02-10-2009, 02:27 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-10-2009, 03:15 PM by weakwarrior.)
Quote:It sounds like you could use some more time in normal/hell.
Just to elaborate, the prefixes and suffixes in a given level in normal difficulty are the same as in nm or hell difficulty. The difference come in the base items. However, by the time you reach dlevel 13 most any creature can drop any base item (the notable exception is armor, and even then most creatures can drop full plates, which are the best - the other exception is that cave vipers can't drop gothic shields). In other words, regular difficulty level 13-16 runs are almost as good of a method of finding items as nm and hell runs. And, the only items you can't find are full plates from lower level creatures who can't drop the best prefixes anyway (the best if you want meaningful ac that is, and if you don't then you don't need a full plate anyway). Until level 31-33 you will also be getting pretty good experience from regular difficulty 13-16 runs (see http://home.att.net/~dsf.glossary/diablo-exp.html for more exact numbers).
On another note, stormshields are more useful for the other classes than they are for warriors. The ac 40 and indestruct are nice. Warriors have fast block anyway. The +10 strength isn´t important for lifting equipment as warriors have enough str anyway, and is therefore only useful as in giving a bit more damage, which is offset by the +4 damage from enemies. In other words, it is about as useful as a blessed shield of the ages 100% on 20 ac. Thus, if you find (at griz or in the dungeon) a shield which gives you more ac even if it has no suffix or about the same ac with a hit point adding suffix (such as the wolf or tiger) you should probably switch.