Looking for HC advise?

[Earthsfc]

Don't really know if anyone can help me out but I for some reason I am feeling a little lost. I started playing HC about a week ago and would never imagine going back to sc. Since I started playing HC I have lost 1 lvl 33 wizard, 1 lvl 12 Bard (I wasn't paying attention), and 1 lvl 25 wizard (last night on Belial). So Ive started another wizard (I really like the play style with them). So I guess Im just looking for any advise at all and Im willing to put in the work. I have lots of time off work (surgery) so I have lots of time for Diablo.

Thanks in advance,
eArTh

[lanceuppercut]

take your time and don't rush into things, the pain of losing characters gets easier the more you lose

[flint]

Getting established is the important thing for a player just beginning hardcore. That means keep ALL your old gear. I try to have a new gearset every 5-7 levels in case one of my chars bites it and I have to start over. It doesnt have to be great gear, anything with a couple stats is enough until you get to hell. By doing this you will not only be able to progress faster than you did the first time but also keep all your gold, enabling you to purchase better items as you reach new areas.

Regarding gear, sockets are by far by most important attribute for low to mid level chars. Do yourself a favor and hit up the AH for a few Flawless Square amethysts as well as at least one ruby and a couple of your primary stat. It will make everything up to hell a breeze.

[Intolerance]

I suggest you start with a barb as I find them to be the most durable.

Use Cleave/Rupture and Bash/Clobber on mouse. Use Ground Stomp/Wrenching Smash to stun and pull mobs to you and Cleave them, using Bash (with stun) on single enemies. This will carry you into (if not completely through) hell difficulty. You want Revenge for lifegain and Wrath of the Berserker for whenever you need to break/avoid Freeze and other status effects (and with Insanity, your damage will skyrocket for those 15 seconds). Earthquake is solid for champs/bosses. Warcry is great for the extra defense and for Invigorate (extra life/life regen) at level 41. For Passives, you can go offensive with Berserker Rage/Weapons Master or Defensive with Nerves of Steel and Tough as Nails.

You won't really need to worry about resists until around A3 hell and Barbs generally have big defense, which provides a great amount of damage reduction.

Socketed items with rubies/amethysts are awesome for the early levels- you can get sockets in level 15 weapons (biggest priority), helms (rubies for +xp), and amulets, level 16 rings, and around level 20 pants/chests (not 100% sure). edit: Shields get sockets, too, just not sure at which level.

Constantly check the AH for gear with Str/Vit/Sockets (if applicable) and sort by buyout, then look for stuff on the cheap end.

GL.

[Earthsfc]

Thanks a lot guys I really appreciate all the advise. I have been spending more time in the auction house and it has paid off. I am sitting around 350,000 gold but cant seem to get past that. But I think the auction house is to blame for that. I had no problems on a couple Belial runs last night. I have also been taking it nice and slow like you guys mentioned. As for starting a Bard that will be next weeks task. Everyone keeps telling me that I need to have a Barb haha.

HC is so addictive, I cant believe I was wasting my time playing SC.

Thanks once again guys,
Earth

[Matt]

Glad you're enjoying it!

Personally, my barb is still my favorite char. Sitting in A1 inferno, by no means overgeared for it yet, but I can handle some farming.

I'm currently leveling a couple other chars up to 60 just to have some other chars in case my main dies, to experience the other classes, and to put any nice loot I find farming inferno to use, rather than just AHing it.

Regarding leveling, I find it more enjoyable to keep at least 2 chars at a time. It's a little slower moving up, but you don't risk starting from zero if you lose one of them, and it's fun playing the same areas with two very different character styles.

[lanceuppercut]

HC is so addictive, I cant believe I was wasting my time playing SC.

I think one of the best/addictive/infuriating things about HC is there is less of a stagnant end game feel at level 60 because the risk of death and losing all your stuff is always hanging over you.

[Matt]

I think one of the best/addictive/infuriating things about HC is there is less of a stagnant end game feel at level 60 because the risk of death and losing all your stuff is always hanging over you.

Agreed. I really can't identify with all of the complaints about lack of an endgame when my 60 barb, who can farm A1 inferno pretty easily runs a real risk of dying if I'm not careful or hit a particularly nasty pack of champs.

[lanceuppercut]

Agreed. I really can't identify with all of the complaints about lack of an endgame when my 60 barb, who can farm A1 inferno pretty easily runs a real risk of dying if I'm not careful or hit a particularly nasty pack of champs.

The most annoying thing is due to lack of foresight, SC nerfs hit HC players, hard.

SC repair cost is a recent example, introduced to reduce SC players slowly whittling away enemies for the eventual kill.. this is applicable to HC, why? A gold sink?

No need! At some point every HC player pays the ultimate gold sink price..

[Earthsfc]

And of course it happened again at level 34 a shadow clone on Diablo killed me. I wasn't paying close enough attention because I was standing in a fire pool when I noticed (duh) it was too late I used a health potion and a shadow clone got me with an arcane orb. I was so pissed. Especially since I was taking my time with this one. However I did start again and I now have a monk lvl 26 taking it super slow and I think I will start another wizard hopefully today.

On a side note this is the most I've ever played a video game. I'm hooked bad.