LozHinge the Unhinged
Active member
1) Yes. Not only does upping the /player setting increase the probability of a rune drop, but also increases the probability of higher quality rune. IIRC, it has to do with how runes actually drop. First monster is killed, then it rolls for drop, if it rolls for a rune drop, it then goes on to another roll to determine quality. There is a probability that mob has for dropping the best rune it can (its very low), if it doesn't hit that, it cycles down to next rune, at slightly higher probability, and on until it either hits positive on a roll, or rolls on down to El. It's in this determining of quality that /player setting has biggest impact, as it makes the probability for the 'roll down' much nicer.
2) ... I'm not finding that in my notes, but any charm from NM LK or further is able to roll a skiller prefix. (Or Great Marsh, maybe... not sure on that but am sure on LK) Also, yes, 3pgem(any type, including skulls)+grand charm (or any magical (blue) item).
3) In HC, I'd focus on hp and resists before much of anything else. If you can't live long enough to kill them, everything else is moot...
'Rhyme' is pretty hard to beat, but if you find that "perfect" necrohead (+3 Revive/+3 Corpse Explosion/+3 wtf-ever-you-like-its-already-epic) a 'Splendor' (Eth+Lum) can be pretty sweet...
+1 to All Skills
+10% Faster Cast Rate
+20% Faster Block Rate
+60-100% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10 to Energy
Regenerate Mana 15%
50% Extra Gold From Monsters
20% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+3 To Light Radius
... if you can cover resists elsewhere, but isn't that what charms are for? Also notice the lack of Increased Chance of Blocking, but has Faster Block Rate. That's awesome for necro who has crappy block rate, and doesn't want to get block-locked...
When I was more active in D2, a few years back, it was invariably suggested that LK NM is the first place where a skiller charm can drop. I never saw that assertion challenged and this was a time when code-readers were regular contributors.