My 1.11b Hammerdin has reached clvl 98.5! I've never celebrated a '.5' clvl before, but then again, I've never been leveling through clvl 98 before
.
So far (excluding a brief bit of testing), it's been all Chaos Sanctuary (versus all Baal leading up to clvl 98). At clvl 98, Chaos Sanctuary is definitely better for experience but hasn't been so great for items. I've only found one set TC 87 (Bul-Kathos' Sacred Charge) and no unique TC 87s. So far unique finds have been all TC 84s and below ... which I suppose isn't that surprising ... My favorite unique find so far was a Tomb Reaver:
Tomb Reaver
Cryptic Axe
Two-Hand Damage: 116 to 531
Durability: 32 of 65
Required Dexterity: 103
Required Strength: 165
Required Level: 84
Polearm Class - Fastest Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x807bffce
+254% Enhanced Damage
All Resistances +30
76% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+12 Life after each Kill
+4 to Light Radius
60% Increased Attack Speed
183% Damage to Undead
+310 to Attack Rating against Undead
10% Reanimate As: Returned
Socketed (3: 0 used)
It's the first Tomb Reaver to roll with three sockets since my restart. The ED% is pretty good, the MF is real good, but the resistances are as low as can be
. And that's probably why despite really liking the idea of Tomb Reavers, I've never actually used one. The three sockets call out for something nice to be but in them, but there's always something wrong with one of the highly variable stats that leaves me convinced that I can one day find a better one. Maybe I'll go ahead and use this one and put something 'nice' but not 'too nice' into it (whatever that means
). Anyhow, my next item is probably ruled out ...
My top jewel find is this:
Ruby Jewel of Fervor
Required Level: 58
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x7b8c2f09
+37% Enhanced Damage
15% Increased Attack Speed
It's my third RJoF since my restart and the best one yet! The previous two were 31% ED, and then 34% ED, so, if I understand the pattern correctly ... the next one should be 40% ED! (Well, I can hope).
My top charm find came just before reaching 98.5:
I feel as though Jamella may have been low balling me with her offer ...
Shimmering Grand Charm of Inertia
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xc5884a20
All Resistances +15
7% Faster Run/Walk
And lastly, the hunt for a truly epic rare weapon continues. I pick up and ID pretty much every last rare weapon which really hurts my run times ... but then again, if I'm not interested in what's dropping ... why am I even playing!? I found a few interesting things that I'll probably never use including this bad boy which is so close to being truly epic that it hurts:
Havoc Skewer
Gothic Sword
One-Hand Damage: 89 to 238
Two-Hand Damage: 236 to 358
Durability: 21 of 21
Required Dexterity: 10
Required Strength: 103
Required Level: 58
Sword Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x4fddf25f
+298% Enhanced Damage
+6 to Minimum Damage
Cold Resist +9%
+2 to Paladin Skill Levels
Repairs 1 durability in 33 seconds
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired)
Sigh. An ethereal sword with self repair and a near perfect cruel roll. If only that stinking cold resist had been the 'master's' prefix ... or if there'd been an IAS suffix. Alas, the hunt continues ...
The only question is; where does the hunt continue? Chaos Sanctuary will be better for xp (and since it's taken me two months to get halfway through clvl 98 that's no small consideration). On the other hand, I do miss all the TC 87s I was finding at Throne/Baal ... hmm, decisions, decisions ...