07-24-2003, 10:21 AM
Occhi, I've tried a similar build and here are my conclusions.
1. The biggest annoyance will be to find a decent weapon. Maces are in theory better than axes because of the +50% undead bonus, but in practice they are extremely hard to get, especially since legendary mallets don't spawn in the shops (due to the insidious shop formula). AT BEST, you can hope for a `Black' devil star or something similar if you get lucky with runes drops and something like a merciless or power-hit craft truncheon for second weapon. Therefore, I would strongly recommend axes, which you can get more easily at the shops, or swords, which you can also buy and are allowed a bunch of feasible runewords.
2. You'll be tested for patience in the ultimate way in hell mode. Without a no-freeze item you'll be swinging in blue 3/4 of the time. This is perhaps the major reason why whirlwind is superior as untwinked babo build, eventhough mana leech is an annoyance (you can buy potions at shops though).
3. You don't need mana leech for frenzy. Save some charms/items for 250-300 mana before battle orders. 600 mana is enough for frenzy to regenerate naturally. If something, 3% manasteal from gloves or an Ith rune should do the rest. As for lifesteal, a lifetap wand is all you need.
Anyway.. just a thing or two to consider.
1. The biggest annoyance will be to find a decent weapon. Maces are in theory better than axes because of the +50% undead bonus, but in practice they are extremely hard to get, especially since legendary mallets don't spawn in the shops (due to the insidious shop formula). AT BEST, you can hope for a `Black' devil star or something similar if you get lucky with runes drops and something like a merciless or power-hit craft truncheon for second weapon. Therefore, I would strongly recommend axes, which you can get more easily at the shops, or swords, which you can also buy and are allowed a bunch of feasible runewords.
2. You'll be tested for patience in the ultimate way in hell mode. Without a no-freeze item you'll be swinging in blue 3/4 of the time. This is perhaps the major reason why whirlwind is superior as untwinked babo build, eventhough mana leech is an annoyance (you can buy potions at shops though).
3. You don't need mana leech for frenzy. Save some charms/items for 250-300 mana before battle orders. 600 mana is enough for frenzy to regenerate naturally. If something, 3% manasteal from gloves or an Ith rune should do the rest. As for lifesteal, a lifetap wand is all you need.
Anyway.. just a thing or two to consider.