Single Skill Tree Tourney

Forum Name: Shadow Druid
Character Name: Primal
Character Class: Hunter Druid
Character Level: 54
Last Quest: Assembled Horadric Staff/Viper Temple
Last Waypoint: Far Oasis (damn, must have missed Lost City, will have to go back)

Skills:
Heart of Wolverine 20 (22)
Summon Dire Wolf 20 (23)
Summon Grizzly 12 (14)
Summon Spirit Wolf 5
Raven, Oak Sage 1

MF when questing: 101%

I've had a bit of trouble recently with bursting into a room and getting swamped by monsters rather than having my wolves control the mob. This mainly stems from my not wanting to recast my wolves since I switch out my +skills gear after I summon them.

I seem to be finding a lot more sets and uniques than I usually do, recent finds are: Frostburns, Bloodfist, Isenhart's Case, Griswold's Edge and Isenhart's Parry.

I currently have 3 perfect Topazes sitting in my stash, I have an MF itch I want to scratch :lol:

Here are the items I'm currently using:Crow Caw
Tigulated Mail
Defense: 504
+15 to Dexterity
+164% Enhanced Defense
15% Increased Attack Speed
15% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Open Wounds

Sigon's Wrap
Plated Belt
Defense: 118
+20 to Life
Fire Resist +20%

Glowing Gauntlets of Fortune
Defense: 15
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Light Radius

Ruby Light Plated Boots of Fortune
Defense: 10
Fire Resist +40%
20% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Rune Hold
Ring
+2 to Energy
+8 to Maximum Stamina
+100 to Attack Rating
Damage Reduced by 1
Fire Resist +30%

Ring of Fortune
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Fine Grand Charm of Shock
+22 to Attack Rating
+6 to Maximum Damage
Adds 1-3 lightning damage

Duskdeep
Full Helm
Defense: 55
+39% Enhanced Defense
+8 to Maximum Damage
+18 Defense
Damage Reduced by 7
All Resistances +15
-2 to Light Radius

Amulet of Luck
33% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Gemmed Cedar Bow
'OrtRalOrt'
Two-Hand Damage: 10 to 42
Fingerprint: 0x1b159cb1
+13 to Maximum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
Adds 2-100 lightning damage
Socketed (4: 4 used)

+a few other charms not worth mentioning.
 
Shadow Druid said:
This mainly stems from my not wanting to recast my wolves since I switch out my +skills gear after I summon them.

You do know that pre-buffing wolves/grizzly is different as prebuffing other summons like skeletons, valk, ....

From the druid hunter guide:
"To summarise then, the three passive-bonus summons only seem to retain their passive bonus at the pre-buffed level and not the damage/life associated with the higher summon level."

For the full info:
http://www.purediablo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212232
And search for the topic: "Pre-buffing Summons"

-----

What MF do I have ?

As for my MF, I had a bit more than 200% for a short time during Act V (with gull), but after removing the gull for a usable weapon and switching amulet/gloves for better resistance it's now down to around 60%-80% MF. (And unless I find +res/+skills gear with mf, it will be lower upon entering the more tough area's of NM or Hell)

Randall
 
azn_apocalypse said:
Weird, WoL. I think we have the exact same amount of MF, even though our equipment is very different. Mercurial has not been lucky with her gem drops and has never even seen a flawless topaz yet, and only a few standard ones. Same goes for 4s armor, which I haven't come across.
There is nothing weird in it. Just go to NM Cold Plains at /players7 and spend some time hunting for Gothic/Full Plates and flawless gems. After 10-20 hours of such playing I found tons of different gems, few gem shrines and several armors including one with 4 sockets. Now I’m thinking about hunting for 3 socketed helm in WSK (only mlvl40+ monster can drop it).
 
When I read about all the 'running' of different kinds (items, XP) WoL is doing, I am torn between applauding the dedication (lots of riches, nice possibilies) and condemning the exploiting of the game (the monsters in those areas are DEAD, move on dammit!). Killing a superunique even a second time would totally ruin my immersion in the game.

But I respect those who have the ability to decide where to play and 'run', and what to skip. My brain couldn´t handle all those possibilities...


Warrior of Light said:
Now I’m thinking about hunting for 3 socketed helm in WSK (only mlvl40+ monster can drop it).

That, I can help you with. Shop Larzuk for an Artisan´s Great Helm (at clvl 39+) and hope for one with a good suffix.




EDIT: A different subject: In my ATMA stash I have two kinds of items:
* stuff that are worth >25k gold each (to be sold in later difficulities)
* Items that can/will be useful later (tons of chippies, some set pieces, resist jewelry, etc.)

I have not yet found anything that I have kept for prize stash purposes only, which may seem weird to you. Then again, I have no experience looking out for stuff that will be useful for twinked characters. I have no idea what is valued and what is not, how important clvl requirements are, etc.
I will make an effort to look at potentially interesting items one more time before I sell them, from now on.
 
jiansonz said:
When I read about all the 'running' of different kinds (items, XP) WoL is doing, I am torn between applauding the dedication (lots of riches, nice possibilies) and condemning the exploiting of the game (the monsters in those areas are DEAD, move on dammit!). Killing a superunique even a second time would totally ruin my immersion in the game.
Yes, my style is re-running monsters, especially caws back in 1.09. I’m teh powergamer and munchkin.
I always wonder how you or Æ can resist rerunning. I tried it only once in All Alone tourney. It is too hard for my modest skills.
jiansonz said:
That, I can help you with. Shop Larzuk for an Artisan´s Great Helm (at clvl 39+) and hope for one with a good suffix.
Hm. I calculated that only level 47+ Crowns may have Artisan's prefix thus unavailable for Normal difficulty. Never thought that Grand Helms have lower quality level. I even gambled several masks without luck. Thanks!
 
jiansonz said:
the monsters in those areas are DEAD, move on dammit!.

Welcome to the new and digital world. Since the invention of these things called computer, we can restart and repeat things. ;)
Actually, if you are using MS windows you get well trained in restart/reboot :p

I never have the time to play it in once anyway, I'm lucky when I have more than 1 hour in one session. With tournaments like these I play most regions just once, it's only on a few points where I rerun for more exp, specific items (countess for runes for example or a bit of more experience before the next difficulty).

As for prize stash items. It's not easy to say what people like for prize, as most people are looking for something different.

Personally I am not interested in a prize stash at all, not that it matters with my "low" chances anyway.

Randall
 
Randall said:
Sorry to read about the deaths, Belladonna & LiveAndLetDie.

@Shadefallen: is Level 70 not a bit low for Hell Memph ? (or even low for Act 1 Hell, you get a really bad AR due to this low level)

Sharn and I had Black marsh (Hell) as our farthest waypoint... I was doing NM runs.. Meph and Baal.. For some levels and for items, before proceeding in hell..

It sucked so much.. had no problems running Meph at all and then I get stuck in the middle of strygians and I could not get free of them and I could not heal fast enough.. :(
 
Jiansonz said:
When I read about all the 'running' of different kinds (items, XP) WoL is doing, I am torn between applauding the dedication (lots of riches, nice possibilies) and condemning the exploiting of the game (the monsters in those areas are DEAD, move on dammit!). Killing a superunique even a second time would totally ruin my immersion in the game.

Well, while questing and in tournaments I usually don't rerun anything. Maybe that's why I don't care much for MF equip :D Chances are rather low to find useful set/uniques, and rares ... really good ones are RARE. Gambling sounds more profitable here, and some cube recipes... I only have to remember these while playing :rolleyes:
 
"Progress" report....

Forum name: SharnMes
Char name: IllBeDeadSoon
Level 71
WP: Hell Black Marsh
Quest: Hell Countess
1.11 No RWM, HC

Notable finds:

Skulders :clap:
The Atlantean :)

I hate running Baal without decripfy :( I would give almost anytning away for any item with this spell on it... And id wish I coul summon 5 grizzlies at once! :D
 
Having a blast playing my Zon.

Forum name: Moar
Char name: Sheanna
Level 48 (Ithink)
WP: Black Marsh
Quest: Countess
1.11, HC

I found an Endlesshail in A5, so I'm back to using a bow. Better than any 1-handed weapon I ever found/made.
The Valk is nearly maxed and can't be killed. She can tank a MS Archer Pack without taking a dent. I am impressed!

Found this on the way to the countess:

Eagle Hood
Circlet
Defense: 23
Durability: 69 of 105
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 38
Fingerprint: 0xfcc52e01
+82 to Attack Rating
37% Extra Gold from Monsters
+1 to Druid Skill Levels
Level 1 Holy Bolt (9/22 Charges)
1% Bonus to Attack Rating (Based on Character Level)!!!

Firs time I've seen the last mod on Circlets. Why can't it have +1 to Amazon Skills and resists with it? So sad. :(

Going to do some countess runs for a level or two and maybe some nice runes. And I urgently need better gear!
 
Cormallon said:
Well, while questing and in tournaments I usually don't rerun anything. Maybe that's why I don't care much for MF equip :D Chances are rather low to find useful set/uniques, and rares ... really good ones are RARE. Gambling sounds more profitable here, and some cube recipes... I only have to remember these while playing :rolleyes:

I don´t get that, really. Since I kill every boss only once, I have all the more reason to maximize MF (within reason, I still want to survuive!) as I see it. Otherwise I could just run a particular boss x more times, right?

Going through entire Nightmare difficulty wearing 300-400% MF will almost guarantee you something useful. That´s thousands upon thousands of monsters and containers with a raised chance of higher quality items. It has to be better to have 65 uniques to choose from than to have 30, right?

Gambling is profitable. That´s the best chance to get good rares. Looking back on other tournaments, most of my end-game items have been gambled. But the amount of MF I wear is tied to the gambling as well. More MF means that more rares and more magical items will drop, which in turn means more gambling money. Remember that my resources are limited.




Short update:
Even though our killing speed isn´t exactly tremendous, we still dominate. Most interesting situations were the Champ packs that guarded the entrances to the icy river areas; one with Frenzytaurs and one with Abominables. :eek: Those are some nasty buggers when they come in packs, especially the bullheads. Mark does not want to tank more than one of them at a time.

I can´t use "behaviour" curses on champs. However, enough secured space on the areas meant I could use another method to separate them. Cast Decrepify on all champs except one, then lure that one out of sight of the others. Decrep and tank it. Repeat method until only one is left.

Character Names: Isolde (& Mark)
Character Class: Fire Rogue (assisted by curses-only necro)
Character Levels: 43
Farthest Quest: Prison of Ice
Farthest WP: Glacial Trail
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC
Total MF: +249% for Isolde´s kills, +178% otherwise

Mark, one more topaz (flawed or higher) and you are doomed to be badly dressed for a loooong time. It´s waiting...

Artisan's Great Helm
Defense: 33
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Strength: 63
Required Level: 25
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Socketed (3: 1 used)
 
Forum Name: Shadow Druid
Character Name: Primal
Character Class: Druid
Character Level: 58
Last Quest: Golden Bird
Last Waypoint: Spider Forest

Primal is still steadily advancing through Nightmare although he's had more than a few NDE's mainly due to my less-than-cautious approach. I have started switching out some of his MF gear in favour of better survival/killing gear as I realised that I'm one of the most advanced survivors left - hell, I might even have a shot at winning this thing :eek:

Finds since last update: another pair of Sander's Gloves, Thul and Sol Runes, Bladebone, Steelgoad, The Chieftan.

Duriel was a breeze thanks to that oh-so-handy Decrepify from my Spellsteal, my biggest challenge came in one of the false tombs where in one narrow corridor and the small room it led to there were no less than 4 boss packs as well as a champion pack :eek:

2 Gorebelly Bosspacks (one was extra fast), 2 Ghoul Lord Bosspacks and a Champion/possessed/Ghostly Ghoul Lord pack too! I was just lucky none of them were aura enchanted or I would have been doomed! As it was, my merc, wolves spirit and I were all completely surrounded by Gorebellies while being assaulted by numerous firewalls and fireballs from the Ghoul Lords, scary stuff! Eventually after several resummons my merc and wolves managed to come to my rescue and we escaped with our lives.
 
Made my first investigation into how I would fare in NM. So far, so good, even on p7. Not even any NDE's, even though I met three boss packs, very close together in the Crypt. Got to love the Cloak. Had to revive the merc there, but we made it through, fairly well.

Didn't find a heck of a lot. Got a Wizendraw bow in the Den. Did like that green ammy I got in the Mauseleum's treasure chest. Tancreds. Now, if I can just find any other Tancred's, besides the pick. Heck, even two more. Then, I'll have me some MF. Been running with 103%, for awhile. The resists are mighty low, though. Hence, the investigation mode.

Had to rush to work, so I didn't get to copy the ATMA stats for quite a Sorc circlet I gambled. +2 fire skills, and good resists to each, etc. Real nice.

Forum Name: Billybgame
Char Name: Destroyer TheShadowKnows
Character Class: Assassin
Level 47
Farthest Quest: Cain(N)
Farthest WP: Dark Wood
Game Version: 1.11 RWM HC
 
A small update. DarkWind has defeated Radament, and is preparing herself to head into the desert. Of course, wearing tight fitting black leathers is probably a poor idea, but she likes the way it looks.

Forum name: Mage11
Char name: DarkWind
Level 19
WP: Sewers 2
Quest: Radament
1.10 vanilla, HC
 
Forum Name - Delcor
Character Name - Gwar
Character Class - Barbarian
Level - 26
Furthest Waypoint - Canyon o. Magi
Furthest Quest - False Summoner

Did a whole lot of gambling and not a thing to show for it.
 
jiansonz said:
I don´t get that, really. Since I kill every boss only once, I have all the more reason to maximize MF (within reason, I still want to survuive!) as I see it. Otherwise I could just run a particular boss x more times, right?

Going through entire Nightmare difficulty wearing 300-400% MF will almost guarantee you something useful. That´s thousands upon thousands of monsters and containers with a raised chance of higher quality items. It has to be better to have 65 uniques to choose from than to have 30, right?

Of course you get more items. Granted. But I have a different situation here. The build is fixed, and the type of mods that are useful follows the build. Now look at the potentially available set/uniques that have these mods. These are few. Chances are rather low to find a good combo when you don't do runs and don't twink. I learned a lot in the blue tournament about equipment choices, I had almost max res in hell as well as good damage and blocking, and had a lot of options to shuffle equipment to optimize wanted mods. Well, after all it is a question of play style ;)

My current build here would profit greatly from Guillaumes face, Goblin Toe, HoZ of course. A SOJ or two would surely help, too. Other uniques / sets ... hmm, I really don't know any I couldn't replace by blues / yellows AND that have a decent chance to drop. These may be not perfect but are much more easy to get. And then there are runewords. I'm making a 'Strength' as soon as I'll get an AMN, and this will happen long before a Face or Goblin Toe will appear, no matter how many MF I have. Blues and Yellows depend on MF, too, of course. They just don't need that much.

Again, for my style of playing I don't miss the high MF ;)
 
Just a little bit of time, one lvl up and Radement down. One notable effect was, that a cold explosion hit me while I had -6 cold res. It took a major blow out of my health. I quickly replaced a bit of gear to bring my cold res to the positive side.

I really need to switch/change gear in a better way to solve this if I want to enter hell. Luckely I have a bit of time to do so, for most NM stuff it will be enough or easely adapted to the situation.

Currently I have cleclaws for shield/gloves which is nice for knockback, slow and good AR boost. It lack's good resistances, the combination gives 15% (no PDiamond in the shield yet).

Destroyer Nathan, lvl 48, Act II NM
Quest: Radament's Lair
WP: Dry Hills / Halls of the Dead 2

Randall
 
Forum Name: Shadow Druid
Character Name: Primal
Character Class: Hunter Druid
Character Level: 60
Last Quest: Blade of the Old Religion (NM)
Last Waypoint: Flayer Jungle (NM)

V1.11, No mods, Softcore
 
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