List of newbie questions...

[Thornwulf]

I have DII with all the expansion packs, I have played two characters to 30 and others to various low levels. I still feel like a newbie, I know much of nothing. I do not know where the good gear is, or what I should be using for my level.

My Sorc has a staff that is gold that some guy gave her when she was like level 6. I am sure it stinks. Some how both of my +30 characters are now into the exp loss phase of play since someone killed Diablo in games I started with them despite my trying to avoid this.

All that said here are some questions.

1) Are there guilds or groups out there who play together who recruit and who could help teach people the ins and outs of the game?
2) What is the standard rule of thumb for gear, how do you know when it is out of date? How do you know what is good for you? Are sets worth a damn?
3) What is the deal with spending points for new skills, all the guides say get the ones at the bottom of the list but many don’t tell you what order to go in or when you should expect to see them. Like okay my Sorc, she still does not have any points in orb. Did I screw up? She is like I said level 30.
4) I have yet to level through the expansion beyond like level 12 I kind of wanted to beat the game before the expansionfirst but now my characters are dames because someone came I nand killed Diablo so what do I do now?
5) I have a frost type sorc and a bow Amazon, both around level 30. Any advice for me? I have tons of gear and I don’t think any of it is really all that good though I do have a ton of +magic items for the sorc to go cowing ( I think that is the term) When I go alone through a board where do you think I should go for good drops?

Okay, thanks in advance I am clearly lost and in need of some good advice.

[inanefedaykin]

1) Most of the people on these forums play in groups. If you're playing on east check out the channel op diabloii.net
2) Gear is out of date when it isn't cutting it any more
3) Ok, which guides are you looking at? Some of them may be dated. Note that some skills have pre requisetes, lets take the amazon's bow & crossbow tab for example. First off, there are 6 teirs of skills, the first teir is available at level 1, the second at 6, then 12, 18, 24 and 30 after that. The teirs are easily seen in their placement on the tab, with the lower ones (such as freezing arrow) to be of higher teirs. You also need to take into account prerequisetes for skills, for your sorc you'd need a point into ice bolt, frost nova, ice blast, glacial spike and blizzard before you can start putting points into ice orb. Note the arrows on the skill tree. As for have you screwed up your sorc, I don't know what you're doing with yours so I couldn't say.
4) I seriously suggest playing in only the expansion, it seriously increases what is available in the game by adding items, classes and entire extra act. You can continue to play in normal difficulty games by making them but unfortaunetley you will not be able to see normal difficulty games on the charecter.
5) You said you were playing in classic so I can't really give you any gear advice, however since you're still at a lower level I'm going to take a guess and say that only your set and unique items have any real trade value.

[Arkardo]

1) Try the Player Matchup forum :smiley: . Other than that, look for game names that have names like "Act 1 starting", "Tristrun" (for leveling your character to about level 15).

2) This is a tough question... there isn't one, I think. Just test whether you can easily handle the monsters. Old stuff can still do wonders even in Hell. Like a Razorswitch for your Sorceress. Bloodfist and Nightsmoke are another good example of Hell viable (and viable means "survivable", not "kick ***", mind you) equipment and is pretty cheap as well.
3) That doesn't really matter, as long as the points you've spend went in the right skills (and I assume you did, because you said you've read guides). The order to invest the points depends on whether how long you can survive without spending them. If you really can't survive, you can always join rushes and get levels. Anyway, get Frozen Orb as soon as possible, because even at level 1 it rips through crowds like it's nothing.
4) That kind of sucks, because now you can't see Normal games in the game lists anymore. I'm not sure, but maybe converting your character to the Expansion takes that title away and you're able to see Normal games again. You could also level your character yourself to level 30 or so, but that takes a while.
5) Level 30 isn't really a level to start magic finding. What I would advise you is to finish Nightmare first (shouldn't be that hard with Frozen Orb). If you insist on getting better items first, try Nightmare Andariel and Nightmare Mephisto for decent drops.

Hope it helps... Remember, you can always try the Player Matchup forum to get someone to help you out! :thumbsup:

[zallus]

if he converts the player to expansion wont he see norm games again because he only has 4acts done...so when he converts he will still be on norm in act5.

Not real sure about that but does anyone ahve a definitive answer.

[Thornwulf]

Hey thanks much for the information it really will help.

I will try the convert thing tonight with one of my characters to see how it works out.

Okay here is a question then do you have a good Necromancer guide with decent step by step advice? I can make a new character and do as you all suggest to begin with before I mess things up like my last two :P

Thanks again great info, and I appreciate the time and effort.

[zallus]

Necro Sub Forum (http://forums.diabloii.net/forumdisplay.php?f=18)
The first 1 is a link to the necro sub forum.

Necro Guides Section (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=366742)
These are all the necro guides that have been made.

Skelliemancer Guide (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=349093)
This is a guide by a forum member called nightfish... The char has become known as a fishymancer. Since you are new and low on funds i suggest this char. It is capable of soloing hell naked.(with no equip at all.)

[Thornwulf]

Excellent than I will work on the fishymancer, and follow the guide. Thanks for the links.

I look forward to playing and having a clue for a change ;)

If you ever need a hand do not hesitate to let me know.

Thorn
(msausville in game if you need to message me for anything)

:wave:

[zallus]

if you see me on dont hesitate to ask questions if you have any....also us east ladder has a great channel that alot of long time forum members hang out in and talk...that would also be a great place to ask questions if you have any.

And i am prolly in the channel right now like i have been for the last 3days.

[inanefedaykin]

Oh monkey boy, why oh why are you always afk?

[zallus]

am i still afk nane i figured by now my internet would have had a hickup and kicked me.

[inanefedaykin]

I haven't been on.
http://forums.diabloii.net/showpost.php?p=5465543&postcount=11074