Tesladin advice
So I'm one of probably many returned D2 players lured back from the nostalgia of the D3 info. I've had 6 characters over level 85 in my playing, 2 necros, 2 paladins, and 2 sorcs.
My favorite character I used to have was a Tesladin created not long after 1.10 came out. Guess that was a couple of years ago.
I'm trying to recreate him as my first character of my new account (old account got purged). However, last time I had a couple other high level characters first, so had better wealth for good gear. I believe I had a Herald of Zak, Guardian Angel and a Crescent Moon before even entering Hell with him.
I don't remember Hell difficulty being a huge problem before, but now my Tesladin is getting creamed. He does very decent damage to the non-immunes, so at least he kills quickly, but the immunes are impossible. All I have for a weapon is a Holy Thunder in an exceptional sceptor, so my physical damage is pretty weaksauce. My shield is a crappy rare from normal difficulty, which may explain why I'm getting killed every few mobs.
I've maxed HS and RL, and I've brought my Zeal and Sacrifice to about 12 each. Have 2 points in holy shield. Currently rolling with a Holy Freeze merc. My resists for lightning and fire are semi-decent (70+ and 50+) but my cold is only like 18.
Guess I have a better shot of getting responses here if I make actual questions:
1) Is this character hopeless to get anywhere in Hell with?
I'm looking to get better gear, so that I can last in Hell, but all the good gear drops in Hell, hence the conundrum. I can hang out in NM for a while, since I tear things up there, but I don't seem to be making much progress. I can probably collect pgems for weeks here before I can trade for anything decent, but that may be my best option.
2) If he is hopeless, would I be better off re-rolling a hybrid as my first Tesladin?
If I had maxed holy freeze or something, I could probably get through act I Hell at least. Would probably still die a lot, but the lightning immunes wouldn't make me want to delete my character.
2b) If I should reroll a hybrid, go Tesla-Froster or Tesla-Fanatic?
I've done some tentative planning for each build. If I don't get Holy Shield, I could enter Hell at level 68 with maxed Holy Freeze and halfway to maxed resist cold, or with maxed Fanaticism and halfway to maxed Sacrifice.
Both plans assume that Zeal only gets 4 points. The attack rating increase of improving Zeal is something I probably won't miss when I get the ITD of Crescent Moon, but may miss until then (and who knows when I'll get the 3os Phase Blade).
Which plan is more viable? Which more fun? Any personal recommendations?
3) Instead of rolling a hybrid, should I be comforted by the fact that my current Tesladin would be viable if I got him better gear, leave him, and roll a different character to enter Hell with? If so, what's a class / spec that can handle Hell without decent gear?
I think it was my Necro that braved Hell for the first time, which got my gear that allowed my Tesladin to be viable. I could consider creating a Necro to pave the way again. I am not interested in a Hammerdin, but if there's a sorc build that does okay with crap gear I could consider a build.
4) Can one easily trade for a 3 socket phase blade?
I think when I was building my Tesladin last time, the ladder was well underway, and folks had lots of junk to trade. Not sure anyone is holding onto 3 socket phase blades to trade so early in the ladder season. I made a trade thread on these forums, but no one responded that had one. I have the Um and Tir runes for a Crescent Moon, but until I get a phase blade, they'll sit in my bank. Anyone on USEast have one to trade?
That's it for now. Please excuse the length, I am pretty excited about getting back into things.
So I'm one of probably many returned D2 players lured back from the nostalgia of the D3 info. I've had 6 characters over level 85 in my playing, 2 necros, 2 paladins, and 2 sorcs.
My favorite character I used to have was a Tesladin created not long after 1.10 came out. Guess that was a couple of years ago.
I'm trying to recreate him as my first character of my new account (old account got purged). However, last time I had a couple other high level characters first, so had better wealth for good gear. I believe I had a Herald of Zak, Guardian Angel and a Crescent Moon before even entering Hell with him.
I don't remember Hell difficulty being a huge problem before, but now my Tesladin is getting creamed. He does very decent damage to the non-immunes, so at least he kills quickly, but the immunes are impossible. All I have for a weapon is a Holy Thunder in an exceptional sceptor, so my physical damage is pretty weaksauce. My shield is a crappy rare from normal difficulty, which may explain why I'm getting killed every few mobs.
I've maxed HS and RL, and I've brought my Zeal and Sacrifice to about 12 each. Have 2 points in holy shield. Currently rolling with a Holy Freeze merc. My resists for lightning and fire are semi-decent (70+ and 50+) but my cold is only like 18.
Guess I have a better shot of getting responses here if I make actual questions:
1) Is this character hopeless to get anywhere in Hell with?
I'm looking to get better gear, so that I can last in Hell, but all the good gear drops in Hell, hence the conundrum. I can hang out in NM for a while, since I tear things up there, but I don't seem to be making much progress. I can probably collect pgems for weeks here before I can trade for anything decent, but that may be my best option.
2) If he is hopeless, would I be better off re-rolling a hybrid as my first Tesladin?
If I had maxed holy freeze or something, I could probably get through act I Hell at least. Would probably still die a lot, but the lightning immunes wouldn't make me want to delete my character.
2b) If I should reroll a hybrid, go Tesla-Froster or Tesla-Fanatic?
I've done some tentative planning for each build. If I don't get Holy Shield, I could enter Hell at level 68 with maxed Holy Freeze and halfway to maxed resist cold, or with maxed Fanaticism and halfway to maxed Sacrifice.
Both plans assume that Zeal only gets 4 points. The attack rating increase of improving Zeal is something I probably won't miss when I get the ITD of Crescent Moon, but may miss until then (and who knows when I'll get the 3os Phase Blade).
Which plan is more viable? Which more fun? Any personal recommendations?
3) Instead of rolling a hybrid, should I be comforted by the fact that my current Tesladin would be viable if I got him better gear, leave him, and roll a different character to enter Hell with? If so, what's a class / spec that can handle Hell without decent gear?
I think it was my Necro that braved Hell for the first time, which got my gear that allowed my Tesladin to be viable. I could consider creating a Necro to pave the way again. I am not interested in a Hammerdin, but if there's a sorc build that does okay with crap gear I could consider a build.
4) Can one easily trade for a 3 socket phase blade?
I think when I was building my Tesladin last time, the ladder was well underway, and folks had lots of junk to trade. Not sure anyone is holding onto 3 socket phase blades to trade so early in the ladder season. I made a trade thread on these forums, but no one responded that had one. I have the Um and Tir runes for a Crescent Moon, but until I get a phase blade, they'll sit in my bank. Anyone on USEast have one to trade?
That's it for now. Please excuse the length, I am pretty excited about getting back into things.