Ladder vs. Non-ladder

[Grymlok]

So I started my character on NL, not knowing any better.

But I'm trying to get into trading and it seems most of the trading threads in my realm are for ladder.

Are there any disadvantages to being on ladder? Did I make a mistake by choosing NL? For example, I've heard there are different ladder "seasons". Do characters from previous seasons get deleted, etc?

Any clarification here would be helpful.

[Gorny]

So I started my character on NL, not knowing any better.

But I'm trying to get into trading and it seems most of the trading threads in my realm are for ladder.

Are there any disadvantages to being on ladder? Did I make a mistake by choosing NL? For example, I've heard there are different ladder "seasons". Do characters from previous seasons get deleted, etc?

Any clarification here would be helpful.


See my signature.

[Grymlok]

See my signature.

Can you be a little more specific?

I looked around the sites in your sig and didn't find the information I was looking for. The one page I thought might be useful returned a 404 error.

Ideally I'm looking for a guide that explains all the ins and outs of ladder play, especially with regard to trading economies.

[Gorny]

Can you be a little more specific?

I looked around the sites in your sig and didn't find the information I was looking for. The one page I thought might be useful returned a 404 error.

Ideally I'm looking for a guide that explains all the ins and outs of ladder play, especially with regard to trading economies.


Sorry about that ...were having a bit of fun with other member's avatars and other member's signatures.

My signature normally contains a link to a thread about the Ladder.

You can find the link you seek in the Community Forum, its in a stickied thread called "Community Forum Rules and Links"

My current signature and avatar belong to our friendly neighborhoos Eurpo trad forum moderator, Krischan.

If you go to the Community Forums' stickied, OT Thread ... on the last few pages you will see posts by a forum member named Xenon[KoA] Xenon's current avatar and signature are actually mine :P

Edit: here's a direct link:

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=448594

[Grymlok]

Thanks for the link.

And after reading it over, and seeing the ratio of [L] trade posts to [NL] trade posts, I've come to the conclusion that it was a mistake to play on NL. =(

[estrellas]

If you've built up a wealth on non ladder, I wouldn't really go over to ladder now (unless you're simply bored of non ladder, which is understandable.) If history holds (no guarantee, though), ladder will be resetting in a couple of months and all your characters will be dumped over to non ladder anyway. A lot of non ladder folks are heading over to ladder right now to build up a stock of ladder-only items that will be transferred to their NL characters eventually - but if that's your only incentive in going to ladder, chances are the runewords you collect will be almost completely ruststormed into oblivion right before it resets anyway.

[Grymlok]

If you've built up a wealth on non ladder, I wouldn't really go over to ladder now (unless you're simply bored of non ladder, which is understandable.) If history holds (no guarantee, though), ladder will be resetting in a couple of months and all your characters will be dumped over to non ladder anyway. A lot of non ladder folks are heading over to ladder right now to build up a stock of ladder-only items that will be transferred to their NL characters eventually - but if that's your only incentive in going to ladder, chances are the runewords you collect will be almost completely ruststormed into oblivion right before it resets anyway.

You're probably right about that. My problem is I'm new (not to D2, just haven't played in years) and thus I have zero wealth. In that situation, I think I would've benefitted a lot by starting on ladder. For example, there are many people offering decent items to help me start off for a reasonable number of pgems, which I can get relatively easily. I doubt I'll have the same luck on non-ladder.

[druliusCleaver]

...there are many people offering decent items to help me start off for a reasonable number of pgems, which I can get relatively easily. I doubt I'll have the same luck on non-ladder.

It can be very easy to get items at fire sale prices in non-ladder after (sometimes before if people sell on rumors) ladder has reset. Because many people clear out their accounts to make room for new ladder characters. Sometimes people have given away whole decked out characters full of items and or accounts. If you decide to switch to playing ladder characters, I'd say wait until ladder resets and start fresh with everybody else. If you decide to stay active in non-ladder, just wait until ladder resets and try to catch some of the items that trickle down into non-ladder.

[Flip10thMtn]

Grymlok

Check out the trade forums here and just ask, you never know who might have what you want. You will need to be kinda specific, but there are plenty of players that are either cubing (need P-Gems) or Crafting (need PGems, low runes, and junk jewels).

I made the same "mistake" way back when I first started B-Net, thought ladder was just a "race" to get to 99. Never knew there where "ladder only" items and thought I might have made a mistake. As it is, all ladder characters go to NL when the ladder resets so all items CAN be had on NL - you just need to have the wealth to get them.

Seems like you are on USE-NL, if you just started and need some help, I'm USW-NL and have some starter items I'd let you have. Guess it depends on what character and what you need?

[Grymlok]

Grymlok

Check out the trade forums here and just ask, you never know who might have what you want. You will need to be kinda specific, but there are plenty of players that are either cubing (need P-Gems) or Crafting (need PGems, low runes, and junk jewels).

I made the same "mistake" way back when I first started B-Net, thought ladder was just a "race" to get to 99. Never knew there where "ladder only" items and thought I might have made a mistake. As it is, all ladder characters go to NL when the ladder resets so all items CAN be had on NL - you just need to have the wealth to get them.

Seems like you are on USE-NL, if you just started and need some help, I'm USW-NL and have some starter items I'd let you have. Guess it depends on what character and what you need?

Thank you, I appreciate the encouragement and offer. I have some friends who play on US East, so I'd prefer to stay there for now. I started a character on ladder, but I think I'll take your advice and continue to work on my NL characters for now, until ladder resets.

I'll just come up with an ISO list, and post it and see what happens :wink3:

Edit: I think I know why I got frustrated. I saw so many good ladder trades and realized my characters were horribly under-geared. My barb can't kill in hell because of lack of a good weapon (although decent resists), and my sorc can't live in hell because of horrid resists/health. She can't even live in nm many times.