~ SPHC Ladder Part V ~

@ SabreCat I'd love these two from your Class Specific list: 60. Bone Noose Aulet and 106. Shadow Gyre

@ crazy_bear I was looking for a 4-socket Gothic Plate way back. Still haven't found one, so if it was me you were thinking of it would be most gratefully received.

Email is simeonb (note spelling) at globalnet dot co dot uk
 
Beat up Shenk to get Larzuk's quest reward, which was used to add an Eth to my Butcher's Pupil, which has taken over as my primary weapon.

Then went back and pumelled Shenk and Eldritch again to get another level, and Shenk dropped me an Ichorstring to add to my burgeoning HC Ladder Grail. A whole 30 Uniques muled off now!... ok, so I have 2 Nightsmokes, but what the heck.

Destroyer Mariah, Level 68 Assassin
 
My new wind druid, JetStream, is doing pretty well. He is in Act II now and looking for the cube. It has been pretty quiet as I continue to wait for a ‘wind’ skill to fight with. I did find a Bloodfist from Radamant or his minions. It was hard to tell where it came from. There was a mess of bodies in the area.

JetStream – 21st level Wind Druid – Looking for the cube
Leharas – 13th level Act II Merc

Montgomery, my skelliemancer, decided to abandon Act II for a while. I decided to run the pit instead and see what happens. It worked out pretty good for me. I found a Harlequin Crest, which so happens is my first elite unique. I also found a 3-socket Lacquered Plate if any one is interested in the Plate, let me know.

Montgomery – 77th level Skelliemancer – Playing with his new toy and running Hell Pit
Leharas – 77th level Act II Merc – must be the twin of JetStream’s merc :scratch:
 
TraxisX said:
Hey AlterEgo, I just wanted to ask you one thing about your Druid: How do you deal with FIs? Do your Merc and Grizzly take care of them well, or do you have to resort to other means to take them down?
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My main attack skill is Volcano, which is 50% fire 50% physical damage. Molten Boulder is also primarily physical, so I have occasional use for that as well. I normally use 3 wolves and my merc to lock up with the monsters, then the Holy Freeze keeps them in place while Volcano kills them. Grizzly is only used against monsters that deal big damage. His stun is nice, but knockback is couter-productive when I'm trying to put a volcano up a monster's arse :)

edit: I forgot to mention that my merc has been using The Meat Scraper ever since mid-NM. This was a lucky find - doesn't deal big damage, but the 30%IAS and 10%LL are helpful & the 50% chance of Open Wounds prevents regen - VERY helpful. I've passed on bigger damage weapons to keep the Open Wounds.

Now FIPI is another matter. For these bosses I have a wand with Lower Resist charges on the switch, which usually removes the FI, then business as usual. For those rare situations where the "wand trick" doesn't work, it's down to finding a good place to park 'em :lol:

Rusull has cleared the Palace, the Arcane Sanctuary and three of the false tombs. Kaa was a real treat as MSLECE, but not FI, so is history. Apparitions have dropped three runes so far - El, Nef & Eth :grrr:

Conqueror Rusull the Fire Elemental Druid, lvl83 Hell A2
 
simeonb said:
@ SabreCat I'd love these two from your Class Specific list: 60. Bone Noose Aulet and 106. Shadow Gyre
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Ah, you've a very keen eye--those are both great items I've used in the past. Mule sent! Just let me know here or in a reply to the email when it comes through.

As for the rest of my adventures, I feel I've earned a break from my Countess running at long last. I did "just one more run" before going to sleep last night and she dropped the third Io I needed. So I am now the proud owner of:

Smoke
Trellised Armor
'NefLum'
Defense: 253
Durability: 32 of 32
Required Strength: 61
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x690dc80e
+10 to Energy
+75% Enhanced Defense
+280 Defense vs. Missile
All Resistances +50
-1 to Light Radius
20% Faster Hit Recovery
Level 6 Weaken (18/18 Charges)
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Yeah, I'm sure this is no huge achievement in the world of rampant BoTDs (not that the SPHCL is such a place, but DII overall), but it's the sweetest runeword I've yet made, and I'm very happy with it. The +50 resist all is nothing to sneeze at; between 'Smoke' and 'Rhyme,' I only need a handful of minor resist items to max everything out--and almost none of them charms, so my inventory is quite stacked with +life and +mana charms instead.

The Countess running has been productive otherwise as well: Rockfleece as mentioned earlier, Skystrike and several other bows, Magefist (which you can be sure I'll put to good use), and more. But I think I'm through with that for now. Time to get back to questing, and hurry my progress onward to making Conqueror--I feel much safer doing so with resistances at full! The next runeword I have my eye on is 'Memory,' but since I need a four-socket staff, and it took so bloody long to get just one Lum, I'm not going to keep pounding the Countess for it.

One final comment: while on my way to the Lost City, I found The Salamander. I think this is a prime example of how runewords so typically blow uniques out of the water. Why would anyone use something like this when you can make 'Leaf' so cheaply? I'm still using the 'Leaf' I made in A2 Normal for dropping Meteors and Firewalls.
 
I just finished a small set with Holy_Mortal, my hammerdin. I am now happy to say thay I have made it into the top 10 on the pally ladder after just attaining clvl 54 and finishing the Claw Viper Temple. En route, I found my second pair of Frostburns, and the Maggot Lair donated me a Bonesnap :yep: 260% I might add.

Only one semi-NDE to report, and it was totally unexpected. I was battling a large pack of monsters, two were boss packs and one was a pack of champion/possessed/etc mummy things (not guardians, the ones in the Lost City), and I had all of them dead except one. I stood next to a Possessed mummy, not thinking about how much damage it could do. Well, lets say I lost about 550 HP out of my 660 in one hit, which didn't make me very happy. I promplty ran away, hit a FRJ and started aiming from a distance.

This was my first time playing D2 in a about 4 or 5 days, as I have been hit hard with schoolwork lately.

Holy_Mortal, Hammerdin, Act 2 NM, lvl 54

edit: shade has a pm!
 
Rescued Anya, killed lots of stuff on the way (the ice caves are great places to level, all those Evil Urns), got a few handy-looking items (2 claws with +LS and +DS, pretty handy for a Trapper perhaps), and levelled whilst killing Pindle and crew.

Giveaway list updated, if anyone wants some of the numerous items I've found and thought 'that might be handy'.

Destroyer Mariah, Level 70 Assassin
 
Volvo's doing fine job even though her controller has a flu. Volvo just cleared Black Marsh and run to the Monastery to get some well earned sleep.

Tomorrow she'll clear Tamoe Highland and Monastery and getting rid of Andariel will be tomorrows highlight. This of course unless her controllers flu gets so bad that he has to stay in bed.

The most valuable of today's finds was this amulet:

Bone Emblem
Amulet
Required Level: 3
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 5
Fingerprint: 0x547937f6
+2 to Strength
+4 to Mana
+10 to Attack Rating
+1 to Maximum Damage
Fire Resist +9%
+1 to Light Radius

It was dropped by a carver in The Caves level 2. As Volvo is totally untwinked that was a nice find for her.

***********************
Volvo, level 16 bowazon, Act I
***********************

Yours: Topi
 
Ti-ran, Level 59, Sorceress (Meteorb), Act III NM

Tch. I just get done being gleeful about my fancy new Trellised Armor when something that would have served even better drops. Should teach me to get excited...

Superior Cuirass
Defense: 227
Durability: 57 of 58
Required Strength: 65
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 47
Fingerprint: 0x49a62f9a
+12% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Durability 15%
Socketed (2: 0 used)

In consolation to my defense rating I upgraded Magefist to a pair of Battle Gauntlets. Just because I had the stat points, runes, and gems to spare, I guess.

But at least I went on to defeat Duriel (who was surprisingly wussy; loads of health, but all my full rejuvs went to my merc and we were fine). Act III NM is actually rather fun, what with all the exceptional stuff the monsters drop and all. And the battles get crazy when you've got flayers on all sides and Frozen Orbs and Meteors exploding and all sorts of items flying into the air... Unfortunately, as is typical, I've taken every wrong turn in the Great Marsh and Flayer Jungle, such that I'm full-clearing without especially meaning to. -_-` In fact it looks like I've mapped all the Flayer Jungle, but I must have missed a side path somewhere, as I haven't finished the Gidbinn quest. I wonder if it's even worth going after.

Now for a couple of item-find brags. Just a short distance into the Spider Forest, hoping to trigger the Golden Bird quest, I discover:

Steeldriver
Great Maul
Two-Hand Damage: 110 to 168
Durability: 32 of 60
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 29
Mace Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 52
Fingerprint: 0x7983f674
+191% Enhanced Damage
Heal Stamina Plus 25%
Requirements -50%
40% Increased Attack Speed
150% Damage to Undead

And then what should topple to the ground in the Flayer Dungeon but:

Bonesnap
Maul
Two-Hand Damage: 114 to 164
Durability: 45 of 60
Required Strength: 69
Required Level: 24
Mace Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 54
Fingerprint: 0x101f4b9f
+283% Enhanced Damage
Fire Resist +30%
Cold Resist +30%
200% Damage to Undead
40% Chance of Crushing Blow

Methinks the RNG wants me to play a maul druid or something... ^_^ ^_^
 
*********************
Tim lvl 21 Skellymancer
*********************

Oh man... I have never played a skellimancer before. I'm not sure I'm going to again. It works but I feel like I'm not in the game much.

Tim has 5 skellys going and killed Andy. Had to go to the cold plains a couple of times to collect more corpses.... Andy really ripped them up fast. I was playing on players 8. Maybe I need more SM. IM didn't really seem to do anything to Andy.

Right now I seem to get more xp by playing on players 4 because of the difference in speed.

@simeonb

Horse-donkey hybrid sent. Let me know if there are any problems opening it.
 
Conqueror Rusull the Fire Elemantal Druid, lvl84 Hell A3

My druid continues his assault on the ladder :D As of today he's taken the top druid position, and is in a tie for 8th overall. I've been questing at players3 in Hell. I really want to see if I can claim the very top position, and I get so bored with running characters after they complete the game.

Act 2 only had a couple rough monster types for this build. Blunderbores were difficult, especially when extra fast. They have high regen, and hit hard. They seem tough to target with the volcano, and darned near impossible to kill if FI. Although not hard to kill, the FI skellies are simply a bother because of the mummies regenerating them.

I chickened out and killed Duriel on players1. Turns out I would have had no problem at players3. He died without Rusull drinking a single potion, or even feeding one to his merc. Had to recast the grizzly maybe a dozen times.

I only have 31% MF so don't expect any great finds, but got one anyway. One of those boss blunderbores dropped me a Legendary Mallet :clap: I don't MF and had forgotten there were two of these, so was very startled to find it wasn't a Schaefer's *bummer*, but a Stonecrusher (294%ED, so mid-range).
 
****************************************************
Sept Conqueror The-Burninator, MeteOrb-Sorceress, Lvl 85, Act 4 Hell
****************************************************

Borlag, did you get my mail concerning the password change? I didn't see a reply, but I might have deleted it with the spam.
Just tell me and I'll send it again.
 
Kamelbarn said:
Borlag, did you get my mail concerning the password change? I didn't see a reply, but I might have deleted it with the spam.
Just tell me and I'll send it again.
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Umm no, haven't received a mail like that, where did you send it? [email protected] should be the one used, though I've had troubles with the account earlier too. To be sure that I get it, you could always PM me with the request.

Possibly changing my ISP shortly, getting tired of the problems with their e-mail servers.
 
Borlag said:
Umm no, haven't received a mail like that, where did you send it? [email protected] should be the one used, though I've had troubles with the account earlier too. To be sure that I get it, you could always PM me with the request.

Possibly changing my ISP shortly, getting tired of the problems with their e-mail servers.
Click to expand...
PM sent. I hope you get it :)
 
Not much to report, my base dex, base ene skelliemancer have made his way past Duriel and gotten to the level of 24.
My Hammerdin have done some Baalruns and got some grailitems. I have now completed 55% of the grail. My Zealot and my sossy haven't come any further.

Mr_Ploppy lvl 24 Kurast Docks
Coquorer Crazy_Ploppy lvl 79 Arcane Sanctuary
Conquorer Icy_Ploppy lvl 74 Black Marsh
Guardian Blessed_Ploppy lvl 88 WSK

Take care out there and take Gollums advice "Don't follow the lights"

DX
 
RIP Guardian Blessed_Ploppy, so close making it to the top of the ladder. I didn't see the danger of conviction mummies and the next second he was just lying there :rant: .
Well what to do, what to do Blessed_Ploppy have made a fantastic carreer but now it's over. At least I muled over the items I found in the earlier baalruns before this sad thing happened.

Lost some nice gear which really hurts:
Ptopazed Harley, Wizardspike, Um'd HoZ, Wealth armour, almost perfect War traveler 48% and 37% gheed's fortune.

Well thats about it I hope my ather characters will make a better job which will be difficult.

Take care out there and remember it's only a game

DX
 
RIP Blessed_Ploppy - such a cruel game...

Nice work on your charater though DX :clap: Nothing to be ashamed of man! It sux to lose those nice items, but yeah, it's just a game :)
 
Sorry about the loss of Blessed Ploppy :grrr:

JetStream has finally made 24th level and has access to his first ‘wind’ skill. I was curious, which of the wind skills should be maxed first? :scratch:

JetStream – 24th level Wind Druid – Heading into the Sanctuary
Leharas – 17th level Act II Merc

Montgomery continues to run the pit in Hell. So far he has gotten an elite on each run. He did two runs today. He got a Baranar’s Star and a Seraph’s Hymn.

Montgomery – 77th level Skelliemancer – Running Hell Pit
Leharas – 77th level Act II Merc
 
Damn, DX, losing a Guardian must just suk. If it makes things better, you beat my highest ever HC build by 33 clvls. :lol:

Time to turn it around and do it again.
 
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