Diablo 2 - Your tips and thoughts

[Basan]

Well, I think that the title is 'fairly' obvious to the point where I'm heading at. ;)

I've acquired a D2-LoD and am starting to fiddle with it. I'm experiencing with all the kind of characters that it has but so far am more compelled to try out the Sorceress, Rogue, Necromancer and the Druid. I find that the game carries a lot of differences to be played with'em. What I mostly noticed is that for the Sorceress the game shows me a lot less items than for the other character types that I've fiddled with. The Druid n' Rogue so far are the ones that I got to level 6 but I'm having a few doubts on what to train in skill and also on how to spend my character points for the different characters and therefore I'm leaning to you, my fellow WB'dian, to save me some digging up hassle and to guide me a lil' bit on what to dos and don'ts (in this forsaken 'net connection land) for each class that I'm experiencing.

And also I don't know the feasibility of it all but maybe with some tender love n' care it could turn out has some sort of newbie guide into the delving deeps of Diablo 2 and its Lord of Destruction expansion for us to use as a reference. :)

[Andvari]

Well, if you want to learn easier, i would say join my channel and we can play since i have time today :O

to be serious though, it depends on how you want to play.

If you want a melee mass killer, barbarian gets some nice skills for that along with the assassin.

But you need to be a little more specific on what thing you want really, if you want a large guide on all the classes and skills, then check gamefaq.com (faqs? not sure) they have some good ones for some games.

I havn't played long enough myself to tell alll about it but it is up to you really. (Druid does some nice damage with elemental at high levels btw)

[King_Critter]

I'd agree that the Sorceress is a lot harder to play then most other characters. However, she is fun (and powerful!) once you get the hang of it.

Necromancers are one of my favorite. There's to main builds you can go for with him -- Summoning and Bone. I prefer Bone, because it's a bit more "hands on" then summoning. And it's not all that much harder, either -- in fact, it's easier in some parts (maggot lair comes to mind <_<).

The basic skill progression for the two are:
Summoning: max summon skeleton, max skeleton mastery, max a golem of your choice (I like blood) max golem mastery, max summon resist.. And put one point into Decrepify (and one into the prerequisites, of course). Get Amplify Damage as your first spell, maybe after you clear the first quest (blanking on what it's called <_<) and whats-her-name gives you the skill point. Decrepify can wait till later (well, you'll have to wait, because you don't have access to it until level 30. Or 25. Again, can't remember. but the order I gave those skills in is usually the order you want to get them in.

For a Bonemancer, max Teeth, Bone Spear, and bone Spirit, and then whatever synergies you can (I think the bone wall spell is a synergy to bone spear, but I'm not sure.). Decrepify is useful for this build, as well.


Now, keep in mind that I don't play all that much D2 anymore, so Neo's advice > My advice. :P

[Andvari]

Just give him all the info :O

I am joking, and yea what you put is just about right, except that necro's can also be curses, which can help also. You will be support for awhile until you get something main for damage, but starting out on curses makes the game easier for your allies. If you are playing alone, then curses most likely isn't the best choice.

Sorceress, i think is majorly imba :P. You can play through the start of the game with a little difficulty, but if you go lightning, then once you get chain lightning, it becomes too easy really.

But yes, same here, havn't played in awhile and anyones advice > mine :P

[Magmaniac]

The basic skill progression for the two are:
Summoning: max summon skeleton, max skeleton mastery, max a golem of your choice (I like blood) max golem mastery, max summon resist.. And put one point into Decrepify (and one into the prerequisites, of course). Get Amplify Damage as your first spell, maybe after you clear the first quest (blanking on what it's called <_<) and whats-her-name gives you the skill point. Decrepify can wait till later (well, you'll have to wait, because you don't have access to it until level 30. Or 25. Again, can't remember. but the order I gave those skills in is usually the order you want to get them in.


My summon nec:

max raise skeleton
max raise skeletal mage
12 into revive
max summon resist
max skeleton mastery
one into amplify damage
then putting some points into blood golem as I get my last levels (I am like level 86 right now)

Also essentials:
Enigma armor (gives teleport)
Partial trang set (to have meteor, fire ball(or bolt, not sure), fire wall)

This character is unbeatable when the army is full. ;) I have taken on level 99 characters who are built for PvP and they can't even touch me. I just teleport on top of them and they can't move while my skeletons tear them to pieces. Muahaha.


But yeah Basan basically if you don't know of a good build before hand, just figure out which skill you will be using mostly as a character, max that, and max anything that gives bonuses to it.

[King_Critter]

I've never found skeleton mage all that useful -- even when maxed out, they keep dying on me. :(

[Magmaniac]

I've never found skeleton mage all that useful -- even when maxed out, they keep dying on me. :(

*shrug* to each his own.
I like them although they don't do much damage, because they soak up more damage from me and my other minions. Also, physical immune things die faster.

[King_Critter]

Also, physical immune things die faster.

True, but I very rarely run across physical immunes. But then again, I almost never play in Hell -- maybe that's where all the physical immunes hang out?

[Magmaniac]

True, but I very rarely run across physical immunes. But then again, I almost never play in Hell -- maybe that's where all the physical immunes hang out?

:-O
I play almost exclusively in hell.
There are quite a few. All of the 'ghost' types and 'gloam' enemies pretty much.

[King_Critter]

Ah, that would be why, then. The farthest I ever got in D2 was a few quests into hell with a sorceress. Level 60 something, I believe. I kinda stalled out, though, because I'd made her pure fire, and there were so many fire immunes it wasn't fun at all. :(

[Andvari]

Then again, me and my friend both cheated at D2 not long ago (for fun) we made max level people and at one point, I made a necro and he made a Barbarian with 99 in all skills. Thing is, skellys did about no damage to him, and jump killed bone prisons, he didn't beat me because while trying to find me in about 70 skeletons i would bone spear or bone spirit kill him. So point being, with barbs with goood armor, skelles do about no damage.

[Giantfish]

I'd recommend maxing corpse explosion if you are a summoner. It won't help against most act bosses, but it helps just about everywhere else.

[Magmaniac]

I'd recommend maxing corpse explosion if you are a summoner. It won't help against most act bosses, but it helps just about everywhere else.

No. Bad.

If you are doing corpse explosion, you have no corpses to summon things from. If you want something to do damage with, either plan on getting at least a partial trang's set, or put some points into bone spear or spirit, but not something that kills your corpses.

[Neo]

actually if your minions are dieing (barring the shitty mages, end up with like 300 life or so) then you're going to end up dieing in short order.

However, C/E isn't the power house it used to be, and maxing it is unnecessary. You need to rely on plus skills (for instance, 15-20 is a good range, and not hard to reach for a necromancer). However a maxed C/E is a very deadly thing to wield in PvE battles.

Clear out, pretty much, anything. Half fire/Half physical, amp affects the physical, LR for phys immunes, etc...]

If you aren't using C/E then either you've got a stacked out multi-aura army going on, or you take a really long time to clear through stuff :p

and I agree with the useless mages. I mean, seriously. damage is pitiful, even when maxed. you end up doing more with a low level bone spirit or that firewall/stuff off trangs.

poison mages are nice vs posses though. since the poison lasts like 249284234 seconds.

-Neo

[Basan]

Hmm, I'm starting to get the hang of things... I think. Am reading the basics over B.Net to get the basic hang of things a I progress. Have re-entered the game with my Assassin (as in, my initial Rogue reference here) and have cleared the Den of Evil again to level it up a lil' (L6,5 give or take a few). I'm doing an experiment kind of thing within the Talon/Dragon chart along with the Throw Fire ability in its chart. :)
Btw, whenever I encounter specific items for other classes like Sorceress or Necromancer I should sell'em right?

[King_Critter]

Yup -- items for other classes will never become useful. Unless you give it to a friend to hold, log out/log in with another character, and get it back.

[Moser]

Btw, whenever I encounter specific items for other classes like Sorceress or Necromancer I should sell'em right?
Class specific items are usually worth a bit of money, up to 5000 gold if they are good (in act 1). So I would recommend selling them unless you have a good use for them.

Also, if you're still in act one and a lower level looking to get some extra experience, wander around the Cold Plains for Bishibosh in the Cold Plains, he gives some pretty decent experience at a lower level. Same goes for Rakanishu in the Stony Fields (stones). They both give a decent amount of experience and will drop some good items now and then too. When I'm a lower level thats where I like to farm.

Hope that helps. ;)

[Dayoh]

well the currency in D2LoD is runes/Pgems/decent charms/some people take Pskulls.

just horde them up and you can get anything
;0

[Neo]

Pgems and crafting runes, specificaly crafting pgems like PAmys and sometimes PRubies can bring quite a bit.

-Neo

[Basan]

I'm having quite a bit of luck with farming my to a level 7, so far I already got 6 items to socket into my armor, cap and weapons. :D The skull in the cap is what's kinda getting me alive when I'm surrounded by undead Rogues, demons and those gargantuan brown blokes. :) That and also the selling of other items has earned me around 5K gold to spend. In which weaponry, armor, other type of items should I burn it (character stat's: Strength, 26; Dexterity, 27; Vitality, 28; Energy 24; Life, 68; Mana, 38; Stamina 92)?

[Neo]

What kind of character are you building?

Because it's almost always better to build up strength first, then decide if you're going to be blocking, and then dump the rest into vitality -- the only time to get energy is if you are building something like an Energy Shield based sorceress.

-Neo

[Magmaniac]

Gems are shit, I spent a lot of time farming for Pgems, and I had like 50 of them, I couldn't find a single person who would trade for them. You would be better just doing hell baal runs and picking up the drops.

[Neo]

Gems are shit, I spent a lot of time farming for Pgems, and I had like 50 of them, I couldn't find a single person who would trade for them. You would be better just doing hell baal runs and picking up the drops.

or you could goto diabloii.net and pick any number of traders who want pgems.

Best way, seriously, to get low-mid level stuff. Even higher level stuff like reaper's and what not.

-Neo

[Vezer]

Dwarf Stars go for 10 pgems. :D That's totally worth if, if you ask me.

Oh, and also... if you're poor and can't afford Ist, and want to make a magic finder... Perfect Topaz'es.
Or if you're poor and can't afford Um, and want to have some res... Perfect Diamonds.

[Magmaniac]

Dwarf Stars go for 10 pgems. :D That's totally worth if, if you ask me.


True, but dwarf stars are fucking horrible.

[Dayoh]

just get some 5 slot flails (or is it 4), anyway these used to trade well. Dunno know :shiftyl:

[Neo]

4os flails trade ok-ish.

not sure on 5os, i suppose you could make CTAs in them, but i always preferred 5os Crystal Sword for CTAs.

-Neo

[Moser]

not sure on 5os
5os flails are shit. I had one quite some time ago and tried to trade it off and nobody even wanted it. 3os armor with high def. trades pretty well. I know i've gotten a HR out of one multiple times.

[Neo]

I love ethereal elite armors and cubing them, hehe =)

but yeah. 5os flails don't seem all that useful, maybe if it was, like, a 5os phase, or something.

-Neo

[Vezer]

Perfect 30s APs go for hr... Perfect for Nigma. p40s usually go for hr.

[Basan]

And now if someone cared to translate the 'verbose' D2 terms into a form that I can recognise I'd be much obliged. :P

[Vezer]

Basically, whenever someone says "3os" or "4os" in regards to an item, it means that item has however many free sockets. A "3os pAP" is a three socket perfect Archon Plate.

"hr, mr, lr" are high rune, medium rune, and low rune, respectively.

[Basan]

Thanks but so far I haven't got anything that great. The highest I got is a 7th level Assassin and all of my other characters to level 6. I'm trying to play just to keep'em all around similar levels but am starting to realise that this might be a tad more difficult than I initially imagined. *Pokes for advise* ;)

[Vezer]

If you want to get a charecter to lvl 15 really fast, do some Trist runs.

[Neo]

And focus on one. Don't spread yourself out.

-Neo

[Basan]

Hmm,I think that will focus on my Assassin then since she's the most developed character I've got so far (killed that undead Rogue boss at the burial grounds near Cold Plains). And I was mistaken, apparently she already hit level 8. Plus that Rogue helper is more annoying to me than anything else (I have to scout where she has been to see if anyone that she killed dropped any good pieces) but so far I'm providing her my spare equipment that was about to sell since I've already got around a 3K gold in my pockets.

So far I've got 1 point in Fire Blast and 1 in Shock Web for the Traps dept. And I've got 2 in Claw Mastery and 1 in Burst of Speed for the Shadow tree. And last but not least I've got 1 for Tiger Strike and 2 for that Talon kick in the Martial Arts.
And my "Tanya" stats are:
- Strength, 34
- Dexterity, 25
- Vitality, 33
- Energy, 28
I know that should have more set in Dexterity but so far I've got 10 extra points (from cap, ring, amulet, gloves n' charm) in my equipment that awfully ease my life playing. :)

[Vezer]

You should have about 85 str, 85 dex (or less if you have lots of stat charms), and the rest should go into Vitality. You shouldn't put any points into energy (unless you have no other means of getting mana).

[Basan]

*Meh* Although not interely honest I think that could fiddle with a certain 'tool' that characters stats to match (or reach a close enough level) by keeping the same number of points when comparing'em with a starting Assassin. :shiftyl: Even though to be honest I'm somewhat tempted to keep it the way it currently is n' try to level it around for a while longer just to get'em.

[Vezer]

with a certain 'tool'. :shiftyl:

Tool? You can't use any 'tool's on Battle Net.

:o

[Neo]

Basan you're also spread out -- diablo II isn't that sort of game. You have to pick a build (either you're a trapper or a martial artist -- not both).

Also, energy is unneeded for any reason, because you can purchase and find mana potions all over the place.

-Neo

[Basan]

Tool? You can't use any 'tool's on Battle Net.

:o

Who said that am playing on line? :angel:

Basan you're also spread out -- diablo II isn't that sort of game. You have to pick a build (either you're a trapper or a martial artist -- not both).

Also, energy is unneeded for any reason, because you can purchase and find mana potions all over the place.

Which one you advise to be better?
And so from what you're saying it means that I shouldn't spend any points in Shadow Arts? :o

[Vezer]

Shadow Arts are essential... Its just traps and martial arts you have to choose between.

And you should play on Bnet! Cuz then you can play with me! :D BTW, type in /players 8 in single player to make the game harder. (it also increases drops by ALOT)

[Basan]

I really must unpack my bags and search for it (after setting the clothes into the machine washer :P). I'm somewhat eager to play it for a lil' while tonight. :)

[Neo]

It's up to you, but a Martial Artist is the sort that gets up close and melee's, while a trapper is more of a stand back and let her shadow master and traps clean up.

-Neo

[Giantfish]

Just to clarify, there are hybrid assassin builds as well as some item oriented ones. However, they either require some careful planning or some hard to get items.

Also, pretty much every assassin will have some points in shadow mastery skills. Just don't put all your points in there at the expense of your main killing skills.

[Magmaniac]

Trap assassins can be wicked. Pump your best traps with all your skill points and you will dominate everything. If you start putting points elsewhere early on, you sacrifice a lot of power late game and it can fuck you over.

[Basan]

The D2Players Wiki abaout that class (http://wiki.d2players.org/Assassin) doesn't specify too much upon the "trapper" build (namely in the implied mastery associated assets to get). From now on, let's see what I can figure out to do out of my 12th level Assassin. :)

[Neo]

Yeah, I was working mostly on the skill aspect, the guides for each build will come soon, I promise!

-Neo

[Basan]

Thanks Neo. :) As I'm about to reach level 18 a sudden doubt raises in my mind and I'm not exactly sure on which skill to go for, even though am more inclined to go with Fade.
And as a side note, I already have one point in Burst of Speed. Should I place others in there or it isn't that necessary in the long run (considering that the difference between level 1 BoS and 2 is only 5%)? :o

Anyway, I'm placing in my current skill build so you can help me out here. ;)
Traps:
- Fire Trap, 1
- Shock Web, 2
- Charged Bolt Sentry, 2

Shadow Disciplines:
- Claw Mastery, 3
- Psychic Hammer, 2
- Burst of Speed, 1
- Weapon Block, 2
- Cloak of Shadows, 1

Martial Arts:
- Tiger Strike, 1
- Dragon talon, 1

Since the only quest in Act 1 that I'm missing (and place to visit too, btw) is the Andariel lair, can someone please give me some pointers?
Edit add: With which skill level should I get there, for example? Or what stuff to imbue at Charsi since the Rune that I got doesn't activate her quest when I click on the imbue stuff when addressing her. :confused:

[King_Critter]

Well, Andarial is, as far as I can remember, weak to fire, so when fighting her you may just wish to drop a bunch of fire traps and run. But if you're going to be level 18 when you reach her, you should be able to use pretty much anything. She's the first boss for a reason, y'know. :P

As for imbuing stuff, wait 'till about level 50 or 60. You'll then have a chance of getting something that's actually good. <_<

[Basan]

Great, that means that I'll have a chance to test that 10% faster cast rate ring (amongst others that I already had) that I recently got with her. :D

Edit add: But then the point is, do you advise me to put another point into Fire Traps before reaching her? :o

[Vezer]

Don't put any points in fire traps, unless you want to sacrifice lite trap damage in the long run.

And faster cast rate doesn't affect traps. Faster attack rate does.

BoS increases attack speed, trap laying speed, and run/walk.
Fade increases res, and depending on what lvl Fade is, it gives you a 1% per level of physical resistance.

[Neo]

Yeah, FCR does not work with traps at all.

Focus on lightning traps only. Fire traps are pretty weak.

-Neo

[Basan]

Not even the level equivalent to the Charged Bolt trap (i.e., Wake of Fire)? :confused:
I've been testing the Charged Bolt trap a lot more in the Jail level 2 and am quite impressed with the effects that it has in mob control and am wondering if the Wake of Fire wouldn't have similar effects as well, even though it'd be a level lower than my current Bolt trap.

And since I got a point to spare before reaching the 18th level (saving it to reach Andariel) I was wondering if it'd be worth it to spend it in the Blade Sentinel and if it's worth it to start levelling the blades part of it too. :o

And tbh I'm starting to think that this was one of my best games' acquirement recently. The replayability of it is simply thrilling. :)

[Magmaniac]

see the thing is basan, if you put points into fire traps, they might be useful now, but in the long run they will be worthless because you will get to hell and everything will be immune to fire. You will want your light traps to be at the highest level possible then to dish out damage, and you will have wished you put the points in light traps earlier if you hadn't.

[Neo]

Basan it's also a good idea to save skill points... you don't and should not use them at every level.

-Neo

[Vezer]

I have a fire trapper on bnet that does over 1k Wake of Inferno damage, and I have 2 firelizards muled away that I can't use yet. I'm pretty sure she's level 48. She still dishes out loads of melee damage with Blade Fury.

[Amake]

Given that this assassin is pretty much your first character, I wouldn't be worried about messing up the build in the long term. Feel free to try things that look intersting. If you're anything like the average Diablo 2 player, you'll figure things out as you go and make more specialized and efficient characters later on. You can't really say you've mastered the game until you've tried every possible permutation of skill point placement, which takes something like 300 characters of each class just to cover the basics. Which is to say you shouldn't worry about this one.

Go on until you find it impossible to get any further, which may not be until you enter Hell difficulty. Then try another character. That's my advice.

There is much you can learn - frankly, I think that goes for a number of people in this thread - and there's much I don't remember how to learn, if I remember it at all. I'd suggest browsing www.diabloii.net and www.planetdiablo.com and see what you can find, if you're curious.

Oh, and level 18 is safe and sound for taking on Andariel. Hardcore characters usually aim that high. Her level is 12, and you should be able to beat her at 12 without great difficulty. The act bosses are deceptively easy as they never regenerate life, unlike other monsters. You can whittle them down with any character at any level and with any equipment just by zerging them. (Or if you're a Druid just by using Summon Raven.) It just takes more time.

[Neo]

Given that this assassin is pretty much your first character, I wouldn't be worried about messing up the build in the long term. Feel free to try things that look intersting. If you're anything like the average Diablo 2 player, you'll figure things out as you go and make more specialized and efficient characters later on. You can't really say you've mastered the game until you've tried every possible permutation of skill point placement, which takes something like 300 characters of each class just to cover the basics. Which is to say you shouldn't worry about this one.

That isn't completely true. While it's possible to build a character such as a dual-trap assassin, it requires a great deal of items, eg: wealth. I try not to give people builds unless they specifically ask, but I made the same mistakes in the past a figure why not pass on that info?

Besides you don't have to "build" a spear amazon to know that she's pretty weak compared to the other amazon variants.

Go on until you find it impossible to get any further, which may not be until you enter Hell difficulty. Then try another character. That's my advice.

The problem is just that Hell is such a massive step up from Nightmare, when in the past before 1.09 it wasn't. It's a shock for most people -- I remember with 1.10 came out and those spike dudes in act 1 hell were just insane. Though the carvers got me more. Heh.

There is much you can learn - frankly, I think that goes for a number of people in this thread - and there's much I don't remember how to learn, if I remember it at all. I'd suggest browsing www.diabloii.net and www.planetdiablo.com and see what you can find, if you're curious.

While I will agree that both sites are good resources, diabloii.net's static pages are incredibly worthless at this point in the game -- they include outdated stats, items no in the game, and inactive runewords. Not to mention strategies and the like for previous versions of the game.

No the true information would be going to http://forums.diabloii.net/ and picking a class forum and simply reading a guide or two for whatever class you're interested in.

Although it's also good to note that many on Diabloii.net simply will assume you have access to high end runewords and the like, which is something I found annoying.

Oh, and level 18 is safe and sound for taking on Andariel. Hardcore characters usually aim that high. Her level is 12, and you should be able to beat her at 12 without great difficulty. The act bosses are deceptively easy as they never regenerate life, unlike other monsters. You can whittle them down with any character at any level and with any equipment just by zerging them. (Or if you're a Druid just by using Summon Raven.) It just takes more time.

Well, until you hit Lillith or the Pandemonium trio :p

I'd suggest you bring some antidote potions along for the fight with Andariel, oh, and whenever you reach the final boss in Act2, you should make sure to stick near a wall -- otherwise he'll continue charging at you causing a bit to much damage.

And, get a mercenary, they're awesome.

-Neo

[Amake]

With respect, which part of the first paragraph you quoted is "not completely true"? That you're allowed to screw up your first character, or your first twenty characters, as a part of the learning process? Or whatever I said that makes you say a wealthy player with an imperfect build can prosper thanks to powerful items? The first depends on your attitude towards parenting, I suppose, while the second doesn't have anything to do with what I wanted to say. In short I don't follow you.

[Neo]

Considering I was quoting you, and decided to break where I felt I wanted to respond, you could probably assume correctly I was responding to:

You can't really say you've mastered the game until you've tried every possible permutation of skill point placement, which takes something like 300 characters of each class just to cover the basics. Which is to say you shouldn't worry about this one.

You claim that no one can possibly know the strengths and weaknesses of any build unless they've built and played all 300+ variants. I disagreed. Of course I don't know everything about Diablo II (I gave up after trying to understand how exactly poison stacks after considering resistances and poison length reduction stuff)...

But I know a damn lot. And while I don't want to come as sounding like an ass, when someones asks, I try to explain to them the basic mistakes, how to avoid them, and how to utilize skill points without wasting any. I mean, I don't understand how anyone could enjoy a game -- any game -- where you constantly remake a character before hitting like 20 just because they didn't end up like you wanted them. I've got a friend currently playing wow with, I kid you not, like 3 warriors, and 2 paladins, and one he wouldn't even play because it had a red shirt.

It's no longer pre 1.10 where you could waste 20 or 40 skill points and still have a hell viable build. You can't waste skill points at all now especially in a build as synergy dependent as a trap assassin.

I wish tir's worked with traps :(

-Neo

[Amake]

You claim that no one can possibly know the strengths and weaknesses of any build unless they've built and played all 300+ variants
Not even a little bit. What I said was that to master the game - to see and to do everything it has to offer - you have a massive amount of characters to make.

The point being that with all the different things you can do with this game you can expect to spend a few years trying everything. Sure, with the advice of seasoned players a newbie might finish the game in record time but that, in my opinion, is the least of what the game is about. Heh, I haven't even beaten Hell difficulty myself. Been too busy trying builds like this (http://www.lurkerlounge.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=2118). :)

By the way what says you can't play earlier versions of the game? My last advice to a new player would be to get the latest patch with all the increased difficulty.

[Neo]

I meant that you can't build characters like you used to be able to pre 1.10 (seriously, you could build a sorceress and waste 40 points or more, and still kick butt in hell, with some characters you only needed that one really awesome skill to level anything anywhere).

But now, you have to be really careful about wasting skill points or you will eventually have to rebuild the character (or have a buttload of wealth).

edit: By the way, I find most of those gimmick builds (naked sorceress for one plus the no stat/skill rule) to be incredibly moronic. Don't get me wrong, I loved reading the story behind the naked necromancer -- but that was actually interesting since he used skills.

But to play a character without using any stats and skills is just... seriously. What the hell? I love punching as much as the next person, especially when you have enchant to screw with, but seriously.

I find builds that are different, and hell viable, to be the most fun. I built and succeeded through hell with a hybrid werewolf summoner -- which is not easy, because of the synergies surrounding the summons, and the lack of points you can use in the werewolf tree. Though granted once the werewolf got that botd I posted in the other thread, the difficulty went to nil, heh.

I also get a lot of fun out of twinking characters, I love act 1 and 2 a lot really.

-Neo

[Giantfish]

I was under the impression that poison duration is determined by the longest poison length (except venom) and that the damage per frame was determined by the total poison (of all sources stacked) damage divided by the duration.

So reducing poison duration cuts the amount of frames but does not alter the damage per frame. Resistance reduces the damage per frame but does not alter the amount of frames.

Venom, instead of following the usual poison stacking formula, reduces poison duration of all other stacked poison sources.

[Dayoh]

I have tried doing a naked sorc run with some mates over LAN, we kept on making stupid mistakes and not getting anywhere at all lol.

Would the areat summit (w/e its called) have info on poison or not in that detail

[Neo]

You know I'm not sure. Most of the in depth information I've gathered and retained over the years on the super-specific details of DIablo II have come from the really prolific posters on Diabloii.net.

Though to make it clear: besides their forums, diabloii.net as a website to look up items and whatnot is HORRIBLE.

-Neo

[Vezer]

You know I'm not sure. Most of the in depth information I've gathered and retained over the years on the super-specific details of DIablo II have come from the really prolific posters on Diabloii.net.

Though to make it clear: besides their forums, diabloii.net as a website to look up items and whatnot is HORRIBLE.

-Neo

The most usefull thing I ever saw on D2.net was "The Tao of Poision", but even that is outdated now.

[Basan]

Well, since in these last couple of weeks I hand't much 'net access I ended up playing D2-LoD a whole lot more than I expected during the night when I finished work. :)
Now, I've just reached Act 3, with a level 24 Asssassin, and am playing a lil' of Act 2 to restore a lil' of the wealth that have spent to revive my character and Rogue Merc' during that Hydra' like demon boss of Act 2. :P

Later on I'll try to post a few details on my current build but so far I think that have gone a lil' overboard on the Shadow skills dept. :(

[Giantfish]

If you have already invested a point into cloak of shadows, I'd recommend you use it.

The large radius of cloak of shadows will keep most enemies from noticing you. You can then summon your minion next to the enemies that you want to take out. Once they start fighting your minion, they'll ignore anything you do to them until the minion is either dead or has been separated from them. This usually means they will stay still while you use your traps. Even if your traps do less damage then you would like, you can focus on whittling them down instead of running around in circles as the forces of hell hunt you down.

[Basan]

Well, as I've said my build was going a tad overboard in the Shadow skills department. My (Tanya) Assassin build currently goes as follows:

Shadow Disciplines:
- Claw Mastery, 5
- Psychic Hammer, 2 (Tried it and it was nice while in Act 1 but now... :()
- Burst of Speed, 1
- Weapon Block, 2
- Cloak of Shadows, 2
- Fade, 1
- Shadow Warrior, 2
- Mind Blast, 1 (Although to be honest now I really regret having spent it. :P)

Traps:
- Fire Blast, 1
- Shock Web, 2
- Charged Bolt Sentry, 2
- Lightning Sentry, 1

Martial Arts:
- Dragon talon, 1 (My 1st picked skill.)
- Tiger Strike, 1 (The main reason I tried it was for the Dragon Talon assisting finish effect. *Now sighs while pondering it better*)
- Cobra Strike, 2 (The best pick I lately had imo since it replenishes my mana and life whenever I let it mount up effect n' then suck any next foe that I choose to kill. :))

As usual any other advise is gladly taken into consideration. ;)
That, considering that am at level 25 and am in Act 3 having finished one quest (read, that green/golden bird statuette thing that was given by the ship captain that brought me from Act 2) and already having found 3 teleport locations over there.

[Neo]

Just enjoy yourself, make use of an Iron Wolf, especially a cold one.

-Neo

[Vezer]

Act 3 cold mercs are gnarly. I personally hate Act 3. Stupid Soul Flayers.

[Basan]

Yeah, when I last posted already had traded my Merc' Rogue for a Lightning, sword n' shield bearing (mine, of course), Mage. I must say that it softens the foes quite a bit with his close to mine trap skils. But am trying to level him a lil' through Act 2, mainly mapping the wrong catacombs that are located in the Magi's Canyon (since I knew which one was the right one from the start). :)

But you say that I should go for a Cold one. Hmm, can you please fill me in a lil' more on what his main advantages are (apart slowing/freezing the foes speed)? ;)

[Neo]

Uhm... freezing?

That's the whole point. When something is frozen they:

a) can't deal damage (see: frozed)
b) can't block, attacks always land (see: frozed)
c) shatter (see: awesome)

He's a utility mercenary, that can help you out a great deal.

Later on I'd move onto an act2 nightmare mercenary w/holy freeze :p

shattering enemies is awesome

-Neo

[Basan]

Swapped it altogether, Neo. Now am trying to level it a tad, plus raising my pouch money a lil' to buy me some of the newer items without losing much dough. One thing I noticed in Act 3 is that the items rarely have sockets so I can put my gems, skulls, runes or jewels inside'em. And when you have nearly 20 spare gems/skulls that tends to weight a tad on my fre space to carry raid items. :(

[Neo]

cube the gems up (3 of the same type).

gold doesn't really mean much (run through arcane sanctuary a few times and sell all the chest armors or whatever).

Only white items get sockets (which show up as grey when socketed).

Magic items (Blue/Green/Gold/Yellow) only have sockets with the proper prefix, or when socketed via Larzuk in act5.

-Neo

[Basan]

Thanks for the tip. :tup: Will upgrade all of my gems asap (read, when I play the game again).
And that Arcane Sanctuary bit is pretty helpful also. :)