Untwinked MF char

[Darkoooo]

Untwinked MF char

Got kinda bored of SC and I decided to enter the world of mortals. It would be my first char and I don't have any equipment. I'm playing SP but we sorta formed a group over tcp/ip games(4 of us curently). So my question would be whats a safe MF char that could run Mephisto. Please exclude Blizzard and Meteorb sorc because i have em in SC. I was thinking of building a Blizzballer but don't know if she would do ok in HC and if this is the skill allocation(couldnt find the guide:duh: )
Blizzard - Max
Ice blast - Max
CM - 1
Fire Ball - Max
Fire Bolt - Max
FM - 1
Teleport - 1
Static Field - 1
Would this setup be good enough for Mephisto(if I manage to get there:grin? I dont want some extra speed killing just some safety and killing him in time of 1 minute.
Stats would go like this:
Str: 145 - When i get runes for Spirit Monarch
Dex: 0 - Was planing on using caster shields
Vitality - Everything else
Energy - 80 - This enough for a untwinked char?

 

[PhatTrumpet]

If you think you can play through an untwinked Sorc with no block and no EShield, go right ahead, but I personally would only do it if I were looking for a challenge.

Also, for skill placement, you'll need more than one point in Cold Mastery, and you'd probably be better off maxing Meteor instead of Fire Bolt (for a few prereqs you get a useful timered fire spell, rather than a useless synergy). Shoot for slvl 17 Cold Mastery after gear. If you bank on having 'Spirit' shield, a +1 helm, +1 amulet, +1 armor, and a +2 weapon that means you'll need to invest 8 skill points.

 

[Darkoooo]

Yeah, I dont know really. This is how i would do it in SC. That's why I asked for your help guys. Could you please tell me how to allocate my skill points then? And should I stick with the Spirit as the end game shield or go the max block way with SS? How many points should i spend on ES, dex, ect.?

edit: Could you or someone else then sugest a viable and safe MF char in HC?

 

[PhatTrumpet]

You'll probably need either max block or some ES (with max TK)... having both wouldn't be completely unreasonable. I'm not saying it can't be done otherwise, but it's not the safest approach and I probably wouldn't recommend it especially if you're new to HC.

Max block Orb/TK by MoUsE_WiZ (perfect for Meph running): http://forums.diabloii.net/showpost.php?p=4173678&postcount=5

You can do similar with Blizzard, except instead of dumping spare points into ES/Warmth/Teleport you'd generally want to pump Blizzard synergies.

If you want to go dual-elemental, both Meteorb and Blizzball work, but you won't have enough skill points to max TK, so ES would be more of an annoyance than a buffer. Max block is generally a good idea in this case, unless you're in the mood for a challenge, as I already said.

 

[Disque]

I recently just started playing HC again too, my first char was a full out blizzard sorc. I run NM meph for awhile until I get the items I need to do hell and such. She is currently 61 with max blizzard and maxing synergies.

Enough str for items, about 80, no dex, no energy, rest vitality.

It's not as hard as you think to gamble some rings or amulets that give good +mana ad well as mana charms. Plus you can get an insight merc, I've put 10 points into warmth, and a few mana pots here and there and your fine. Unless of course you chose to rely on Esheild to protect, which I don't.

I'm a bit of an oldschool player, so this is just how I always played and never had a problem.

 

[AgentMarth]

The thing is, if you go into HC with a SC mindset, you wont last long. Sure maybe your SC characters do well with no ES and no block, but if they die, you press esc and continue. In HC, if you die, you stay dead, and then spend alot of time rebuilding. I'd rather take longer to kill Mephy, then kill faster, but remake alot do to dieing. Then there is the gear loss... ugh.....

There are things you want to make sure to have when playing HC

Max Res - Stuff like Smoke, Wizzy, and a Rhyme in a tower shield plus the Anya quests nets you 180 when all done, so in the end, your stacked by 5 even.

Max block - Unless if you don't have a shield (i.e. dual wield barb, bowazon, shifter), there should be no reason to not have it. A SS is nice, but then you have to determine if the DR is worth the 156 str, 67% block (On Sorc), and only 2 res. Better options could be Whistan's, Up'd Moser's, Up'd Visc (On Sorc) or the cheaply made Rhyme in a tower shield.

High Vitality - No explanation needed.

Breakpoints - I aimed for the 42 FHR BP, and 63 FCR BP. You could always go for more, but only if you feel the need.

Also, I wouldn't plan to have stuff like a Ber drop for a CoH and the likes, so plan on using stuff like Smoke, or Vipermagi in its place. Same goes for the rest of your gear. You also can't go glass cannon in HC, I found myself always wanting more +Skills in SC, while in HC, my sorc has +1 all, and +3 cold, but at the same time, has max block, max res, 76%es, 63+ FCR, 42+ FHR, ~950 life, ~750 mana, and thanks to my insight/prayer merc, can stand point blank at Andy or Mephy and take all the hits without fear of dieing, and also I don't have a heart attack if ES breaks due to mana burn. Downside, 0 MF at the moment till I find that elusive Shako, or switch a gheeds on her.

If you want a sorc for MFing, teleports lovely, try an ES/Orber. PhatTrumpet already pointed it out, it's a wonderful guide that I'm sure is more helpful. It's what I followed, but I maxed ES when I think they advocated to not, and went with the insight/prayer merc for the wicked regeneration. I made it to rely on ES, but also so I wasn't one shotted if it broke. The regeneration at high levels is something to not overlook in my opinion. Even with teleport costing about 23 mana a shot, I can teleport all 4 paths to summoner for instance(why does it have to be the last one >_>), and not run out, or be mana burned to 0 and still barely miss a frame on teleporting. Less in teleport or warmth means higher ES, CM, or Ice bolt.

I love my sorc, teleported all through Hell at 72, Gaurdian'd her at 73.


If not, Fishymancer FTW!

And I typed alot... I hope it helps.

 

[meekzero]

yeah, in my opinion, gotta build the safest, most defensive build possible. it's HC after all... for me, that means max block, decent FHR, and decent life.

 

[stekkelino]

I just started hc and im using a fishymancer,
goes really nice with this guy, i can run around with as much mf i can get my hands on, the dmg comes from my skellies so i find nice stuff alot, until now

just found a tals amulet ... in normal ... in act 3 not even from a boss :laugh: 3

he kicks but

 

[Darkoooo]

Wow, thanks guys for all the help!

 

[Tor Land]

I just died with my untwinked CL\orb sorc in a pitrun on hell. She had Shako, spirit sword and a vipermage(which is pretty good stuff for me since i play alone without trading). She was doing pretty good on her own, but i became reckless i guess

 

[Socialism]

I just died with my untwinked CL\orb sorc in a pitrun on hell. She had Shako, spirit sword and a vipermage(which is pretty good stuff for me since i play alone without trading). She was doing pretty good on her own, but i became reckless i guess

Random threadsteal!