Here is another gear update shot, taken after the blood raven quest & getting stony field way point.

As you can see I was able to balance out my resists using gear I've saved along the way, and a new amulet find.

Blood raven was easy again. NM isn't much harder so far than Normal.

I was supposed to go to sleep, but I ended up clearing Mausoleum & Crypt, and getting stony field WP instead






Vidala's - nice cold res. I used it for a bit.

Ooooo, Sparkly :



Another Shael! Yes I was kinda excited when the first one dropped, but still no 2os shield (or Hel). I was only kinda excited because I know shaels will be in plentiful supply as NM progresses.I will allow re-runs when needed (after a forced s/e). So as long as I'm making fast progress it is hard to get too excited about it. A v'magi would excite me though.

I was more excited about this honestly:

Stony Field gave me this:





A small upgrade, but an upgrade none-the-less. Ofc, now I'm ISO a base & an Eth for Rhyme. I figure I'll probably find another eth before I find the base anyway.


First rare jewel:

keep on! good luck

Where do you find these recipes?

Then there was one more interesting drop:




As per my Plan, I wasn't going to make Spirit / Insight (unless I hit some really annoying wall in Hell).

However, wrt Insight I was only thinking about restricting it as a merc weapon. This is a really stylish base for it no? I'm thinking about putting it on switch, but I'm concerned about two things.

First, would it make the walk too easy, and second, just how important is a shield in NM?

I ask the latter especially because the LCS says my chance to block is only 10%, even though the shields say the CTB should be 40% (bone) or 30-something with that kite. What's going on there?

Arreat Summit > Items > Horadric Cube

With regard to blocking - you need to stat dex to hit max block

Insight doesn't make the walk easy, in fact for a sorc, i feel insight is actually one of the worst choices out there for a merc weapon - mainly because a sorc uses up a lot more mana than insight can regen. just eat a pot and give the merc a harder hitting weapon like hone sudan if one drops.

Spirit isn't an option until hell anyway, since the first 4os shield that a sorc can use is the monrach.

Personally i feel blocking isn't needed, my sorc was full vita all the way. Going 2 handed really restricts your FCR though, something far more important - tele with a decent FCR will be your best bet for keeping safe.

You can put spirit in a sword o.O