Tournament: A lack of positive influences; All auras disallowed

[Krupa]

Vryce defeated Diablo and it was much easier than anticipated. he dropped a sigons armor
had shopped enough armor to get my fire res up to 60, but lr was lacking. luckily infector left me an armor with 35 life and 28 lr. so the perfect combination for a low life char with the need for lr. somewhere in the plains fo dispair a 3 ml amulet dropped, since then the char was really fun to play, despite all the quirks this skill has to offer. the savage bill was replaced with a 50 ed great maul increasing the avg dmg to 650 per charge. future skill points will be split 1:1 between BH and Vigor. leaning towards replacing fionan now, where the merc would have the better stats cause of normal difficulty, but am not quite there yet...

Vryce the soon-to-be Slayer - lvl 31 - and Fiona, the soon-to-be-forgotten Fire Rogue - hiding from Cain in Harrogath

edit: i have read the OP twice now, but couldnīt find any mentioning of the RWM. as the rules are from the 12 labors tournament, which forbade it, i felt the urge to ask: are ladder runewords allowed?

[twillight]

Putrescence, berserker, lvl 50, Barbarian, Slayer

For the second WSK-walk did not forget the MF-jewelry, and got richer by a Steelgoad and a berserker armor. I will still go back for Wirts's leg and all the quest rewards, although I have no idea what should I imbue as I really not feel the need of it. Maybe a circlet in hope a helm for the merc with ridiculous attributes. Socketing will most probably be spent on the Bloodletter what is equal with a Zweihander 140% ed on the pure dmg side. If I find a shael I'll make a Rhyme to it for the cbf.
I'll try the cowlevel, although according to my memory barb isn't best on that field. Well, if I'll feel trouble, I'll just try save&exit and never look back.

Also went back shoping for socketed items. As secondary weapon a black flail would be potentially useful, a twosocks armor for smoke if I manage a Lum (crossing fingers), 3 sox shield for ancient's pledge (hey, it is not bad), 2 sox shield for rhyme.

While they are rare, but on can dream, I also layed my eyes on theoretical possibilities of somewhat-higher runes. Pul could be used to upgrade even the Bloodletter and turn it into an endgame weapon even, or um for weapon or armor, even a mal to assemble Prudence can have its purpose. As I said: one can dream.

@Krupa in post #35 EmperorMoo expressed that Ladder only runewords are ALLOWED.

[EmperorMoo]

Agreed, an untwinked cold sorc is challenging in Hell unless you do massive teleporting, which is not the best idea in single pass HC, either...

It will be a blast from late Normal to Act V NM though, where cold immunes start to show up regularly. Best of luck!

Hmm, you and twilight have made me reconsider... I could always respec her to a pure Blizz for MF once this tournament is over (and if she survives, ofc).

I will have to read some guides and see if a CL/FO sorc is still viable given how I've placed my skills. She's only at Blood Raven, (lvl 6 iirc) so it's not a huge problem if I end up going a different route. Possibly Blizz/Firewall?

@twilight: It's been a while, and I'd forgotten the HC "titles" apart from nothing and Guardian. I guess it shows.

@krupa & all: FAM are welcome, so runewords are welcome with the exception of Insight and other aura-generators: Ice, Pride, and Dream spring instantly to mind but there may be more.

[Moar]

Amanda is unfortunately out of the tournament. I accidentally S&E when pausing for a break and there is no way I can get back there from the Black Marsh waypoint without kkilling stuff. :(

[twillight]

Amanda is unfortunately out of the tournament. I accidentally S&E when pausing for a break and there is no way I can get back there from the Black Marsh waypoint without kkilling stuff. :(

Knowing the exact situation would be more clear, but I think if you can go in with minimal killing, it'd just be basically the same as having a WP in a bad position, thus being forced to kill some extra.
I mean if the situation isn't about re-clearing a whole area, I say run in, enter the next area as soon as possible, and continue.

But let's wait for more info and decision of EmperorMoo.

EDIT:
Am I right you did not used up your questrewards?

EDIT 2:
I'm done with the cowlevel, killed king. My merc was perfectly safe, and me learned about my character's fragility.

[Moar]

Black Marsh waypoint is right at the entrance. I S&E in the pit which was right with the Cathedral. So the way is just too long to even run through on /p1. My own stupidity. Gotta take it like a big girl, but I did rant a bit to hubby.

[twillight]

Black Marsh waypoint is right at the entrance. I S&E in the pit which was right with the Cathedral. So the way is just too long to even run through on /p1. My own stupidity. Gotta take it like a big girl, but I did rant a bit to hubby.

Stamina potion to the Outer Cloister WP, S&E there?

Ah, gotta take it like a big girl, but I'll miss you in the forefront.

[Moar]

Think I'll give it a try on Sunday. It's all of Black Marsh and Tamoe highlands to run through though. Might try a trapper if Amanda can't make it.

[twillight]

Question:

So, what should I use my socket reward of Normal difficulty use on?
I narrowed down the possibilities to these two:
1) socket the Bloodletter and insert eg. an Eth rune for better hit chance. The Con is the possiblity to find / craft / gamble a better weapon.
2) socket my helmet. It has the +3 sword mastery mod on it, and a radiance rw will go as helm anyway. In this playthrough - and anyway - it would be hard to find a better helmet for the purpose, and cube-socketing is both random and requires a PSapphire, what can be used to create a hitpower weapon - what of course would conflict with sword mastery, but still have to consider.

Nevermind, the helmet is magical :(

[EmperorMoo]

@Moar: My understanding is that once you S&E in a tournament you take your last Wp and then follow the map to your last location then carry on again. As long as you try not to kill too much, or go wandering off this is fine.

It's always the way I've played in tournaments. if you wish to carry on with Amanda, that's absolutely fine with me.

@twilight: I'd socket the helmet. IIRC, your Bloodletter has pretty good stats, and could be useful elsewhere outside this tournament on another char. I think (and I stress the word "think") that you've got a better chance of a better weapon dropping than a better helmet. That's just my two pence of course.

Right, I'm off to play a bit of D2 now and hopefully reach the end of A1.

edit: Just rescued a tedious old windbag from a burning hamlet before a toddler on the pitch stopped play.
Anathema, lvl12, Dark Forest Wp, Cain rescued.