- Mar 14, 2020
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11/29/19
After Quinta hit 98.75, she got a few million more, and then I switched back to this challenge. I am really enjoying this playthrough, with its nice balance of gear restrictions and modified limited stash among the three. I’ve enjoyed the full-clear single-pass approach before, but it wasn’t going to happen three times in parallel, and the direct style with lower p-settings to speed along when desired is nice.
Enough chitchat, here’s a large update, with all three characters now in A5 NM (except Kratos, who is still available for shopping/gambling in A4). I will do full update for each character to make it easier to follow (my playthrough obviously switched up to stay within an Act of each other).
Eleos (Standard trapper)
We picked up with her at the start of A1 NM, staying at p7 until A4, when she dropped down to p3. With LS and a synergy maxed and CoS for crowd control, it was smooth sailing to take down Countess for a Dol rune drop.
She then picked up a nice upgrade for Kratos in Outer Cloister, with Aldur’s Rhythm a great option until one of higher-end runeword swords or high-end unique becomes possible. Andy then fell, with a little running around involved after the Merc dropped quickly, and nothing of use in her drop. She had enough gems for two GC rerolls, and I figured that Mentalist skiller from Baal wasn’t really useful. First attempt was, you guessed it:
View attachment 52445
Seriously
I kept it for a while, but it’s just not helpful for her, and was eventually rerolled before the crew had reached A3. It became this, which is useful given Tyche’s limited life pool and low mana for Eleos and Tyche:
After first shopping a 40 IAS claw to increase trap laying speed, Eleos picked up at A2 when Tyche finished A1. It was, um, uneventful, with nothing worth mentioning through taking down Duriel and getting nothing of use. Actually, the same was true of A3 also, with Meph providing nothing of note. She then ran LK, taking on boss packs for a bit, picking up some gems and a nice Shimmering LC of Dexterity.
Eleos was the second to tackle A4, dropping to p3 due to higher LR monsters. The lower p-setting made easy going, with HF providing a Dol, and Diablo dropping easily enough (although Vikhyat would probably say otherwise). She is sitting at the start of A5, ready to break the siege.
Tyche (Blizz)
Tyche was next up after Eleos and moved through A1 easily, as to be expected at p1. She netted a Greyform in Tristram, which was kept and has since been upped as a nice life leech armor option for the two merc package characters. Countess provided only a Tal, and Andy then fell, with nothing of use in her drop.
She picked up an Artisan’s TS with iMDR, which became the vehicle for pDiamonds and the shield of choice for Tyche and Eleos. While questing to the Viper Temple, she got this nice orb that increased her firepower and allowed her to clear out her backback by dropping some low-level resist charms:
View attachment 52446
She had more than 230MF at this point, and had a fun triple rare drop that unfortunately provided nothing useful. Duriel was pretty straightforward, with nothing useful in the drop. She then ran A3 after Eleos had completed it, with nothing to report until Meph fell and provided nothing useful. She then rolled a two-teleport map, and ran Meph for a couple levels, with some slight upgrades on rare belts and random S/Us that aren’t useful here and were stashed.
She was the first to tackle A4, with nearly 300MF now that the crew had built up a 3 pTopaz crown. She picked up an Arreat’s in RoF. Not useful, but fun nonetheless! HF was a Shael, and Diablo went down with ease and provided some decent drops that aren’t of use here but nice even so. She then took down Shenk and will pick up a level or two on Eldritch/Shenk runs before moving on.
Kratos (HF/HS Zealot)
Kratos picked back up at the start of A2 when Tyche and Eleos had finished A3. He picked up a GC from a boss pack in the Palace, which turned out a Burning Skiller that isn’t useful here and was still cool and has been stashed. The trio had really good skiller luck with three, but not useful trees (yet).
I forgot to swap in runes for Aldur’s before he got started (Shael, Eth and Tal, with the Tal to allow him to drop a lame poison LC). But he got a Shael and Eth as he navigated safely to Duriel, who needed a town trip after I had messed up positioning on the initial engagement. After a retreat to town, we got it sorted, and Duriel’s drop was interesting but no keepers. The Tal was then added.
I lost track of who got this drop, but one of the trio picked up this rare pally shield, that got a pDiamond and then a second during A3:
It might actually be end-game for him, unless he finds a mechanic/blocking blue with high resist staffmods, or maybe a 4os ST with high resists. He proceeded to A3, netting these great boots that the crew is now sharing:
View attachment 52448
Smooth sailing to Meph, who provided a nice armor for the merc package crew, and is a candidate for socketing as we look ahead to Hell. He was the last to tackle A4, but first burning through the pgems and again delivering for the crew:
View attachment 52451
Tyche is thrilled! It’s pretty impressive with four skillers, with two direct drops prior to A3, and two rerolls from fewer than 20 total. HF was a Fal, which is handy, and Diablo fell easily enough with nothing of use. He’s still in A4, in case I want to shop due to better inventory options.
* * *
Some observations:
- We have not upgraded over the initial Insight Halberd That’s with 7 Exceptional polearm rolls that have failed, with 4 1os and 2os in A1 a really tough break, and then a 2os, 3os, and a 5os since then, with a Bill that Kratos picked up in CS getting 3os being especially painful. I’ve decided to save rolling ingredients for Elite polearms for now.
- Tyche may stay pure Blizz, at least through Hell Meph. I’m playing direct anyhow, so the immunes in A1-A3 Hell should be manageable. Especially if we can get an elite polearm Insight
- Kratos has lost power, and I’m beginning to appreciate the challenge ahead without access to synergies for the offensive/elemental auras. CB will be key, so hoping for Guillame’s soon (Heaven’s Light would be spectacular), and -eResist will be key. Here’s hoping for an Um for Crescent Moon, although VoR is a more realistic goal with the CBF a really nice bonus. Either way, he will likely shop a life tap wand to help him and the merc.
- For Kratos, I went with Might merc in A2 NM, but I second-guessed fairly soon after due to AR issues. He has dual leech with Aldur's for now, but he's hovering around 60% chance to hit with an Eth socketed (according to LCS). I'm pretty sure he'll be better served by the AR from Blessed Aim merc, but would appreciate any feedback from others. I'm thinking the physical damage needs to be an afterthought once he goes full dual-element aura, and life tap can help balance that out.
- We’ll likely settle into some shopping in A5 once we rescue Anya, looking for claws for Eleos (unless I’m missing something on ilvl, which I will check once we get there).
* * *
Team: Spirited Helenes (PhineasB) – 154 pts
Eleos - (Sin: Traps/Shadow - 10) - lvl 40 - Act I NM – 51 pts
Tyche - (Sorc: Cold/Light - 10) - lvl 40 - Act I NM – 52 pts
Kratos - (Pala: Offensive/Combat - 7/1) - lvl 48 - Act II NM – 51 pts
After Quinta hit 98.75, she got a few million more, and then I switched back to this challenge. I am really enjoying this playthrough, with its nice balance of gear restrictions and modified limited stash among the three. I’ve enjoyed the full-clear single-pass approach before, but it wasn’t going to happen three times in parallel, and the direct style with lower p-settings to speed along when desired is nice.
Enough chitchat, here’s a large update, with all three characters now in A5 NM (except Kratos, who is still available for shopping/gambling in A4). I will do full update for each character to make it easier to follow (my playthrough obviously switched up to stay within an Act of each other).
Eleos (Standard trapper)
We picked up with her at the start of A1 NM, staying at p7 until A4, when she dropped down to p3. With LS and a synergy maxed and CoS for crowd control, it was smooth sailing to take down Countess for a Dol rune drop.
She then picked up a nice upgrade for Kratos in Outer Cloister, with Aldur’s Rhythm a great option until one of higher-end runeword swords or high-end unique becomes possible. Andy then fell, with a little running around involved after the Merc dropped quickly, and nothing of use in her drop. She had enough gems for two GC rerolls, and I figured that Mentalist skiller from Baal wasn’t really useful. First attempt was, you guessed it:
View attachment 52445
Seriously
I kept it for a while, but it’s just not helpful for her, and was eventually rerolled before the crew had reached A3. It became this, which is useful given Tyche’s limited life pool and low mana for Eleos and Tyche:
Code:
Snake's Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 23
Fingerprint: 0xd70eb889
Item Level: 60
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+23 to Life
+35 to ManaEleos was the second to tackle A4, dropping to p3 due to higher LR monsters. The lower p-setting made easy going, with HF providing a Dol, and Diablo dropping easily enough (although Vikhyat would probably say otherwise
). She is sitting at the start of A5, ready to break the siege.Tyche (Blizz)
Tyche was next up after Eleos and moved through A1 easily, as to be expected at p1. She netted a Greyform in Tristram, which was kept and has since been upped as a nice life leech armor option for the two merc package characters. Countess provided only a Tal, and Andy then fell, with nothing of use in her drop.
She picked up an Artisan’s TS with iMDR, which became the vehicle for pDiamonds and the shield of choice for Tyche and Eleos. While questing to the Viper Temple, she got this nice orb that increased her firepower and allowed her to clear out her backback by dropping some low-level resist charms:
View attachment 52446
She had more than 230MF at this point, and had a fun triple rare drop that unfortunately provided nothing useful. Duriel was pretty straightforward, with nothing useful in the drop. She then ran A3 after Eleos had completed it, with nothing to report until Meph fell and provided nothing useful. She then rolled a two-teleport map, and ran Meph for a couple levels, with some slight upgrades on rare belts and random S/Us that aren’t useful here and were stashed.
She was the first to tackle A4, with nearly 300MF now that the crew had built up a 3 pTopaz crown. She picked up an Arreat’s in RoF. Not useful, but fun nonetheless! HF was a Shael, and Diablo went down with ease and provided some decent drops that aren’t of use here but nice even so. She then took down Shenk and will pick up a level or two on Eldritch/Shenk runs before moving on.
Kratos (HF/HS Zealot)
Kratos picked back up at the start of A2 when Tyche and Eleos had finished A3. He picked up a GC from a boss pack in the Palace, which turned out a Burning Skiller that isn’t useful here and was still cool and has been stashed. The trio had really good skiller luck with three, but not useful trees (yet).
I forgot to swap in runes for Aldur’s before he got started (Shael, Eth and Tal, with the Tal to allow him to drop a lame poison LC). But he got a Shael and Eth as he navigated safely to Duriel, who needed a town trip after I had messed up positioning on the initial engagement. After a retreat to town, we got it sorted, and Duriel’s drop was interesting but no keepers. The Tal was then added.
I lost track of who got this drop, but one of the trio picked up this rare pally shield, that got a pDiamond and then a second during A3:
Code:
Armageddon Ward
Aerin Shield
Defense: 26
Chance to Block: 42
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 18
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x517ca5b0
Item Level: 45
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+17% Faster Hit Recovery
+30% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
All Resistances +53
Fire Resist +6% 2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Perfect Diamond
Socketed: Perfect DiamondView attachment 52448
Smooth sailing to Meph, who provided a nice armor for the merc package crew, and is a candidate for socketing as we look ahead to Hell. He was the last to tackle A4, but first burning through the pgems and again delivering for the crew:
View attachment 52451
Tyche is thrilled! It’s pretty impressive with four skillers, with two direct drops prior to A3, and two rerolls from fewer than 20 total. HF was a Fal, which is handy, and Diablo fell easily enough with nothing of use. He’s still in A4, in case I want to shop due to better inventory options.
* * *
Some observations:
- We have not upgraded over the initial Insight Halberd
That’s with 7 Exceptional polearm rolls that have failed, with 4 1os and 2os in A1 a really tough break, and then a 2os, 3os, and a 5os since then, with a Bill that Kratos picked up in CS getting 3os being especially painful. I’ve decided to save rolling ingredients for Elite polearms for now.- Tyche may stay pure Blizz, at least through Hell Meph. I’m playing direct anyhow, so the immunes in A1-A3 Hell should be manageable. Especially if we can get an elite polearm Insight
- Kratos has lost power, and I’m beginning to appreciate the challenge ahead without access to synergies for the offensive/elemental auras. CB will be key, so hoping for Guillame’s soon (Heaven’s Light would be spectacular), and -eResist will be key. Here’s hoping for an Um for Crescent Moon, although VoR is a more realistic goal with the CBF a really nice bonus. Either way, he will likely shop a life tap wand to help him and the merc.
- For Kratos, I went with Might merc in A2 NM, but I second-guessed fairly soon after due to AR issues. He has dual leech with Aldur's for now, but he's hovering around 60% chance to hit with an Eth socketed (according to LCS). I'm pretty sure he'll be better served by the AR from Blessed Aim merc, but would appreciate any feedback from others. I'm thinking the physical damage needs to be an afterthought once he goes full dual-element aura, and life tap can help balance that out.
- We’ll likely settle into some shopping in A5 once we rescue Anya, looking for claws for Eleos (unless I’m missing something on ilvl, which I will check once we get there).
* * *
Team: Spirited Helenes (PhineasB) – 154 pts
Eleos - (Sin: Traps/Shadow - 10) - lvl 40 - Act I NM – 51 pts
Tyche - (Sorc: Cold/Light - 10) - lvl 40 - Act I NM – 52 pts
Kratos - (Pala: Offensive/Combat - 7/1) - lvl 48 - Act II NM – 51 pts
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