Desperately need middle-of-the-road improvements!!!

[evev]

I've read about the suggested high-end equips for Sorcs (Mara's, SoJ, Nightweil, etc) but am currently nowhere close to affording those pieces. Please take a look at the equipment I have now on my 91 Pure Blizz Sorc and let me know if there's anything I can improve in the short-term.
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Sorc Equipment:

Harlequin Crest Shako
The Oculus
Skin of Vipermagi Wyrmhide (PTOPAZ socket)
Spirit Monarch
Blue Amulet (+2 Sorc Skill Levels; +4 Dexterity)
Magefist Battle Gauntlets
Nagelring
Nagelring
Snowclash Battle Belt
Marrowalk Boneweaver Boots
4 Charms (1 Grand, 3 Small) that all give a total of 22% MF and 22 Mana

SWITCH: Ondal's Wisdom


Merc Equipment:

Insight Poleaxe (only level 12 Medi Aura :( )
Ethereal Atma's Wail
Tal Rasha's Helm
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What I currently have for trade:
(Dear Mods, I'm just hoping for shopping suggestions)

(19) Fal 1
(17) Lum 2
(16) Io 2
(15)Hel 1
(12) Sol 2

10 PTOPAZ + 23 PGEM = 33 PGEM

Key of Terror

Is there any equipment I should look for that the above "currency" can buy me? I also have tons of items, but judging by even the populated forums here it's difficult to sell 98% of all equipment in D2 so I doubt I'll ever bother trying to make money with it :(
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Four other small questions I have are:

1) What are the ranges for runes? Meaning, what are all runes that are considered LOW, MID and HIGH? There are 33 runes total, so does that mean that El (1) through Amn (11) are LOW, Sol (12) through Um (22) are MID, and everything else is HIGH?

2) My sorc was my first D2 character in years, and even though I went for pure blizzard build, I did put 1 point each into: Frozen Orb, Fire Bolt and Fire Ball. I don't have Energy Shield and will only max Glacial Spike when I hit level 99, which is never. (Glacial Spike is the last Cold skill for me to max). I realize this is mostly a personal question, but do you guys think I should restart my Sorc?

3) Do the D2 Terms of Service allow me to run a copy of D2 each on two different machines in my house? I think I can't run two copies of the game on ONE computer, but if I have two physical computers is that OK? What about if you're emulating another OS (Windows in Mac for example) on one machine and want to run D2 on both?

4) Is it safe to buy D2 keys from sites that only sell the CD keys? Do the DIII forums have a list of sites that sell CD keys that are trustworthy? Don't want items, just hoping for CD keys because Battle chest is 40 bux :(



Thanks in advance!!

[Inda]

A1)
Low: El->Thul
Mid: Amn->Gul
HR: Vex+ (anything that can not be dropped by the hell forge quest).

Current prices on US West (ladder) allow you to get a HR for Um, Ist, or Mal (got a Vex the otehr day this way). Gul's are currently valued at about a Pul.

A2)
Pretty personal choice there. I like Blizzard sorcs but ... you can run D'Keys fairly easy with a Orb/Fireballer or Lightning/Ch. Lightning sorc.

A3)
It's within the T&C's to ahve multiple computers with seperate keys at the same location. I beleive the same is true for VM's, but I'm not 100% sure on that.

A4)
No clue. Battle Chest is $40 here as well. :(

-- Addition ------------------

Err, and as far as EQ goes, create an Item(s) for Pgem game ... get a ton of Pgems, trade them for Lem/Pul. If you need a price guide to value your items take a look at Scoobs post for US West Ladder pricing. Slightly out of date but it should get you close.

~I

[sirpoopsalot]

Your equipment is tolerable. At this point I'd just keep picking away at runs and accumulating trade-fodder, and you should be able to start affording some upgrades in the near(ish) future.


1) That's roughly the breakdown. There are variations from person to person, and probably on different realms (and especially in different trade forums). For example, Gul runes are the highest rune that are moderately common drops (from Hellforge), so some people may only consider "high" runes to be Vex or higher.

2) I see no reason to restart

3 & 4) We do NOT allow or endorse key-selling or hacking, or any of that stuff. We don't allow links to those sites. If you want to run multiple copies of the game, you have two choices:
a) buy another copy of the game
b) in the single player forum stickies is a thread on mods & utilities. Within that are instructions on making a minor modification to a certain DLL file to enable running multiple instances on one computer.

Important Note: Modifying the DLL like this WILL get you banned from BNet and it does violate their terms of service. Also, I'm not sure of the implications across this site. We allow it in the Single Player Forum, but some of the other forum moderators may not - you should read the rules for each forum you want to interact with, and PM that forum's moderator(s) with any specific questions about whether this mod is acceptable.

[evev]

Thanks for the responses guys. I should have mentioned that I primarily play on the USWest Softcore Ladder Realm, only single player for experiments or fooling around.

Sad to learn that "real" HRs are only Vex and up. I've seen many posts about Pul, Um and Ist runes that I assumed those were HRs too :(

Please don't think me stubborn, I'm just trying to figure out whether people selling their keys or games on auction sites are legit or not. From what I understand selling your CD key is allowed by the ToS since it's your property (like the game disks). I know that hacking for closed bnet or selling closed bnet items is against the rules, but I thought the CD keys could be sold?

Sadly I can't modify any DLLs because I'm playing D2 on a mac. I do have another laptop that can run D2 and have the option of emulating Windows on my Macintosh and running D2 inside that emulation. I understand two separate physical machines are a safer bet, but does anyone know if running a second copy of the game in an emulated OS on the same machine is allowed by the rules?

Also, thanks for the tip Inda, I'm pessimistic but I'll give that a shot :)

[sirpoopsalot]

... but I thought the CD keys could be sold?

It's possible it's legal under the law, but it will get you banned from this site in a heartbeat. Ditto for inquiring too deeply for key-links or other info or opinions. I suggest you drop this line of discussion on these forums.

I know "jack" about emulation, Macs, and running multiple copies.

[Inda]

"Also, thanks for the tip Inda, I'm pessimistic but I'll give that a shot"

Since you're on US West Sc. Ladder ~ checkout TCTC's currency conversion thread if you want to upgrade your low runes, get rid of crafting gems, etc. ;)

~I

[SeCKSEgai]

Thanks for the responses guys. I should have mentioned that I primarily play on the USWest Softcore Ladder Realm, only single player for experiments or fooling around.

Sad to learn that "real" HRs are only Vex and up. I've seen many posts about Pul, Um and Ist runes that I assumed those were HRs too :(

Please don't think me stubborn, I'm just trying to figure out whether people selling their keys or games on auction sites are legit or not. From what I understand selling your CD key is allowed by the ToS since it's your property (like the game disks). I know that hacking for closed bnet or selling closed bnet items is against the rules, but I thought the CD keys could be sold?

Sadly I can't modify any DLLs because I'm playing D2 on a mac. I do have another laptop that can run D2 and have the option of emulating Windows on my Macintosh and running D2 inside that emulation. I understand two separate physical machines are a safer bet, but does anyone know if running a second copy of the game in an emulated OS on the same machine is allowed by the rules?

Also, thanks for the tip Inda, I'm pessimistic but I'll give that a shot :)


You're never allowed to sell cdkeys unless you're an authorized reseller - that's standard in any Eula for games of this nature. When you purchase a software package, you're really buying a personal license to use the software that is NON-TRANSFERRABLE. Running two copies on same machine is not authorized and considered as using third party software to basically "modify" the play experience - you can get technical and all that bs but that will be the bottom line - risk account termination vs buying another key from a Legitimate retailer (and when I say key, I mean software package, not necessarily battle chest, but you'd be hard to find it in any other form as old as the game is now). Another thing to consider with these auction sites or sellers of fake items for real money is that you're providing cc info and risking identity theft.


Ist trades as an HR, Mal will too, primarily because of their usefulness. Also, they are less likely to be duped when trading. Um pul (or 3 pul) is effectively the value of a single hr in most circles, so keep that in mind, and 2 pul = um.

As far as restarting, you probably will eventually, I did, albeit with a different beginning build and completely different build. Cold limits your mf areas, and while my favorite tree, my pure lite is far more efficient and versatile.

My first sorc basically built the wealth up so I could build my current characters, and now acts as a lvl 89 mule in full tals.

[renegademaster]

Reasons to Restart:

1.spend your points better
2. Hellforge Quest is one way to get good runes, and its a one off.
3. The First time you kill Baal you get significantly better drops than normal - if you have decent MF.

A pure elemental Sorc either cold or lightning can be a very efficient MFer (which your gear is setup for). The single biggest Improvement would be to get an Infinity Polearm for your merc. Allowing you to go anywhere kill anything, but it is expensive (Ber + Mal + Ber + Ist).

Always take Static Field, and Teleport, Energy shield is optional.

Gaining Wealth

Don't forget to go shopping, there are some great blue items out there people want - 3 Traps Claws, 3 War Cry Spears, jewelers armour of the whale, 3 skills 20 IAS gloves.

Use your imbues on Circlets.

Either trade your perfect gems for Puls, or use them to craft amulets, which can be quite valuable if you are lucky.
Save up your gems, low runes, jewels and gold. Gamble for blue amulets with your lv91 char, their is a chance you get a nice one, the rest you can use as ingredients for crafting. I do Safety and Caster Amulets, Blood and Hit Power Gloves.

Mid Runes
15 Perfect Gems = Lem
2 Lem = Pul
2 Pul = Um
3 Pul = 1st
2 Ist = most High Runes - Vex , Lo, Ber, Jah etc.