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In all the subdued lands few hoped. Of those, few dared express their hope – and among those few hardly a single soul possessed the courage to murmur the name symbolising that hope.
The name was Castle Brass.
Those who spoke the name understood it’s implications, for Castle Brass was the only stronghold that remained unvanquished by the warlords of Granbretan and Castle Brass housed heroes; men who had fought the Dark Empire, whose names were loathed and hated by the brooding Baron Meliadus, Grand Constable of the Order of the Wolf, Commander of the Army of Conquest, for it was known that Baron Meliadus fought a private vendetta with those heroes, particularly the legendary Dorian Hawkmoon von Köln who was married to the woman Meliadus desired, Yisselda, daughter of Count Brass of Castle Brass. - The History of The Runestaff
Presenting a trio of Patriarchs based upon The History of The Runestaff by Michael Moorcock. The book is a compilation of four novels that tell of a far future, post apocalyptic Europe where the Dark Empire of Granbretan (what was Great Britain) is trying to conquer the continent. A fantasy classic if you haven't read it before. The wiki link has a plot summary of each book.
Hawkmoon
Dorian Hawkmoon, Duke von Köln.
Hawkmoon lead the resistance of his people against The Dark Empire, but was captured. The sorcerer scientists of Granbretan, under the direction of Baron Meliadus, implant a Black Jewel in his skull and send him to spy on their enemies. If he refuses, the jewel will eat his brain. Count Brass realises the true nature of the jewel and manages to temporarily block it's full power. Hawkmoon fights back against Granbretan and Baron Meliadus whilst trying to find a way to remove the jewel permanently. For more have a read of the Wikipedia entry.
Stats
Name: Hawkmoon
Class: Paladin
Experience: 853967393
Level: 82
Naked/Gear
Strength: 114/141
Dexterity: 60/92
Vitality: 316/321
Energy: 15/23
HP: 294400/1418
Mana: 34944/188
Stamina: 118016/466
Defense: 15/732
AR: 285/285
Fire: 137/97/37
Cold: 108/68/8
Lightning: 127/87/27
Poison: 100/60/0
Resists are without fade active
Skills
Sacrifice: 20/22
Holy Bolt: 20/22
Zeal: 6/8
Vengeance: 1/3
Blessed Hammer: 1/3
Conversion: 1/3
Fist of the Heavens: 20/22
Might : 1/3
Blessed Aim : 1/3
Concentration : 1/3
Fanaticism : 20/22
Salvation : 1/3
Where the next lot of skill points go is still undecided. My AR is low, so maybe some more points into Zeal, pump Holy Bolt Synergies or put hard points into Vigor and Redemption.
Equipment
Weapon: Doombringer 'Hel'
In the book Hawkmoon wields The Sword Of The Dawn. This sword allows the wielder to summon an army of barbaric warriors to fight alongside him. When each warrior dies, he is replaced by a new one. Well, no army of barbaric warriors with this sword, but at least it is the correct colour.
Switch Weapon: Hand of Blessed Light. May swap to The Redeemer though.
Switch Shield: Spirit
Helm: Guillaume's Face 'Ort'
Armour: 'Treachery' Sharktooth Armour.
Belt: String of Ears
Boots: Tearhaunch. I had no investment in the Defensive auras, so the +2 Vigor saved me a lot of points.
Gloves: Laying of Hands.
Hawkmoon wears The Mad God's Amulet which increases his strength and skill. So Mara's fits the theme perfectly.
Amulet: Mara's
Ring1: Ravenfrost
Ring2: Rare with mana leech
Inventory: Steel & Resistance charms, both tomes & the cube, 2x4 space spare.
Equipment Readouts:
Code:Doombringer Champion Sword One Hand Damage: 109 - 278 Two Hand Damage: 265 - 374 Indestructible Required Level: 69 Required Strength: 130 Required Dexterity: 82 Fingerprint: 0x23b76c1e Item Level: 86 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: 231% Enhanced Damage +30 to Minimum Damage +100 to Maximum Damage 6% Life stolen per hit Increase Maximum Life 20% 40% Bonus to Attack Rating Indestructible 8% Chance to cast level 3 Weaken on striking Requirements -20% 1 Sockets (1 used) Socketed: Hel Rune Guillaume's Face Winged Helm Defense: 217 Durability: 40 of 40 Required Level: 34 Required Strength: 115 Fingerprint: 0x4a9fd86a Item Level: 87 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +15 to Strength 120% Enhanced Defense 30% Faster Hit Recovery 35% Chance of Crushing Blow 15% Deadly Strike Lightning Resist +30% 1 Sockets (1 used) Socketed: Ort Rune Mara's Kaleidoscope Amulet Required Level: 67 Fingerprint: 0x3e396d1c Item Level: 85 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +5 to Strength +5 to Energy +5 to Dexterity +5 to Vitality Fire Resist +23% Lightning Resist +23% Cold Resist +23% Poison Resist +23% +2 to All Skills Treachery Sharktooth Armor Defense: 245 Durability: 48 of 48 Required Level: 43 Required Strength: 103 Fingerprint: 0xc6077c62 Item Level: 80 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +2 to Assassin Skill Levels 45% Increased Attack Speed 25% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking 5% Chance to cast level 15 Fade when struck 20% Faster Hit Recovery Cold Resist +30% 50% Extra Gold from Monsters 3 Sockets (3 used) Socketed: Shael Rune Socketed: Thul Rune Socketed: Lem Rune Stone Whorl Ring Required Level: 34 Fingerprint: 0xb90664da Item Level: 86 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +3 to Energy +83 to Attack Rating +4 to Maximum Damage Lightning Resist +16% Poison Resist +17% 3% Mana stolen per hit Raven Frost Ring Required Level: 45 Fingerprint: 0x60ad47fa Item Level: 87 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +16 to Dexterity +40 to Mana +208 to Attack Rating +15 - 45 cold damage with 4 sec Duration 20% Cold Absorb Cannot Be Frozen String of Ears Demonhide Sash Defense: 104 Durability: 22 of 22 Required Level: 29 Required Strength: 20 Fingerprint: 0x4010ba87 Item Level: 80 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: 155% Enhanced Defense +15 Defense Magic Damage Reduced by 15 Damage Reduced by 12% 7% Life stolen per hit +10 Maximum Durability Tearhaunch Greaves Defense: 60 Durability: 23 of 24 Required Level: 29 Required Strength: 70 Fingerprint: 0x1e0a5ce5 Item Level: 87 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +5 to Strength +5 to Dexterity 61% Enhanced Defense +35 Defense 20% Faster Run/Walk +2 to Vigor (Paladin Only) All Resistances +10 Laying of Hands Bramble Mitts Defense: 83 Durability: 12 of 12 Required Level: 63 Required Strength: 50 Fingerprint: 0x5d0386e9 Item Level: 86 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +25 Defense Fire Resist +50% 20% Increased Attack Speed 350% Damage to Demons 10% Chance to cast level 3 Holy Bolt on striking Hand of Blessed Light Divine Scepter One Hand Damage: 60 - 140 Durability: 70 of 70 Required Level: 42 Required Strength: 103 Fingerprint: 0x328dc003 Item Level: 87 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: 151% Enhanced Damage +20 to Minimum Damage +45 to Maximum Damage 15% Regenerate Mana +50 Defense +2 to Paladin Skill Levels +4 to Light Radius +4 to Holy Bolt (Paladin Only) +2 to Fist of the Heavens (Paladin Only) 100% Bonus to Attack Rating 5% Chance to cast level 4 Fist of the Heavens on striking 150% Damage to Undead Spirit Heraldic Shield Defense: 23 Chance to Block: 20 Durability: 40 of 40 Required Level: 25 Required Strength: 40 Fingerprint: 0xdc8d4cf7 Item Level: 61 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: All Resistances +34 +22 to Vitality +106 to Mana +250 Defense vs. Missile 55% Faster Hit Recovery 32% Faster Cast Rate +2 to All Skills +6 Magic Absorb Poison Resist +35% Cold Resist +35% Lightning Resist +35% Attacker Takes Damage of 14 4 Sockets (4 used) Socketed: Tal Rune Socketed: Thul Rune Socketed: Ort Rune Socketed: Amn Rune Tangerine Small Charm of Frost Small Charm Required Level: 10 Fingerprint: 0x5713cc64 Item Level: 33 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: Lightning Resist +5% +1 - 2 cold damage with 1 sec Duration Steel Grand Charm of the Icicle Grand Charm Required Level: 35 Fingerprint: 0x6b4c11a7 Item Level: 50 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +104 to Attack Rating +2 - 4 cold damage with 1 sec Duration Steel Grand Charm of Storms Grand Charm Required Level: 29 Fingerprint: 0xdd28903e Item Level: 86 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +95 to Attack Rating +1 - 33 Lightning Damage Steel Grand Charm Grand Charm Required Level: 35 Fingerprint: 0xe4f4733d Item Level: 52 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +116 to Attack Rating Steel Grand Charm Grand Charm Required Level: 35 Fingerprint: 0xa1b0ef2d Item Level: 50 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +106 to Attack Rating Sapphire Large Charm Large Charm Required Level: 27 Fingerprint: 0x73c9ba20 Item Level: 86 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: Cold Resist +15% Ruby Large Charm of Vita Large Charm Required Level: 50 Fingerprint: 0xbd39cb77 Item Level: 79 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +27 to Life Fire Resist +15% Jade Small Charm of Strength Small Charm Required Level: 20 Fingerprint: 0x618609e5 Item Level: 48 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +2 to Strength Poison Resist +9% Jade Large Charm of Dexterity Large Charm Required Level: 18 Fingerprint: 0x6bbf3d97 Item Level: 87 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +2 to Dexterity Poison Resist +11% Garnet Small Charm of Greed Small Charm Required Level: 20 Fingerprint: 0x8ca05c32 Item Level: 85 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: Fire Resist +9% 6% Extra Gold from Monsters Amber Large Charm of Dexterity Large Charm Required Level: 27 Fingerprint: 0x4c37af58 Item Level: 48 Version: Expansion 1.10+ Properties: +4 to Dexterity Lightning Resist +13%
Mercenary Equipment
Ajheed, A3 Cold Wolf
Helm: Ethereal Harlequin Crest
Armour: Skin of the Vipermagi
Weapon: Spirit Sword / Lidless Wall
When I was planning this character I was considering making a conviction Zealot and using a Lightning Wolf. In the end I decided to play as a Fanatic Zealot, but stuck with the idea of using an A3 merc, but this time a Cold Wolf. This is my first time playing through the entire game with an A3 merc, and he did pretty well really, providing decent freeze for anything not CI. By A5 Hell he was only really providing decoration though. The biggest problem with his is when I died. The trouble is he has trouble killing anything on his own, even at /p1. This means body retrival is at best extremely difficult, and normally only achievably by a save & exit.
I may change to a Barbarian later (fits nicely with the Sword Of The Dawn theme) or more likely an A2 Holy Freeze merc if I get serious about Baaling.
Finds
Hellforge: Fal NM, Io Hell. I hate Ios even more than Hels, once you have a few 'White' wands, Io is basically useless.
I ran Pindle as a pure FoH Paladin (more on that below) to level and had some decent finds - Wizardspike, Guardian Angel, Leviathan (17%DR), Harlequin Crest, Thunderstroke, Shimmering (15%) GC of Greed, Acrobatic GC of Vita (36 life), Sazabi's Cobalt Redeemer, Infernostride.
I also found this very nice charm whilst questing, I can't remember where, but from the ilvl I suspect it was the Maggot Lair:
Sharp Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x2b50db25
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+39 to Life
+50 to Attack Rating
+10 to Maximum Damage
Pictures
A3 Mercs aren't useless
Bad resists against Hell Diablo
Die Baal, die!
Battle on the edge of the Arreat Summit
Random Thoughts
Yes, yet another character with a two handed sword. My addiction is not cured, I still think 2h swords are the coolest weapon class in the game. The character in the book is blonde haired and blue eyed, which the Paladin clearly isn't. So I wanted to go with a fully armoured look. After a trying on a few armours to see how they looked, I decided that Sharktooth armour was the way to go. Guillaumes face is a fantastic melee helm and fitted the look I wanted nicely too.
Hawkmoon is designed as a melee Baal runner. Dolls, Gloams and Oblivion Knights are the bane of any melee character. If you have ever been in one of Thyiad's Baal run MP games, you normally see all three together. Every run. So this is where the Fist of the Heavens comes in as all these monsters are obviously undead. I can run down to Baal on /players1, whack the undead with a few FoH / Holy Bolts and wade in on anything left alive with a 2 handed sword. Just the kind of play style I like.
I have a 1.07 colossus sword sitting in my stash (thanks to Jae) the plan is to turn that into a 'Death' eventually and juggle the equipment around for Baaling. 'Fortitude' would be ideal for melee Baaling, but that seems quite a distant wish at the moment. That would also allow me to use Dracul's for the Life Tap if needed.
Doombringer is a seriously underrated weapon. For questing, I love it. Life boost, decent damage, leech, AR boost, indestructible all make it very nice. For a 2h Zealot the ctc Weaken was ideal. I had about 30% damage reduction with SoE and Fade activated from Treachery. Weaken hugely reduced physical damage from my opponents, and went off a lot. Very nice indeed. It would be nice for a frenzy barb too.
As I have already said, I ran Pindle to level a bit before the Ancients. I was wondering if this character would make a decent Pindle runner. Well he is OK, but not as good as a Blizz sorc by a long shot. Normally it takes about 2-3 FoHs to take out the pack on /players 1. I had trouble taking out the whole pack before they charged me on higher players settings, so I was a bit disappointed by the power of FoH here. Add in the fact that you don't have teleport without a Naj's Puzzler on switch, and you soon realise you are much better off with a blizz sorc. Maybe he would work better focusing on Holy Bolt and loading up on 125FCR, but this leaves little room for MF.
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