The Certain Death Tournament.

[Ohomemgrande1]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

GeneralJoe has made it to the jungle. Duriel was of course the highlight of the act. I ended up finding a portal shrine a few rooms over from his chamber so I would go in, decrepify him and let the skeletons hack at him until there were a few left. Then I'd go back to town and take the portal back to the tomb to collect a new army. I had to do this several times but finally he died and left behind my first green breast plate of the tournament and a pair of Clegaw's gloves.

[highlight]GeneralJoe, level 26, Summon Necromancer, Kurast Docks[/highlight]

 

[Drystan1]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Wow - lots of progress! Congrats to all making great progress, and condolences to those who've seen the deeds.

Well, I'm back from my holiday, and think it's time to provide an update.

Acts 3 and 4 were actually done before leaving, with two noticable events. First was a fun stair trap while looking for the tome in Kurast, and the second was a FE/teleporter who teleported close to Argoel upon his death. It could've been very dangerous if he chose to teleport a little closer, but got lucky on that occasion.

The fight with Diablo went pretty smoothly, and I love teleport.

Act 5 actually provided me with my first NDE, with skeleton archers doing some damage and draining Argoel's mana. Also, this potentially deadly MSLE unique combined with a conviction archer unique took some careful movements. Luckily, both spawns have low hitpoints, and died quickly.
The WSK had great spawns, with Flayers on two levels, so I threw on my 3Ptopaz helm, and went for some MF'ing.
Baal's minions were taken on /pl8, 1, 8 8 8, and the fight with Baal was pretty standard. Firewall, teleport, and hide while Blood Mana Curse was on. With the Insight, Argoel's health was actually reasonably fine, even when casting a couple of firewalls with Blood Mana. The danger was if something hit or knocked Argoel into tenticles, right after casting, but everything went well.
Baal's drop was actually pretty decent, but not terribly useful.

I thought choosing a Sorc would be difficult, due to a lack of a tank, and heavy reliance on mana early on, but she's actually reasonable. With cheese like Insight and Spirit, she only needs to avoid rushing, and most die to 3k firewall or Frozen Orb. The Insight and Spirit rolls were very low, so a bit of justice for going with cheese.

Approximate stats and items available at the start of Hell:

Character name : Argoel
Character level : 74

Strength : 74
Energy : 183
Dexterity : 150
Vitality : 10
Stat Points Rem : 38

Life : 311 / 153
Mana : 698 / 477

Items

Entropy Knot
Ring
Required Level: 9
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x937e6a42
+1 to Strength
+77 to Attack Rating
[B]Fire Resist +18%
Cold Resist +18%
10% Faster Cast Rate[/B]
Half Freeze Duration

Argoel's Loath Crest
Circlet
Defense: 52
Durability: 34 of 35
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 35
Fingerprint: 0xd44c1610
[B]+14 to Energy
+38 to Mana[/B]
+70% Enhanced Defense
[B]+1 to Sorceress Skill Levels
20% Faster Cast Rate[/B]

Order Spiral
Ring
Required Level: 9
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 35
Fingerprint: 0xac7ee2f9
+1 to Maximum Damage
[B]Lightning Resist +15%
10% Faster Cast Rate[/B]

Ghoul Collar
Amulet
Required Level: 33
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 52
Fingerprint: 0x4308c54f
+8 to Dexterity
[B]Fire Resist +38%
Lightning Resist +33%[/B]
33% Extra Gold from Monsters
[B]+2 to Fire Skills (Sorceress Only)[/B]
8% Chance to cast Level 5 Chain Lightning on attack

Carrion Track
Light Plated Boots
Defense: 11
Durability: 17 of 18
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 16
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x55b9108e
[B]Fire Resist +12%
Cold Resist +20%
Poison Resist +8%[/B]
53% Extra Gold from Monsters
20% Faster Run/Walk
10% Faster Hit Recovery

[highlight]Razorswitch [Found NM WSK] [/highlight]
Jo Staff
Two-Hand Damage: 6 to 21
Durability: 16 of 20
Required Strength: 25
Required Level: 28
Staff Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 66
Fingerprint: 0xf305ce86
[B]+80 to Life
+175 to Mana
Magic Damage Reduced by 15
All Resistances +50[/B]
Attacker Takes Damage of 15
[B]30% Faster Cast Rate[/B]
150% Damage to Undead
[B]+1 to All Skill Levels[/B]

Spirit
Broad Sword
'TalThulOrtAmn'
One-Hand Damage: 7 to 14
Durability: 32 of 32
Required Strength: 48
Required Level: 25
Sword Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 37
Fingerprint: 0xbb50d387
+22 to Vitality
+94 to Mana
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Adds 1-50 lightning damage
Adds 3-14 cold damage over 3 seconds
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
7% Life stolen per hit
55% Faster Hit Recovery
[B]28% Faster Cast Rate[/B]
+2 to All Skill Levels
+6 Magic Absorb
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Rhyme
Bone Shield
'ShaelEth'
Defense: 20
Chance to Block:  60%
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Strength: 25
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 20
Fingerprint: 0xb1656346
[B]+20% Increased Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%[/B]
[B]All Resistances +25[/B]
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
[B]40% Faster Block Rate
Cannot Be Frozen[/B]
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Stealth
Ghost Armor
'TalEth'
Defense: 103
Durability: 17 of 20
Required Strength: 38
Required Level: 22
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 38
Fingerprint: 0x74b30ea4
+6 to Dexterity
+15 to Maximum Stamina
Regenerate Mana 15%
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Poison Resist +30%
25% Faster Run/Walk
25% Faster Hit Recovery
25% Faster Cast Rate
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Sander's Taboo
Heavy Gloves
Defense: 29
Durability: 12 of 14
Required Level: 28
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0xc9d9376d
+40 to Life
+24 Defense
Adds 8-10 poison damage over 3 seconds
20% Increased Attack Speed

Lapis Plated Belt
Defense: 13
Durability: 12 of 13
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 9
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0x7b781fde
Cold Resist +12%
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired)

Charms

Grand Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x2182caab
[B]+26 to Life[/B]

Large Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 19
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x8e77131b
[B]+19 to Life[/B]

Tangerine Small Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 14
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0x2aa2e5e5
[B]+10 to Life[/B]
Lightning Resist +4%

Small Charm of Good Luck
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 33
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 65
Fingerprint: 0x6805736
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Mercenary (A2 Prayer)

Insight
Superior Scythe
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 34 to 64
Durability: 72 of 73
Required Dexterity: 41
Required Strength: 41
Required Level: 27
Polearm Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 56
Fingerprint: 0x8f0385d2
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+222% Enhanced Damage
+1 to Attack Rating
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
Increase Maximum Durability 12%
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+3 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
207% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
[B]Level 13 Meditation Aura When Equipped[/B]
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Soul Horn
Circlet
Defense: 21
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 16
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 34
Fingerprint: 0xc506a2e6
+19 to Life
Replenish Life +9
10% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+1 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 2 Charged Bolt (25/25 Charges)

Cruel Suit
Breast Plate
Defense: 289
Durability: 32 of 50
Required Strength: 30
Required Level: 22
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0x2adfbab
[B]+20 to Life
Fire Resist +19%
Cold Resist +30%[/B]
+222 to Defense (Based on Character Level)

[highlight]Argoel, Sorceress, (H) Rogue Encampment, Level 74[/highlight]

 

[scottasin]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

I guess you have a few options The problem with going without a charm is that most won't have +15 life at that stage. If you found a grand charm with 15 life and small resist, and you avoided using that in favor of a grand charm with just small resist, that could work. You could keep track of the +life on your items and replace your gear with less, with the difference being 15 or more. There are many options. Like, say you gamble a plated belt with +20 life....now you say to yourself "okay, I can use one with up to +5 life." But the problem is, let's say that your original gamble was +20 life only, and now your +5 life belt has 10 cold resist. That's an advantage, right? Bleh. Same problem with charms, or any peice of gear.

You could just continue on and ignore the points. Problem is, there would always be a nagging voice in the back of your head, especially any time you ever have an NDE...

Or you could just restart. If you are in Act I, that would probably be the best option.

Well at this point, I think I'm just going to continue, and not use a small charm with life... Even with 15 extra health, this is going to be disgustingly hard, and I can't really see myself making it out of normal even. If I do by some freak of chance finish the game, it will be a tainted victory.

Anyways, my progress. Finished Act I, lots of NDEs. Nothing of particular note has dropped thus far, but I do have all of my MF slots filled with topazes, and have decent MF gloves and boots, but I'm still waiting on jewelry. Already my kill speed is unbearably slow, so I'm in the market for a good bow, and not having played a bowazon ever before, I'm not even sure what to look for, any tips?

Current Gear:

Bramble Branch
Long Battle Bow
Two-Hand Damage: 3 to 25
Required Dexterity: 50
Required Strength: 40
Required Level: 8
Bow Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 24
Fingerprint: 0xe4b5ee73
+1 to Dexterity
+7 to Maximum Damage
Adds 6-8 fire damage
+7 poison damage over 3 seconds
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Rugged Leather Gloves of Fortune
Defense: 2
Durability: 7 of 12
Required Level: 12
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 19
Fingerprint: 0xa6746d36
+8 to Maximum Stamina
17% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Sturdy Boots of Chance
Defense: 4
Durability: 11 of 12
Required Level: 9
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x80b4bdb4
+19% Enhanced Defense
13% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Sturdy Heavy Belt
Defense: 8
Durability: 15 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 3
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xadf69796
+28% Enhanced Defense

Grim Coil
Ring
Required Level: 10
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 17
Fingerprint: 0x3c17c7
+15 to Maximum Stamina
Damage Reduced by 1
Magic Damage Reduced by 1
Poison Resist +19%
4% Life stolen per hit

Felicitous Ring
Required Level: 3
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 5
Fingerprint: 0x7a7fe9ad
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Shimmering Amulet
Required Level: 6
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 8
Fingerprint: 0xcceaed99
All Resistances +3

Gemmed Ring Mail
Defense: 45
Durability: 20 of 26
Required Strength: 36
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 12
Fingerprint: 0xb4aec5de
27% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Socketed (3: 3 used)

Gemmed Skull Cap
Defense: 8
Durability: 14 of 18
Required Strength: 15
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 11
Fingerprint: 0x9aaf8cef
18% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Toddetta level 20 Amazon, Lut Gholein

 

[jiansonz]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Already my kill speed is unbearably slow, so I'm in the market for a good bow, and not having played a bowazon ever before, I'm not even sure what to look for, any tips?

Do you mainly use (or plan to use) physical damage bow skills or elemental damage bow skills?

 

[Cor Blimey]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

if elemental damage (e.g. FA), then look for IAS and fast base bow speed. In hell, FA has a very short freeze duration, so you will need to keep it up at all times.

If you are a multi-zon then IAS is not as important, though you should definately get past a few breakpoints. For strafer, this is a different matter. Because you are locked into the animation, particularly when there are many monsters on screen, you want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible in order to reduce the chances of being killed while in an animation lock. (for this tournament, it is actually quite good to be an ama. Glass cannon zons generally go full dex anyway so physical damage could potentially be through the roof (though they stay the hell away from hardcore )

If you are a magic arrow zon then reroll (although, actually, it is not *that* bad, seeing as it implies 30% of your damage is irresistable at skill level 30)

In conclusion, imo, IAS>DMG for strafe and elemental. DMG>IAS once beyond the first few breakpoints for multi-zon.

In terms of mods, ll is great, knockback great, IAS great (up to the thresholds), +dmg *great*, +%dmg alright, a bit of cold dmg..could be useful but not so much on hell. Try and find an amp damage wand for immunes (tricky to find but..you never know).

I refer you to this seminal work on bowazons. http://www.theamazonbasin.com/~ak404/bowazon/

 

[kavarin]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Try and find an amp damage wand for immunes (tricky to find but..you never know).

Actually, you do know - amp damage isn't available on a wand and neither is decrepify. Spellsteel and Gavel of Pain could work (badly) though.

Anyway, my update. And it was all going so well...

Diablo wasn't too bad to start with, just run around and and keep the fissure up. Unless he attacked the sage directly it could survive a couple of attacks. And then wham, he caged me. From off screen. No worries I thought, just press v for volcano and we'll be out of here. But for some reason, volcano didn't cast, and I started to panic and pressed the f keys, so I got a new oak sage. Still Diablo hadn't turned up. I guess he was strutting up and down thinking how clever he was. Or could be he was busy swatting the ravens. Whatever...

Anyway, I finally got out of it - volcano was on v after all. And then finished him off. I could have probably taken him on P8. Oh well.

Act 5 was pretty normal for act 5. No NDEs. Guess what the first exception unique was I found. A 191ED skystrike And I found a nice shael rune which went straight in a rhyme. After a bit more shopping

And then NM, still easy. PI/PI sage is great, only LE critters are any worries at all.

Finally surprisingly deeds to some kind of LE carver in the underground passage. (I was too embarrassed to take a screenshot on the train). That will hopefully teach me not to play fragile tourney chars in nightmare on the laptop mousepad.

Lessons learnt:

1. If everything is taken at p8, normal is extremely easy.
2. The build seems quite sound but a bit frustrating with everything on a timer
3. Physical immune oak sage (in nightmare only) is an excellent tank... except when it isn't.

[HIGHLIGHT]Roadkill, Level 49 fire druid, RIP in nightmare underground passage.[/HIGHLIGHT]

 

[LozHinge the Unhinged]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Commiserations to our recently deeded players.

Andariel is down. After some nervy moments in the Jail and Catacomb areas, I completely wimped and set /Players 1 for Catacombs 4. Everywhere else was /Players 5, which I will maintain for as long as I can.

Skill points are now going into Poison Explosion, which is boosting PDag damage nicely. I will be allowing myself the use of the PExp skill as a means of corpse disposal. It isn't so over-powered as to over-shadow PDag so I feel I'm justified. If I live long enough to pump PNova, I won't be using that skill except as a synergy. I am, after all, a Poison Daggermancer, not some flaky spell-caster

I usually have some warning before Pitspawn Fouldog appears, the look and feel of the map warns me. Not this time - he and his mob were suddenly encircling myself and the merc before I registered his presence! I managed to retreat three rooms or so away to safety, and when he followed - BAM - I cut him off from his crew. He went down meek and mild, and one-by-one, his minions followed. At some point, I found a very decent amulet which, once again, was destined for a completely different kind of character. Bah.

All too soon (it's always too soon, for me), Catacombs 4 lay before me and as already mentioned, I lowered the /Players setting all the way down. I wasn't feeling confident! Andy's antechambers were cleared (my PDag is wonderfully effective versus P1 enemies) and the Demoness was coaxed out of her hiding place.

Having chugged 4 antidote potions each, the merc lasted for quite a while but he did very little damage and Life Tap didn't keep him alive once the potions ran out. I let him rest in peace when he dropped and started my duel with the Big Ugly. Round and round and round and round we ran, sometimes reversing directions. We traded poisonings as I cycled through Lower Resist, a quick stab with PDag and a re-cast of Bone Armour. I believe that /Players 3 would have been very doable, but you get one chance to get things right in this tourney, so caution won out. The drop was awful but I think a Flawless topaz featured - not that I'm in MF mode anymore.

LCS readout as of now is here. Three attempts at upgrading the merc-stick ended in utter failure, uselessness abounds. I'll keep at it. A 7% LR/6 Psn Dam SC dropped, which fits very nicely into my set-up. Oh, and a Shael rune dropped in the Catacombs, so I now have the dilemma of Rhyme vs Sigon's. Hmmm ...


Stuff
Skills
Amp, Weaken, IM, Terror, Decrep, Life Tap. Lower Res - 1 pt (3 pts)
DV - 10 (12)
BA - 1 (3)
BW - 13 (15)
PDag - 20 (22)
PExp - 3 (5)
Teeth, CE - 1 (3) (Pre-reqs only, not to be used)

BA - 235
Block - 75%
MF - 18%
Useful charms, GC 23 Life, LC 16 Life, SC 12 Life plus some with +Max Dam, +FHR, +Str, +AR and resists.

Act Highlight - performing a smooth demolition job on Andariel.

[highlight]WitherStick, Poison Daggermancer, Level 52, Lut Gholein (NM)[/highlight]

 

[Cor Blimey]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Actually, you do know - amp damage isn't available on a wand and neither is decrepify. Spellsteel and Gavel of Pain could work (badly) though.

ah, I haven't played for a few years and this was all from (hazy) memory.

 

[scottasin]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

if elemental damage (e.g. FA), then look for IAS and fast base bow speed. In hell, FA has a very short freeze duration, so you will need to keep it up at all times.

If you are a multi-zon then IAS is not as important, though you should definately get past a few breakpoints. For strafer, this is a different matter. Because you are locked into the animation, particularly when there are many monsters on screen, you want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible in order to reduce the chances of being killed while in an animation lock. (for this tournament, it is actually quite good to be an ama. Glass cannon zons generally go full dex anyway so physical damage could potentially be through the roof (though they stay the hell away from hardcore )

If you are a magic arrow zon then reroll (although, actually, it is not *that* bad, seeing as it implies 30% of your damage is irresistable at skill level 30)

In conclusion, imo, IAS>DMG for strafe and elemental. DMG>IAS once beyond the first few breakpoints for multi-zon.

In terms of mods, ll is great, knockback great, IAS great (up to the thresholds), +dmg *great*, +%dmg alright, a bit of cold dmg..could be useful but not so much on hell. Try and find an amp damage wand for immunes (tricky to find but..you never know).

I refer you to this seminal work on bowazons. http://www.theamazonbasin.com/~ak404/bowazon/

Initially, I was thinking a strafer, but upon further reflection, the chances of getting hit while strafing just makes this seem too dangerous... I'm thinking a multizon probably, hopefully I can find some knockback (I've found 2 cleglaws shields, but not the gloves, which would be great for this...)

 

[wakiki]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Keep in mind, when using multishot, special features like knockback, chance to trigger amp, etc. only apply to the middle two arrows.

RIP for Roadkill. Playing with a laptop and no vitality is high risk indeed.

Nice progress everyone, especially Drystan! Love seeing more people with (H) in front of their name. It's also cute how you just come in and casually update three acts and catapult yourself into Hell. :shock: My last update covered the Rogue Encampment to the Dark Wood in NM!

Another page, another table. I'm in a bit of a hurry with gobble-gobble and am on a different computer, so my chance of getting it wrong is higher. (If I mess something up, sorry/please let me know so I can fix it. Things will be normal once I get back home.)

Forum Name     Character       Class            Location               Level
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tarantella     Damasque        Skirmisher       (H)Kurast Docks          83
Drystan        Argoel          Sorceress        (H)Rogue Encampment      74
ancalagon T.B. Shatterproof    Strafer          (H)Rogue Encampment      71
scrcrw         Kaiko           Blade Fury Asn   (N)Throne of Destruction 72 RIP
Tarantella     Amarantine      Skirmisher       (N)Throne of Destruction 72 RIP
Mursilis       Jaheira         Trapsin          (N)Harrogath             65
HanShotFirst   Ulquiorra-san   Bone Necro       (N)Mephisto              64 RIP
HanShotFirst   Mara            Traps            (N)Canyon of the Magi    57
Morathi        Drake           Fire Druid       (N)Arcane Sanctuary      58 RIP
HanShotFirst   Helen           FA/Strafer       (N)Halls of the Dead L.1 54
scrcrw         Jenna           Poison Java      (N)Radament              53 RIP
soulmanz       SparkyPancakes  Novawaller       (N)Lut Gholein           53
LozHinge T.U.  WitherStick     Poison Dagger    (N)Lut Gholein           52
Bluechip       Inevitability   Sorceress        (N)Black Marsh           44 RIP
Thomh          Uzumati         Fire Claws Bear  (N)Dark Wood             49
wakiki         Shadow_Salad    Meleemancer      (N)Dark Wood             49
kavarin        Roadkill        Fire/Wolf        (N)Underground Passage   49 RIP
NagisaFurukawa Rin             Strafer          (N)Underground Passage   46 RIP
jdkerr         Lifeless        Wind Druid       (N)Rogue Encampment      48
Alfonso T.G.   TheAragorn      Ranger Paladin   The Secret Cow Level     46
cenyth         Teff            ES Sorceress     Baal                     48 RIP
EmperorMoo     MELIKECAKE      Concbarb         Crystalline Passage      37 RIP
jiansonz       Morte           Mojo/Bonemancer  Harrogath                35
HanShotFirst   Scorn           Fire Druid       Diablo                   34 RIP
Mournblade     Mouse           Golemancer       Diablo                   31 RIP
Brutass        Tane            Summ/Fire Druid  Diablo                   30 RIP
nermind        EatMyBones      Bonemancer       Chaos Sanctuary          34 RIP
EmperorMoo     FineFingers     Strafezon        Chaos Sanctuary          31 RIP
wakiki         BathtubPancake  Charge/H.Freeze  River of Flame           34 RIP
pepitosari     SassyAssasin    Assassin         River of Flame           33 RIP
Brutass        Sparkles        Lite/Orb Sorc    Bremm Sparkfist          27 RIP
Zelator        WitchOfEndor    CE/Curse Necro   Flayer Jungle            29
soulmanz       SwayBabySway    Passivezon       Kurast Docks             27
Ohomemgrande   GeneralJoe      Summon Necro     Kurast Docks             26
JayeM          Glassjaw        Barbarian        False Tomb               25 RIP
Bluechip       Vitamin         Throwbarb        False Tomb               23 RIP
PepitoSari     Kratos          Barbarian        Fangskin                 25 RIP
scrcrw         Clodius         Throwbarb        Maggot Lair level 3      21 RIP
Morathi        Sibella         Cold Sorc        Maggot Lair              24 RIP
JayeM          Glasscannon     Assassin         Maggot Lair              20 RIP
JayeM          Trixie          Bladesin         Rocky Waste              20 RIP
holiecows      HolieTraps      Assassin         Lut Gholein              21
QuickDeath     CandleintheWind Javazon          Lut Gholein              20
Morathi        Iago            Fury/Rabies      Lut Gholein              20
scottasin      Toddetta        Amazon           Lut Gholein              20
Bluechip       Murderherder    Hunter Druid     Lut Gholein              19
EmperorMoo     Magrat_Garlick  Trapsin          Andariel                 18 RIP
JayeM          GlassEye        Necromancer      Jail Level 2             17 RIP
Galningen      KingLeoric      Bonemancer       Jail Level 1             19
UllaV          Tilsit          Blizballer       Barracks                 18 RIP
sirpoopsalot   QuestionMarks   ES/GS Sorc       Barracks                 18 RIP
Brutass        Snatch          Trapsin          Barracks                 18 RIP
Bluechip       Sickness        Poison Javazon   Barracks                 15 RIP
NagisaFurukawa Isumi           Trapper          Forgotten Tower          15 RIP
Jason Maher    Lurz            Summoning Druid  Dark Wood                14
scrcrw         of_Worlds       Light Sorc       Underground Passage      14
Mournblade     Svelte_Savage   Spearazon        Stony Field              13
XxUberStarxX   Inevitable      Chargadin        Stony Field              12
Shaandore      Fastpoison      Psn/Feral Rage   Stony Field              12
mattinm        TomCruise       Leap/Howl/Ward   Stony FIeld              12
NagisaFurukawa Kirei           Bonemancer       Cold Plains              8
Brutass        Icybiatch       Frost Maiden     Cold Plains              8
Galningen      Blade           Bf/Light Traps   Cold Plains              6
EmperorMoo     BraveSirRobin   Mojomancer       Cold Plains              6
Brutass        Sparky          Lite/Orb Sorc    Den of Evil              6  RIP
scottasin      Todetta         Amazon           Den of Evil              5
Kefka          Fergie          Trappa           Rogue Encampment         1
maareek        DeathtoCurtains Berserker        Rogue Encampment         1
Myth           RAWR            Throwbarb        Rogue Encampment         1
Machete        Benny           Bow Barb         Rogue Encampment         1
Zefimas        Susannah        Bowzon           Rogue Encampment         1
crazy_bear     Britta          Trapsin          Rogue Encampment         1
EmperorMoo     Circe           Sorceress        Rogue Encampment         1
Cor Blimey     Sir_Healzealot  Mercadin         Rogue Encampment         1

 

[Alfonso the Great]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

I heart the fact that yesterday was (mostly) a day off. Super-mega TheAragorn update to follow.

What a great start. And an even greater finish. Once the immediate area around the King's Corral was secured, the killing began in earnest. My Holy Shock pulses had the unfortunate side effect of drawing cows from every direction. It had the fortunate side effect of annihilating said cows as well. When this dropped I rolled my eyes. I figured on Tancred's Weird or something equally unhelpful.

I take back everything you did to me throughout Normal. EVERYTHING! Angelic Wings plus Angelic Mantle plus 2x Angelic Halos = +50% Fire Resist, +100% MF, +unbelievable AR, +1 to all skills, and +75 to Life! TheAragorn was set for Nightmare!

This dropped too. I stuck with Hsarius' for the cold resist, though I really would like a 4 slot belt. Time to get a-crafting.... Anyhow, the rest of the farm was cleared without incident, and with lots of assorted gems found. Relatively few runes, unfortunately, but the Wings more than make up for it.

Once we entered NM proper, I switched to my Outfit of Awesome. 46/14/10/-25 resists. Switched to /p8 and off to the races! Hazade promptly died against the first unique zombie mob in the Blood Moor, despite my support and the potions I mainlined to him. Then died again after I resurrected him. And a third time. oint: Honestly, Hazade, how bad could the CE/Extra Strong mob be? Once he gained a level he started being more useful again. Den cleared, Cold Plains meandered, Cave sorta stairtrapped. CE/Cursed. Bleagh. Coldcrow was tame by comparison. More fun on Level 2; I also snagged a splendid charm to make up for my lackluster LR.

Here I am trading arrows with Blood Raven. Now that my health bubble is not the size of a newborn kitten's, I could actually tank her arrows while Hazade's aura healed me up (he's over in the corner killing Hungry Dead). Run, Blood Raven, run! Or you'll be well-done!

Boo to this. Good thing I have Holy Freeze, eh? And here we are killing everyone's favorite blacksmith from far, FAR away.

My first belt crafting attempt was mediocre at best...Hsarius' has better life by 2 points and I'm not lacking for lightning resist. Maybe I'll toss it on come Hell?

As if the Halo wasn't enough, the RNG handed me this as well. Hazade, say goodbye to your random rare breast plate. The drop was most fortuitous, given the proper stairtrap on the 5th level. I dialed back to /p1 for the Countess and didn't even need to fire arrows to kill her and her retinue. Ooh, a Shael!

I had my nearest NDE yet in the Tamoe Highland. TheAragorn had a CE/Multishot shaman namelocked and was doing what he does best when his life plummeted. Poisoned and chilled? Run away, hammer 4! Turns out Hazade wandered too close to a Spectral Hit/Extra Strong unique Thorn Beast before wandering away again, making TheAragorn the target of choice. His health was in the 30s quick as a wink. Thanks, Angelic Wings! :thumbup: Later, while exploring The Pit, I found a weapon upgrade. The IAS (relative to my long battle bow) was well-received, and a little more LR never hurts.

Is it cheesing when I nibble Yetis to death from complete safety? I don't think so. The game makes up for it with stairtraps, so I deserve my moments. I found another fun unique in the Barracks. Thank Thoth Hazade guaranteed shattering bodies on a kill. And here we have an even more fun unique. Making me break out Holy Fire...for shame, Pitspawn! Immediately afterward a Bone Archer dropped something. How I failed to have one of those in my grail before is beyond me.

Thanks, random Dark One! A little later, we had this. No, that's not an Andariel drop.

THIS is an Andariel drop. Skystrike? SKYSTRIKE??? I'll take that over an SoJ in these circumstances for sure!

Mwahahahahaha! A little later, a unique mummy gave up something else that may see use in Hell, or at least will put up a damn good fight against some Hitpower gloves. One more floor, heeeeeere's Radamant! Note the lack of bodies, and not because of kiting. Bless you, Hazade! Even if you did die from his poison afterwards. Whoops.

The Stony Tomb was right outside Lut Gholein, so I took care of that right quick. Picked up Milabrega's Robe for my trouble. Probably won't see use, but more variety in equipment is always better. The Dry Hills and Halls of the Dead were tame and cleared very quickly; Hazade's shattering and my namelocking put away Unravelers and their brood, bats have low health, and vultures and cats have low health and no particular resistance to lightning.

My first unique polearm. It's not Kelpie Snare. If only I could get a Kelpie's Snare....*wishful thinking* Cheesing Coldworm Part 2. His poison aura got me AGAIN!

So there we are. So far Nightmare is 9/10 a joke...I've run into a few scary uniques (the Highland NDE springs to mind foremost, as well as a CE/Cursed beetle in the Oasis that tore through Hazade like wet tissue), but mostly the ease of killing has only ramped up. With Fire and Lightning resits at 45 and 43 respectively, I have comparatively little to fear from most magical ranged attacks, and the life boost from the Angelic set really really helps. Coupled with a definitely non-crappy bow and a respectable 213% MF across my equipment, things are looking good for TheAragorn. I'm not really worried about Duriel...if Normal Duriel wound up being a load of hot air, NM Duriel will be even more airy now that I have maxed Holy Shock and Holy Freeze, a Malice pike, and Skystike Meteors.

[highlight]Destroyer TheAragorn, Ranger Paladin, Level 54, Lost City[/highlight]

@UllaV: The second Angelic Sickle I was so graciously given. The breastplate actually sold for ~7k gold.

@everybody else: Great progress. My condolences to those who suffered deeds. Good luck to Tarantella; hopefully Damasque will pull through to the end!

 

[Cor Blimey]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

edit:......

 

[kavarin]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

RIP for Roadkill. Playing with a laptop and no vitality is high risk indeed.

Yes indeed Ah well, hopefully lesson learned. And the indestructible feeling probably didn't help either. With Oak Sage, life was more than 360 (even in full MF gear) and the globe rarely moved. When it did, carrion vine topped it back up almost immediately. Except for that one time :crazyeyes:

 

[Mournblade]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Svelte_Savage continued on. She has made it to Jail Level 1 without too much trouble, but playing a melee character is a little more stressful I guess. Especially more important to check those boss mods. Ran into a couple Extra Strong ones and got knocked down to under 1/2 life a few times, and didn't realize why until I backed off and realized the boss's mod. Using level 1 jab with a 3 socket spear filled with chips. Rogue merc doing well with her 3 chip hunter's bow.

Best find: small charm +10 life, 6% lightning resist

With Mouse the Golemancer, I played mostly on players 1 or 3. So far I have played this girl on players 7.

[highlight]Svelte_Savage, Spearazon, Level 18, Jail Level 1[/highlight]

 

[Ohomemgrande1]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

General Joe cleared out the Spider Forest and associated spider holes. Szasza the cursed took out the army but eventually died to my army of undead.

I've got the map that has one exit to the Flayer Jungle and one exit to the Great Marsh. I think I'm going to hold back with the Great Marsh and keep it as a source for an army in future boss battles (I also reserved 3 of the false tombs). So, on to the Flayer Jungle we go!

[highlight]GeneralJoe, lvl 26, Spider Forest[/highlight]

 

[LozHinge the Unhinged]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Witherstick, and his new best friend, Razan The Mighty, have been busy in the deserts around Lut Gholein, waking up ancient, slumbering evils and slaying them. Many of those ancient evils can be right grouches when woken. Har-rumph.

Radament was the first bump in the road but his ability to revive his troops was taken from him by judicious use of Poison Explosion. This pattern was later repeated in the Halls of the Dead and will of course prove useful in the Tombs. Above ground, Witherstick played a dangerous game of tag with Scarabs and Zombies; Dim Vision helps enormously with this. I really wish I could control the merc with DV - he kept diving into the fray against the beetles and I kept getting hurt by the resultant lightning bolts. Witherstick's own attack doesn't seem to trigger the lightning, except for a modest burst as the bug dies from poison. Smart Necro. Stupid merc.

Before we knew it, we were at the Maggot Lair. I was being very, very careful not to get caught by enemies on two sides - I've had SC characters die from that nasty trick. It really only happened at the entrance to Coldworm's chamber, with maggot young spawning behind me - presumably because there was no room to spawn in the chamber itself!

A NDE to end all NDE's in the Claw Viper Temple Level 1. I was running from the CE explosion of an Unraveler boss but was slow getting away. When I initially checked the bulb, it read "Life: 1 / 278". OMG. That wasn't the last of my big shocks, naturally ...

Fangskin made me jump out of my own skin. I'd worked my way through some Claw Vipers to the right of the altar and (to avoid the Boss Snake's charging attack) I had carefully positioned myself behind some conveniently located urns. He leapt over the damned things! Is he even allowed to do that? I got pretty well banged up, I can tell you - three full juvies were chugged, Bone Armour and Dim Vision spammed and I made it (somehow) through The 'Skin and his pack, to the safety of the Viper Altar (although after that urn-dodging trick, I did question whether the big snakes can definitely not mount the stairs!). My nerves were thoroughly jangled while I watched the merc as he calmly worked his way through the Salamanders. Job done and a nice upgrade of helm for the merc.

LCS readout as of now is here. Yet more attempts at upgrading the merc-stick have ended in failure. I will mule some more chipped diamonds back onto the character, but the need for life leech is a little less urgent now that Razan has Wormskull to play with. I have some PRubies, Jewels and Tal runes ready, waiting for magical mesh belts to drop; I want to craft some Blood belts to replace the ageing Sigon's Plated Belt currently being worn. Act2 NM is effectively the first time mesh belts can appear, but so far none (magical, anyway).


Stuff
Skills
Amp, Weaken, IM, Terror, Decrep, Life Tap. Lower Res - 1 pt (3 pts)
DV - 10 (12)
BA - 1 (3)
BW - 15 (17)
PDag - 20 (22)
PExp - 7 (9)
Teeth, CE - 1 (3) (Pre-reqs only, not to be used)

BA - 250
Block - 75%
MF - 18%
Useful charms, GC 27 Life, LC 14 Life/16 AR, SC 12 Life plus some with +FHR, +Str, +Cold Dam and of course, resists. Cold Res has crept up (hurray!) which certainly saved my life in the Claw Viper Temple.

Notable drops:

Spoiler

The Face of Horror - would have got used if not for Peasant Crown

Visceratuant - more love for non-necros!
Defender
Defense: 112
Chance to Block: 60%
Smite Damage: 8 to 12
Durability: 54 of 68
Required Strength: 38
Required Level: 28
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 44
Fingerprint: 0xc1dbdd40
+125% Enhanced Defense
+30% Increased Chance of Blocking
+1 to Sorceress Skill Levels
30% Faster Block Rate
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of 10

Caretaker's Amulet - yet more love for non-necro characters
Required Level: 30
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 41
Fingerprint: 0x1bbb582e
+2 to Summoning Skills (Druid Only)

Ruby Grand Charm of Storms - nice!
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 22
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x254f0015
Fire Resist +29%
Adds 1-31 lightning damage

Scintillating Jewel
Required Level: 26
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 44
Fingerprint: 0x88423f75
All Resistances +12

Definitely destined for a socketed Peasant Crown in Hell, if I make it

Act Highlight - so far, Fangskin. AARGGHH!

[highlight]WitherStick, Poison Daggermancer, Level 56, The Harem Level 1, Lut Gholein (NM)[/highlight]

 

[Tarantella]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Fun report as usual and well played there.:thumbsup:



Mesh belts can be shopped for from one of the traders in act 2 in nightmare without too much hassle.:wink:

 

[LozHinge the Unhinged]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Fun report as usual and well played there.:thumbsup:

Thank you!

Mesh belts can be shopped for from one of the traders in act 2 in nightmare without too much hassle.:wink:

But I'm such a cheapskate! :smug:

Thanks, I will give it a whirl - I have a lot of gold spare at present.

 

[Tarantella]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

... Good luck to Tarantella; hopefully Damasque will pull through to the end!

Luck will indeed be needed .Thanks!

Act 3 started off at an optimistic p4 and the first quest safely completed for an extra 20 life. A poor pair of Natalyas boots dropped but were stashed as it would have meant a complete reshuffle to wear them. Both spider caverns were ignored as too the left fork into the Great marsh in the hope that there was another way through to the Flayer jungle. But it was not to be and entering the marsh with some trepidation Damasque came across first a bramble pack, then some fetishes and with a palpable sense of impending doom, took a screenshot of her last moments, and progressed onward to "gloam city". However Damasque didn't croak there and then but soon out jumped a swamp dweller who did and attempted to put one on her. One dead amphibian later, relief all round were shortly followed by the appearance of a left fork into safety of the jungle. A night was spent deep in the jungle, the air full of the sound of flayers panicking as they gulped in the poison from Damasques deadly javelins. One even stabbed Damasque in the kneecap for minor damage! Various enclaves were found and cleared and the shamans were treated with a special attention till finally the gate guardians of Kurast were found and dealt with by channeling onto a narrow front. Lower kurast was then cleared still at p4 and then this extremely long session ended after a complete clearance of the rather labyrinthine Great Marsh frogs n' all.

The second session started(Same game being kept open) with a p1 clearance of the the flayer dungeon, then the two spider caverns followed by a p4 clearance of the other Kurasts bar the temples, the nastiest boss in the house to house fighting there was this fellow whose appearance was made known when his wide player killing beam struck the decoy from afar. There followed a quick dash up the causeway reaching the travincal waypoint without disturbing the sleeping inhabitants there. On the way so far another nice small charm, a two socket 160ed grim shield and a 3 socket blade barrier had been found, the latter filled with diamonds to replace the kite shield and its poor blocking for the next encounters. Taking the opportunity to do yet more headgear gambling produced several +3 items for other classes till this item deemed vital for progress was finally procurred.

The sewers were then entered at p1 where luck would have it again there were no dolls but a difficult encounter with a Ancients pack of unknown size and powers meant a retrace and circling in the other direction. The lower sewers level did have a large doll pack and for some inexplicable reason the Valkyrie disappeared round the corner to take down a boss with unknown abilities leaving Damasque pinned and recasting decoy by the stairs for a while worrying if an Horadrim was lurking nearby. The upper level was then cleared to finish the session.

After a few days rest the third session commenced and was expected to be another long one, the Travincal council first to fall, followed by dolls, maulers and preserved dead on the first level. You sometimes get a lucky map and mostly you dont and it was a full 45 minute slog round to the far side of the map to the stairs on a level full of yet more dolls, maulers and preserved dead.

On the 3rd level bracing for another doll rush the level 32 valkyrie marched confidentally forward into the encounter and departed a few seconds later cursed, struck by a myriad hydras and goodness knows what else. Damasque caught a glimpse of something dark and shadowy moving fast in the background beyond the flames( Aieee! a Balrog!! cried Legolas)* and fled for the stairs!

She returned wearing gear for recasting a strong valkyrie though weaker fury and plague javelin and slowly separated out the council and then the fast moving shadows. With steady calm the end of act boss was approached and although the valkyrie was recast several time Damasque took no damage in the encounter. There followed an hour long complete clearance of the Durance (are you mad!) in a vain attempt to get a monarch to drop and a mop up of Travincal before pausing at the start of act 4.


Tarantella Damasque Skirmisher Pandemonium Fortress(H) level 84




*artistic licence

 

[LozHinge the Unhinged]

Re: The Certain Death Tournament.

Fantastic progress, Tarantella. Gratz on recruiting Legolas!

Valks are a little less infuriating than Act 2 mercs, but they are still prone to the occasional malfunction. All in all, I think she's a better bet than a merc for your build. :thumbup: