- Aug 5, 2005
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Asteria
During a break from Assassin un-twinked 99er duties, I decided to re-make a twinked Amazon I originally made in 1.14d. She stalled at the end of Nightmare as I was missing the last piece of equipment, so I decided to make an un-twinked Amazon. It seems a bit ironic to make an untwinked character as a twinked one was missing gear, but here we are.
Matriarch Asteria, Un-Twinked Gunslinger
For the uninitiated, a gunslinger is a what Kijya called a physical bow and lightning javelin hybrid is his guide. I decided to try this for three reasons.- The synergy changes means Lightning Fury no longer synergises Changed Strike. Yes, Blizzard's change to allow more diversity actually makes some hybrid builds worse. What a surprise. Now you need to spend 60 points in the javelin tree to get LF and a viable CS. This causes even more of a problem with the Fishyzon, which was a big factor in deciding not to go that route.
- I wanted to try out some of the bow runewords, particularly Hustle and Insight, and maybe to use Harmony for something other than quicker running through the Kurast docks.
- @Nagisa always kept banging on about how good it was.
The name Asteria crops up a lot in mythology apparently, but she actually gets her name played Lynda Carter (the wonder woman actress of my youth) in the Wonder Woman 1984 film. This is a rich source of Amazon names which I will plunder for future projects.
Skills
Magic Arrow: 1/4Cold Arrow: 1/4
Multiple Shot: 7/10
Guided Arrow: 10/13
Strafe: 5/8
Inner Sight: 1/4
Critical Strike: 1/6
Dodge: 1/4
Slow Missiles: 1/4
Avoid: 1/4
Penetrate: 1/4
Decoy: 1/4
Evade: 1/4
Valkyrie: 1/4
Pierce: 1/4
Jab: 1/5
Power Strike: 1/5
Poison Javelin: 1/5
Lightning Bolt: 20/24
Charged Strike: 20/24
Plague Javelin: 1/5
Lightning Fury: 20/24
Lightning Bolt as a synergy for Charged Strike. Guided Arrow because I like it for shooting around corners and the new synergies means it adds damage to both Strafe and Multi Shot.
Stats
Name: AsteriaClass: Amazon
Experience: 1258053096
Level: 87
Naked/Gear
Strength: 90/100
Dexterity: 185/205
Vitality: 205/205
Energy: 15/25
HP: 837/902
Mana: 144/219
Stamina: 355/355
Defense: 46/595
AR: 895/1078
Fire: 178/138/78
Cold: 142/102/42
Lightning: 160/120/60
Poison: 107/67/7
MF: 34 Block: 62
GF: 50 FR/W: 20
FHR: 20 IAS: 20
FCR: 0
Equipment
Bow: 'Hustle' Shadow BowJavelin: Rare Ceremonial Javelin & 'Rhyme' Large Shield
Helm: 'Lore' Basinet
Armour: 'Peace' Cuirass
Belt: Razortail
Boots: Tearhaunch
Gloves: Laying of Hands
Amulet: Rare with resists & life. And Paladin Offensive Auras.
Ring 1: Magic with Mana Leech
Ring 2: Rare Life Leech
Various resist, life, mana, and AR charms. A bit of MF too.
Code:
Hustle
Shadow Bow
ShaelKoEld
Two Hand Damage: 43 - 170
Durability: 25 of 28
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 52
Required Dexterity: 188
Fingerprint: 0x503995d5
Item Level: 69
Version: Resurrected
5% Chance to cast level 1 Burst of Speed on striking
Level 1 Fanaticism Aura When Equipped
+30% Increased Attack Speed
189% Enhanced Damage
+75% Damage to Undead
+50 to Attack Rating against Undead
+10 to Dexterity
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Ko Rune
Socketed: Eld Rune
Brimstone Wrack
Ceremonial Javelin
Throw Damage: 24 - 73
One Hand Damage: 24 - 47
Quantity: 120
Required Level: 48
Required Strength: 25
Required Dexterity: 109
Fingerprint: 0x77a6a7d0
Item Level: 88
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)
37% Enhanced Damage
+11 to Attack Rating
Adds 1 - 112 Lightning Damage
4% Life stolen per hit
Poison Resist +6%
Level 2 Bone Spear Level 25 %s (25/25 Charges)
Rhyme
Large Shield
ShaelEth
Defense: 13
Chance to Block: 32
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 34
Fingerprint: 0xa1ce6c35
Item Level: 20
Version: Resurrected
+40% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +25
Cannot Be Frozen
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Eth Rune
Lore
Basinet
OrtSol
Defense: 84
Durability: 30 of 30
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 82
Fingerprint: 0x92f52553
Item Level: 59
Version: Resurrected
+1 to All Skills
+10 to Energy
Lightning Resist +30%
Damage Reduced by 7
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+2 to Light Radius
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune
Peace
Cuirass
ShaelThulAmn
Defense: 199
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0x7dcc71db
Item Level: 74
Version: Resurrected
4% Chance to cast level 5 Slow Missiles when struck
2% Chance to cast level 15 Valkyrie on striking
+2 to Amazon Skill Levels
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 to Critical Strike
Cold Resist +30%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Amn Rune
Shadow Torc
Amulet
Required Level: 30
Fingerprint: 0xbeee7ab5
Item Level: 55
Version: Resurrected
5% Chance to cast level 3 Frost Nova when struck
+2 to Combat Skills (Paladin Only)
+4 to Strength
+35 to Life
All Resistances +14
Fire Resist +37%
Triumphant Ring of the Wraith
Ring
Required Level: 46
Fingerprint: 0x70e684dd
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
5% Mana stolen per hit
+1 to Mana after each Kill
Death Turn
Ring
Required Level: 35
Fingerprint: 0x6c7c8598
Item Level: 75
Version: Resurrected
5% Life stolen per hit
+19 to Mana
Cold Resist +20%
Lightning Resist +9%
Poison Length Reduced by 25%
Razortail
Sharkskin Belt
Defense: 105
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 32
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0xa9008e7f
Item Level: 82
Version: Resurrected
Piercing Attack
+10 to Maximum Damage
+145% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+15 to Dexterity
Attacker Takes Damage of 87 (Based on Character Level)
Tearhaunch
Greaves
Defense: 62
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 70
Fingerprint: 0x899a74ee
Item Level: 43
Version: Resurrected
+20% Faster Run/Walk
+2 to Vigor (Paladin Only)
+73% Enhanced Defense
+35 Defense
+5 to Strength
+5 to Dexterity
All Resistances +10
Laying of Hands
Bramble Mitts
Defense: 81
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x615cd631
Item Level: 81
Version: Resurrected
10% Chance to cast level 3 Holy Bolt on striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
+350% Damage to Demons
+25 Defense
Fire Resist +50%
Lapis Small Charm of Strength
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0x801ef5b1
Item Level: 17
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Strength
Cold Resist +6%
Russet Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0x61cd43e0
Item Level: 22
Version: Resurrected
Fire Resist +6%
Ocher Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0xa845a701
Item Level: 31
Version: Resurrected
Lightning Resist +7%
Steel Large Charm of Life
Large Charm
Required Level: 44
Fingerprint: 0xb3c1c5a3
Item Level: 71
Version: Resurrected
+72 to Attack Rating
+6 to Life
Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x2e4b3068
Item Level: 75
Version: Resurrected
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Viridian Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0xc25c89f0
Item Level: 35
Version: Resurrected
Poison Resist +7%
Serpent's Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0xdf31943
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+44 to Mana
Russet Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0x40bcb44d
Item Level: 42
Version: Resurrected
Fire Resist +6%
Emerald Large Charm of Sustenance
Large Charm
Required Level: 34
Fingerprint: 0xe6f4d909
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
+24 to Life
Poison Resist +15%
Coral Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 15
Fingerprint: 0xb44efa67
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
Lightning Resist +21%
Snake's Small Charm of Fortune
Small Charm
Required Level: 24
Fingerprint: 0x1d351cab
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+12 to Mana
3% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Amber Large Charm
Large Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0xb4c3dc90
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
Lightning Resist +14%
Lapis Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0x9d43230c
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
Cold Resist +7%Mercenary
A2 Might Merc to help the physical bow damage.
Code:
Mercenary:
Name: Pratham
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Might-Hell
Experience: 86590172
Level: 87
Dead?: unknown
Naked/Gear
Strength: 194/194
Dexterity: 157/157
HP: 1910/1970
Defense: 1402/1788
AR: 2000/2000
Fire: 169/129/69
Cold: 199/159/99
Lightning: 169/129/69
Poison: 169/129/69
Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Death Mask
Defense: 107
Durability: 15 of 20
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0xb61ad425
Item Level: 71
Version: Resurrected
10% Mana stolen per hit
10% Life stolen per hit
+45 Defense
+60 to Life
+30 to Mana
All Resistances +15
Treachery
Superior Sharktooth Armor
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 279
Durability: 55 of 55
Required Level: 43
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0xdd65ae6f
Item Level: 73
Version: Resurrected
5% Chance to cast level 15 Fade when struck
25% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+8% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
Increase Maximum Durability 15%
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Lem Rune
The Reaper's Toll
Thresher
Two Hand Damage: 37 - 441
Durability: 34 of 65
Required Level: 75
Required Strength: 114
Required Dexterity: 89
Fingerprint: 0x9ff55e08
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
33% Chance to cast level 1 Decrepify on striking
213% Enhanced Damage
Ignore Target's Defense
Adds 4 - 44 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (28 Frames)
15% Life stolen per hit
33% Deadly Strike
Requirements --25%Gameplay
I wanted to play this character as a potential untwinked 99er. That means that I need to save the socket quests for end game gear. I have other characters to get to 99 first, but at least the potential is there.Normal was the usual - I bought a 3os long bow and threw some chipped emeralds in it and plinked away at stuff with the help of the mercenary until Charged Strike, then zap everything until LIghtning Fury was strong enough to obliterate everything. Fara provided me with 2os full helm and large shield and 3os breast plates. This gave Asteria a look that fitted well with the name, so I kept this aesthetic throughout. I started with topazes in the armour and sapphires in the shield.
Right at the beginning of Nightmare I found a Riphook. It is a great weapon for Nightmare, I used it for the slow in conjunction with the javelin and of course for the lightning immunes as I got towards the end of NM. I ran The Countess for runes then made Lore and Peace armour. I have never used this before and quite liked the free Valkyrie, so I kept it throughout the game. A 4os ethereal bill was found whilst rune hunting, which I made Insight in for the mercenary. I later re-made the armour and the helm in exceptional bases, but I never found a 2os Scutum and couldn't be bothered to cube the plain ones I found.
By the time I entered Hell I had a physical damage problem. The Riphook was no longer ripping and the ethereal bill was too weak for the mercenary. I did consider upping the Riphook. Luckily I found a Shadow Bow in The Black Marsh with 3os. A few Countess runs later and I had Hustle. I also found Tal's Mask for the merc and Laying of Hands there, but I didn't equip them until after Act 3. Up until them I was using some crafted Hit Power gloves for the knockback
Act 1 and Act 2 went fairly smoothly after that at /players 3. There was a bit of a fist pump when I found the perfect belt of this build, Razortail, in the Jungle, but that was the highlight of Act 3 and it went rapidly downhill, mainly as the merc was dying too much. I went down to /players1 in an effort to keep him alive, but it didn't help much. PI LI Gloams didn't help much either.
In Travincal I separated the council and killed them individually. Heading into the Durance I was met by my first Urdar boss pack, who proceeded to shred my merc. Durance was really tough and exhausted my gold supply. I had numerous deaths without merc support but, after scouring an never ending level two map, I found the stairs in the last area uncovered. Guided Arrow and lots of decoy and valk eventually took care of the LI council members, then finally the fight with Mephisto. I had enough gold for one more merc resurrection, but of course he bit the dust early anyway.
After the Durance problems, it was time for a re-think. I needed gold and more physical damage for both myself and the merc, so decided to head to The Pit. I ran at /players3 and found numerous bows, none of which got 4os for Harmony or Insight. But I did find this:
That solved both the Merc and my Physical damage problems, but at the expense of mana. Actually this made for a much more balanced Gunslinger with the bow now being used equally with the javelin. I kept running until level 86 but there were no game changing drops after that.
The rest of the game went fairly smoothly, if slowly. I went back to /players 3 and hit level 87 just after The Ancients. The Baal fight was a bit annoying due to the mana burn, but a large amount of guzzling blue potions and he was eventually groaning on the ground.
Overall I think it is a great build, with the great potential with better gear. Unfortunately Infinity, Sunder Charms and Griffons would remove any real need to do a hybrid. I also stand by my original logic that this is better than the Fishyzon in D2R, considering the recent synergy changes.
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