This is the silly story of two not very amazin amazons and their misadventures. It is extremely not serious and since I am very inexperienced with archer characters it is doubtful whether they will live to finish the game. As you might have guessed from the latest statement they are hardcore characters, and also untwinked ones without any extra stash of any kind and no rune word mod. Happy reading!
Episode 1. The Greedy Trinkets of the Cold Plains
Maltatai: Welcome to the first episode of the tale of two bow-using amazons. We will follow the progress of Rödluvan (Swedish for Little Red Riding Hood) and Snövit (Swedish for Snow White) as they try to battle their way through the evil minions of stepmothers, charming wolves and the prime evils. In this primitive game dots do not exist so just pretend that the crosses inside the Diablo o:s are made up of imprisoned dots that would like to get out and return to their proper place above the letter. Stay tuned for regular updates or completely random lack of those, depending on how much time I have for the characters.
Let's move on to the plan for each character. I will try to keep their progress more or less even and not have any rush too far ahead of the other.
Snövit: Now that's motivating... What's the point of expanding my enterprise to new levels if the progress is held down by that kind of command economy? Now I will never be able to get ahead of Rödluvan.
Maltatai: As you hear, Snövit is ideologically as blue as the frost arrows she will soon specialize in. Rödluvan is more of the red type.
Rödluvan: And I must protest against how the progress of the archer community is held down by this inappropriate linking with the evil marketing forces! Think what monumental gains we could otherwise have gained in our social solidarity if left unchecked!
Maltatai: That said, why don't you present yourself and the progress you have made so far?
Maltatai: Thank you. Over to Snövit.
Maltatai: Thank you. One thing that strikes me is that you both have greedy jewellery. It's nice to see that you agree on at least some points.
Rödluvan: Certainly not! Snövit's greed is filthy market schemes to rob the people and exploiting the workers. MY greed represents the taxes gathered for the greater good of everyone, distributed by the communal society.
Maltatai: So, when brutally slaughtering demons you are...collecting taxes?
Rödluvan: Exactly.
Snövit: Just listen to the filthy hypocrite! Did anyone ask whether those demons wanted to pay taxes in the first place? No! Rödluvan represents a brutal oppression of enemies whereas I give the demons the freedom of choice. I shout "Experience and loot or your Life" to every foe I see before engaging them.
Maltatai: Really?
Snövit: Ok, maybe not exactly but I point my bow at them in a threatening manner. Universal sign of "hand over your belongings or get attacked".
Maltatai: And how is a monster supposed to be able to give you experience without being killed?
Snövit: That's the monsters problem. I have at least given them a choice, after that it's up to the other part to pick whatever option he or she likes.
Maltatai: I see. Well, this will be all for this time. I don't think the prime evils stand much chance against such relentless capitalism or disregarding socialism. They have already made me feel a bit sick and this is just the first episode. I have to take a break until the next one. Over and out.
Let's move on to the plan for each character. I will try to keep their progress more or less even and not have any rush too far ahead of the other.
Snövit: Now that's motivating... What's the point of expanding my enterprise to new levels if the progress is held down by that kind of command economy? Now I will never be able to get ahead of Rödluvan.
Maltatai: As you hear, Snövit is ideologically as blue as the frost arrows she will soon specialize in. Rödluvan is more of the red type.
Rödluvan: And I must protest against how the progress of the archer community is held down by this inappropriate linking with the evil marketing forces! Think what monumental gains we could otherwise have gained in our social solidarity if left unchecked!
Maltatai: That said, why don't you present yourself and the progress you have made so far?
Rödluvan: I started first (HA! Owned, Snövit!). My plan is as follows:
20 Inner Sight
20 Exploding Arrow
20 Fire Arrow
20 Decoy
1 in all other passive and magic skills
1 Strafe
Spare points into Critical Strike
So, I will spread the warm, red and social exploding arrows across the land. Hopefully the decoy and very strong 1-point valkyrie will keep me safe so I won't need to rely on slow missiles. That way, inner sight should turn most enemies into easy target practise. If I can acquire good enough items, it may even be enough to allow me to use strafe to trigger some interesting processes. I am especially eager to find some open wounds gear since it is red and suits my theme. Crushing blow will also do fine, as well as life leech. And of course knockback. I plan on going through the game in a quilted armour to look as red as possible.
Currently I am on level 12 and have cleared the cold plains and got myself a rogue scout. Her name is Floria and she is rather cold. We use hunter's bows with rubies and sapphires. Naturally I put the rubies first to get a red bow. I have found a ring and amulet of greed but the returns are meagre so far.
I have the following skills:
Magic Arrow: 1/1
Fire Arrow: 8/8
Multiple Shot: 1/1
Critical Strike: 1/1
Exploding Arrow: 1/1
The feeling of seeing those explosions start at level 12...wonderful! What fireworks! A shame that the costs are so high. The community budget is not exactly balanced, but then, these are hard times for most states and I suppose the Rogue Camp is feeling the effects of the current economic crisis. I have had to support my economy on numerous occasions (buying, drinking and storing mana potions) but I am sure we will endure and one day rise to a self-sufficient community.
Plans for the near future: Beat Snövit in all ways possible. Try to acquire a Tal and Eth rune. I have already stored a socketed quilted armour to make "Stealth" in. Find more runes for a new bow. Find some boots that will me run faster. I am unsure whether to pump exploding arrow or inner sight the coming levels.
Maltatai: Thank you. Over to Snövit.
Snövit: Ha! As you hear, the silly community spirit of Rödluvan will not prevail. Individualistic freedom is the way to go! Already she is having trouble balancing her budget. I, on the other hand, am close to reducing my expenses to near nothing. But let me start properly;
Being Snövit, I will of course specialize in skills that are snowy and white, namely:
20 Magic Arrow
20 Guided Arrow
20 Cold Arrow
20 Freezing Arrow
1 point in all passive and magic skills
Spare points into critical strike I think
Freezing arrow will be the main attack against crowds. The freezing should provide ample safety against most enemies, as long as I fire continuously. I don't think it's worth the investment to max Ice Arrow just for the freeze length (well, at least it's more fun to have more skill diversity). The lack of a strong decoy or valkyrie will be a challenge but I hope to be able to use guided arrow to take down most cold immunes from some safe spot behind a corner or something. To suit the theme I will be looking for things that slow the target, blue or white armour and "hit freezes target" items if they seem viable. Shatter and bow before the mighty Snövit!
So far I am at level 12. I have also cleared the cold plains and have a rogue scout named Blaise (should be Blaze for she is pretty warm). I have gotten almost complete control over the magic arrow market and can buy almost at any prize I want. Soon, very soon, I will have a monopoly and endless free arrows. Muahahahaha! This early in the game the fixed damage bonus of Magic Arrow is particularly notable. I have the following skill:
Magic Arrow: 12/12
I and Blaise wield socketed hunter's bows with rubies and sapphires (sapphire first for me of course) and I have two rings of greed and an amulet of regeneration to keep the daily small life expenses down. I was very lucky when I gambled and the first pair of gloves I got was some very stylish blue ones with cold resist and a chance to cast frost nova when struck. I am sure Rödluvan doesn't have anything near those.
Future plans: Gain runes to make Stealth armour and a good bow, unless I find a white or blue suit of armour.
Maltatai: Thank you. One thing that strikes me is that you both have greedy jewellery. It's nice to see that you agree on at least some points.
Rödluvan: Certainly not! Snövit's greed is filthy market schemes to rob the people and exploiting the workers. MY greed represents the taxes gathered for the greater good of everyone, distributed by the communal society.
Maltatai: So, when brutally slaughtering demons you are...collecting taxes?
Rödluvan: Exactly.
Snövit: Just listen to the filthy hypocrite! Did anyone ask whether those demons wanted to pay taxes in the first place? No! Rödluvan represents a brutal oppression of enemies whereas I give the demons the freedom of choice. I shout "Experience and loot or your Life" to every foe I see before engaging them.
Maltatai: Really?
Snövit: Ok, maybe not exactly but I point my bow at them in a threatening manner. Universal sign of "hand over your belongings or get attacked".
Maltatai: And how is a monster supposed to be able to give you experience without being killed?
Snövit: That's the monsters problem. I have at least given them a choice, after that it's up to the other part to pick whatever option he or she likes.
Maltatai: I see. Well, this will be all for this time. I don't think the prime evils stand much chance against such relentless capitalism or disregarding socialism. They have already made me feel a bit sick and this is just the first episode. I have to take a break until the next one. Over and out.
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