A few questions from a Skele-commandomancer n00b...

Archived from groups: alt.games.diablo2 (More info?)

I have also heard mention of "crafting" (especially concerning jewels). What
is crafting and where might one find more info on the subject?

Thanks again!

~ThetaSigma
US East Server

Archived from groups: alt.games.diablo2 (More info?)

Theta Sigma wrote:

> First off, I just started my character 3 days ago. Any comments or
> suggestions on how he seems to be stacking up so far? I am aiming him towards
> being a skele-commandomancer used primarily for finishing the game all the
> way up through Hell on BNET (and for MFing I think. Question on MF later). I
> want him to be a hardcore skelemancer but also able to dish out the
> punishment in melee as well.

The only way I know a Necromancer can have a chance at meleeing is by
using Poison Dagger, even then you will have an incredibly hard time
even in Nightmare. My suggestion is to go Skeleton all the way, with
Bone spells (Spears or Spirits) or Revives.

> Level 33 Necromancer - (Ladder character but never played a ladder game)

All the games you joined and created are Ladder if your character is
one.

> Planning on leaving all as is except bumping RS & SM both up to 20. I will
> hopefully bump both Revive & Summon Resist up to at least 10 each (maybe 20)
> and then start on CE (or maybe CE first seeing as how I'm still on Normal.)
> Which would you max out first between the three (revive, CE, and SR) being as
> how I am about to advance to Nightmare?

There are many excellent online guides available. You may search this
newsgroup for Necromancer, SkeleMancer, and the likes. You may also go
to www.amazonbasin.com and/or www.diabloii.net.

> My gear is decent I suppose, but is sorely lacking as I do not seem to have
> any real direction as far as how to go with it. I have also had a very
> difficult time finding any REAL gear even though I am at Baal on Normal.

Generally, for a SkeleMancer, +skill and +life items are desirable.

> I have a couple of other questions that may be easier to answer...and forgive
> me for sounding like a complete n00b but...
>
> What is Attack Rating?

The higher it is, the more likely you will land a hit on the monster.
Hover your mouse cursor on that number.

> What exactly is magic find and how exactly does it effect gameplay?

Look at Arreat Summit on Battle.net website, Amazon Basin,
diabloii.net, Lurker Lounge (do a Google search for exact URL),
Battle.net forum - Gameplay discussion - search for posts by GTA-Maloy,
Maloy is a long time forum resident that helps out others by collecting
and compiling useful information from many reliable sources.

> Using a certain in-game "utility" (that I'd rather remain nameless for the
> sake of flames <g> ), it appears that my MF is currently 48% but there is
> also a "0" next that number. What is this "0" for?

Does your utility come with a ReadMe?

> How is MF determined and is a higher number good or bad? Also, how does one
> go about changing this percentage for the better and what is a good number to
> shoot for?

Look above.

> I am under the impression that MF is determined by the number and/or value
> (rarity?) of the magical items that I find. If this is the case, what if I
> sell these found items, do I lose the MF value as well, meaning do I have to
> retain the item(s) in order to keep my current MF percentage?

No, wrong concept. It will be all clear after you read from those
sites.

> I know there are a lot of questions here and I appreciate any help, however,
> I would also be more than happy if someone just decided to point me in the
> right direction to an online source that explains all of this. I have Googled
> repeatedly but without any luck.
>
> In any case, thanks for reading this rather long-winded post <bg>.

Crafting is also explained in those websites above. While you are at
Arreat Summit website, I recommend to download the PDF files from
Brittons Robbins.

> ThetaSigma
> East Coast Server

Archived from groups: alt.games.diablo2 (More info?)

"Alex Holtz" <aholtz29@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:1121927780.997138.122480@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

>
>
> Theta Sigma wrote:
>
>> Level 33 Necromancer - (Ladder character but never played a ladder
>> game)
>
> All the games you joined and created are Ladder if your character is
> one.
>

Really? When I click on my character in chat and then click Ladder, it says
that I'm not on the ladder. I still need to look into that.


Anyways, thanks for the info. It has proven to be very useful.

Using your links I have definitely found the way to go. I am now level 49 on
NM beginning Act 4 on BNET and have the following...

The Arm of King Leoric +2 to skills making many of them +5 because of extra
+2s & +3s to individual skills.

Trang Oul Armor (810 def)

Trang Oul Gloves (I forget def and life bonus)

Belt with @220 def +2 to all skills

Homunculus Shield/Head(need I say more...lol)

A +3 to all skills +15 life and mana helm (210 def)

A +2 to all skills +20 life ammie

Marrowalk boots

1 decent +20 life ring and 1 +50 life ring (and 2 +25 life and mana charms)

A backup wand that does 140-280 one-handed damage (with poison and lightning
bonuses) doing a total of 280-440 melee damage with +1 all skills and +25%
faster weapon speed (rated at very fast already).

And a backup shield that has 210 def with +1 all skills & +30 to all res (all
res is maxed at 75 without shield)

Strength is now 110 hard points (for Trang and shield)

Vit is now 110 (all going to Vit for now on).

I have Raise Skellies, Skelli Mastery, & Summon Resist at 22
Corpse Explosion is 18 (love exploding corpses...<bg> )
Revive (I forget) but can raise 10 minions.
Fire golem and golem mastery both at 12
Going to raise Poison Dagger to 20 or so

My skelies and fire golem can all withstand three full blasts from norm
Diablo now and norm Baal is a breeze.

So needless to say, there has been a major improvement in my charrie over the
past 2 days...lol. Alot of that is due to the links you gave me. I knew which
way to go and what to look for. A big thank you.

Cheerz to you!

~ThetaSigma

a.k.a. Br_Dalamar on BNET
US East Coast Server

Archived from groups: alt.games.diablo2 (More info?)

Theta Sigma wrote:
> "Alex Holtz" <aholtz29@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:1121927780.997138.122480@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>
> >
> >
> > Theta Sigma wrote:
> >
> >> Level 33 Necromancer - (Ladder character but never played a ladder
> >> game)
> >
> > All the games you joined and created are Ladder if your character is
> > one.
> >
>
> Really? When I click on my character in chat and then click Ladder, it says
> that I'm not on the ladder. I still need to look into that.

When you created that character, the default selection is Ladder. I
think you clicked Ladder Ranking, and it is no surprise if your
character is not listed there. Don't worry much about whether you are
Ladder or Non. Just enjoy the game.

If you despise hacks so much, yet you often trade with other players,
then it is better to play in Ladder. There are still many hacked items
from the previous versions still circulate in the Non Ladder realm.

> Anyways, thanks for the info. It has proven to be very useful.
>
> Using your links I have definitely found the way to go. I am now level 49 on
> NM beginning Act 4 on BNET and have the following...

Decent equipments. Glad that you are doing well.

> So needless to say, there has been a major improvement in my charrie over the
> past 2 days...lol. Alot of that is due to the links you gave me. I knew which
> way to go and what to look for. A big thank you.

If you still have unanswered questions, please feel free to ask here.
If you haven't, you may also want to read and post in the neighboring
newsgroup, alt.games.diablo.

There are people who post exclusively in one of the groups, yet many of
them are very resourceful.

> Cheerz to you!
>
> ~ThetaSigma
>
> a.k.a. Br_Dalamar on BNET
> US East Coast Server