Druid help - ideas

[john]

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

I started a new druid character and went the windy route, but am having
lots of trouble getting past act3 in hell. My merc and I breezed
through normal and nightmare fairly easily, and even even acts 1 and 2
of hell (except for a little problem with andy & duriel).
ME - level 79, Life 542
Cyclone armor - 22 (absorb 1170 dmg)
Tornado - 22 (1524 dmg)
Hurricane - 22
Twister - 5
Dire Wolf - 23
Weapon dmg 248/652

merc = lvl 79, life 1395
Kings Grace sword 305/400 dmg

I'm about to level and not sure where I should put the 5 points or the 1
skill. Should I look for a faster attack speed weapon? Switch merc to
a ranged attack?

 

[Guest]

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

John wrote:
> I started a new druid character and went the windy route, but am having
> lots of trouble getting past act3 in hell. My merc and I breezed

What causes you the trouble? The CI flayers? One if not more of your
Wind spells does physical damage. If that doesn't help, then I suppose
you can just get the Waypoints from someone else.

> I'm about to level and not sure where I should put the 5 points or the 1
> skill.

Generally, have enough Strength for equipments, enough Dexterity if
blocking is desired, and the rest for Vitality. If you haven't
determined your end game equipments, then it may be a good idea to save
those attribute points. As the skill, invest in the skills that
synergize your Hurricane.

> Should I look for a faster attack speed weapon? Switch merc to
> a ranged attack?

Having never played a Druid myself, I don't know what's a good strategy
for one. However I reckon that there is a 2H maul that gives +7
Elemental skill, Earth Shifter?

Rogue merc doesn't do much damage, I had one equipped with a Windforce
and her average damage was somewhere in the 1900s. The range AI makes
her very ineffective as she spends most of her time moving about.
Desert merc is always the most popular choice, I'd expect Prayer or
Defiance will be suitable for you, Might may not be as useful as your
Dogs are not dependable monster killers.

 

[Guest]

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

"John" <dyczko@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:NFeEe.1731$Na6.1193022@twister.nyc.rr.com...
> I started a new druid character and went the windy route, but am having
> lots of trouble getting past act3 in hell. My merc and I breezed
> through normal and nightmare fairly easily, and even even acts 1 and 2
> of hell (except for a little problem with andy & duriel).
> ME - level 79, Life 542
> Cyclone armor - 22 (absorb 1170 dmg)
> Tornado - 22 (1524 dmg)
> Hurricane - 22
> Twister - 5
> Dire Wolf - 23
> Weapon dmg 248/652
>
> merc = lvl 79, life 1395
> Kings Grace sword 305/400 dmg
>
> I'm about to level and not sure where I should put the 5 points or the 1
> skill. Should I look for a faster attack speed weapon? Switch merc to
> a ranged attack?

like Alex Holts said, enough str for equip and enough dex for nice block

the skill point goes to either synergy for Hurricane or Tornade.
Tornado does physical dmg to help kill the CI

my wind druid setup (not to cheap tho) was...i played this in HC :
Jalals Mane (with Um)
+2 Arkaines Valor (with pruby)
38% res all Heart of the Oak (great caster weapon, +3 and fcr)
Stormshield (with Um)
thundergods belt
BK ring
Soj
Frostburn
Aldurs Boots
+2 druid skills, 9% fcr, +16 mana, regenerate mana 6%, 15% cold/fire/poison
res, 50% light res (crafted ammy, lvl 89 req)

7x Elemental Skill Charm
Annihilus
and 6x 20 life small

for skills (without the +skills from items)
20 Hurricane
20 Tornado
20 Twister
16 Cyclone Armor
20 Oak Sage
1 Summon Grizzly (with the +skills from items this makes a great tank)

after Oak i had around 3k life
Tornado did 4000+ dmg
and Hurricane 2500+ dmg

i could solo baal hell or diablo hell with this build (just had to play it
smart)
cant check how much it really was, because i removed most of the items for
use on other char

Clincher

 

[Guest]

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

I think you are really low on +skills. A caster should have a lot more
than +2. A Spirit sword and a decent mid-level ammy, hat combination
should get you at least +4.

Don't worry about attack speed because you are a caster.

Your life is quite low for Hell. Especially without an Oak Sage.