We've ended up discussing this in two places :blink:
My view is that if there is any doubt then it is twinking, but that twinking isn't a bad thing
I can't see any big ethical distinction between dropping a Khalim's for your level 1 Druid and dropping a shael-ed steeldriver for your level 29 druid. And yes putting an Occy on a Sorc who hasn't found one is twinking. "Here, have a power-up that you as a character haven't earned but which I as a player have earned"
And I think all of those are fine unless you've decided not to do this or unless you're playing as part of a group where the others don't have access to the same power-ups and expect you to be on a par with them
What's more, I think without muling and twinking it's a lot harder to access some of the interesting item management aspects of the game such as crafting, cubing and trading (not impossible, just a lot harder in a rather thankless way)
For many people it's a way of getting the best out of the game. When I started hardcore I died a lot and my first priority was actually getting decently stocked mules so that I could make the game easier for myself. Getting a stock of items that would allow me to equip characters with max resists was a huge step forward. The 3 diamond shield I pieced together then and twinked to a level 18 character is still on him now he's high level. It still took me a long time to work through the game with the equipment I had at my disposal.
There's no need to justify yourself or split hairs that what you're doing isn't really twinking. Just go with whatever's fun for you and doesn't detract from other people's fun but call it like it is :)
My view is that if there is any doubt then it is twinking, but that twinking isn't a bad thing
I can't see any big ethical distinction between dropping a Khalim's for your level 1 Druid and dropping a shael-ed steeldriver for your level 29 druid. And yes putting an Occy on a Sorc who hasn't found one is twinking. "Here, have a power-up that you as a character haven't earned but which I as a player have earned"
And I think all of those are fine unless you've decided not to do this or unless you're playing as part of a group where the others don't have access to the same power-ups and expect you to be on a par with them
What's more, I think without muling and twinking it's a lot harder to access some of the interesting item management aspects of the game such as crafting, cubing and trading (not impossible, just a lot harder in a rather thankless way)
For many people it's a way of getting the best out of the game. When I started hardcore I died a lot and my first priority was actually getting decently stocked mules so that I could make the game easier for myself. Getting a stock of items that would allow me to equip characters with max resists was a huge step forward. The 3 diamond shield I pieced together then and twinked to a level 18 character is still on him now he's high level. It still took me a long time to work through the game with the equipment I had at my disposal.
There's no need to justify yourself or split hairs that what you're doing isn't really twinking. Just go with whatever's fun for you and doesn't detract from other people's fun but call it like it is :)