Want to start HC again with an mf char !

[Lizardking]

Hello all,

I'm an mid-hardcore player (play'd it like 2years ago all the time).
And i want to start after 2 years of soft core on hardcore again.
I was thinking of a nightmare andy runner fireball sorc or somethin like that.
I just need some stuff to trade and upgrade the gear that i find myself through the leveling. I'm playing untwinked (it's going to be my first hc char).
Someone has some other suggestions of a nightmare mfer ?

Oh yeah : What's a good realm/ladder-nonladder these days for hardcore ? I hope i can dodge the pkers and the cheaters ect...


Greetz
Lizard_king2

[dyolf]

fishymancer (safe but a bit slow) and orb/tk (fast and safe for meph) work well together, if you have two cd keys.

tppks are really bad, dont play public after lvl9, you would die for shure!

[Lizardking]

fishymancer (safe but a bit slow) and orb/tk (fast and safe for meph) work well together, if you have two cd keys.

tppks are really bad, dont play public after lvl9, you would die for shure!

ye i have 2 cd keys but, how can i duall run without the way this forum say's ? pm me if it's against the rules or somethin :P

[tartanasia]

If your going to trade upgrade in publics I see nothing wrong with using loaders. Items you will trade for will be either, botted, mh'd or traded using currency from such activities. Best legit play is single player and then you can use player 8 setting. Im starting to learn that now.

[MYK]

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=557123
That one works untwinked. For a long time I just used self found items on the one I made.

[Tai.]

Seconding Socialism's Orb/TK sorc.

It is THE definitive combination of speed/tank in Hardcore

[Usufruct]

Here's a tip if you follow the Orb/TK sorc, (which incidentally I do recommend you do): Don't bring your merc on hell meph runs. If the merc does any decent damage and you accidentally teleport into some better-than-average Stygian Dolls on the way to Durance 3, you'll likely have an out-of-body experience with some really unpleasant red text.

[come back zinc]

Alternatively, to avoid a smiliar fate through mana burn, you can just give your merc a low damage insight (halberd or something) and you won't have that problem, plus your mana will come back fast enough if/when you get burned.

[Tai.]

Yea, the runes are easy enough - so make an Insight in the first 4 sock pole you find (usually like a scythe or halberd) and then remake when you find that sexy eth superior Cryptic Axe

[AgentMarth]

then remake when you find that sexy eth superior Cryptic Axe

I always hate the speed of a CA. I much prefer a GPA or a Thresher for things.


I agree going with Insight though. It helps regenerate any mana lost from mana burn fast enough for you to be able to port away from they pack. I even never spend more than one on port, and it can still regen that ~20 or so mana fast enough. Plus it helps regenerate your "life". Insight/Prayer Merc is the way to go for me.

Dolls shouldn't be too much a worry about popping. For some reason, with a decent ES, they don't hurt. I don't know why, but it seems like there death explosion only affect the damage you take to life, not mana. That and with 63 FCR or 105 FCR, you shouldn't even be by a Doll long enough for your Merc to not just whiff at them. Mana burn Udar's worry me more TBH.

I like my Merc to much to not keep him along. Never having to pot unless extreme cases is nice. Along with the fact that his Meditation helps my mana regen so much so fast that I am able to stand toe to toe with Mephy at take his hits instead of my Merc.

Although, in the end, I prefer Blizz/TK.....

[Usufruct]

Hmm, I should definitely make an insight. I hadn't really played since 1.09, that runeword is ridiculously good for the cost :) (I also discovered Spirit recently... ha!)

[zrk]

just stay alive man its really hard for the sorcs out there. with our without ES, the dangers are plenty.

[dyolf]

you will need a second comp (laptop?), or you can use a vmware installation, or from what i hear you can use win xp fast user switch. i don't think that can be against the rules.

[MYK]

Here's a tip if you follow the Orb/TK sorc, (which incidentally I do recommend you do): Don't bring your merc on hell meph runs. If the merc does any decent damage and you accidentally teleport into some better-than-average Stygian Dolls on the way to Durance 3, you'll likely have an out-of-body experience with some really unpleasant red text.

In the guide it goes over merc weapons, and is actually a pretty important part of the build. :smiley:

[Tor Land]

I don't understand - why do you need two cdkeys?

[draogan]

Here's a tip if you follow the Orb/TK sorc, (which incidentally I do recommend you do): Don't bring your merc on hell meph runs. If the merc does any decent damage and you accidentally teleport into some better-than-average Stygian Dolls on the way to Durance 3, you'll likely have an out-of-body experience with some really unpleasant red text.

Actually imho this applies more to NM meph runs than hell -- when you're running NM, your merc has a decent chance to 1 shot a doll next to you and cause you some serious pain. However, once you hit hell, unless your merc is perfectly built (eth up'd kelpie, eth arioc's, or similar) he doesn't stand a prayer of 1-shotting dolls. I tele w/ my merc using an insight cryptic axe w/ decent ED and he doesn't even come close to 1-shotting them. Honestly, I'm not sure how I'd run without him -- the slowing of kelpie + my FO keeps mephy under serious control so I can go negative resists on switch easily without feeling vulnerable (and it's a great help when meph's getting a might aura from the council, too).

Just my 2c -- my MF sorcy is 86 and so far has 2 shakos, ss, 2 perf vipers, 2 nature's peace, 2 wizzies, verdungo's and dozens of elite uniques under her belt from mephy. =)

drao

[xXxfunbobxXx]

with me i dont even use inisght or frozen aura merc i used kelpie snare it slows down the bosses i also like reapers toll
with orb tk ur not really low on mana as long as u add enough points to teleport and u should teleport fast enough that u dont seee the packs :)

[dyolf]

you don't exactly need two cd keys and comps, but its very handy for safe muling, and doing quests, not to mention that u can give yourself loot!

i use my second cdkey like this:
- for mf runs with my orb/tk i put my fishymancer in the same game and give him loot. makes the mf a bit better, plus i can get my gear back if i get unlucky

- i'm now in hell act 2 with my new fishy and orb/tk. the fishy can safely go almost anywhere, excpept those parts where his skellies get stuck (maggot, arcane...). there, i just tele with my sorc to the endpoint, and get my fishy in to finish off. shure, if those tppks kids hadn't ruined coop play, i would not need that...

- obviously, two chars controlled by me allow for safe muling