Diablo IV, Diablo 2 and Diablo 3 Forums - Diabloii.Net
Before we begin, the life story of a shadow master, as narrated by Deena, our Matriarchs conjured companion on this quest.
Poof!!
"Ah here I am again, called to serve. What will it be this time? Frenzytaurs you wish me to jump in front of? Some rogue physical immune ghosts you want me to help with? Gloams? Why can't you just conjure me for a nice brunch? I realize I don't "eat" per se, but conversation and the illusion of a bloody mary might be nice. Oh crap those are Frenzytaurs."
"Let me see, what in my bag of tricks seems like a good plan of attack? Fazel is charging straight at them, what an idiot. You're standing there throwing little frisbees at them....wait, I like frisbee! Let me stand next to you and maybe you'll throw one to me. No? Ok. Back to the 'Taurs. You've almost killed that one there? Here, let me cast Mindblast on him so he converts and can't hurt anyone."
"What? You want me to go up there and help Fazel? No, no, that looks entirely too dangerous, I'll just stand here next to you and cast some of these really weak Lightning Sentries"
"Hey, nice job, you and Fazel killed them all. I helped a lot really, moral support and all those traps!"
"Here's a nice fallen you and Fazel missed. I see he's immune to fire, so clearly the best choice is a good old Wake of Fire and the first charge of Phoenix Strike. Oh look at all the pretty fire!! Fazel, dammit, you killed him, I was so close to doing it myself"
"OK, OK, I'll go tank the big scary monsters, see Fazel you idiot its not that hard, you just Dragon Flight in, like this, then poke at them with your claws a few times while whatshername over there plays frisbee."
"Hey, why are you two running away, there is some really nice flowers over here that you should check out. Hey, you're getting really far away, come back and look at th........"
Thus ends a small chapter in the life of Deena, named solely because she sometimes Deena do a damn thing.
Overall I love shadow masters, they MB the crap out of everything for one, and despite their sometimes questionable follow up decisions, and propensity to randomly poof, they are pretty useful
On to the part where I actually did things.
For those of you you haven't quite sorted it out yet, Slingbabe is a rather poorly named assassin. Im usually good with names and such, or like to think I am, but clearly I did not illuminate myself with glory this time.
Its a slight variation on the warrior monk theme, and something I've sort of mentally worked out in the past, but didn't have the weapon for it. Pindle decided to give one up a while ago, so off we went.
So the thought here was BF and DTalon, with venom, maxing all 3, along with a decent SM. DS of course as its an assassin, and DS is to assassin as Teleport is to sorcs. Oh wait, whats that you say? Enigma? Well, you know what I meant. Shut up already. I sort of played it by feel after I maxed the three important ones. If my SM was doing ok, I put them in DS, otherwise SM to keep her strong enough. Shadow claws on switch made for a nice boost.
Fleshripper was the weapon of choice, its pretty much my favorite non RW weapon. Maybe Stormlash is close. If I ever find more of them I will make more characters using them. (As an aside on my play style - once a character is "finished" the gear they're wearing is theirs, I don't swap gear to other characters, ymmv of course) Guillaume's, Gores and Fortitude completed the offensive parts and then Stormshield, which I never got around to socketing, which would have helped my resistances was the basis for the defense. I actually used Bloodfists for most of the game, but PI's in Hell Act V made me change to Trang's for more poison damage. Couple of bits of jewelry and Nos' Coil and I was set.
A few skill charms in my backpack to get to lvl 24 for DTalon and some other charms for life and a bit of resist, and most importantly, AR. I could have gotten away with far less AR, but I really don't like missing and felt it worth the damage trade. I even used a BA merc to make sure BF would hit all the time. If I ever do something like this again, I will likely optimize a bit more as Fleshripper gives a good chance to hit. This is probably a function of my build planning, which goes something like - BF, DTalon, Venom - cool. Make sure I can hit stuff with BF. Don't die. OK great, lets do this.
And Fazel, who did what all good mercs do, die valiantly while tanking the wrong thing or getting stuck behind invisible obstructions. And sometimes even visible ones. I resisted the urge to put a Reaper's Toll on him, thinking Obedience would do the trick, and for the most part, I was right. And I jest, he actually held up well to most everything. Except PI/FI Lister, who laid him out faster than than an in his prime Mike Tyson. And a fana pack of Frenzytaurs in WSK 1, which cursed everybody. Fazel and Deena took it for the team on that, as I ran the other way. Fast.
Gameplay was easy, Normal was a breeze with a series of twinking items until i could start to put on final gear in NM. Fleshrender gets a quick shout out as a fantastic weapon mid game, especially for BF, and Rockstopper is another quality item. NM was a breeze, but I did manage to die to the Lord De Seis. Not his pack, I'd killed all them, but one of his bone spirits got me.
Hell was pretty easy, I'd been P8 through normal and NM, dropped to P3 for Hell. Act I was easy, but the sewers in Act 2 were awful, I must've needed 15 mana pots to get through it. Everything was undead, and a series of bad guesses meant I had to explore every corner before I was done. Arcane Sanctuary also required almost a full clear, but my first ghost experience was positive, Venom and Enchant, plus DS of course, sorted them out pretty easily, and merc could tank them with a little MB support for larger groups. Duriel died in about 15 seconds.
Act 3 is easy with DS, except I got trapped in the Kurast sewers by massive amounts of skeletons and died. Took 20 minutes to get my body back. Act 4 drew me gloams and nothing else hard. Gloams were fine, kick them if they get close and BF them if they're not.
Act 5 drew all the annoying monster spawns. Archers/PI Death Berserker things(I hate them)/dolls everywhere/Frenzytaurs/little merc massacring ball of death shooting witches. I feel like I missed something else too. But it wasn't too bad, there were a few deaths, 2 in the crystalline passage to PI/PI ghosts and Frenzytaur mixed boss packs, one to about 50 skeleton archers that were spread out all over the screen and I couldn't get clear, and one in the Ancients way to Might Enchanted Champion snakes. Oh and I got too close to Nihlathaks corpses and ouch.
Battle is typically MB once knowing SM is going to overdo it, then BF a few things, drop a DS and then either close and kick them to death or just finish from range. If its PI or unleechable, I kick it to reduce mana costs if its safe. Bosses melt due to kicks, and even PI/FI Lister was safe for me, although Fazel would disagree. BF is awesome when maxed, just click on the ground where you want them to go and fire away.
I'd give her a solid 8/10 on the fun scale, and the same for survivability. Theres really only one thing she can't do well, and thats MF, so my drops were pretty awful overall, but I did find a Darksight Helm, which might be fun except I already have 2 I've never used. Highest rune was a Pul in Hell Durance, and my Hellforges were truly bad. Hel/Lum.
Overall a solid build and good fun.
CM
Poof!!
"Ah here I am again, called to serve. What will it be this time? Frenzytaurs you wish me to jump in front of? Some rogue physical immune ghosts you want me to help with? Gloams? Why can't you just conjure me for a nice brunch? I realize I don't "eat" per se, but conversation and the illusion of a bloody mary might be nice. Oh crap those are Frenzytaurs."
"Let me see, what in my bag of tricks seems like a good plan of attack? Fazel is charging straight at them, what an idiot. You're standing there throwing little frisbees at them....wait, I like frisbee! Let me stand next to you and maybe you'll throw one to me. No? Ok. Back to the 'Taurs. You've almost killed that one there? Here, let me cast Mindblast on him so he converts and can't hurt anyone."
"What? You want me to go up there and help Fazel? No, no, that looks entirely too dangerous, I'll just stand here next to you and cast some of these really weak Lightning Sentries"
"Hey, nice job, you and Fazel killed them all. I helped a lot really, moral support and all those traps!"
"Here's a nice fallen you and Fazel missed. I see he's immune to fire, so clearly the best choice is a good old Wake of Fire and the first charge of Phoenix Strike. Oh look at all the pretty fire!! Fazel, dammit, you killed him, I was so close to doing it myself"
"OK, OK, I'll go tank the big scary monsters, see Fazel you idiot its not that hard, you just Dragon Flight in, like this, then poke at them with your claws a few times while whatshername over there plays frisbee."
"Hey, why are you two running away, there is some really nice flowers over here that you should check out. Hey, you're getting really far away, come back and look at th........"
Thus ends a small chapter in the life of Deena, named solely because she sometimes Deena do a damn thing.
Overall I love shadow masters, they MB the crap out of everything for one, and despite their sometimes questionable follow up decisions, and propensity to randomly poof, they are pretty useful
On to the part where I actually did things.
For those of you you haven't quite sorted it out yet, Slingbabe is a rather poorly named assassin. Im usually good with names and such, or like to think I am, but clearly I did not illuminate myself with glory this time.
Its a slight variation on the warrior monk theme, and something I've sort of mentally worked out in the past, but didn't have the weapon for it. Pindle decided to give one up a while ago, so off we went.
Code:
Name: SlingBabe
Class: Assassin
Experience: 1018644951
Level: 84
Naked/Gear
Strength: 126/186
Dexterity: 187/205
Vitality: 177/177
Energy: 25/25
HP: 747/911
Mana: 149/189
Stamina: 395/415
Defense: 46/2628
AR: 100000899/100001484
Fire: 138/98/38
Cold: 180/140/80
Lightning: 148/108/48
Poison: 112/72/12
MF: 31 Block: 81
GF: 8
FR/W: 30
FHR: 45
IAS: 30
FCR: 55
Fire Blast: 3/3
Shock Web: 1/1
Blade Sentinel: 1/1
Charged Bolt Sentry: 1/1
Wake of Fire: 1/1
Blade Fury: 20/20
Lightning Sentry: 1/1
Wake of Inferno: 0/0
Death Sentry: 7/7
Blade Shield: 0/0
Claw Mastery: 1/2
Psychic Hammer: 1/2
Burst of Speed: 1/2
Weapon Block: 1/2
Cloak of Shadows: 1/2
Fade: 1/2
Shadow Warrior: 1/2
Mind Blast: 1/2
Venom: 20/21
Shadow Master: 12/13
Tiger Strike: 0/0
Dragon Talon: 20/24
Fists of Fire: 0/0
Dragon Claw: 0/0
Cobra Strike: 0/0
Claws of Thunder: 0/0
Dragon Tail: 0/0
Blades of Ice: 0/0
Dragon Flight: 0/0
Phoenix Strike: 0/0Fleshripper was the weapon of choice, its pretty much my favorite non RW weapon. Maybe Stormlash is close. If I ever find more of them I will make more characters using them. (As an aside on my play style - once a character is "finished" the gear they're wearing is theirs, I don't swap gear to other characters, ymmv of course) Guillaume's, Gores and Fortitude completed the offensive parts and then Stormshield, which I never got around to socketing, which would have helped my resistances was the basis for the defense. I actually used Bloodfists for most of the game, but PI's in Hell Act V made me change to Trang's for more poison damage. Couple of bits of jewelry and Nos' Coil and I was set.
Code:
Guillaume's Face
Winged Helm
Defense: 217
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 115
Fingerprint: 0x7fe42fdf
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
+120% Enhanced Defense
+15 to Strength
All Resistances +15
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Um Rune
Eagle Torc
Amulet
Required Level: 30
Fingerprint: 0xe54837f1
Item Level: 90
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)
+10% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Minimum Damage
All Resistances +12
Poison Resist +22%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Fortitude
Archon Plate
ElSolDolLo
Defense: 1578
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0x31a3c6f4
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
20% Chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
300% Enhanced Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+84 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Replenish Life +7
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +25
Damage Reduced by 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 to Light Radius
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: El Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune
Socketed: Dol Rune
Socketed: Lo Rune
Bitter Circle
Ring
Required Level: 48
Fingerprint: 0x5cfb2614
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+67 to Attack Rating
4% Mana stolen per hit
All Resistances +8
Fire Resist +18%
Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0xd660344e
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+243 to Attack Rating
Adds 15 - 45 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
+17 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
Cold Absorb 20%
Cannot Be Frozen
Nosferatu's Coil
Vampirefang Belt
Defense: 61
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x96343e10
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10% Increased Attack Speed
6% Life stolen per hit
Slows Target by 10%
+15 to Strength
+2 to Mana after each Kill
-3 to Light Radius
Gore Rider
Myrmidon Greaves
Defense: 192
Durability: 34 of 34
Required Level: 72
Required Strength: 156
Fingerprint: 0xbb1fc644
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Run/Walk
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
10% Chance of Open Wounds
+187% Enhanced Defense
+20 Maximum Stamina
Required Level +7
Requirements -25%
+10 Maximum Durability
Trang-Oul's Claws
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 71
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0xc58c22cf
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Curses (Necromancer only)
+20% Faster Cast Rate
+25% to Poison Skill Damage
+30 Defense
Cold Resist +30%
Shadow Blade Talons
Blade Talons
One Hand Damage: 10 - 14
Durability: 69 of 69
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 50
Required Dexterity: 50
Fingerprint: 0xd23423e7
Item Level: 98
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)
Shadow Blade Talons
Blade Talons
One Hand Damage: 10 - 14
Durability: 69 of 69
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 50
Required Dexterity: 50
Fingerprint: 0x8c003e91
Item Level: 98
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)
Fleshripper
Fanged Knife
One Hand Damage: 57 - 216
Durability: 36 of 36
Required Level: 68
Required Strength: 42
Required Dexterity: 86
Fingerprint: 0x7b6d01d
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Increased Attack Speed
280% Enhanced Damage
-50% Target Defense
25% Chance of Crushing Blow
33% Deadly Strike
50% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
Slows Target by 20%
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Stormshield
Monarch
Defense: 458
Chance to Block: 47
Durability: 76 of 86
Required Level: 73
Required Strength: 156
Fingerprint: 0xde318a25
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Indestructible
+35% Faster Block Rate
25% Increased Chance of Blocking
+315 Defense (Based on Character Level)
+30 to Strength
Cold Resist +60%
Lightning Resist +25%
Damage Reduced by 35%
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of 10
Code:
Shogukusha's Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x243af727
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)
Mentalist's Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x67d2cde9
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)
Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0xf6f168ae
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+19 to Life
Steel Small Charm of Greed
Small Charm
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x4ddc2567
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+31 to Attack Rating
8% Extra Gold from Monsters
Steel Small Charm of Dexterity
Small Charm
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0xbbcb39b9
Item Level: **
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+34 to Attack Rating
+1 to Dexterity
Ruby Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x7185cc50
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5 to Life
Fire Resist +11%
Garnet Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x32fdaeb6
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Fire Resist +9%
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Steel Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x82679ce9
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+33 to Attack Rating
Steel Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x64a2065
Item Level: **
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+33 to Attack Rating
Shogukusha's Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xa69ff1ea
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)
+15 to Life
Fine Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0x79ab57b
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 to Maximum Damage
+17 to Attack Rating
Iron Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x87f7df6a
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5% Faster Hit Recovery
+20 to Attack Rating
Amber Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x45f0f7d3
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5% Faster Hit Recovery
Lightning Resist +11%
Ruby Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x24814b6
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+6 to Life
Fire Resist +10%
Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x6cc74664
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20 to Life
Amber Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0xbd604245
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +11%
Amber Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x23c48472
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +11%
Fine Small Charm of Sustenance
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x6a6e68e5
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Maximum Damage
+17 to Attack Rating
+15 to LifeAnd Fazel, who did what all good mercs do, die valiantly while tanking the wrong thing or getting stuck behind invisible obstructions. And sometimes even visible ones. I resisted the urge to put a Reaper's Toll on him, thinking Obedience would do the trick, and for the most part, I was right. And I jest, he actually held up well to most everything. Except PI/FI Lister, who laid him out faster than than an in his prime Mike Tyson. And a fana pack of Frenzytaurs in WSK 1, which cursed everybody. Fazel and Deena took it for the team on that, as I ran the other way. Fast.
Code:
Mercenary:
Name: Fazel
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Off-Normal
Experience: 65997554
Level: 84
Dead?: false
Naked/Gear
Strength: 188/198
Dexterity: 152/187
HP: 1790/1840
Defense: 1317/2047
AR: 1961/1961
Fire: 211/171/111
Cold: 208/168/108
Lightning: 178/138/78
Poison: 178/138/78
Crown of Thieves
Grand Crown
Defense: 324
Durability: 38 of 50
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0xcc82ba86
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
12% Life stolen per hit
+185% Enhanced Defense
+25 to Dexterity
+50 to Life
+35 to Mana
Fire Resist +33%
98% Extra Gold from Monsters
Treachery
Great Hauberk
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 406
Durability: 42 of 50
Required Level: 56
Required Strength: 118
Fingerprint: 0x323fa0a7
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Chance to cast level 15 Fade when struck
25% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Lem Rune
Obedience
Cryptic Axe
HelKoThulEthFal
Two Hand Damage: 155 - 705
Durability: 57 of 65
Required Level: 59
Required Strength: 132
Required Dexterity: 83
Fingerprint: 0x1cd8a573
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
30% Chance to cast level 21 Enchant when you Kill an Enemy
+40% Faster Hit Recovery
370% Enhanced Damage
-25% Target Defense
Adds 3 - 14 Cold Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
-25% to Enemy Fire Resistance
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
+265 Defense
+10 to Strength
+10 to Dexterity
All Resistances +27
Requirements -20%
5 Sockets (5 used)
Socketed: Hel Rune
Socketed: Ko Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Eth Rune
Socketed: Fal RuneHell was pretty easy, I'd been P8 through normal and NM, dropped to P3 for Hell. Act I was easy, but the sewers in Act 2 were awful, I must've needed 15 mana pots to get through it. Everything was undead, and a series of bad guesses meant I had to explore every corner before I was done. Arcane Sanctuary also required almost a full clear, but my first ghost experience was positive, Venom and Enchant, plus DS of course, sorted them out pretty easily, and merc could tank them with a little MB support for larger groups. Duriel died in about 15 seconds.
Act 3 is easy with DS, except I got trapped in the Kurast sewers by massive amounts of skeletons and died. Took 20 minutes to get my body back. Act 4 drew me gloams and nothing else hard. Gloams were fine, kick them if they get close and BF them if they're not.
Act 5 drew all the annoying monster spawns. Archers/PI Death Berserker things(I hate them)/dolls everywhere/Frenzytaurs/little merc massacring ball of death shooting witches. I feel like I missed something else too. But it wasn't too bad, there were a few deaths, 2 in the crystalline passage to PI/PI ghosts and Frenzytaur mixed boss packs, one to about 50 skeleton archers that were spread out all over the screen and I couldn't get clear, and one in the Ancients way to Might Enchanted Champion snakes. Oh and I got too close to Nihlathaks corpses and ouch.
Battle is typically MB once knowing SM is going to overdo it, then BF a few things, drop a DS and then either close and kick them to death or just finish from range. If its PI or unleechable, I kick it to reduce mana costs if its safe. Bosses melt due to kicks, and even PI/FI Lister was safe for me, although Fazel would disagree. BF is awesome when maxed, just click on the ground where you want them to go and fire away.
I'd give her a solid 8/10 on the fun scale, and the same for survivability. Theres really only one thing she can't do well, and thats MF, so my drops were pretty awful overall, but I did find a Darksight Helm, which might be fun except I already have 2 I've never used. Highest rune was a Pul in Hell Durance, and my Hellforges were truly bad. Hel/Lum.
Overall a solid build and good fun.
CM