Quote (Synonym @ 13 Oct 2009 11:33)
Ironman
Taking Diablo2 Hardcore to the limit...
What is a Diablo II "Ironman"?
I'd like to start off by saying that unlike what you may have heard, Ironman is NOT the grushed level 9 HC duels "to the death". Ironman is opposite to this both in being strictly pvm and by actually "staying alive".
The Ironman concept is simple: A team is composed of 8 new characters who will form a group that fights together, and survives together. This group's members cannot sustain in the game very long if they don't stick together, level up together and defend one another. The key here is team work. The uniquity of this team is that it must never wear any sort of equipment or hold charms of any sort in their inventories. The character will remain naked forever. What's more, the character must never be allowed to use offensive spells or summon any form of helping units along the way, aka the druid/necro summons, aka the assassin's shadow and the amazon's valkyrie. The characters will use the simple "Attack" starting skill they have throughout the game.
Which characters are basic for the survival of this team?
It is known that a team with a potential to succeed in both nightmare and hell mode must consist the following characters:
A barbarian
A sorceress
A druid
An Amazon
An Assassin
A paladin
The other 2 slots are free for negotiation
Stats recommended for investing?
Strength- You won't be using any gear, so nothing here.
Dexterity- I've heard some ideas about putting some dex points here for an assassin, but it is up to you.
Vitality- In my opinion, everything here, if you want to survive at all in hell naked.
Energy- No, No. No?... NO!
What is allowed and what is forbidden regarding skills & spells regarding the characters?
Amazon (Main field of expertise and role in the party: Tank)
http://classic.battle.net/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/classes/amazon.jpg
Javaelin & Spear skills
Nothing here is allowed, nor can be used, since you will require a weapon to use any of the skills. Character must stay naked.
Bow & Crossbow skills
As said regarding J&S skills, this tree is left blank as well.
Passive & Magic skills
This is the only tree allowed to invest points at, since the skills in here are considered buffs.
Inner sight- A must have skill, this will reduce the monsters' defense, enabling our naked characters to perform powerful single attack hits even in hell.
Inner sight Info:
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Mana Cost: 5
Radius (yards) 13.3
Duration (seconds) 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84
Enemy Defense -X 40 65 90 115 140 165 190 215 260 305 350 395 440 485 530 575 635 695 755 815
Critical strike- Chance to do double physical damage. In nightmare and hell mode we will rely solely on the sorceress' enchant ability to inflict damage. Frankly, our physical damage will count for nothing, hence this skill is allowed yet useless.
Dodge- A must have passive trait to the amazon, providing her the "Tank" rank in the group. Grants a chance to move out of the way of a melee attack while standing still. This should be maxed as well as the other 2 passive dodge skills (evade and avoid).
Dodge info:
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Chance to Dodge Melee % 18 24 29 34 37 40 42 44 46 47 49 50 51 52 52 54 54 55 55 56
Avoid- A must have passive trait to the amazon, providing her the "Tank" rank in the group. Grants a chance to move out of the way of a missile attack while standing still. This should be maxed as well as the other 2 passive dodge skills (evade and dodge).
Avoid info:
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Chance to Dodge Missile % 24 31 36 41 45 48 50 52 54 55 57 58 60 61 61 63 63 64 64 65
Slow missiles- Not allowed.
Penetrate- Additional chance to hit. In short, some small amount of added AR. Not really needed based on the fact that enchant will provide enough ar and that conviction and inner sight will reduce the monsters' defense to a level where a lot of AR isn't needed. Allowed but not recommended.
Decoy- Not allowed.
Evade- A must have passive trait to the amazon, providing her the "Tank" rank in the group. Grants a chance to escape any attack while moving. This should be maxed as well as the other 2 passive dodge skills (avoid and dodge).
Valkyrie- Not allowed.
Pierce- A chance that your missile will continue through its victim. "What missiles?" Allowed but completely useless.
In the end, a good solid tank should possess these (hopefully maxed) abilities:
avoid,evade,dodge and inner sight.
Assassin (Main field of expertise and role in the party: Damage-Dealer(DD))
http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/images/ass/assassin.jpg
Martial Arts skills
Tree skill not allowed.
Trap skills
Tree skill not allowed.
Shadow Disciplines skills
Claw Mastery- Allowed but useless. Cannot use a claw.
Psychic Hammer- Not allowed.
Burst of Speed- Speed buff. Allowed.
Cloak of Shadows- Powerful debuff skill, used to further reduce the monster's defense and even provide semi-invisibility. Allowed. Level of skill investment - Moderate to high.
Weapon Block- Which weapons, exactly? Allowed but useless.
Fade- Most recommended, most powerful buff skill for an assassin to possess. Maximizing is essential. Reduced curse effect, +@ resistances. What more is needed?
Fade info:
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Mana Cost: 10
Curse Duration Reduced By % 47 53 58 62 65 67 69 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 80 81 81 82
Resist All +% 19 27 33 38 42 45 47 50 52 54 56 57 58 60 60 62 62 63 63 64
Duration in Seconds 120 132 144 156 168 180 192 204 216 228 240 252 264 276 288 300 312 324 336 348
Physical Resist +X% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Shadow Warrior- Not allowed.
Mind Blast- Not allowed.
Venom- This is a debative skill. Considered as buff but provides elemental damage of some sort. As far as I've seen, most opinions were that it is allowed. Provides poison to the assassin's attacks.
Venom info:
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Mana Cost: 12
Poison Damage over 0.4 Seconds 60-80 75-95 90-110 105-125 120-140 135-155 150-170 165-185 185-205 205-225 225-245 245-265 265-285 285-305 305-325 325-345 350-370 375-395 400-420 425-445
Duration in Seconds 120 124 128 132 136 140 144 148 152 156 160 164 168 172 176 180 184 188 192 196
Shadow Master- Not Allowed.
In the end, a good solid damage dealer should possess these (hopefully maxed) abilities:
Fade, Cloak of shadows, Venom & possible synergies.
Necromancer (Main field of expertise and role in the party: Debuffer)
http://classic.battle.net/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/classes/necromancer.jpg
Poison & Bones skill tree
Not allowed.
Summoning Skill tree
Not allowed.
Curses
Amplify Damage- +100% physical damage curse. A bit useful in normal difficulty, after you reach a3 normal, it starts to lose its effectiveness. Allowed. Invenestment - Minimal (1).
Dim Vision- Not allowed.
Weaken- Not allowed.
Iron Maiden- Not allowed.
Terror- Not allowed.
Confuse- Not allowed.
Life Tap- Not allowed.
Attract- Not allowed.
Decrepify- Effect: Target's Speed, Damage and Physical Resistance -50%. Allowed.
Lower Resist- Effect: Elemental attacks do more damage to the cursed monster. Allowed.
Lower Resist info:
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Mana Cost: 22
Radius (yards) 4.6 5.3 6 6.6 7.3 8 8.6 9.3 10 10.6 11.3 12 12.6 13.3 14 14.6 15.3 16 16.6 17.3
Duration (seconds) 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58
Resist All -% 31 37 41 44 47 49 51 52 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 61 61 62 62
In the end, a good solid debuffer should possess these (hopefully maxed) abilities:
Lower Resist, Decrepify, Amplify Damage.You can buy many nice items with all your FG ! So why playing D2 naked ?