Several things
All skills, regardless of how attained, that have synergies receive them from one of only two things: hardpoints (natural class only) and charges (theorhetorically bugged). Since auras only have other auras as synergies there's no way to synergize them from another class, and this also applies to the natural class with regards to autoauras (Exile on a paladin doesn't act as a synergy to Holy Shield). Hardpoints override charges, hence a bonemancer cannot place even a single point into Bone Prison in order to receive synergistic support from Marrowwalk.
Only two abilities gain from +To All/Class Skills: hardpoints and oskills. Hardpoints obviously gain from both, but oskills only gain from +TAS unless the oskill is natural to the class wearing it, such as a sorceress wearing Flamebellow. In this case, even if it's totally granted by an item (no hardpoints to initiate Inferno), it's still boosted by +1 to Sorceress Skills items.
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CompanyOfWolves is currently CLvl56 but need to make clear: I'll not spend another four hours leveling my character to catch up with everyone else like I just did. It's not about speed, as if we were all going fast there'd be no problem. It's about people not showing up for days on end (holidays) and others not being satisfied with that but continue playing and leveling far ahead of everyone. If people don't show I don't play the character, even as much as I want. I accept, however difficult, that the character must remain still in order to keep the party sated. I have over two dozen accounts (most non-ladder now) on USEast that I can inventory and play instead, I don't Jones to ride one specific character, especially one I know is dependant on playing with, and only with, certain others.
With that said, I have died a total of four times: twice due to Battle.net's outstanding netcode and the other two (I think) to a severe lack of resistances/defense. I have now taken off the Arctic Furs after finding a higher defense/resistance rare ring mail in nightmare Upper Kurast. That's right, I've been starting out from the docks and working my way up to Travincal. Although I've activated all the quests I haven't touched the items necessary to complete them nor the waypoints. In fact, someone else (I'll not mention who) caused the Dark Wanderer just outside the docks in my game to dissipate and spawn the six flesh beasts. I didn't even get to kill them, so I think that shows just how far I'll go to keep the game for the group. That, and dying that fourth time in Upper Kurast without precasting a portal; had to run all the way back up and lost the full rejuvenation potions I dropped.
Expecting everyone to be there tonight, though. As far as I can see there's no excuse for not showing up for at least a few minutes and letting everyone know the JoTH still exists and is worth playing. We're down to six people now, if one more drops it might die, as Sokar has trouble even finding a server with under 250ping. If he begins having trouble one night then there's no chance of playing, at the same time I haven't helped outfit him just to leave him behind, so I'd like to see everyone there at 1EST/10PST/1700AEST.
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As for the USEast JoTH, I haven't heard word one from Cherokee in the last couple of weeks, though he said he'd be sparse until around today. We have two Poison and Bone necromancers, one marrowmancer and one necrodecay. I volunteered a medic variant from the paladin class, so since we already have our dual build I suggest the other five for anyone else wanting to join.
The only problem I have is choosing a pure medic build over a total hybrid based on items, such as a merc's Meditation polearm and wearing a fully synergized Lawbringer. Maxing out Prayer for both a maxed Cleansing (in turn for Lawbringer) and maxed Holy Bolt. This leaves only two more skills to max, which makes it hard to combine the three builds into one. I can max Resist Lightning and Salvation (still making it a defensive skiller-type build) and hope for a Dream helm so it's fully synergized - a Medic/Tesladin or healing shocktrooper - or max Holy Bolt damage by filling Blessed Hammer and Fist of the Heavens, in what essentially becomes a cleric/medic blend.
Clerics max Prayer/Holy Shock/Holy Bolt/Blessed Hammer/Fist of the Heavens for fully synergized Bolt and Fist but only have three hardpoints left as they finish at CLvl96, and medics max Meditation/Cleansing/Prayer/Sanctuary/Holy Bolt finishing at CLvl93, so I'd have to give up something either way. Lawbringer suggests I would be more offensive than defensive, but I'm not sure how to translate that. I think I'd need some help with this decision, and if you guys don't have any ideas I'll have to petition the paladin forum for assistance. Certainly leaning towards a fighting medic/cleric style - less runes, more sense.
So far I'm looking at this gear:
RAL+TIR+TAL+SOL and a 4OS bill or battle scythe, preferrably superior. The bill would require about +10STR for the merc to wear at CLvl27 (requirement for SOL) whereas the scythe would need +15DEX. Both weapons are RLvl25 but SOL is RLvl27. I'm weighing the disadvantage of raising the RLvl of these two polearms two levels over waiting until the merc is CLvl48 to use a colossus voulge or thresher, at which point he'd need a
lot more STR/DEX. Either way I'll likely have to remake the runeword in a higher item to keep us both alive.
AMN+LEM+KO and a 3OS seraph rod/caduceus with bonuses to Cleansing, Holy Bolt, etc. and preferrably superior. I can certainly make it out of a lower scepter, but that means remaking later, and these particular runes won't be easy to come by more than once in the short time we'll be playing. Would likely wait to arm him with ideal gear post-hell Baal, but even these two weapons have much higher STR/DEX than a pure medic would have (they're normally an all-vitality build, staying in the back of the group), so a hybrid is a tough nut to crack.
FCR gear to reach 75% with Lawbringer, 125% on switch (last two break points). Holy Bolt doesn't absolutely need fastest cast rate, but it'll come in handy when surrounded by undead or a tank needs something more than leech and our combined replenishment.
Let me know if other gear would help or be less taxing on the group, I'm still searching.
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Raskol, I've joined USWest again and see you there. If you'd like for my pets to form a wall for you as you move up (not rushing, but it would be quicker) let me know. I think we can get you into the 40's in no time with the information on
http://www.purediablo.com/guides/news.php?id=551 and a few people in the game.
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Wathombe, since I don't have the funds to party I had no where to go these past two weeks, so it's been damn boring. Glad you'll be here tonight, my chu-ko-nu needs that Enchant.
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Fury, mercs aren't designed to use charges or any other abilities granted to them from their gear that aren't autoactivated, so oskills would be the same. A conviction what? Remember, this is a JoTH, you won't be able to bring BERs in from outside the game until after beating hell Baal, so if you're only using an A2X merc for the added conviction to help a sorc then at least make sure he levels with you. My merc's meditation should help you and Vahdriss after L27 if, indeed, you've chosen that class.
