I have a question about runes.

[Tazzaxe]

I've been away for 5 years or so and I'm just now getting back into D2 and ofcourse if you come back you do it right so I went right back with making a character I know best even though they nerfed it a bit. A Bowazon on the USEAST LADDER, I've gotten it up in level and created a rune mule ofcourse and started doing the combines. Now the runes El/Eld thru Thul are pretty common and I think I'm just about ready to make my 1st Dol so its moving right along. My question is should I be combining my Amn's or is there some other value to them and should I be saving them then trading them in bulk for example 6 at a time?

PS Ofcourse my goals for the Bowazon is Faith/Fortitude. Any input would be appreciated.

[fahartle]

I would really suggest keeping them. Really, most runes above the lowest three or four can catch quite a good price in batches of 20 or so. Check out arreat's site about runewords like Insight/Lionheart/Smoke/Spirit and you'll see that many of these (especially Spirit) can fetch good prices in batches of five or so for each rune. I don't generally cube runes (except for the first three) as you burn through tons of them trying to cube one that you can more easily (and cheaply) purchase through the forums or find on a good countess run. Good luck!

[AgentMarth]

First, don't really expect to be able to cube a Jah or really any other High Rune (HR) other than a Vex without alot, and I mean alot of playtime. Trading for soon-to-be-duped-to-oblivion HR's is unfortunately your only realistic option.

Right now, I would say go ahead and cube those Amn's to Sol's. Alot of people this early on are still wanting Insight's galore (Ral Tir Tal Sol) so they could be of some good trade value IMO.

Later in the season, keep the Amn's, because people like to reroll Spirit's (Tal Thul Ort Amn) and will pay good for Spirit "Set's", which usually include a Hel rune to reroll if they want too.

[Tazzaxe]

I'm not sure if anyone's interested but I thought I'd update this in case anyone else is trying the cubing idea. It's not that I don't understand the sheer amount of runes I'd need to make to "Lo" for example but I gotta try. Most of the games I play are private ones with my wife. She's a level 78 trap assassin and my Bowazon is up to 84. I got a good handful of Amn, Sol, and Shael. I've cubed up to Lum. We just keep doing Countess runs (best I've gotten from her is Io). I got lucky I think on the forges and we got Lem and Gul out of act 4.

I wouldnt even post this but I figure someones gotta get a laugh out of a couple of Tazz's tryin to do this the honest way.

[Voorhees]

Well, if you insist on cubing, forget about low runes. Run nm or hell countess and trav and keep the following: Tal, Thul, Ort, Amn, Hell, Ko, and anything lem or above. Trade your completed spirit sets(Tal, Thul, Ort, Amn, Hel) for puls as these are virtually never duped. You can generally trade Lem+Ko or 2xLem, or A small handful of hel runes for a pul as well. Take all your runes pul and up and cube these. This will be a lot quicker than cubing every little rune you find not to mention a lot more efficient on stash space.
If you absolutely insist on not trading at all in this process, then I would just keep like Ko and up for cubing. Its really not worth cubing all the low ones up to this point cause not only do you have to find and hold on to them, but you also have to find all those chipped gems and hold on to those too. Quite maddening after a while, trust me.

[Tazzaxe]

Travincal? I hadn't thought of doing them repeatedly. Currently I'm doing Countess runs and then I go to Frigid Highlands Wp go north 20 feet kill the named then go south real fast and kill the fatboy.

No real luck on runes there but some very nice uniques have fallen.

The wifes assassin (she's got the MF) kicked a barrel last night on the Countess level and a Occy popped out. After I found the Titans near but not on the fatboy we added Pindleskin to our routine those zombies drop faster than a dress on prom night when you hit them with lightning.

With that thought in mind I'm making my own MF toon. Lightning Sorce lol I already got the occy so its a good headstart.

PS I've no problem with trading but I also want to see how far we can take the cubing idea and I tried the pit. The zon has no problems there but I make the wife take her gold outta the bank and she can kiss her level off because those little munchkins sing her a lullaby everytime we go.

[fahartle]

I know this is quite a while back and, Tazzaxe, I'm guessing that you've moved on beyond Countess runs as they're just pretty unrewarding in the end.

But I have had really good luck in my Hell forge drops this season. Of about 10 Hell forges I've collected, I've gotten a Mal, 2 Ists, and a Gul. If you're working toward a Vex, that would get you there alone.

Admittedly, I've probably had insanely good luck, but you could rush a character to Hell forge in about 2 hours if you get good at it (build a meteorb sorc or light sorc - you won't have to tackle Diablo if you don't want to). That would be a much more effective use of time for good runes, I believe.

[Garisdacar]

and you prolly know this, but orts and rals trade really well online, so i wouldnt' cube those if i found them....prolly cube up to those and then trade them, and just keep the mid runes for cubing up like he was saying.