New melee character

**wickedswami** · 08-08-2008, 10:42

After running my blizzsorc through nightmare, i got kinda tired of her so i'm gonna make a new character. My blizzsorc gave me some nice items from NM mephisto and i just wondered if they would be good enough for nm/early hell

i was thinking of going:
armor=rockfleece
helm=rockstopper
weapon= aldur's rythm/moonfall (probably both on a barb). I also have fleshrender, dno which is better
shield= bverrit keep/swordback hold
boots= goblin toe, then gore rider
gloves = sander's taboo(don't really have anything better)
belt=bladebuckle
rings=cathan's for extra lifesteal, 1 ohter (dno yet)
ammy= mahim oak

how far would i get with this? (and what should need upgrading?)

**Schmaleop** · 08-08-2008, 10:58

I'd imagine you'll have a tough time in Hell with that gear.

The number one thing you need on most melee characters is a good weapon, so your ideally looking at elite class weapons.

Once you've got a weapon sorted your going to need leech, some form of CB, good resists and DR to really make your run a lot smother. Ofcourse there are ways around this but aiming for all of these is a solid plan.

You need to plan melee characters a lot more as they require a huge balance between survivabilty and kill speed imo.

If you found a Butchers Pupil or 2 then these are great initial weapons, as any twinker will tell you.

Also if you plan to run through on low players settings you can get away with a few weaker items in some gear slots. High settings and your looking at having to invest in the really drool worthy gear.

**wickedswami** · 08-08-2008, 21:39

got one of those (butcher's pupil)
also found dury's shell and string of ears today
anything i should look for specifically?

**stephan** · 08-08-2008, 21:56

Butcher's/Fleshrender is a nice combo for a Double Swing or Frenzy barb in NM. I gather from your first post reaching the end of NM is your main objective and with that you certainly can.

Later on when your sorc reaches Hell Meph you can put any of the elite axes or maces on him to get him through Hell.

**Schmaleop** · 08-08-2008, 22:08

Originally Posted by wickedswami

got one of those (butcher's pupil)
also found dury's shell and string of ears today
anything i should look for specifically?

Pretty much the best offensive helm is Guillames Face (Set Winged Helm).
It has all the things you want on a physical melee char and in good numbers; DS, CB, FHR and a nice boost to Str should not be knocked either.

Gore Riders (Unique War Boots) are a solid pair of boots too, again offering nice offensive mods.

Both are exceptional lvl items so should be well within your reach.

**h0nkeythecracker** · 08-08-2008, 22:38

Originally Posted by Schmaleop

Gore Riders (Unique War Boots) are a solid pair of boots too, again offering nice offensive mods.

He has those (OP).

If you got an Um from your Nightmare Hellforge, then you can make a Crescent Moon Runeword in an Axe/Sword. This will be great for a Frenzy/Double Swing Barbarian, Zeal Paladin, or Fury Druid.

**wickedswami** · 09-08-2008, 10:21

I also have the vile husk and deadstriker, but i don't really know if they're any better then my other stuff.

no UM though, so no crescent moon
any recommendations on a shield? the 2 i mentioned are actually the only good ones i have though.

oh and i found dury's shell yesterday, so that's probably better

**h0nkeythecracker** · 09-08-2008, 20:12

Originally Posted by wickedswami

I also have the vile husk and deadstriker, but i don't really know if they're any better then my other stuff.

no UM though, so no crescent moon
any recommendations on a shield? the 2 i mentioned are actually the only good ones i have though.

oh and i found dury's shell yesterday, so that's probably better

Do you mean Headstriker? If so, use that. It is very good. The Deadly Strike and Maximum Damage make it quite efficient.

As for a shield, you could use the Swordback Hold for the Open Wounds, plus it has some decent blocking.

**Xdeathfire** · 09-08-2008, 20:17

Well, I would highly highly recommend you to get your blizz sorc to Hell and run Meph a few times.

The current gear you got now, while it can get you through hell, will give you alot of frustration due to your low killing speed. Melee characters that aren't HS or HF zealots have an especially hard time in Hell unless you have some really awesome gear ready to put on them.

As for the gear you have atm, only gore riders are really hell viable. If you can manage to get an Um crescent moon would be great.

**wickedswami** · 09-08-2008, 21:37

my blizzsorc is kinda stuck atm, she can do NM act5 on P8 rather fast (needs some potions now and then) but other then that she's doin fine. Hell act 1 she dies before i can reach the den of evil.. (i think not having any dext is the biggest problem, seems like goin all vit isn't all that good)
she's lvl 69 atm, more leveling required?