two mana golem questions

[SnickerSnack]

I'm going to make a mana golem for my fishymancer. I've got 3 voulges now: plain, superior +10% durability +2 ar, cracked 4-16 damage 16 durability. Will the extra durability make my golem tougher? Will using a cracked voulge give my golem less defense or life? I picked up the cracked one because it does less damage; will my golem do less damage if I use the cracked one? I think I'll start with the superior one, but I'd still like to know which is best since I expect my golem to die at some point.

I am also thinking about using metalgrid to make a mana golem for my light sorc so her merc can hold infinity. Does this work? Or will my golem only last for one game?

Thanks.

[mephiztophelez]

I'm going to make a mana golem for my fishymancer. I've got 3 voulges now: plain, superior +10% durability +2 ar, cracked 4-16 damage 16 durability. Will the extra durability make my golem tougher? Will using a cracked voulge give my golem less defense or life? I picked up the cracked one because it does less damage; will my golem do less damage if I use the cracked one? I think I'll start with the superior one, but I'd still like to know which is best since I expect my golem to die at some point.
i have no idea
I am also thinking about using metalgrid to make a mana golem for my light sorc so her merc can hold infinity. Does this work? Or will my golem only last for one game?
it will only last for one game.

[Insane Wayne]

I'm not an expert on Iron Golem, but I'll try to help.

I'm going to make a mana golem for my fishymancer. I've got 3 voulges now: plain, superior +10% durability +2 ar, cracked 4-16 damage 16 durability. Will the extra durability make my golem tougher?
No. Durability is irrelevant.

Will using a cracked voulge give my golem less defense or life?
No.

I picked up the cracked one because it does less damage; will my golem do less damage if I use the cracked one?
Yes.

I am also thinking about using metalgrid to make a mana golem for my light sorc so her merc can hold infinity. Does this work?
Yes, any class can use the golem charges on that amulet. But I would guess an unsynergized golem would be fragile.

Or will my golem only last for one game?
No, that was fixed within the last patch or two. Iron Golems will reappear when you start a new game, generated from the original item you used to make it.

Some basic info on Iron Golem here (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/skills/necromancer-summoning.shtml#irongolem).

[SnickerSnack]

Thanks for the responses. I larzuked a voulge and it only got 3 sockets. I thought that white named items always got the maximum number of sockets, but apparently that isn't the case. Does it always get 3? I'll try to find a guide on larzuk. Can anyone tell me the best way to get a 4 socket voulge? Do I have to cube a lot of voulges? I guess it's good that I used the superior one first, now I can try cubing the damaged one.

[PFSS]

Thanks for the responses. I larzuked a voulge and it only got 3 sockets. I thought that white named items always got the maximum number of sockets, but apparently that isn't the case. Does it always get 3? I'll try to find a guide on larzuk. Can anyone tell me the best way to get a 4 socket voulge? Do I have to cube a lot of voulges? I guess it's good that I used the superior one first, now I can try cubing the damaged one.

Cracked items won't get the full number of sockets.

Also - the level of the monster that dropped the item is important, which is why you don't get 4socket items dropping throughout most of normal.

IIRC any regular voluge picked up in NM or Hell will get four sockets, and IIRC normal cows can also drop 4 sockets, and so any voluge dropped by Normal Cows will get 4 sockets from larzuk. But I might be wrong on that last one.

[SnickerSnack]

I also found the answer in another thread. I was using voulges with low qlvls. I'm going to farm nm cows for my voulges. Anyone who is interested can read about it here:

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=486307

[helvete]

Cracked items won't get the full number of sockets.

Yes they do.

ilvl 25+ voulges get 4sox, and normal cows drop ilvl 28.

[SnickerSnack]

Normal cows would be good, but nm cows drop more gems and runes. I guess I'll alternate; since I can run normal cows a little faster.

I've passed over some sythes and poleaxes. Would those items from normal cows also get 4 sockets or is ilvl 28 high enough to get 5 sockets?

[SnickerSnack]

OK, so I've got an insight voulge and I've got level 12 iron golem and level 27 golem mastery (I've got +11 to summoning and I'll add all my new skill points to GM). Is there anything else I should know about mana golems before I make one? I'm considering always keeping a backup insight incase this one dies, but 8 squares is a lot of space considering that my fishy is for mf.

[thefranklin]

Well, the bit question is will you die? You did not state anything about your gear, but if you don't have enigma you will have to baby it, because it can IM itself to death, and I know a couple have died somehow when I wasn't paying close attention.

If you know how to self-mule, space usually isn't a problem. I would keep a few extra insights on because you never know when you will die, one will die, or one will just disappear.

[SnickerSnack]

I don't die much - not sure if this character has ever died - maybe once early on. Gear:
ali baba
switch: naj (found it while leveling, not sure what to use on switch, so I've left it)
enigma
shako
homonculus
ammy: +skill, str, life, res, mf
dwarf star (will replace with SoJ or BK eventually)
nagel
chancies
string of ears
inferno stride (will replace with marrow's soon)
torch
gheed's
light res and mf charms

I can self mule, and you're right, space isn't really a problem. I just can't really hold my backup on the necro.

[SnickerSnack]

Well, I died less than 5 minutes into my first time out with the new mana golem. I got too close to the fight, and I think I was hit by a bunch of charged bolts from ~15 steel scarabs - even with 75 lightning resist. I really enjoyed it for the short time I had it. I could teleport as much as I wanted and I could use Corpse Explosion with impunity. I have about 6 or 7 more sol runes, so now I just need more voulges.

[Michael Nuggets]

if i made an iron golem out of stone (RW) archone plate will he have a high def?

[thegiantturtle]

if i made an iron golem out of stone (RW) archone plate will he have a high def?yes .

[Anthraquinone]

<snip> Is there anything else I should know about mana golems before I make one? I'm considering always keeping a backup insight incase this one dies, but 8 squares is a lot of space considering that my fishy is for mf.

You should know that iron golems are recast at the beginning of a new game. It is a good idea to switch to prebuff gear (or weapon switch) before leaving games.

-AnQ