Matriarch/Patriarch/Guardian Archive Thread

Originally posted by Xdeathfire on Feb 18, 2008:

Matriarch Xdeathfire, meteorber

Well, this is just essentially a rebuild of my previous meteorber. Main reasons for doing so was that I just found the full tal rasha's set and wanted her to use it for mfing, but unfortunately, I couldn't use a spirit shield or war travs for her due to her horribly low strength. So, I muled the items off, deleted her, and remade.

name : Xdeathfire
level : 94 (I ran pindle/AT at /p5 for a few days before I finally got around to killing Baal)

Strength : 146(165)
Energy : 35
Dexterity : 35(65 I accidentally put 10 in here....)
Vitality : 344(354)

Fireball Damage: 5815-6350ish
Meteor Damage: 12557-13140
Frozen Orb Damage: 430-460ish

Life : 1264
Mana : 628
MF: 416%
Resists: 67/75/75/44

Items:
Code:
Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Death Mask
Defense: 121
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Strength: 55
Required Level: 66
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xec57e342
+60 to Life
+30 to Mana
+45 Defense
All Resistances +15
10% Life stolen per hit
10% Mana stolen per hit
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Tal Rasha's Adjudication
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x814fbd09
+50 to Life
+42 to Mana
Lightning Resist +33%
Adds 3-32 lightning damage
+2 to Sorceress Skill Levels

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
10% Faster Cast Rate
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***


Tal Rasha's Guardianship
Lacquered Plate
Defense: 921
Durability: 55 of 55
Required Strength: 83
Required Level: 71
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x302d3bba
+400 Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 15
Fire Resist +40%
Lightning Resist +40%
Cold Resist +40%
112% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Requirements -60%

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
10% Faster Cast Rate
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***

Socketed (1: 1 used)

Scintillating Ring of the Apprentice
Required Level: 59
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xc91a8b49
All Resistances +14
10% Faster Cast Rate

Stone Whorl
Ring
Required Level: 43
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x4ce332a6
+9 to Strength
+24 to Life
Fire Resist +18%
+2 to Light Radius
10% Faster Cast Rate

Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth
Mesh Belt
Defense: 96
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 46
Required Level: 53
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 50
Fingerprint: 0xf9562284
+20 to Dexterity
+30 to Mana
15% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Requirements -20%
37% Damage Taken Goes to Mana

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
+60 Defense
10% Faster Cast Rate
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***


War Traveler
Battle Boots
Defense: 138
Durability: 48 of 48
Required Strength: 95
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xd36240b4
+10 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
+189% Enhanced Defense
+15 to Minimum Damage
+25 to Maximum Damage
+30 Maximum Durability
Attacker Takes Damage of 5
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
25% Faster Run/Walk
40% Slower Stamina Drain

Chance Guards
Chain Gloves
Defense: 27
Durability: 15 of 16
Required Strength: 25
Required Level: 15
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xded1ee63
+21% Enhanced Defense
+25 to Attack Rating
+15 Defense
200% Extra Gold from Monsters
40% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Light Radius

Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye
Swirling Crystal
One-Hand Damage: 18 to 42
Durability: 50 of 50
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 65
Orb Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xb9880dcc
+10 to Energy
+57 to Life
+77 to Mana
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Fire Mastery (Sorceress Only)
+2 to Lightning Mastery (Sorceress Only)
+2 to Cold Mastery (Sorceress Only)

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
+1 to Sorceress Skill Levels
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
+15% to Cold Skill Damage
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***


Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 141
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xdd4b2ff7
+22 to Vitality
+107 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+8 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Required Level: 39
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion


Mercenary Items :

Code:
Duriel's Shell
Great Hauberk
Defense: 1843
Durability: 49 of 150
Required Strength: 108
Required Level: 63
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xadf88d7f
+15 to Strength
+160% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +20%
Lightning Resist +20%
Cold Resist +50%
Poison Resist +20%
+100 Maximum Durability
Required Level +7
Cannot Be Frozen
+117 to Defense (Based on Character Level)
+94 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired)

Vampire Gaze
Grim Helm
Defense: 252
Durability: 25 of 40
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0xffb25808
+100% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 12
Damage Reduced by 18%
Adds 6-22 cold damage over 4 seconds
6% Life stolen per hit
7% Mana stolen per hit
15% Slower Stamina Drain

Insight
Thresher
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 71 to 837
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Dexterity: 108
Required Strength: 142
Required Level: 53
Polearm Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xa135a1
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+247% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+5 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
215% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 17 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (4: 4 used)

That and including two fire skillers, gheeds, and about 10ish mf scs

Noticable Drops: Really terrible actually, got an Ist from HF which was really nice, but from all of the runs I did to get her to 94, only really exciting finds were a (231/6)Death Cleaver which was 1ed off from the worst roll ever and a 22 maras.

No pics that I usually have because my photobucket account is a bit messed up right now and I'm too lazy to get another image hosting site thing.

Future plans for her: Baal Running, I have the best Baal map ever and didn't even have to reroll it. Basically, its two teleport from WSK2 to WSK3 and about 6 teles from WSK3 to throne
 
Originally posted by zaphodbrx on Mar 20, 2013:

Matriarchs Zarine and Nynaeve- Dual tree sorcs

First of all let me say that I don't like single tree sorcs very much. Though sporting a silly amount of LCS damage due to maxed out synergies, I have found them overall limited and boring. The pure lightning sorc with infinity is a common and very powerful build. But there are still a -lot- of monsters that infinity doesn't break and sometimes the boss type is such that the merc just has a very hard time dealing with it even with spamming telekinesis. Or it can even be physical immune which means -> screwed. Additionally there are monster types that are unbreakably immune to lightning, and the merc is just not up to dealing with large numbers of those on high player setting.

As far as versatility goes- and if you're a fan of versatility, like I am- the lite sorc just falls short. It's not like an amazon where you can have a 3k jab attack as a backup or something, you are literally twiddling your thumbs hoping for the merc to kill it. This is just not acceptable. But even then the lightning sorc is heaven compared to her fire and cold variant. Apparently, Blizzard in their infinite wisdom decided to make 90% of the LIs breakable by infinity level conviction, but only 60% of the FIs and 20% of the CIs. Meaning that it is difficult to do anything effective with a fire sorc really, except silly things like running the mausoleum or Maggot's lair. As for the blizzard sorc she literally can't step foot outside the ancient tunnels.

The search for players 8 hell capable, fully versatile sorceress was the motivation for creating these characters. Although I had planned it for a while, I only recently acquired the requisite items to make a successful build. Turns out that these gals were even better than I'd hoped- Dual tree sorcs are elemental engines of destruction- elemental wrecking machines. If the question were to be asked that can dual tree sorcs effectively deal with max players hell, the answer is, yeah they can. I don't know why I doubted it.

Matriarch Zarine - Blizzballer

LCS ( Ice blast/Blizzard )
LCS ( Fireball/Meteor )
At level 94

Minus enemy fire resist: -28% eFR
Minus enemy cold resist: -117% eCR
FCR: 105% breakpoint
FHR: 20%

The blizzballer is perhaps my favourite sorc build of all time. It's undoubtedly ( for me atleast ) the best untwinked sorceress, it allows the combination of a powerful timered ability with a powerful untimered one and being fire/cold it has the option of static-ing down the enemies for generally softening them or to help with unbreakable dual immunes.

Skills

20(35) Fireball
20(35) Meteor
20(37) Blizzard
20(37) Ice blast
9 Ice bolt ( remaining here )
1 Fire mastery, cold mastery, static, teleport, warmth and prerequisites.

Gear

Death's Fathom ( +35/-5 )
Archaengel's Circlet of magus ( +10/-7 cold )
Skin of the vipermagi ( Um )
Phoenix monarch
Mara's kaliedoscope ( 29@ )
Arachnid mesh
Magefist
2x Stone of Jordan
Grim greaves ( rare boot, FR/LR, frw, fhr )
Switch: Call to arms ( 6 BO ), spirit monarch

Mercenary: A2 holy freeze
Gear: Andariel's visage, Infinity thresher, eth Fortitude

Inventory: 5 chilling, 2 burning skillers ( some with +life )
Small charms with res/life/fhr

Gear readouts

Code:
Arch-Angel's Circlet of the Magus
Defense: 22
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xf689ae3b
Adds 48-76 cold damage over 0 seconds
+2 to Sorceress Skill Levels
20% Faster Cast Rate
100% Chance to cast Level 37 Blizzard When You Die
+10% to Cold Skill Damage
-7% to Enemy Cold Resistance
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Death's Fathom
Dimensional Shard
One-Hand Damage: 30 to 53
Durability: 50 of 50
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 73
Orb Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x4c8061a3
Fire Resist +25%
Lightning Resist +37%
Adds 24-38 cold damage over 0 seconds
+3 to Sorceress Skill Levels
20% Faster Cast Rate
100% Chance to cast Level 43 Frost Nova When You Level Up
+35% to Cold Skill Damage
-5% to Enemy Cold Resistance
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Phoenix
Monarch
'VexVexLoJah'
Defense: 135
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 65
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x4bc99452
+50 to Life
+392% Enhanced Damage
+379 Defense vs. Missile
+10% to Maximum Fire Resist
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
+15 Fire Absorb
Level 15 Redemption Aura When Equipped
40% Chance to cast Level 22 Firestorm on striking
100% Chance to cast Level 40 Blaze When You Level Up
-28% to Enemy Fire Resistance
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
'Um'
Defense: 279
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 47
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0x545f00d7
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 12
All Resistances +50
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x7cb4853b
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
All Resistances +29
+2 to All Skill Levels

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x3297ec83
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 58
Fingerprint: 0x75f514af
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 125
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 80
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xdbefe38f
+99% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)

Grim Greaves
Heavy Boots
Defense: 5
Durability: 13 of 14
Required Strength: 18
Required Level: 18
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xc74bed4d
+2 to Dexterity
Fire Resist +40%
Lightning Resist +36%
20% Faster Run/Walk
10% Faster Hit Recovery

Zarine's Magefist
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 24
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x5af4269d
+23% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana 25%
+10 Defense
Adds 1-6 fire damage
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to Fire Skills

Call to Arms
Double Axe
'AmnRalMalIstOhm'
One-Hand Damage: 19 to 49
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 57
Axe Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xb007b9e
+281% Enhanced Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
7% Life stolen per hit
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
40% Increased Attack Speed
+6 to Battle Orders
+1 to Battle Cry
+5 to Battle Command
Prevent Monster Heal
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (5: 5 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 135
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x9671b697
+22 to Vitality
+97 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
26% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+8 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Thoughts

Since she sports a good amount of both -eFR and -eCR, infinity only had to break one of the immunities for the monster to be toasted or frozen. And while there are a few that are unbreakable to both, they're fairly rare. I kept screenshots, and these monsters were:
A1: None
A2: Two blunderbore bosses in the Tal rasha tombs ( very annoying as they knock back the merc )
A3: Toorc Icefist ( funny I had read somewhere he would be breakable )
A4: Two venom lord bosses
A5: Eldrich, a harpy boss, Lister.
Not very many, and static and telekinesis were used to help the merc deal with them. Since merc damage was not going to be very important for a dual tree sorc, I picked holy freeze rather than might. Not a great idea imo, HF doesn't do very much.

I played all of hell on players 8, and she kept a good pace for most of it. It slowed down a bit in the A5 ice caves where there was a ton of tanky cold immunes. Static and meteor was very helpful here, fireball by itself isn't enough. A side goal I tried to achieve with this character was to reach level 90 with single pass character. Even though I cleared out every imaginable scrap of hell, and didn't die, I fell short, completing hell at level 89.7

Played with her for a little while after mat'ing as well, and I like her. Good solid damage and versatility. It is definitely cold centric, since blizzard rocks and is the main ability, but she can deal with mostly anything. Perhaps the most troublesome monster types are unbreakably immune oblivion knights with their annoying kitey behaviour and decrepify casting on the merc, difficult even with telekinesis and port. Also she has the redemption aura on all the time, which is great for replenishing life and mana. Two things I think she is lacking in- fhr (20% isn't enough ), and poison resistance isn't enough, she keeps taking lot of damage from poison even though that is quickly filled up by redemption but monster corpses aren't around all the time.

I used delirium/CoH on the merc for some time, but it crashed the game, and anyway I don't really need it. Andy/Fort is solid. Except the effect of freezing breath Act 5 monsters on chilling armor is exasperating. Pick your poison I guess.

Finds: Ohm, shimmering sc of sustenance ( 4/15), rare zon dual leech circlet.

Matriarch Nynaeve - Lightning/Orb

LCS - at level 89

Minus enemy lightning resist: -25% eLR
Minus enemy cold resist: -95% eCR
FCR: 117% breakpoint
FHR: 60%

This is a variant of the lightning sorceress that sacrificies some of its synergy power for a decent backup attack in frozen orb. I have played this build before untwinked and it didn't really impress me compared to blizzballer or meteorb. However this character keeps pace with her blizzballer equivalent and even surpasses her sometimes. It's because of all the items I guess.

Skills

20(41) Lightning
20(41) Lightning mastery
20(41) Chain lightning
20(35) Frozen orb
10 Charged bolt ( remaining here )
1 static, teleport, warmth, cold mastery and all prerequisites

Gear

Death's Fathom ( +35/-5 )
Griffon's Eye ( +20/-25 )
Chains of honor
Spirit Monarch ( 33 fcr )
Arachnid mesh
Magefist
2x Stone of Jordan
Mara's kaleidoscope ( 29@ )
Silkweave
Switch: Call to arms (6 bo), Spirit monarch

Merc: A2 prayer
Gear: Andariel's visage, Infinity thresher, eth Fortitude

Inventory: 7 Lightning skillers, small charms with res/life.

Gear readouts

Code:
Death's Fathom
Dimensional Shard
One-Hand Damage: 30 to 53
Durability: 50 of 50
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 73
Orb Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x4c8061a3
Fire Resist +25%
Lightning Resist +37%
Adds 24-38 cold damage over 0 seconds
+3 to Sorceress Skill Levels
20% Faster Cast Rate
100% Chance to cast Level 43 Frost Nova When You Level Up
+35% to Cold Skill Damage
-5% to Enemy Cold Resistance
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Griffon's Eye
Diadem
Defense: 157
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 76
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x43fa895d
+105 Defense
Adds 1-74 lightning damage
25% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
100% Chance to cast Level 41 Nova When You Level Up
+20% to Lightning Skill Damage
-25% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Chains of Honor
Dusk Shroud
'DolUmBerIst'
Defense: 783
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Strength: 77
Required Level: 63
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x8f593e49
+20 to Strength
+70% Enhanced Defense
Damage Reduced by 8%
All Resistances +65
8% Life stolen per hit
Replenish Life +7
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
200% Damage to Demons
100% Damage to Undead
+2 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 139
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x24109a52
+22 to Vitality
+99 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
33% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+4 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 129
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 80
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x822a9eb5
+105% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)

Silkweave
Mesh Boots
Defense: 129
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 65
Required Level: 36
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x501941ff
+188% Enhanced Defense
+200 Defense vs. Missile
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
30% Faster Run/Walk
+5 to Mana After Each Kill

Nynaeve's Magefist
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 25
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x509eaf60
+25% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana 25%
+10 Defense
Adds 1-6 fire damage
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to Fire Skills

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 58
Fingerprint: 0x75f514af
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x3297ec83
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x7cb4853b
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
All Resistances +29
+2 to All Skill Levels

Call to Arms
Double Axe
'AmnRalMalIstOhm'
One-Hand Damage: 19 to 49
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 57
Axe Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xb007b9e
+281% Enhanced Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
7% Life stolen per hit
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
40% Increased Attack Speed
+6 to Battle Orders
+1 to Battle Cry
+5 to Battle Command
Prevent Monster Heal
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (5: 5 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 138
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x3b4fdae9
+22 to Vitality
+96 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
34% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+7 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Thoughts

This is primarily a lightning sorceress. It felt pretty powerful, even missing some synergy points. Mostly I just used lightning, but against LIs I used both orb and lightning casted alternately, and only orb against unbreakable LIs. Chain lightning was used against some types of trash mobs like flayers.

Like the other sorc this girl was also played on p8 through all of hell. The way that immunities in this game work makes lightning a better skill than it otherwise would be, and again I had enough -eCR and -eLR on my equipment to deal with any one broken immunity. In fact dual CI/LI unbreakable are extremely rare it seems, I only found one in the entire questing - an oblivion knight.

Orb is pretty rubbish on its own, which is evident when attacking unbreakable LI mobs, but its effectiveness to skill point ratio is really high, and well it is light years better than having no backup attack at all. It was nice to kill LI lister easily for a change, and there were often things like horror skeleton mobs with amp and unleechable which would have been very difficult for the merc to kill alone.

She doesn't have the redemption aura on all the time, but she has the prayer merc to heal her and warmth based regeneration on a huge mana pool due to spirit, dual SoJs, silkweave, BO meant not much mana problems. MPK on sikweaves helps too. Survivability problem is much more important than mana problem, as she keeps taking high damage from quillrats and slingers and things of the sort. This is a problem with the other sorc too, and can't be helped I guess. Some day I want to make a max block sorceress but not really sure how to do that while also having high damage and hp. Her hit recovery is much better though, and she has not much problem with poison due to maxed pres and prayer aura. But I need to get out of the habit of tanking hydras with a phoenix shield. It causes a lot of problems when not using a phoenix shield.

Council members ( esp the ones immune to lightning ) and gloams are the only real problems. Throne had gloams and horadrims which was the hardest part of the game. In fact other than those two, most LIs are a pushover with weak hp. Compared to FIs and CIs, which often sport massive hitpoints and are unbreakable, while gloams and council members are breakable. Seriously blizzard. Wtf.

What else? Two LI unbreakable in city of the damned, but I found the map with the windows in it, which is cool. Two of Ancients were unbreakably LI the first two times, but the third time only madawc was LI and breakable as well. They had amp and might but I did it anyway, kiting with teleport and lightning is so easy.

Finds: None, unfortunately. Some characters just don't have the luck. Mal at hellforge.

Hope you enjoyed reading!
 
Originally posted by Aconite on Dec 11, 2008:

Matriarch Storm - Tal's Orb/Nova

Storm is number two in the series of sorcs using Tal's set, after Lilith.

Leveling was pretty much the normal orb sorc situation - slow melee to 24, blizzard to 30, equip some caster gear and use orb to fly through until the end of nightmare. I initially went for 20 orb / 10 mastery, then maxed nova / mastery, then back to the cold tree for ice bolt.

I much prefer synergised frozen orb with plenty of -cold res as a main attack. Just running Baal on P1, for comparison, it's way easier than using a meteorber. Orb slices through everything except those pesky skeletons in wave 2, but nova takes care of them!

I had a fairly easy time in Act 5. Nothing nasty in WSK, but I did have to reroll the ancients once due to dual immunities. In the end the thrower was dual immune, but Waheed handled him once we'd split them and taken care of the others.

Main skills as follows:

Frozen Orb 20/31
Cold Mastery 10/23
Ice Bolt 14/25 (to be maxed next)

Nova 20/32
Lightning Mastery 20/34

I went for Sirpoops recommendation of +12 to lightning for an acceptable Nova. Not sure where to spend the points after Ice Bolt is maxed. Maybe 2 points on Shiver Armor. Don't know whether it's worth adding to Cold Mastery (with my planned equipment upgrades I'd hit -150%).

Hellforges were Pul (NM) and Hel (Hell) :scratchchin:

Best find was Bul Kathos' Sacred Charge off Pindle - a grailer! Nothing else worth mentioning, however.

Character details:

Code:
Name:       Storm
Class:      Sorceress
Experience: 743541172
Level:      81

            Naked/Gear
Strength:   156/156
Dexterity:  25/45
Vitality:   279/301
Energy:     35/45
HP:         718/1157
Mana:       195/503
Stamina:    423/625
Defense:    6/1455

Resists:    75/75/75/75

MF:         313       
GF:         83
FR/W:       40
FHR:        90
FCR:        105

Gear was full Tal's with a 35% Spirit Monarch and Trangs gloves to hit the 105% BP. Aldur's Advance and Carrion Wind get me to 75% resist against all. The Nagelring is a placeholder for a SoJ... One 4/4 cold facet in the Orb, and two ptopaz's in armor/helm - to be replaced by facets as and when possible. Harmony in a long bow on switch for zipping around town (I don't own a CtA).

Code:
Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Death Mask
Defense: 105
Durability: 18 of 20
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0x151d32ab
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+60 to Life
+30 to Mana
+45 Defense
10% Life stolen per hit
10% Mana stolen per hit
All Resistances +15
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz

Tal Rasha's Adjudication
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x16c303a3
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+50 to Life
+42 to Mana
Lightning Resist +33%
+3 - 32 Lightning Damage
+2 to Sorceress Skill Levels
Set (4 items): 
10% Faster Cast Rate

Tal Rasha's Guardianship
Lacquered Plate
Defense: 842
Durability: 48 of 55
Required Level: 71
Required Strength: 84
Fingerprint: 0x3d9fb117
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+400 Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 15
Fire Resist +40%
Lightning Resist +40%
Cold Resist +40%
Requirements -60%
Set (2 item): 
10% Faster Cast Rate
112% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz

Nagelring
Ring
Required Level: 7
Fingerprint: 0x38b87de8
Item Level: 12
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+51 to Attack Rating
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Attacker Takes Damage of 3
28% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Carrion Wind
Ring
Required Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0xc8a1e41c
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+115 Defense vs. Missile
Poison Resist +55%
9% Life stolen per hit
+10 Damage Taken Goes To Mana
8% Chance to cast level 13 Twister on striking
10% Chance to cast level 10 Poison Nova when struck
Level 21 Poison Creeper (15/15 Charges)

Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth
Mesh Belt
Defense: 98
Durability: 14 of 16
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 47
Fingerprint: 0xc91773ec
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+20 to Dexterity
+30 to Mana
15% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Requirements -20%
+37 Damage Taken Goes To Mana
Set (2 item): 
+60 Defense
Set (3 items): 
10% Faster Cast Rate

Aldur's Advance
Battle Boots
Defense: 41
Durability: 12 of 18
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 95
Fingerprint: 0x31015a52
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+50 to Life
+180 Maximum Stamina
32% Heal Stamina Plus
Fire Resist +49%
40% Faster Run/Walk
+10 Damage Taken Goes To Mana
Indestructible
Set (2 item): 
+15 to Dexterity
Set (3 items): 
+15 to Dexterity
Set (4 items): 
+15 to Dexterity

Trang-Oul's Claws
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 73
Durability: 9 of 16
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0xe4d8222b
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+30 Defense
Cold Resist +30%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Curses (Necromancer only)
25% to Poison Skill Damage

Harmony
Long Bow
Two Hand Damage: 19 - 45
Durability: 17 of 28
Required Level: 39
Required Strength: 22
Required Dexterity: 19
Fingerprint: 0x311fa3
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
265% Enhanced Damage
20% Regenerate Mana
+55 - 160 Fire Damage
+55 - 160 Lightning Damage
+55 - 160 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
+2 to Light Radius
+2 to Valkyrie
Level 10 Vigor Aura When Equipped
Level 20 Revive (25/25 Charges)
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+9 to Maximum Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
+10 to Dexterity
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Ith Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune
Socketed: Ko Rune

Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye
Swirling Crystal
One Hand Damage: 18 - 42
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 65
Fingerprint: 0x2b17cc44
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+10 to Energy
+57 to Life
+77 to Mana
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Fire Mastery (Sorceress Only)
+2 to Lightning Mastery (Sorceress Only)
+2 to Cold Mastery (Sorceress Only)
Set (2 item): 
+1 to Sorceress Skill Levels
Set (3 items): 
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
Set (4 items): 
-15% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
Set (5 items): 
15% to Cold Skill Damage
+24 - 38 cold damage with 0 sec Duration
100% Chance to cast level 37 Blizzard when you Die
4% to Cold Skill Damage
-4% to Enemy Cold Resistance
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Rainbow Facet

Rainbow Facet
Jewel
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x9b9ea4aa
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+24 - 38 cold damage with 0 sec Duration
100% Chance to cast level 37 Blizzard when you Die
4% to Cold Skill Damage
-4% to Enemy Cold Resistance

Spirit
Monarch
Defense: 135
Chance to Block: 22
Durability: 80 of 86
Required Level: 54
Required Strength: 156
Fingerprint: 0x90fe43d
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+22 to Vitality
+103 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
55% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skills
+4 Magic Absorb
Poison Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Amn Rune

Charms:

Code:
Chilling Grand Charm of Lightning
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xe1fa2a89
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+1 - 6 Lightning Damage
+1 to Cold Skills (Sorceress Only)

Chilling Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x23fcb44e
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+1 to Cold Skills (Sorceress Only)

Sparking Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xc9077d57
Item Level: 72
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+1 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)

Gheed's Fortune
Grand Charm
Required Level: 62
Fingerprint: 0xacfda53c
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
83% Extra Gold from Monsters
38% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Reduces all Vendor Prices 15%

Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0xcd01068c
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
5% Faster Hit Recovery

Chilling Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xab6769c8
Item Level: 52
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+8 to Life
+1 to Cold Skills (Sorceress Only)

Sparking Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xc2ab6e46
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+1 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)

Sparking Grand Charm of Quality
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xc426a65e
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+2 to Maximum Damage
+1 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)

Sparking Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x2a779935
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+1 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)

Emerald Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0xda7f7704
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
Poison Resist +11%
5% Faster Hit Recovery

Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xe4dca006
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Small Charm of Fortune
Small Charm
Required Level: 18
Fingerprint: 0x99c1959e
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Lizard's Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x490bc1cf
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+6 to Mana
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items


Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x93f0a5e0
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+20 to Life

Small Charm of Fortune
Small Charm
Required Level: 18
Fingerprint: 0x9c555c43
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x9be38e98
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Nightmare act 2 defensive merc, wielding an Insight:

Code:
Duriel's Shell
Cuirass
Defense: 695
Durability: 49 of 150
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0xcede47cf
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+15 to Strength
193% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +30%
+100 Maximum Durability
Cannot Be Frozen
101 Defense (Based on Char Lvl)
81 to Life (Based on Char Lvl)
All Resistances +20

Vampire Gaze
Grim Helm
Defense: 252
Durability: 28 of 40
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0x7c74f8ce
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
100% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 11
Damage Reduced by 16%
+6 - 22 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
7% Life stolen per hit
6% Mana stolen per hit
15% Slower Stamina Drain

Insight
Thresher
Two Hand Damage: 63 - 643
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 142
Required Dexterity: 108
Fingerprint: 0x64a25236
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
All Stats +5
205% Enhanced Damage
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+5 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
245% Bonus to Attack Rating
Level 16 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Ethereal
+5 - 30 Fire Damage
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
+9 to Minimum Damage
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Ral Rune
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune

I'll definitely be leveling this one over the meteorber (at least to 87 to max out ice bolt). Equipment-wise, I'd like to acquire a SoJ and two more cold facets. The charms could do with improving as well, but that's a long term project in perfection.

Next attempt is going to be maxed fireball (60 pts) with a stronger orb. I'm getting the feeling that I'm still going to prefer orb/nova, however. We'll see.
 
Originally posted by ArtificialDream on Oct 21, 2008:

Matriarch Linnaea

This is Matriarch Linnaea, nothing technically special to her, just a normal CL/FO sorc. She's my first (and only?) character since I began playing D2 properly (read: last month). Did some reading here since I have really no idea about in-depth Diablo before. (Last time I played was 5 years ago when I was still in my sixth grade, just to check this game out, found it cool but my enthusiasm quickly faded. Oh and yeah, got a lvl 19 dex blaze-lightning sorc XD) So as you see, I haven't done any Battlenet, Lan parties or any other things because I just started last month (Well, you know my situation :D) I play her just to dress her up with nice equips and I think I won't be making any more characters since school's killing me. Just to state the obvious: she's an UNTWINKED, VANILLA CHARACTER

Linnaea


Stats:

Matriarch Linnaea
Sorceress
Experience: 512300323
Level: 76


Naked/Gear
Strength: 70/72
Dexterity: 25/33
Vitality: 340/360
Energy: 35/70
HP: 835/1076
Mana: 185/326
Stamina: 479/499
Defense: 6/1086
AR: 75/75

Fire: 160/120/60
Cold: 127/87/27
Lightning: 154/114/54
Poison: 67/27/-33

Skills

Naked/Gear
Charged Bolt : 1/7
Static Field : 1/7
Telekinesis : 1/7
Lightning : 6/12
Chain Lightning : 20/26
Teleport : 1/7
Lightning Mastery : 20/26

Ice Bolt : 1/7
Frozen Armor : 1/7
Frost Nova : 1/7
Ice Blast : 1/7
Shiver Armor : 1/7
Glacial Spike : 1/7
Blizzard : 1/7
Frozen Orb : 20/26
Cold Mastery : 10/16

Equipments

Well, nothing much rare. Helm is a rare Grim Helm, armor is a rare Breast Plate, belt is a rare Plated Belt and boots is a rare Sharkskin Boots. All of them had resist mods. Her gauntlets is Magefists and she handles The Oculus and a Lidless Wall with a Razorswitch on switch. Amulet is a Tal's Adjudication and 2 rare rings with 10%FCR each and resist mods. Charms are mostly +life (4pcs 20+ to life and 6 10~15+ life charms) and +resists.

Mercenary

Her companion is an A2 NM Holy Freeze pally. Functions as a meat shield, distraction and sometimes frustration. Dons a Guillaume's Face, a rare Boneweave with 49% ED and wields the Impaler.

MF

My MF set would be a 2PTopazd superior Field Plate, Rhyme Spiked Shield,PTopazd Full Helm, Goldwrap, rare Boots with 25%MF mod, rare amulet with 18%MF and 2 rings with 8% and 10%MF then a poor 25%MF Chance Guards. Then I'd let my merc equip a PTopazd eth Steelskull.

Overall

First off I'd like to induce some snickers with stupid things I did with her:

1. I didn't know the /players command till I was in hell. (That's why she matted at lvl 76)
2. Sold a Gheed's fortune to Jamella in A4 NM.
3. Died a lot of times. Maybe about 30~ish? Most of them in Hell Crystaline Passage rescuing that damned Anya.
4. I just recently found out about the Thawing and Antidote potions resists bonus. (and time stack)
5. Spent 4 hours in getting the hang of battling the Hell Ancients. (Lvl1 Static Field then.) Spent 1.4M in resurrecting my then lvl75 merc before realizing that I better not have him. (Actually, it was tougher when I had my merc)
6. I didn't know that I could kill Magic Immunes till I accidentally killed one via CL in Hell Throne of Destruction.

Some semi-rares[?] she got (asides from some of her unique equips):

Buriza Do Kyanon, Ali Ba Ba,Spectral Shard,a 10%MF Jewel[?],Mal and Ko. (Pardon me if I think that they're semi rare since I have yet to do runs)



From Normal to NM, it was okay (except the part that she was constantly in dire need of mana pots) then when Hell loomed upon me, Immunes were everywhere and it began to slow down her pace. Hardest parts would be Hell Crystalline Passage up to Hell Ancients. I just hate that place. Anyhow, almost all other parts came smoothly. To sum it up, she was a great character and I enjoy playing her. I will continue playing her till she owns good items. I'm planning on getting good MF gear then proceed to complete Tal's Set just to make her glow. :D


PS: I have this tiny question, in terms of efficiency, could Ali Ba Ba be a viable MF weapon? Another one, Wealth runeword would be good in a Mage Plate?
 
Originally posted by Asmodeous on Oct 23, 2009:

Blizzard/Lightning matriarch here!

Name. Shermila.

Level 86.
Strength 160 (165)
Dexterity 25 (30)
Vitality 260 (330)
Energy 75 (80)
Hit Points 683 (955)
Mana 284 (540)
Resistances 75/75/75/75
Defense 2,005/4,210/8,822

Equipment

Griffin Eye circlet c/w 3/5 lightning facet. (+13%/-21%)
Mara's Kaliedascope (29%)
Death's Fathom Orb c/w 5/4 cold facet. (+30%/-4%)
Arkaine's Valor armor (v1.09 +2 sorceress skills) c/w 15% resist all jewel.
Spirit rune word shield 30% FCR.
Trang oul's Claws gloves.
Arachnid Mesh Belt.
Aldur's Advance Boots.
Stone of Jordan ring.
Bul Kathos Wedding Band ring.
Vortex Orb with +2 Frozen armor weapon switch.
Lidless wall shield switch.
3 x Lightning skill charms.
3 x Cold skill charms.
1 x 39% resist all 13 to life grand charm.
Mixture of resistances small charms & medium charm.

Skills

Ice bolt, Ice blast, Frost Nova, Glacial spike = 1 (17)
Cold Mastery = 1 (17)
Blizzard = 20 (36)
Static field, Teleport, Telekinesis = 1 (17)
Charged bolt, Lightning, Lightning mastery = 20 (36)
Chain lightning = 8 (24)
Warmth = 1 (14)

Blizzard damage = 2,257 -- 2,354
Charged Bolt damage = 519 -- 545 x 24
Lightning damage = 5 -- 14,506
Chain Lightning damage = 5 -- 5,168

Mercenary.

Defiance aura desert mercenary.
Tal Rasha Hideous Crest.
Naj's Light Plate.
Insight rune word great poleaxe.

Notes and comments

I have to start this matriarch thread with an admission. I, Ye Olde Asmo has never, ever, played a Blizzard sorceress before. After what has to be a decade of playing this game in varying quantities, I've never spent more than 1 skill point in Blizzard on my way to maxing out Forb. I remember casting blizzard on a group of monsters early in this characters career and thinking HUH? Why isn't that monster injured? I took a few more casts of blizzard and some trial and error for me to cotton on to a simple basic fact about blizzard, one that has eluded myself all these years.
It was a wonderful discovery and I reveled in learning about blizzard and developing my strategies and techniques for the skill. It was a Refreshing experience for me playing this age old game.
The lightning skills I selected complemented blizzard very well and it left me wondering why blizzard/lighting isn't a popular combination. By end game, I worked out that it is a very expensive combination to make it work well. This skill combination needs the best items available to make it a potent killer. When I reached matriarch, I scaled the character down to a more "typical" set up such as replacing Death fathom and Griffin's eye with HoTo and Harlequin crest and realized the huge difference the uber items made. It's a build that loves pretty toys and the Shinier the better.

I've always loved Charged bolt, or "the electric blanky" as I often call the skill. It's my own personal opinion that CB is one of the sorceresses most overlooked skills and one of her most deadly. I used the skill as a gangsta would use a fully automatic combat shotgun, nasty and brutal killing power at close range. If it wasn't lightning immune and got too close to my sorcy, I shredded it with CB grinning ear to ear on a morbid glory trip.
Lightning was my sniper rifle, picking off distant targets with pinpoint, devastating accuracy. It was also a great tunnel cleaner skill to boot. Chain lightning fitted in between these two skills dealing with targets too spread out to cover with my electric blanky or too numerous to pick off individually with lightning.
Juggling between four primary skills made this sorceress a challenge to play as there was always one spell better than the others for any given situation and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Well, apart from the deaths that is. Silly deaths in places and from foes I woudn't normally be running back from the nearest way point to collect my corpse. It really showed just how good Tal Rasha's full set really is as compared to my Tal's Meteorber, this sorceress was a glass cannon. This was due largely to my leveling gear as I was forever adding a new item as the level requirements where met and I juggled the rest of the set up trying to maintain an 8 fps casting speed and some sort of survivability. Typically I had low hit points, no shield block and low defense for a player well used to having all three in abundance.
It was when I was equipping my final end game equipment that some sort of solution became apparent. I was considering the difference between an Viper magi or a +3 CB Ormus when I thought about Arkaine's valor. Hmmm, only a few more points of strength needed, Vitality, FHR, socket in some resists, what's wrong with this armor on a sorceress? Finally my sorceress had at least one ingredient of survival that I'm well used to, defense. So I fired my holy freeze mercenary and replaced him with a Defiant and equipped my weapon switch with an orb with a cold armor skill. Now my glass cannon was now at least, hardened glass.

Finds? I honestly can't remember anything of significance. Not surprising for a sorceress with no magic find what so ever. But I wasn't playing to find stuff. I've found enough equipment over the years. It's time I sat back and enjoyed the fruits of my efforts and smelt the frozen and fried bodies left behind in my character's wake.

One thing I'm glad off now is remaking both of my primary Sorceress's. Neither where well made as they both where made shortly after v1.10 was released and where never optimized well. Now I have two potent sorceresses capable of handling anything the game has to throw their way, be it Countess runs, Lower kurask, a quick drive by the Burger King or around to Cousin Baal's for a party or five. I'm almost happy with my sorceress's. Almost? Yeah. Three is the magical number. A third sorceress is in the works. What is it you might ask? Well, she won't use any of the same skills as the previous two and it will be another oddball mix of skills, plus there is another surprising variation in the mix as well. If you can't guess then you'll just have to wait for the next Matriarch post I write!
 
Originally posted by bcoe on Apr 8, 2009:

Matriarch Sturnella_Magna (Blizz/Nova, full Tal's Baalrunner)

Matriarch Sturnella_Magna


Anyone know the meaning of her name? A hint: my two favorite hobbies are D2 and birdwatching...

It is the latin name of the Eastern Meadowlark, a recent arrival with spring around my part of the world, and its fabulous song is a favorite of mine. Plus the name just sounds cool.

Anyways, my favorite D2 pastime is running Baal with dual-tree, full-Tal's sorcs. I've tried most, and I think I've found my favorite. She's a Blizz/Nova mix. I've logged 100's of runs with FO/FB, traditional meteorb, Blizz/FB, FO/Nova, CB/FO. They all have their charms, but I think I like this the best. I'll get into why below.

This has definitely been done before, see the mat threads here:

BobTheWarrior's "Bobtheblizznova": http://diabloii.net/forums/threads/688776
Maareek's Blova: http://diabloii.net/forums/threads/708109

Their equipment wasn't exactly the same as mine, but their write-ups are very informative.`

STATS:
Name: Sturnella_Magna
Level: 84 (matted at 79, planning on running her up to 93)
Strength: 150 (156)
Dexterity: 25 (45)
Vitality: 300 (322)
Energy: 35 (45)

Life: 1972 (after BO)
Mana: 1404 (after BO)


Skills (after + skills and BO):
Fire tree:
Warmth: 1 (13)

Lightning Tree:
Nova: 20 (32)
Lite Mastery: 20 (34)
Telekinesis: 1 (13)
Teleport: 1 (13)
Static Field 1 (13)

Cold Tree:
Blizzard: 20 (38)
Ice Blast: 20 (38)
Ice Bolt: 8 (26) -- remaining points here
Cold Mastery: 1 (21)
1 point in pre-reqs

Damage:
Nova: 1315-1758
Blizzard: 5223-5436
Ice Blast: 3424-3519

Thoughts on Skills:

Skillwise, I max'd Nova and LM first, and played her through NM pretty much like a Nova-sorc, with light skillers, + lightning ammy/circlet, etc. Teamed with an insight/prayer merc, she dominated normal/nightmare. Next max'd blizzard, then ice blast, so that by the time she reached late NM she had a powerful blizzard too. Then switched to full-tals with cold facets and cold skillers, and played her primarily as a blizz sorc with nova backup. No real difficulties in hell, died a few times to carelessness. Act III was kind of a pain, all the LI soul killer/flayer variants are too quick and fast for blizz to be ideal.

On to equipment....

Equipment:
Head: Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest (cold facet 5/5 die)
Amulet: Tal Rasha's Adjudication
Armor: Tal Rasha's Guardianship (cold facet 5/4 level up)
Weapon: Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye (2/2/2, cold facet 5/5 die)
Belt: Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth
Shield: Spirit Monarch (+104 mana, 35 FCR)
Gloves: Magefists
Rings: 2x SOJ
Feet: Cruel Greaves (rare)
Cruel Greaves
Wyrmhide Boots
Defense: 61
Durability: 10 of 12
Kick Damage: 65 to 100
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x4605adc5
Fire Resist +36%
Poison Resist +35%
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
14% Chance to cast Level 5 Charged Bolt when struck
+0 to Defense (Based on Character Level)

Weapon Switch: CtA/Spirit


I love those boots- they complement the resists lacking on my full-tal's/spirit set up perfectly. If they only had FRW or FHR...

Charms:
7 cold skillers
1 lightning skiller
Various small charms with total of +15 FHR, a bit of resists, and a lot of mana and MF.

Resists: 75/74/75/69

Merc: Prayer with Insight/Fortitude/Vamp Gaze (IAS jewel)

Finds:
Hellforge: Lum/Pul
From Baal: Grandfather, 243% ED (reported in Baalathon thread)

Thoughts:

So, I've been looking for a favorite Baalrunner for a while, and the Baalathon has been my testing grounds. I really want to go players 1/8/3 for throne/minions/baal, so that's been the test. I teleport through the WSK until I get to the throne, clear it at /p1, switch to /p8 for all 5 waves, then /p3 for Baal. I know its not the most efficient for MF, but if all I wanted to do was find items, I'd run Pindle/AT/pits. I like the challenge of this run a lot more, and it keeps me interested/motivated.

I always use full tals. I've not experimented much with other setups, I just don't think they can compare on paper. Essentially all my sorcs use the equipment outlined above. I've played a few with 200FCR using wizspike, but they didn't really float my proverbial boat...

I definitely like having a cold-based primary attack. Lightning would be great too, but the higher FCR breakpoints bug me, and I don't like CB or Nova as a primary attack. They just doesn't have the safety or killing speed that FO or blizzard do, especially against bosses. Both FO and blizz slow down masses well, and I really go back and forth trying to decide which is my preference. I definitely won't get into which is better/worse, they are both great, and it comes down to personal preference. In my experience, FO is stronger against the throne and Baal, and blizz is stronger against minion waves. If I was running exclusively at p1, I think FO would be my favorite. If running at /p 1/8/3, I'm going with Blizz. I also like the longer freeze time that GS gets having blizz maxed. It definitely adds a bunch of safety. Blizzard is also a little less attention-dependent. FO really needs to be sweet-spotted to be great. With Blizz, I can name-lock baal and let him teleport around while I watch TV waiting for him to die...

So max'd blizz plus ~30 points of synergy simply melts any non-immune enemies. The hangups come with the cold-immune mages of wave 2 and whenever Lister is CI. I think the two best options for backup attack are nova and fireball. They are both great, and both have their pros and cons. Fireball is much less of a mana-hog (allowing tolerable use of a kelpie-merc), but it takes a little longer to target each mage individually, and doesn't help at all against Lister. Nova is a bit faster, but is a huge mana cost and pretty much obligates you to use an insight merc. One could switch out his weapon to Kelpie for Baal, but I haven't tried that....

Overall, I find her every bit as fast as a traditional blizzbaaler, faster than a FO-based runner, and the most fun of all. Just my opinion, of course...

Anyways, I know its been done before, but I'm happy enough with her that I thought I'd write this up. Now back to baaling....
 
Originally posted by bcoe on Apr 15, 2009:

Matriarch Strix_Varia (GS/Nova, 200FCR)

Matriarch Strix_Varia


Another Mat named after a cool local bird …

It is the latin name of the Barred Owl – our most active daytime owl, and one that we see around here with some regularity. Definitely my kids’ favorite… More info at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Barred_Owl.html

The idea behind this girl came while I was running Baal with my new blizz/nova sorc. Just for kicks, I thought I’d like to make a 200 FCR cold/lite combo. I really wanted to make an all-spam-all-the-time sorc, and to take full advantage of 200FCR. So, no timered spells allowed. Looking at spam-spells in the cold tree, I decided on GS, for the AoE and decent damage. From the lite side, I went with Nova, mainly because it takes fewer points than CS to make strong.

STATS:
Name: Sturnella_Magna
Level: 81
Strength: 150 (156)
Dexterity: 35 (45)
Vitality: 275 (297)
Energy: 35 (45)

Life: 1369 (after BO)
Mana: 1048 (after BO)


Skills (after + skills and BO):
Fire tree:
Warmth: 1 (13)

Lightning Tree:
Nova: 20 (32)
Lite Mastery: 20 (32)
Telekinesis: 1 (13)
Teleport: 1 (13)
Static Field 1 (13)

Cold Tree:
Glacial Spik: 20 (38)
Ice Blast: 20 (38)
Ice Bolt: 6 (24)
Cold Mastery: 2 (20)
1 point in pre-reqs

Damage:
Nova: 1296-1732
Glacial Spike: 1156-1217

Thoughts on Skills:

Skillwise, I max’d Nova and LM first, and played her through NM pretty much like a Nova-sorc, with light skillers, + lightning ammy/circlet, etc. Teamed with an insight/prayer merc, she dominated normal/nightmare. Next max’d GS, then Ice blast. Worked great throughout hell. I used full tal's up to level 80, then switched over to the 200FCR setup.

On to equipment….

Equipment:
Head: Griffon’s Eye (+16/-21, after facet)
Amulet: Crafted (+1 Sorc, 20 FCR, 18 res all, not much else)
Armor: Skin of the Vipermagi (Upped, jeweled, 45 res all)
Weapon: Heart of the Oak (40 res all)
Belt: Arachnid’s Mesh
Shield: Spirit Monarch (+104 mana, 35 FCR)
Gloves: Magefists
Ring: SoJ
Ring: 10 FCR, 10 energy, +75 Mana, +20 Pois res, replenish life +9
Feet: Cruel Greaves (rare) (FR +36%, PR +35%, MF 24%, other stuff)

Weapon Switch: CtA/Spirit

Charms:
7 cold skillers
1 lightning skiller
Various small charms
Resists: 75/75/75/75

Merc: Prayer with Insight/Fortitude/Vamp Gaze (IAS jewel)

Finds:
Hellforge: Lem/Um
Not much else…

Thoughts:

So this is my first real foray into 200FCR sorcs. Bottom line is that she’s fun, but fragile. Teleporting at 7 fpc is great and fun, but she doesn’t really cut it, offensively. On /p1, she’s perfectly fast, but not as fast at blizz/nova or FO/nova. She really slows down with any increased player count. Glacial spike is a really fun spell to use questing through the game, but doesn’t hold up compared to blizz or FO when it comes to dedicated running. Comparing it to the others against the minions, its AoE is just a bit too small. Against a cold-sensitive minion-pack, the GS will freeze and hurt the first 1/3rd or so of the wave, and the rest will work their way around and get you from the side. The freeze effect makes it perfectly safe, but you really can’t hit more than half of a minion-pack at a time, so it feels like it takes a while to clear each wave. At 7fpc its pretty, but that’s about it. Nova is nova. It’s probably my favorite sorc skill. Lousy boss-killer, though, and more suited to back-up status than primary killer, but great fun.

Equipment-wise, this is much “fancier” stuff than my standard full-tal’s getup. Frankly, I like Tal’s much better. I threw the full tal’s on this girl, and her killspeed and safety went up significantly. I took it off, because it kind of missed the point of her build, but the extra life, mana, MF and FHR, and cold damage boost were sorely missed, and make it a no-brainer that full tal’s is my gear-of-choice.

So, she’ll be going into retirement. She’s great fun, but really best suited to questing and not ideal for what I want to do long-term.

That said, I think she would be an absolutely picture-perfect countess runner. Not that I’m going to do a bunch of countess runs any time soon, but if I was, this would be the girl to do it…

Thanks for reading – good luck to all…
 
Originally posted by bcoe on May 8, 2009:

Matriarch Aix_Sponsa (full-Tal's, dual Nova sorceress)

Matriarch Aix_Sponsa


You probably think I’m obsessed with full Tal’s dual-element sorcs. You’re right…

This one is named after the wood duck. Probably my favorite duck in North America, and a common sight on medium sized ponds/lakes from spring through early fall in my area. No particular reason that I chose it, just thought the name sounded cool. Pictures available at: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id

This is a dual-nova gal, with a focus on Frost Nova.

STATS:
Name: Aix_Sponsa
Level: 79 (matted at 78)
Strength: 156 (156)
Dexterity: 25 (45)
Vitality: 269 (291)
Energy: 35 (45)

Life: 1918 (after BO)
Mana: 1382 (after BO)


Skills (after + skills and BO):
Fire tree:
Warmth: 1 (13)

Lightning Tree:
Nova: 20 (31)
Lite Mastery: 11 (24)
Telekinesis: 1 (12)
Teleport: 1 (12)
Static Field 1 (12)

Cold Tree:
Frost Nova: 20 (39)
Blizzard: 11 (30)
Frozen Orb: 20 (30)
Cold Mastery: 1 (22)
1 point in pre-reqs

Damage:
Nova: 984-1320
Frost Nova: 852-964
Frozen Orb (left-click): 718-750

Thoughts on Skills:

Skillwise, I max’d FN and FO first, played her through normal mostly with FN and through NM pretty much splitting time between FO and FN. A 1.07 triumphant ring (+24 Mana after each skill, lvl req 2) is officially God’s Gift to leveling. I then max’d Nova, and then started splitting skills between LM and Blizzard.

On to equipment….

Equipment:
Head: Tal Rasha’s Horadric Crest (cold facet 5/5 die)
Amulet: Tal Rasha’s Adjudication
Armor: Tal Rasha’s Guardianship (cold facet 5/4 level up)
Weapon: Tal Rasha’s Lidless Eye (2/2/2, cold facet 5/5 die)
Belt: Tal Rasha’s Fine-Spun Cloth
Shield: Spirit Monarch (+104 mana, 35 FCR)
Gloves: Magefists
Rings: 2x SOJ
Feet: Cruel Greaves (rare)
Cruel Greaves
Wyrmhide Boots
Defense: 61
Durability: 10 of 12
Kick Damage: 65 to 100
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x4605adc5
Fire Resist +36%
Poison Resist +35%
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
14% Chance to cast Level 5 Charged Bolt when struck
+0 to Defense (Based on Character Level)

Weapon Switch: CtA/Spirit


Charms:
8 cold skillers
Various small charms with total of +15 FHR, a bit of resists, and a lot of mana (key for this build).

Resists: 74/73/75/68

Merc: Prayer with Insight/Fortitude/Vamp Gaze (IAS jewel)

Finds:
Hellforge: Shael/Um
For whatever reason, this gal finds more gold rings than any other I’ve built. So far: 2 Manalds, one Ravenfrost, 2 dwarfstars, one nagel. Weird. Also found a Hellslayer.

Thoughts:

I really like this girl. Definitely not as powerful as some dual-elements, but lots of fun. She just destroyed nightmare – a 40 point Frost Nova (with tons of + skills) just decimates crowds. I only used FO for bosses and in those situations where getting too close was dangerous. Definitely a mana-hog, I kept the triumphant ring for quite a while, even after level 29 (when usually 2 SoJ’s go on and never come off).

Digression: A few weeks ago, I was marveling about the “mana after each kill” rings in Purplelocust’s 200FCR singer pat thread. I had never “timetravelled” and thought it would take forever. Well, I installed 1.07 on my work desktop and struggled like heck to get a FO/SF (never even got up to FO, to be honest) sorc up to Act 3 normal. I haven’t done untwinked in FOREVER, and I can’t believe how much I struggled. I’m so used to playing super-aggressive, it was a real eye-opener. Well, eventually I found enough crafting supplies and went to town. I finally got a triumphant ring (+ 24 mana after each kill). Total time investment was an hour or two a day for a week. Nothing in the grand scheme of things. It didn’t have any other mods, but no matter. I brought it forward to 1.12 and its unbelievable. Equiping it at level 2 completely changes leveling a sorc. I can’t believe I didn’t do it before, and many thanks to Purplelocust for finally getting me to do it. Eventually I’ll go back to 1.07 and work on getting a 2nd and maybe one with sweet other mods…

Back to Aix. Spamming novas (either one) is so pretty, and susceptible mobs just melt. FN really benefits from lots of + skills and + % cold damage. At this level of skill-point and gear investment, it kills mobs at a speed on par with her FO. Can’t compare as a boss-killer, though. Frankly, its kind of a luxury build – her cold effectiveness would be comparable with just the 20-point FO, but where would be the fun? A 40-point FO (fully synergized) would be more powerful than a 50-point FN.

How is she as a Baal-runner? Just fine at /p1. Doesn't scale up well at all. The incompletely synergized Nova is fine against CIs, and the combination of FO/FN is great against either crowds (FN) or individuals (FO). She really needs insight, though (level 39 FN costs 47 mana, at 105 FCR…), so I don’t think a kelpie-merc is in the cards without carrying it in the cube (not my style…).

Anyways – she was a lot of fun. I think I’ll run with her for a little while to see how she is with a few more levels under her fine-spun cloth….
 
Originally posted by BobTheWarrior on Aug 28, 2008:

Matriarch Bobtheblizznova - A Baalrunner attempt.

Introducing my newest Matriarch (4th Mat, zero Pats). She is my 3rd SP Sorceress Mat, I also have one Amazon Mat. She was made as a possible Baal runner. Did it work? Read on . . .

Character name : BobTheBlizznova
Character type : Sorceress
Character level : 88
Character exp : 1364244143

Strength : 133
Energy : 35
Dexterity : 33
Vitality : 289
Stat Points Rem : 40
Skill Points Rem: 0

Life : 1246 / 745
Mana : 748 / 209
Stamina : 916 / 440

Gold (Inventory): 51949
Gold (Stash) : 143424

1x Gheeds
5x Chilling GC
1x Shimmering GC
Various res SC's

Gear:
Shako + ptopaz
Maras 28 res
Vipermagi 33 res
Occulus
Spirit 35 FCR
Arachnids
SOJ
BKWB
Rare Gloves + 15 strength
Rare Boots 30 frw, Lit and Fire res
Switch:
CTA + Spirit

Code:
Harlequin Crest
Shako
Defense: 110
Durability: 7 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 62
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xa7692dd1
+2 to Strength
+2 to Energy
+2 to Dexterity
+2 to Vitality
Damage Reduced by 10%
74% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to All Skill Levels
+132 to Life (Based on Character Level)
+132 to Mana (Based on Character Level)
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xdd34039a
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
All Resistances +28
+2 to All Skill Levels

Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 279
Durability: 17 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x54de4ea6
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 11
All Resistances +33
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x8276f99f
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band
Ring
Required Level: 58
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xe1bb73f4
+50 to Maximum Stamina
3% Life stolen per hit
+1 to All Skill Levels
+44 to Life (Based on Character Level)

Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 127
Durability: 11 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 80
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x577bb93b
+103% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)

Storm Greaves
Greaves
Defense: 17
Durability: 22 of 24
Required Strength: 70
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 83
Fingerprint: 0x45bf6bcc
+10% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +12%
Lightning Resist +39%
41% Extra Gold from Monsters
30% Faster Run/Walk
14% Chance to cast Level 5 Charged Bolt when struck

Raven Grip
Battle Gauntlets
Defense: 62
Durability: 17 of 18
Required Strength: 88
Required Level: 51
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x860b8b84
+15 to Strength
+30% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +6%
Poison Resist +5%
3% Mana stolen per hit
Half Freeze Duration

Call to Arms
Crystal Sword
'AmnRalMalIstOhm'
One-Hand Damage: 19 to 57
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 57
Sword Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xc28f230e
+281% Enhanced Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
7% Life stolen per hit
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
40% Increased Attack Speed
+3 to Battle Orders
+3 to Battle Cry
+5 to Battle Command
Prevent Monster Heal
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (5: 5 used)

The Oculus
Swirling Crystal
One-Hand Damage: 18 to 42
Durability: 50 of 50
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 42
Orb Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 61
Fingerprint: 0x68cc067e
+20 to Energy
+20 to Vitality
+20% Enhanced Defense
All Resistances +20
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+3 to Sorceress Skill Levels
30% Faster Cast Rate
+5 to Mana After Each Kill
25% Chance to cast Level 1 Teleport when struck

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 136
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 80 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xe72d64f
+22 to Vitality
+109 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+6 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 140
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 85 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 82
Fingerprint: 0xf102d8cb
+22 to Vitality
+96 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
34% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+3 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Mercenary:
Duress / Guillames / Eth Up'd Amn'd Kelpie
Code:
Duress
Archon Plate
'ShaelUmThul'
Defense: 1511
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Strength: 103
Required Level: 63
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0x3b515f53
+193% Enhanced Defense
+17% Enhanced Damage
Fire Resist +15%
Lightning Resist +15%
Cold Resist +45%
Poison Resist +15%
Adds 37-133 cold damage over 2 seconds
40% Faster Hit Recovery
33% Chance of Open Wounds
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
-20% Slower Stamina Drain
Socketed (3: 3 used)

Guillaume's Face
Winged Helm
Defense: 217
Durability: 23 of 40
Required Strength: 115
Required Level: 34
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xa66c2365
+15 to Strength
+120% Enhanced Defense
30% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike

Kelpie Snare
Stygian Pike
'Amn'
Two-Hand Damage: 142 to 615
Durability: 25 of 35
Required Dexterity: 87
Required Strength: 158
Required Level: 56
Spear Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x60e5e37f
+10 to Strength
+162% Enhanced Damage
+30 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
Fire Resist +50%
7% Life stolen per hit
Required Level +7
Slows Target by 75%
+110 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (1: 1 used)

Skills: (I wrote this from memory and using the above readouts, apologies for any errors)
+ 11 to all skills
+ 14 to sorceress skills
+ 19 to Cold skills

Cold Tree:
20 Blizzard (39)
20 Glacial Spike (39)
1 Cold Mastery (19)
10+ Ice Blast (the rest go here)

Lightning tree:
20 Nova (34)
20 Lightning mastery (34)
Teleport + prereqs

Blizzard damage: ~4k
Nova damage: ~1.7k

Other Skills:
Battle Orders (~15 I think)
Battle Command (~13 I think)
Total life: ~1.5k
Total mana: ~850

Warmth = 0
Cold Armors = 0 <--not sure if I regret this. I can stil change, too.

The need
I've wanted to make a baal runner for awhile, hopefully one to take me to 99, which is one of my goals in D2. I've read most of the 'quest for 99' thread, but the majority of the current runners seem to be Infinity lightning sorceresses. I don't have Infinity, nor do I have the desire to do 30k LK runs to (hopefully) get 2x Ber, and another Mal and Ist. So, I kicked the idea around for a few months.

I needed a character that could:
Quickly get to the throne (I'm not above running with a good map, so Teleport isn't 100% essential, but it's nice!)
Clear the throne (Cold Immunes being the worst)
Clear the waves, hopefully on P8
Kill Baal (No problem here, Kelpie FTW!)
Do all of the above with the gear I had or could quickly acquire via trade

I tried my pure blizzard sorceress a few runs. Not bad, really, but wave 2 was annoying and clearing the throne was unthinkable if too many cold immunes spawned. So, she was out.

I have a hammerdin in the making, only starting Nightmare, so he still has some potential. I played an enigmadin on bnet, so I'm familiar with them, I'm just not sure I would want to clean up the throne without teleport.

I tried a CL/FO sorceress, but found her power to be underwhelming when it came to waves 4 and 5. I spent too many points in Cold mastery, leaving the CL underpowered. I had set out to rebuild her as a max block countess runner, when sirpoops posted his triple mat thread. That got me thinking about Nova as a possible source of secondary damage.

I'm not fond of Frozen Orb. If it can be aimed correctly, it is very powerful, but aiming is not something I'm that good at. I've played four blizzard sorceress' and two FO sorc's, and I prefer Blizzard. I don't have to be standing X distance away and click right on top of the enemy, I can stand where I darn well please and aim, ehhhhh, 'bout there; and it'll do it's thing.

I've never played a sorceress using nova, but it seemed like it would work for me. My method of handling cold immunes when playing my pure blizzard sorceress is to teleport right on top of them and let the merc do the poking, so I would do the same thing except instead of standing there or using TK, I would blast Nova.

So, BobtheBlizznova was born. I'd already started BobtheLitOrb, who was to be the remake of my Cl/FO sorceress, but I was only in Act III normal and had not yet invested any skill points (1.09 ravenclaw FTW!). A quick rename via ATMA, and voila!

The build
I checked around the Mat/Pat thread and the sorceress thread, but didn't find any guides for Blizzard + Nova. I began to get excited that I might actually be trying a build that no one had written a guide about, then I remembered I hadn't checked the Guardian thread. Skunkbelly had made Skunknova, a Blizzard and Nova build. Darn. Oh well, at least I have something to read now to get some ideas.



Having read this quote, and seeing the gear Skunkbelly had, I knew she would need all the power I could muster if she was going to be a baal runner. As you can see above, I spared little expense.

I planned on using Spirit, so 156 strength needed. I hit this exactly with the gear and charms I'm wearing.

I could sacrifice no skill points, I would need everything I have to synergize blizzard to make things splat quickly in the throneroom. So, no cold armors, no point in warmth.

No wasted points in Cold Mastery. Since + Skills work just as well as hard points, my goal was level 17 cold mastery. After my first planning, I think I had about 13+ skills, so I would need 4 points in CM. I was willing to make that sacrifice if I had to. I was able to trade for 1) Chilling skillers and 2) runes to complete my CTA, which made it unnecessary.

Gameplay
This character turned out to be the very first one to make it through the entire game solo. Every other character I've ever played always had some MP help.

Normal: Cakewalk. Twinked to the teeth, she melee'd until Act IV, then a few points in blizzard was enough to take down the Chaos Sanctuary and Diablo. At level 27 my Insight became available, and everything that didn't need killed wasn't. Normal Baal runs until the low 50's. 20 points in Blizzard, many points in GS, the rest in my prereqs.

Nightmare: Teleport FTW! I think I got through NM in about 45 minutes. Baal runs until 78. Blizzard and GS maxed, one point in CM; 20 Nova, working on 20 in LM.

Hell: I needed two more levels to equip my last two pieces of gear, Arachs and BKWB. Until I hit 80 I had to wear a 10FCR ring to hit 105FCR for teleport, but Arachs would solve that and allow BKWB for another +skill. I decided to try her as a countess runner, seeing as my CL/FO sorc was now almost nekkid. I ran the countess at /p3, which was enough to give quick experience and still allow me to hit-lock everything with Nova. No good drops in the ~40 runs I needed to get from 78 to 80.

<sidenote:> I still prefer FO for countess running, and will be making a Nova/Orb sorceress for this purpose. Blizzard is great for clumps of targets, especially movers or larger enemies, but the lightning immune archers are 1) reasonably motionless and 2) slender. Blizzard does not do a good job here. GS was used to immobilize them until the countess dropped, then either 1) Pick up and go or 2) GS until dead. At /p3, GS does enough damage. </sidenote>

At level 80, resume teleport. The Claw Viper temple was easy with Nova, apparently snakes aren't very resistant to Nova. /P1 doesn't hurt either.

Chaos Sanctuary was a bit difficult, with large packs and lots of movers. I was a little under-leveled, and the merc paid the price. Static + Slowing made Diablo a pushover.

Resucing Anya was hairy. The Occulus + Gloams + CI Manaburn Frozenstein = loss. I don't think I died, but I had to back waaaay far and inch my way forward, hoping ctc Teleport wouldn't trigger if the Gloams hit me. Manaburn Frozenstein meant a lot of pots drunk in order to keep Nova going.

The Ancients were the easiest I've ever had I think. Each was immune to one element, I didn't really get a look at their other mods. I've never rerolled them without a fight. If one were to have spawned dual immune, I would have rerolled. As it was, I used my typical tele-tele-tele-blizzard-repeat method, keeping the storm going between me and the ancients. The two non-cold immunes died this way, leaving CI Korlic to finish. My merc was weilding a Kelpie Snare, and the slowing works on the Ancients, so once he connected I stood behind the merc and Nova'd away. Took about 10 pots to kill him (had to spread some pots around the area before I started and breifly leave Korlic to acquire some).

WSK: Teleport

Baal: Aaah, here we are, the goal of this journey. I did the first round at /P1 just to get the title. For some reason, I was paticularly nervous, still don't know why, everything went smoothly. Matriarch Achieved!

I had a few deaths along the way, random teleporting even at 105 FCR has some risks. Nothing that couldn't have been avoided by going slower, less agressive, but that's not my style.

Baal running
I was still only level 80, so I MP'd a few nights to get up to level 85. I switched from a Prayer merc (using the Insight synergy while questing) to a Might merc and equipped him with Duress, Kelpie, and Tal's helm. He died a lot. Changed Tal's for Vampire Gaze, he died a lot. Changed Vampire Gaze for Guillames and Kelpie for Eth Up'd Amn'd Kelpie (Thanks RibGriller!). He died a lot. I hit level 87, he hit level 86, suddenly he survives quite well. Weird.

I tried a few /p1 /p8 /p3 runs, I died a lot. I switch to /p1 throne + first two waves, /p8 3,4,5; /p3 baal, I died less. Finally, I did about 10 runs at /p1 throne + first three waves, /p8 4th and 5th, /p3 baal. I haven't died since (can't say the same for the merc).

I think I'll be able to do /p8 3rd wave once I get to level 90 and the merc survives a bit better.

Clearing the throne is still a bit painful. Nova has a good radius, but as sirpoopsalot pointed out, the things in the throne that are cold immune are also runners. If you can't hit-lock them, they can move out of the Nova radius and force you to chase them. Plus the Witches flaming balls of pain cause the ctc Teleport on the Occulus to trigger frequently.

My method right now is to clear the throne, then stand opposite Baal for the first three waves. Cast Blizzard, then spam GS as Baal fires off the waves. Colenzo has no chance. Achmel's friends are frozen, but the skeletons wander about, so I generally teleport right to the middle of things and fire off Nova until the skeletons crumble. A few more blizzards and GS's and Achmel's gang is down with few resurrections. Still staying across from Baal, I blizz/GS the 3rd wave. At this point, while the hydras are busy spitting at me, I recast BO and BC, change to players 8, then stand on top of Baal.

<sidenote> I now hate the Occulus. I didn't used to mind the ctc teleport, and don't if I'm in a MP game and am teleporting to the throne. But, clearing the throne with souls or knights and clearing the 2nd wave are a pain with the random teleport. Positioning is key with Nova to make sure you 1) hit as much as possible and 2) keep everything hit-locked. A random teleport to the side of the room allows the enemy to recover and start attacking again. Also, did you notice that the ctc Teleport doesn't trigger if the Hydras hit you, but it does if the unholy bolts or the skeletons ice blasts do? What's the deal with that? I'll probably switch to eschutas until I find a Fathom :rolleyes:</sidenote>

Standing on top of Baal for the 4th and 5th waves is very effective. The enemies are large, so they can't get past each other on the stairs. As a result, the merc only has to tank them two at a time, and GS can freeze them, so there is very little risk. The Pit Lords' inferno does pathetic damage with 75 fire resist, so no big deal. If two or three of them fire an Inferno at once, I can start to see my life drop, but a quick GS or three stops that. Lister & Co, same thing, they can't get up the stairs and can easily be frozen. Except for cold Immune Lister, I clear the throne every time. I only had Lister spawn CI once in a few dozen runs and parked him outside the throneroom. Still a little too risky to try to have the merc occupy him while I either Nova or TK him, and it takes too long, would rather just get to the next run.

Blizzard, even not fully synergized, does a fantastic job of clearing out waves 4 and 5.

Baal at /p3 is simple, teleport right on top of him, static field, by that time the merc has hopefully landed a hit and the slowing from Kelpie causes all his attacks to miss. Hold down the RMB and wait for the drop. However, it still takes too long. 50% CB on the merc (Duress + Guillames) still doesn't seem like enough. It could also be a matter of him missing too many times due to his level.

Her future
Well, I wasn't completely satisfied in her ability to run Baal. Taking three waves at /p1 is annoying and would greatly lengthen my quest for 99. I'm too lazy (and forgetful) to try to do /p1 throne, /p8 wave 1, /p1 wave 2, /p8 wave 3,4,5; /p3 baal. Too much typing. But, until (and unless) I find a quick way to dispatch wave 2, I will have to stay at /p1 through that wave at a minimum.

I intend to continue to MP and baal run with her until at least the low 90's. She makes a good baal'er, but not a great one, yet. If a few more levels helps, great, I'll keep going. If not, I'll seek other venues for her abilities. Possibly moving back to Pindle (Nova > CI Pindle), or starting some AT runs.

I will consider switching some of her gear around as well, (Nightwings for Harlequin crest, Ormus for Vipermagi, Eschuta/Fathom for Occulus, Griffons for Nightwings/Harly) and see if I can find a balance that I like.

Finds
Something from the NM forge, don't remember what.
Ko from the Hell forge.
Valkyrie Wing from Normal Baal (I think, might've been NM)
Trangs Wing from Baal on my 1st run after mat'ing.

Summary, for the tl;dr crowd
A fun, powerful build, if you can afford her. +skills is essential, the more the better. A very good, but not great, baal runner but better than a single-tree build.

Thanks:
To sirpoopsalot for passively suggesting Nova via his extensive baal runner threads.
To RibGriller for giving me his Eth Up'd Amn'd Kelpie, and three cold skillers
To Maxgerin for buying my Windforce and allowing me to make CtA.
To Everyone else I traded with to make this gear possible.
To Skunkbelly for making a Blizzard / Nova sorceress already and giving me some things to think about
To everyone I MP'd with in baal runs to get me some levels.
To you, for reading.
To the SPF, for being the SPF.
 
Originally posted by bodis on Oct 10, 2007:

#2 Matriarch LightOrber - ES CL Orber + Stat Challenge

Meet The Lightorber - my ES Chain Lightning Orber. Well I dont know if there are many of these around, I have built it without using any of the guides.Something special about her - UNUSED skills and stats :)

Matriarch LightOrber

L81

Stats (Remaining 315):

Strength 65/72
Dexterity Base/32
Vitality Base/52
Energy 80/122
Life 594
Mana 1046

Skills (Remaining 15):

Warmth 1 / 12

Static Field 1 / 12
Chain Lightning 20 / 31
Lightning Mastery 11 / 22
Energy Shield 14 / 25
Prepeqs

Frozen Orb 20 / 31
Cold Mastery 1 / 12

Frozen Orb Damage 430 - 450
Chain Lightning Damage 4 - 1936 11 Hits
Energy Shield 80% Absorbed

Resists 75% ALL

Items:

Shako (+12 res all jool)
The Oculus
Skin Of The Vipermagi (+35)
Lidless Wall
Mara's (+22)
2 X SoJ
Frostburn
Glooms Trap
Rare Boots (+20FRW, L31, C22, P36)
3X Shimmering GC's
3X Shimmering SC's
Load +mana/life SC's

MERC:

Act 2 Prayer

Insight
Colossus Voulge
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 95 to 849
Durability: 26 of 26
Required Dexterity: 45
Required Strength: 200
Required Level: 48
Polearm Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 84
Fingerprint: 0x18b5d5c6
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+244% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+4 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
216% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 16 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (4: 4 used)

Vampire Gaze
Leviathan

Well I think thats about it. Actually she aint too bad to play, I was hoping for it to be much more of a challenge when I decided not to use any more Stat points and Skill points. Well she will do fine I guess for Rune hunting.

Thinking maybe investing in strength and putting Monarch Spirit on

One question - any suggestions on where to invest Remaining points?
 
Originally posted by Caly on Jan 24, 2009:

Matriarch Sari, CL/Orb Sorceress

This character was created for a purpose. To do my dishes! Oh, no, sorry-- to run Countess and LK. My poor Meteorb, Ali, has been spread a bit thin lately since I use her for Countess, LK, Meph, Pindle, and even Andariel from time to time. That can get really annoying since it means constantly re-rolling new maps and switching out her gear, and she's also not very well-suited for a 200 FCR setup since she's a blocking sorc (which sucks when wielding a Spirit Monarch). And... *covers Ali's ears* I sort of hate playing her. It's not her fault, it's just that Meteor is annoying. CL/Orb, on the other hand, looked fun.

Voila:

Matriarch Sari
LCS. She's level 85 now, these are her stats right after she killed Baal.
FO damage: 476-490
Lightning damage: 5-8793
Chain Lightning damage: 5-4743
I messed up her stat distribution a bit because I was originally planning to equip a Wizardspike, but eventually ended up making HOTO instead.

Skills:

20 (35) Chain Lightning
16 (31) Lightning
20 (35) Lightning Mastery
20 (34) Frozen Orb
5 (19) Cold Mastery
1 (15) Frozen Armor, Teleport, prereqs
I'm maxing Lightning now, and future points will go into Cold Mastery.

Gear and charms:

Code:
Harlequin Crest
Shako
'Um'
Defense: 141
Durability: 11 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 62
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xf0b33a55
+2 to Strength
+2 to Energy
+2 to Dexterity
+2 to Vitality
Damage Reduced by 10%
All Resistances +15
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to All Skill Levels
+123 to Life (Based on Character Level)
+123 to Mana (Based on Character Level)
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Tal Rasha's Adjudication
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x42d954c6
+50 to Life
+42 to Mana
Lightning Resist +33%
Adds 3-32 lightning damage
+2 to Sorceress Skill Levels

Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
'Ort'
Defense: 279
Durability: 17 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x1ffb5699
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 11
Fire Resist +21%
Lightning Resist +51%
Cold Resist +21%
Poison Resist +21%
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Trang-Oul's Claws
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 70
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x7dcb69b0
+30 Defense
Cold Resist +30%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Curses (Necromancer Only)
+25% to Poison Skill Damage

Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 129
Durability: 6 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 80
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x309f5840
+105% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (10/11 Charges)

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x324c0c7c
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band
Ring
Required Level: 58
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xf126a310
+50 to Maximum Stamina
3% Life stolen per hit
+1 to All Skill Levels
+41 to Life (Based on Character Level)

Aldur's Advance
Battle Boots
Defense: 46
Required Strength: 95
Required Level: 45
Indestructible
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x5482219a
+50 to Life
+180 to Maximum Stamina
Heal Stamina Plus 32%
Fire Resist +45%
40% Faster Run/Walk
10% Damage Taken Goes to Mana
Indestructible

Heart of the Oak
Flail
'KoVexPulThul'
One-Hand Damage: 1 to 24
Durability: 26 of 30
Required Dexterity: 35
Required Strength: 41
Required Level: 55
Mace Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0x2387c4e
+10 to Dexterity
All Resistances +31
Adds 3-14 cold damage over 3 seconds
7% Mana stolen per hit
Replenish Life +20
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
40% Faster Cast Rate
75% Damage to Demons
150% Damage to Undead
+100 to Attack Rating against Demons
+3 to All Skill Levels
Level 4 Oak Sage (25/25 Charges)
Level 14 Raven (60/60 Charges)
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 141
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 81 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x589c9de1
+22 to Vitality
+111 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+6 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Call to Arms
War Scepter
'AmnRalMalIstOhm'
One-Hand Damage: 35 to 60
Durability: 70 of 70
Required Strength: 55
Required Level: 57
Mace Class - Fastest Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0xbaaac8f5
+256% Enhanced Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
7% Life stolen per hit
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
40% Increased Attack Speed
+4 to Battle Cry
+5 to Battle Orders
+2 to Battle Command
+3 to Vengeance (Paladin Only)
+1 to Redemption (Paladin Only)
+2 to Conversion (Paladin Only)
Prevent Monster Heal
150% Damage to Undead
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (5: 5 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 147
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 79
Fingerprint: 0x66305ac6
+22 to Vitality
+108 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
30% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+4 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Sparking Grand Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 79
Fingerprint: 0x8260c657
+6 to Life
+1 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)

Lizard's Small Charm of Balance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xa5e85661
+7 to Mana
5% Faster Hit Recovery

Ruby Small Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 32
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x99cb9254
Fire Resist +10%

Shimmering Small Charm of Vita
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 39
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x576638d1
+16 to Life
All Resistances +3

Shimmering Small Charm of Storms
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0xb189e163
All Resistances +5
Adds 1-25 lightning damage

Serpent's Small Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 40
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x66f707bb
+14 to Life
+15 to Mana

Garnet Grand Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x83ed45a1
+24 to Life
Fire Resist +25%

Mercenary: Leharas, level 82 (now 85) Holy Freeze Mercenary

Code:
Fortitude
Archon Plate
'ElSolDolLo'
Defense: 1494
Durability: 59 of 60
Required Strength: 103
Required Level: 63
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xd3484d47
+200% Enhanced Defense
+300% Enhanced Damage
+15 Defense
Damage Reduced by 7
Fire Resist +25%
Lightning Resist +25%
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
Cold Resist +25%
Poison Resist +25%
Replenish Life +7
+1 to Light Radius
25% Faster Cast Rate
12% Damage Taken Goes to Mana
20% Chance to cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when struck
+102 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Vampire Gaze
Grim Helm
'Ort'
Defense: 252
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xb173718f
+100% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 11
Damage Reduced by 16%
Lightning Resist +30%
Adds 6-22 cold damage over 4 seconds
8% Life stolen per hit
6% Mana stolen per hit
15% Slower Stamina Drain
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Insight
Thresher
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 50 to 482
Durability: 48 of 65
Required Dexterity: 118
Required Strength: 152
Required Level: 53
Polearm Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xf781845e
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+242% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+6 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
204% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 15 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Notable finds: Waterwalk and a Scintillating (+11) jewel in Nightmare. Trang-Oul's Wing, Naj's Light Plate, and Marrowalks in Hell. Hellforges were collected ages ago because this character was originally a HF rushee. I don't think this counts as a notable find, but I feel Sari should get the credit for creating my first 35% FCR Spirit, since she's the one who socketed the Monarch with the cube and stuck the runes in. :D (About time too, I swear I've made or rerolled at least 20 of those damn things.)

Deaths: you know, I don't think she died at all in Hell. She may have in Nightmare, I honestly don't remember. I carried lots of purple pots on her for some reason so she was a bit safer than usual for my leveling characters... but on the flipside, I think she has a drinking problem now.

Thoughts and ramblings:

I'd never used the Lightning skills before. How can this be? I've been missing out. I'm officially an addict now. Chain Lightning is the best skill I've used so far when it comes to taking out spread-out groups, and come on, it looks awesome. And Lightning is nice when stuff is stupid enough to stand in a line around me (one of the classic blunders, right behind "never get involved in a land war in Asia").

Oh, and FO's nice too. Yeah, I know, stop the presses. The sad thing is that until I had the lightning skills pretty well-synergized, Orb just owned them in damage, but at this point it's falling behind against non-bosses.

Gameplay was mostly uneventful, and I skipped a fair amount, though I did clear more than I had to because I just enjoyed playing her. No real challenges that I remember. Hell Ancients spawned with very "interesting" mods: Cursed, Fana aura, and two of them were LI/CI. lol no. The second roll gave them much more reasonable mods. I took out Talic first by teleporting around and spamming Orbs, and then Korlic died to Lightning. After that, I took a nice refreshing nap while my merc killed Madawc. Hooray.

Upon entering the WSK I was greeted by this. I said a naughty word and decided to just try to teleport the hell out of there. Usually this would end in much frustrated corpse-running, but I got lucky this time-- a few purple pots later I found the stairs to WSK 2, which was populated with flayers which I happily toasted with CL. Characters who can commit flayercide with ease are also characters I happen to have lots of fun playing. I don't feel guilty. Those little jerks have it coming.

All right, guess that's it. After I Matted her I spent some time leveling her on Pindle runs, and now she's running LK. She's already found me a Sur, so I'm hoping her luck holds.

As always, thanks for reading. :)
 
Originally posted by chrischar on Jun 16, 2006:

CL/BL Sorceress Mat Thread

CL/BL Sorc
----------
I've pat/mat'ed many characters,but this is the first pat/mat thread I've posted.
Initially this was going to be a character to be used for diablo normal running(that explains the name)
,but then I changed my mind and made her a CL/BL Sorc...just because I didn't have one and I also think that this build can be very efficient for baal running.
Although she is still young(only lvl 73) I have great plans,I am planning to run baal with her.
That is the reason I left many skills and quests unused,I want to find the best balance between CL and BL for Players1 Baal Running.
So far I've invested 20 in CL and BL and the rest are going to be decided in the future.
Here are the screenshots:
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/3746/screenshot0102tk.jpg
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4528/screenshot0111kj.jpg

So here are the stats when she killed baal:

Code:
Name           : Diablo_Runner (I know it's irrelevant, I'm going to change it...)
Character Genre: Softcore
Game Genre     : Expansion
Game Version   : 1.11b
Class          : Sorceress
Level          : 73
Expierience    : 389922425
Merc Level     : 70

Strength  : 156
Dexterity : 25
Vitality  : 229
Energy    : 35

Life    : 1184
Mana    : 566
Stamina : 420

Gold(Stash)     : 784437

Fire     Resistance :  30
Cold     Resistance : -27
Lighning Resistance : -19
Poison   Resistance :   2

Unspent Skill Points : 9

Skill Distribution:
Code:
Warmth           :  1

Frozen Armor     :  1
Ice Bolt         :  1
Ice Blast        :  1
Frost Nova       :  1
Glacial Spike    :  1
Blizzard         : 20
Cold Mastery     :  4
Frozen Orb       :  1

Charged Bolt     :  1
Telekinesis      :  1
Teleport         :  5
Static Field     :  5
Lightning        :  1
Chain Lightning  : 20
Lighning Mastery :  1

QUESTS COMPLETED
Code:
Normal:
ACT 1,Quest 6
ACT 2,Quest 2-6
ACT 3,Quest 1-6
ACT 4,Quest 1-3
ACT 5,Quest 2,5,6

Nightmare:
ACT 1,Quest 6
ACT 2,Quest 2,3,4,6
ACT 3,Quest 2,6
ACT 4,Quest 2,3
ACT 5,Quest 2,5,6

Hell:
ACT 1,Quest 6
ACT 2,Quest 2,3,4,6
ACT 3,Quest 2,4,6
ACT 4,Quest 2,3
ACT 5,Quest 3,5,6

WP's FOUND:
Code:
Normal:
ACT 1: WP 1,2,3,6,7,8,9
ACT 2: WP 1,3,5,6,8,9
ACT 3: WP 1,2,3,4,6,8,9
ACT 4: WP 1,2,3
ACT 5: WP 1,2,4,5,9

Nightmare:
ACT 1: WP 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
ACT 2: WP 1,5,6,8,9
ACT 3: WP 1,2,4,5,6,8
ACT 4: WP 1,2,3
ACT 5: WP 1,2,3,5,7,8,9

Nightmare:
ACT 1: WP 1,2,6,8,9
ACT 2: WP 1,3,8,9
ACT 3: WP 1,2,4,5,8
ACT 4: WP 1,2,3
ACT 5: WP 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9

Equipment:
Code:
Harlequin Crest
Shako
Defense: 140
Durability: 8 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 62
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x178c5cdf
+2 to Strength
+2 to Energy
+2 to Dexterity
+2 to Vitality
Damage Reduced by 10%
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to All Skill Levels
+109 to Life (Based on Character Level)
+109 to Mana (Based on Character Level)

Skull Eye
Amulet
Required Level: 31
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 47
Fingerprint: 0x2aa37e62
+18 to Mana
Regenerate Mana 7%
18% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)

Eschuta's Temper
Eldritch Orb
One-Hand Damage: 18 to 50
Durability: 30 of 30
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 72
Orb Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xed3e9dbf
+21 to Energy
+2 to Sorceress Skill Levels
40% Faster Cast Rate
+19% to Fire Skill Damage
+20% to Lightning Skill Damage
Socketed (1: 0 used)

(Switch Weapon)
Insight
Gnarled Staff
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 21 to 38
Durability: 32 of 35
Required Level: 27
Staff Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 79
Fingerprint: 0xee812ed
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+217% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+6 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
+3 to Energy Shield (Sorceress Only)
208% Bonus to Attack Rating
150% Damage to Undead
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 15 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
'Shael'
Defense: 279
Durability: 18 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x68b729a9
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 11
All Resistances +28
20% Faster Hit Recovery
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 145
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 79 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 82
Fingerprint: 0x42ed3871
+22 to Vitality
+101 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
32% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+8 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Magefist
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 24
Durability: 11 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0xe7f1e7c5
+20% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana 25%
+10 Defense
Adds 1-6 fire damage
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to Fire Skills

Bladebuckle
Plated Belt
Defense: 53
Durability: 21 of 24
Required Strength: 60
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xf24c763a
+5 to Strength
+10 to Dexterity
+99% Enhanced Defense
+30 Defense
Damage Reduced by 3
Attacker Takes Damage of 8
30% Faster Hit Recovery

Hotspur
Boots
Defense: 10
Durability: 6 of 12
Required Level: 5
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 62
Fingerprint: 0xdd5493e1
+15 to Life
+10% Enhanced Defense
+6 Defense
Fire Resist +45%
+15% to Maximum Fire Resist
Adds 3-6 fire damage

Death Loop
Ring
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 22
Fingerprint: 0xd11f2849
+34 to Attack Rating
Damage Reduced by 2
Fire Resist +24%
+5 to Light Radius
10% Faster Cast Rate
5% Bonus to Attack Rating

Shadow Hold
Ring
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 30
Fingerprint: 0x31684d29
+3 to Life
Fire Resist +23%
Lightning Resist +8%
Poison Resist +29%
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
10% Faster Cast Rate

Charms
Code:
Serpent's Grand Charm +57 Mana
Serpent's Grand Charm +56 Mana
Rugged Small Charm of Vita +18 Life
Rugged Small Charm of Vita +18 Life
Rugged Small Charm of Vita +20 Life
Small Charm of Vita +18 Life
Small Charm of Vita +16 Life
Small Charm of Vita +17 Life
Small Charm of Vita +20 Life
Small Charm of Vita +18 Life
Small Charm of Vita +19 Life
Small Charm of Vita +16 Life 
Small Charm of Vita +18 Life
Small Charm of Vita +16 Life
Small Charm of Vita +19 Life
Small Charm of Vita +16 Life
Small Charm of Vita +18 Life
Small Charm of Vita +20 Life
Small Charm of Vita +20 Life
Small Charm of Vita +20 Life
Small Charm of Vita +20 Life
Small Charm of Vita +20 Life
Small Charm of Vita +17 Life
Small Charm of Vita +18 Life

Merc Gear
Code:
Rockstopper
Hydraskull
'Shael'
Defense: 409
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 84
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x7c9a98c8
+15 to Vitality
+203% Enhanced Defense
Damage Reduced by 10%
Fire Resist +21%
Lightning Resist +28%
Cold Resist +37%
Required Level +7
50% Faster Hit Recovery
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Shaftstop
Boneweave
'Um'
Defense: 1327
Durability: 43 of 45
Required Strength: 158
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xf0ddf323
+60 to Life
+208% Enhanced Defense
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Damage Reduced by 30%
All Resistances +15
Required Level +7
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Kelpie Snare
Fuscina
Two-Hand Damage: 81 to 150
Durability: 8 of 35
Required Dexterity: 25
Required Strength: 77
Required Level: 33
Spear Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x1f61b631
+10 to Strength
+171% Enhanced Damage
+30 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
Fire Resist +50%
Slows Target by 75%
+91 to Life (Based on Character Level)


Strength was 156,so I could wear Spirit,everything else went to Life.
I skipped A LOT of quests and WP's,so my unspent points are currently 9 but the real number is 19(if I complete all the quests).
I wasn't planning on getting hit,so I didn't care about blocking or resistances.
The 'boring' part was getting from level 1 to level 24,where I had blizzard.
I got to nighmare at level 42,and to hell at level 66.
Another boring part was leveling from 66 to 72,because I needed a stronger merc so I can handle the ancients.
The ancients took me about 10 deaths before I did it right,(with the big help of my merc of course).

Generally a very fun build,if you have the right equipment(not at all expensive though),I would surely recommend it.

Thanks for reading!
 
Originally posted by Cormallon on Mar 24, 2006:

Tal Rasha reborn - Matriarch Sin-Dara

My newest matriarch, just ready for the MFO. She is a CL/FO sorc wearing the Tal rasha set.

Character name : Sin-Dara
Character type : Sorceress
Character level : 84
Character exp : 971013767

Strength : 95
Energy : 35
Dexterity : 199
Vitality : 176
Stat Points Rem : 5
Skill Points Rem: 0

Life : 879 / 515
Mana : 678 / 201
Stamina : 343 / 323

Resists: 60/75/75/33 in hell

Equip:

Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest - Death Mask (PTopaz)
Tal Rasha's Adjudication - Amulet
Tal Rasha's Guardianship - Lacquered Plate (PTopaz)
Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth - Mesh Belt
Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye - Swirling Crystal
Rhyme - Grim Shield
War Traveler - Battle Boots (47%MF)
Frostburn - Gauntlets
Nagelring - Ring (29%MF)
Entropy Master
Ring
Required Level: 22
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 36
Fingerprint: 0xe6fad2fd
+54 to Mana
+10 to Maximum Stamina
Magic Damage Reduced by 2
Lightning Resist +20%
10% Faster Cast Rate

Charms (among others):
Sparking Grand Charm of Flame
Gheed's Fortune (33%) -- self found !

Mercenary (A2 Defiance) Items :
Wormskull - Bone Helm
Rattlecage - Gothic Plate
Demon's Arch - Balrog Spear

Skills (hard / with equip)
Charged Bolt 1 / 8
Static field 1 / 8
Telekinesis 1 / 8
Teleport 1 / 8
Lightning 20 / 27 (dmg 4-5887)
Chain Lightning 20 / 27 (dmg 4-3451)
Lightning mastery 20 / 29

Frozen Orb 20 / 26 (dmg 408-428)
Cold Mastery 5 / 13
prereqs 5

As you might have guessed, I twinked her with some things I had, the merc equip is sub par for sure, but I don't want to take items away from other chars I'm still playing, so he has to find his reapers himself. I could give him a Hone Sundan, but this setup worked quite well most of the time.

I played all of hell except WSK and Crystalline Passage at P3, this is my first char that constantly used a higher player settings. She rocks, even the combination of Burning Soul / Horadrim Ancient (reviving the souls, yuk) / Death Lord couldn't stop her in the Throne Room.

Her future ... well, WSK runs and some day cows. I need these three sets there ;)

This is a very relaxing build, you don't have to pay attention most of the time, just orb everything away, or CL if that didn't work. She died a few times, because I wasn't really concentrating on her.
 
Originally posted by crazymatt1 on Aug 3, 2008:

Matriarch ElectricSix -- CB/FO Sorc

I was getting bored with endless MF runs, so I decided to take a quick break with a new character. I read through the Mat/Pat thread looking for ideas, and I liked the look of SirPoop's 200%FCR Charged Boltress, so I followed his lead. When I finally got to a high enough level to complete the build with Arachnid and Griffons, I was really excited. My problem, though, was that I don't have the skillers or phat crafted caster ammy that he does. As a result, moving from 105% to 200% cost me +5 skills and ended up not killing nearly as fast.

That being said, 105% and +13 skills is still pretty darn fun to play. A pumped up Charged Bolt is really a lot of fun to kill with. I did find myself switching to Lightning to deal with ranged attackers, though. Even without being fully synergized, the Lightning killed plenty well all the way through hell.

I had 1 death to the bugged vipers in Nihilithak's Temple, but other than that things went pretty smoothly. My trusty Holy Freeze merc Emilio had a grip on the situation when one of the Ancients spawned CI/LI and the other two went down quickly with Static/Bolts.

The biggest difference I noticed between this sorc and other characters I've played is the killing speed at Baal's minions. With Emilio to tank, the waves dropped in no time at all.

I found a fair number of Sets/Uniques along the way, but the real booty came from the Hellforge -- booyah!

Overall this build was very fun to play. I know people like CB screenshots, but I didn't really remember to take any. I went back after matting her and took these. I also found a pack of Urdars that had been taken captive in the Foothills.

If I had it to do over, I would go pure lightning rather than CB/Orb. I probably still will in the future. Although the FO certainly made several areas much easier, I think pure Lightning would end up killing quite a bit faster in the end. I didn't end up using any of my facets, although I may go back and put some of them in.

If you're still reading this far, thanks! Enjoy my stat/gear readouts below.

Rich (BB code):
Character name  : ElectricSix (link goes to LCS screenies)
Character level : 82

Strength        : 156 (159)
Dexterity       : 25 (35)
Vitality        : 266 (310)
Energy          : 38 (60)

Life            : 693 (1043)
Mana            : 203 (909)

Skills:
20 in Charged Bolt, Lightning, and Lightning Mastery
16 in Frozen Orb (on the way to 20)
8 Cold Mastery (probably 1 or 2 too many with all the +skills)
1 Warmth, Static, Teleport & prereqs

Charged Bolt (Level 33): 24 bolts; 405-428 damage
Lightning (Level 33): 5-9163
Frozen Orb (Level 29): 399-419 (-120 resists from CM)

Gear:
Weapon: Occulus
Armor: 33% Vipermagi
Shield: 35% FCR Spirit Monarch
Helmet: Harlequin Crest
Gloves: Magefist
Belt: Arachnid Mesh (I used Gloom's Trap while leveling)
Boots: Silkweave
Ring 1: Stone of Jordan
Ring 2: Stone of Jordan
Amulet: Tal Rasha's

Merc:
Weapon: Eth Obedience Thresher
Armor: Eth Treachery Wire Fleece
Helmet: Vampire Gaze

Complete gear readout:
Code:
1: Shimmering Small Charm of Dexterity
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0xc4799f83
+1 to Dexterity
All Resistances +3

2: Tome of Identify
Quantity: 20

3: Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 279
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 61
Fingerprint: 0x70a46341
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 13
All Resistances +33
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels

4: Silkweave
Mesh Boots
Defense: 128
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 65
Required Level: 36
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x183025e7
+185% Enhanced Defense
+200 Defense vs. Missile
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
30% Faster Run/Walk
+5 to Mana After Each Kill

5: Magefist
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 24
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x486b7ef5
+20% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana 25%
+10 Defense
Adds 1-6 fire damage
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to Fire Skills

6: Horadric Cube

7: Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 124
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 80
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x25070cb5
+97% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)

8: The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 70
Fingerprint: 0x9d9ed14f
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

9: The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 43
Fingerprint: 0xf1203871
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

10: Tal Rasha's Adjudication
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xea72f881
+50 to Life
+42 to Mana
Lightning Resist +33%
Adds 3-32 lightning damage
+2 to Sorceress Skill Levels

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
10% Faster Cast Rate
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***


11: Tome of Town Portal
Quantity: 18

12: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

13: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

14: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

15: Key
Quantity: 3

16: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

17: Harlequin Crest
Shako
Defense: 139
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 62
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xac465b51
+2 to Strength
+2 to Energy
+2 to Dexterity
+2 to Vitality
Damage Reduced by 10%
74% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to All Skill Levels
+123 to Life (Based on Character Level)
+123 to Mana (Based on Character Level)
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Perfect Topaz
Inserted into a Shako

24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Required Level: 18
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

18: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

19: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

20: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

21: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

22: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

23: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

24: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

25: Snake's Grand Charm of Inertia
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 77
Fingerprint: 0xb0597661
+37 to Mana
7% Faster Run/Walk

26: Snake's Grand Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 53
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 64
Fingerprint: 0xa45d5e55
+33 to Life
+38 to Mana

27: Sapphire Small Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 32
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 68
Fingerprint: 0x8a498b91
Cold Resist +11%

28: Garnet Small Charm of Blight
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 20
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xb38cc189
Fire Resist +9%
+6 poison damage over 3 seconds

29: Shimmering Small Charm of Inertia
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x2779f509
All Resistances +3
3% Faster Run/Walk

30: Garnet Small Charm of Balance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 70
Fingerprint: 0x3f31e9a6
Fire Resist +8%
5% Faster Hit Recovery

31: Russet Small Charm of Strength
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 10
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 64
Fingerprint: 0x3f8148d6
+1 to Strength
Fire Resist +7%

32: Shimmering Large Charm of Dexterity
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 34
Fingerprint: 0xe84be8fd
+5 to Dexterity
All Resistances +5

33: Shimmering Small Charm of Dexterity
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0xd4f111a0
+2 to Dexterity
All Resistances +5

34: Shimmering Grand Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0xd94948e6
+26 to Life
All Resistances +14

35: Shimmering Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 61
Fingerprint: 0x94584211
All Resistances +15

36: Sapphire Small Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 32
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 79
Fingerprint: 0x140ae86
+11 to Life
Cold Resist +11%

37: Ruby Small Charm of Balance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 32
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 57
Fingerprint: 0x65ecf082
Fire Resist +10%
5% Faster Hit Recovery

38: Emerald Small Charm of Vita
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 39
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x42ac6aa9
+19 to Life
Poison Resist +10%

39: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

40: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

41: Super Healing Potion
Points: 200

42: Full Rejuvenation Potion
Heals 100% Life and Mana

43: Death Whorl
Swirling Crystal
One-Hand Damage: 18 to 42
Durability: 50 of 50
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 52
Orb Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0xec186f04
+12 to Energy
+19 to Life
Fire Resist +10%
Replenish Life +5
+1 to Chilling Armor (Sorceress Only)

44: Gerke's Sanctuary
Pavise
Defense: 257
Chance to Block:  74%
Durability: 172 of 172
Required Strength: 133
Required Level: 44
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x37a4429
+226% Enhanced Defense
+30% Increased Chance of Blocking
Damage Reduced by 16
Magic Damage Reduced by 18
All Resistances +26
+100 Maximum Durability
Replenish Life +15

45: The Oculus
Swirling Crystal
One-Hand Damage: 18 to 42
Durability: 50 of 50
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 42
Orb Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x424eaee9
+20 to Energy
+20 to Vitality
+20% Enhanced Defense
All Resistances +20
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+3 to Sorceress Skill Levels
30% Faster Cast Rate
+5 to Mana After Each Kill
25% Chance to cast Level 1 Teleport when struck

46: Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 145
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x2bf4fd88
+22 to Vitality
+90 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+5 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Tal Rune
Inserted into a Monarch

Poison Resist +35%

Required Level: 17
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Thul Rune
Inserted into a Monarch

Cold Resist +35%

Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Ort Rune
Inserted into a Monarch

Lightning Resist +35%

Required Level: 21
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Amn Rune
Inserted into a Monarch

Attacker Takes Damage of 14

Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Mercenary Items : 

1: Vampire Gaze
Grim Helm
Defense: 252
Durability: 35 of 40
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x87cc81f5
+100% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 12
Damage Reduced by 19%
Adds 6-22 cold damage over 4 seconds
8% Life stolen per hit
7% Mana stolen per hit
15% Slower Stamina Drain

2: Treachery
Wire Fleece
'ShaelThulLem'
Defense: 1023
Durability: 17 of 17
Required Strength: 101
Required Level: 53
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 79
Fingerprint: 0xb9a30341
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
45% Increased Attack Speed
20% Faster Hit Recovery
25% Chance to cast Level 15 Venom on striking
5% Chance to cast Level 15 Fade when struck
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (3: 3 used)

Shael Rune
Inserted into a Wire Fleece

20% Faster Hit Recovery

Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Thul Rune
Inserted into a Wire Fleece

Cold Resist +30%

Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Lem Rune
Inserted into a Wire Fleece

50% Extra Gold from Monsters

Required Level: 43
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

3: Obedience
Thresher
'HelKoThulEthFal'
Two-Hand Damage: 84 to 991
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Dexterity: 84
Required Strength: 112
Required Level: 53
Polearm Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x64904c85
+10 to Strength
+10 to Dexterity
+370% Enhanced Damage
+228 Defense
All Resistances +25
Adds 3-14 cold damage over 3 seconds
Requirements -20%
40% Faster Hit Recovery
-25% Target Defense
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
30% Chance to cast Level 21 Enchant When You Kill an Enemy
-25% to Enemy Fire Resistance
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (5: 5 used)

Hel Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

Requirements -20%
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Ko Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

+10 to Dexterity

Required Level: 39
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Thul Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

Adds 3-14 cold damage over 3 seconds

Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Eth Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

-25% Target Defense

Required Level: 15
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Fal Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

+10 to Strength

Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
 
Originally posted by crazymatt1 on Aug 22, 2008:

Matriarch FireInTheDisco

Continuing my recent trend of not quite cookie-cutter builds, I present:

Rich (BB code):
Character name  : FireInTheDisco
Character level : 78

Strength  : 156 (158)
Dexterity : 25 (32)
Vitality    : 264 (323)
Energy     : 35 (57)

Life      : 685 (1089)
Mana    : 189 (964)

My original plan was to make a Hydra/Nova sorc. I was all like "Yeah! I'll throw down some hydras and teleport in and nova everything! It'll be awesome!"

I was half right. Hydras are pretty sweet. They did the large majority of my killing, including all of the act bosses. As for Nova, I learned three things:
Code:
1. It's only [I]really[/I] fun against large packs of Fallen.

2. Nova and Hydra are both right click only, and that kind of sucks.

3. Nova + Occulus + 4% block = EPIC FAIL
Oh, well. Fortunately my ridiculous twinkage gave +12 skills, so I was able to fake it with 1 hard point in Chain Lighting and Thunderstorm, along with maxed Lightning Mastery. I still used Nova occasionally, but mostly just for large packs of Fallen.

I used Fireball as my main skill during leveling. Since I still haven't gotten around to making an Insight, I kept 3 rows of blue potions for a large chunk of the game. Thanks to the aforementioned twinkage, I cruised through normal and nightmare.

My merc was an Act 2 Holy Freeze with the same gear setup as my last 2 mats : Eth Obedience Thresher, Eth Treachery Wire Fleece, Vamp Gaze. Since he didn't have any problem with my last 2 mats, I can only assume that he was a complete twinkie this time because his name was Neeraj instead of my preferred Alhizeer. Seriously. This guy died a lot. The only place it was really a problem was in the Chaos Sanctuary. I knew that the Pit Lords were FI, but I didn't realize that they also have 75% lightning resistance. Even my Nova with an average damage of 1350 couldn't hurt them as fast as they could regenerate/try to kill me.

Other than that, she made for a pretty safe character. The Hydras absolutely ripped apart anything that wasn't FI and none of the monsters that are FI were too strong for CL/Nova. I tended to play very cautiously, letting my Hydras do the scouting and following only once they had calmed down, so I actually made it through with no deaths! Nova did come through by saving me from a couple of stair-traps. The ability to spam a high-damage spell without having to target is extremely helpful in those cases.

The best screenies of Hydra action that I took were from my fight with the Ancients. I was able to separate them pretty well to start off. Leaper spawned LI/CI and Neeraj and I took him down pretty quickly. Whirler was FI/CI. He was going down with no trouble until Thrower snuck back onscreen and cursed my merc. Fortunately, Whirler was only a couple of lightning bolts away from death at the time.

This left me with a full-life, lightning immune, cursed thrower. Good thing he was LI and not FI, as my Hydras destroyed him while I ran laps for exercise!

Hellforge was Io/Lem. Baal dropped my umpteenth Lightsabre :banghead: But I did get one more TC3 grailer! Bane Ash dropped in Act 1 NM.

Overall, a Hydra sorc is pretty fun. I imagine she plays a lot like a Trapper, so I may have to try one of those sometime soon. I would definitely change my skill point allocation (forget Nova, focus on Lightning or CL) if I were to remake her, but she still worked out fine in the end. Thanks for reading!

Code:
Weapon: Occulus
Shield: Spirit Monarch (35% FCR)
Helm: Harlequin Crest
Gloves: Magefist
Belt: Gloom's Trap
Boots: Silkweave
Amulet: Tal Rasha's
Ring: SOJ
Ring: SOJ

20 (33) Hydra
17 (30) Fireball
4+ (17) Fire Mastery
1 (14) Warmth, Fire Bolt, Enchant

20 (32) Lightning Mastery
18 (30) Nova
1 (13) all other Lightning skills except ES
 
Originally posted by DementiaMaster on Feb 21, 2006:

Matriarch Diamanda the Diva

I never thought I'd actually make it tru but I did, on players1. Since the Nova/Frost Nova is called an 'Innovator', the Diva is Nova/Frozen Orb. I needed something to beat the lightning immunes and Frozen Orb isn't really synergy-dependant...so that was my pick. Her voice is mighty enough to shatter ice and stun her foes, heh.

--Stats--
Level: 81
Str: 160
Dex: 25
Vit: 270
Enrg: 35
HP: 876
Mana: 866


--Equipements--
Helmet: Harlequin Crest
Armor: Skin of the Vipermagi
Weapon: Eschuta's Temper
Shield: Spirit Monarch
Belt: Arachnid's Mesh
Gloves: Frostburn
Boots: Silkweave
Ring: Stone of Jordan
Ring: Stone of Jordan
Amulet: Mara's Kaleidoscope


--Mercenary's Equipement--
Helmet: Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Armor: Shaftstop
Weapon: Eth The Reaper's Toll


--Skills--
Nova: 20
Lightning Mastery: 20
Frozen Orb: 20
Cold Mastery: 20
Frozen Armor: 3
Reqs: 9


--Crunchy Details--
--HellForge--
Normal: Ral
Nightmare: Hel
Hell: Ist

--Top Find--
Titan's Revenge

--Battles--
Ancients: Easy except in Hell. One was Cold/Lightning immune.
Baal's Minions: Nova has massive crowd control. Easy.
Baal: Easy again. The fool went after my Mercenary -.-

--Thoughts--
A great build even tho the Nova damage is rather low (1.3k - 1.8k). If you can cast is really quickly then damage is just a detail. The Diva is FCR and Skill level dependant. I had 105% FCR and +13 to my skills. Teleport around and Nova anything non-lightning immune to death. 3 Novas was killing anything non-immune in WSK on players1. She is not fit for games with many players so don't even consider.

--What's Next--
Honestly, I don't know. I have 3 Sorceress and no Amazon/Druid/Barb so I might choose one of them.
 
Originally posted by Dunedain on Nov 30, 2005:

3rd Mat/Pat, Dune

Dune
level 84
CL/FO

Just took a break from the countess runs to mat her, got a mal from the hell HF and an um from the NM. Besides stockpiling my medium runes from countess, this sorc has found my first maras.

Level: 84
Strength: 156 (spirit)
Dexterity: 75 (wiz spike)
Vitality: 240
energy: 35 (base)

I went with this strength and dex because I want to hit 200% fcr with this sorc, really speed up those countess runs. Unless you plan to go block or 200% fcr, I believe you should stay away from the dex.


charged bolt: 20
lightning: 20
chain lightning: 20
Lightning mastery: 20

Frozen orb:5
cold mastery:1

Since this sorc is a countess runner, I'm more dependant on the lightning tree so thats where most of my points went. At first i put one point into orb and cold mastery, then once my main 4 lightning skills were capped I put more into orb. All extra skill points i get will go into orb, too. As for cold mastery, enough +skills gets this as high as you should ever need.

Shako(waiting for a griffon's eye)
22% Maras
Vipermagi
Occy
Spirit monarch
soj, bk
magefists
aldurs boots(waiting for travs)
15% tal's belt(waiting for arach)

Lightning:5-13680
Chain lightning:5-6256
Orb:224-247

Didn't have many problems mat'ing her. Andariel falls fast. Radament took a little bit to kill with all those light immune skellies around. Duriel - piece of cake. Act 3 is where I saw the most trouble. The council - many of them are lightning immune. I just singled them out, killed them with orb and merc.
Act 4 is easy. Only lightning immunes to note are the souls(I just rerolled them), oblivion mages in RoF(easy kill for merc), and the storm riders in the sanctuary(so fragile, easy orb kill).

Ancients can be rough. Just chain lightning when they close together, lightning when they bunch up. I would tele away from them, let my merc tank a bit while i fire at them, then tele away before my merc takes too much of a beating.
 
Originally posted by Flayed One on Dec 1, 2008:

Matriarch Lena - FO/Nova sorceress

She was untwinked, but I ran mephisto ~200 times and Ancient tunnels ~50 with her, so I'm not sure if it still counts:wink:.

Skill placement:

Fire tree:
1 Warmth

Lightning tree:
20 Nova
20 Ligthning Mastery
1 Static Field
1 teleport

Cold tree:
18 Ice Bolt
20 Frozen Orb
10 Cold Mastery

and prereqs.

Equipment:
Code:
Grim Noose
Amulet
Required Level: 31
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x6db6c2c7
+24 to Life
Magic Damage Reduced by 2
All Resistances +17
10% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+1 to Light Radius
Poison Length Reduced by 50%

Wraith Visor
Circlet
Defense: 20
Durability: 33 of 35
Required Level: 51
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0xe28f6b6
+6 to Energy
+79 to Mana
+9 to Minimum Damage
Magic Damage Reduced by 2
Fire Resist +31%
+1 to Sorceress Skill Levels

Spirit
Crystal Sword
'TalThulOrtAmn'
One-Hand Damage: 5 to 15
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 25
Sword Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x56fc4f9e
+22 to Vitality
+109 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Adds 1-50 lightning damage
Adds 3-14 cold damage over 3 seconds
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
7% Life stolen per hit
55% Faster Hit Recovery
31% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+4 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 143
Chance to Block:  42%
Durability: 84 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x9b5a98c3
+22 to Vitality
+97 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
28% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+4 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 279
Durability: 21 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x914b6b7
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 11
All Resistances +31
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels

Trang-Oul's Claws
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 67
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x58e9b78b
+30 Defense
Cold Resist +30%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Curses (Necromancer Only)
+25% to Poison Skill Damage

Goldwrap
Heavy Belt
Defense: 35
Durability: 17 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x5a6996cb
+50% Enhanced Defense
+25 Defense
55% Extra Gold from Monsters
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Light Radius
10% Increased Attack Speed

Imp Brogues
Mesh Boots
Defense: 62
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 65
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x88d6b763
+38% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +30%
Cold Resist +36%
20% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
10% Faster Run/Walk

Bahamut's Ring
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 50
Fingerprint: 0x4f384cf0
+115 to Mana

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x983d8188
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

Stats(from LCS):

LVL - 85

Life - 894
Mana - 813

Fire res - 36%
Cold res - 75%
Lightning res - 56%
Poison res - 16%
(When I needed higher resistances I used 2xPDiamond Mosers instead of 'spirit')

FO dmg - 493-517(-100% enemy resistance from Cold Mastery)
Nova dmg - 887-1215

My mercs gear:

Code:
Insight
Halberd
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 46 to 141
Durability: 40 of 55
Required Dexterity: 47
Required Strength: 75
Required Level: 27
Polearm Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 36
Fingerprint: 0x9731c4d3
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+215% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+6 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
223% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 13 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Leviathan
Kraken Shell
Defense: 1621
Required Strength: 174
Required Level: 65
Indestructible
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xd20648ff
+41 to Strength
+188% Enhanced Defense
+112 Defense
Damage Reduced by 17%
Indestructible

Rockstopper
Sallet
Defense: 171
Durability: 9 of 18
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 31
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x369a6f60
+15 to Vitality
+173% Enhanced Defense
Damage Reduced by 10%
Fire Resist +42%
Lightning Resist +40%
Cold Resist +38%
30% Faster Hit Recovery

Hell Hellforge - Mal
During the hellforge quest I had a funny incident. I smashed the soulstone and I saw a Io drop out of it. I thought to myself "Damn! My first character for such a long time, and already such bad luck!" and then.... Diablo crashed:p I had to do the quest again, and since I didn't have any 4th act WPs, I had to tele through the gloam infested areas again;/ took nearly an hour but it was worth it. For the first time a crash worked in my favour.

Oh well, it wasn't so much of a crash, but more of a blackout(that's how it is called? Electricity went out for a second), but whatever.

Notable finds:
SoJ, Wolfhowl, Trangs Belt




For MMephing I use Chancies instead of Trangs Gloves and 3xPTopaz Mask instead of the Circlet giving me 187% mf total(Milabrega's Orb switch). I also switch my mercs weapon to ethereal Woestave. The setup/build let's me kill Mephisto at players 3 pretty effectively, and the merc dies very rarely. Thanks to the stronger cold tree she's better at MMephing then Meteorb, at least IMO.

I'd like to make her my WSK/Baal runner just as Sirpoopsalot did, but as of now, she was struggling when going through P1 WSK with very nice monster drops(no frenzytours, OKs or Gloams), so it's not her time yet. I'll probably level her up some more in ATs, run Meph untill I find Occy, upgrade my mercs gear and then get back to WSK.

How well will she run WSK when I get full Tals for her?
 
Originally posted by Gahzban on Oct 16, 2009:

Matriarch FroNo 200FCR Frozen Orb/Nova Sorc

I had the Idea of building this one when I read one of Poop's tread (I remember an other tread about this sorc but cant find it now) to supply my rune stash with the countess.

So this one was originaly build for running the Countess. But after some taught she turned out to be my main LK runner.

I decided to mat her after a few thousand run in LK.

So here she is:


Matriarch FroNo
Lvl 87

Str 142/164
Dex 75/75
Vit 268/290
Ene 40/40


Life 1000
Mana 927
Resist all 75


Static field 2/7 Rest will go here if any
Nova 20/25 Damage: 762-1055
L Mastery 20/25
TK 1/6
Teleport 1/6

Frozen Orb 20/25 Damage: 386-406
Cold Mastery 20/25
Ice Bolt 8/13
Prereq 1/6
Frozen Armor 1/6 Mainly for Safe teleporting but since I do it so fast This could be a waste point (But build was complete so early)

Warmth 1/7


The Stuff:


Code:
Wizardspike
Bone Knife
One-Hand Damage: 23 to 49
Required Dexterity: 75
Required Strength: 38
Required Level: 61
Dagger Class - Fast Attack Speed
Indestructible
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x10577183
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +75
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
50% Faster Cast Rate
Indestructible
+2 to Mana (Based on Character Level)


Spirit
Monarch
'TalThulOrtAmn'
Defense: 147
Chance to Block:  42%
Smite Damage: 12 to 34
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Strength: 156
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x850739c7
+22 to Vitality
+111 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
55% Faster Hit Recovery
32% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to All Skill Levels
+7 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)


Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 122
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 80
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xb078425e
+94% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)


Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 279
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x28df002a
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 10
All Resistances +21
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels


Magefist
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 24
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0xdb101b0d
+21% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana 25%
+10 Defense
Adds 1-6 fire damage
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to Fire Skills


Entropy Heart
Amulet
Required Level: 34
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0xfc9d2ac0
+11 to Strength
+3 to Maximum Damage
Poison Resist +5%
+1 to Sorceress Skill Levels
10% Faster Cast Rate
7% Damage Taken Goes to Mana


Chromatic Circlet of the Magus
Defense: 20
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xf00134bb
All Resistances +27
20% Faster Cast Rate


Bahamut's Ring of the Apprentice
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0x19220da7
+112 to Mana
10% Faster Cast Rate


Raven Band
Ring
Required Level: 47
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0x2bdb70de
+11 to Strength
+33 to Mana
38% Extra Gold from Monsters
10% Faster Cast Rate


Aldur's Advance
Battle Boots
Defense: 45
Kick Damage: 37 to 64
Required Strength: 95
Required Level: 45
Indestructible
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xe9812d80
+50 to Life
+180 to Maximum Stamina
Heal Stamina Plus 32%
Fire Resist +44%
40% Faster Run/Walk
10% Damage Taken Goes to Mana
Indestructible

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
+15 to Dexterity
+15 to Dexterity
+15 to Dexterity
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***


On switch:


Harmony
Superior Short Battle Bow
'TirIthSolKo'
Two-Hand Damage: 25 to 46
Required Dexterity: 40
Required Strength: 30
Required Level: 39
Bow Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x63d966c1
+10 to Dexterity
+238% Enhanced Damage
+2 to Attack Rating
+9 to Minimum Damage
+9 to Maximum Damage
Regenerate Mana 20%
Adds 55-160 fire damage
Adds 55-160 lightning damage
Adds 55-160 cold damage over 3 seconds
+2 to Light Radius
+6 to Valkyrie
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 10 Vigor Aura When Equipped
Level 20 Revive (25/25 Charges)
Socketed (4: 4 used)

The merc:

Kasim
Act2 Normal Combat

wearing:


Code:
Guillaume's Face
Winged Helm
Defense: 217
Durability: 28 of 40
Required Strength: 115
Required Level: 34
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xb5323cf2
+15 to Strength
+120% Enhanced Defense
30% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike


Stone
Dusk Shroud
'ShaelUmPulLum'
Defense: 3946
Durability: 11 of 11
Required Strength: 67
Required Level: 49
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x5a02ae54
+16 to Strength
+10 to Energy
+16 to Vitality
+278% Enhanced Defense
+300 Defense vs. Missile
All Resistances +15
60% Faster Hit Recovery
Level 16 Clay Golem (16/16 Charges)
Level 16 Molten Boulder (80/80 Charges)
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (4: 4 used)


Insight
Thresher
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 64 to 654
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Dexterity: 108
Required Strength: 142
Required Level: 53
Polearm Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x89497fa9
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+210% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
239% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 16 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (4: 4 used)


This merc with Insight is almost a necessity with a 200FCR Nova sorc unless you want to carry a zillion of blue potion.

I didnt carry any skiller because I wanted max space while doing countess or Lk runs and I didnt bother to add more to mat her. So with this set up she is not an effective Baal Runner.

Best find were 2 BER and a LO in LK
Hellforge drop was LEM-PUL
 
Originally posted by HolyPade on Nov 20, 2006:

Matriarch TeslaSorc 1.11b

So, finally a 1.11 Matriarch after all the Patriarchs on 1.10. This thread comes very late as she let Baal out of it's misery during Pindlethon 3 already but I haven't really had the time to compose a Mat thread before. Again, this goes to show that you don't need Ãœber gear to get through the game, just check her gear out and you'll see what I mean. 😁

Character name: TeslaSorc
Character type: Sorceress
Character level: 86
Character exp: 1231174539

Strength : 84 (all stats with gear)
Energy : 88
Dexterity : 70
Vitality : 210
Stat Points Rem: 116 <- What should I do with these? STR for Skullder's and rest in Vita?

Life : 749
Mana : 473

Resistances F/C/L/P: -24/-1/-7/-30

Chain Lightning damage: 4-3204
Lightning damage: 11-4173

Skills (all with gear):
Lightning 24
Chain Lightning 25
Lightning Mastery 26
Nova 7
Cold Mastery and Frozen Orb 11
All prereqs and "must" skills 5-8 (Teleport, Telekinesis, Static, Warmth)

Gear:
Natalya's Soul
Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth
Visceratuant
Magefist
Infernal Cranium (PTopaz)
Highlord's Wrath

Chaos Master
Ring
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 35
Fingerprint: 0x7183fd93
+14 to Energy
+19 to Mana
+30 to Attack Rating
Fire Resist +27%
Cold Resist +16%
+3 to Light Radius
10% Faster Cast Rate


Loath Heart
Clasped Orb
One-Hand Damage: 5 to 12
Durability: 40 of 40
(Sorceress Only)
Required Level: 52
Orb Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x87698f4e
+13 to Energy
+19 to Life
Replenish Life +5
+1 to Chain Lightning (Sorceress Only)
+1 to Thunder Storm (Sorceress Only)
+2 to Lightning Mastery (Sorceress Only)
Hit Causes Monster to Flee 25%
+2 to Lightning Skills (Sorceress Only)
Level 2 Enchant (25/25 Charges)
Socketed (1: 0 used)


Stealth
Plate Mail
'TalEth'
Defense: 115
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Strength: 65
Required Level: 17
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 34
Fingerprint: 0x7b034050
+6 to Dexterity
+15 to Maximum Stamina
Regenerate Mana 15%
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Poison Resist +30%
25% Faster Run/Walk
25% Faster Hit Recovery
25% Faster Cast Rate
Socketed (2: 2 used)


Dragon's Ring of the Apprentice
Required Level: 18
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xb9ffad6
+32 to Mana
10% Faster Cast Rate


Merc:
Fazel, Act2 Holy Freeze

Life: 1807
Def: 2731
Damage: 541-2075 (w/o aura)

Bonehew (Amn, Shael)
Andy's Helm
Holy Lacquered Plate
Defense: 1062
Durability: 31 of 55
Required Strength: 208
Required Level: 62
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x35d83abe
+96% Enhanced Defense


I don't really like Sorc's but needed a Pindle runner for Pindlethon 3 and she made it just in time. It's my first Mat/Pat after the restart as you can probably tell from the gear. She is very close to being untwinked as only one item on her merc was found in MP instead of herself (Bonehew). HF gave UM (IRC).

MP'd with her quite a lot, Pit runs for levels and some questing with SirMurdalot. Did I forget something?

Oh, next in line is Fanatic Pally due to the HoZ found from Pindle. He's in WSK2, Hell now. Talking about cheese... :soapbox:
 
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