Here ends my search – A patriarch thread

[Kefir-Tribe1]

Here ends my search – A patriarch thread

My first real successful 1.10 character was a frenzy barbarian. I liked playing him so much that I leveled him up to level 92 and the thought of reaching level 99 occurred. But I decided that I wanted to find a more effective build for this task. It wasn’t easy to find one because my way of playing this game has always been melee, partly because it is more challenging. After the frenzy barbarian I’ve played;

fanatic zealot paladin
fire claws druid
phoenix strike assassin
d-talon/d-tail assassin
teslafrost paladin
d-tail assassin
two werewolves
ww barbarian
fire claws/maul druid
and a maul druid.


The only build that I know would be suitable but have evaded on purpose is lightning amazon. That’s because that build is a so unendurable cookiecutter in this business. Anyway, when I ran out of ideas I decided that the teslafroster probably was the best build though there were a lot of annoying issues to face, like AR problems and a range-1-weapon-issue. So I made changes in equipment, stats and skills (calculations) and finally came out with a, for my resources, perfect build. I remade the character but kept the name; TheLastHero. Here he is (currently level 88):

Equipment:
Guillaume’s Face (socked with a 5/4 lightning facet)
Mara’s Kaleidoscope (Perfect)
Crescent Moon Phase Blade / EthEthEthEthEthShael Phase Blade
Herald of Zakarum (socked with Pdiamond) x 2
Upgraded Shaftstop (Socked with Um)
Dracul’s Grasp (near perfect)
Raven Frost (250AR/17dex)
Bul-Kathos’ Wedding Band (3%ll)
Thundergod’s Vigor (200%ed)
Gore Riders (Goblin Toes in stash)
6 skillers, tombs of TP/ID and the rest of the inventory filled with a perfect balance of the resist charms and others of my disposal.

Mercenary (desert Blessed Aim)
Vampire Gaze
Upgraded Duriel’s Shell (a very nice one socked with an IAS-jewel)
Bone Barb

Stats:
Strenght: 90 (165)
Dexterity: 112 (136)
Vitality: 318 (363)
Energy 15 (20)

Skills:
Holy Freeze: 20 (31)
Holy Shock: 20 (31)
Resist Lightning: 20 (25)
Salvation: 20 (25)
Resist Cold: 6 (11) remaining points will be spent here
Zeal, Charge, Holy Shield: 1 (8)
Vigor, Cleansing: 1 (6)
Pre-requirements: totally 8

Damage (main weapon and Holy Shock): 311-8682 with -39% enemy resist, 50%cb and 60%OW.
Resistances: 75/78/95/75.
Life: 1439.
AR: 5300
Defense: 6000

Now, I don’t if I’ll take him all the way, but if I ever achieve level 99 it’ll be with this character. A sad thought struck me. If I finish this, will there be anyone left to tell? Or will I be the very last d2 player? I don’t know. Right now you guys are still around to cheer d2 experiences with. Cheers and thanks!

/Petter (a.k.a Kefir-Tribe)

 

[Reborn2k]

Oh my god, this seems to be a nice character and you have some nice equipment there. Congratulations, also to your other builds! :thumbsup:

I thought about going the 99 route, too, but I never dared to! :uhhuh: However, how do you approach it? Will you search for a fixed party or just mp here? (or p8 sp?? :surprise: )

 

[Vajar]

Does the merc weapon strike anyone else as odd? It's ethereal, yet it has normal durability. Bug or hacking? Question here needs answering. It can't be triple durability and ethereal, cuz that'd make it 44 or so, and it can't be double durability cuz that only happens on magic weapons. Either way, if it is legit (which I doubt), it'd be one hell of a WW barb weapon with that self-repairing mod.

 

[factotum]

Could it be upgraded? I know armour loses its Ethereal defence bonus if you upgrade it--maybe weird stuff happens with weapons, too.

Anyway, assuming it IS a legit item, congratulations!

 

[Vajar]

ahhh, thats right, I forgot about upgrading... it must have been upgraded, sorry about questioning the item

 

[Kefir-Tribe1]

Oh my god, this seems to be a nice character and you have some nice equipment there. Congratulations, also to your other builds!

I thought about going the 99 route, too, but I never dared to! However, how do you approach it? Will you search for a fixed party or just mp here? (or p8 sp?? )

Players8 SP baalruns all the way. That’s what he is built for .

Does the merc weapon strike anyone else as odd? It's ethereal, yet it has normal durability. Bug or hacking? Question here needs answering. It can't be triple durability and ethereal, cuz that'd make it 44 or so, and it can't be double durability cuz that only happens on magic weapons. Either way, if it is legit (which I doubt), it'd be one hell of a WW barb weapon with that self-repairing mod.

I've never thought of that but I think I know the answer. I found it as a normal item (Hell Countess) and upgraded it twice. Something odd must have happened then (the maxdmg should have been 907 too). Don't doubt it's legit please, it is. I've posted the stats of it as a normal weapon in the barbforum (and here too I think) a long time ago. Shame the search function is gone. Anyway, surprise, surprise, it was my WW barbs weapon.

*edit: oups, too slow typing. No offence.

Odd that no one asked about my strange choice of mercenary. Btw, I found a 230% eth Reaper's Toll yesterday. It is pity that decrepify overwrites Life Tap, so I can't use it. I can't mule it out either, because that would ruin my perfect map seed.

 

[Vajar]

You didn't max zeal, so a blessed aim merc makes sense for the AR. Telsafreezers have been know to have AR problems.

 

[Kefir-Tribe1]

Well, but ITD with main weapon and -125% enemy defense with the other. So I first thought I should hire a Holy Freeze mercenary. But then I discovered that -125% = -62,5% vs unique monsters and champions

 

[Reborn2k]

Players8 SP baalruns all the way. That’s what he is built for .

Seriously, I thought about that, too. It would take long, but I would actually have the ambition to do that. It may become boring, but regardless of that (you can play another char if it gets boring) the only thing that scares me away are pure numbers! I have seen people calculating the necessary amount of baalruns for each level up and it was insane! While at lvl 92 about 140 runs or something , it grows quickly and at lvl 98 you need to do 4000 (!!!!) baalruns only to level up to lvl 99!! That's totally insane!!! :surprise:

Btw: I think your character looks really cool on screen! :thumbsup:

 

[corax1]

hmm. well if i assume correctly you'l be using your wpn switch for CB? wouldnt you be better using smite then? just a though

 

[GregTheGreat]

Congrats on your character! :clap:

Take him all the way!!!

 

[Quicksilver1]

It is possible to get ethereal failed uniques/sets. I've found a few in the past, and whilst I haven't done the maths, I'd say that looks alright.

Anyway, thats a kickass character :thumbsup:

Good luck to you if you decide to go for the 99!

 

[farting bob]

Well done! a very srrong build you got there! im the opposite to you, i prefere casters or ranged attackers. everyone is different.
On the how to get to 99 topic, If i found a character i could quickly do baal runs with on p8 solo and someone to MP with of the same sort of level then id consider trying it. doing it all in SP in 1.10 would get to repetative before before you even hit lvl 95.

 

[Kefir-Tribe1]

Seriously, I thought about that, too. It would take long, but I would actually have the ambition to do that. It may become boring, but regardless of that (you can play another char if it gets boring) the only thing that scares me away are pure numbers! I have seen people calculating the necessary amount of baalruns for each level up and it was insane! While at lvl 92 about 140 runs or something , it grows quickly and at lvl 98 you need to do 4000 (!!!!) baalruns only to level up to lvl 99!! That's totally insane!!!

Btw: I think your character looks really cool on screen!

I heard those number too, but I think that 4000 is bit much (I read 3k in an other thread just a minute ago). Which build did you have in mind for reaching high levels?

hmm. well if i assume correctly you'l be using your wpn switch for CB? wouldnt you be better using smite then? just a though

No it's for unique monsters, because ITD don't work against them. I was about to start a smiter/zealot-hybrid actually, but I realised that it wouldn't work. Not with out a Stormlash anyway.


@ GregTheGreat, Quicksilver and farting bob. Thanks for your encouraging words. And btw, nice hat Quicksilver. A very stealthy choice for the next few weeks.

 

[farting bob]

And btw, nice hat Quicksilver. A very stealthy choice for the next few weeks.

Thats not nearly as festive as mine! mine has a hat, snow and even a present! t0ta1 pwn4ge...

 

[Reborn2k]

I heard those number too, but I think that 4000 is bit much (I read 3k in an other thread just a minute ago). Which build did you have in mind for reaching high levels?

Hm... 3k... I still can't imagine that some people have actually reached lvl 99! If you think about that a baalrun isn't like a pindle run or something, it is really scary! However, the thought to be a brave hero who reached the ultimate goal of lvl 99 was always in my mind. In 1.09 I made it to a lvl 90 sorc. I didn't play any further, because to level up from lvl 89 to 90 took some time. Ok actually not that long, but it seemed so long, because of the boooring repetitive cow level! However, if you really want to get into this, I would like to accompany you! I mean, if you like to play SP more, then go ahead, but I think that after some time it will become TOO repetitive, especially when playing alone, regardless of how ambitious you are! We could build a party then. Maybe another brave hero makes the step besides us to reach the final power and glory, the last honor of a true fighter! However, if that's ok, I will first have to search after a seeming build. I mean, I have some here, my highest being lvl 89 (soon 90), but I don't think that these are builds that I would like to play that long! To speed it up, I would need a true killer machine, probably a cookie cutter or a slightly modified one to increase the fun.

Okay, let me know your thoughts on it!

 

[farting bob]

I'd enjoy MP'ing with people for lvl 99. i have a few in the high 80's up to about lvl 90. some of those are really only viable baal runners in MP (such as a blizz sorc who's backup fireball cant kill all the CI's in throne of destruction by itself.)

 

[Reborn2k]

That's cool! But I think we are getting a bit OT. We could start a new thread discussing this issue. What do you think? :thumbsup:

 

[farting bob]

That's cool! But I think we are getting a bit OT. We could start a new thread discussing this issue. What do you think? :thumbsup:

Good idea. end of hijack.
Congratulations again on the pat!

 

[Kefir-Tribe1]

@farting bob
Oh, how could I not notice . But where's the beard?

@Reborn2k and others
I've nothing against MP with SPF folks. However, I strongly suspects that my dial-up connection has

@necrolemming
From IM, no. Not a single time. But he has died some times because of other things, like when I was gathering gold in The Pit today. He got cursed and ten archers with might aura shot him at exactly the same time. It was scary. I have to be more careful later on.