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SPF Quest for Guardians in Progress thread

I suppose I should chime in with an update (or, rather, non-update) on my HC characters. Basically just to add them to the table :)

yuffie the Blade Fury Assassin has made it as far as the Far Oasis in Hell, and seymour the Summoning Druid is ready to tackle the Arcane Sanctuary in Hell. I haven't done much with either character since the Random Tournament started--but at least they are still alive!

Questions about the table: UT is untwinked, correct? And I am assuming SP is single pass. But I have no clue about E/S and S/U

Completed Guardians

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level      Date          UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----     ----------     ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
lizard           Hyman            Druid  Guardian          82        2022-03-16     Yes  Yes  No   223   D2L
HanShotFirst     Mordred          Necro  Guardian          87        2022-05-11     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
abridged         sanity           Sorc   Guardian          94        2022-11-01     No   Yes  No   ?     D2R
Vang             Axer             Pal    Guardian          83        2022-07-17     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
Vang             Annihilation     Druid  Guardian          81        2022-08-13     No   Yes  No   -     D2R
lizard           Deanna           Amazon Guardian          86        2022-08-21     No   Yes  No   -     D2L


Questing Heroes

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP           Level      Date             UT   E/S  SP   S/U     Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------       -----  ----------          ---  ---  ---  ----    -------
abridged         lars             Barb   Lut Gholein  NM        47     2022-05-22          Yes  Yes  No   -       D2R
Oblivious        Sgillvarl        Barb   Lut Gholein            20     2022-09-07          Yes  Yes  Yes  4       D2R
BBS_Agonistes    Eegan            Barb   River of Flame         33     2022-10-06          Yes  Yes  Yes  -       D2R
little birdy     yuffie           Asn    Far Oasis Hell         72     2022-10-06          Yes  ???  No   -       D2R
little birdy     seymour          Druid  Arcane Sanc. Hell      69     2022-10-06          No   ???  No   -       D2R


The Fallen

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level  Date       UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----  ---------- ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
abridged         persistence      Barb   Durance of Hate   23     Apr22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         druid            Druid  Flayer Jungle H   80     Oct22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         vanilla          Sorc   RoF NM            55     Nov22      No   Yes  No   -     D2R
Vang             Chains           Sorc   Lut Gholein H     76     Aug22      Yes                  D2R
Vang             Ravage           Druid  Kurast Docks  N   26     22-08-09   No   Yes  No   -     D2R
 
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Ah, my guy isn't single pass... I naively thought that meant SP offline... I also wasn't sure on those other two. I will correct it with my next update.
 
I got a tad bored with some projects in SC and went ahead and beat Normal with my Frenzy Barb, Eegan. Everything is going well so far. I'm finding I just need a very different playstyle from SC to be happy with things. Patient full clears of areas on P8 are serving me well. Somewhere I read someone's comment that full clears were a lot safer because the way you came was cleared, and I had never thought about it that way, but it's been a gamechanger.

I beat Normal Baal at level 44, but am doing full clears of the WSK and Throne of Destruction before continuing on to Nightmare.

I'm a bit antsy to get to NM Countess and hopefully farm some useful RWs like Insight, Honor, Black, Smoke, etc. (I think NM Countess can drop runes for all of those sooner or later.) Right now my MF is pretty good but I haven't found much that can work for this character. "Steel" and a TalTalTal sword along with blues, yellows, and Ptopazes in sockets are keeping me going in the meantime.

Curious: do you guys have targets for what level a character should be before moving on to NM and then Hell?

Completed Guardians

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level      Date          UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----     ----------     ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
lizard           Hyman            Druid  Guardian          82        2022-03-16     Yes  Yes  No   223   D2L
HanShotFirst     Mordred          Necro  Guardian          87        2022-05-11     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
abridged         sanity           Sorc   Guardian          94        2022-11-01     No   Yes  No   ?     D2R
Vang             Axer             Pal    Guardian          83        2022-07-17     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
Vang             Annihilation     Druid  Guardian          81        2022-08-13     No   Yes  No   -     D2R
lizard           Deanna           Amazon Guardian          86        2022-08-21     No   Yes  No   -     D2L


Questing Heroes

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP           Level      Date             UT   E/S  SP   S/U     Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------       -----  ----------          ---  ---  ---  ----    -------
abridged         lars             Barb   Lut Gholein  NM        47     2022-05-22          Yes  Yes  No   -       D2R
Oblivious        Sgillvarl        Barb   Lut Gholein            20     2022-09-07          Yes  Yes  Yes  4       D2R
BBS_Agonistes    Eegan            Barb   WSK lvl 2        45     2023-01-05          Yes  ???  No  -       D2R
little birdy     yuffie           Asn    Far Oasis Hell         72     2022-10-06          Yes  ???  No   -       D2R
little birdy     seymour          Druid  Arcane Sanc. Hell      69     2022-10-06          No   ???  No   -       D2R


The Fallen

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level  Date       UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----  ---------- ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
abridged         persistence      Barb   Durance of Hate   23     Apr22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         druid            Druid  Flayer Jungle H   80     Oct22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         vanilla          Sorc   RoF NM            55     Nov22      No   Yes  No   -     D2R
Vang             Chains           Sorc   Lut Gholein H     76     Aug22      Yes                  D2R
Vang             Ravage           Druid  Kurast Docks  N   26     22-08-09   No   Yes  No   -     D2R
 
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Eegan is now level 52 and in A1 NM with 60 stat points unassigned.

A "Strength" Dimensional Blade and Hellplague are giving decent damage. His other gear is Sander's Gloves, Topaz-ed helm, Fortuitus Amulet, Fortuitous Ring, Nagelring, Yellow Belt, Light Plated Boots of Luck, for a total of 130% MF. Merc has Duskdeep, Sparkling Mail, and a Savage Bill.

After running NM Countess, he was finally able to cube a Lum and assemble this:
Screenshot309 Cropped (1).png

It's funny how such a simple runeword feels like such a grind after starting an untwinked character in HC! "Smoke" should take care of his resists problem and help get him through NM. I've also accumulated runes for "Honor" and "Insight," though I don't yet have decent bases for those.

I've read that the FRW given by Frenzy can get you into dangerous situations in HC, so I've been trying to use it defensively as well. I've tried to attack edges of mobs and dart away, then come back and attack. The darting around gives health potions time to refill the life bulb if I take significant damage. I've also been experimenting with the warcries and War Cry seems helpful in stunning enemies when mobbed.

Completed Guardians

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level      Date          UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----     ----------     ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
lizard           Hyman            Druid  Guardian          82        2022-03-16     Yes  Yes  No   223   D2L
HanShotFirst     Mordred          Necro  Guardian          87        2022-05-11     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
abridged         sanity           Sorc   Guardian          94        2022-11-01     No   Yes  No   ?     D2R
Vang             Axer             Pal    Guardian          83        2022-07-17     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
Vang             Annihilation     Druid  Guardian          81        2022-08-13     No   Yes  No   -     D2R
lizard           Deanna           Amazon Guardian          86        2022-08-21     No   Yes  No   -     D2L


Questing Heroes

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP           Level      Date             UT   E/S  SP   S/U     Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------       -----  ----------          ---  ---  ---  ----    -------
abridged         lars             Barb   Lut Gholein  NM        47     2022-05-22          Yes  Yes  No   -       D2R
Oblivious        Sgillvarl        Barb   Lut Gholein            20     2022-09-07          Yes  Yes  Yes  4       D2R
BBS_Agonistes    Eegan            Barb   Black Marsh NM         52     2023-01-26          Yes  Yes  No   -       D2R
little birdy     yuffie           Asn    Far Oasis Hell         72     2022-10-06          Yes  ???  No   -       D2R
little birdy     seymour          Druid  Arcane Sanc. Hell      69     2022-10-06          No   ???  No   -       D2R


The Fallen

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level  Date       UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----  ---------- ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
abridged         persistence      Barb   Durance of Hate   23     Apr22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         druid            Druid  Flayer Jungle H   80     Oct22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         vanilla          Sorc   RoF NM            55     Nov22      No   Yes  No   -     D2R
Vang             Chains           Sorc   Lut Gholein H     76     Aug22      Yes                  D2R
Vang             Ravage           Druid  Kurast Docks  N   26     22-08-09   No   Yes  No   -     D2R
 
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My Trapper is currently A2 NM clvl 55 with pretty decent gears and resists. I'm doing a Fire Trapper and may change to Lightning for Hell. It was funny; she completed Normal at clvl 44 ready for NM. Then all of a sudden: Terror Zones! Say What? Man, those zones give crazy exp.

My Fishy is currently A3 Normal lvl 27. Pretty much all his skills have been assigned. Just need to max them out now. I forgot how much a grind he is, but safe nonetheless.

These shared stashes are interesting. I haven't downloaded GoMule yet. These stashes make you wanna spread stuff around to other chars.

Btw my toons are not self found. They are sharing what little loot they have between them
 
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Got a Sorc thru to A2 Normal. She has Leaf and OKish resists. Also started a Pally who has just rescued Cain Act 1 Normal.
 
Sorc is now at NM Andy and running her hard. Got my first Insight, in a Poleaxe! lol Gonna farm Andy and Countess for awhile I think. Some more FCR would be nice. Also want to make some of the new helm runewords like Bulwark, etc. Slowly gathering runes which is nice that they are low to mid. Having trouble getting 3 socket helms. :D
 
Sorc now at clvl 78, FO/Meteorb/FB and running NM TZs. May change to BlizzBaller for Hell progression. We'll see.
 
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NM (and Normal) TZs are a bit of a game-changer for when you need to grind extra levels to get ready for changing difficulties.
 
True that birdy. Got sorc to Hell Countess. But really want a Vipermage so am going back to NM Meph for awhile.
 
My NM Fire Trapsin has hit a wall: Act 4 NM. FIs are a problem. Was thinking to re-spec to Lightning Trapper but I see DS no longer synergises with the other lightning traps. Whats up with that? Has anybody else faced the same problem and how did you deal with it.

I'm thinking a Fire/Light trapper hybrid but not sure how she would perform in Hell. Any suggestions appreciated.
 
DaveW said:
My NM Fire Trapsin has hit a wall: Act 4 NM. FIs are a problem. Was thinking to re-spec to Lightning Trapper but I see DS no longer synergises with the other lightning traps. Whats up with that? Has anybody else faced the same problem and how did you deal with it.

I'm thinking a Fire/Light trapper hybrid but not sure how she would perform in Hell. Any suggestions appreciated.
Click to expand...
Yeah, they changed up the synergies in patch 2.4. This was their rationale for doing it:

Developer Comments: With Trap skills, there are multiple underused skills that can be more effective or have improved synergy distribution. For Lightning and Fire Traps, we are freeing up synergy reliance on “Death Sentry” to give more build possibilities elsewhere. Also, Fire traps are receiving damage synergy improvements to make them more effective at higher difficulties. Lastly, the Blade skills are receiving multiple improvements to make them more viable to dedicate builds around these skills.

My first Trapsin in D2R was something like: Max Lightning Sentry, Death Sentry, Fire Blast, and then more points into synergies for Lightning Sentry. LS/DS were the primary damage dealers, and then I would chip in fire damage with Fire Blast as needed. That build played a bit slower after the synergy changes in 2.4, but it worked just fine.

Also, just my 2 cents, but don't sleep on Blade skills either. With the NHD changes in the latest patch, a combo of Blade Sentinel and Blade Fury works quite nicely together. Mixing in DS helps with PIs in Hell.
 
I achieved my first Guardian over a month ago... I suppose I should update the tables!

My other HC character in progress, yuffie the Bladesin, has made it as far as Act III Hell. With rather poor gear. She could really use a weapon upgrade...

Completed Guardians

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level      Date          UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----     ----------     ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
lizard           Hyman            Druid  Guardian          82        2022-03-16     Yes  Yes  No   223   D2L
HanShotFirst     Mordred          Necro  Guardian          87        2022-05-11     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
abridged         sanity           Sorc   Guardian          94        2022-11-01     No   Yes  No   ?     D2R
Vang             Axer             Pal    Guardian          83        2022-07-17     Yes  Yes  Yes  200   D2R
Vang             Annihilation     Druid  Guardian          81        2022-08-13     No   Yes  No   -     D2R
lizard           Deanna           Amazon Guardian          86        2022-08-21     No   Yes  No   -     D2L
little birdy     seymour          Druid  Guardian          83        2023-03-29     No   No   No   -     D2R


Questing Heroes

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP           Level  Date                UT   E/S  SP   S/U     Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------      -----  ----------          ---  ---  ---  ----    -------
abridged         lars             Barb   Lut Gholein  NM       47     2022-05-22          Yes  Yes  No   -       D2R
Oblivious        Sgillvarl        Barb   Lut Gholein           20     2022-09-07          Yes  Yes  Yes  4       D2R
BBS_Agonistes    Eegan            Barb   Black Marsh NM        52     2023-01-26          Yes  Yes  No   -       D2R
little birdy     yuffie           Asn    Kurast Docks Hell     81     2023-05-06          No   No   No   -       D2R


The Fallen

Rich (BB code): 
Forumite         Character        Class  Furthest WP       Level  Date       UT   E/S  SP   S/U   Version
---------------  ---------------  -----  ----------------  -----  ---------- ---  ---  ---  ----  -------
abridged         persistence      Barb   Durance of Hate   23     Apr22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         druid            Druid  Flayer Jungle H   80     Oct22      Yes  Yes  No   -     D2R
abridged         vanilla          Sorc   RoF NM            55     Nov22      No   Yes  No   -     D2R
Vang             Chains           Sorc   Lut Gholein H     76     Aug22      Yes                  D2R
Vang             Ravage           Druid  Kurast Docks  N   26     22-08-09   No   Yes  No   -     D2R
 
Nice work birdy! Guardians are the shizz. I'll try your suggestions re: my Trapper. Thx.
 
Respecced my Assasin to Light Trapper for Act 4 NM onwards. She has completed CS and now sits in Act 5, ready to move on. Thx for the advice Birdy.

I've also started a solo self found Amazon that I've decided to take forward to the Ubers. This char was inspired by Regular Schmuck who took one through following a strategy developed by Kano (both guys being YouTube content creators)

TBH I didn't think Schmuck would make it. His playstyle is not suited to HC imho but he made it. And If he can, then surely I can too ....... lol. She just got through Normal Andy, sporting a Stealth and Infernal Cranium. Wish me well guys.

As for my Sorc she's in Hell Act 1, ready to hit up Hell Andy. Hope this goes well :D
 
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Damn it! My first deeds in D2R - a Pally of all chars. Got him thru to Normal Act 3 and went out to Szzark the Burning! He was a Holy Fire Pally to begin with and had just found Kinemal's Wail, which adds Holy Fire damage. I thought yeah, time to rip up Normal difficulty ... NOT!

I didnt realize Kinemal's was a 2H sword but so what right? Nah ... Szzark put me back on my heels. At least he was only clvl25. Pfffttt .... just gotta keep on.
 
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Had the day off work and decided to push my Trapper thru Hell Act 4. Was proceeding well until De Seis. I had cleared the space up to the seal area, activated the seal and turned to go back around the corner. But then I experienced something I have never seen before in all my D2 career: De Seis and company spawned on top of the seal! They never do that. Anyone else had a similar experience?

Needless to say Ruth Lee's deeds of valor will forever be remembered. This was a painful one.
 
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