06-08-2003, 10:14 PM
I play charged bolt sorcies constantly. I like them, assassins, and babas because they can actually spend skill points before level 30 without crippling themselves. Normal is a snorefest anyhow, and if it weren't for the clvl/mlvl curve, I'd just as happily start in NM at level 1. Yeah, killing those first few monsters would suck, but I'm up to it.
So far as variants, I think my favourite is actually one I cooked up myself and so far as I can tell, no one else has done - the "true" D1 rogue/assassin. Start an assassin, pick up a bow, start cranking burst of speed to get your firing rate up to D1 levels, pump Cloak of Shadows to effectively boost your AR, pop a point into dragon flight (targetting your golem - Shadow Warrior - using the unsummon trick) for teleport, and go to town. You can throw in a trap or two for support - I chose Death Sentry not only for effectiveness, but because only it and Wake of Inferno have a short enough range to act like Hellfire runes; sure, DS does lightning damage, but the real damage is the CE charges, which go off at "you almost stepped on me" range. It's incredibly fun, and it will raise your skill as a bow user - you learn much better aim when you don't have 50 autohit spray-n-pray skills. Fade and Venom can also get points for Chaos Sanc and LEBs, respectively. I eventually found the Demon Machine - which is the perfect weapon for this char, for fun factor if not damage.
I've toyed with the idea of a "passives" sorcie, but not actually gone out and done it. She would be relying on physical attacks until level 12. Her main skills would be Shiver Armour, Blaze, and Tstorm - no direct kills. I think I'd have to allow Blizzard though, just because of the (bloody cuss cuss cuss) immunes. The idea is that the sorcie keeps her passives running and lets them do the killing, but I'm thinking certain situations will crop up where you just need to do more damage quickly - primarily councilofendlesshealing members. I sort of wish the cold tree had a hydra, that would fit the bill nicely. High stamina-r/w boots would be in order for this build. (Aldur's advance is ideal. But then that goes true for most every build, IMO.)
I've done a complete game clear with a summons ONLY necro - Bones Jones - probably the most patience-requiring character I ever played, and very possibly the most fun. If I had to do it over, I'd suggest a Thorns merc once you get to A2 NM - I took a Defiance merc to keep my skels from getting pasted by every swing, and because I thought Thorns might be overpowered. And it might be, but with no curse support, and no arty spells - even from items - it's almost crucial. You can do without, but that's really over-crippling yourself. Although you could make an Ember story of it and go mercless -shiver-. If you're stumped as to how the build is possible, it's all about Iron Golem vs. act bosses. Andariel is weak enough to can rely on your army to actually kill her, but you need slvl 2 IG on hand before Duriel - clvl 24 + Graverobber's wand. Yeah, it's sandbagging, but without curse support it's the only viable way to solve the Duriel puzzle. See if you can match me and get only one personal kill (your first in the Blood Moor.)
I've considered a golem-and-curses only necro, but I think that might take even longer to get through. You'd probably eventually be doing Iron Golem and Amp Damage, with occasional use of Terror, Dim Vision, and Attract. Fire Golem for phys immunes. Phys/fire immunes? Yeah, I'm gonna have to say we're looking at unrestricted merc use for this build. But since you won't be using corpses, an A3 cold merc is a viable option.
Then there's druids. Any druids, really. They're all variants in Hell difficulty.
Hope this was wacky enough, so sayeth The Hermit.
"Grinning wide and comforting me with his three warm and wild eyes." Tool - Third Eye
So far as variants, I think my favourite is actually one I cooked up myself and so far as I can tell, no one else has done - the "true" D1 rogue/assassin. Start an assassin, pick up a bow, start cranking burst of speed to get your firing rate up to D1 levels, pump Cloak of Shadows to effectively boost your AR, pop a point into dragon flight (targetting your golem - Shadow Warrior - using the unsummon trick) for teleport, and go to town. You can throw in a trap or two for support - I chose Death Sentry not only for effectiveness, but because only it and Wake of Inferno have a short enough range to act like Hellfire runes; sure, DS does lightning damage, but the real damage is the CE charges, which go off at "you almost stepped on me" range. It's incredibly fun, and it will raise your skill as a bow user - you learn much better aim when you don't have 50 autohit spray-n-pray skills. Fade and Venom can also get points for Chaos Sanc and LEBs, respectively. I eventually found the Demon Machine - which is the perfect weapon for this char, for fun factor if not damage.
I've toyed with the idea of a "passives" sorcie, but not actually gone out and done it. She would be relying on physical attacks until level 12. Her main skills would be Shiver Armour, Blaze, and Tstorm - no direct kills. I think I'd have to allow Blizzard though, just because of the (bloody cuss cuss cuss) immunes. The idea is that the sorcie keeps her passives running and lets them do the killing, but I'm thinking certain situations will crop up where you just need to do more damage quickly - primarily councilofendlesshealing members. I sort of wish the cold tree had a hydra, that would fit the bill nicely. High stamina-r/w boots would be in order for this build. (Aldur's advance is ideal. But then that goes true for most every build, IMO.)
I've done a complete game clear with a summons ONLY necro - Bones Jones - probably the most patience-requiring character I ever played, and very possibly the most fun. If I had to do it over, I'd suggest a Thorns merc once you get to A2 NM - I took a Defiance merc to keep my skels from getting pasted by every swing, and because I thought Thorns might be overpowered. And it might be, but with no curse support, and no arty spells - even from items - it's almost crucial. You can do without, but that's really over-crippling yourself. Although you could make an Ember story of it and go mercless -shiver-. If you're stumped as to how the build is possible, it's all about Iron Golem vs. act bosses. Andariel is weak enough to can rely on your army to actually kill her, but you need slvl 2 IG on hand before Duriel - clvl 24 + Graverobber's wand. Yeah, it's sandbagging, but without curse support it's the only viable way to solve the Duriel puzzle. See if you can match me and get only one personal kill (your first in the Blood Moor.)
I've considered a golem-and-curses only necro, but I think that might take even longer to get through. You'd probably eventually be doing Iron Golem and Amp Damage, with occasional use of Terror, Dim Vision, and Attract. Fire Golem for phys immunes. Phys/fire immunes? Yeah, I'm gonna have to say we're looking at unrestricted merc use for this build. But since you won't be using corpses, an A3 cold merc is a viable option.
Then there's druids. Any druids, really. They're all variants in Hell difficulty.
Hope this was wacky enough, so sayeth The Hermit.
"Grinning wide and comforting me with his three warm and wild eyes." Tool - Third Eye