Patriarch Danikel (Ribby Fury Druid)

[snickersnack]

In some ways, this is my oldest, most long-lived character. Danikel started off as a dual wielding Halfelven Ranger in D&D (2nd ed, I think). At some point he died and was reincarnated as a Lythari (how do I remember that name 25 years later?). For those not in the know, a Lythari is basically an elven werewolf, except you aren't affected by the moon, you can shift at will. Hmm, what kind of character will this be? (Well, you probably read the title, so....)

Stats:

Spoiler

Name: Danikel
Class: Druid
Experience: 1154027731
Level: 86

Naked/Gear
Strength: 136/156
Dexterity: 44/78
Vitality: 300/300
Energy: 20/40
HP: 792/1137
Mana: 190/230
Stamina: 444/464
Defense: 11/2430
AR: 190/33054

Fire: 190/150/90
Cold: 120/80/20
Lightning: 162/122/62
Poison: 120/80/20

MF: 0 Block: 7
GF: 0
FR/W: 40
FHR: 100
IAS: 90
FCR: 25

Raven: 1/3
Poison Creeper: 0/0
Oak Sage: 1/3
Summon Spirit Wolf: 1/3
Carrion Vine: 0/0
Heart of Wolverine: 10/12
Summon Dire Wolf: 20/22
Solar Creeper: 0/0
Spirit of Barbs: 0/0
Summon Grizzly: 12/14

Werewolf: 7/12
Lycanthropy: 20/25
Werebear: 0/0
Feral Rage: 1/6
Maul: 0/0
Rabies: 1/6
Fire Claws: 0/0
Hunger: 0/0
Shock Wave: 0/0
Fury: 20/25

Firestorm: 0/0
Molten Boulder: 0/0
Arctic Blast: 0/0
Fissure: 0/0
Cyclone Armor: 0/0
Twister: 0/0
Volcano: 0/0
Tornado: 0/0
Armageddon: 0/0
Hurricane: 0/0

Jalal's Mane
Totemic Mask
Defense: 288
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0x84d75578
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Shape-Shifting Skills (Druid Only)
+2 to Druid Skill Levels
+50% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
+191% Enhanced Defense
+20 to Strength
+20 to Energy
All Resistances +30
+5 to Mana after each Kill
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

Shael Rune
Required Level: 29
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +20% Increased Attack Speed
Armor: +20% Faster Hit Recovery
Shields: +20% Faster Block Rate

String of Ears
Demonhide Sash
Defense: 109
Durability: 22 of 22
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0x4f4d48e3
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
7% Life stolen per hit
+169% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
Damage Reduced by 15%
Magic Damage Reduced by 13
+10 Maximum Durability

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x7f9e3b30
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+225 to Attack Rating
Adds 15 - 45 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
+19 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
Cold Absorb 20%
Cannot Be Frozen

Sharp Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0x90d6145f
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+7 to Maximum Damage
+50 to Attack Rating
+31 to Life

Gore Rider
War Boots
Defense: 143
Durability: 34 of 34
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 94
Fingerprint: 0xde58209e
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Run/Walk
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
10% Chance of Open Wounds
+165% Enhanced Defense
+20 Maximum Stamina
Requirements -25%
+10 Maximum Durability

Sharp Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x1f4e64a7
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+7 to Maximum Damage
+72 to Attack Rating
+39 to Life

Sharp Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x9e924d21
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Maximum Damage
+64 to Attack Rating
+40 to Life

Steel Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x2f866d28
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+98 to Attack Rating
+36 to Life

Coral Small Charm of Storms
Small Charm
Required Level: 37
Fingerprint: 0xa092dd78
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 1 - 28 Lightning Damage
Lightning Resist +9%

Steel Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0x80d19589
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+94 to Attack Rating
+24 to Life

Sharp Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x9a0edddf
Item Level: 61
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+9 to Maximum Damage
+68 to Attack Rating
+19 to Life

Metalgrid
Amulet
Required Level: 81
Fingerprint: 0x87a92fad
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+438 to Attack Rating
+310 Defense
All Resistances +28
Level 22 Iron Golem (11/11 Charges)
Level 12 Iron Maiden (20/20 Charges)

Laying of Hands
Bramble Mitts
Defense: 86
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0xaf61ca9b
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
10% Chance to cast level 3 Holy Bolt on striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
+350% Damage to Demons
+25 Defense
Fire Resist +50%

Spiritual Grand Charm of Inertia
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x248d84aa
Item Level: 69
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Shape-Shifting Skills (Druid Only)
+7% Faster Run/Walk

Shimmering Small Charm of Inertia
Small Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0xeeb9a05a
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3% Faster Run/Walk
All Resistances +3

Shimmering Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0xc8ed5942
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
All Resistances +5

Amber Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0xb3fd9b88
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20 to Life
Lightning Resist +11%

Amber Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0xc8586a3b
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+18 to Life
Lightning Resist +11%

Shimmering Small Charm of the Icicle
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x51fcb349
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 2 - 3 Cold Dama
Death Grip
Ring
Required Level: 74
Fingerprint: 0xd582d5e
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+105 to Attack Rating
6% Mana stolen per hit
Lightning Resist +11%
Fire Resist +20%

Aconite's Fortitude
Archon Plate
ElSolDolLo
Defense: 1581
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0xaab9dee7
Item Level: 84
Version: Expansion 1.10+
20% Chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
300% Enhanced Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+118 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Replenish Life +7
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +29
Damage Reduced by 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 to Light Radius
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: El Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune
Socketed: Dol Rune
Socketed: Lo Rune

El Rune
Required Level: 11
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +50 to Attack Rating
+1 to Light Radius
Armor: +15 Defense
+1 to Light Radius
Shields: +15 Defense
+1 to Light Radius

Sol Rune
Required Level: 27
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +9 to Minimum Damage
Armor: Damage Reduced by 7
Shields: Damage Reduced by 7

Dol Rune
Required Level: 31
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Hit Causes Monster to Flee 25%
Armor: Replenish Life +7
Shields: Replenish Life +7

Lo Rune
Required Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 20% Deadly Strike
Armor: +5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
Shields: +5% to Maximum Lightning Resist

Call to Arms
Superior Crystal Sword
AmnRalMalIstOhm
One Hand Damage: 18 - 56
Durability: 23 of 23
Required Level: 57
Required Strength: 43
Fingerprint: 0xc121df05
Item Level: 73
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
279% Enhanced Damage
Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
7% Life stolen per hit
Prevent Monster Heal
+5 to Battle Command
+6 to Battle Orders
+2 to Battle Cry
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Increase Maximum Durability 15%
5 Sockets (5 used)
Socketed: Amn Rune
Socketed: Ral Rune
Socketed: Mal Rune
Socketed: Ist Rune
Socketed: Ohm Rune

Amn Rune
Required Level: 25
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 7% Life stolen per hit
Armor: Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Shields: Attacker Takes Damage of 14

Ral Rune
Required Level: 19
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
Armor: Fire Resist +30%
Shields: Fire Resist +35%

Mal Rune
Required Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Prevent Monster Heal
Armor: Magic Damage Reduced by 7
Shields: Magic Damage Reduced by 7

Ist Rune
Required Level: 51
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Armor: 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Shields: 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Ohm Rune
Required Level: 57
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Enhanced Maximum Damage
Armor: +5% to Maximum Cold Resist
Shields: +5% to Maximum Cold Resist

Spirit
Monarch
TalThulOrtAmn
Defense: 204
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 37 of 44
Required Level: 54
Required Strength: 146
Fingerprint: 0x2f7f9fab
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
+31% Faster Cast Rate
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense vs. Missile
+22 to Vitality
+101 to Mana
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+7 Magic Absorb
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Ethereal
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Amn Rune

Tal Rune
Required Level: 17
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 75 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
Armor: Poison Resist +30%
Shields: Poison Resist +35%

Thul Rune
Required Level: 23
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 3 - 14 Cold Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
Armor: Cold Resist +30%
Shields: Cold Resist +35%

Ort Rune
Required Level: 21
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 1 - 50 Lightning Damage
Armor: Lightning Resist +30%
Shields: Lightning Resist +35%

Amn Rune
Required Level: 25
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 7% Life stolen per hit
Armor: Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Shields: Attacker Takes Damage of 14

Ribcracker
Stalagmite
Two Hand Damage: 325 - 486
Durability: 130 of 130
Required Level: 56
Required Strength: 63
Required Dexterity: 35
Fingerprint: 0x29cd7746
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+70% Increased Attack Speed
+50% Faster Hit Recovery
294% Enhanced Damage
Adds 30 - 65 Damage
50% Chance of Crushing Blow
+100% Enhanced Defense
+100 Defense
+15 to Dexterity
Required Level +7
+100 Maximum Durability
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

Shael Rune
Required Level: 29
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +20% Increased Attack Speed
Armor: +20% Faster Hit Recovery
Shields: +20% Faster Block Rate

Mercenary:

Spoiler

Name: Fazel
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Off-Nightmare
Experience: 75960002
Level: 85
Dead?: false

Naked/Gear
Strength: 186/213
Dexterity: 150/150
HP: 1767/1767
Defense: 1302/2945
AR: 1913/1913

Fire: 142/102/42
Cold: 179/139/79
Lightning: 149/109/49
Poison: 219/179/119

Andariel's Visage
Demonhead
Defense: 482
Durability: 11 of 11
Required Level: 83
Required Strength: 92
Fingerprint: 0x4d074a19
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
15% Chance to cast level 15 Poison Nova when struck
+2 to All Skills
+35% Increased Attack Speed
9% Life stolen per hit
+108% Enhanced Defense
+27 to Strength
+10% to Maximum Poison Resist
Fire Resist -7%
Poison Resist +70%
Level 3 Venom (6/20 Charges)
Ethereal
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Ruby Jewel of Fervor

Ruby Jewel of Fervor <----- Imagine my disappointment, but it is still a useful item.
Jewel
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x7adac0ca
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+15% Increased Attack Speed
Fire Resist +23%


Treachery
Archon Plate
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 1161
Durability: 31 of 31
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 93
Fingerprint: 0x92a31698
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Chance to cast level 15 Fade when struck
25% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
Ethereal
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Lem Rune

Shael Rune
Required Level: 29
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +20% Increased Attack Speed
Armor: +20% Faster Hit Recovery
Shields: +20% Faster Block Rate

Thul Rune
Required Level: 23
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 3 - 14 Cold Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
Armor: Cold Resist +30%
Shields: Cold Resist +35%

Lem Rune
Required Level: 43
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 75% Extra Gold from Monsters
Armor: 50% Extra Gold from Monsters
Shields: 50% Extra Gold from Monsters


The Reaper's Toll
Thresher
Two Hand Damage: 40 - 472
Durability: 65 of 65
Required Level: 75
Required Strength: 114
Required Dexterity: 89
Fingerprint: 0x1dda7adc
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
33% Chance to cast level 1 Decrepify on striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
235% Enhanced Damage
Ignore Target's Defense
Adds 4 - 44 Cold Damage Over 2 Secs (41 Frames)
14% Life stolen per hit
33% Deadly Strike
Requirements -25%
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

Shael Rune
Required Level: 29
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +20% Increased Attack Speed
Armor: +20% Faster Hit Recovery
Shields: +20% Faster Block Rate

Items:
That's a pretty nice ribby, and I'm not sure if it was a gift or a drop. I suspect that I got it in a big giveaway. I used to have an Eth rune in the Ribby for (I think) a Tiger Strike assassin, but a Shael got me a slightly faster attack. I could have used a decent ias jewel, but I think that I prefer the flexibility of swapping out the socket filler without worry. If I put my best ED/ias jewel it there, it's staying. Metalgrid doesn't usually see much use for me, so it's nice when I get to use it. I kept meaning to golemify some junk items, but I just never remembered to do it.

The Treachery that the merc is wearing was made for this character. I already had a non-eth Treachery (possibly in the top 10 of all runewords), but a little more defense and some style points called to me. I also only recently socketed the Reaper's Toll for a touch more ias, and along with the jeweled Andy Visage, he reaches the last normal attack bp, but just misses the last jab bp. I also occasionally swapped the armors and stood in a fire to get the 15% DR.

I'm not sure if keeping CTA on swap was worth it. It took me from ~3000 to ~3600, but I was never in much danger. I assume that it kept the merc and grizzly alive better. I guess it kept the HotW from poofing on sight.

Also, I ran with no mana leech for a while, just hitting the pots (as the kids say), and it was okay. He had been wearing a dex/BIGresists ring, but once he saved Anya and had resists to spare, I swapped to a ML/AR/smallResists ring.

Gameplay:
As this is another long dormant character, I don't recall anything before about Act 4 Hell. I think he was at RoF when I unearthed him.

Danikel is a very standard Fury Druid. I considered respeccing to put more points into Grizzly, but I figured that getting some more damage wouldn't matter much, and the high life from maxed dire wolves meant that the grizzly rarely died. I think it died once in all of act 5 hell.

HotW died during nearly every big battle, but maybe more points would help? I'm not sure that I'll play this character again.

Nearly all of the recent play was on /p5. I toyed around with /p7, but it was a bit slow. I think Baal was on /p3 just to be a bit quicker.

Drops:

Nothing particularly good, as I recall. Baal dropped a Shadow Killer. I did get a 43 all res Sacred Rondache and a Burrito Cannon, so there's that.

Future mats/pats:
Here is the current stable of old non-mat/pat characters:

Champion AlxndrHammerton (93, hammy)
Champion Cortez (91, trav WW RF barb).
Champion Weiertrass (79, IK ww barb)
Champion eBlizzabeth (85, blizz sorc)
Champion Kcolmeh (76, trang's poison necro)

Some new characters:

Funnily enough, I have another Fury Druid working his way through Hell. He's a Windhammer Druid, which is a lot of fun with many, many twisters. There may be another post soonish.

I also plan on starting a Rift/VoR Frenzy barb, but when I cubed my lone cadeceus, it got 5 sockets. I'll need to do some cow runs, I suppose. Any level 85 will be good, right?

Also, not a new character, but I'm thinking of dusting off one of my kick-trapsins to wear my somewhat-new Enigma for some Baal runs. If I do that, I'll report my findings (probably in the lounge).

 

[nepeta]

One of the true nostalgic flavours of diablo 2: the sweet cracking of ribs by a fury druid

 

[Miron]

Congrats on the pat!

Interesting choice with summons, I usually leave them for last with melee druids but glad to see they were durable enough for p5.

Interested to read about your experience with that frenzy barb.

 

[Delsy]

Was Decrepify your only PI solution? I wonder how it held at P5.

 

[snickersnack]

Congrats on the pat!

Interesting choice with summons, I usually leave them for last with melee druids but glad to see they were durable enough for p5.

Interested to read about your experience with that frenzy barb.

Thanks!

This is a character that I started over 10 years ago, so I'm not sure what I was thinking at the time. The gear was good enough that I probably would have been fine with no summons at all (but then I'd have a lot of spare skill points). The Dire wolves were great for safety for a while, but they started dying too quickly.

Once I find/trade a cadaceus, I'll get started on that barb (well, work is very busy right now, so it'll probably be a few weeks at least before I start a new character).

Edit: also, there is such a barb in the mat/pat thread. I'll see if I can find it and link it here.

Was Decrepify your only PI solution? I wonder how it held at P5.

Yep, and it was just fine. I use Reaper's on morons all the time and it works well enough even at /p8. AFAIK, /px doesn't affect resistances, so the proportion still works.

I think that the good roll on the upped ribby played a big role in that though. Since I've been playing for a long time (and Grief/Death/Fortitude are 'cheap'), my melee characters usually have pretty epic physical damage and the players count isn't that important. I'm leveling a kicksin right now, and I expect to do just fine in hell at /p7 (planning to use Lawbringer for Decrep).