My First Tourney--the Point of No Repair

[water_moon]

Oooops. I have read the rules once again. And realized that rerunning areas is forbidden. I got confused with being ivolved in other tournaments, where only Act bosses runs were limited. I am guilty and I will throw away all my Thuls, Amns and 1 Sol cubed from that countess runs. I hope it's OK. Io was found at Tal's tomb.

It can happen, First 3 runs (like you really rember) are okay. I've been finding many lovely runes at the Kurast areas.

Sorry I haven't been posting much, got a new computer and just now remembered my logins and such for the forums.....
Anyway, Wulfgar is level 30 FINALY and I'm on my second run of upper Kurast.

 

[Hrus]

Teslfrost - lvl 60 - Act 3 NM completed

Teslafrost has completed Act 3. At the beginning I lowered Player settings, because these little annoying flayers were hitting me quite often.
I have found this rare:
Pain Bite
Balanced Axe
Throw Damage: 12 to 19
One-Hand Damage: 5 to 14
Quantity: 114
Required Dexterity: 57
Required Level: 17
Axe Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x26af1
+4 to Maximum Damage
20% Increased Attack Speed
58% Damage to Undead
+50 to Attack Rating against Undead
Replenishes Quantity
Increased Stack Size

I use it against dolls and FE bosses.
At Kurast I switched settings back to 5. I regret that at the fight with Stormtree. He is LE, and the fight took long - I was hit often and I saw the icon on the screen after the fight - red armor, gold belt and helm. Soon after the gloves become gold too.

I have zealed to death FE council standing right next to him but didn't recieved any damage (probably blocked the explosion).
I have several NDE when the cursed bosspack of Maulers nearly surrounded me at Meph Durance lvl2. Merc was dead in a blink of an eye and I was saved by using 4 rejuvs and block (just to break the block-lock). I didn't fight with them again.
Mephisto was easy and dropped me green circlet and crown.

 

[water_moon]

Well, I went through to clean up the current standings. If you are not up to date (or I missed it) or you've died then please post.

forumite, Char, last reported lvl/ exp if dead.

Summoned, Frosty, lvl 20
Greyeagle, Goshawk, lvl 20
water_moon, Wulfgar, lvl 30
goltar25, Krushara, exp 5802669
Gaz, Vald's_Bride, lvl 51
jiansonz, Io, lvl 74
Hrus, Telefrost, lvl 60
azn_apocalypse, Warrenty, exp 370481492
Erimatbrad, Virvelvind, lvl 47
Nightstalker, ?wearbear?, lvl 21

Zatlaren you posted that you wanted to join but I haven't seen any update posts, are you in?

 

[jiansonz]

Umm, Io is only level 24...

She´s been severely neglected lately. I have too many characters!

 

[Hrus]

Teslfrost - lvl 64 - Act 4 NM completed

All my gear broke only boots are on very low durability.

Armor - I found nice cuirass and crafted it for safety. (Stealth Linked mail before). Craft is nothing special, looking for another Cuirass (they are light and have high durability), but maybe I will wait till I find something really good.

Belt - String of ears are at 2 durability, I saved it for fight with Diablo and used this:
Bone Strap
Heavy Belt
Defense: 6
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 52
Fingerprint: 0xeafbaa04
+5 to Life
Fire Resist +27%
Cold Resist +19%
10% Faster Hit Recovery
Repairs 1 durability in 20 seconds

Helm: 2-socketed Great Helm with 2 flawless topazes (from Act IV normal) was replaced by 3-socketed Crown (bought from vendor - 50 durability) - 3 Perfect Topazes inserted.

Boots: my MF boots are at 3 durability, must be replaced soon.

Gloves: MF rare gloves broke right before fight with Diablo. I didn't have any gloves at stash, so I gambled some quite nice gloves, (no MF though )

Corpse Grasp
Heavy Gloves
Defense: 9
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 35
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0x858f7036
+34% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +18%
Cold Resist +8%
Adds 1-5 fire damage
Replenish Life +4
20% Increased Attack Speed

Shield: Shield is pretty solid from Act 5 normal - Ancients Pledge in heraldic shield 19/40 durability. I have 2 socketed Crown shield with +28 resistance mod ready for rhyme, but no Shael stil.

Weapon: still using this:
Sapphire Bone Wand of Ages
One-Hand Damage: 3 to 7
Required Level: 42
Staff Class - Fast Attack Speed
Indestructible
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0xaa1aae0e
Cold Resist +37%
150% Damage to Undead
Indestructible

but I have found this:
Sapphire Tomb Wand of Ages
One-Hand Damage: 10 to 22
Required Strength: 25
Required Level: 42
Staff Class - Fast Attack Speed
Indestructible
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 61
Fingerprint: 0xf5586fda
Cold Resist +36%
+3 to Lower Resist (Necromancer Only)
150% Damage to Undead
Indestructible

they are quite the same


Despite the MF equip, I don't see much nice items. Visceratuant from 2nd Meph run. Diablo dropped Arcanna's Light plate.
Act 4 was easy - no NDE, only merc resurrecting because of Iron Maiden.

EDIT: Hellforge dropped me FAL

 

[Hrus]

Teslafrost - lvl 72 - Act V NM completed

Teslafrost is now conqueror!

First thing I did at the beginning of this day was some crafting. One cuirass (worse than that before) and Knout. Whoa:

Storm Bludgeon
Knout
One-Hand Damage: 20 to 54
Durability: 30 of 30
Required Dexterity: 73
Required Strength: 82
Required Level: 34
Mace Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0xc325e4c0
+56% Enhanced Damage
Attacker Takes Damage of 5
10% Increased Attack Speed
150% Damage to Undead
+1 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)
5% Chance to cast Level 4 Frost Nova when struck
Repairs 1 durability in 33 seconds

with that IAS on gloves, zealspeed is the same as the bone wand, but the range is better. With wand I had problems against large enemies - sometimes the zeal sequence was not started and I had to reposition. Now it's more comfortable and I can hide behind my merc. (And I don't have to hear that stupid slappy wand sound anymore)

Then I found 2-sock cuirass and made a Stealth from it.

I shopped this one for my merc (cost me 450000 - luckily I had 470000):
Godly Ancient Armor of Stability
Defense: 585
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Strength: 100
Required Level: 38
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 71
Fingerprint: 0xabf053d0
+150% Enhanced Defense
24% Faster Hit Recovery

I have quite comfortable (but long) walk through the act.
5 times rerolled Ancients (FE,LE,LE,Fanaticism,CE + Extra Strong IIRC)
They were not easy, but managable.
Really bad spawn in WSK2 - Black Soul, Horadrim Ancient, Serpent Magus. I really enjoy the clearing my way through this area. Especially that extra strong FE burning Soul boss fight - adrenalin.
I was not able to tank Lister's pack, so I killed them by throwing. They dropped me ethereal Rattlecage. I equipped this armor for Baal. That CB from it and Open wounds from Steel Cutlass made Baal fight quite fast.

I will go for Den quest, then return to NM for some leveling. Baal 2 more times to go.

 

[water_moon]

Umm, Io is only level 24...

She´s been severely neglected lately. I have too many characters!

Sorry, can't read my own writting. Don't feel too bad, I've been a bit negligent myself...

Go Hrus!

 

[Gaz]

Well following the end of the MFO, I decided that BrideofVlad needed to be played again so I did. I didn't get very far as I am going fairly slowly at the moment. I did change my merc to get me a holy Freeze merc, and Managed to get another level. Also finished my 3 runs of andariel so now its on through act 2.

Destroyer BrideofVlad
Act 2 Nightmare
Last waypoint Sewers.
Level 54.

 

[Hrus]

Teslafrost - lvl 73 - Next area:Cold Plains (H)
I guess I am in the lead now.

I did the Den quest, then returned to nightmare and did 2 more Baal runs, while clearing the whole WSK2 and WSK3. I got bad monsters in Baal throne (run1-Burning souls,run2-Oblivion Knights, Hell Witches and Horadrim ancients!). That 2 runs brought me 1 and half level and Aldur's Helm (druid only).
I am using Vidala's Boots + Vidala's Amulet to help MF.
I will consider rerunning some other areas to get level or two before going to Hell difficulty.

 

[Gaz]

I am having to withdraw my entry from this tournament. I will be sending the prize stash in the next few days.

Good luck to all those left.

 

[water_moon]

I am having to withdraw my entry from this tournament. I will be sending the prize stash in the next few days.

Good luck to all those left.

Sorry to see you go Send to [email protected] w/ No Repair in subject. Don't forget to post your exact exp. for ranking purposes.

Well Wulfgar has killed Meph & is lvl 31. He even dropped me some Hawkmail for the stash once I use up the durability.

Whose still in it? Post an update soon please.

 

[Hrus]

Teslafrost - lvl 74 - Next area:Cold Plains (H)

I am still in, but I have a lot of D2 projects and less time for game recently.

I took Teslafrost to Hell today and leveled him in Blood Moor (nightmare don't give me much experience) and very bad thing happened I was zealing and zealing and suddenly... I was punching. Look at my weapon stats:

Storm Bludgeon
Knout
One-Hand Damage: 20 to 54
Durability: 0 of 30
Required Dexterity: 73
Required Strength: 82
Required Level: 34
Mace Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0xc325e4c0
+56% Enhanced Damage
Attacker Takes Damage of 5
10% Increased Attack Speed
150% Damage to Undead
+1 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)
5% Chance to cast Level 4 Frost Nova when struck
Repairs 1 durability in 33 seconds

Well i guess that durability on weapons lowers when not hitting.

 

[water_moon]

Am I & Hrus the only ones still playing? C'mon people! join the fun!

 

[Hrus]

Teslafrost - lvl 75 - Next area:Stony Field (H)

I wanted to repeat Blood Moor area, but after fight with some Fire enchanted, lightning enchanted Rat (my merc died 5 times) I gave up. But I did the Den (Crypt after the Den quest) 3x times.
Then I did 2x times Cold Plains (there are no dangerous monster - only melee and only Dk.Clan spearwomen are LI) I have met some Might enchanted cursed Gargantuan boss. I wanted to skip the fight with him, but then the idea came. I charged him while having Holy Shock active - and it worked. (charged him through half of the Cold Plains).
I will not go to the Cave. I entered the Cave and saw the might enchanted archers - I immediatly run back. I didn't want to face cold enchanted might Coldcrow.

I play at P2. More is doable against normal monsters, but bosses are very dangerous, so I have to kill them quickly.

With cautios playstyle this game session was 3 hours long.

 

[Hrus]

Teslafrost - lvl 76 - Next area:Tristram (H)

Teslafrost cleared all areas from Cold Plains to Dark Wood. He left only some really annoying bosses there (LI+CI+bad mod). He got one level. I will do some more Dk.Wood after Tristram, because no LI's spawns there.

I use Vidala's Fetlock + Amulet to raise my MF, but found only green gothic plate in Hell, no other green/gold. Boots durability goes down, but I have another pair of Fetlock in my stash. With wand I am really close to monsters and I don't like it. Now I use Long sword of ages. But everytime I am in town, I look for -10 speed weapon with -30 or -40 IAS. If it is there, I use it for some time (short time).

My updates will be rarer now, because of MET and Survivor tournaments, but I definitly want to play this character until the end (either bitter or sweet end).