday I raced through Act 2 (offed Radament though - and got my "first ever" unique, Crushflange, from the Sewers =). I reached lvl19. Lightning is more powerful than I thought! I especially love how it can reach those annoying shamans and greater mummies. With the newly equired equipment, I'll fly through Normal =) Duriel was an awful pain though XC The merc could take about 2 hits from him. I died at least 10 times, and the merc was usually dead by the time I reached my old body. I was silly enough to move the portal into his room - it worked for a few times but then once I was insta-killed as I entered and had to run all the way back. Kept it just outside from that on. Taking on Normal Duriel untwinked must be the hardest thing I have had to gone through in this game! It was equally difficult with my first first ever charachter, because then I just didn't know anything about the game

I suppose it might be cool to try something new though, so I'll probably end up going cold/lightning in the end.

Always try something new! =) I am only being a cookie cutter because in MFing no other build comes close to the combination of power and versatility of Meteorb or Chainliorb, and my meager psychology wouldn't cope with the fact that I am not taking the easiest path possible =P However, once I have restored my former tresures (shouldn't take long considering how little I had =), I will try next a melee build. What melee builds (except Smiter!!) make decent MFers?

*is off to try out his "new" equipment* ^_^

EDIT: Confirmed

 

[Tigereye1]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Grisu, Tigereye, I have recieved all the items! =D Thank you SO much for this! You have my eternal gratitude =)

You are welcome, I like to help when I can.

Would you please give conformation about the recieved item here also.

 

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Just made these. Rhyme and Insight are just ridiculously good runewords considering the cost, Vanteress will be using these all the way to Matriarch! Thanks for this awesome stuff, guys! Rolled the absolute lowest Meditation aura on the Insight, but the ED is pretty good. Wonder what that means :laugh: In any case, whatever the roll, I'm sure Kasim will love it all as much =) If only he could use it yet! =P

Rhyme
Round Shield
'ShaelEth'
Defense: 54
Chance to Block: 52%
Durability: 43 of 64
Required Strength: 53
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xe537177d
+20% Increased Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +25
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
40% Faster Block Rate
Cannot Be Frozen
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Insight
Partizan
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 126 to 258
Durability: 38 of 65
Required Dexterity: 67
Required Strength: 113
Required Level: 27
Polearm Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 50
Fingerprint: 0x64759d7c
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+245% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+3 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
196% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 12 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Socketed (4: 4 used)

By the way, I recieved 4 extra PTopazes and 1 extra set of runes for Rhyme and Insight (which of course is in no way a problem - I had at least 10 of each at the time of restart =P) I will be punching PTopazes in one or both of the Vipermagi with the Larzuk's quests in Norm and NM (much like I had done previously), but I'll save the Hell quest for the time being. Things are falling into place! *rubs hands together like an evil genius*

 

[Kanonfutter]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

@Grisu and Tigereye: People like you makes this world a nicer place. Just wanted to state it.

 

[Grisu]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Grisu, Tigereye, I have recieved all the items! =D Thank you SO much for this! You have my eternal gratitude =)

You're very welcome If you need something else sometime, just give me a call...well, post or PM, that is

One thing, could you please confirm that you received the item here in the SP trade forum again?

Hope you have better luck once you roll that Infinity you had:wink3:

@kanonfutter: Thanks for the kind words *blush*
But it's really not such a big deal - I really don't know what else to do with all the items I find while questing for the grail. So I might as well give them to people who actually put them to use:smiley:

 

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

I've employed all of the items I can at this level (Angelic sickle, ammy, dual rings; the topazed crown; and then Sigon's shield, gauntlets, boots and belt - includes +2skills and over 200% MF), and I have to say I'm cutting through the monsters like a warm knife through butter! The only thing limiting my advancement is mana shortage from teleporting :laugh: Went through Act 3 in a breeze, reaching lvl23. And it's fun too, I think lack of advancement would have started to bore me a little if it wasn't for those items, so once again, thanks!

Found my first three greens - Arctic Furs, then Isenheart's sword, then Isenheart's Helm XD.

@Grisu and Tigereye: People like you makes this world a nicer place. Just wanted to state it.

Very true! They've also made my Diablo 2 experience nicer! =P Whenever I have the chance, I will pay it forward =)

 

[xxnothing]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Heh, while I sometimes wish I had all my twinking gear from my online stashes, I'm enjoying doing it "old school". I took a night off from D2 last night, but I'm about to dive back in.
Currently I've done Den and Blood Raven in NM. I'll go grab Cain and head down to the Countess. Hopefully will be in act 2 later this evening!
I finally dropped a few points into Blizzard and Glacial Spike to speed up killing things. I'm hoping to find a 4os polearm soon so I can make Insight.

Cheers!

 

[Vantek]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Hahahahaha I CANNOT believe this!! I put a skill point in Thunderstorm thinking it was Blizzard, and one into Nova, thinking it was Frost Nova and a requisity for Blizzard XXXD It is a CURSE! Well, at least one of those synergised something and at least I just put one in each which at least doesn't LOOK so bad... I can just pretend I wasted them for style points and in order to see what Thunderstorm and Nova look like X)

Last night I went through Act 4 (smallish, so it went quicker than the other acts). Died a few times to Big Dee's pink power (my merc must have done that 20 times though... lol), gained a level or two, got my second Unique (the unique polearm I think) from him... Then stopped the siege, rescued the barbarians, and saved Anya. Because I had experience with Pindle's gang giving decent experience in later difficulties, I tried him at /p8, and I was AMAZED at how much experience I got! Must be something like three quarter of a level per run at around lvl30, I think I went to lvl 32, from something like lvl 26, in about 7 runs. I'll take a note of that, from what I know those guys are clearly the best place to speedlevel at this point for certain charachters since they're so EASY, while baaling requires a certain firepower.

My CL is starting to gain serious power. Noticed Pindle's bunch dying twice as fast in the end of the runs compared to the beginning. And now I can finally equip the bestest of those niceties Grisu and Tigereye sent me I should be able progress at max speed with Insight. Haven't done it yet - couldn't equip any of it at the beginning of the session, and didn't want to clog the inventory, nor make breaks for ATMAwork (though I did have to switch from -ns and back to pass to Act 5). But I will - soon

 

[xxnothing]

Re: A belated introduction, confession, and OMG I got an IST from my first ever Hell

Hah... now I don't feel so bad about the times I've accidently hit the wrong skill button when spending points!

The journey through act 1 in NM was relatively uneventful. A few more set items dropped (Some Sigon's pieces, etc), as well as another Venom Ward, a Hellplague and a Battlebranch. My favorite find so far, in the Catacombs: 4os Superior Battle Scythe. Hello Insight! So my merc will have to live without any life leech until I get him a good helm or something, but at least now I can tele and spam spells without having to buy stock in the Blue Potion Corp.
I found a Milabrega's shield... so I'm rocking a grand total of 65% MF! Add 23% for merc kills...
Blizzard and Glacial Spike are at lvl 10 now, so things die pretty fast. I have 20 unspent skill points right now, and no idea what to do with them yet.
Right now it's off to the grocery store, but later tonight I'll head into Act 2, which I hope to complete tonight.