What to do? (fishy question)

[Everglows]

What to do? (fishy question)

Hi,

I'm roughly level 59 and I'm dirt poor! I maxed raise skeleton, skeleton mastery and am on my way to maxing corpse explosion. I also have a few of the 1 point wonder. I have from items +3 raise skeleton, +1 skeleton mastery (both from my wand bought in act1 normal) and +2 corpse explosion (from a shield found in act1 normal) and about 111 mf at the moment.

I started collecting gems and have about 14, 2 of which being ptopaz which I intend to use for myself on a mf hat and armor when I find one with more armor and some sockets.

Now the core of my question:

I'm running nm meph to level and get some tradable stuff since I'm too weak to do baal or start pits in hell (or any further in hell, I killed nm baal by inadvertance so it's hard to find games.)

However what would be the best path for me now? Continue gathering up pgems and get some things like homunculus which I think is buyable in pgems? Are there things that I should buy instead of others that would advance my character more. Should I continue running meph, should I try diablo?

I'm really lost as to what I should aim for, seems like leveling won't make my army any stronger so I just need items so start tackling mf'ing in hell. Could anyone offer me some advice?

Thanks,

EG!

 

[MalVeauX]

Heya,

Actually you are likely strong enough for Hell Pits. 20/20 skels, might merc, amp and CE are all you need. You can do it at level 40's, seriously. It's very easy for a Summoner with maxed skels. You can do it naked so long as they are 20/20 at least, and have a merc & you help them out with amp/ce. I would do this. You will level there all the way into the in upper 80's in full games very nicely. Solo you will level there too if you do self-private games.

I would not run bosses. Summoners are too slow for boss running. Instead, run areas. Clear the bloody foot hills. Clear the worldstone in act5 and nevermind minion/baal. Collect the flawless gems. Make perfects. Pgems are the easiest way to obtain basically anything you want to build up your necro.

Next - I recommend you ditch all the MF gear. Build up your +skills and gear for killing. You will find uniques are not the way to wealth at all in 1.11. Socketed/socketable whites and eth items, charms, jewels, etc, are all far more wealth-generating than uniques. If you look at trade threads, you'll see all these uniques you work hours for, going for 1~2 pgems. Not cool. That's most uniques, not all of course. There are some highly prized ones that will earn you wealth, but they're so very rare, you can't expect for them to just drop. Socketables do drop however, all the time. If you want to build up some good wealth, this is how I recommend you do it. No MF. Kill areas. Collect gems/socketed/eth/socketable items that are used in popular runewords. Folk pay big for the right things. When you find 4 open socket flails, 4 open socket ethereal cyrptic axes and great poleaxes, you will be rolling in wealth. And that's just a drop in the bucket in terms of play time, you get all kinds of socketed stuff to sort. Just take off that MF to get the real wealth.

Cheers,

 

[MasterMynd]

[edit: I realized my reply post was OT so I deleted it.]

 

[Everglows]

Wow thanks a lot,

I will try hell pit asap. I'm probably going to keep the mf that doesn't hamper my +skills though, but i'll definitely put my emphasis more toward +skills now.

I seem to have problems with bloody foothills because of all the ranged though..

 

[Pierre]

Have you got a point in dim vision? I find that works well enough when dealing with ranged attackers.

 

[MasterMynd]

RE: Dim Vision

I would define “the perfect defense†as one that completely stops an opponent from attacking.

Dim Vision is that perfect defense for ~90% of the monsters in the game, ranged or not.

Personally, I always max DV on my Fishys.

 

[Everglows]

Update:

I ran the pits today (and got the inner cloister WP) and had little problem (died about 5 times, but nothing major. I think it's due to my shield which has very little block and me lacking lightning resistance. When I get more gear it should fix itself!

I just put a point in DV, and I'll try it or ranged attackers, although so far 1 DV doesn't help that much since it has such a small range. Although my Amp Dam also has less range I think that one matters less since I can focus it on what my mobs are attacking.

Well thanks a lot for the help, hopefully I find some nice gems are sellable stuff to start stacking +skills and +all res to improve my speed and survival rate!

EG

 

[HCKull]

You could try using 1 side for fighting and the other for summoning. That way you can use lots of +summons gear to make your skels and +bone/+curse gear to fight with. Just be aware that you might lose some skels when you switch to the fighting side. Also, careful about switching to summon side to raise skels in the middle of a fight as you might be much more vulnerable with lower defense and resists.

Most summoners use AKL wand and homo sheild.

Ultimate gear is beast axe + homo sheild on fighting side and akl+boneflame on summon side.

 

[LastZodiac]

Dirt poor and using a might merc? I wouldn't.

I tried that and my merc dies much to often with crappy gear. Since your poor, get an act 1 merc and slap an edge runeword bow on her. It has lvl 15 thorns among other things. Keep in mind thorns damage DOUBLES when the target is amp'd.
You might wanna change your MF runs to include Andy. With amp AND the thorns aura, she will kill herself in 9 melee attacks.

Test it out mmkay?

 

[Everglows]

Hi,

I'm wondering two things, whats an akl first of all? And second of all what should be my absolute first purchase? I'm thinking a mara's kaleidoscope would help with my resists, or an homunculus... Or is it something else?

 

[Reformed Vision]

aokl is arm of king leoric. decent +skill bonuses but kind of dangerous to carry around because of the chance to cast bone prison around yourself.

First purchase is hard. I like going for +skill items as your skellies get decent gains from higher level. You don't need a lot of them just make the ones you do have tougher. after that I look for resistences as I keep as far back as possible to avoid physical dmg anyway.

I'm not very good at prices but my choices would probably be a homonc or a necro torch. both carry +skills as well as resistences. some sorc randomly joined my game and gave me a homonc so they can't be that expensive. besides that a aokl wouldn't be bad.

 

[anilrobo]

Update:

I ran the pits today (and got the inner cloister WP) and had little problem (died about 5 times, but nothing major. I think it's due to my shield which has very little block and me lacking lightning resistance. When I get more gear it should fix itself!

Sorry to hear you dying five times. I think you died not because of your shield, but because of your resistances, and/or running too close to monsters. You should learn to stay a bit away from monsters (the exact distance is about the radius of cold explosion when a cold enchanted monster dies) and behind your army.

How to fix resistances: First notice how much resistances do you have now. I normally just look at my lightning resistance because that is the only thing capable of killing Fishy. Then calculate how much more resist you need to max your lightning. For example, if your lightning resistance is 10 right now, you need 65 more => get a 3 socketed tower shield, put three perfect diamonds in it, and you'll be invincible. If you need 40-45 resists, just find a good shrunken head (good = +skeleton mastery / raise skeleton / raise skeletal mage / + summoning skills / +bone armor or bone wall) with two sockets, and insert two perfect diamonds in it. Lighting problem solved.

I just put a point in DV, and I'll try it or ranged attackers, although so far 1 DV doesn't help that much since it has such a small range. Although my Amp Dam also has less range I think that one matters less since I can focus it on what my mobs are attacking.

Even with one point, DV is a great curse to have. The radius is small, but do not despair - Here is a trick to use DV effectively even when you are unable to see the ranged monsters properly in the dark pits: just watch your foremost skellies - and cast dim vision around them - these are the scouts who find and engage enemies, I can vouch for it!

Lastly, you will level up best by doing "blood moor runs", or nightmare baal runs - you should be able to do them yourself if you fix your lightning resist. So level up a bit, and then jump back in hell!

Trust me Fishy is a very sturdy build capable of surviving, I have a whole thread on how I am doing hell very well from level 55 onwards!

 

[Everglows]

Oh, I have no doubt as to the ability of my fishy, none!

I just picked up a +3 summoning wand for 40k gold (free) which gives me +2 skeleton mastery. I also got the resist book from nm for 10 more resist all. I leveled to 62 also...

I'll try grabbing a homonculus next as it seems to be somewhat cheap!

 

[MasterMynd]

Just a note on "Fixing Resitances": If you're truly only concerned about Lightning res, 2 PTopaz would be better than 2 PDiamond. (2Dia=38%.vs.2Top=80%) And even a Topaz/??? would be better. (2Dia=38%Light,38%???.vs.Topaz/???=40%Light,40%???)

Personally, I would go with PTopaz+PRuby unless my Cold/Poison res was really in the toilet.

 

[Everglows]

I changed my shield to a 26% block (instead of 8%) and +1 summoning skills, which gives me 1 more skeleton!

Well I thought I wouldn't post it but I might as well, here's my resists:

-65% fire
-63% cold
-37% lightning
-72% poison

Yes, its a minus..

I'm juggling with my pgems as they're my main currency at the moment, if I use them I can't get other items which could or not help me more... I'm thinking as soon as I can get an Homunculus I could socket it with a pdiamond for 19 more resists. Or should I go straigth out for 2-3 (dont know max # of sockets0 x19 all or x40 lightning?

Im sitting at 24/24 but as soon as an enemy slips (and it happens) I'm 1-2 hit k-o as it stands lol.

 

[anilrobo]

I changed my shield to a 26% block (instead of 8%) and +1 summoning skills, which gives me 1 more skeleton!

Well I thought I wouldn't post it but I might as well, here's my resists:

-65% fire
-63% cold
-37% lightning
-72% poison

Yes, its a minus..

There lies your problem!

I recommend posting your full gear including charms. I think you need to find a lot of items with resists - don't worry about mf right now, you will get better items later, just focus to survive and level up to about 85 before you start real magic finding.

I'm juggling with my pgems as they're my main currency at the moment, if I use them I can't get other items which could or not help me more... I'm thinking as soon as I can get an Homunculus I could socket it with a pdiamond for 19 more resists. Or should I go straigth out for 2-3 (dont know max # of sockets0 x19 all or x40 lightning?

Pgems drop a lot more frequently in the current patch, and Blizzard can only increase it in 1.12. From my personal experience, I find about 2-3 flawless gems in each pit run (including the route to pits) = approximately one pgem for each pit run. You should use them for yourself rather than trading right now. You'll keep finding gems throughout the game till you get tired of cubing them. All the gear you need is easily findable in the game - anything with resists will do - don't crave for uniques / sets. A simple four socketed gothic plate with four perfect rubies will take you a looooong way in the game! A tri-resist rare armor, two rare rings with dual or tri resists, and similar rare boots and cap with resists is all you need for now.

Summary: Just use the pgems for your own gear (pdiamonds / ptopazes for shield). Use the rare items with resists you get. Level up to 85, and then wear your magic find gear.

Hope it helps.

 

[bruticus]

quick way to fix resists is to get a Wizardspike; 75 resist all, and good FCR to boot. keep your current wand to summon your army on switch, then go to Wizspike before you run to pits.

Homunculus would help your blocking a ton - put a pdiamond in that and you've got 59 resist all right there as well.

if you're on West ladder, i'll give you a Wizspike free.

 

[MasterMynd]

Ummm.... I wasn't expecting all resists to be down the toilet, through the septic tank, and soaking into the leach field. :shocked:

With those kinds of resists, you just plain will not be able to make it through Hell. Period. Not gonna happen. No way. Fuggedaboudit.

With enough pots and favorable monster spawns, you might make it to A3. But I don't think there's any way you'd make it to Mephisto. Either Bizzard from the Zakarumites, or Hydras from the Council, would do you in pretty quick.

I would start with a shield full of PDiamonds. 4os if you have the strength for a Monarch, otherwise a 3os Large Shield.

Next would be 'Smoke' armor if you have the runes. Otherwise 4os Gothic Plate (if you have the strength) or 3os Breast Plate, with your choice of Ort/Ral/Tal/Thul runes.

 

[anilrobo]

quick way to fix resists is to get a Wizardspike;

I agree. However Wizzy has level requirement of 61, he's 59 at the time he started this thread. Hopefully he should be able to use it by now.

 

[Everglows]

I am able to use it now indeed!

Well I'll run pits in this condition until I get something with enough sockets.

I also saved some stat points so I can pump strength (I don't worry about super pimping since I won't pvp with this toon anyways).

Here's my complete (lol) gear list:

Helm: 15 armor with a 16% mf topaz in it
Neck: 29% mf magic
Weapon: +3 summoning, 20% fcr wand
Shield: +1 summoning, 26% block,6 def
Armor: 160 def, 7% mf gem, 3 os
Ring 1: 31% mf ring
Ring 2: 16% mf ring
Gloves: 3% ml, 2 str, 9 sta, 17 cr, 16 lr, 25% mf
belt: 17% fhr, 27% lr (other useless mods)
boots: 2 dex, 15fr, 8pr, 13% mf

Charms:
large: 1% mf, 1-27 lightning damage

I geared toward 1.09 rather than 1.11 obviously... Should I go for the aforementionned Homunculus+pDiamond and a 3-4 os armor and stick all pdiamonds in?