HC NooB here!

[biggdaddyhoss]

i've been playing Diablo 2 for years and Diablo before that and have gradually grown in the game...i played single player for years and only the past year or so started playing online...so even though i've played the game since it's been out...i'm still a relative noob! anyways...i've had alot of fun playing SC and i decided it was time to take it up to the final level of play...HARDCORE! i started a couple days ago with an lghttrapsin and i'm having fun already...i'm unbelievably poor but that's have the fun isn't it...finding things...i was kinda shocked that there are soooo few people playing HC though and i usually start my own game...anyways...do you think the trapsin was a bad choice for a first HC build.? (actually it's my first time builiding a sin in the first place) i've had good success in SC with wwdruids, blizzsorcs, skelly/novas, and most recently a lightjavazon...i've still yet to ever build a pally and like i said this is my first assasin build too.

i just thought i'd give a shout out to everyone and say how much i enjoy this style of gameplay so far...(prolly unitl i die...j/k) and that i held off on playing like this for a long time until i really just got bored of the game and i thought i would never say that! so HC here i am...the last stop on the tracks!

later,
mike

[HAMC8112]

Welcome to HC, where victory is to survive and death is defeat!

A trapsin is an exelent choice to start poor in HC. You'll soon find better items.

Rest assured, you will die, it is only a matter of time. :)

One thing you will not be again: Bored!

What realm are you on?

My trapsin has maxed the lightningtraps and deathsentry, no fire, we will see what happens in hell. With lightimmunes the plan is to mindblast them till the merc and the shadow make a kill, than put up some deathsentry's. I will find out if it is doable.

[PhatTrumpet]

Lightning Trapper is indeed a good choice and can easily kill in Hell with just LS + DS + Merc/Shadow. You'll want to get a decent amount of Crushing Blow on your Merc (I'd suggest Holy Freeze, Act 2 Nightmare Defensive). Merc items to consider would be Guillaume's Face, Hone Sundan, eth 'Obedience' Thresher or Cryptic Axe (both get 5 sockets from Larzuk, 'Hel Ko Thul Eth Fal', just a great runeword for the runes that go in), 'Duress' armor ('Shael Um Thul', another amazing runeword for the runes).

Most people will run Eldritch/Shenk/Pindleskin with a Trapper until they can gear up a Cold Sorc to run Hell Andariel and Mephisto, but Trappers are also very adept at Cows and Baal runs.

Good luck, and stay away from people that hostile you.

[Luckymofo]

Too bad mf won't work with traps iirc...

[PhatTrumpet]

Too bad you remember incorrectly...

[xeyloderixed]

i actually hope you die soon (hey, the sooner the better, get it out of the way now that you aren't that far into your questing yet)

trappers are one of the top choices if you just intend to finish the game in 1 go. ive soloed with a lot of em. only made guardian with a handful, but meh.

[HAMC8112]

Too bad mf won't work with traps iirc...

My trapper has been geared up for mf, works fine. In NM i found some good stuff like HOZ.

[Silkweed]

I never had much luck starting out with trapsins. I always found them to be really item dependant. My vote for a first time character would be a summoner necromancer. Their skeletons can handle absolutely anything, you don't need any gear, and you can slap on some makeshift MF gear to start building an item base. Even if you never play him into Hell, you can get enough items to build pretty much any character.

Hammerdins are also a decent choice for a first character, but I find they don't really suit my playing style. I have one, but I don't really like him all that much.

[Tai.]

If you play a Trapper correctly, they can get by without good gear very well.

Just make sure you scout ahead in rooms with your traps.
Open the door, toss a trap in, see if it shoots, repeat.
Toss in Mindblast/Shadow/Merc/Fade and you'd be hard pressed to find a character that is safer overall.
Necromancer is another good choice, and can MF certain areas quite well, like the pit and NM cows, the Trapper can do pretty much anywhere though.

Cheers and good luck
-Tai

[Luckymofo]

Too bad you remember incorrectly...

I'm glad I'm wrong then :)

[KevinHideo]

hey, a fellow hardcore nooblet ^_^ i actually just started my hardcore career, about 2 minutes ago. after reading about it and such, and getting fairly bored with the softcore life, i decided to give it a go... ive elected to make a hammerdin, which i have NEVER made before, since i heard it is a very well rounded starting hardcore character =D any thoughts on this, and what i should go about doing? thanks =P

[PhatTrumpet]

Hammerdins are great: the build is a no-brainer (unless you want to get nit-picky about absolute maximum damage at each level), their damage is practically unresistable, and they do ridiculous damage with practically untwinked gear (dual 'Spirit' ftw).

This is generally the order you want to max your skills:

1 Concentration
20 Blessed Hammer
~10 Holy Shield (less if you can spare for now)
20 Concentration
20 Vigor
20 Blessed Aim
finish off Holy Shield
rest in Defiance

Do a bunch of Countess runs for Tal Thul Ort Amn and collect PGems like it's your job. At this point in the season PGems can trade for just about anything your little heart desires... within reason.

[biggdaddyhoss]

thanks for all the insight fellas...well my sin got smoked by a pkr the other day...i had some awesome stuff given to me as well that i was waiting to use.............my heart sank into my shoes.........WHAT A RUSH!!! loved it...i've died 4 more times since then...lol...but now i'm on eastladder hc and there's alot more games than non-ladder...i'm back on the right track and even though i've died a few times i like the build i'm just still getting used to a whole new way of playing this game...i'm DIRT poor this time but still having a blast!

thanks again,
mike

[BongoFury]

thanks for all the insight fellas...[SNIP]...i'm DIRT poor this time but still having a blast!Don't let it bother you, but you're characters WILL die. Everyone here loses characters, even those who have played for many years. So you can't let it bother you. Use every death as a lesson, learn what caused your death and never do that again. It's not a crime to die, it's a crime to keep dying to the same thing.

Read the FAQ if you haven't already. Then read it again every week for the next month.

Mule often, dying with good items in your stash is a waste. Never carry items that you'll use 'in a couple levels'.

Build a strong merc and only play when he's alive.

If you play in public games, don't trust anyone. Beyond the threat of PKs, people do stupid things in parties and you don't want your life depending on someone else. Because 'ream mates' WILL let you down in uncomfortable situations.

Good Luck

[NightShade]

Depending on your comfort level you might want to go with a zookeeper type of necromancer.


Why? Quite simply lag happens. Until you're used to the pace of HC you can some times freak out...Good thing your minions are the one doing the work and you're just their support. Generally you won't be getting hit so you can load up on mf if you feel the need..They suck vs bosses (imho) but are amazing for things like the pit, cows, baal runs..etc. Anything that they can simply mob up on and not have a damage multiplier affected by (bosses)

[Drakstyr]

Have to say I think I like being Hardcore rather then Soft... you meet some interesting people, whether they be good (Hey, here's my extra HoZ), or bad (GIB ITAMZ PLZ; RUSHME!; CHANTPLZ; OMGYOUNUUB) >_>

But that also depends on where you hang out. On here, its quite nice because its almost a community one could get used to.. the sheer amount (or lack thereof) of posts on here and trade lends you to believe that there just aren't a lot of people who play this type. This isn't entirely true, but most of the ones you find here are at least decent people. And gib good mansecks (xey).

But oh how fun it is! I don't think I ever could really get into Softcore now.. even with all the deaths I've had (and I've had quite a few.. you don't want to know what I've lost), the thrill and challenge is always there. (although now it's leading towards the challenge of item collecting, then anything else).

My very first build (one that I still use now in the new ladder), is a Fury/Poison Zon... not something I see very often, if at all. I've seen those Charged Strike Zons.. yeah.. that's great.. but I find my build to be more of my liking... not to mention safer. (Hey look, I don't have to run up to the mob at all. And I get decent Decoy AND Valk! ;p)