Starting Advice for Single Player, Untwinked HC game

[maxcavsm]

Okay, y'all, dried out the Hammerdin and hated the fact that I'd throw hammers past encircling enemies and hit guys in the other room. While he was powerful as hell, there attacks were just too random. I need more control, so I started over and decided to go with a Warcry Frenzy Barbarian (taken from an HC build).
Now while this is nice, I always read two-thirds of the build posts. It lists stats, skill tree suggestions, and then the four page list of legendary and elite equipment to start off with (or get by the end). Now, for someone who's playing as a single player, untwinked, this is an unrealistic expectation to actually be able to get all of this gear (isn't it?) given the seeming randomness of drops. If it isn't, let me know....
Does anyone have any stories of doing untwinked single player HC? I'm doing it, damnit, because it seems to be one of the harder accomplishments out there in the gaming realm right now (that I've seen). Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

[wangboBW]

mf from time to time?

[ruslan74]

i do play single player but not on any realm or internet server(s)... i had to restart from scratch and my MF frenzy barb is right now nearing lvl 91 in hell... the amount of stuff i found from late Feb till now is staggeringly nice... if you are willing to need some items let me know but only if it is single player OFF the realms as I dont have any internet access to my PC right now.

my current equipment is :

shako
tal's plate
tal's belt
wisp ring 15% MF
ravenfrost
chance guards 39% MF
gore riders 15% CB
heaven's light AMN + SHAEL 33% CB
azurewrath
charms - around 80% MF

i placed my skullders ire on my blessed aim merc so he deals the final blow to bosses most of the time. in all i have slightly over 300% MF in total.

[chaca]

unfortunately barbs are very item dependent. You can collect some decent runes if you play all the way through each quest, but nothing that would put you towards the elite equipment. I did it with a conc barb, but got stuck in act 1 hell until I could get a better weapon. Anyway, max resists, lots of life, max resists, etc. Use the lower level rune words, they can really help.

[PhatTrumpet]

Okay, y'all, dried out the Hammerdin and hated the fact that I'd throw hammers past encircling enemies and hit guys in the other room. While he was powerful as hell, there attacks were just too random. I need more control...
Um, Hammers aren't random in any way, shape, or form. They always travel in the same spiralling path. It just takes practice to get the hang of using them.

But anyway, I play single player untwinked during the summer, as when I come home from school I don't really have a good enough connection for hardcore (I'm at work right now). After a few weeks of playing I have 8 characters all over lvl 15. At the moment there's a 56 Frost Zealot, 52 Lightning Trapper, 40 Shock Zealot, 25 Hammerdin, 24 Fireclaws Bear, and a Wind Druid, Blizzard Sorc, and Skellymancer all around lvl 15.

The key to single player untwinked is picking builds that start off doing pretty well, and aren't too incredibly gear-dependent down the road. For the Frost Zealot, Shock Zealot, and Fireclaws Bear, their low-lvl melee is strong enough to burn through Acts 1-3, and by that time you should be pumping your main aura. Mid- to late-game all you really need is a decently fast weapon. Lightning Trappers are cake: gamble Blade Talons and Scissors Katars until lvl 24, the rest is a breeze. Lightning + Death Sentry = gg. Hammerdins... well you already know about those. The Wind Druid was going a bit slow for my liking, but only because you have to wait a while before getting any real damaging spells. Skellymancers are slow and bore me also. The Blizzard Sorc, however, was showing some real potential with a 60-ish damage Ice Blast, I just don't have to patience to play her through Acts 2 and 3 just yet (running out of mana constantly pisses me off to no end).

If you need any of the specific skill/stat placements let me know.

[Bongo Fury]

I'm playing an untwinked SP low skills (L12 skills max) character right now (Ice Blast/FB Sorc currently in A2 Hell). In general, if you don't like/want to do a lot of MFing along the way you should go with a build that isn't too item dependant. Unfortunately your Barb is going to be heavily dependant on the weapons he finds. If he lucks into a good one it'll be fine. But more likely he'll struggle mightily in Hell. Something like a Skellimancer or Trapper might be a better choice.

But in general, I'd load up on as much MF gear as you can so that you'll see a good selection of items through normal questing. Save all the Topaz's you come across, and upgrade them with your cube and any shrines you come across. You can even go back to A1 once you hit L18 to run through the open areas to find shrines. I did this with my Sorc till I had 5 PT's for a helm and breastplate. Unless you're playing purist, I reccomend getting ATMA's so you can save and mule any useful stuff you find into a personal stash. This will let you trade in your MF gear for combat gear for the tough fights, like act end boss's. Run with as much MF as you can while still being able to survive. Save every gem, rune and jewel you find so you can make runewords, craft and reroll. Haul anything of value back to town for gambling money. Until you reach higher levels (60+), I'd sell any crappy jewelry for gambling money rather than cubing them. You basically need to utilize everything at your disposal in order to make Guardian.

If you're set on playing the Barb, be very careful of the FE situation, as it hasn't been fixed in SP. One bad boss in Hell can end your journey. Good Luck.