LIVIN' ON THE EDGE: Diablo 2 Hardcore Challenge [Archive]

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 07:24 AM

It's time to pull up your tube socks, strap in your sandals and adjust that fedora, folks. I present to you

The Project 1999 Diablo 2 Hardcore Challenge

We're going to be playing Diablo 2 ladder on US East. /hardcore/

Season 1: July 5th to October 5th, 2016. At the end of the season the highest level surviving character shall be announced as the winner.

Rules:

Character must be Ladder/Hardcore/Expansion
To enter the contest you must make a screenshot of your character name and post it.
Rushing/Botting is allowed
Post a screenshot of your death and list the level/act
No cheating/hax or mountain dew consumption (or other performance enhancing substances)

What do I win? Lots of bragging rights.

Let's see who can get the highest level without dying! You must make a screenshot of your character creation screen and enter your toon's name into the mix. Ideally post screenshots of your progress, too.

GG DD GL HF

LET'S GOOOOOOOO

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 07:25 AM

I'll kick this baby off. I'm going to be following a guide a la Arreat Summit. Since this is my first Hardcore toon with no twinking, I'll be trying a Fishymancer build (max skeletons, max skeletal mastery, corpse explosion)

Toon name Maalicious

http://i.imgur.com/IineLJN.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 07:37 AM

Corpsefire went down pretty easy.

http://i.imgur.com/JgVmA9N.jpg

Act 1 Quest 1... check.

http://i.imgur.com/Ho6mBKg.jpg

My first blue drop. OP ASF

http://i.imgur.com/uIte8UP.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 07:54 AM

Blood Raven involved a lot of chasing...

http://i.imgur.com/gQ7UpQg.jpg

...but in the end she went down rather easily.

http://i.imgur.com/GfdDqqG.jpg

And the trappings

http://i.imgur.com/RSMcXE5.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 08:39 AM

Exploring the Mausoleum after Blood Raven's demise.

http://i.imgur.com/LlXiQas.jpg

Spine Brow in the underground passage killed all of my Skeles when she exploded. /chortle

http://i.imgur.com/hidz44i.jpg

Everyone's favorite little shit

http://i.imgur.com/4XEqMi3.jpg

Wahooey

http://i.imgur.com/VJuzK4i.jpg

I've got big plans for dis 2 socket armor. Gotta find Tal/Eth runes and I will have my very first runeword! (Stealth)

http://i.imgur.com/SYbblDJ.jpg

Spyder73

07-05-2016, 08:42 AM

D3 > D2

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 08:53 AM

Mr. Woodfist fell to the skeles pretty fast

http://i.imgur.com/LOawzAr.jpg

Tristram: LET'S GOOOOO

http://i.imgur.com/d1nDaoy.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/dHbe0NR.jpg

"Stay awhile, and listen."

http://i.imgur.com/5DHkLlJ.jpg

Oh hell ya

http://i.imgur.com/MiWQWMM.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 09:17 AM

Into the tower we go...

http://i.imgur.com/yKWyVrP.jpg

Countess went down really fast. Almost didn't snap the photo in time.

http://i.imgur.com/g379WTJ.jpg

3 Runes! Alllllriiighhhttt

http://i.imgur.com/BJus7fz.jpg

Yeppers just found my offhand for the next few acts.

http://i.imgur.com/q7qrfuL.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 09:46 AM

Outer Cloister

http://i.imgur.com/Rac7iQv.jpg

The Barracks

http://i.imgur.com/5yylPD8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GuCRUAI.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tIXaXUr.jpg

The smith was very tanky but he just took a lil time is all!

http://i.imgur.com/f9i2hQh.jpg

burkemi5

07-05-2016, 10:06 AM

Haven't played d2 in a loooong time. Do runes always drop in act 1 lowest difficulty or did they drop cuz you're in hardcore mode?

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 10:27 AM

Haven't played d2 in a loooong time. Do runes always drop in act 1 lowest difficulty or did they drop cuz you're in hardcore mode?

Runes always drop anywhere. The Countess always drops runes. "Countess Runs" are a thing for farming runes -- after I beat Act 1 I'll probably do a few countess runs to try and get a runeword or two.

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 10:29 AM

Typically, I would save my imbue item reward from Charsi until later in the game. But when every encounter can my last, I decided to splurge on some heavy boots. Not too shabby, I like the added run speed.

http://i.imgur.com/S29n6mz.jpg

Into the Jail we go.

http://i.imgur.com/cKeqbuk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cSnFr80.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eveSoI5.jpg

Upgrading out of dat leather armor. Some plate dropped and it's got some decent enhanced defense!

http://i.imgur.com/7UAJ4O0.jpg

On to Andariel...

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 10:37 AM

Andariel!

http://i.imgur.com/xuNnOW9.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/nOQdvXZ.jpg

Das loot. I would probably use that sword for the +mana but my wand has +skills so I sold it.

http://i.imgur.com/Z6MESrC.jpg

FoxxHound

07-05-2016, 10:51 AM

Not gonna do hardcore. Not a hardcore person. I did however buy it, and plan to play it again~

xKoopa

07-05-2016, 11:39 AM

Me and late are lvl 70+ in hell now

Gettin kinda boring now that its just a grindfest of farming items to be able to farm more items faster :/

Sage Truthbearer

07-05-2016, 01:43 PM

I had a level 99 Amazon on HC way back in the day.

This was when internet connections were dial-up and you lagged out/got disconnected all the time. If you got a lag spike you rushed to SAVE & EXIT as fast as possible, then log back in and hope you didn't die.

Grubbz

07-05-2016, 01:56 PM

Rushing/Botting is allowed

no thanks and get good.

Baler

07-05-2016, 01:59 PM

I have tried doing Necro any% HC (normal beat baal) runs. I use to stream it but I suck compared to the WR holders so I was embarrassed to continue.
my necro any% hc PB is 3:58 with no video proof. :\ wasn't streaming just practicing and I beat my previous time.

WR as of this post for Necro any% HC is 2h 14m 20s
Which is held by the LEGEND twitch.tv/teo1904 (https://www.twitch.tv/teo1904)
I learned everything from him about necro speed running.

He said it is certainly possible to get sub 2h with necro. But it's one of the hardest classes for a number of reasons.

List of LEGENDS
https://www.speedrun.com/d2lod

PS. anyone who wants to get into D2 get the Diablo 2 Gold Edition it's half the price of d2 and lod,. while containing both. save $10 for real.
If anyone has a spare d2+lod key they can give me for free let me know, thank you!

big_ole_jpn

07-05-2016, 04:17 PM

Game always suxed

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 05:22 PM

D3 > D2

Game always suxed

Everyone's entitled to their opinion. I'm sorry that yours are incorrect :)

Not gonna do hardcore. Not a hardcore person. I did however buy it, and plan to play it again~

Me and late are lvl 70+ in hell now
Gettin kinda boring now that its just a grindfest of farming items to be able to farm more items faster :/

Join me! Add a little spice to the game. I am not done playing in softcore Ladder but I wanted to take a break to add a little thrill to the grind.

no thanks and get good.

I said it was "allowed," not that I'd be doing it. There is no need to be angered, my friend :rolleyes:

And with that...

ACT 2 LET'S GOOOOOO

Baler

07-05-2016, 05:23 PM

OP is genuinely a nice person. That two socket chest is legit for a stealth in the early stages and those boots make me mad jelly.

10% run speed at the start is HUGE!!!

ps. act 2 GL on maggot lair! HYPE!

pss.Diablo 2 is the god father of arpgs

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 06:56 PM

Radament easily manhandled by the skellingtons and my new merc!

http://i.imgur.com/wu4SOr0.jpg

My skellingtons are killing stuff in Act 2 really fast and sometimes I am not quick enough to catch a screenshot of the elite mobs, but managed to get one of these earlier on shots.

http://i.imgur.com/XSfgDTG.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/rw4ct7T.jpg

Ended up being a neat lil Sabre -- I will put it on a mule for if (when) this toon dies, perhaps I will start a melee.

http://i.imgur.com/RvU6xjV.jpg

Found dat Halls of the Dead rather quickly on this map.

http://i.imgur.com/egs6spG.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 06:58 PM

http://i.imgur.com/bTThCnS.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/YwPUTBy.jpg

Wahoo! My first El rune!

http://i.imgur.com/0hHg2P7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gBqe3nI.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/LtKwBU2.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 07:01 PM

Dat staff doe.

http://i.imgur.com/JvVQoER.jpg

Oh, hello there Eld.

http://i.imgur.com/4dUxITd.jpg

Fangskin was handled relatively easily.

http://i.imgur.com/jCpv52w.jpg

Belt upgrade :O Nothing special, but it'll do for now.

http://i.imgur.com/NrxUhBi.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KB9nR3K.jpg

Shrubwise

07-05-2016, 07:03 PM

http://i.imgur.com/k9hwmjj.jpg

Cain shit his pants when he heard I had made the staff.

http://i.imgur.com/HG6FpHG.jpg

Taking a little break since Act 2 is by far, in my opinion, the dryest (huehue) Act in the game. I'll be back later to finish it up and then we go to Act 3, my favorite Act of all! assuming Duriel doesn't put me in the ground.

Ruinous

07-06-2016, 12:55 AM

Just started grim dawn otherwise I might have been down for this. Thx 4 screenshots tho, brings back fond memories of partying and LAN gaming many a late night in years past. :)

Shrubwise

07-06-2016, 02:20 AM

http://i.imgur.com/dxbuIYh.jpg

YA OK Jerhyn, so things get a little shady around town and you let all the hot chicks "hang out" in your Palace... gotchya...

Missed killshots on 2 or 3 of the elite mobs, they are going down too fast...

http://i.imgur.com/tukltWs.jpg

Arcane Sanctuary! Time for my favorite portion of Act 2.

http://i.imgur.com/hleOJna.jpg

Keeping this guy in the bank, replacing the old 2 socket hard leather armor, for when/if I find a Eth rune to make Stealth runeword.

http://i.imgur.com/EPa8MpU.jpg

Shrubwise

07-06-2016, 02:42 AM

Well, hello Ith! How nice of you to join us.

http://i.imgur.com/yBrJ21A.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/VVTGmlh.jpg

The Summoner was a bit challenging, due to his heavy damage elemental attacks.

http://i.imgur.com/O3kfi7x.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/59BxcJA.jpg

Sure, I'll wear dat.

http://i.imgur.com/0vJj4ZG.jpg

Shrubwise

07-06-2016, 10:12 AM

I logged in this morning and instead of just creating a private game like I have been so far, decided to, what the hell, check out the game listing, to see if anyone else was on Duriel. There was a game called "Act 2 Rets Go", it was 40 minutes into the game, and there were 4 other players in it, all level 19-20. I joined up and go figure, they are literally at the altar where you insert the staff for Tal Rasha. So within minutes of joining we had defeated Duriel, he was rather easy with 5 of us. So, nothing exciting leading up to the moment of Duriel.

http://i.imgur.com/292KB0a.jpg

Afterwards I scouted Hratli and homie really pulled through. Found two 2-socket armor upgrades, one for myself which I think I will make into Stealth, and the other for my deserving mercenary. Also picked up a great little polearm for Pratham.

http://i.imgur.com/BL6fGzk.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/FoZAQHx.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/J9hCYnG.jpg

And so we begin our adventure in Act 3, my favorite act!

Nirgon

07-06-2016, 10:29 AM

I gotta do another Diablo 2 hardcore ladder before my gaming days end, great thread.

PS: definitely jack up your dex later to keep your block at 75% with the off hand head and find a ravenfrost (chill kills!)

Vdub

07-06-2016, 02:56 PM

This was fun to read through. Nice nostalgia.

fash

07-06-2016, 04:49 PM

Sign me up when you do a Diablo 1 hardcore challenge (or Diablo: The Hell (http://diablo.gamepedia.com/Diablo:_The_Hell) mod).

Laugher

07-06-2016, 09:20 PM

D2 is awesome

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 03:56 AM

Finally a Nef! This is goina be the tits for when I find a 2 socket helm to make Nadir helm. (http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Nadir)

http://i.imgur.com/KZG0hPt.jpg

I went descended into the Spider Cavern...

http://i.imgur.com/0yacOpd.jpg

WOO-HOO ETH! Time to make dat Stealth runeword.

http://i.imgur.com/lS1EFTT.jpg

Only problem is that I've still got like 13 or so strength to go until I can actually wear it, so I moved it to the muley.

http://i.imgur.com/5VjbCck.jpg

Gidbinn...

http://i.imgur.com/VwjL2oU.jpg

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 03:58 AM

http://i.imgur.com/Br0sVN8.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/emtlAWa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Qf6i96K.jpg

Ormus pulls through with a ring I'll actually wear. That a boy.

Onward and downward...

http://i.imgur.com/ihURP4S.jpg

Oh hell yeah, a socketed bone helm.

http://i.imgur.com/TzFsrcc.jpg

I personally feel like it is sacrilegious for a necromancer to not be wearing a bone helm. Gonna plop a gem in there later.

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 04:00 AM

http://i.imgur.com/NUNRds5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Cx9OlMe.jpg

Could it be, an upgrade for dear Pratham?

http://i.imgur.com/37YnTr2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YaEg9df.jpg

Oh hell yeah you better believe it!

34 Defense, + 24 mana helm and looks tight. I'll take it.

http://i.imgur.com/uEopDrY.jpg

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 10:29 AM

Boss for Lam Esen's Tome in the Ruined Temple, Kurast Bazaar

http://i.imgur.com/A7mv8RB.jpg

Looked through almost the entire Sewers Lvl 1 til I found Lvl 2. Whamm-o

http://i.imgur.com/DT5BoCt.jpg

On to Travincal we go!

http://i.imgur.com/T1hTTTD.jpg

It was another Hsarus'.

http://i.imgur.com/TxClLKd.jpg

Almost to Trav.

http://i.imgur.com/Ld4168R.jpg

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 10:40 AM

All hail another Nef! Woo!

http://i.imgur.com/XugX0wm.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3AYBVL0.jpg

At the scariest moment, the council got me down to half health. It was easily handled but they did manage to wipe my skellingtons and my Merc... they have me concerned about Mephisto.

http://i.imgur.com/CuBcvMD.jpg

Dat flail + dat Eth yeeeee

When she just wanna be an orb but you tryna smash (with your imbued hammer)

http://i.imgur.com/2Y2kuGf.jpg

And so it begins...

http://i.imgur.com/htfj3AO.jpg

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 11:14 AM

Tal on the way down. Perhaps for a 2nd Stealth armor, when I find something better than plate mail?

http://i.imgur.com/iw5RC8v.jpg

Mephisto was not too much trouble. Over the course of half of his HP, he wiped all my skellingtons. I kept my merc alive for the whole fight. Popped about 5 or 6 rejuvination potions on him, but he managed to solo Meph.

http://i.imgur.com/MCMxqge.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/l5x2OeQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/v1GbjgD.jpg

Da loot... all merchant fodder.

Always open the chests :)

http://i.imgur.com/oq1VZM2.jpg

pickled_heretic

07-07-2016, 12:46 PM

oh boy, it's been years since i fired up the ole d2. always partial to singleplayer games with setplayers 8 on. my favorite playthrough was with a necro. never got into hardcore because back then my computer sucked and duriel would kill me 2/3 of the time when i zoned in to his lair before i could even act.

Liegezen

07-07-2016, 04:06 PM

I've got a 87 hardcore pally already this season, but now i'm bored again. When they upgrade D2 to Bnet 2.0 and such i'm sure it'll renew my passion.

big_ole_jpn

07-07-2016, 04:14 PM

cringeing hard

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 05:05 PM

I've got a 87 hardcore pally already this season, but now i'm bored again. When they upgrade D2 to Bnet 2.0 and such i'm sure it'll renew my passion.

What do you mean when they upgrade D2 to B.Net 2.0? Is that a thing?

17-20 year olds interest me almost not at all anymore (paradoxically also find 14-15 y/os more attractive because of all the potential with good guidance

cringeing harder

big_ole_jpn

07-07-2016, 05:08 PM

^my posts are embedded in ur long term memory. whos winning?

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 05:51 PM

http://i.imgur.com/siQdh8Z.jpg

A Tal right out the gate! I'm going to need to find more 2 socket armor to keep up with all this.

http://i.imgur.com/BzscP5G.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/eFIkzRZ.jpg

Eth. Two runes dropped to create a Runeword within minutes of starting Act 4. I see good things ahead.

http://i.imgur.com/Ng585nB.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HnLSnVV.jpg

Izual was super easy. Just kept amplify damage on him and my skellingtons and merc made easy work of him. Took a while but nobody died.

Baler

07-07-2016, 06:08 PM

I almost forgot to post this. I'm playing a Bonemancer US East Hardcore Expansion Ladder. Beat normal baal and was doing Cow Runs for exp and items. I was taking it slow because I wanted to keep this character. I got lazy and inattentive in massacring cows. Let my bone armor drop and it only took 2 cows to keep me locked in place for 300+ hp

Picking back up today almost ripped from a desync in flayer dungeon.
http://i.imgur.com/j09SgIl.png

Pure Bonemancer specs

my understanding of a pure bonemancer is:
Teeth - 20
Bone Spear - 20
Bone Spirit - 20
Bone Prison - 20
Bone Wall - 20
Bone Armor - 1
Corpse Explosion - 1
Clay Golem - 1
Amplify Damage - 1

Primary: Bonespear
Offscreen/Boss: Bone Spirit
Defense: Bone Armor
Utility: Bone Wall & Bone Prison
Distraction: Clay Golem (and act 2 combat merc (prayer))
amp damage is mostly for bosses or hard mobs(helps the merc do damage)

Found this great guide that makes it really easy to learn. http://www.diabloii.net/forums/threads/pvm-bonemancer-my-current-build.586995/

Shrubwise

07-07-2016, 06:12 PM

burkemi5

07-08-2016, 01:33 AM

FoxxHound

07-08-2016, 08:37 AM

I should probably get expansion

Shrubwise

07-08-2016, 09:15 AM

This post inspired me to start playing D2. Unfortunately I didnt have a working CD key, so I'm just playing single player, and I'm too wimpy to do hardcore, but I'm still having fun! Thanks for the inspiration.

I'm glad you got back into it! Just FYI, you can now buy Diablo 2 and Diablo 2 expansion keys (and download the respective clients) via the Battle.net shop under "Classic Games", $10 a piece.

I should probably get expansion

Yes, the game really is not the same without the expansion. The gathering and creating of Runewords is a blast.

Shrubwise

07-08-2016, 10:14 AM

Another Eth feels like dropping, during our trip to visit The Big Boss.

http://i.imgur.com/GltNnkU.jpg

Why hello there Eth and Tir!

http://i.imgur.com/l0VP4SB.jpg

All I need to find now is a 2 socket helm to make Nadir. I'm going to be keeping my eyes open for a 2 socket bone helm, cuz bone helms are tight as balls.

Grand Vizier

http://i.imgur.com/8bfmozK.jpg

Lord de Seis

http://i.imgur.com/1ClisGW.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/II5X9P3.jpg

Awwww yissssss. I forgot to take a screenshot, but the amulet was like +50 Fire resist and so I wore it for the rest of Act 4 cuz of datfire.jpg

Shrubwise

07-08-2016, 10:16 AM

the Infector

http://i.imgur.com/gAkCccT.jpg

And we open the seals, here comes big bad D

http://i.imgur.com/PypyraM.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/QjL6cil.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4DswSVE.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/l7LuYYS.jpg

It is a good thing I'm a gold collector, because I had to resurrect my merc, no joke, at least 6 times, maybe 9 or 10. Diablo would slay my skellingtons in a hit or two, and then it was my merc all the way. He would do well against normal attacks but Diablo would 1-shot him with the chain lightning attack he does. All I could imagine was Pratham shouting, "I live! I die! I live again!" Valhallllaaaaaa

And it's on to Act 5....

pickled_heretic

07-08-2016, 02:00 PM

you using decrep/clay golem for the bosses? makes them a lot more manageable, killing speed doesn't matter so much if they are slowed and dealing a fraction of their normal damage. obv. amp damage is better for most things, I don't think it helps that much for the bosses though.

Shrubwise

07-08-2016, 02:57 PM

Naw, haven't tried Decrepify and Golem, but that is a really good idea. I'm a put a point into it tonight.

Darkone

07-08-2016, 02:59 PM

god diablo 2 was such a good game, diablo 3 was such a piece of shit, what happened

pickled_heretic

07-08-2016, 03:12 PM

clay golem slow, decrep slow, and cold damage slow all stack. bosses literally crawl with all 3 in effect...

Shrubwise

07-08-2016, 04:36 PM

clay golem slow, decrep slow, and cold damage slow all stack. bosses literally crawl with all 3 in effect...

Thanks for the pro tip! Didn't know that.

Baler

07-08-2016, 08:30 PM

I use iron maiden + clay golem for normal bosses. Keep iron maiden up on the boss and just re-summon the clay golem on top of it. (iron maiden = 200% reflected damage) They kill themselves for me.

Grats on the diablo kill.

---
I found this in act 3. Put my stealth on my merc so I can swap to it if I need it.
http://i.imgur.com/o8nPEJo.png

I also completed the Insight runeword for my merc. I got a lvl 16 Meditation aura. :)

Level 38 atm at the start of Act 2. I'm slightly under level for where I'm at due to it being hardcore. Still have not found a Dol or Io runes to make White. Or a Wand with 2 sockets that has +3 bonespear or something else useful.

FoxxHound

07-08-2016, 10:20 PM

clay golem slow, decrep slow, and cold damage slow all stack. bosses literally crawl with all 3 in effect...

^^
I am about to go up against andariel. I have the merc that shoots frost arrows. 1 skele mage that shoots ice, 1 point into clay golem (wand gives another 2 points of clay golem, 2 skeleton mastery and 2 raise skeleton). Gonna get decrep asap~

Liegezen

07-08-2016, 11:01 PM

What do you mean when they upgrade D2 to B.Net 2.0? Is that a thing?

There's talk of it. Tho i say "when" as a way of giving myself hope. It's not set in stone, but D2 has been getting renewed love over the past few months for no real apparent reason, and i like to believe it's a prelude to something big happening in the future. There was an article about blizzard hiring people for some sort of special project, and i personally think it's something for D2. Can't hurt to hope.

Baler

07-09-2016, 01:17 AM

My act 2 nightmare went really smoothly. spent some time farming rocky tomb and halls of the dead for exp. Still no Dol or Io runes. No luck finding a +3 Bone Spear 2 socket wand either.

Bone Wall makes the beetles out in the desert easy.
http://i.imgur.com/nylO1XV.png

I'm such a hoarder. I hate having to choose between gems, runes and items.
http://i.imgur.com/HKl19I0.png

Duriel inside my Bone Prison! Muahaha
http://i.imgur.com/H0K1Vey.png

Having lots of fun with this challenge. Diablo 2 is such a classic that still is better then a lot of modern games.

Baler

07-09-2016, 03:01 AM

Found a 4 socket Scythe if anyone doing this challenge needs it to make Insight (http://diablo.wikia.com/wiki/Insight_Rune_Word) for their merc. PM me, first person gets it free.

Shrubwise

07-09-2016, 09:28 AM

There's talk of it. Tho i say "when" as a way of giving myself hope. It's not set in stone, but D2 has been getting renewed love over the past few months for no real apparent reason, and i like to believe it's a prelude to something big happening in the future. There was an article about blizzard hiring people for some sort of special project, and i personally think it's something for D2. Can't hurt to hope.

I always thought Diablo 2 revamped would make a magnificent modern game, if they just gave it a few minor tweaks:

Don't change anything about the game play, except that gold picks up automatically like in D3.
Make necessary visual changes to play in modern gaming resolutions without changing gameplay (I Know there is a mod you can D/L to play in full resolution but it gives an unfair advantage, you can see half the freaking map before the mobs can see you)
maybe sharpen/improve the graphics (I'm on the fence about this because it may ruin the original charm)
Of course, integrate it into new B.Net with the modern, easy friend adding/messaging/etc. system
I have to admit, I think an auction house, much like the one from D3, would be the tits.

Baler -- love that post! Keep it coming!!

Baler

07-09-2016, 09:59 AM

Nightmare was interesting nothing too special to report. So here are some Nightmare boss kills.

Mephisto Bone Wall For the win! There is Stygian Dolls; undead Fetishes on route to mephisto that were tearing through my bone armour and into my health. When they die the basically corpse explode. Tiny mob, runs fast, terribly hard to see in the dark.
http://i.imgur.com/QtRCMLP.png

Diablo, He was a bit tricky with Bone Wall because of his breath attack but it helped lock him in place so I could bone spear him off screen.
http://i.imgur.com/0o9wT25.png

Baal bows before me.
You can see all my dead clay golems here. They acted as a distraction so he would melee it and not summon tenticles, clones, fire or push back cold.
http://i.imgur.com/rwgnaoI.png

http://i.imgur.com/wxkx3BP.png

On to Hell for me, Level 60.
No idea what level other people are but I think I'm in the lead. :cool:

pickled_heretic

07-09-2016, 12:57 PM

iron maiden isn't so great in nm/hell. mob health scales a lot faster than damage.

Baler

07-09-2016, 01:17 PM

Ugh I said Bone Wall in my last post, I meant Bone Prison. Bone Prison doesn't work on Baal because he can teleport.

iron maiden isn't so great in nm/hell. mob health scales a lot faster than damage.

Yes I agree. Just want to re-mention that I said normal bosses for iron maiden. Bonemancer can't afford to spend the extra 3 points in the curse tree to get decrepify. Though I do have it (+2) on a preserved head. But I don't use it.

A classic summoner needs those extra curses to help keep his army alive on bosses.

-
Side topic for trash mobs...
so Corpse Explosion is 50% fire & 50% physical. Being one of the best go to spells for necromancers. It is worth debating on which curse combines best with it.

Amplify Damage - Lowers the Physical Resist of the enemy monsters by 100%
||
Decrepify - Lowers movement, attack speed, damage and physical resistance by 50%.

The only bonus I see from Decrepify is lowering attack speed(Like how slowing mobs is good in EQ). Mobs movement speed is pretty null for both summoners(summons slow down mobs) and boners (bone wall || bone prison). At which point Amp Damage is the better choice for damage, even by skeletons.

In my opinion there is only 2 worth while curses. Amp Damage & Lower Resist.

pickled_heretic

07-09-2016, 01:26 PM

decrep is absolutely mandatory for summoners killing bosses in hell, because bosses at the higher difficulties have a huge damage bonus multiplier on minions and mercs. the attack and movement speed malus are vital. as i already said, you still use amp damage for 90% of your fighting, but you use decrep on bosses to make your army last longer before they all die. you'll literally run out of mobs in the world to turn into revives/skeletons without it.

Baler

07-09-2016, 01:35 PM

A classic summoner needs those extra curses to help keep his army alive on bosses.

I know,. I agree'd with you and stated that.

pickled_heretic

07-09-2016, 04:27 PM

this seems fun...not sure what i would play though. i played lots of necro, barb, and paladin. maybe a javazon? never actually played one.

i really will miss being able to set the number of players to 8 in singleplayer. i understand a competition is pointless in singleplayer since it's easy to cheat but i wish they kept that feature in the realms.

Sirban

07-09-2016, 05:39 PM

I started on US West softcore. Names Sirban.

Im a bonermancer

Where do you guys recommend farming?

I usually do countess and mephisto

Baler

07-10-2016, 08:27 AM

I started on US West softcore. Names Sirban.

Im a bonermancer

Where do you guys recommend farming?

I usually do countess and mephisto

One basic route I do is as follows in order: Frigid Highlands (Eldrich then Shenks), Nihlathak's Temple (Pindleskin), mephisto, andariel. reset

Could probably toss The Pit and Countess somewhere into this.

All of this stuff is stupid easy on a bonemancer, especially if you've put a few points into CE for trash mobs.

Laugher

07-10-2016, 09:59 AM

will Hurb be there

FoxxHound

07-10-2016, 10:37 AM

I'm down to play normal stuff. Slow n casual

Shrubwise

07-10-2016, 10:55 AM

I haven't started farming yet, but I know xKoopa and his friend liked to recycle Countess and then Andariel.
Foxx - if you are on East, I'd be down to play one of my normal ladder chars w/ you. I have a few all different levels. What act/diff you on?

Shrubwise

07-11-2016, 11:23 AM

Beginning Act 5, normal!

Making my way up the bloody foothillz~

http://i.imgur.com/76eHcbX.jpg

Shenkers

All trash drops

http://i.imgur.com/udC9fDY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wxkx3BP.png

On to Hell for me, Level 60.
No idea what level other people are but I think I'm in the lead. :cool:

I do believe you are in the lead Baler, but the season does not end for a few months and there is still plenty of time for you to die ;)

Baler

07-11-2016, 02:28 PM

I do believe you are in the lead Baler, but the season does not end for a few months and there is still plenty of time for you to die ;)

:eek: Don't say that. I've been clogging up my inventory with +health charms trying to prevent that! I even spent some time practicing my exit game muscle memory while I listened to this :song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0RmgM1gYYo).

As long as I stay out of my Bone Prison I should be okay. Those stygian dolls, undead fetishes may do me in.
I've been taking it a lot slower lately now that I'm into hell. just rounded 65 yesterday.

random art I found.
http://i.imgur.com/791Luns.jpg

FoxxHound

07-11-2016, 02:49 PM

burkemi5

07-11-2016, 03:23 PM

Anyone know a way to make ladder runewords on single player? I've been searching and trying a few methods, nothing has worked. Now I'm out a Sol :(

Baler

07-11-2016, 03:41 PM

Anyone know a way to make ladder runewords on single player? I've been searching and trying a few methods, nothing has worked. Now I'm out a Sol :(

I have not tested this personally...

Post #3
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/370600-diablo-ii-lord-of-destruction/62650884

Video about post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B2nzJwIDPI

pickled_heretic

07-11-2016, 08:01 PM

SamwiseRed

07-12-2016, 12:59 AM

i tried it. reinstalled everything. got a hardcore barbarian to 10. i don't think i can hack it. the early game is sooo boring (which I knew, but somehow I forgot). they need to have a mode where you start at level 30 or something.

ye single player hardcore mode is superior. you can use atma to store your loots and make the game simulate 8 players for max xp and item find. also dont have to worry about hacks and shit. i played a ton of d2 in my life. im interested in the challenge but would rather do single player. fuck getting carried and shit.

i also like restrictions such as no runewords (way to fuckin powerful.) my favorite way to play is yellows and below only. no uniques, runewords, or set items. makes gambling and rerolling worth. kinda of like how diablo 2 classic was.

Baler

07-12-2016, 02:59 AM

im interested in the challenge but would rather do single player. fuck getting carried and shit.

I'm 100% Solo Self found at the moment on my hc ladder necro. I cant speak for everyone but it sounds like they're all self found & not carried too.

Shrubwise

07-12-2016, 08:20 AM

I'm 100% Solo Self found at the moment on my hc ladder necro. I cant speak for everyone but it sounds like they're all self found & not carried too.

Aside from the group that I joined to kill Duriel, I've soloed everything as well.

radda

07-12-2016, 02:02 PM

D3 > D2

Are you serious?

Shrubwise

07-12-2016, 06:54 PM

Lol I think he wuz

Baler

07-13-2016, 08:00 AM

So I got tired of looking for the perfect wand to make the runeword White.
But I somehow failed the runeword? I think I know why but I didn't know it was 'magic' at the time.
Base: Jeweler's Bone Wand
1 attract
1 bonespear
50% dmg to undead
2 sockets

Apparently the 2 sockets are the magic part of this. Hense the "Jeweler's" Prefix on the name.
http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Prefix#Add_Sockets

http://i.imgur.com/BVfG4TT.png<-FAIL

Shrubwise

07-13-2016, 10:16 AM

You can't make runewords out of magic items right?

Baler

07-13-2016, 10:43 AM

You can't make runewords out of magic items right?

Correct. It has to be a white/grey item. No magic, rare, unique or set item.
You can make runewords with white/grey ethereal items.

I say white/grey because it has to be a white item. The text is grey from the sockets.

ps. grey = gray like how armour = armor.

Sirban

07-13-2016, 01:39 PM

l0l

SamwiseRed

07-13-2016, 06:52 PM

runewords are op. back when i would so sphc runs, getting 2 spirit runewords for mainhand and shield was p ez. i started playing without them as they became a crutch for all my runs.

im tellin ya the best way to play d2 is to limit yourself to rares and magics. its fun finding a badass rare with all the stats you could want.

Baler

07-14-2016, 02:27 AM

im tellin ya the best way to play d2 is to limit yourself to rares and magics. its fun finding a badass rare with all the stats you could want.

Why stop there? Could go back to playing D2 Classic, Charms are a crutch!
(I have nothing against d2 classic)

SamwiseRed

07-14-2016, 09:56 AM

loved d2 classic but LoD brought in synergies which meant your build wasnt fucked for the first 30 levels or so. biggest improvement to the game imo was being able to level lower skills that would eventually help your main ones.

other than that i agree, d2 classic was better item wise. rares were king.

Shrubwise

07-14-2016, 10:58 AM

Not going to lie, I've been slacking lately. Haven't played the last few days. Spending lots of time tryin' to catch 'em all.

stormlord

07-16-2016, 02:02 AM

Nice read thanks. I played a lot of D2 over the years, but never played hte expansion. My highest hardcore was I think 60-something paladin. I had some cruel deaths. Stay away from the cows and generally be weary of entering hell. One time I was playing and someone who hadn't been on in a while logged in. He was 80-something. We talked a bit and he got to playing. A few hours later I was on again and I saw "XYZ was killed by blah blah." I felt terrible for him. He cursed and left. So sad. I eventually died. It's not like I ever got to 80.