A warcry echoes from the past...

[Darius]

Hi, folks.

It's been a while since the last time I posted here. IIRC, it was January or February 2003. It's been more than a while since the last time my barb wielded his sword - D2CL finals, December 2002.
A few months ago, I decided to clean up my favorites and a certain link was still there... I thought I'd see what was happening on these boards, just out of pure curiosity and something like a "fatherland's call", if you know what I mean. I checked whether my name was still taken and it turned out it was not! I couldn't resist the temptation so I registered under my old nick. Since then, I've been occasionally lurking around in order to spot some old friends or at least known names.

Now, I'm writing this post simply because I'm curious if the boards still feature some of the "old school" guys I know. I'm also curious about the game itself. I realize that "serious" D2 playing requires dedication and a lot of spare time which I simply don't have right now so I'm not really planning a return to the game but... I still want to know what 1.10 actually looks like (never had the opportunity to play it). How is PvP? How are barbs doing? What about builds, equipment, trading, exping, cheats?

BTW, Skit told me about one of the threads on this page and I want to make something clear - if you have played with a barb guy called Darius in the last 1 1/2 - 2 years, it wasn't me. My D2 chars are long gone - USWest account with a few "never-really-finished-but-still-decent" barbs was made accessible to Skit for item recovery a loooong time ago and Europe account with several 99 barbs swept clean by my clan and certainly deleted in the meantime. In fact, I uninstalled D2 at some point in 2003.

If anyone still remembers me from the board or perhaps battle.net (pub games or otherwise), my warmest greetings. To the guy who hoped I was OK in my "very poor" country (you can say a lot about PL but it has changed significantly over the last few years) in the thread Skit showed me, I can only say that I'm not starving, I work at a bank, travel a lot across Europe and I'm in a good shape. Nevertheless, the concern was touching, thanks.

As for my apparently controversial posting here, I would state the following:
a) I've never made a post beyond the 10k mark - regardless of what other people claim,
b) I've posted a lot of answers about BPs and such but someone had to do it.
c) I'm not Skit - we're close online friends and we're in touch ofc but Skit is not my alter ego or vice versa, I assure you.

Without false modesty, I know I have posted useful and relatively new things here. I have contributed to general "barb understanding" and although e.g. in the area of game mechanics & statistics some other people had far more numerous discoveries than my humble person (I've never really got into that D2 number crunching on serious basis, I preferred going into a game with my barb instead), I believe I have provided some recognition and knowledge (e.g. use of Berserk, my old TvT GF crusade, some basic mechanics, tactics, etc.). On the contrary, my numerous posts about BPs or basic build layouts were routine, repetitive, boring and bland, yes. However, they were needed. I know that many new barb players appreciated them and I had both the patience and time to deliver them so I don't think I should be condemned for that.

Some time ago, I even intended to make a real comeback and update my PvP barb guide to 1.10 but I don't think it's feasible, considering the meager amount of my spare time and the nature of competitive D2 dueling which has always been very time- and effort-consuming (so to speak) at top level. Now, I'm just fighting against the urge to see my clan again, play some TvT, and so on... Whatever we say about D2 and its flaws, I still think it was (is?) one of the best online games ever made. The adrenaline rush provided by PvPing in different forms (TvT, 1v1, BvB, pubby games, PK[K]) was unique.

Anyway, if someone still remembers the old days, please post something. Even if we go a bit OT, I'm sure the mods won't mind it this time. Mentioning moderators, I can't omit Halciet. From what I've seen, you're doing a great job, man. Since I've always felt somehow... responsible for this forum (even though I've never been a mod, due to a multitude of factors), I just want to say I'm glad that someone like you has appeared and is, so to speak, in charge, jointly with my buds Crow and Zo.

See you around on the forum (no, I'm not starting another 10k campaign but I'll stick around a bit) and perhaps even... elsewhere Tell me about 1.10...

Have fun, fellow barbs and D2 players.

Yours,

Darius

[rikstaker]

The legend lives...

Barbs are doing fine if not better,they can tele now,eth bug dead=>defense standards 30k+,glitched armor barbs, looong bvb fights,leech busted in pvp ,hunger for ar, the deployment of openwounds, the rise of axes & the fall of swords..etc..& ofcourse- appearance of radical ww theories trying to challenge wias & range factors.Atleast the last one has been taken care of.

All builds strengthened by synergies but still cant dethrone ww.

No one has made more contributions to the barb knowledge base than you,the fact that you still bothered answering minor questions yourselves speaks volumes about your dedication.

Thank you for all that you've done for the barb class,I'd be the happiest man should you decide to return. eventhough you dont know me

Rik

[[exile]]

one thing rik hinted at but forgot to mention -- odd classes using other classes' skills from runeword items and even some uniques! |cough widowmaker barbs/shock zealots cough|

game notwithstanding, it's good to see you around. mind you, i have only heard about you recently and being a relative noob to this forum, i can't say i have any idea what you did for the barb forums in the past. but from what i hear, you're something of a living legend around here and for that i respect you.

if you have a chance, i would really like to see you come back to d2. unless it was a struggling addiction or something like it is to me -- 'cause in that case, by all means, don't re-install.

BAH going a bit OT now so i'll shut up. good to see you and.. uhh. re-welcome to the forums?

|smacks forehead| i think i meant "welcome back." :howdy:

[rikstaker]

one thing rik hinted at but forgot to mention -- odd classes using other classes' skills from runeword items and even some uniques! |cough widowmaker barbs/shock zealots cough|

exile,widow maker ok,but shock zealots are zealots-I think you were trying to mention zealbarbs,ww sins(crap did I forget that) etc...

Rik

[Herald of Doom]

Haha, fooled you all, that wasn't the real Darius, that's me who made a fake acc !!! :cheesy:


This statement is not true, although ofcourse it's very funny

HoD

[jordy666]

exile,widow maker ok,but shock zealots are zealots-I think you were trying to mention zealbarbs,ww sins(crap did I forget that) etc...

Rik

did i hear zealbarbs

Haha, fooled you all, that wasn't the real Darius, that's me who made a fake acc !!!

thats a bannable offence, bye bye

This statement is not true, although ofcourse it's very funny

erm no it isnt, :uhhuh:

-jordy :king:

[[exile]]

exile,widow maker ok,but shock zealots are zealots-I think you were trying to mention zealbarbs,ww sins(crap did I forget that) etc...

Rik

my bad -- i'm so used to typing 'zealot' after 'shock' it just happened. but i, in fact, did mean a paladin variant, using widowmaker and the holy shock aura.

[xtc_sazabi]

its like hearing a ghost..... scary, but u can't believe its happening, Darius is posting again...

Good to hear from you, i remember when i was just starting D2, i built a barb and used your guide to help me out. . I remember you answered many of my questions (they were not Bp questions...... ok maybe one of them was) about barbs and if you want you can always message me wiht a list of specific questions and i'd be happy to answer them. Its the least i can do for the guy that got me really into barbs in the first place. peace out and cya around for awhile

[Killfrenzy]

The legend returns! Although i was too late to come here to see you post "back in the day", i have heard of you before and i have read your guide. Much was learned, much indeed...

*bows before the legendary darius*

[mstrnicegui]

A lot of the old ways from 1.09 and before (titans and the like) have lost some viability, but still remain playable, with adding in a bunch of new variants to the mix. Due to the toughness of Hell in 1.10, warcries have gone from useful to downright necessary.

There's been a lot of turnover in users on the forums here since I joined up a year ago, but there's still a decent number of people around from before my arrival. I've definitely heard plenty of talk about you and I'm sure your stories will be told for a good long time to come, as are the ways with true barbarians. Glad to finally meet the legend.