I'm still having trouble with my sorceress. Just hit level 89. I still am having trouble MF'ing in hell. I do manual runs.

I have followed the Tal Rasha's Lighting Build, my gear is identical to the suggested outline - except instead of fcr rings, I have 2x SoJ's. I also have a torch, annihilus, and 2x lighting skill charms. My mercenary has a 1k defense treachery armor, andy visage w/ IAS and resistance jewel, and I just upgraded to an infinity. My skills are also specc'd to the guide.

How much more upgrading do I have to do before I can manually run Diablo and Baal? Right now I can do mephisto, shenk, countess, andy. If I try to do travanical, baal, or chaos, I die super fast. Can anyone point me down where I need to upgrade now to be able to do chaos and baal?

In large groups of mobs I use chain lighting, then lighting. On bosses, I static field then lighting. My belt is all rejuv potions. I do 22k dmg with lighting.

So where should I look to upgrade next? Thanks.

Well, Diablo and Baal are tougher guys (well, actually it's the getting to them part that's tougher).

Try to kill the mobs in tough areas such as CS and WSK from a distance. If it looks like you're going to get surrounded, tele away immediately, before they can stun-lock you.
If you still die because of getting stun-locked, get 86fhr (if you don't have it yet).
Get max resists (fire and lightning are a must, cold is nice to have) with charms if you don't have them maxed yet.
I'd also suggest getting the 117fcr breakpoint.
Socket your equipment with x/-5 RBFs if you can afford them.

Other than that I can't really say much, except that you could try getting more skillers for more damage.

This post was edited by MateDeVita on Oct 19 2010 01:10pm

You will always die super fast in hell if you're getting hit. That is, avoid getting hit at all.
At least that's my experience, even if I use the suggested fireorb setup. Avoid getting hit and everything is fine. Get two hits from random council member while not teleporting away and... well. Die.

This is quite accurate as far as sorceresses go, unless you focus very intensely on safety.

This post was edited by MateDeVita on Oct 20 2010 11:00am

Bumpitty bump bump.

Glass Cannons, aren't they?

Btw - is there any reason not to recommend/do hell cows? I don't know the alvl of the hidden cowlevel, but I just tried it once out of curiosity and found that it dropped rather well. But that might've been just luck, ofc.

Which MAY be done without a real loss of DMG for the Griffon's build by going Max Block with Mosar's
I like the fact that you prefer Full Tal's instead of that partial Tal's crap and I usually would recommend VITA as well, but Max Block is a very decent solution at least for the Griffon's Build where you don't necessarily need FCR from your shield.

That's a good point. You'll lose some skills, life, mana and fhr, but you'll get mb, which can be nice in chaos and wsk.

The loss of +2 (Spirit) and possibly +1 (using Viper instead of Eni/CoH) skill, is (DMG-wise) easily covered by 3x RBFs in the 3 open sockets.

+ The block speed with Mosar's is faster than FHR animation even with 86 FHR.

And you MAY still get at least the 60 FHR breakpoint with Bloodfist, Boots, charms, etc.

Only downside is the loss of life, but a Sorc only gains 2 Life per VIT anyways