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lazziness

09-11-2004, 21:37

Hey all, I am thinking about starting a HC character for the fact that SC just isn't as fun as it once was... does anyone have any tips or possibly a chance to help me out? (I'd rather not be PKed by a lvl 81 sorc or something like that :lol: )

:thumbsup:

HAMC8112

09-11-2004, 21:44

I'd rather not be PKed by a lvl 81 sorc or something like that
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Welcome to HC.

Oxy

09-11-2004, 22:17

Welcome to the dark world of HC. The HC FAQ sticky is a bit outdated regarding builds, MF, and stuff like that, but it still holds valuable information. Use logic in seperating 1.10 information from 1.09.

As I have the time right now, here are a few tips:

- To get you started, and since this is your first time starting hardcore, I'd suggest one of the following builds:

Skelemancer (highly recommended!)
Lightning trapsin (recommended if you like assassins, or you know how to play them, or've played them before).
Orb sorc (recommended if you know how to play one).

You're looking for chars that can MF, basically. I'm pretty sure runs resemble those in SC. The Pits (I love em', love em', love em'!), Meph (he used to be a daily visit for me back in .o9, but I should be starting him up again quite soon - reason, I've just been playing HC for a little over two months, and in the beginning, twice a week), Andy, Baal (on a lesser scale... as it's hard to run him solo).

A rule of thumb is to start with a character you know how to play and like. Survivability is also important, and being able to play untwinked, but if you have a character you really know how to build, never dies in SC for you (early-game as in end-game) and you can MF somewhat with, go for it! Especially if you like him/her.

More tips:

1) If you're going to MF, here is my personal order:

Survivability > Efficiency / quickness of the runs > MF. It is much better to do 50 runs with 200% MF than 20 runs with 700% MF (well... in the long run). The reason being: diminitive returns in MF.

2) I suggest starting an team to play with. That's how I started my first character (level 82 now, we started in October, but essentially I got my necro 35 levels up from 47 within a week). You will have fun, meet people, and learn more about HC from others.

3) Your play style should be much different. I was in a softcore game once, and DAMN. Holy crap do those people ever SUCK. I remember someone posting a forum topic about wanting to PK in softcore but then reconsidering because he saw the same 4-5 people die OVER and OVER to Diablo (in NORM!). :[

4) Don't beg for items. Rule #1, actually, but these aren't in order of priority. Don't make beg topics, people will come to you if you let them, don't worry.

5) Play safe. Do Anya, do Lam Esen's tome, do the Gidbinn, do the hellforge, do everything that gives a reward in items, skills or stats. Other quests, too.

6) Trust no one. Play paranoid. Be wary of bonemancers, wind druids, sorcs, zons, everyone. They can TPPK you (for example, a bonemancer can cast several bone spirits, TP into a portal and hostile you, effectively killing you and do this very quickly by use of a script).

7) AH YES! PGEMS! THEY ARE YOUR MONEY. Save them, cherish them, use them, trade em', and use our trade forum (Hardcore) to trade for items. Check the often posts PGem lists. Pick up all runes as well, and cube them (3 ELs = Eld I think, that formula). Craft a lot too.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

viamede

09-11-2004, 22:49

*snorts, blubbers, drools*

*wakes up*

*rubs eyes*

*looks at thread...looks at user name*

*goes back to sleep*

*drools, blubbers, snorts*

cyradis2003

09-11-2004, 23:00

*snorts, blubbers, drools*

*wakes up*

*rubs eyes*

*looks at thread...looks at user name*

*goes back to sleep*

*drools, blubbers, snorts*

*sighs* He is just so cute when he is sleepin!

*gets out the sharpie markers and sets to work*
What do y'all think? (http://www.columbia.edu/~rhee/)

(ripped from teh 1337 surfzor skillz o'da'flux)

Nerf-Herder

09-11-2004, 23:40

brace yourself -- that first higher level character death is rough -- WHEN (not "if") it happens, shut your pc down and take a short break (grab a bite to eat, go for a walk, etc...)

youll know after that if you are really a HC player -- it is a test all of us take -- those who pass continue playing HC, those who dont return to softcore

btw -- watch your back in public games for paranoia is your friend

kenshinlod

10-11-2004, 00:11

*sighs* He is just so cute when he is sleepin!

*gets out the sharpie markers and sets to work*
What do y'all think? (http://www.columbia.edu/~rhee/)

(ripped from teh 1337 surfzor skillz o'da'flux)

:lol: :lol: :lol:
that link has made my day. :thumbsup:

Prez

10-11-2004, 00:22

*sighs* He is just so cute when he is sleepin!

*gets out the sharpie markers and sets to work*
What do y'all think? (http://www.columbia.edu/~rhee/)

(ripped from teh 1337 surfzor skillz o'da'flux)

:flip:

even someone with no sense of humour would find that amusing...

Prez

Valar-Wrath

10-11-2004, 01:48

*sighs* He is just so cute when he is sleepin!

*gets out the sharpie markers and sets to work*
What do y'all think?

(ripped from teh 1337 surfzor skillz o'da'flux)

*Sigh* You never fail to make me laugh Cy. *Looks deep into Cy's eyes as if he could spend the rest of his life wi... Notices everyone looking at him so looks down at the box of cookies and nibbles on one*

weedkilz

10-11-2004, 01:51

ya, that was hilarious cy, lol..Remind me never to send you a pic of myself, lol :lol:

Oxy

10-11-2004, 03:39

That is a popular image online, I don't think Cy made it :]

Yaksha~tb~

10-11-2004, 03:44

my tip is to be careful. be weary of whom you trust. and good luck

MoUsE_WiZ

10-11-2004, 04:20

That is a popular image online, I don't think Cy made it :]I think she said she specifically got it from Flux.

Kevman

10-11-2004, 08:35

*sighs* He is just so cute when he is sleepin!

*gets out the sharpie markers and sets to work*
What do y'all think? (http://www.columbia.edu/~rhee/)

(ripped from teh 1337 surfzor skillz o'da'flux)

Excellent stuff :)

Dont know how you did it, but god, thats funny :)

Kev

annr

10-11-2004, 10:00

I think she said she specifically got it from Flux.

its from sa, i remember that thread a while back.

det

10-11-2004, 12:02

MalVeauX

10-11-2004, 13:18

viamede

10-11-2004, 13:34

STINGER

10-11-2004, 14:59

Awefull slow around here but i always seem to find somehting to bring me back!

mestre

10-11-2004, 15:13

HC tips:

Paranoia is your friend
If you make a game, set a level limitation on who can enter.
Check the party screen for lv and character when a new player enters.
Pay attention to char names (PK_IownZyu anyone?)
Don't take the red
Don't take the blue
(unless both are from ppl you know/trust...or you feel lucky :lol: )
Paranoia is your friend
Paranoia is your friend

....
I agree with these tips. That's just how I play. Also, witht the fast WP/hostile exploit I don't hang around WPs. Just run to it, grab it, and take distance again. I also have the map visible all the time, so I can know if some unpartied character (specialy high level ones) is around. Most characters can tppk nowadays, so if you see any higher level character around just go to town or leave the game.

I find the best way to level to be playing alone in quest games unpartied. You do act 1 alone, somehow, then you do the other acts in games like:
-Act 1 Den On -> When doing act 2, 3, 4 and 5;
-Act 2 get Staff -> When doing act 3, 4 and 5;
- etc.
I do not allow anyone in my party but characters that I know they can not tppk. Also drop thieves (i.e. grab all drops, specialy the ones that come from monsters you kill) get kicked.

It was not supposed to be that way, but as Blizzard will not fix the bugs that allow cheap PKing one must do it if he or she wants to be safe.

cyradis2003

10-11-2004, 15:31

I agree with these tips. That's just how I play. Also, witht the fast WP/hostile exploit I don't hang around WPs. Just run to it, grab it, and take distance again. I also have the map visible all the time, so I can know if some unpartied character (specialy high level ones) is around. Most characters can tppk nowadays, so if you see any higher level character around just go to town or leave the game.

I find the best way to level to be playing alone in quest games unpartied. You do act 1 alone, somehow, then you do the other acts in games like:
-Act 1 Den On -> When doing act 2, 3, 4 and 5;
-Act 2 get Staff -> When doing act 3, 4 and 5;
- etc.
I do not allow anyone in my party but characters that I know they can not tppk. Also drop thieves (i.e. grab all drops, specialy the ones that come from monsters you kill) get kicked.

It was not supposed to be that way, but as Blizzard will not fix the bugs that allow cheap PKing one must do it if he or she wants to be safe.

Got scared the other night ... I was running a baby around stony in a 7 person perm game trying to get a few fast levels ( I was 8.5) a lvl 40 is necro joined ... I thought nothing of it, I am not 9 and he isn't going to be running around stony ... 5 minutes go by and I am cheerfully slaughtering anything that moves and all of a sudden I see a red x pop up on my screen ... I had turned 9 without noticing too much and there is the necro in stoney like 2 screens over. I was tp'ing as I saw the first spear whiz by. He never hostiled so I don't know if he was just gathering bodies for a baal run or if he had been planning naughtiness. (didn't stay to find out ^.^)

viamede

10-11-2004, 15:49

Talk about waiting for the eggs to hatch :lol:

*camps in stoney field*

*checks party screen...2 level 7's, a five and 3 level 8's*

*runs around in circles to kill time*

*checks party screen again 2 level 9 's now...JOY*

Adrenaline pumps as the level 40 necro engages his TPPK hack hostile script.

*Curses as baby sorc TP's to town just before spears hit*

*frustrated leaves now empty game and starts hunting for next "Den and on" game*

*curses that will be losing PK ranking points in his clan*

mestre

10-11-2004, 16:01

Talk about waiting for the eggs to hatch
You can eat eggs also, they are nutritious: http://uploads.ungrounded.net/190000/190465_egg_song_English_2.swf

Found in bnet forums. It's so ***!

Haplon

10-11-2004, 16:28

I think Cy is wonderful for finding that link.

cyradis2003

10-11-2004, 18:32

I think Cy is wonderful for finding that link.

*blushes*

Awwwww .....

You are just fascinated by the bottom pic.

PS -
Yes, it was our very own Flux that posted the link originally. My surfer skills are not quite so GOSU as his seem to be .... and he has kitties!!!!!
*sighs and gazes longingly at the Jinxy-kat*

*Grins at Valar* The imaginary boyfriend I already have keeps me busy enough :D I can put you on the waiting list though .... *digs through post it notes, lolipop wrappers and empty soda cans littering her work desk*
:innocent:

Haplon

10-11-2004, 19:56

*blushes*

Awwwww .....

You are just fascinated by the bottom pic.

:

God your good. How did you know? Did you also know that my monitor now has a strip of strategically placed masking tape on it?

Valar-Wrath

10-11-2004, 20:55

*Grins at Valar* The imaginary boyfriend I already have keeps me busy enough I can put you on the waiting list though .... *digs through post it notes, lolipop wrappers and empty soda cans littering her work desk*

Ugh, waiting list?!?!

I thought I meant more to you than some "imaginary boyfriend"

I guess I'll just have to keep trying to capture your love :lol:

Bongo Fury

11-11-2004, 01:01

Your characters WILL die, and every time it happens it's YOUR fault. Guaranteed. You did something stupid or reckless, or you put yourself into a situation you shouldn't have. So before you make a new chartacter or play a different one, identify your mistake and figure out how to avoid that same thing in the future. Experience is the most valuable asset you have, and every death is another lesson. 'Those who do not learn the lessons from history are destined to repeat them.'

cyradis2003

11-11-2004, 05:28

Ugh, waiting list?!?!

I thought I meant more to you than some "imaginary boyfriend"

I guess I'll just have to keep trying to capture your love :lol:

o.o the IBF says that only people who know how to spell valor should be considdered for his replacement.

*sighs*

I soooooo got in trouble over that waiting list crack.... :evil: keeps him hoppin though.

viamede

11-11-2004, 15:19

o.o the IBF says that only people who know how to spell valor should be considdered for his replacement.

It is CONSIDERED proper to spell it VALOUR. :surprise:

cyradis2003

11-11-2004, 16:41

It is CONSIDERED proper to spell it VALOUR. :surprise:

See but we all know I can't spell. The fact that he spells so well is one of his attractions. I can mangle a word beyond recognition and then just type "spell that for me" or "errr ... spelled correctly of course" and he fixes it for me!!! He is almost educational!!!

O.O him guud speeler!!!!

viamede

11-11-2004, 17:06

*wipes the sarcastic cookie crumb spittle off with edge of hoodie*

Yanks.... :P

Aerath

11-11-2004, 18:13

Then again - for some weird reason those americans consequently mangle it into valor... why certainly is beyond me. I even had to go back to 'correct' my spelling of the word, so as not give the 'wrong' version.

Yaksha~tb~

11-11-2004, 19:25

i forgot the most important tip.... dont die....

Valar-Wrath

11-11-2004, 20:57

It is CONSIDERED proper to spell it VALOUR.

You big sillys. It is Valar as in Lord of the Rings "Valar" The group that basically created the world according to the books. :)

Oxy

11-11-2004, 22:37

Whatever character you make, make sure and do the Maxblock and lots of Vitality build on it. Your first character needs all the survival numbers on his or her side from the get-go. Inevitabley, you will find out what it's like to lag out-get booted from b.net-relog in-find a ghost character. With good blocking and some life, you can relog on and find yourself with 12 to 80 life remaining and feel all proud to still have your character for a while longer.

Make a simple character that doesn't need gear really:

Trap assasin with max block and high level fade.
Lightning amazon with max block and big ol valk (charged strike, fury).
Hammerpaly with block and vitality.
Necromancer with maxblock, bonespear w/ synergies and a level 10 dimvision.

I strongly disagree with the max block part. The only way my max block chars (most often sorcs) ever survive is due to elite gear. I don't know about you, but when I'm teleing, I get hit at least once (if, for example, I'm going down to Durance 3). One hit in NM = ~50 life, and could go as high as 300. One hit in hell can go as high as 600. That's a lot of life for an untwinked Necromancer. My necro has ~350 vitality, decent gear, and still only 1.1k life. If I had gone maxblock, I would have put ~150 into vit. and ~200 into dex. That would be less than half of my life. I'd have about 400-500 life, and since he is new to HC, he would have around 400. That is considering you get a Whistan's or homunc, of course. Moser's is harder to get max block with. The other thing is that if you don't get extremely lucky, you'll be stuck with a Moser's (or Rhyme), and 19 all resist on a shield doesn't help a lot (don't know about Rhyme, but I know it's not over 25-30). I have 60% resist all on my shield, and still need a Kira's Guardian tiara (64% all resis, PGemtradeable) and ammies/rings to bring my resis up to 75% in hell.

As for the level 10 dimvision, I've heard viamede say it before, and now I hear you say it. Perhaps with +skills, which we won't have much of, but a definite base of 1. Every single other necro player that I've talked to on b.net or on the forums thought this was a rather stupid idea, and I wholehearedly agree. I have soloed hell baal with this necro (though it took long, I did it... not for the quest though, just to pass time) and didn't use DV a single time. I have it hotkeyed, but I don't use it very often. I also run the pits very often and don't use dim vision. It's not necessary, and I think that points into CE (for killing speed and coolness) or BW (for +life to bone armor) are a lot better-spent. Revives, too.

viamede

11-11-2004, 23:07

I never said a level 10 DV...that's ridiculous...

*looks at level 15 or 18 DV on his summoner*

Now that is more like it!!!

Well if you read through nec forums many a hardcore nec player gets up to level 20 DV. There is no safer curse imho. Now that I am level 90 and have pretty good gear on me and merc I do not use as much when running pit etc. I still use it in Travinical when I first go in to stop the heirophants and vampires from raining goop on my head and when running wsk on the gloams, flayer dudes and dolls esp (durance too). It stops them till my skellies get them bottled up then I can amp or decrep. Revives need no more than one point with 12 skellies and 9 revives any more and the lag moan would kick in big time.

Better armour with more points in wall has merit and I skimped out LR which gets some grumbling from sorcs and fury zons. It is a personal preference but I would not have survived through the 80's without it. Bigger than 10 CE is a waste and less fun then chain explosions anyway.

Nerf-Herder

11-11-2004, 23:54

im a huge supporter of max block -- all but one of my current shield using projects have it

the one that doesnt......

my skelly-mancer -- its just not needed on this build -- you have 9+ skellies, a merc, a golem, and many times a few vives running around

if you ever encounter a situation where all your buddies get eaten up AND your bone armor gets wiped within a couple of seconds, MAX BLOCK AINT GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

call the coroner, take a screenshot, and get back to the norm blood moor!!