Newcomer's ramblings (long post)

[xxnothing]

I thought I'd intro myself and say hi to the local denizens, and comment on the current state of Diablo2 from a n00b's POV.

I played some D2 casually back in the 1.09 days, but never seriously. I just got back into it a few months ago, and have been sucked in like software crack. :shocked:

So I'm browsing guides an stuff, trying to decide what to play as (things changed A LOT sinec 1.09) and the biggest thing I see is every last joe has Enigma and CoA and HotO, etc. Every build guide requires gear that an honest "pure" player shouldn't expect to acquire for ages of playing. What happened to the fun of exploration and discovery? The pride of finding your first (or 20th) elite unique item? Heck, I almost pooped myself when I found a Pul rune... ditto a Blood Raven's bow and an IK helm. Soooo much more satifying than trading off 15 duped HRs or SoJs for some godly item, IMHO.

Anyway, I got back into D2, made a barb and started playing. Solo through normal and half of NM. A good friend of mine rushed me on through hell. Everything I use is self-found, and I admit my build is bad because I spazzed points all over the skill trees...lol, but it's still fun to play. I put most opints into Frenzy. Found it more entertaining than WW
I also have to admit the guy gave me one item that'd I'd never see otherwise... an eBotD CB, 406%. He got tired of watching me struggle using my self found gear. Heheh. It's a legit sword at least, the guy's been playing D2 forever and has some awe inspiring legit gear.

So here's my gear...

Armor: Goldskin upped once (I'm non-ladder)
Helm: IK, ptopaz / thul
gloves: IK
boots: IK
belt: verdungo's
sword1: eBotD CB
sword2: Todesfaelle Flamme
switch: a knife and an axe that each give +3 to BO
Ammy: Gambled +2 skills plus other good stuff
Ring1: Ravenfrost (found day before yesterday!)
Rang2: Magic with life leech and + all resists

Merc: Act2 NM Holy Freeze. Wearing Courpsemourne and Griswold's, weilding eth Blackleech Blade. (rememer, everything is self found)

I can survive everywhere, minus run ins with Iron Maiden and occasional aura enchanted mobs. I do solo Baal runs sometimes, though it takes me like 5 minutes of pounding to take Baal down. And when throne minions spawn PI, I park them outside the throneroom.

Anyway. Point is, the game is FUN, and I didn't have to buy my gear at [insert item selling website here].

I'm currently building a MeteorbSorc (lvl 80, in act3 hell) and a Hammerdin (lvl 43 in act2 NM). Both are fun too! My barb has been able to supply them with some fun useful gear too, such as a Shako for my Sorc and a Hand of Zakaram for my Hammerdin. Picked up a Suicide Branch and a Thundergod's last night running Hell Meph with my barb. Yeah, MF runs take a LONG time with my barb, but hey, I'm having fun!

Holy crap, I wrote way too much... That's it for now.
Peace!
xxn0thing

[Hrus]

I don't want to ruin your fun, but ask your friend if he actually found the Zod rune. If he just traded for it, it's 99% dupe.

[Lanceor]

Welcome to the forums! I'm glad someone still plays the game the way it was meant to played. A lot of new or returning players just want to be rushed to Hell for Baal runs and be given uber equipment. I bet some of them don't even know what the inside of the Flayer Dungeon looks like.

While I rush a lot of my characters that are "rebuilds", starting a brand new build from level 1 gives a chance to learn its capabilities and enjoy many of the areas of the game that you miss out on when you get rushed.

[eRandomizer]

Welcome to the forums! I'm glad someone still plays the game the way it was meant to played. A lot of new or returning players just want to be rushed to Hell for Baal runs and be given uber equipment. I bet some of them don't even know what the inside of the Flayer Dungeon looks like.

While I rush a lot of my characters that are "rebuilds", starting a brand new build from level 1 gives a chance to learn its capabilities and enjoy many of the areas of the game that you miss out on when you get rushed.


Unless those areas are Act 3 Normal/NM/Hell :grin:

I personally prefer getting a rush, then going back and doing w.e, since its more freedom than getting stuck in a certain place, like FI+CI immune ancients :embarassed:

[SommerSky]

Hi,

Meteor Sorc is quite effective in meph runs, just give her some nice mf items and she will become your bank of cool items.

SS

[xxnothing]

No knocking how anyone else likes to play... I do however like to take every character I make through at least normal and probably NM, just to get to know them and enjoy the fun of playing the game. :-)

I love my Meteorb Sorc! I didn't follow a guide, so my FO is much higher than Meteor. She ROCKED all the way through NM. Lots of fun to play. Just finished Hell Meph yesterday with her.

Once my Pally is done, I think I'll do a Zon of some sort. Wish I would have kept the Blood Raven's bow I found.

I've also thought about starting a ladder char... Seems like ladder has more/better runewords and more uniques. Wish they'd do a ladder reset though so I would be just as poor as everyone else.

[neumein]

I reckon you should drop by the SPF. Legitness and honest are the policies of the day, and the weather's fine. :thumbsup:

[AnimeCraze]

No knocking how anyone else likes to play... I do however like to take every character I make through at least normal and probably NM, just to get to know them and enjoy the fun of playing the game. :-)I prefer the reverse. I want my characters to walk through hell. Whether I walk through norm or NM is less important to me.

[RegnarsBlade]

Welcome to the forums! I'm glad someone still plays the game the way it was meant to played. A lot of new or returning players just want to be rushed to Hell for Baal runs and be given uber equipment. I bet some of them don't even know what the inside of the Flayer Dungeon looks like.

While I rush a lot of my characters that are "rebuilds", starting a brand new build from level 1 gives a chance to learn its capabilities and enjoy many of the areas of the game that you miss out on when you get rushed.


I completly argee with Lanceor.. I was thrown out of a clan a week ago.. (non ladder).. the day after i was able to start in a new clan, and i decided to do that. I will only let one char rushed, so i am able to do something since i have no chars any more.. The other chars i will lvl the old way.. It is indeed much more fun, cause in the begin i saw all area's.. now i dont xD

Point is, most people dont know how all area's look like, like lanceor said...

[Lanceor]

I actually started playing a Barb from scratch a few days ago, starting from level 1 and doing all the quests myself. What I can say that even twinked, it was certainly very challenging!

I got all the way to WSK and killed Baals minions by level 33. He's now doing Baal runs in normal until level 45 or so when I'll graduate him to Nightmare. I hear many experienced players complain that they are bored - my advice, pick a build/class you've never tried before and play him/her from level 1. :)

[Arkardo]

I don't want to ruin your fun, but ask your friend if he actually found the Zod rune. If he just traded for it, it's 99% dupe.

Do you honestly think there's a chance he'd give away that weapon if that Zod is selffound? :scratch:

[Leuthesius]

I have several elite characters that were originally started and played all the way through the game. My angel sorceress Serrasota (USWest NL) was started about 3 years ago, and with her new elite gear I pretty much had no choice but to rush her. 10 base strength, practically all vit (gear gives +175)
Tyraels Might
COA
Spirit Ward
Azurewrath
Up'd TGods
Dracs
P Maras
uber str rings
Torch/Anni

I've been playing a long time (sporadically) though so I feel like using all of my hard earned gear is well worth it.

I enjoy actually playing through the game even now... but even when I'm just leveling I try to do baalwalks. There's always some bastard hammerdin or sorc that decides to teleport. People are illiterate these days...

[switchb]

Does doing Norm Act 1-5, and then NM Act 1-3 count? Because that's how I usually go about my characters. In Hell I usuall get a rush just because its so much more easier to get through Norm and NM with decent leveling than it is in Hell.