Diablo III

[vinz]

He is slow, but he has a charge attack, plus freeze... which cannot be countered with Thawing Potion. I read he was tweaked in a few of the updates, so I don't know if we encountered the "same" Duriel. With freeze, you are as slow as he is. And he uses charge to catch up.

[Goondoo]

He is slow, but he has a charge attack, plus freeze... which cannot be countered with Thawing Potion. I read he was tweaked in a few of the updates, so I don't know if we encountered the "same" Duriel. With freeze, you are as slow as he is. And he uses charge to catch up.

Sorcerer's spells including Teleport is not affected by freeze so you just need to teleport around and make your mercenary hold him. For amazon, casting a few decoy or Valkyrie will helps. Just remember to keep dumping heal pots and thawing pots to your Act 2 Mercenary and you will be fine (Oh, and a Raven Frost is always helpful). If all else fails, your level is too low. Basically Blizzard balance the game very well except the stupid Iron Maiden curse in Chaos that normally get you kill in seconds. I played D2 since its very first version, then to LOD with Simon. Currently I am playing Hardcore US West, playing a Necromancer and died at least 20-30 times but I guess it is more fun than the endless meaningless rush.

For those who are thinking of playing again, you can no longer level as fast using the "rush to hell, then to cow method". The only method seems to be something they termed "glitched rush" or grush, (the new patch requires you to be level 20 to do Normal Ancients, 40 for Nightmare and 60 for Hell), follow by hell chaos run. The fastest method however, is Uber rush which you can get to lvl 90 in 2 hours or something. Please note that you can rarely find such opportunities in Hardcore as you will be PKed by those players that pretend to rush you most of the time anyway. Good items in Hell seems to drop a lot more frequent however.

You guys must try Uber. It drops some pretty good torch that give excellent skills, resistances and stats. Diablo Clone however, is too hard to catch, I only found him 3 times.

Happy gaming!!

[illumnae]

haha wow amazing...so many D2 fans here

Are Bloody Foothills still viable to rush? 2 hours to 90 is amazingly fast...i remember when the 2 hardcore barbarians were camping online 24/7 to see who got to 99 first...russbarb and i can't remember the other one.

[torque6]

hehehe, bliz has always been able to design highly addictive games, d 2 /lod -> wow. For some of us, bliz is a household name. Me... ive been a fan for almost 11 years. But with the recent expansion woltk, things are getting boring of the late.

Not sure if d3 is going to bring that "spark" back. Statistically, i've spend more time gaming D1 than d 2 /lod, probably becos in D1 we've always had Bobafett.

[vinz]

Sorcerer's spells including Teleport is not affected by freeze so you just need to teleport around and make your mercenary hold him. For amazon, casting a few decoy or Valkyrie will helps. Just remember to keep dumping heal pots and thawing pots to your Act 2 Mercenary and you will be fine (Oh, and a Raven Frost is always helpful). If all else fails, your level is too low.

...

I'm playing D2 minus LOD exp... my 'zon was only level mid-20s when I reached Duriel, so no Valk nor Decoy yet. I threw 20 over mercs at it... one at a time of course... before I killed it.

The same 'zon is now at Diablo's doorstep and hasn't reached level 30 yet...

[ranmasatome]

i have 2 accounts on US east. Also jsut started in asia. I maintain them everynow and then..

[stonespot]

Aiyo! Guys and Girls let's form a AQ clan in there when it starts. Perhaps a live channel in there is a very good idea because majority of us all singaporean. Really hard to unite singaporean in there everytime for party. I really miss my 39% damage 15% increased attack speed jewel that i found in nightmare cow stage. I was jumping up and down back then.

[Goondoo]

I'm playing D2 minus LOD exp... my 'zon was only level mid-20s when I reached Duriel, so no Valk nor Decoy yet. I threw 20 over mercs at it... one at a time of course... before I killed it.

The same 'zon is now at Diablo's doorstep and hasn't reached level 30 yet...

IMHO, it also depends a lot on your equipments. There are many low level "pkiers" (especially level 15-18 charging paladin) that manage to catch mid levels (30-40) off guard. It also depends a lot on your stats/skills points allocations, strategies, and risk taking tendency. Today, most players only dump stats points into Vitality and nothing else. The Torch, Hellfire and a few Strength charms to take care of the armor and weapon's requirement.

Anyhow, D2 & LOD are more interesting playing with a few other players, (not necessary 8 though). You will see how each class compliment one another just like Hammerdin's Concentration Aura on my fleet of Skeletons & Revives army means strolling down Baal's corridor. I had seen a Bowazon and Smiter combo and the bowazon is strafing so fast its breath taking under the influence of Fanaticism Aura. The latest batch of runes words allow some weapons to have some interesting auras too. Wait till you guys walk down Baal levels with a good Auradin. Yes, I mean he only have to walk, and everything else in the map dies..... but its probably the most "expensive" build to date. If you like to solo a lot, try a necromancer since you are likely have problem in Hell if you play other classes as there are tonnes of immunized monsters. Another advantage of necromancer is, it is not very dependent on equipments, unlike other class. Its also probably the only class you can complete the whole game with low level gears. My US West HC Necromancer is level 74 but wearing Artic Set armors (meant for level 3) and I solo most of the time....

Two must have item is "Enigma", able to teleport around the map regardless of classes and "Call to Arms" for Battle Orders to increase your HP. Next is probably a good pole for your mercenary (I use INSIGHT for the Meditation Aura, so I can keep summoning, cursing, corpse exploding etc without too much worry)

I played mostly in US West SC and HC. Have a level 50+ Necromancer in US East HC but the lag is unbearable for me from my side, so I returned to US West. Asia's server was one of the worst, very unstable and often kick you off or freeze the game anytime since I was playing with Simon.

[illumnae]

I was on US West...is enigma that shield with magic find?

[Merviso]

Wah! so pro you guys.. I only hide at home and play solo...

[Goondoo]

I was on US West...is enigma that shield with magic find?

Enigma is rune word for armor that allows you to teleport and have about 100% MF. I am not really a MF fan, have only about 70% MF on my Necromancer currently and only found 2-3 useful unique stuff. Was running a Hammerdin bot last time with about 650% MF though . Anyway, Blizzard had did it once again. They make MF pretty useless with no many good rune words around, not forgetting some good weapons with correct slots are extremely hard to come by.

FYI, the best way to identify what weapons are good for what rune words is by browsing those website selling D2 items.

Merry X'mas anyway

[andrewtyr]

I was a rune duper at USWest. had loads of ist, zor, ber, etc

[ranmasatome]

Help me Dupe leh.. i dont have enough..haha..

Goondoo.. whats that polearm that has concentration ah?? can't remember name liao..thinking of fixing that on the merc of my lvl90 summoner... 70-75 minions now.. all with Amp Damage/might/thorns/and hopefully conc./ and me backing up with corpse explosion...Muahahahaha!!

[Goondoo]

Help me Dupe leh.. i dont have enough..haha..

Goondoo.. whats that polearm that has concentration ah?? can't remember name liao..thinking of fixing that on the merc of my lvl90 summoner... 70-75 minions now.. all with Amp Damage/might/thorns/and hopefully conc./ and me backing up with corpse explosion...Muahahahaha!!

Pride
Polearms

Cham + Sur + Io + Lo

This item produces an Aura when equipped

(LADDER ONLY)
25% Chance To Cast Level 17 Fire Wall When Struck
Level 16-20 Concentration Aura When Equipped (varies)
260-300% Bonus To Attack Rating (varies)
+1-99% Damage To Demons (Based on Character Level)
Adds 50-280 Lightning Damage
20% Deadly Strike
Hit Blinds Target
Freezes Target +3
+10 To Vitality
Replenish Life +8
1.875-185.625% Extra Gold From Monsters (Based on Character Level)

[StanChung]

Looks like I'm way out of my league...

Luenny-A Necro is pretty useless against one to one with a barbarian-gets stomped on and he's dead.

Duriel is tough.
A good way to fight Duriel is melee where he will not charge you.[rarely] Just standby lots of potions.
Sorceress with firewall pretty handy to fry Duriel.[before it got toned down!]
Necro with Duriel is pretty much a pain as well as the mud or blood summoned creature can last like 2 seconds. LOL.
Necro, Sorceress and that Druid has very good mass kill skills but are pretty pathetic with most bosses. Paladin is pretty balanced.
I especially love using Necro in the jungles with the little nasty pygmies. So easy it's almost a walkover! Blind the little nasty whipper snappers and bone spirit the fellas, then summon some mages to burn the buggers. Just have to avoid getting lost.

I like Necro's revive but against Diablo there's not much to revive. LOL! RUNNNN Forest er Necro RUN! Shoot a few spirits... RUNNNN! ....Tiring. LOL.

The sorceress lightning spell is pretty cool. Thoom! and some mighty damage with having to press a single button. Hydra is quite a useful spell against those overly powerful creeps guarding Mephisto's tomb.

I like the assassin very much. The traps are pretty useful to soften up the enemy before you whip out some shadow art kick and slashes. The only shame is with her is that the game ends very quickly. Baal is a cinch. None of the pain of dying and trying again and again![masochistic]

I quite like Amazon once she's leveled up. Her multi arrows are great for taking care of multi enemies. She balanced enough to melee as well and with Val around she's actually quite fun to play with.

I find the druid is a really pathetic character. I don't know how to master his summoning skills. They're so weak. IMO he's only a sidekick. Maybe I haven't picked up the finer points of using him.

I probably like the barbarian the least-since he can kick Necro butt so easily. Such a cheap character that iron maiden spell is a hot key specially assigned to prevent smelling barbarian boots.

I pretty much have not played since I switched from PC in 2002 to MAC-2003 and found the keyboard positions hard to get use to.

[ranmasatome]

A druid with whirlwind and hurricane is one hell of a force. physical And Cold attacks. Dont play play.. one of my friends has this lvl 90 druid.. on PvP.. kicked a$$

[StanChung]

Wah level 90???? Xiao meh. I don't have anything above level 70.

IME the best fun is around level 20-50. Around 35 is the most fun because that is about the time you get almost all the powers if I remember correctly.
After level 60 I lose interest as it's becomes repetitive- weapon/rune/stone hunting and leveling up.
Hell mode and making super Ancient armor and forging cool weapons and amulets are ok I guess but the demons are also very xiao.

There's something fun about running scared-hiding and having a long epic battle.

Wish they would put a special weapon set or rune or amulet/ring only available once you complete the hell mode, the drops are usually quite unimpressive. Perhaps different endings like RPG's based on choices you make.

Always wanted to have a LAN at home to drop weapons and jewelry to pass round. Have a few 'storekeeper' characters.

[Goondoo]

Wah level 90???? Xiao meh. I don't have anything above level 70.

IME the best fun is around level 20-50. Around 35 is the most fun because that is about the time you get almost all the powers if I remember correctly.
After level 60 I lose interest as it's becomes repetitive- weapon/rune/stone hunting and leveling up.
Hell mode and making super Ancient armor and forging cool weapons and amulets are ok I guess but the demons are also very xiao.

There's something fun about running scared-hiding and having a long epic battle.

If you solo a lot, the fun starts only after level 60. You probably struggle more before you reach it. Unless you want to termed that as "fun". If I remember correctly, I should have a character of each class above level 90 in US West Softcore Ladder.
Play Hardcore, you will feel more kick. My level 78 Hardcore Necromancer just died recently due to a lag and dolls combo in Durance of Hate Dungeon level 2. Pissed you will be, but you appreciate your character more.

Wish they would put a special weapon set or rune or amulet/ring only available once you complete the hell mode, the drops are usually quite unimpressive. Perhaps different endings like RPG's based on choices you make.

Actually, there are quite a few new jewelries, armor and weapons that are only usable after you reach level 80 and above. Unique Spidersash Belt which I traded for 4 high runes (made another Enigma and Pride for my Necromancer in SC Ladder) is one of such example. The Hellfire charm and Torch can only be used at level 75 and 70 respectively.

Always wanted to have a LAN at home to drop weapons and jewelry to pass round. Have a few 'storekeeper' characters.

You can "perm" a game yourself. What I do is I will Create a Private Game (usually normal), kill a few monsters and AFK for 10 mins or so (so normally when I am taking a smoke break), kill a few more monsters again to be sure, then proceed to dropping items and logging in my mule characters to transfer and stuff necessary. This is especially useful if you are playing online game and you are new. Collecting low gems and combining them into perfect gems to trade at a later stage.

PS: If you do not kill any monsters during the initial few minutes, Blizzard might kick you out of the game you created. And I also realised if your mule kill 1-2 monsters during your relogging, you have less chance of getting "Time-Ban". I manage to relog 6-7 accounts of mules without getting "lock".

If anyone is interested to try Hardcore games, I am in US West Ladder. Starting a paladin but with nothing much to give though

[StanChung]

Ok, I am delighted to have Master Goondo/Billy guide me through.
I have some catching up to do once I find my original CD's. I like the fact Blizzard makes them PC/MAC compatible.

Don't have much confidence against humans but I think there lies the fun and frustration. Being overmatched especially. I think it's fun to have all members[teams] start from scratch and scrap it out.

[Goondoo]

Ok, I am delighted to have Master Goondo/Billy guide me through.
I have some catching up to do once I find my original CD's. I like the fact Blizzard makes them PC/MAC compatible.

Don't have much confidence against humans but I think there lies the fun and frustration. Being overmatched especially. I think it's fun to have all members[teams] start from scratch and scrap it out.

My impression of "Master" is someone that is very gifted/talented and "won't die" (normally in Kung Fu shows) no matter what happens. For me? I learnt the hard way after death of my necromancers/chanters/paladins 30+ times and still dying (My level 14 HC paladin was PKed by a level 78 barbarian in one of the public games yesterday)