08-12-2003, 03:56 AM
GRIZABELLA: THE FINALE
![[Image: Griz5_finale1.jpg]](http://www.idiom.com/~gmonsen/diablo/Griz5_finale1.jpg)
Boy, the Cow King sure is messy when he dies. What an ugly scene.
But, Grizabella was victorious! It was a rough ride, but Grizabella accepted the challenge of hell difficulty and emerged victorious in the end!
I don't know why the King died when he did. Like I said, I was preparing for a two hour fight and wasn't in the room when he died. Maybe there's a display bug with the hit point bar. Or maybe there's something in the AI that says, "If a guy's been wailing on you for 45 minutes, just die already." Actually, I noticed this phenomenon with Vilehand but I didn't mention it, because I thought it might've been a one-time thing. In his case, I watched Vilehand and he had about 20% of his life left when he suddenly went splat. I don't know why.
Nope, I didn't get squat. *shrug*
I'm glad you all enjoyed reading about the adventures of Grizabella. I had a blast both playing her and writing up her adventures. It was a real kick every time I read a post cheering Grizabella on. Those posts made me concentrate harder and play better to make sure that Grizabella didn't disappoint her fans.
FINAL THOUGHTS
1. It's possible to play a fighter mage in hell! It may take a lot of patience and trickery to do it, but gosh darn it I finally got to play a fighter mage.
2. If the runewords don't change in the final release, run, don't walk, to make your 'Call to Arms' and 'Delirium' items. I'm serious when I say that 'Delirium' is the most powerful item in the game. Can you imagine a bowazon armed with a 'Delirium' crown and a 'Call to Arms' weapon on weapon switch? That bowazon will never die. And don't worry, caster sorceresses, you can use 'Delirium,' too. Just give it to your mercenary (do they turn into Undead Stygian Dolls, too? I'll have to try it).
Of course, if everyone's using 'Delirium' crowns, it'll drive necromancers crazy as the Confuse curse will override necromancer curses. Necromancers may end up having to be asocial.
3. Grizabella may have been victorious, but the lack of a good way to deal with fire immunes was definitely a constant problem. If someone were to make a fighter mage on the realms, I'd suggest trying to collect a few high damage lightning jewels or charms. Assuming that Lightning Mastery still increases item elemental damage (this should be tested), that should give a decent secondary attack. Of course, it's tough to give up jewel slots and charm slots that could be used for resistances and life, but even a couple hundred damage points of lightning would be worth it.
Alternatively, one could take the points I spent in Chilling Armor and spend them on Thunderstorm. I never regretted having Chilling Armor, since it significantly changed the chances of getting hit by a lot of monsters. However, Thunderstorm would be helpful against tough fire immunes.
4. Also, if one were to actually build a fighter mage on the realms, every effort should be made to get as many +skill items as one can. The power of Enchant increases dramatically with each +skill (remember, both Enchant and Fire Mastery get increased). Plus all the other skills like Zeal, Berserk, Battle Cry, Battle Command, Battle Orders, Chilling Armor, and Energy Shield all improve with +skills. Make sure to try to get +all skills items rather than +sorceress skills items, because you want to boost your barbarian and paladin skills, too.
Boy, the Cow King sure is messy when he dies. What an ugly scene.
But, Grizabella was victorious! It was a rough ride, but Grizabella accepted the challenge of hell difficulty and emerged victorious in the end!
I don't know why the King died when he did. Like I said, I was preparing for a two hour fight and wasn't in the room when he died. Maybe there's a display bug with the hit point bar. Or maybe there's something in the AI that says, "If a guy's been wailing on you for 45 minutes, just die already." Actually, I noticed this phenomenon with Vilehand but I didn't mention it, because I thought it might've been a one-time thing. In his case, I watched Vilehand and he had about 20% of his life left when he suddenly went splat. I don't know why.
Nope, I didn't get squat. *shrug*
I'm glad you all enjoyed reading about the adventures of Grizabella. I had a blast both playing her and writing up her adventures. It was a real kick every time I read a post cheering Grizabella on. Those posts made me concentrate harder and play better to make sure that Grizabella didn't disappoint her fans.
FINAL THOUGHTS
1. It's possible to play a fighter mage in hell! It may take a lot of patience and trickery to do it, but gosh darn it I finally got to play a fighter mage.
2. If the runewords don't change in the final release, run, don't walk, to make your 'Call to Arms' and 'Delirium' items. I'm serious when I say that 'Delirium' is the most powerful item in the game. Can you imagine a bowazon armed with a 'Delirium' crown and a 'Call to Arms' weapon on weapon switch? That bowazon will never die. And don't worry, caster sorceresses, you can use 'Delirium,' too. Just give it to your mercenary (do they turn into Undead Stygian Dolls, too? I'll have to try it).
Of course, if everyone's using 'Delirium' crowns, it'll drive necromancers crazy as the Confuse curse will override necromancer curses. Necromancers may end up having to be asocial.
3. Grizabella may have been victorious, but the lack of a good way to deal with fire immunes was definitely a constant problem. If someone were to make a fighter mage on the realms, I'd suggest trying to collect a few high damage lightning jewels or charms. Assuming that Lightning Mastery still increases item elemental damage (this should be tested), that should give a decent secondary attack. Of course, it's tough to give up jewel slots and charm slots that could be used for resistances and life, but even a couple hundred damage points of lightning would be worth it.
Alternatively, one could take the points I spent in Chilling Armor and spend them on Thunderstorm. I never regretted having Chilling Armor, since it significantly changed the chances of getting hit by a lot of monsters. However, Thunderstorm would be helpful against tough fire immunes.
4. Also, if one were to actually build a fighter mage on the realms, every effort should be made to get as many +skill items as one can. The power of Enchant increases dramatically with each +skill (remember, both Enchant and Fire Mastery get increased). Plus all the other skills like Zeal, Berserk, Battle Cry, Battle Command, Battle Orders, Chilling Armor, and Energy Shield all improve with +skills. Make sure to try to get +all skills items rather than +sorceress skills items, because you want to boost your barbarian and paladin skills, too.