Runeword
Lawbringer is a runeword that grants the user access to the sanctuary aura. The excellent thing about this for a hellforge frenzy barb is that it has a knockback aura affect on undead. This enables the barb to traverse places like the Arcane Sanctuary with relative safety without the need for teleport charges.
The runeword isn't terribly expensive as it only requires Amn+Lem+Ko. Other areas it helps are:
All durance of hate levels
All Act II Tombs
Flayer Dungeon
Chaos Sanctuary
All of these areas have a substantial number of undead that can slow you down. The sanctuary aura will knockback all undead every 2-3 seconds allowing you to by pass them easily using leap. This includes the dreaded stagnant dolls. Glooms will still get a shot off though.
More on items in later posts.
Note: To be able to make Lawbringer you must either be playing on Ladder or using the Runeword Mod.
Friday, 9 November 2007
Monday, 5 November 2007
Build Update #2 - Skill Point Distribution
Combat Skill Tab
20 - Frenzy
01 - Double Throw (as prereq)
05 - Double Swing
01 - Bash (as prereq)
Total: 27 Skill Points
Notes: Double swing is powerful as an early game frenzy substitute. Ensure 2 skill points go into it asap in order to get its mana consumption down to 1. DS is also a synergy for frenzy (8% damage) so you may wish to put 5 points into it early game or save them for Natural Resistances.
Combat Masteries Skill Tab
05 - Natural Resistances
01 - Iron Skin
05 - Faster Run Walk
01 - Increased Stamina
05 - Sword Mastery (Mastery of your choice)
Total: 17 Skill Points
Notes: Don't waste skill points in SM, its good if you have a serious Attack Rating problem but with the right equiptment you can avoid this skill almost entirely. Faster Run Walk and Natural Resistances are major time savers and also reduce luggage.
Warcries Skill Tab
01 - Battle Command (+1 all skills)
01 - Battle Orders (+life & mana)
01 - Shout (as prereq)
01 - Howl (as prereq)
++ - Taunt (everything else in here)
Total: 5 min, 24 max skill points.
Note: Taunt in a 8% damage synergy for the Frenzy skill and useful for dealing with dangerous monster groups.
Combined Distribution of Skills Points
Minimum Specification Requirements
+27 (Combat Skills Tab)
+17 (Combat Masteries Tab)
+05 (Warcries Tab)
= 49 (Skill Points)
08 points from quests
41 points from character levelling
Recommended Specification
+27 (Combat Skills Tab)
+17 (Combat Masteries Tab)
+24 (Warcries Tab)
= 68 (Skill Points)
08 points from quests
60 points from character levelling
Summary
By character level 61 you can achieve an optimum skill point placement for a hellforge frenzy barb class character. From my experience so far, I've managed to get a level 49 frenzy barb to the hellforge in hell and discovered attack rating to be my biggest problem. 2 good steel grand charms have help a lot in so far as does the Todesfaelle Flamme Zwiehander for its Enchant charges used on switch.
20 - Frenzy
01 - Double Throw (as prereq)
05 - Double Swing
01 - Bash (as prereq)
Total: 27 Skill Points
Notes: Double swing is powerful as an early game frenzy substitute. Ensure 2 skill points go into it asap in order to get its mana consumption down to 1. DS is also a synergy for frenzy (8% damage) so you may wish to put 5 points into it early game or save them for Natural Resistances.
Combat Masteries Skill Tab
05 - Natural Resistances
01 - Iron Skin
05 - Faster Run Walk
01 - Increased Stamina
05 - Sword Mastery (Mastery of your choice)
Total: 17 Skill Points
Notes: Don't waste skill points in SM, its good if you have a serious Attack Rating problem but with the right equiptment you can avoid this skill almost entirely. Faster Run Walk and Natural Resistances are major time savers and also reduce luggage.
Warcries Skill Tab
01 - Battle Command (+1 all skills)
01 - Battle Orders (+life & mana)
01 - Shout (as prereq)
01 - Howl (as prereq)
++ - Taunt (everything else in here)
Total: 5 min, 24 max skill points.
Note: Taunt in a 8% damage synergy for the Frenzy skill and useful for dealing with dangerous monster groups.
Combined Distribution of Skills Points
Minimum Specification Requirements
+27 (Combat Skills Tab)
+17 (Combat Masteries Tab)
+05 (Warcries Tab)
= 49 (Skill Points)
08 points from quests
41 points from character levelling
Recommended Specification
+27 (Combat Skills Tab)
+17 (Combat Masteries Tab)
+24 (Warcries Tab)
= 68 (Skill Points)
08 points from quests
60 points from character levelling
Summary
By character level 61 you can achieve an optimum skill point placement for a hellforge frenzy barb class character. From my experience so far, I've managed to get a level 49 frenzy barb to the hellforge in hell and discovered attack rating to be my biggest problem. 2 good steel grand charms have help a lot in so far as does the Todesfaelle Flamme Zwiehander for its Enchant charges used on switch.
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Mercenary - Part I
To Merc or not to Merc
As the bottom line of the build is time, the merc can cost you time and save time.
The ways mercs can cost time:
Having to carry there items around
Resurrecting them
Heal them and watch over them
Having to work out their stash
The ways mercs can save you time:
They can help kill enemies
They can heal you and with item regen you mana pool faster
Provide you with auras
As the bottom line of the build is time, the merc can cost you time and save time.
The ways mercs can cost time:
Having to carry there items around
Resurrecting them
Heal them and watch over them
Having to work out their stash
The ways mercs can save you time:
They can help kill enemies
They can heal you and with item regen you mana pool faster
Provide you with auras
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Build #1 - Frenzy Barb Part I
Frenzy Barb Hellforge Build
Why a Frenzy Barbarian?
The barbarian is the safest build in the game. For each attribute point spent on Vitality the Barbarian receives a whopping 4 life. To cut to the chase, what this all adds up is a build that is far less likely to die and thus save time. All important time.
Note: You might want to hold off this build until you have an items with teleport charges.
Skills
The Frenzy Barbarian also gets some skills which can be very time saving:
*Frenzy (only the paladins charge can compete with the incredible speed boost from frenzy)
*Increase Speed(a skill that allow the barb to walk and run faster)
*Leap (can prevent a lot of unnecessary back tracking if Teleport isn't available)
*Howl (gets rid of pesky enemies with little experience point rewards)
These are some of the new skills for the Disposable Hero version of the Frenzy Barb. The adjustments to the normal skills of a frenzy barb looks as follows
20 Frenzy
5 Double Swing
20 Taunt
15 Weapon Mastery (necessary for the attack rating)
1 Battle Command and all its prerequisites
1 Iron Skin
5 Natural Resistances
5 Increase Speed
1 Leap (Optional)
Total 73 skill points
How skills are accumulated
2xLair = 2 skill points
2xIzual = 4 skill points
Total 6 skill points from quests (normal and nightmare only)
Total 67 skill points from leveling (kill hell hephisto at level 67)
Tips on selecting mods in items
Ignore Targets Defence (ITD) - allows you to reduce the number of skill points you need in weapon mastery
Hit causes monster to flee - handy in hell acts III and IV, especially with stagnant dolls.
Teleport Charges - almost essential in hell - arcane sanctuary. (e.g. Spellsteel)
+str +dex -allows you to put more of your valuable points into Vitality (e.g. IK Forge)
Damage Reduce by % - Allows you to get away with having a lower level character in hell.
+skills - Any +skills will increase resistances, speed, leap range, warcries, attack and damage.
Tips
Avoid quests that are too time consuming (Radament, Caine, Rescue Soldiers, Blood Raven and at course Blood Baron)
Tactics and Strategies
The High Council in Travincal provide easy levelling earlier in the game (Normal).
Fund your characters, don't have them running back to town to sell stuff in order to res their merc. Have plenty of spare gold in your stashes.
Use teleport charges where necessary for players without enigma
Scrape and run in hell. You should be finished levelling by Helltime and ready to take on Haphisto. Keep the frenzy alive and rely more on a poison fx for any final blows.
Fill your character up with items to minimise switch time using atma.
Why a Frenzy Barbarian?
The barbarian is the safest build in the game. For each attribute point spent on Vitality the Barbarian receives a whopping 4 life. To cut to the chase, what this all adds up is a build that is far less likely to die and thus save time. All important time.
Note: You might want to hold off this build until you have an items with teleport charges.
Skills
The Frenzy Barbarian also gets some skills which can be very time saving:
*Frenzy (only the paladins charge can compete with the incredible speed boost from frenzy)
*Increase Speed(a skill that allow the barb to walk and run faster)
*Leap (can prevent a lot of unnecessary back tracking if Teleport isn't available)
*Howl (gets rid of pesky enemies with little experience point rewards)
These are some of the new skills for the Disposable Hero version of the Frenzy Barb. The adjustments to the normal skills of a frenzy barb looks as follows
20 Frenzy
5 Double Swing
20 Taunt
15 Weapon Mastery (necessary for the attack rating)
1 Battle Command and all its prerequisites
1 Iron Skin
5 Natural Resistances
5 Increase Speed
1 Leap (Optional)
Total 73 skill points
How skills are accumulated
2xLair = 2 skill points
2xIzual = 4 skill points
Total 6 skill points from quests (normal and nightmare only)
Total 67 skill points from leveling (kill hell hephisto at level 67)
Tips on selecting mods in items
Ignore Targets Defence (ITD) - allows you to reduce the number of skill points you need in weapon mastery
Hit causes monster to flee - handy in hell acts III and IV, especially with stagnant dolls.
Teleport Charges - almost essential in hell - arcane sanctuary. (e.g. Spellsteel)
+str +dex -allows you to put more of your valuable points into Vitality (e.g. IK Forge)
Damage Reduce by % - Allows you to get away with having a lower level character in hell.
+skills - Any +skills will increase resistances, speed, leap range, warcries, attack and damage.
Tips
Avoid quests that are too time consuming (Radament, Caine, Rescue Soldiers, Blood Raven and at course Blood Baron)
Tactics and Strategies
The High Council in Travincal provide easy levelling earlier in the game (Normal).
Fund your characters, don't have them running back to town to sell stuff in order to res their merc. Have plenty of spare gold in your stashes.
Use teleport charges where necessary for players without enigma
Scrape and run in hell. You should be finished levelling by Helltime and ready to take on Haphisto. Keep the frenzy alive and rely more on a poison fx for any final blows.
Fill your character up with items to minimise switch time using atma.
Hellforge Running
This covers a new type of character build for the game. A kind of 'Disposable Hero', a build that is design for the specific purpose of getting the the Hell Hellforge as quickly as possible.
The idea is to exchange the characters skills and attributes for mods bonuses found on items. One of the biggest problems with this build is levelling up. Levelling up requires time, in this case time is our enemy.
The Goals
Primary - To get a new character through to hellforge in under 24 hrs.
Secondary - Work out where time is wasted the most and optimize.
Other Goals
Track all time based information.
Find out which build is best and with what items.
Build a queryable database on the issue.
Learn what fast really is.
Final Goal
Produce an Instructional Application that teaches people how to perform the feat.
The idea is to exchange the characters skills and attributes for mods bonuses found on items. One of the biggest problems with this build is levelling up. Levelling up requires time, in this case time is our enemy.
The Goals
Primary - To get a new character through to hellforge in under 24 hrs.
Secondary - Work out where time is wasted the most and optimize.
Other Goals
Track all time based information.
Find out which build is best and with what items.
Build a queryable database on the issue.
Learn what fast really is.
Final Goal
Produce an Instructional Application that teaches people how to perform the feat.
Read this first
Comments in the blog apply to the following style of play.
D2 LoD
Patch 1.11b.
Single Player mode. Red Rune Mod & Rune Word Mod.
Atma muling enabled.
For more information visit diabloii.net single player forums.
Legal Notice
D2 LoD
Patch 1.11b.
Single Player mode. Red Rune Mod & Rune Word Mod.
Atma muling enabled.
For more information visit diabloii.net single player forums.
Legal Notice
All legalities herein are dealt with by Google. See the agreement details for Blogger for more information.
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