This thread is to help alleviate the confusion streamers have caused with this new generation repeatedly saying "baal max exp is 3p, doesn't matter if i leave early" or "top 3 on diablo and baal is OK"TL; DR - while it is true that 3p baal is max exp for 1 player baal kills, it is not true when 2 people are killing baal. 5 people need to be in game and wait for the "top 2 levels" to enter the chamber to achieve their max exp split.
thread attached
https://www.diabloii.net/forums/threads/top-2-on-baal-explained.690769/"Top 2 On Baal" Explained
The WhatTop 2 On Baal refers to a way to shorten the number of Baal runs it takes to get from 95 to 99 without significantly slowing the leveling process for the other players in the game. The percentage of a Baal run's experience that comes from Baal himself (as opposed to throne clearing and minions) increases as you gain levels until at 98, more than 75% of a run's experience comes from Baal himself.
In short, 6 players sacrifice a small portion of their experience to increase the experience the two highest level characters receive.
The HowThere are two important factors to get optimal experience. One: Number of players in the game when a player first steps into the Worldstone Chamber (spawning Baal) - Minimum: 5. And Two: The number of partied players killing Baal - Maximum: 2. This is generally handled as follows: After Lister is killed, Baal laughs and steps into the portal. Players wait until the top 2 disappear down the portal, then leave, joining the next game. The highest level 2 stay and kill Baal, then carry drops to the teleporter in the next game.
Side 1) Pre-Teleporting. A teleporter or tele+bo can leave immediately after Lister is killed (or after wave 4) to begin teleporting the next game, as long as at least 5 characters stay.
Side 2) Static. If the top 2 are both non-sorcs, a sorc may be asked to static Baal to half before leaving for the next game.
Side 3) More/Less than 5/2. With less than 5 total players or 3 players that "must have Baal experience," there are several options. 4(characters in game at spawn)/3(characters gaining experience) gives good, but not optimal, Baal Experience (oddly enough, 4/3 gives more than 5/3, 6/3, 7/3, or 8/3). 3/1 gives optimal experience, nearly identical to that of 5/2.
The WhenBefore level 95, it's relatively unimportant. At 95-96, top 2 is helpful, but not essential. At 97, Baals without top 2 are almost not worth running. At 98, there is little point in doing non-top 2 Baals.
The What's In It For Me?Well, if you're one of two highest level characters in a game, you get Baal exp. If not, you get to know that you're helping someone striving for 99.
The End