The Triple Threat Tournament

Ohomemgrande1

New member
The Triple Threat Tournament

[highlight]The Triple Threat Tournament[/highlight]

Insert witty story about character's lifelong dream to have adventure, etc.

This is a Single Player Untwinked Single Pass tournament
It is intended to be played as HC but SC may participate until the first death (this is for folks that want to do this on the SC ladder).
This tournament must be played in 1.13
The tournament may be played in either vanilla or FAM
ATMA/GoMule may be used as an extended stash
This is not a ladder tournament but ladder characters may join as long as they follow the ladder rules.
You can join as many times as you'd like and even have multiple characters going at the same time.

The basic premise of this tournament is to explore the various skills in each class through the different difficulties. You'll go through the game three times with essentially three different builds.

[highlight]Skill/Attribute Restrictions:[/highlight]
In Normal difficulty, you are restricted to only place hard points in level 1 and level 6 skills
In Nightmare difficulty, you are restricted to only place hard points in skills up to level 18; you may not place more than 1 point into prereqresites until you have at least 30 points placed into level 12 and 18 skills.
In Hell, you may place points into all skills; you may not place more than 1 point into prerequisites until you have at least 50 points placed into level 24 and 30 skills
Skills must be placed when you earn them
[highlight]
At the beginning of each difficulty, prior to leaving the Rogue's Camp, you will use the respec reward from the previous difficulty so that your skillset conforms to the above requirements. Therefore, you will redeem the normal reward in NM and the NM reward in Hell. The Hell reward can be redeemed after you make Guardian and finish the tournament.​
[/highlight]

There is no restriction on how and when you spend attribute points and of course they will be respecified at the beginning of each difficulty as well.

[highlight]Equipment Restrictions:[/highlight]
Equipment with staff mods, oskills, charges or that provides an aura may only be equipped if the particular skill is available to use in your current difficulty. For example, Enigma could be equipped starting in Nightmare once the teleport skill has opened up. Insight on the other hand is not available until Hell because the Meditation aura is a level 24 skill.
All RWM runewords may be used as long as they conform to the above rule.
Mercenaries must also follow the equipment restrictions

[highlight]Mercenaries:[/highlight]
All mercenaries may be used. You may visit previous difficulties and acts in order to hire the mercenary of your choice.

[highlight]List of skills by difficulty:[/highlight]

[highlight]Normal[/highlight]

Amazon: Jab, Power Strike, Poison Javelin, Inner Sight, Critical Strike, Dodge, Magic Arrow, Fire Arrow, Cold Arrow, Multiple Shot

Assassin: Tiger Strike, Dragon Talon, Fists of Fire, Dragon Claw, Claw Mastery, Psychic Hammer, Burst of Speed, Fire Blast, Shock Web, Blade Sentinal

Necromancer: Raise Skeleton, Skeleton Mastery, Clay Golem, Teeth, Bone Armor, Poison Dagger, Corpse Explosion, Amplify Damage, Dim Vision, Weaken

Barbarian: Howl, Find Potion, Shout, Taunt, Sword Mastery, Axe Mastery, Mace Mastery, Polearm Mastery, Throwing Mastery, Spear Mastery, Bash, Double Swing, Leap

Sorceress: Ice Bolt, Frozen Armor, Frost Nova, Ice Blast, Charged Bolt, Telekinesis, Static Field, Fire Bolt, Warmth, Inferno

Druid: Firestorm, Molten Boulder, Arctic Blast, Werewolf, Lycanthropy, Werebear, Raven, Poison Creeper, Oak Sage, Summon Spirit Wolf

Paladin: Prayer, Resist Fire, Resist Cold, Defiance, Might, Holy Fire, Thorns, Sacrifice, Smite, Holy Bolt

[highlight]Nightmare[/highlight]

Amazon: Impale, Lightning Bolt, Charged Strike, Plague Javelin, Slow Missiles, Avoid, Penetrate, Exploding Arrow, Ice Arrow, Guided Arrow

Assassin: Cobra Strike, Claws of Thunder, Dragon Tail, Cloak of Shadows, Weapon Block, Fade, Shadow Warrior, Charged Bolt Sentry, Wake of Fire, Blade Fury

Necromancer: Golem Mastery, Skeletal Mage, Blood Golem, Bone Wall, Poison Explosion, Bone Spear, Iron Maiden, Terror, Confuse, Life Tap

Barbarian: Find Item, Battle Cry, Increased Stamina, Iron Skin, Double Throw, Stun, Leap Attack, Concentrate

Sorceress: Shiver Armor, Glacial Spike, Lightning, Nova, Chain Lightning, Teleport, Blaze, Fireball, Fire Wall, Enchant

Druid: Cyclone Armor, Fissure, Twister, Maul, Feral Rage, Fire Claws, Rabies, Carrion Vine, Heart of the Wolverine, Summon Dire Wolf

Paladin: Resist Lightning, Cleansing, Vigor, Blessed Aim, Concentration, Holy Freeze, Zeal, Charge, Vengeance, Blessed Hammer

[highlight]Hell[/highlight]

Amazon: Fend, Lightning Strike, Lightning Fury, Decoy, Evade, Valkyrie, Immolation Arrow, Strafe, Freezing Arrow

Assassin: Blades of Ice, Dragon Flight, Phoenix Strike, Mind Blast, Venom, Shadow Master, Lightning Sentry, Wake of Inferno, Death Sentry, Blade Shield

Necromancer: Summon Resist, Iron Golem, Fire Golem, Revive, Bone Prison, Poison Nova, Bone Spirit, Attract, Decrepify, Lower Resist

Barbarian: Battle Orders, Grim Ward, War Cry, Battle Command, Increased Speed, Natural Resistance, Frenzy, Whirlwind, Berserk

Sorceress: Blizzard, Chilling Armor, Frozen Orb, Cold Mastery, Thunder Storm, Energy Shield, Lightning Mastery, Meteor, Fire Mastery, Hydra

Druid: Volcano, Tornado, Hurricane, Armageddon, Shock Wave, Hunger, Fury, Solar Creeper, Spirit of Barbs, Summon Grizzly

Paladin: Meditation, Redemption, Salvation, Holy Shock, Sanctuary, Fanaticism, Conviction, Conversion, Holy Shield, Fist of the Heavens

[highlight]Scoring:[/highlight]

+1 point for WP visited (must be available to use)
+1 point for character level
+1 point for completed quests (must be grayed out)

The obligatory table of participants

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
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The Dearly Departed
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Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
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I personally don't care if people hide the table in spoiler tags or not. I will not be updating the table in this post however.

The tournament starts as soon as the 1.13 patch release is complete on March 23, 2010. It ends when there has been excessive inactivity in the thread.
 
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Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Sounds like fun. I'll start an Amazon. I'll more than likely just "wing" it. See how far I get, Lol.

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
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RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm        2 (Lvl 1 and Rogue camp?)

The Dearly Departed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

A very nice tournament idea indeed. I'll join with an Amazon - mainly because I like the look of being a bow amazon in normal, a lightning amazon in nm and then the opportunity of being arrow or lightning in hell, coupled with valk & decoy as survival skills.

A question - are the mercenaries hit by the same skill restrictions as players? I.e. you can have a blessed aim merc in normal but the skill, if you were a paladin, would only be available in nightmare.

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm        2 (Lvl 1 and Rogue camp?)
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm            0

The Dearly Departed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

A question - are the mercenaries hit by the same skill restrictions as players? I.e. you can have a blessed aim merc in normal but the skill, if you were a paladin, would only be available in nightmare.

The only restriction on the mercs would be on the equipment they wear. Their inherent skills are OK at any time.



 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Great use of 1.13, Ohomemgrande. I'll get in on this when I figure out what to name my character and what class to go with.

Boom.
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Sweet, a new tournament. I was wondering when someone would come up with a way to use respecs in a tournament.
Haven't played a sorc in a while, so a sorc it is. Did anyone say max static?

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm        2 (Lvl 1 and Rogue camp?)
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm            0
scrcrw           Flighty           Sorc     A1 - Norm            2

The Dearly Departed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Full cleared all areas up to right before the Stony Field on /P8. Sitting at level 13, so far. Pretty much loading up Power Strike, with a few points in Critical Strike. It's actually surprising how much damage power strike puts out, with just a few levels. It's sitting at level 7, right now, and with my real basic magic spear, I've got a 150+ max damage. Looking forward to exploring these low level skills more, tomorrow!

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm          16 
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm          0
scrcrw           Flighty           Sorc     A1 - Norm          2

The Dearly Departed
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Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Nice! What better way to celebrate the release of a long-awaited patch than to start a tourney?
I have played mostly 109 and a bit of 110 before a long hiatus.
Completely skipped 111 and 112. But I dont foresee any problems surviving 113.

Being undecided between creating an Amazon or a Druid .. will update tonight when I have reached a decision :)

By the way, what prize for the winner?
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Ok im officially in :)
My amazon is named after my first Rogue back in Diablo I.

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm          16 
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm          0
scrcrw           Flighty           Sorc     A1 - Norm          2
fanatic          Cute_Butt         Amazon   A1 - Norm          2

The Dearly Departed
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Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
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Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

I'm in too. I started a necromancer named Terrorizer. For normal he should be a generic fishymancer. I finished off Blood Raven last night, and I am at level 12

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm          16 
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm          0
scrcrw           Flighty           Sorc     A1 - Norm          2
fanatic          Cute_Butt         Amazon   A1 - Norm          2
spikewilbury     Terrorizer        Necro    A1 - Norm          16

The Dearly Departed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

By the way, what prize for the winner?

Forum accolades, a warm fuzzy feeling, a brand new Guardian...the list goes on and on.

I still don't know what I want to try out. I'm leaning towards a Druid but I'm also considering a Paladin.



 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

All right, I'm all set. I'm in with a Paladin named Bartman, which is the surname of the universally reviled Chicago Cubs fan who lost* the 2002 ALCS for the Cubs in Game 6, for reasons that will be made clear a little later on...

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm          16 
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm          0
scrcrw           Flighty           Sorc     A1 - Norm          2
fanatic          Cute_Butt         Amazon   A1 - Norm          2
spikewilbury     Terrorizer        Necro    A1 - Norm          16
Lostprophet      Bartman           Paladin  A1 - Norm          0

The Dearly Departed
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Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

*Nobody outside of Chicago actually believes this.
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm          16 
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm          13
scrcrw           Flighty           Sorc     A1 - Norm          2
fanatic          Cute_Butt         Amazon   A1 - Norm          2
spikewilbury     Terrorizer        Necro    A1 - Norm          16
Lostprophet      Bartman           Paladin  A1 - Norm          0

The Dearly Departed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I managed up to the stony field - not fully clearing but close enough ;).

I ended up putting a lot of points into critical strike for a 49% rate and then just one point in the bow skills. I'm undecided about using dodge - seems silly for normal. I may just pump ice arrow & multiple shot. As for weapons, I threw 2 chipped topazes into a bow for me and some chipped emeralds for the companion. Dps is good and no problems as of yet!

P.S - Are we counting the waypoint for each town as a +1 and level 1 as a +1? /confused
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Bartman rests on his laurels at level 13, having cleared up through the Stony Field. Poor build planning (who'd have thunk Smite didn't work with Holy Fire :whistling:?) led to him going ahead and using his Norm respec, and it looks like he'll be a Mighter and a Smiter (boosh), at least through normal. Some glitch in the respec process led to Might and Holy Fire both shuffling through on the aura animation, and the Holy Fire damage remained in the window for his normal attack, but that was a display bug - don't worry, I checked, no fire damage. His +3 Might/+1 Sacrifice regular Scepter helps to put his Smite damage at 18-33 at press time, thanks in large part to a nicely gambled Spiked Shield, clearly the coolest shield to bash face with.

Notable finds have been this gorgeous little rare Ammy, 3 Chipped Topazes, and 3 - count them, 3 - cold enchanted archer packs in The Cave: Coldcrow and two randoms. Much appreciated, 1.13 :coffee:.

[highlight]Bartman the Mightsmiter and Rozene the Fire Rogue, Level 13, Underground Passage[/highlight]

(I'll update the table with my score when I get a little clarification on how it works: what WPs are we counting? Doesn't character level normally count against score in these things?)
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

... led to him going ahead and using his Norm respec, ...

Umm, you can't use your normal respec until you get to NM. I suppose it isn't completely clear from the rules (I'll clarify) but it does say that you use the respec from the previous difficulty prior to leaving the Rogue Camp. I can't think of a way that you could start NM according to the rules other than saving at least 30 skill points for the 12-18 level skills that you would then place upon completion of Normal. You're still pretty early so you might as well start over :weep: That is a nice amulet though.

@Bugzy - yes, level 1 and town WP's count so you start with 2 points.

Regarding +1 point/level: I think in a single-pass tournament that it makes more sense to get positive points for your level. Someone that goes through Hell on P3 or P8 and killed all monsters subjected themselves to more risk so they deserve a little something extra :)



 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Roopsie. Yeah, that makes sense too. At least I saw this before I continued clearing the rest of the tedious Underground Passage. Restart, ho! :crazyeyes:
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Great tournament idea. My soreceress Soulcatcher (I can't believe that name wasn't taken) will be joining in! I'll play hardcore, on battlenet, in private password protected games. That means no /players 8 for me, I believe this will be quite hard. Now I'm off to do some math on what skills I can make most powerful in normal mode.

Noob question: what is FAM? There is no entry for it in the Diablo 2 abbreviation guide.

Code:
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Location        Points
-------------------------------------------------------------------
RGValdearg       Valense           Amazon   A1 - Norm          16 
spikewilbury     Terrorizer        Necro    A1 - Norm          16
Bugzy            Unpredictable     Amazon   A1 - Norm          13
scrcrw           Flighty           Sorc     A1 - Norm          2
fanatic          Cute_Butt         Amazon   A1 - Norm          2
Es Mors          Soulcatcher       Sorc     A1 - Norm          2
Lostprophet      Bartman           Paladin  A1 - Norm          0

The Dearly Departed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Forum Name     Character Name      Class     Points     Method of Death
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Noob question: what is FAM? There is no entry for it in the Diablo 2 abbreviation guide.

Check out the SPF FAQ for the unique bits and pieces of the Single Player Forum!

FAM is Forum Approved Mods which include the RuneWord Mod (enables ladder-only RW's for SP), the RRM/CRM (which allows for red runes or multi-colored runes and a few other items.

A pretty strong sorc build for normal would be something with a high static field and a merc. I think a firebolt sorc would be pretty hardy too.

Good luck



 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Check out the SPF FAQ for the unique bits and pieces of the Single Player Forum!

FAM is Forum Approved Mods which include the RuneWord Mod (enables ladder-only RW's for SP), the RRM/CRM (which allows for red runes or multi-colored runes and a few other items.

A pretty strong sorc build for normal would be something with a high static field and a merc. I think a firebolt sorc would be pretty hardy too.

Good luck

Thanks for the info! This is my first sorc, so I'm not really sure how static field works, but I'll be able to try it out soon enough. I was actualy thinking of making an Ice Blast sorceress, since its damage can get up into the 400 hundreds with the help of synergy. Fire Bolt, however has no legal synergies in this tournament.


 
Re: The Triple Threat Tournament

Thanks for the info! This is my first sorc, so I'm not really sure how static field works, but I'll be able to try it out soon enough. I was actualy thinking of making an Ice Blast sorceress, since its damage can get up into the 400 hundreds with the help of synergy. Fire Bolt, however has no legal synergies in this tournament.

Static field cuts a monster's health by about 25% for each cast so in normal you can get everything to low health really quickly. It's effectiveness decreases in NM and Hell. As you add points, it's radius of effect gets bigger to the point that you can pretty much affect the entire screen. It's great for normal and you can easily buy a staff at Drognan's in A2 with +3 to static field.

Ice bolt would also be a good skill in normal. The biggest advantage ice/fire bolt have are that they are cheap for mana. Fire bolt is 2.5 compared to Ice bolt at 3 but either way it's pretty cheap and both are effective unsynergized in normal.



 
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