Alas, it was not to be.
I'm now the proud owner of a 4 socket archon plate :/

Let's try it with the balrog skin!


Again, 4 sockets :/
I'll save it in case I stumble upon a Lo rune to make Fort in


Tried to get 3 sockets with this axe too.
Just wasn't meant to be.
4 sockets again.

As I'm clearing the pit again, I get this message


He wants to go another round, does he?
He put up a good fight.
Together with my bad play, he almost got me.
But I prevailed!

I actually recorded the DC fight for shits and giggles.
I'm uploading it right now.
I'll post the link when it's done.

Be warned if you watch it.
Roughly 30 minutes long, and it is painful to watch my mistakes and panicking at times, haha.
It should have taken much less time, but I switched off of malice thinking the prevent monster heal would last longer than it does.
I also thought that the last time I faced him, his attacks really didn't bother me. I forgot his firestorm still wrecks me. Almost RIP'd me at the beginning.


After the fight, I decided to try crafting a better belt, and I got a pretty damn nice one.


Time for some dinner and lounging on the couch.
Might have some time to play more tonight.
We'll see

Here it is in all its glory - https://vid.me/rqCT

of course do you Focus on yourself at first.
duress would be a huge inpromenent for you imo, id go for it instead of treachery. treachery would be an Option for your merc.
if you dont Need the medi Aura, build a obedience for your merc.
pits for socketables. as soon as you find an 4 soc eth base, go for oath and also for death rw

With duress, I wouldn't have max light and fire resis though. And I use a charm that gives some cold damage so that I get the freeze effect on mobs.

Also, I thought the best idea for frenzy was to get a lot of attack speed on gear other than my weapons. With treachery, when fade procs, I would have max resis, 45ias, as well as the extra damage from venom. Fade also gives that hidden physical resis and shortens the length of time that curses affect me for. The only time I get scared is when I get amped or decrep'd, so I really like that.

Downside is that treachery gives no defense bonus.

Thanks for the input. It really is a toss up for me. Hopefully I can get more followers for my walk, so I can get more input. I really have no clue what I'm doing haha.

I'll add some more pics when I get home in a little over an hour. Found a pair of Dracul's while clearing the pits last night, and they are a game changer. Now I can use angelic ring/ammy instead of using that slot for life leech, which takes my chance to hit from 75% up to nearly 95%.

Also debating going back to IK helm/belt over shako/crafted belt for a big armor upgrade, but losing the 2 skills and 10% damage reduction would hurt.

So many options, and I have no clue what's best haha

stick to shako
go for treachery, fade is good, 45 ias is even better, also is venom
draculs is just insane, lifetap is so damn overpowered

try to Focus on creating oath/death rw

Yeah, I had been carrying around my life tap ax and a single WC ax on switch, now I can use 2x WC weapons.
HUGE plus.
Current focus is treachery for both merc and me.
Oath for me, Obedience for Gulzar.
Just need to find a good base.

Here are some updates from the Pit runs I did.

Trying for 3 sockets, no luck


Cool sword

Biggest find for me so far imo



Another druid find

If only I could use swords


Another failed 3 socket attempt.
At least this one got 2 sockets, and not the usual 4 haha


Got bored of pits and decided to progress to Act 2