Some leveling [and other] advice please

[Tracker]

Like some others, I have been away for 3 years in WoW and just now returning. (Actually like a month and a half ago, but still easily a noob.)

I play only PvM HC Ladder so please take that into consideration.

1. I found this on the forums and wanted to verify its accuracy. Also...there are gaps...maybe a really dumb question, would Hell Trist offer any advantage for a group of 70s? I mean it should be the same chain in the next level of difficulty right? [trist, tombs, cows,ancients baal rinse and repeat?] Is there something I am missing?

1-15 trist
15-21 tombs
21-24 cows
24-ancients
24- 39 baal runs
39-kill baal
----------------NM
40ish - ancients
41-baal till 60
60-kill ancients
60-70 Baal
70 Kill Baal
----------------Hell
80 Hell Ancients
80+ baal

2. I play USEast and the games in NM and Hell seem to be non-existant. [I play randomly, but at good hours for the East Coast.] I can't get more than like 8 games to show and over half those are trading or dueling. I have a 78 Necro, that is basically stagnant because I am trying to solo Hell.

3. Back in 1.09, the ORB/TS Sorc was increadible for PvM and PvP, but I have heard now, that she is dead. I have a Met/Orb sorc (lvl 32?)that I really hate and although it is not the best build, I am also rolling an Orb/Hydra Sorc so I will have something fun to play. Would much rather hear that the Orb/Lightning sorc is a good build if there is one out there.

4. I understand that Werebears are only good for fire claw and worthless in Melee. I can not find a Bear melee build which is a sad thing because I was looking forward to a good mallet driven toon.

Perhaps I have read the wrong threads and spoken to the wrong people...any help would be MUCH appreciated.

THX

[Andymc]

You might find Lightning/Orb viable, but only with good gear. Basically fire and lightning need as many skill points as possible to be useful (due to synergies), whereas Lvl 20 Orb and a moderate Cold Mastery (10+) is enough for cold.

The *best* way to level, without glitching, would be:

(Numbers are what level you *end* at)
Up to 12 Trist
13 - 15 Sewers
16 - 20 Tombs
21 - 24 Cows
25 Ancients
26 - 40 Normal Baal
41 NM Ancients
42 - 60 NM Baal
61 Hell Ancients
62+ Hell Baal

Obviously going into Hell at 60 might not be a good idea in HC, so you can extend NM Baal to 70 or more if you need. Your levelling seems to have 4 ancients too.

[Mysteria]

I dont want to ruin the mood here, but how fun is it to just level with various runs? That kinda ruins the whole game. I have a lvl 75 that I did with about 90% runs, and I dont feel that I'm any good at all, it dont feels like it's my own character. I have a lvl 70 on singleplayer, and that one really feels good to play, it's me! she's a lot weaker that the runned one, but it's my own. Now I only use the runned one to help friends with bosses and stuff, but if I need any help with my own bosses, I simply keep fighting.

[Tracker]

The *best* way to level, without glitching, would be:

(Numbers are what level you *end* at)
Up to 12 Trist
13 - 15 Sewers
16 - 20 Tombs
21 - 24 Cows
25 Ancients
26 - 40 Normal Baal
41 NM Ancients
42 - 60 NM Baal
61 Hell Ancients
62+ Hell Baal


Thanks Andymc...LOL...yeah I had the ancients in there 4 times in case I did it wrong once....J/K. REALLY hard to find a sewers game as people seem to ju8mp straight to tombs. :/ But I will keep an eye out in those levels.

I dont want to ruin the mood here, but how fun is it to just level with various runs? That kinda ruins the whole game. I have a lvl 75 that I did with about 90% runs, and I dont feel that I'm any good at all, it dont feels like it's my own character. I have a lvl 70 on singleplayer, and that one really feels good to play, it's me! she's a lot weaker that the runned one, but it's my own. Now I only use the runned one to help friends with bosses and stuff, but if I need any help with my own bosses, I simply keep fighting.

Thanks Mysteria and I understand. Believe it or not, I am the same way. My necro has not been in a single run, he is 78 and has walked the whole game. I solo'd NM and am working solo [read SO SLOW] hell just because I don't want him to be PK'd. He is my first toon since I have returned and he has not died yet. I am using him as my main and for MF.

I enjoy the other toons once they hit about 20 as they seem to come into their own about then. I do get really tired of doing the same quests over and over though, so I will break the monotony by running. Not the whole way, but just when I get to a point I am bored.

[jozipper]

Basically the reason for this:
2. I play USEast and the games in NM and Hell seem to be non-existant. [I play randomly, but at good hours for the East Coast.] I can't get more than like 8 games to show and over half those are trading or dueling. I have a 78 Necro, that is basically stagnant because I am trying to solo Hell.

Is this:
I solo'd NM and am working solo [read SO SLOW] hell just because I don't want him to be PK'd.

The best way to find some friends to play with who aren't goign to pk you would be the HC forum :thumbsup:.

[Mysteria]

Thanks Mysteria and I understand. Believe it or not, I am the same way. My necro has not been in a single run, he is 78 and has walked the whole game. I solo'd NM and am working solo [read SO SLOW] hell just because I don't want him to be PK'd. He is my first toon since I have returned and he has not died yet. I am using him as my main and for MF.
I like that!:wink3:

[Raith]

And HC forums have a lot of USEAST guys so you're in luck.

[Stomphoof]

I am leveling my little druid Solo. I dont see the point in runs. Bores me and all that :)

I am level 19 and havent killed Andarial yet...I am an overleveler what can I say? :P

I agree - Solo makes it feel like your character, and it helps you learn how to use it effectivly.

[Irvin]

i have a little problem in "exp", are they have a different in gain "exp" between champion and Patriarch in same level ? My friend told me if u already kill baal in hell, it would be hard to gain "exp".
Example :
In Hell level ( Act 1, den's evil cave )
Patriarch Paladin lvl 82 : gain 60k for killing gargantua beast
Champion Paladin lvl 82 : gain 120k for killing gargantua beast.
Is this true ?
or it gain same "exp".

[Tracker]

Just so the otehr questions are not being forgotten...

2. I play USEast and the games in NM and Hell seem to be non-existant. [I play randomly, but at good hours for the East Coast.] I can't get more than like 8 games to show and over half those are trading or dueling. I have a 78 Necro, that is basically stagnant because I am trying to solo Hell.

3. Back in 1.09, the ORB/TS Sorc was increadible for PvM and PvP, but I have heard now, that she is dead. I have a Met/Orb sorc (lvl 32?)that I really hate and although it is not the best build, [Changed from original post]: I am going to try Hydra/Chain and see what happens. Hydra may not kill as fast as Met and Without cold, I won't be able to slow mobs down, but Lighting is a quick killer and Hydras are fire and forget.]

I am thinking max Fireball, Hydra, Fire mastery, Chain lightning and 10 in Lightning. The rest in prerequisites and warmth/teleport. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

4. I understand that Werebears are only good for fire claw and worthless in Melee. I can not find a Bear melee build which is a sad thing because I was looking forward to a good mallet driven toon.


THX in advance.

[JME]

Just so the otehr questions are not being forgotten...

2. I play USEast and the games in NM and Hell seem to be non-existant. [I play randomly, but at good hours for the East Coast.] I can't get more than like 8 games to show and over half those are trading or dueling. I have a 78 Necro, that is basically stagnant because I am trying to solo Hell.

3. Back in 1.09, the ORB/TS Sorc was increadible for PvM and PvP, but I have heard now, that she is dead. I have a Met/Orb sorc (lvl 32?)that I really hate and although it is not the best build, [Changed from original post]: I am going to try Hydra/Chain and see what happens. Hydra may not kill as fast as Met and Without cold, I won't be able to slow mobs down, but Lighting is a quick killer and Hydras are fire and forget.]

I am thinking max Fireball, Hydra, Fire mastery, Chain lightning and 10 in Lightning. The rest in prerequisites and warmth/teleport. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

4. I understand that Werebears are only good for fire claw and worthless in Melee. I can not find a Bear melee build which is a sad thing because I was looking forward to a good mallet driven toon.


THX in advance.

2: Only a limited amount of games will display at a time and the vast majority of those are almost always trading or dueling. Baal games are popular as well.

3: A charged boltress with FO is also a good option. Maxed CB, maxed lightning, maxed light mastery, maxed FO, 1 wamth, 1 tele, 1 static, (6 prereqs), 1 cold armor, and 1 in cold mastery. This would be done at level 78 after all skill quests. I'd recommend putting the rest of the points in cold mastery to get it to a decent level. If you can get CM to about -100 with a reasonable amount of +skills on your gear, put whatever is left in ice bolt.

4: "Worthless" is a bit strong. There is a maul/summon hybrid guide here (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=590115) and you can always do a search on "kodiak" or "mauler" to pull up other werebear ideas. If you really just want to use a maul on a druid you could always throw an ebotd tmaul or ogre maul on a PvM fury druid. Just some suggestions. If this is PvP then I'm not sure what to expect out of a mauler.

[Darkflight]

Just so the otehr questions are not being forgotten...

2. I play USEast and the games in NM and Hell seem to be non-existant. [I play randomly, but at good hours for the East Coast.] I can't get more than like 8 games to show and over half those are trading or dueling. I have a 78 Necro, that is basically stagnant because I am trying to solo Hell.

3. Back in 1.09, the ORB/TS Sorc was increadible for PvM and PvP, but I have heard now, that she is dead. I have a Met/Orb sorc (lvl 32?)that I really hate and although it is not the best build, [Changed from original post]: I am going to try Hydra/Chain and see what happens. Hydra may not kill as fast as Met and Without cold, I won't be able to slow mobs down, but Lighting is a quick killer and Hydras are fire and forget.]

I am thinking max Fireball, Hydra, Fire mastery, Chain lightning and 10 in Lightning. The rest in prerequisites and warmth/teleport. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

4. I understand that Werebears are only good for fire claw and worthless in Melee. I can not find a Bear melee build which is a sad thing because I was looking forward to a good mallet driven toon.


THX in advance.

2. Are you Hardcore? If you are, I suggest hooking up with someone over at the Hardcore forum like jozipper and Mysteria suggested. If you are Softcore, I don't have a good solution to your problem unfortunatly.

3. Thunderstorm is as good as useless for PVM in 1.11. A Lightning/Hydra Sorceress would be a very original build at least. How effective it will be is uncertain. I would rather suggest Orb/Lightning or Orb/Meteor, if built right these can be very effective. I would suggest reading the guides in the Sorceress forum and finding a build you like.

4. I'm pretty sure there was a Hunger Werebear guide somewhere in the Druid forum, but I can't seem to find it. Try searching a bit.

[prion]

here's what I do. I've been refining this over the course of the ladder and change it whenever I change my mind. I think it's pretty much the same for all characters. This is designed so that you can actually contribute, so norm cows is not on here at all.

prion's extremely rough guide to runs games:
levels . . . areas
1-6..........perm your char questing
6-15.........tristram runs
16-22........arcane/tombs
22-30........chaos sanctuary runs
30-45........Baal runs
45-52........quest and level thru nightmare up to Baal.
53-62 .......chaos runs
60-75........NM Baal runs
75+ hell baal runs, hell cows, and ubers

IE is being a punk so I can't bring up the original list to highlight the differences, but the main one is enter Hell at level 75 now instead of 70. You need to be as strong as you can in Hell and it's easy to get those five levels in Baal runs.

[Tracker]

I play nothing but HC ladder on accounts D1S or D3S.

Can't thank everyone enough for the huge amount of advice. It feels really good to be back and see this kind of support. I remember when you'd ask questions and get like 20 insults and the rest would be conflicting answers from people trying to get a post count.

I am really looking forward to meeting some of you online. I just wish I played more regularily.