Archived from groups: alt.games.diablo2 (
More info?)
Patrick Vervoorn wrote::
> In article <d3gi16$69v$1@domitilla.aioe.org>,
> Hansjoerg Malthaner <hansjoerg.malthaner@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:
>
>>Patrick Vervoorn wrote::
>
> [snip]
>
>>From that point, I just let the session develop, usually I play two or
>>three different characters one after the other during one session.
>
> Nice. I usually concentrate on one character, and only switch when the
> character's stash is full with stuff.
Probably it's better to stick with the same character. I think I'm just
trying to do everything at the same time, yet doing nothing properly.
OTOH the gamemis meant to be fun, and as long as that's the case it's ok
>>Very rarely I have plans on what to do, usually only if I changed the
>>difficulty level and face a quest boss who needs to be killed. But
>>except for Baal there are usually many games of players with the same
>>goal so it's fairly easy to get that problem solved
>
> Also, I usually play a character to quest/level up, in other words, get
> 'forward' in the game. Maybe I should look for games like you describe,
> but due to the generic low IQ of B.Net players, my experiences with public
> games has been not to good.
Yesterday I had bad luck. I wanted to go for Diablo in nightmare and
joined a game that seemed appropriate. But the people were going for the
hellforge quests, and just when I arrived at the river of flames, they
completed the quest. I didn't even see a gem or rune
🙁
So I definitely spoiled this quest and the reward by my playing style.
> It's probably even worse than Trade Games,
> because that's where you expect people to appear who have a
> modest idea of what communication is...
>>The fire traps have two benefits: the waves are fired in a fast sequence
>>and have good area coverage. I once tried to calculate damage per time
>>and I think the fire traps are comparable to the lightning traps in that
>>aspect.
>
> What does the Character screen say about the damage it deals?
I don't remember the numbers. I'm in the office right now, so I can't
take a look.
>>Lightning traps are better against bosses, I think, because they hit
>>single target better. I don't have much experience with that yet, so
>>maybe I'm wrong here.
>
> I really don't know. I just started a Lightning Trapsin because people
> said the lightning traps dealt most of the damage.
Damage comparisions are difficult. Poison kills slowly, cold damage
freezes the target. Some attacks/spells have area effects, other are
rather punctual.
Somehow you'd have to factor in damage per time per area + bonus
effects, and even then you will have different results if you attack a
group of monsters (area) or a level boss (single target).
The WoI has higher damage numbers than WoF, but shoots slower, dameg is
dealt over time and it covers less area. It's shoots more often per
cast, so it saves mana.
From the figures it's almost impossible to tell which is better in the
game. I tried both with a former trapper, and decided that WoF is better
for me. But I still don't know what to say if someone asks me why I
don't use WoI when it's "so much better".
A drawback might be the high mana consumption that I have. WoF isn't
very efficient in damage per mana. So I have to spend attribute points
on energy, while other players can spend them on life, dex or str.
If all this should be considered, I'm really out of wits to say which
will be the "strongest" trapper.
> When we meet again, we
> could exchange some damage numbers to see how the traps work out,
> according to the game in any case.
Playing and trying seems to be the only way to get an impression of what
works and what not.
OTOH if it turns out not to work in later stages of the game, you have
your character screwed already, and probably can't repair it.
>>>Like I said in-game, I'm quite a packrat, and the IK Barb still has quite
>>>a lot of charms in his inventory.
>>
>>My bowazon also carries a lot of charms. It's hard to find a good
>>balance between free space and support charms.
>
> Yeah, I notice every char I have ends up with about 3 x 4 free spaces of
> inventory space. Now that I think about it more, several of my barb's
> slots are taken up by Barb Skillers I couldn't get rid of. At least 1 or 2
> warcries skillers, and 1 or 2 combat skillers. Difficult to get rid of
> these...
3x4 is big enough to carry a few items that you have picked up. You need
to travel to town often this way, but you are stronger in fights. Most
likely you found the best balance for your playing style.
I often live with a little less of free space, so you're not the only
packarat in this game
I think right now only one of my chars has 3x4 free space, although I
tried to 'clean up' seriously
I need a few mules, I guess.
>>I noticed that, and tried to see if I find some jewels that I won't use,
>>to give them to you. But I found only one in my stash. I had also sold
>>off all the lower rings previously, so I couldn't give you anything.
>
> Well, if you sell any jewels and rings you find, feel free to give them to
> me, I'll even give you some gold for 'em.
😉
The biggest problem is keeping them until we meet. I can't mule as
easily as you can, I only own one copy of D2, and so I have to drop
everything, leave the game, change the char and join again. If I get a
realm down the items are lost, and sometimes games just vanish, and the
items are gone also.
Nothing serious was lost so far, but I wouldn't try to mule my more
valuable items this way.
>>If you play in open games with a bigger parties, you loose them just too
>>often this way. Until your are back they are elsewhere already and you
>>find yourself just trying to catch up. In that case you can just run
>>with them or look for another game.
>
> Yes, one of the reasons I don't play together much: I like to play the
> game in my own 'pace', which also allows me to visit town as much as I
> want/like to.
Some of the less popular quests I do alone, but just because noone joins
the games. Usually I'm happy once I completed the quests and play
together with other people again.
Act 3 seems to consist only of Travical in the mind of most players. I
almost never saw someone questing for Lam Esens tome, although it gives
5 attribute points?
>>The Jade Talon that I had stashed and that I now can use since my
>>character leveled a bit helped a lot with the resists.
>
> Yes, it's a nice claw for a Martial Arts assassin who is short on resists,
> but it's not really a claw for a trapper.
I'm pondering about starting a new assassin which focuses on melee. But
I have too many characters already, I should rather play them than
starting new ones all over
> What you see a lot are +3 traps/+skills traps, with 1 or 2 sockets
> (Larzuk), filled with +res jewels with a nice secondary mod. Also, keep in
> mind trap-laying-speed is determined by IAS, not FCR, so you'd also like a
> nice IAS jewel in those claws.
I never noticed a delay in placing traps so far. Or do you mean the
delay between placing a trap and until it starts firing?
If this can be reduced, I'd very interested in learning how
>>>Did you get your merc levelled up a bit, can he use the Hone Sundan?
>>
>>After our session, and a short break, I only played half an hour more,
>>and I played my fire sorceress. But I was too tired and I rather
>>should've gone to bed earlier.
>>
>>The merc could use the Hone Sundan right away, yet the Bonehew will take
>>a while. I'll probably try to level him later the day. Weekdays are
>>workdays for me, I can post some messages to newsgroups in between, but
>>playing is only for the evenings. And today I'll probal just play an
>>hour or two, I need to catch some sleep
>
> Well, don't forget to put an Amn in that Hone Sundan as soon as possible,
> because the leech is what keeps the merc alive. Stick in the second Amn
> and the Shael when/if you find 'em... (or feel free to experiment with
> other stuff to put in the sockets.
😉
Let me get some of those first. I once had an Amn IIRC. Currently I'm
completely out of any higher and even medium level runes.
I'll follow your advice as soon as I get hold of the runes.
>>>So when that Bonehew dropped, I thought: you can use that, especially
>>>since you seem to have underused the Act 2 Merc, a lot. And a Bonhew is
>>>very nice weapon for one.
>>
>>I must admit I never used act 2 mercs before. I did once in D2, before
>>LOD was out, and the guy died after a few minutes.
>>
>>Since LOD and reviveable mercs the situation changed, but I didn't try
>>them again.
>>
>>With your equipment and suggestions, I'll now give them another chance
>
> They are wonderful tanks, with a very useful aura, the choice of which
> depends on the character you're playing. So try to level up your Fire
> Trapper's merc, and you'll see she now has a second powerful tank, which
> will shield her off while she tosses the traps. Very useful!
My fire sorceress now uses one, too, and they work together pretty well.
I found a shaftstopper unique armor, which boosts him to a total of 1.3k
defense. He's definitely the best armored merc that I ever had
OTOH he keeps killing himself if iron maidened by oblivion knights.
>>>You have a point, but if I do it myself, with a massively overpowered
>>>character, it still feels like cheating. But if/when I can play some more
>>>together with known/trusted people, I'd like to try that too...
>>
>>If I'm online, just give me a call. I can't help in hell, but all normal
>> quests and a good part of nightmare should be doable.
>>
>>In a few weeks, I might be able to help in hell as well
>
> Well, feel free to further play the trapper, though I'm afraid my IK Barb
> will push on to the end of hell pretty soon.
He's in a good shape. I have no doubt that he'll adventure well. I wish
him luck for his adventures
Do you continue playing your characters after defeating hell baal, or do
you retire them and start new ones?
> Maybe I can overtake the trapper with my Fanatic Zealot, so we can do some
> levelling/questing together.
Maybe we meet somewhere midlevel, too. My fire sorc is currently lvl 48,
maybe she can join him for a while until he changes to hell.
> Regards,
>
> Patrick.
Reagrds,
Hajo
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