03-17-2004, 03:57 AM
Every Ironman team should have a "Diablo Killer" identified by the time they reach the Lord of Terror. This item should so increase damage, to hit, blocking, life, or speed of attack (or decrease amount of damage taken) that you are nearly assured of killing the Demon.
Of course all Uniques are a known quantity; when a Unique shows up you pretty much know its characteristics (as opposed to some standard "blue" magic items which can end up being cursed). Since ID scrolls may in short supply by endgame, and many GREAT Uniques are high qlevel items, it would be great to know exactly which Unique item(s) should be identified that will give a party member an edge in killing Lord of Terror. In other words, to know just which Unique item(s) earn the opprobrium "Diablo Killers".
Now, some background. The "tests" for the Diablo Killer will use a level 22 Warrior since the Warrior is fairly assured of being clevel 22 by the time you clear dlevel 16 with a three-man team. This warrior will have put all lups into Dex until it maxxed, and then all other lup points into Str to increase damage/stun. (So, this warrior will have Dex 60, Str 95, and Life 112.) Since you cannot assume that you've found "stat-adder" Shrines in the game, none will be used for this Warrior.
We only tested items that can actually be found in Multi-player Normal games: so, no Mangler (cannot be found at all), no Sharp Beak/Helm of Sprits/ Bloodslayer (cannot be found in Normal Games), and no Butcher's Cleaver (is a Single Player item).
Also, since ID scrolls are often in short supply in an IM game, we will identify ONE (and ONLY ONE) Unique item and give it to the Warrior to use. If it is a two-handed weapon, we're done. If it is a one-handed weapon, then the Warrior also gets to use a basic, non-magical Large Shield (some sort of shield usually drops every game). If the Unique ided is a body armor or hat, then the Warrior will be given a plain bastard sword and plain Large Shield also. If the Unique is itself a Shield, the Warrior gets a vanilla bastard sword to go with it. Since Normal Diabloâs to hit % is so great AND you are never assured great armor drops, the Warrior will be wearing no other armor (FPM, Great Helms, Tower Shields, etc. are all out!). He's nearly naked! But he IS tucked into a corner so Diabloâs knockback is nullified.
As with any good IM team, you've been saving your heal potions, and the warrior will be allowed a total of 16 potions to use: 13 small and 3 large reds.
Finally, this Warrior will be going SOLO versus Diablo, because you can never be assured that any of the other team members has survived to reach endgame!
Under these circumstances, we found and fought Normal solo Diablo's ten times using each of the Uniques listed below. The test results are presented. Any items which in ten tests kills Diablo SIX or more times will be claimed to be a DIABLO KILLER!
But to test yourself RIGHT NOW, try to think of which Unique items YOU believe will earn the moniker "Diablo Killer". And be warned, there was indeed one Unique item that DID help this Warrior kill Diablo TEN out of TEN tries! Which one do you think it was? Can you guess?
You might be surprised . . . .
Take the time to look at a Uniques list, make your own predictions, and off we go!
TEST BATCH ONE: Stonecleaver, Hellslayer, Wicked Axe, Cranium Basher
TEST BATCH TWO: The Grizzley, Rod of Onan, Messerschmidt's Reaver
TEST BATCH THREE: Bonesaw, Executioner's Blade, Gryphonâs Claw, Lightsaber, Shadowhawk
TEST BATCH FOUR: Baranar's Star, The Celestial Star, Schaeffer's Hammer, Falconâs Talon
TEST BATCH FIVE: Doombringer, Gnarled Root, Civerb's Cudgel, The Grandfather
TEST BATCH SIX: Scavenger's Carapace, Demonspike Coat, Sparking Mail
TEST BATCH SEVEN: Fool's Crest, Royal Circlet, Overlord's Helm, Gotterdammerung
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(Be it noted: there was an observer in each game using a third-party program that allowed that person to view Diablo's remaining hit points during each battle. This person was also the "chase car" that led Diablo to the level 22 warrior for the test to begin. This person took absolutely no part in the combat itself -- teleporting away to a distance -- but did observe and record Diablo's hit points remaining in each test. FYI it takes 33 damage to stun Normal Diablo.)
**********
(continued)
Of course all Uniques are a known quantity; when a Unique shows up you pretty much know its characteristics (as opposed to some standard "blue" magic items which can end up being cursed). Since ID scrolls may in short supply by endgame, and many GREAT Uniques are high qlevel items, it would be great to know exactly which Unique item(s) should be identified that will give a party member an edge in killing Lord of Terror. In other words, to know just which Unique item(s) earn the opprobrium "Diablo Killers".
Now, some background. The "tests" for the Diablo Killer will use a level 22 Warrior since the Warrior is fairly assured of being clevel 22 by the time you clear dlevel 16 with a three-man team. This warrior will have put all lups into Dex until it maxxed, and then all other lup points into Str to increase damage/stun. (So, this warrior will have Dex 60, Str 95, and Life 112.) Since you cannot assume that you've found "stat-adder" Shrines in the game, none will be used for this Warrior.
We only tested items that can actually be found in Multi-player Normal games: so, no Mangler (cannot be found at all), no Sharp Beak/Helm of Sprits/ Bloodslayer (cannot be found in Normal Games), and no Butcher's Cleaver (is a Single Player item).
Also, since ID scrolls are often in short supply in an IM game, we will identify ONE (and ONLY ONE) Unique item and give it to the Warrior to use. If it is a two-handed weapon, we're done. If it is a one-handed weapon, then the Warrior also gets to use a basic, non-magical Large Shield (some sort of shield usually drops every game). If the Unique ided is a body armor or hat, then the Warrior will be given a plain bastard sword and plain Large Shield also. If the Unique is itself a Shield, the Warrior gets a vanilla bastard sword to go with it. Since Normal Diabloâs to hit % is so great AND you are never assured great armor drops, the Warrior will be wearing no other armor (FPM, Great Helms, Tower Shields, etc. are all out!). He's nearly naked! But he IS tucked into a corner so Diabloâs knockback is nullified.
As with any good IM team, you've been saving your heal potions, and the warrior will be allowed a total of 16 potions to use: 13 small and 3 large reds.
Finally, this Warrior will be going SOLO versus Diablo, because you can never be assured that any of the other team members has survived to reach endgame!
Under these circumstances, we found and fought Normal solo Diablo's ten times using each of the Uniques listed below. The test results are presented. Any items which in ten tests kills Diablo SIX or more times will be claimed to be a DIABLO KILLER!
But to test yourself RIGHT NOW, try to think of which Unique items YOU believe will earn the moniker "Diablo Killer". And be warned, there was indeed one Unique item that DID help this Warrior kill Diablo TEN out of TEN tries! Which one do you think it was? Can you guess?
You might be surprised . . . .
Take the time to look at a Uniques list, make your own predictions, and off we go!
TEST BATCH ONE: Stonecleaver, Hellslayer, Wicked Axe, Cranium Basher
TEST BATCH TWO: The Grizzley, Rod of Onan, Messerschmidt's Reaver
TEST BATCH THREE: Bonesaw, Executioner's Blade, Gryphonâs Claw, Lightsaber, Shadowhawk
TEST BATCH FOUR: Baranar's Star, The Celestial Star, Schaeffer's Hammer, Falconâs Talon
TEST BATCH FIVE: Doombringer, Gnarled Root, Civerb's Cudgel, The Grandfather
TEST BATCH SIX: Scavenger's Carapace, Demonspike Coat, Sparking Mail
TEST BATCH SEVEN: Fool's Crest, Royal Circlet, Overlord's Helm, Gotterdammerung
**********
(Be it noted: there was an observer in each game using a third-party program that allowed that person to view Diablo's remaining hit points during each battle. This person was also the "chase car" that led Diablo to the level 22 warrior for the test to begin. This person took absolutely no part in the combat itself -- teleporting away to a distance -- but did observe and record Diablo's hit points remaining in each test. FYI it takes 33 damage to stun Normal Diablo.)
**********
(continued)