First some prerequisite information:
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Random Affixes
On top of the fixed properties, a crafted item receives 1-4 random affixes, depending on Ilvl,
Ilvls 1-30: 4 affixes (20 %), 3 affixes (20 %), 2 affixes (20 %), 1 affix (40 %)
Ilvls 31-50: 4 affixes (20 %), 3 affixes (20 %), 2 affixes (60 %)
Ilvls 51-70: 4 affixes (20 %), 3 affixes (80 %)
Ilvls 71+: 4 affixes (100 %)
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rlvl = rlvl_affix + 10 + 3*N ; capped at 98
Mechanic's (2 OS) prefix is rlvl 7,
of ease (-20% requirements) is rlvl 11,
serpent's (11-20 mana) is rlvl 11 too.
Equilibrium (17% FHR) is rlvl 6. Specific resistances are rlvl 9 and 12 for 11-20% and 21-30% respectably.
Deflecting is rlvl 8.
I couldn't identify any other affixes you could possibly want.
How many affixes do we want? We want to avoid only 1 affix because a safety shield with just 2 sockets is going straight to Charsi's wares even if it rolls 10% magic resist. However, if we craft at ilvl 31, we are going to get affixes like Scintillating (rlvl 21) which automatically is at least level 34!
But 100% chance at 2-4 affixes is just too good to pass up even if we are going to get screwed by Saintly (66-80% ED) or Scintillating at least some of the time. We don't want to exceed ilvl 36 because that gives us another affix in the pool (Holy). Wait, ilvl 32 is also less than optimal (Guarding), so we want exactly ilvl 31.
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Act 1 normal has an ilvl Cap of 12
Act 2 normal has an ilvl Cap of 20
Act 3 normal has an ilvl Cap of 25
Act 4 normal has an ilvl Cap of 36
Act 5 normal has an ilvl Cap of 45
There are multiple ways to do this. Here are some strategies that work:
Act 1 ilvl 12 kite shield + clvl 50-51 character = ilvl 31 crafted shield
Act 2 ilvl 20 kite shield + clvl 42-43 character = ilvl 31 crafted shield
Act 3 ilvl 25 kite shield + clvl 38-39 character = ilvl 31 crafted shield
Act 4 ilvl 36 kite shield + clvl 26-27 character = ilvl 31 crafted shield (Confirmed Jamella will sell us kite shields)
Act 5 ilvl 45 kite shield + clvl 18-19 character = ilvl 31 crafted shield (Larzuk is a ***** and doesn't give us kite shields.)
My personal suggestion:
Act 2 ilvl 19 kite shield + clvl 45 character
TLDR:Buy a kite shield from act 2 with a level 13-14 character, then use a level 45 character to craft the shield (9 + 22 = 31). You do have a level 45 to gamble level 30 gear, right? Perfect!
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D2:R