questions about socket quest

[ap2oo4]

i read that whenever you kill Shenk that you get to socket an item. i know that you can get up to a couple of sockets but is there any way to decide how many sockets you can put in an item? like if i wanted 4 sockets on a shield is there any way i can make sure i get 4 sockets? or it is all luck?

[Dogboy]

Cross your fingers. You will get a random number of sockets, if I remember right. Uniques and sets get only 1, the rest 1 up to max. I just socketed eth. armor (godly ornate plate,def. around 1800) and only got 1 socket. Oh well.

[Nolomite]

The number of sockets given by Larzuk is not random - he gives the maximum availible for an item. The item listing on Arreat Summit will let you know the maximum number availible sockets for non-magical items; Unique items and Set items will get one socket; and I do not remember the rules for Magic and Rare items.

Can someone add the socketing rules for yellow and blue items?

[Myrakh-2]

if i wanted 4 sockets on a shield is there any way i can make sure i get 4 sockets? or it is all luck?

Larzuk will always put the maximum number of sockets into a white item; no luck involved.

The maximum number is determined by the maximum number for that particular item type as listed on Arreat Summit, and the ilvl of the item you are socketing (i.e. who dropped it). Items with ilvl 41 and above will get the maximum number; this includes all items found in hell.

There is a table on diabloii.net detailing the ilvl dependency; it's not enitrely accurate, though.

Uniques, sets and rares get 1 socket from Larzuk (if they don't already sockets; you cannot add sockets to a socketed item).. Magicals I'm not sure about; never felt the need to socket one.

[Nirlem]

and to complete the list.
Magic items gets 1-2 sockets randomly 50%/50%