Screeching Halt...

[Unscene]

Hi I'm on USW L and I play a lvl 84 sorc. I was wondering... it's so hard to gain any exp in Hell Baal Runs now; Usually I get half way to gaining a level and I die which pretty much takes away the exp I gained in the past few runs. Is there any suggestions to make leveling easier? It feels like everything's come to a screeching halt. It took me 4 hours to gain one level. :grrr:

Anyone have any tips to help this stangant situation along? It would be appreciated. And please don't say "Don't die." Because, I only tele to baal when I don't have any exp to lose.

[Stoopid_NewB]

Even when you don't have any experience to lose, you lose experience. Your meter stays empty, but if you look at the actual experience number, it drops.

But to answer your question, the best I can tell you is I've gotten really quick at save and exit when I get into trouble.

[GenXCub]

Play Hardcore, then you don't have to worry about losing experience when you die :)

[Dredd]

Are you doing the teleporting to the throne in these runs? If so, you should always try to hug the walls while you teleport around (as opposed to teleporting right down the middle of the rooms). Try to stay moving as well and don't hesistate. Also, if you're using an Occulus, you might be better off switching to another orb while you teleport to the throne - that random teleport mod will kill you more often than save you. Once you hit the throne and the rest of the party joins you, you can switch back to it.

Take a look at your gear as well. Make sure your resists are maxed. If you have damage reduction gear laying around (like stormshield), use it. Don't sacrifice resists for DR though. A good gear set-up is full Tals plus a PDiamond Stormshield - that's not mandatory though, there are many effective alternatives.

Ask for a BO (Battle Orders) from a barb at the waypoint before you teleport - the extra life can make a big difference.

How is your blocking? Good blocking has saved my life many times.

Once you're in the throne room, don't stand right where the minions spawn unless you like to get your head beat in. Stand back a decent distance - watch how other sorcs position themselves; they are usually a pillar or two back.

That's all the advice I can think of at the moment. If you have other questions, let us know your build and gear set-up.

[Unscene]

Are you doing the teleporting to the throne in these runs? If so, you should always try to hug the walls while you teleport around (as opposed to teleporting right down the middle of the rooms). Try to stay moving as well and don't hesistate. Also, if you're using an Occulus, you might be better off switching to another orb while you teleport to the throne - that random teleport mod will kill you more often than save you. Once you hit the throne and the rest of the party joins you, you can switch back to it.

Take a look at your gear as well. Make sure your resists are maxed. If you have damage reduction gear laying around (like stormshield), use it. Don't sacrifice resists for DR though. A good gear set-up is full Tals plus a PDiamond Stormshield - that's not mandatory though, there are many effective alternatives.

Ask for a BO (Battle Orders) from a barb at the waypoint before you teleport - the extra life can make a big difference.

How is your blocking? Good blocking has saved my life many times.

Once you're in the throne room, don't stand right where the minions spawn unless you like to get your head beat in. Stand back a decent distance - watch how other sorcs position themselves; they are usually a pillar or two back.

That's all the advice I can think of at the moment. If you have other questions, let us know your build and gear set-up.

That's funny... actually I'm doing all those things.
I use a full tals set with an Um'd Stormsheild. I have max block and I always make sure that I ask for battle orders before I Tport. Also to avoid the untimely death of getting mobbed I always carry my tele gear with me. Magefists, WizSpike, Lidless, and Arachnids belt. Then I equip my usual gear once I get to the throne. Tals, SS, and Frostburns. The problem I'm having is that when I get to the throne, I tp out of there and when everyone takes my portal they all die and curse me. I'm doing everything I can.

[Dredd]

The problem I'm having is that when I get to the throne, I tp out of there and when everyone takes my portal they all die and curse me. I'm doing everything I can.

Try using an item with charges of Dim Vision or even Attract. Hit the throne room, curse everything in sight, then throw up your portal. Works great - especially with some of the more dangerous denizens like gloams and dolls. Everybody needs a second or two to get their bearings when they take your portal - Dim Vision buys them those seconds and makes the runs much safer.

However, don't take crap from BNetters who curse at you if they die taking one of your portals. I'm NEVER the first person to step through that portal - I always hang back for a few seconds just in case the tele-artist made that tp to ditch a nasty mob. Telebaalers don't have time to type "DON'T TAKE THIS TP!" if they're busy trying to cheat death. If somebody steps through and immediately gets stomped flat, it's their own silly fault for not using a little common sense. :thanks:

[DjSlayer]

Put the TP up in lvl 3 just beside the entrance to the throne (there are usually no monsters there). Then you don't get spammed with TP messages either. The reason for all dying is all team dependent really, a good team should have 3 types of tanks: high def barbarian, summoner, and a hammerdin. All with pretty good PvM equipment (max dr is not a mandatory part of the equipment).
Modifiers on equipment that is usefull on a Baal run is:
Resistance
Life
Poison length reduced by xx%
Cannot be frozen
Lightning absorb
fire absorb
Cold absorb
Magic dmg reduced by x (this modifier applies to cold, fire, light, and magic. This modifier is there no cap on either).

- D.J.

[MrScythes]

Ooooh, I hate those guys. First the start screaming TP! TP! (as if I can't figure out that I should place a TP when I'm in the throne room, duh!) and then if the tp isn't good, they start screaming again.

I always try to place the tp in a none dangerous place, but sometimes the throne room is just TO crowded.