Single Skill Tree Tourney

[jiansonz]

We move along. Isolde´s killing speed has slowed down considerably, and it´s very obvious which enemies have lots of life (and in this case, combined with high physical resistance which can´t be lowered...) and which are not so sturdy. Still, we are rarely in danger so I am not complaining.

Skystrike still serves Isolde well, but she needs something bigger in late NM. Somewhere in act 3, Mark will reach the clvl (62) when there is 1/2 chance that a gambled rare Composite Bow will get high enough ilvl to support Cruel and Master´s. I may go for such a bow when the time comes.

I have special "valuable crap" stash where I store all items that are worth >30k gold. It has 79 such items at the moment!

Some nice shopping finds lately:
* 30/21 Cobalt Light Gauntlets of Fortune (is worn at the moment)
* 27/80 Garnet Heavy Belt of the Squid (also worn)
* 39 Amber Light Plated Boots of Acceleration (survival gear, saved in stash)

Now Mark has decent resists, and is approaching 500 life. Yay!

Since I find that Mark very rarely uses his Hexfire, I was on the hunt for some potential 6-socket weapon (Crystal Sword, Military Pick, War Axe, Dimensional Blade) to try the socketing recipe on. Then I found a 4-socket Long Sword, and decided to keep my precious runes. I am quite serious with the MFing here in NM. If Mark wants to help in the battles, he can still throw Deathbits to good effect.

Found a 2-socketed Knout that I kept, as well as a Crude Cutlass. I will use some sort of CB weapon againt Duriel. Feels good to have that part of the gear secured.

Character Names: Slayer Isolde (& Destroyer Mark)
Character Class: Fire Rogue (assisted by curses-only necro)
Character Levels: 56
Farthest Quest: Tainted Sun, NM
Farthest WP: Lost City, NM
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC
Total MF: +407% for Isolde´s kills, +293% otherwise


@Warrior of Light:
If we make it to Eldritch´s pack, I will make sure to say hello from you before we kill them. The ONE time we´ll kill them. Jeez...

 

[Cormallon]

Update:

Forumname: Cormallon
Character Name: Destroyer Mithuad
Character class: Paladin (offensive)
Character Level: 66
Farthest Quest: Prison of Ice
Farthest WP: Crystalline Passage
1.11b HC, no mods

I had my first NDE ... Thresh Socket amped me and his FE explosion almost finished Mithuad. The red bulb went from almost full to invisible. Ouch. What saved me were the lots of +life charms I was able to collect, Mithuad has 815 life this way. No Goblin Toe, of course... you never find what you actually need. Speaking of needs... my merc still does well with his savage poleaxe of the locust, but I guess I have to replace that some day. Shops sell cruel polearms, but not together with life leech yet. I'm looking forward for such a thingie... or for something to make an Honor runeword in.

For myself ... well, still that +3 Zeal 'Strength' scepter, works quite well. The base damage is low, but the CB (together with that from my blood gloves) is the main damage source here. If I ever get the runes for Passion I'll most likely switch to that. Lawbringer looks nice, too ... but requires RWM, so that is out for now. We'll see which runes drop, I don't have a LEM or a KO yet. Best would be Rattlecage (upped) or perhaps Duress, Goblin Toe, Passion, +3 offensive circlet / ammy. Lots of luck required

 

[Shadow Druid]

Forum Name: Shadow Druid
Character Name: Primal
Character Class: Druid
Character Level: 71
Last Quest: Baal (NM)
Last Waypoint: Worldstone Keep Level 2

Not much to say really, Ancients posed few problems while Baal went down after a few Grizzly recasts and merc revivals. He dropped Milabrega's Robes . I now have 11 skill points unspent and still don't feel the need for a vine or pumping Spirit Wolves.

@Warrior of Light: uh..congrats on getting through 1000 runs I guess

 

[Moar]

After getting no advice whatsoever I went ahead and used the cheapest alternative. I put 2 -req jewels into it and only spent 4 stat points.
The elemental damage helps against PI, but otherwise I don't do much more damage due to the loss in speed. I might have to reset my Mephy map and try to get a sensible bow out of him. I'm quite sure Diablo will be a challange too much with my current setup.

Now to the progress. I got up to the River of Flame WP and think that was it for now. Need to sleep about whether to go after Diablo or try to MF a bit first.
Izual had his shortest appearance ever! I was merily shooting at a Doom Caster boss that appeared together with Izzy while merc and valk stabbed Izzy and suddenly he made poof. Must have earned a prize for that as he left my 2nd Ravenfrost. Typical, I only get them when I don't need them...
Oh, no Burning Souls at all in A4!

Forum Name: Moar
Character Name: Conqueror Sheanna
Character Class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 79
Last Quest: Hellforge (H)
Last Waypoint: River of Flame (H)
Game Version: 1.11, HC

Got a Io from Hellforge.

 

[Mage11]

Another update, and this is a better one. DarkWind has defeated Duriel, and made her way into the jungles of Act 3.

No real troubles along the way, as she's getting a grip of using Cloak of Shadows. It's such a great spell for dealing with the annoying summoners in the Act 2 tombs and the flayers in the jungle.

Character Names: DarkWind
Character Class: Shadow Assassin
Character Levels: 26
Farthest Quest: Golden Bird, Normal
Farthest WP: Great Marsh, Normal
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC

 

[jiansonz]

Short update, as I only played the Palace yesterday. I found my first 4-socketed armor, a Full Plate, which I put two PTopazes in right away. Now Mark has as slow running speed as it can get in this game (without being chilled) but that´s OK here in NM. I am a rarely in a hurry. When I run in town, I make a weapon switch so the Tower Shield isn´t slowing me down.

Character Names: Slayer Isolde (& Destroyer Mark)
Character Class: Fire Rogue (assisted by curses-only necro)
Character Levels: 57
Farthest Quest: Tainted Sun, NM
Farthest WP: Palace Cellar level 1, NM
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC
Total MF: +421% for Isolde´s kills, +307% otherwise

 

[Cormallon]

Update:

Forumname: Cormallon
Character Name: Destroyer Mithuad
Character class: Paladin (offensive)
Character Level: 67
Farthest Quest: Betrayal of Harrogath
Farthest WP: Glacial Trail/Halls of Pain
1.11b HC, no mods

Mithuad did the Nihlatak quest... barely. I'm a bit stunned how hard these halls were, compared with the trail or passage. I did everything in NM at P5 without any problems (bosses, CS, Durance at P1) and I had to drop to P1 for the halls, too. It was the first place where the enemies were able to hit me that hard that I constantly ran out of potions and had to retreat at P5 because I couldn't kill them fast enough. I'm now in the frozen tundra area, up at P5 again and as easy as the other A5 areas again. This experience lets me worry about hell difficulty a bit, since my damage output will not be much better. My merc will have to handle that, therefore I'll have to do some power shopping / gambling or even runs. We'll see.

@Moar: great progress! Good luck for the last step towards Guardian :thumbsup:

@all: Any volunteer to update the table?

 

[SharnMes]

Update:

Forumname: SharnMes
Character Name: BringerOfDeath
Character class: Druid
Character Level: 45
Farthest Quest: Rescue of Cain NM
Farthest WP: Dark wood NM
1.11 HC, RWM

Forumname: Shadefallen
Character Name: LiveAndLetLive
Character class: Zon
Character Level: 45 (? not sure about her level...)
Farthest Quest: Rescue of Cain NM
Farthest WP: Dark wood NM
1.11 HC, RWM

We havent had any internet for 5 straight days now. Thats why no updates. Im posting this from my work. Sucks. On top of that I just spent an extra 45 minutes in a delayed train on my way to work. Im NOT happy.

 

[jiansonz]

Name:              Char Name:      Class:      Lvl: Farthest Quest:  Farthest WP:   Version:

Moar               Sheanna         Amazon      79   Hellforge(H)     River of Flame   1.11 HC
Randall            Nathan          Druid       67   Forgotten T.(H)  Black Marsh      1.11 RWM HC
Warrior of Light   Soledad         Assassin    72   Den of Evil(H)   Cold Plains      1.11 HC 
Shadow Druid       Primal          Druid       71   Eve of Destr.(N) Rogue Encampment 1.11 SC
Cormallon          Mithuad         Paladin     67   Nihlathak(N)     Glacial Trail    1.11b HC
jiansonz           Mark & Isolde   Necromancer 57   Tainted Sun(N)   Arcane Sanctuary 1.10 HC
Insane Wayne       Oberon	   Druid       56   Tainted Sun(N)   Lost City        1.10 HC
skunkbelly         Einbaum         Paladin     51   Radament(N)      Dry Hills        1.11 RWM
SharnMes	   BringerOfDeath  Druid       45   Cain(N)	     Dark Wood        1.11 RWM HC
Shadefallen        LiveAndLetLive  Amazon      45?  Cain(N)	     Dark Wood        1.11 HC
asdfgah            asdf_Lisa       Assassin    48   Countess(N)      Black Marsh      1.11 RWM HC   
azn_apocalypse     Mercurial       Sorceress    ?   Radament(N)      Sewers 2         ?
Immortal_Slayer    Thunderlia      Sorceress    ?   Eve of Destruct. Rogue Encampment 1.11 RWM HC
Delcor             Gwar            Barbarian   39   Prison of Ice    Glacial Trail    1.11 HC
corax              Impedimenta     Amazon      33   Siege of Harr.   Frigid Highlands 1.11 RWM HC
Shadow Druid       Tanky           Amazon      28   Golden Bird      Flayer Jungle    1.11 SC
Mage11             DarkWind        Assassin    26   Golden Bird      Great Marsh      1.10 HC 
Cattleya           Gabrielle       Amazon      28   Duriel           Kurast Docks     1.11 HC
Bradley_Turner     Hunted          Druid       24   Tainted Sun      Lost City        1.11 RWM RRM 
dandelano          beastmaster     Druid       22   Radament         Halls of Dead    1.11 SC
SkaMan             Beetlejuice     Druid       21   Radament         Far Oasis        1.11 RWM HC
Online             Sleepy          Necromancer 21   Radament         Halls 2          1.10 HC
Immortal_Slayer    Furion          Druid       20   Andariel         Lut Gholein      1.11 RWM HC 
Moar               Nemi            Assassin    18   Tools of Trade   Inner Cloister   1.11 HC
Humphrey           Shade           Assassin    16   Forgotten Tower  Black Marsh      1.11 RWM RRM HC
DX-Crawler         Dark_Ploppy     Assassin    16   Forgotten Tower  Black Marsh      1.11 RWM HC
Randy              Graven          Druid        6   Den of Evil      Cold Plains      ? HC
Duesnox            BurnInvested    Sorceress    1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 SC
Sint               Ogro            Barbarian    1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11
Immortal_Slayer    Valkyrie        Amazon       1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 RWM HC
OpethAZ            Manowar         Barbarian    1   -                Rogue Encampment ? 
Jake_b74           vinny           Druid        1   -                Rogue Encampment ?
ScarsOfTomorrow    Daysend         Druid        1   -                Rogue Encampment ?
asdfgah            asdf_Miri       Amazon       1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 RWM HC
asdfgah            asdf_iakThrakal Druid        1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 RWM HC
asdfgah            asdf_Sulmurz    Barbarian    1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 RWM HC
Billybgame         Summoner Druid  Druid        1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 RWM HC
Sir Lister Of Smeg Lord_Hong       Necromancer  1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Sir Lister Of Smeg Hrun            Barbarian    1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Sir Lister Of Smeg Eskarina        Sorceress    1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Sir Lister Of Smeg Belafon         Druid        1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Sir Lister Of Smeg Carrot          Paladin      1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Sir Lister Of Smeg Angua           Amazon       1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Sir Lister Of Smeg Conina          Assasin      1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
SVH		   CombatTwit	   Barbarian    1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Seramin            Seraph          Amazon       1   -                Rogue Encampmen  1.11 HC
Delcor		   OIC	           Paladin      1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 HC
Humphrey           Shade           Assassin     1   -                Rogue Encampment 1.11 SC 
ThInK		   Uther	   Druid	1   -                Rogue Encampment ?

Dead:
SharnMes           IllBeDeadSoon   Druid       76   Radament(H)      Dry Hills        1.11 HC
Shadefallen        LiveAndLetDie   Amazon      70   Countess(H)      Black Marsh      1.11 HC
Billybgame         Theshadowknows  Assassin    60   Golden Bird(N)   Lower Kurast     1.11 RWM HC
Moar               Grans           Druid       56   Arcane Sanct.(N) Canyon O' Magi   1.11 HC
Semarin            Savix           Assassin    56   Tainted Sun(N)   Lost City        RWM HC
Semarin            Semarin         Assassin    52   Radament(N)      Sewers           1.11 HC
Spludge            Belladonna      Assassin    49   Blood Raven(N)   Dark Wood        1.11 HC
Quickdeath         Lotus           Assassin    31   Fallen Angel     City of Damned   1.11 SC 
Delcor             Fax             Assassin    27   Duriel           Kurast Docks     1.11 HC
Billybgame         OffensivePal    Paladin     24   The Golden Bird  Spider Forest    1.11 RWM HC 
Billybgame         Fired Up        Sorceress   13   DEAD             DEAD             1.11 RWM HC

Withdrawn:
Rizzo              Miss_Nobular    Amazon      24   Summoner         Canyon o. Magi 1.10 HC

 

[Moar]

:clap:

"The Reign of Terror has ended" Sheanna mumbled while trying to rescue the part of her hair that wasn't burned and silently vowing to never ever set foot into that dreadful place again.

I never thought Sheanna would survive the fight against Diablo.
The CS was a hell. IM was frequently cast and merc and valk died to it a lot. It was safe for Sheanna though. The Infector of Souls was the only real danger before the big showdown.

The fight against Diablo was no fun at all. It went as I thought. Merc died at the first attack and Diablo ignored the Valk, do no chance to keep a safe distance there. I had to run around Diablo in narrow circles while he turned around to chase me with his lightening and hope the Valk could get some hits in. I got BPed 4 times, but managed to escape through a portal before Diablo could close in.
Scary stuff!

A5 seemed very easy compared with that. I got lucky and had only Imps and Enslaved in the Bloody Foothills. It was really a walk in the park.

I like the valk I have at the moment, so I'll probably play on a bit more tonight. Wish me luck!

Forumname: Moar
Character Name: Sheanna
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 80
Farthest Quest: Shenk (H)
Farthest WP: Frigid Highlands (H)
1.11 HC

 

[Billybgame]

:clap:

"The Reign of Terror has ended" Sheanna mumbled while trying to rescue the part of her hair that wasn't burned and silently vowing to never ever set foot into that dreadful place again.

I never thought Sheanna would survive the fight against Diablo.
The CS was a hell. IM was frequently cast and merc and valk died to it a lot. It was safe for Sheanna though. The Infector of Souls was the only real danger before the big showdown.

The fight against Diablo was no fun at all. It went as I thought. Merc died at the first attack and Diablo ignored the Valk, do no chance to keep a safe distance there. I had to run around Diablo in narrow circles while he turned around to chase me with his lightening and hope the Valk could get some hits in. I got BPed 4 times, but managed to escape through a portal before Diablo could close in.
Scary stuff!

A5 seemed very easy compared with that. I got lucky and had only Imps and Enslaved in the Bloody Foothills. It was really a walk in the park.

I like the valk I have at the moment, so I'll probably play on a bit more tonight. Wish me luck!

Forumname: Moar
Character Name: Sheanna
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 80
Farthest Quest: Shenk (H)
Farthest WP: Frigid Highlands (H)
1.11 HC

Glad to hear you still live, Moar.

But, your tale made me ponder something. What is the difference in my assassin portaling to safety, and anytime any one of us might do the same in a battle vs any act boss? I was just thinking about this yesterday. In retrospect, I maybe shouldn't have claimed a death due to my situation. I could have probably ran around the Kurast WP, and gotten to safety. I also could have cast my Shadow Master. Or cast a TP. I just saved and exited earlier, in somewhat of a panic, and thought it probably fell under the rule. I wouldn't say it was imminent death. If the boss had caught me, AND hit me, it might have been.

I can see the Save and Exit rule if you were surrounded, and out of pots, or something. That IS imminent death.

So, what I'm saying is, I don't see a lot of difference, really. I'm sure there are times others in this tourney have portalled vs Diablo, or Baal, or whenever.

I guess I'm thinking maybe my assassin should be allowed to carry on, ressurected, under the circumstances, and in retrospect. I was probably too harsh on myself, on second thought. I would like to appeal for mercy for TheShadowKnows.

 

[corax1]

The difference? easy. while you are casting a tp and then running to it you are still able to die. when you hit that little 'esc' key there goes all chances of death. big difference. however i am nice. therefore you can continue if you want too, but no prize stash for j00

Forumname: Corax
Character Name: Impedimenta
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 41
Farthest Quest: Anya
Farthest WP: Halls of something or other
1.11 HC RWM


made a new weapon. a strength war spear. less dmg but faster attack means kill speed is about the same but not having the -5 life replenish means i could swap my ammy for a +2 passive one.

 

[Billybgame]

The difference? easy. while you are casting a tp and then running to it you are still able to die. when you hit that little 'esc' key there goes all chances of death. big difference. however i am nice. therefore you can continue if you want too, but no prize stash for j00

Forumname: Corax
Character Name: Impedimenta
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 41
Farthest Quest: Anya
Farthest WP: Halls of something or other
1.11 HC RWM


made a new weapon. a strength war spear. less dmg but faster attack means kill speed is about the same but not having the -5 life replenish means i could swap my ammy for a +2 passive one.

Yeah, this was a mistake, on my part. Ironically, I'll say live and learn. I never, ever used Save and Exit, before. Until I started reading about it here! As such, I've lost HC characters. I wish I had never started considering it, because not being in a surrounded, no options but death, situation, I very well may have lived through it. But, I took the easiest way out. I am going to try to put this option out of my mind, from now on.

It is doubtful I would win, anyhow. I might see how high she can go, though.

 

[corax1]

just pry the esc button out of your keyboard

 

[Moar]

Last update for the day.

All went well. Got good monster mixes nearly everywhere so I got some progress....not as much as I wanted to though. Poisin Vipers down at Nilathak's and there is no way I fight them!
They have killed every char that tried to take even one and this is HC. No thanks, I try again tomorrow. The WP and stairs are not far off.

My plan was to see if I can take on Nilathak and if so, get the Ancient Way WP. Well, that didn't work out so I'm still in the Glacial Trail.

Forumname: Moar
Character Name: Conqueror Sheanna
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 81
Farthest Quest: Rescue Anya
Farthest WP: Glacial Trail/Halls of Pain (which one is last?)
1.11 HC

If you have any suggestions for the Ancients, please suggest away now. They are on tomorrows schedule and I have never been so far with a HC char yet. I need all the help I can get.

About that save and exit thing. How can a TP be the same?
I really don't get that and don't think TPing is a shame. Chickening out with save and exit is saving your char from certain death. If you are afraid of death, don't play HC.

(Yes, I am a bit upset that you consider me using a TP in a fight similar to save and exit.)

 

[Billybgame]

Last update for the day.

All went well. Got good monster mixes nearly everywhere so I got some progress....not as much as I wanted to though. Poisin Vipers down at Nilathak's and there is no way I fight them!
They have killed every char that tried to take even one and this is HC. No thanks, I try again tomorrow. The WP and stairs are not far off.

My plan was to see if I can take on Nilathak and if so, get the Ancient Way WP. Well, that didn't work out so I'm still in the Glacial Trail.

Forumname: Moar
Character Name: Conqueror Sheanna
Character class: Passive Zon
Character Level: 81
Farthest Quest: Rescue Anya
Farthest WP: Glacial Trail/Halls of Pain (which one is last?)
1.11 HC

If you have any suggestions for the Ancients, please suggest away now. They are on tomorrows schedule and I have never been so far with a HC char yet. I need all the help I can get.

About that save and exit thing. How can a TP be the same?
I really don't get that and don't think TPing is a shame. Chickening out with save and exit is saving your char from certain death. If you are afraid of death, don't play HC.

(Yes, I am a bit upset that you consider me using a TP in a fight similar to save and exit.)

Nah, don't be upset. I guess I'm just saying I should have TP'd. I could have, and should have. And, I still might be kicking in the tourney. I wasn't in a certain death situation, again. Close, but not certain. And, there's lots of those close calls in HC.

 

[Humphrey]

If you have any suggestions for the Ancients, please suggest away now. They are on tomorrows schedule and I have never been so far with a HC char yet. I need all the help I can get.

Fill your belt with full rejuvs. Drop a load of full rejuvs all over the ground (like as many as you can carry). This way, if you use all the ones in your belt, you can quickly pick up new ones and use those without having to go to your inventory. (I did this the last few times I fought them, but in fact I never did use all my belt potions up so it turned out I didn't need the ones on the ground. Better safe than sorry though).

 

[corax1]

dont die. best advice ever


summon your decoy right in front of madawc and hope he takes off before using his warcries. less HP for the ancients then.

Try to take down Korlic first. away from the others.

if you can get talic and madawc onto your valk and decoy then you and merc onto korlic. he is the least dangerous IMO.

 

[Mage11]

DarkWind has had enough of the jungle and is ready to head into Kurast. She had no troubles with the flayers, and didn't get any undead ones in the flayer dungeon.

Character Names: DarkWind
Character Class: Shadow Assassin
Character Level: 27
Farthest Quest: The Gidbinn, Normal
Farthest WP: Flayer Jungle, Normal
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC

 

[jiansonz]

Poisin Vipers down at Nilathak's and there is no way I fight them!
They have killed every char that tried to take even one and this is HC. No thanks, I try again tomorrow. The WP and stairs are not far off.

As long as you avoid these two situations, they are really not that bad:
* More than one viper firing at you when you are standing still.
* Running straight towards (into) a missile. This is what usually kills melee mercs.

Cast Decoy and Valkyrie to the side or past them, so that they fire their poison missiles away from you. As soon as the Vipers are occupied in melee, they hardly fire any missiles and are quite weak opponents. Use the corners wisely.

Another way is to fight them from far away, when they are hit by Slow Missiles. That will cut away most of the range of their missiles.

Best of all, make a Nadir helm, too. That´ll teach them...




Slow clearance of the Arcane Sanctuary yesterday. Isolde is very glad she has a good tank with her. Makes for a lot less running than when her previous incarnation was fighting for Mike (the 1.09 no-DEX mojomancer).

Dim Vision is bad against the Specters, because they will move around a bit, aimlessly, which often takes them out in the "void". As you probably know, the biggest challenge in the AS is to make sure all the Specters are above ground when you kill them. Otherwise, you lose out on items and as a player who don´t repeat anything, I hate when that happens (especially since the Specters are better than the average monster to drop "misc. good" items). Best way to handle them was to have Mark tank and Decrepify them.
I am pleased with the result: only missed out on one potential drop.

The valley and the seven tombs can get interesting. Looking forward to that.

Character Names: Slayer Isolde (& Destroyer Mark)
Character Class: Fire Rogue (assisted by curses-only necro)
Character Levels: 58
Farthest Quest: The Summoner, NM
Farthest WP: Canyon of the Magi, NM
Game Version: 'vanilla' 1.10 HC
Total MF: +421% for Isolde´s kills, +307% otherwise