It's good to be home!
As far as Psycho is concerned...well, he may log on today, and may not. He has RL issues at the moment. Perfect timing, just as the forums come back online, but the end result is he probably won't see these threads until Saturday, and won't have an updated board until Sunday earliest.
Sorry for all those who have lost characters, for whatever reason, or those who choose real-life over the joys of 1.10 HC. Remember that there is no time constraint for this tourney, feel free to take a holiday and come back in a few weeks time if things at home are getting out of control.
@ Sam: Obviously, I can't say one way or another whether a restart would be allowed given the circumstances. I'll tell Psycho your miseries at the earliest oppertunity, and see if we can't get back to you sometime over the weekend.
Now as far as my update is concerned...
[highlight]Team Tolkien (CraZySorc)[/highlight] - 127 points
Destroyer Boromir - (Barb - Warcries/Com.Skills) - lvl 47 - Act II Ntm
Destroyer Galadriel - (Sorc - Light./Fire) - lvl 62 - Act III Ntm
Destroyer Arwen - (Assassin - Shadow/MA) - lvl 49 - Act II Ntm
That's 3 destroyers, 3 cow kings, 3 * Act I Ntm, Sorceress has completed Act III, Barbarian is ready to face Duriel. I believe my math is right...?
Yes, my sorceress has made Nightmare Meph, and will not likely move on until she's level 70 or so. Given that Meph is yielding 1 mil experience on players 8, she shouldn't be too long at it, perhaps a week or two. But the other characters must catch up as well.
My builds are progressing quite nicely. I won't say they're as safe to play as summoners would be, but they are very entertaining, particularly my assassin. Cloak of Shadows is proving a real one-point wonder.
The assassin currently has a few points in venom and is trying to max Shadow Master. Fade, claw mastery, dragon claw and weapon block are all about half-maxed. So the Shadow Masteries are really the dominant tree in my build, with only the dragon claw for the damage and AR. It's working reasonably well - I don't kill things quickly, but I can kill them safely.
The Barbarian is a standard Concentrate barb, with one difference. I'm forgetting about Bash and maxing Shout and Beserk instead, for use in CS/WSK. No Iron Maiden in mid swing for this boy. Oh, of course, I'm also forgoing any masteries, because it's Forbidden.
The Sorceress is a Meteor speciallist. Nova is half-maxed, and I expect it to be maxed by hell so I can take on Fire-immunes. Meteor is maxed, and I'm working on Fire Mastery - damage is about 3600, at level 23 meteor with a Leaf staff. I am really pleased with my merc's progress, and ability to take on just about anything with his Holy Freeze aura, including Physical Immunes.
Some nice items too. Venom Grip, Moonfall, Steeldriver, an Ethereal Bonesnap for bosses, Zakarum's Hand, Hwanin's Justice, Boneslayer Blade, Infernostrides, Frostburn, low-level uniques, a few completed low-level sets. The prize mule is up to 80+ entries. My count of good rares is becoming impressive, and the Assy has three Amns, three Sols, a Shael and a whole heap of lower-level runes in her stash. All I need is a 5-socket Lance, and my mercs will be laughing.
Now all I need is some unique jewelry for the assassin. I have 2 nagelrings and a manald heal...where's that Raven Frost, damnit? I need the 'Cannot be Frozen' stat badly.
So as far as things to come...nothing except endless Meph runs, Countess runs and possible tomb raiding in search of that 5-socket Lance. No character will be progressing past Meph until he is level 70 at least, so I have some work to do!
Stay cool, don't get killed, and I'll see you next week!
