Single Skill Tree Tourney

[skunkbelly]

Einbaum continued his Nightmarish journey last night, and made some small progress:

Einbaum
Class: Offensive Auras Paladin
Level: 51
Last WP: Dry Hills
Last Quest: Radament

Still can't manage to find a decent paladin shield, either rare or with open sockets... that's the way my luck always seems to run in tournaments

 

[jiansonz]

Easy session, except for Andariel. She was way too dangerous to melee. Her poison made Mark go through potions at an astonishing rate. It was much better to have her chase us around the blood pool, being constantly Decrepified. She would try to get close to us and be walking >95% of the time. When she´s walking, she´s not dangerous.
Mark got a lot of mileage out of his Deathbit stack here. I think he added about as much damage as Isolde did during the fight. He needed 140 of the 160 in the stack. No problem, they grow back quickly. Very convenient with replenishing on a throwing weapon, especially one with a big stack and one you don´t use all the time.

Character Names: Slayer Isolde (& Destroyer Mark)
Character Class: Fire Rogue (assisted by curses-only necro)
Character Levels: 53
Farthest Quest: Sisters to the Slaughter, NM
Farthest WP: Lut Gholein, NM
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC
Total MF: +373% for Isolde´s kills, +259% otherwise


@Moar:
Excellent progress. Have fun and be careful in the Temples, Flayer Dungeon and Swampy Pit!

 

[Warrior of Light]

Speaking of my progress, it is enormous! I just killed Baal … in Dungeon Siege II (last boss, Valdis or what his name is)!!! So I’m ready for tournament playing this weekend. Going to do tons of NM Eldritch runs, I blame Durf — it is his fault, that Corax set the rule for completing all quests and finding all waypoints thus closing Pindleskin.

Easy session, except for Andariel. She was way too dangerous to melee. Her poison made Mark go through potions at an astonishing rate.

Don’t you use antidote stacking glitch? Personally I prefer to look around all waypoints for anti-poison shrine before battle with her, Radament and Nihlathal Viper Pets, but I guess you won’t use cold plains waypoint shrine runs (see my above tale for example of skill shrine searching).

 

[Mage11]

Still very slow progress for me, as I have too many other things going on to put much time into DarkWind.

However, she has now reached the Far Oasis waypoint and cleared the Maggot Lair, picking up the cube along the way. She's closing in on level 24, and will be chasing after the amulet soon.

Character Names: DarkWind
Character Class: Shadow Assassin
Character Levels: 23
Farthest Quest: Radament, Normal
Farthest WP: Far Oasis, Normal
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC

 

[jiansonz]

Don’t you use antidote stacking glitch?

I did, but that only brought up the resistance to 40 or so...

Personally I prefer to look around all waypoints for anti-poison shrine before battle with her, Radament and Nihlathal Viper Pets, but I guess you won’t use cold plains waypoint shrine runs

Yeah, I keep a lookout for them before I am about to battle those foes (and Achmel the Cursed and Coldworm).

No, I won´t look for shrines in areas I have played in previous sessions. Now, if the saving system in D2 would have been like I want it to be (everything remains exactly like you left it) there would most likely have been such a shrine waiting somewhere in the act.


It wasn´t just the poison that was dangeorus. Mark still has less than 400 life, and he (and Andariel) didn´t seem to understand that he has 65% blocking.

 

[SharnMes]

Character Names: BringerOfDeath
Character Class: Druid
Character Levels: 26
Farthest Quest: The Seven Tombs, Normal
Farthest WP: Kurast Docs, Normal
Game Version: 1.11 HC, RWM

Playing on players 8 except act bosses so the XP is comming in nicely and my "dogs" has no problem killing so far. I want an edge bow for my druid but thats in the future. I would have liked my grizzly in maggot lair. It would have made things alot easier....

I have a lot of free time this weekned to hopefully I will advance quite far :yep: IF I dont die along the way :lol:

 

[jiansonz]

Playing on players 8 except act bosses so the XP is comming in nicely

And still you are 2 levels lower than what´s normal in Kurast Docks. How come?

I want an edge bow for my druid but thats in the future.

Why an Edge Bow? Double Bows are faster and do more damage. OK, my merc uses an Edge Bow, but she has the unique version!

I have a lot of free time this weekned to hopefully I will advance quite far :yep: IF I dont die along the way :lol:

Good luck!

 

[Randall]

Why an Edge Bow? Double Bows are faster and do more damage. OK, my merc uses an Edge Bow, but she has the unique version!

I'm not sure, but he could be referring to the RWM runeword edge.
It's not that good though, as it has no + enh damage to the bow. (only for demons).
I have one on my fire rogue merc until I find a better bow.

Randall

 

[SharnMes]

Its cheap and has thorns aura.

 

[Randall]

Its cheap and has thorns aura.

That's correct, pity thorns is close to useless in 1.10 / 1.11.

Randall

 

[jiansonz]

I checked out the stats for Edge, that´s a very good runeword, far too good for the runes required IMO. Huge damage multiplier to both demons and undead, PMH, lots of IAS.

Level 15 Thorns is far from useless. That´s the level the Thorns merc maxes out on, and it returns 810% damage. Would be especially good for a necromancer who can Amplify the damage, and who has a recastable minion (golem; but not in this tournament)). My Rare Pleasures necro was based on Thorns merc + golem + maxed mages, and he made Guardian.

Summoner druid would also have a great use for it.

 

[Shadow Druid]

Forum Name: Shadow Druid
Character Name: Primal
Character Class: Druid
Last Quest: Rescued Anya
Last Waypoint: Ancient's Way

I was going along nicely with my Cruel Long War Bow, averaging around 400 damage per arrow when I found Magewrath, the Unique Rune Bow - I now do a very nice average of 760ish per arrow :thumbsup:

Magewrath
Rune Bow
Two-Hand Damage: 59 to 137
Required Dexterity: 103
Required Strength: 73
Required Level: 43
Bow Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 64
Fingerprint: 0x804a12bb
+10 to Dexterity
+149% Enhanced Damage
+212 to Attack Rating
+25 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
Magic Damage Reduced by 11
15% Mana stolen per hit
+1 to Amazon Skill Levels
+3 to Guided Arrow (Amazon Only)
Hit Blinds Target +1

Next session will start with me hunting down Nihlathak then dealing with the ancients

edit: when looking up what runewords I could make with my tournament runes I noticed 'Edge', it looked very nice but unfortunately I play vanilla so was unable to try it out. Still, I have no complaints about my MageWrath

 

[Cormallon]

Update:

Forumname: Cormallon
Character Name: Destroyer Mithuad
Character class: Paladin (offensive)
Character Level: 56
Farthest Quest: The seven Tombs
Farthest WP: Kurast Docks
1.11b HC, no mods

Duriel went down quite easily. Act 2 was uneventful. Something strange I noticed: Those beetles don't seem to release their lightning bolts when I hit them with Zeal... only hits from my merc triggered the usual cascade of bolts. Good to know!

My equip didn't change much, too. I found a 19% Nagelring, that one replaced my 11% MF ring I had before. Good rings are scarce with this char, not a single really good one so far. I'm going with my +110 AR / 3% LL and the Nagelring now. My merc still has his savage poleaxe of the Locust I cubed for him quite a while ago... perhaps some day i can replace that with an exceptional polearm... or find something. We'll see. He still kills much faster than Mithuad himself.

 

[Moar]

Wasn't really in playing mood today and just went from Lower Kurast to Kurast Bazaar, including Sewers.

It's still safe, but slow because I play it safe.
Scouting every step with my decoy when there are fast monsters around.
At one point I had a Valk that could tank 3 boss packs (Hell Swarm, Thresher, Faithful) and a Champion tresher on top of that. In comparison the merc died just from the look they gave him.
The Sewers were horrible. The welcoming comitee was a boss pack of fanat undead dolls mixed with a cursed gloombat pack. Yeah, what a warm welcome.
The only problem I have at the moment are monsters that run away when they are down to a certain point in health. They typically run past me then and turn around to fight me.
Not good!

Character Name: Conqueror Sheanna
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 79
Farthest Quest: Lam Essem
Farthest WP: Kurast Bazaar
1.11 HC

 

[Moar]

Well, I got into playing mood after watching some TV and having two glasses of wine. I wasn't too sure that it was a good idea then to get a 3rd glass and play HC. But what the heck, I used two hours for the two glasses and decided to play anyway.

Safe, slow and annoying is what I can say about the Durance. I really, really detest those undead dolls...
The WP was not even approximately close to the stairs down, which were the last thing I found there. *sigh*

Merc died alot down at Mephy's place. Bremm was once again the worst thing to take out down there.
Mephy was killed entirely by my Valk. She got a cookie for it.

Character Name: Conqueror Sheanna
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 79
Farthest Quest: Mephisto
Farthest WP: Pandemonium Fortress
1.11 HC

Now, fellow forumites, I need your advice. This is as far as I have gotten HC wise and I kind of grew fond of Sheanna, so don't want to mess her up.
I got a Hellrack from a Blood Lord boss down at Mephy's. It requires strength 163. I have currently 111 and 45 stat points saved up. I don't think I have a strength charm, so will have to socket it with the strength gem if i want to use it immediately. I have a Hel, so I could undo the socketing should I gain another level.

But is it worth it to dump all the stat points into strength?
I would then have only 200 vit for Diablo. He is the big problem because he ignores Valks and my merc can't survive even his first attack. I have max lightning resist, but only 60ish fire.

Please give me your opinions.

Another question:
I got lost about the rules at some point. I thought i was not allowed to use the +3 to strafe or ga which are on two of the unique bows, so I didn't use them. Was that correct?
And how about charges of forbidden trees? The Hellrack has immo arrow charges. Can I use them or not?
(My guess would be "not".)

EDIT: Just checked. I have a strength charm and can also get max fire resist against Diablo.

So yet another question. If I shall go with the Hellrack, what to socket it with? I have no more Shael. Might a -requirement jewel (or two) be a good idea?

 

[ThInK]

Late Entry

I haven't really had a lot of time to play lately, so I didn't want to sign up if I wasn't going to have the chance to play. But since my schedule has recently cleared up a bit, I have decided to join in the fun. I know that this tournament will probably have ended before I am even able to make it out of Normal, but it should still be fun.

Now onto the character, who will be played in 1.11b "vanilla".

Forum Name: ThInK
Character Name: Uther
Character Build: Summon-Only Druid
Level: 1
Last Waypoint: Rouge Encampment
Last Quest: N/A

Good luck to everyone participating in the tournament.
R.I.P. to all of our fallen friends.

ThInK

 

[Cormallon]

Update:

Forumname: Cormallon
Character Name: Destroyer Mithuad
Character class: Paladin (offensive)
Character Level: 60
Farthest Quest: Mephisto
Farthest WP: Pandemonium Fortress
1.11b HC, no mods

Well, what shall I say. A3 was a breeze. I made the durance at P1 (damned undead stygian dolls). Meph dropped a Bloodletter and an Ichorsting. I used two or three red potions during that fight. Even Bremm Sparkfist was quite easy (I had problems with this kind of foes earlier). Now I have to decide if I run Meph a few times to get some other equip, my merc could use a better weapon (Hone sundan would be great ), or if I should go straight for the most difficult enemy: Diablo.

 

[Warrior of Light]

The Results of the 1000 Eldritch Runs​

Introduction​

Hell difficulty was too tough for me to be able to fight there. So I decided to prepare by properly equipping and experience training.
The item hunting was the first number of my program. I found some free time on the current weekend, equipped all my MF wear and started to look for good target. At the beginning I gave up my favorite place for hunting, level 85 Mausoleum. It is too hard and dangerous for level 72 shadow only assassin. Baal was thrown away too, — all that Oblivion Knights, Gloams and Undead Dolls makes him a bad MF target. I would like to run Pindelskin, but before graduating from NM Act 5 I finished quests and found all waypoints, that made Anya no more able to open red portal to him.
Choosing between Mephisto and Eldritch I voted for second. Meph may be deadly with his elemental attacks and I prefer to stay away from the undead dolls on the way to him.
So I entered /players1 and started endless Frigid Highlands waypoint running, that took me about 30-60 seconds per run depending of monster density. The killing stage itself usually took me less than 12 seconds — the duration of my Cloak of Shadows.

Runner​

Soledad
Level 72
Shadow Disciplines Assassin
The farthest WP: Cold Plains (H)
The farthest quest: Den of Evil (H)
Pure 1.11b HC
+306% Magic Find, +124% Gold Find.

Normal Set and Unique Items Found​

The Iron Jang Bong (War Staff)
Spire of Lazarus (Gnarled Staff)
Tancred's Weird (Amulet)
2x The Mahim-Oak Curio (Amulet)
Arcanna's Deathwand (War Staff)
Hsaru's Iron Stay (Belt)
2x Cleglaw's Pincers (Chain Gloves)
Soulflay (Claymore)
Doomslinger (Repeating Crossbow)
2x Berserker's Headgear (Helm)
Infernal Sign (Heavy Belt)
2x Wall Of The Eyeless (Bone Shield)
2x Sigon's Guard (Tower Shield)
Ichorsting (Crossbow)
2x Isenhart's Case (Breast Plate)
The Cat's Eye (Amulet)
2x Hellplague (Long Sword)
3x Venom Ward (Breast Plate)
Milabrega's Robe (Ancient Armor)
2x Cleglaw's Tooth (Long Sword)
2x The Battlebranch (Poleaxe)
2x Isenhart's Horns(Full Helm)
Hotspur (TC3 Boots!)
2x Bladebuckle (Plated Belt)
Hsaru's Iron Heel (Chain Boots)
The Grim Reaper (War Scythe)
Arctic Horn (Short War Bow)
2x Cathan's Mesh (Chain Mail)
2x Vidala's Fetlock (Light Plate Boots)
Cathan's Visage (Mask)
The Patriarch (Great Sword)
Sigon's Visor (Great Helm)
Berserker's Hauberk (Splint Mail)
Kinemil's Awl (Giant Sword)
Civerb's Icon (Amulet)
Civerb's Ward (Large Shield)
The Chieftain (Battle Axe)
Gravenspine (Bone Wand)
Isenhart's Parry (Gothic Shield)
2x Arcanna's Head (Skull Cap)
Iratha's Collar (Amulet)
The Tannr Gorerod (Pike)
Death's Guard (TC3 Sash!)
Stormstrike (Short Battle Bow)
Angelic Halo (Ring)
The Jade Tan Do (Kriss)
Hellclap (Short War Bow)
Hellcast (Heavy Crossbow)
Steelgoad (Voulge)
The Humongous (Giant Axe)
Soul Harvest (Scythe)
Boneflesh (Plate Mail)
Spectral Shard (Blade)
Stountnail (Spiked Club)
Cathan's Seal (Ring)
Darkglow (Ring Mail)
Angelic Wings (Amulet)

Runes​

6x El
2x Eld
6x Tir
Nef
Ith
Tal
2x Ral
Ort
Amn
Io

Exception Set and Unique Items Found​

M'avina's Tenet (Sharkskin Belt)
3x Hwanin's Refuge (Tigulated Mail)
Immortal King's Will (Avenger Guard)
Blackbog's Sharp (Cinquedeas)
Death Bit (Battle Dart)
Heart Carver (Rondel)
Sazabi's Mental Sheath (Basinet)
Coldkill (Hatchet)
Visceratuant (Defender)
Rite of Passage (Demonhide Boots)
2x Hwanin's Justice (Bill)
Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth (Mesh Belt)
Spineripper (Poignard)
2x Immortal King's Pillar (War Boots)
Homunculus (Hierophant Trophy)
Grim's Burning Dead (Grim Scythe)
Aldur's Stony Gaze (Hunter's Guise)
Lidless Wall (Grim Shield)
Blackhorn's Face (Death Mask)
Pus Spitter (Siege Crossbow)
M'avina's Icy Clutch (Battle Gauntlets)
Venom Grip (Demonhide Gloves)
Gravepalm (Sharkskin Gloves)
Witchwild String (Short Siege Bow)
Gerke's Sanctuary (Pavise)

Other Noteworthy Finds​

I also spent 5M gold on gambling.

20% Enhanced Damage rare jewel (see below)
1-96 Lightning Damage rare jewel (see below)
24% MF ring
+2 Shadow Disciplines Rare Amulet
Scintillating Ring of Precision (+12 Dex, +13% All Res)
Scintillating Ring (another +13% All Res!)
Lion Branded Grand Charm of Quality (+1 to Pal Combat Skills)
Rare Ring +68 AR, 3% mana leech, +10 Dex, +28% Cold Res, +20% Poison Res, +13% MF
Rare Circlet +2 Duid Summoning, +96 AR, +4 Str, +9 Life, +16% All Res, 3 MDR
Rare Ring +10 AR, +10 Enrg, +9 life, +23% Cold, +30% Lightning, 25% Poison Length

Top 5 Finds (My Choice)​

The Fifth Place: see here (TGod)
The Forth Place: see here (TR, found twice)
The Third Place: see here (Lance)
The Second Place: see here. See also “personal editionâ€. (Tucs)
The First Place: see here. See also “personal editionâ€. (Tucs)

Conclusion​

The chain of surprisingly lucky drops that was given this time not convinced me to go to Hell difficulty. I was still filling not ready for it. Any source of Crushing Blow was hiding from me. All of this forced me to try 1000 more runs in hope to find unique Gothic Plate, unique Light Plate Boots or set Winged Helm next time.

 

[Cormallon]

Uh, 1000 runs? Congrats

I just got an UM from NM hellforge, and I don't know what to do with it ... anything I can think of almost REQUIRES Goblin Toes to replace the CB from the Strength scepter I'm using now. Maybe I'm in for runs, too

 

[Billybgame]

Uh, 1000 runs? Congrats

I just got an UM from NM hellforge, and I don't know what to do with it ... anything I can think of almost REQUIRES Goblin Toes to replace the CB from the Strength scepter I'm using now. Maybe I'm in for runs, too

Agreed, sort of. I'd say more like condolences. Yikes, that would get boring and tedious.

But, I can understand, maybe necessary. I do runs, but nothing like that amount.