Skill-less tournament (3rd edition)

dat life doe. Why so low for max?

Yeah. I have invested in Strength and Dexterity to be able to equip most any item that comes along and to have around 55% blocking. Plus, I am running pretty much full MF and have very little in the way of +life. If I make it to Hell, I am going to be boosting this life total.
 
Nice going guys.

Watching your logs really made me want to play as well. However I am new to artificial restrictions, single player or any modifications to the game.

Could someone point me towards a newbie faq or answer a few minor questions? Then I could start my own quest using the tournament rules. :)

(I have tried to read around, but I assume I might miss/missunderstand something important)

Would this setup provide me with all I need?
Diablo 2 LoD 1.13c + *UNACCEPTED MOD*. And then create my character as a Single Player HC character.
/Player8 when I want (should probably be default for normal and nightmare)

rwm = as in drop ladder only items and allow ladder runewords. Does 1.13c + PlugY do this? (I picked Plugy because it was easy to use and install. Tried installing ATMA but it was kinda hard to use).

Edit: only now noticed that this post might be a tad off topic... I am asking in this thread because I want to use the same setup as the other players in this tournament, however I can post my question as a separate thread if mod wants me to. Sorry :oops:
 
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Hi illya_,

The spirit of these tournaments is to play the game as it is normally played, with help from extended stash in whatever form you feel comfortable with. In many tourneys (this one included) it is also allowed to use RWM as a means to access all game rune words in Single Player mode. This tournament is also Hardcore so characters should exit at first death. However, being a difficult tourney, people might want to use Softcore as mode of play. They still exit at first death, but the character can be then used to build whatever build they want with all those unspent skill-points.

If you choose to enter this, your updates will be very much welcomed :).
 
Hi epaminondas

You can consider assassin Maxell having joined your quest against evil! (I know the name sounds manly, but I picked it before randomizing...)

She plays on 1.13c (for now at least, If I need to downgrade to 1.13 I might have to remake her (unless I can just transfer the save file)).

The only technical issue I have now, is that I do not know if RWM is enabled (as I wrote, I am using 1.13c + PlugY). Anyone know a way to check? I think I might need some runewords later on in the game..
 
Well, I'm playing 1.11, so I'm not sure if this still applies, but you should see a subdirectory in Diablo II folder named Runewords. Also the game should start in that directory with options '-direct' and '-txt'.

You're added to the table, welcome to the tourney :).
 
@SunsetVista: You're probably referring to something other than RWM. PlugY, perhaps?

Edit: I just checked what *UNACCEPTED MOD* means. I'm sorry I didn't earlier, it seems an entirely overpowered mod. It can't be allowed in this tourney as it changes gameplay significantly. So @illya_ , you need to uninstall it if you want to experience the game like the rest of us.
 
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@illya_: The RWM makes it possible to make the b.net specific v1.10 runewords in Single Player (Insight, Spirit, Harmony, Obedience, etc). Ladder-only items can drop in SP anyway, so no change there.



As for Helena:
Temple Success!!
(that's always a milestone) :)

But let's begin in Swampy Pit, where I had to deal with a deceptive dirt bomb:
HelenaH19BileHawk_zpse9a9e271.jpg

I do not even want to think about the damage it could do if you are next to it (and Amped!) when it dies!

And on the second floor, early Champion Gloams. Those were tough for Meghan, and there was one time when we were pushed back to the very start, and to prevent more lightning streams, Helena did some tanking:
HelenaH20gloams_zpse5dbcdca.jpg


LK was a breeze (as usual).

There was an unexpected drop in the Bazaar:
HelenaH21sash_zps38d19daf.jpg


Four of the six temples were entered on players 1. The exceptions were the two in Upper Kurast where I instead entered with a small army (3-4 of them) of Revived Thrashers. I took some screenies but they came out pretty lame, so I won't show them.

Ruined Temple had a Night Lord boss pack as stairs trap. I dashed into a small side room, kicked away some Wailing Beasts to be able to enter the inner room, then set up a base there with a TP.

4-pack of Heirophant Champs (one Possessed) on the Causeway. Same knockback tactics as in NM was used, but now I did not need any special Bear/Bashing weapon, because my main claw has Dragon Tail.

The last temple also had a stairs trap:
HelenaH22beetlestairstrap_zps7aeb9331.jpg

Thankfully, players 1 beetles are easy to kill for Meghan.

Recent finds:
- Que-Hegan's Wisdom (not useful for this character)
- Fal rune
- Io rune (which means I can make a Black Knout)

Helena can smell the lead now. She has probably already seen the spot where Yredelemnul was killed.


[Highlight]Conqueror Helena the Assassin and Meghan the Cold sister, level 84, Hell Travincal next[/highlight]
 
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Hello all, Just joined the site, been lurking a while, found out about it from Daz actually from slashdiablo... Anyway this isn't the place for intros and first posts, but I want in the action, I have been following this thread and I want to try it out... Never done a tournament before, so this is a lot of firsts for me!

Meridian the Paladin Joins the quest. Chosen randomly by a series of coin tosses:
Heads for Male Tales for Female - Heads
Heads for Caster Tails for Melee - Tails (just to be clear i classified druids and necros as casters for the sake this)
Heads for Barb Tails for Paladin - Tails

So that's maybe semi-random? or random... I dunno all I know is I'm kind of random... If you couldn't tell from the strange way I chose a class.....

Anyway Without further ado... TO THE BLOOD MORE CHAAARRGGGGGEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You're added to the table, welcome to the tourney :).

@illya_ - First, welcome! Second, that mod you mentioned isn't allowed on this forum. Other than that, good luck with your assassin!

Here's some forum rules:
http://www.purediablo.com/forums/threads/game-changes-help-thread-inc-atma-gomule.849306/

and here's a nice guide about getting started in single pass/hc play:
http://www.purediablo.com/forums/threads/a-guide-to-untwinked-single-pass-hc-play-v0-2.660255/

@SunsetVistaEdit: I just checked what PlugY means. I'm sorry I didn't earlier, it seems an entirely overpowered mod. It can't be allowed in this tourney as it changes gameplay significantly. So @illya_ , you need to uninstall it if you want to experience the game like the rest of us.

Thanks for the quick help guys. :) Will reinstall and remake the character now.

Edit: Level 12, will start with stony field tomorrow. Maybe it was a good thing I had to reinstall diablo 2, since this time cave level 2 game me this little gem:
Screenshot002_zps5ebc8af2.jpg
 
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Awesome... Just cleared the blood moor reached level 5, gotta go get a Christmas tree now, but when i return I shall conquer the Den Of Evil!!!

I'm so glad someone from Slashdiablo could join us! Best of luck with your paladin :) This tournament requires patience, audacity, and planning, but as you can see, people have found success!

Vladimir is still level 65. We'll progress a bit further tonight. I had Outer Steppes about 75% cleared when an updated caused my computer to restart. Curses! I'll just have to do my best to not get extra kills. I have a pretty good idea about what I still have to clear.

NM Izual next. He'll be taken on P8, which will take FOREVER, but his damage is pretty pathetic. I'll take a few thawing potions just in case.
 
So time to call it a night... Got the Den Clear, also finished off cold plains, blood raven, mausoleum, crypt and the cave. Coldcrow was a real pain in the a$$ due to the being constantly frozen by her(him?) and her(his?) minions (did this before i got merc). Finally i cleared the Stony Field, so tomorrow it's off to the underground passage. Ended up at Level 12. Found like 20 chipped gems already... Its early in the game, but I am really enjoying actually playing in a pure sense, and seeing everything. Honestly I think this is the first time I have ever even been in the cave in Cold Plains. Pretty happy to have found this.
 
@Dazliare - Nice progress, shame about the crash. Good luck with Izual and Diablo!

@michajo2k - welcome to the forums and welcome to the tournament! Good luck!

Helena can smell the lead now. She has probably already seen the spot where Yredelemnul was killed.

Ah, so you've got the Trav waypoint then? Be very careful if you decide to clear Trav starting from it. Wouldn't want the same thing to happen to you that happened to me!

I'm so glad that /p1 beetles are easy for Meghan to kill. =)
 
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Ah, so you've got the Trav waypoint then? Be very careful if you decide to clear Trav starting from it. Wouldn't want the same thing to happen to you that happened to me!

Yeah, I'll be careful. Although I have never died (in HC) in Travincal (knock on wood).

I'm so glad that /p1 beetles are easy for Meghan to kill. =)

The screenie doesn't tell the whole story. I actually felt the need to flee out shorty afterwards. Didn't want to take any chances, especially since this was the last temple and I'd had some wine so my reflexes were not optimal.
I boosted cold resist with potions (it's only 35 without) and healed the curse. When I returned, the boss was so hurt that my initial Dragon Tail (intended to give us some space) killed it. :)


And good luck to the new players! :thumbsup:
 
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Ah, progress and new participants, the ingredients for a new table post :).

Code:
Alive characters:
Forum Name      Class       Char Name    LVL   ACT     WP             Version
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
jiansonz         Assassin   Helena        84   A3(H)   Upper Kurast      1.13
Sput             Sorc       Skilllass     70   A5(N)   Glacial Trail
Dazliare        *Barb       Vladimir      65   A4(N)   Pandemonium Frt
japanzaman       Barb       Babs          57?  A3(N)   Travincal         1.13
Dezrok           Necro      Unlikely      62   A3(N)   Kurast Bazaar     1.13d
michajo2k       *Paladin    Meridian      12   A1      Stony Field        
illya_          *Assassin   Maxell        12   A1      Cold Plains       1.13c
imakeigloospat   Druid      Glenn          1   A1      Rogue Enc         1.13d
xXxGrimmxXx      Amazon     WaffleStrike   1   A1      Rogue Enc         1.13d
Atroz           *Assassin   ?              1   A1      Rogue Enc
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dead ones:
Forum Name      Class       Char Name    LVL   ACT     Place of Deeds  Version
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SunsetVista      Necro      Yredelemnul   81   A3(H)   Travincal        1.13
HanShotFirst  ***Sorc       Two           86   A3(H)   Flayer Jungle        
felixbavaria    *Paladin    Incompetentus 72   A5(N)   WSK 1            1.13d
epaminondas     *Assassin   Adriana       56   A2(N)   Palace Lvl 2     1.11
Southpaw8668    *Paladin    Lucious      >19   A2      Duriel           1.13
xXxGrimmxXx    **Druid      Roland      >=17   A1      Monastery        1.13d
Southpaw8668     Necro      Goulash       14   A1      retired          1.13
xXxGrimmxXx    **Assassin   Noctyria       9   A1      Cave Lvl 1       1.13d
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:
*  = this class has been randomly chosen
** = this class has been somewhat randomly chosen
*** = this character needed a random decision that it would not be random :)
 
No real danger in Travincal. What was weird is that there were no random bosses at all.
There were some dense Heirophant packs, though, with four of them very close together in two spots. Cloak of Shadows works great against them, especially since Meghan can usually kill a Heirophant during the 9 seconds it lasts (so the other ones won't get a chance to heal it).

Durance 1 was much more boss infested - four Dark Lord boss packs and two Cadavers. Durance 2 had only a Champ pack of Undead Stygian Dolls. I ran away from them quickly so I could get to fight one at a time.

Sparky's Hydras just pulverized Meghan a couple of times. I think they do bonus damage to mercs. To get the upper hand in the fight, I spammed DTails:
HelenaH23Sparky_zpsb2571945.jpg


All three Council bosses on Durance 3 had Stone Skin and were PI. After Sparky and two minions were killed, I had to deal with a real 'piece of work' nest of Blood Lords in the main room: two boss packs, two Champs, a Fanatic and a regular pack.

As for Mephisto, I set him up with the moat trick as usual, and Helena joined the archery:
HelenaH25Mephisto_zpseaf3e14f.jpg

After 1050 arrows, we had him down to 40%. I switched to my shield and let Meghan finish him off, while I checked the runeword lists for what I can do with my current rune collection. Forgot my MF gear again. Drop included Wormskull and some unintersting item types (e.g. two axes, Sharktooth Armor).

Recent finds:
HelenaH24bossdrop_zpscbc07d77.jpg

(from a Blood Lord boss)
- Ist rune (from the Council)
- Immortal King's Stone Crusher (from the Council)

I can make Delirium if I want to. Interesting stats, but I think I'll pass for now. I am a noob with Attract anyway.

I am a bit tempted to put the Ohm in Riphook, but I have also figured out that with a Shael there instead and a Fervor jewel in Meghan's headgear, she will reach the final IAS breakpoint. With luck, I can get two sockets in the Static Circlet, where the second could take either a rare jewel (24% ED and 9% resist all) or a +15 Jewel of Carnage. Need to calculate what makes for the best damage improvement.


[Highlight]Conqueror Helena the Assassin and Meghan the Cold sister, level 84, Hell Pandemonium Fortress[/highlight]
 
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