[*DONE*] A necromantic hardcore journey

The journey is over, Blight-Master the Necromancer has defeated

Baal on Hell.

post3730625.html#p3730625

Several people guessed that I would get all the way to the end, and the GRAND PRIZE winner was @wacce. The runner-up was @R3venant.

Here's the full result:

1. wacce
2. R3venant
3. Nikanu
4. SnowSnow
5. Necrarch
6. Lanceor

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Original post follows.

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Greetings, fellow diablo2.io members!

Since my last hardcore journey ended in defeat (forums/a-hardcore-journey-t1481515.html), I've been contemplating starting another one. And here I am, about to start another one. The general idea is the same as last time - I'm going to attempt a HARDCORE SSF (solo self-found) playthrough, with the ultimate goal of defeating Hell

Baal. I don't intend to try to kill Dclone or do

Uber Tristram, just complete the game. I have no idea how long this is going to take, or rather... how far I'll get before I die. Because I'm pretty sure I'll die before I reach my goal.

Last time, I tried a Sorceress.

This time, I drew a class randomly.

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Class

Random pick:
Necromancer

Class selection

A while ago, I asked you to vote on what class to play (or whether to play at all), and the outcome was - random class. I will, however, Honor all the class-specific votes in that the chance of rolling each individual class will be based on how many votes each class got. So, without further ado, here are the odds for all the classes;

Class	Votes	Odds
Amazon	3	3/19 (15.8%)
Assassin	2	2/19 (10.5%)
Barbarian	3	3/19 (15.8%)
Druid	5	5/19 (26.3%)
Necromancer	3	3/19 (15.8%)
Paladin	2	2/19 (10.5%)
Sorceress	1	1/19 (5.3%)

The class will be drawn at 2024-04-27T12:00:00   This timestamp has been automatically converted to your local date/time for convenience. The format is DD/MMM/YYYY, HH:MM am/pm. This is based off your browser time. .
The playthrough will begin at 2024-04-27T16:00:00   This timestamp has been automatically converted to your local date/time for convenience. The format is DD/MMM/YYYY, HH:MM am/pm. This is based off your browser time. .
I will begin Hell 2024-05-18T12:00:00   This timestamp has been automatically converted to your local date/time for convenience. The format is DD/MMM/YYYY, HH:MM am/pm. This is based off your browser time. .
The class has been drawn and the playthrough has begun.
Last time to guess my fate was before I began Hell.

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Rules

Game mode: Hardcore
Restriction: Solo Self-Found (no trading, no outside help, no twinking)
Online/Offline: Online

The playthrough will begin at 2024-04-27T16:00:00   This timestamp has been automatically converted to your local date/time for convenience. The format is DD/MMM/YYYY, HH:MM am/pm. This is based off your browser time. .
The playthrough has begun.

How to win SC NL prizes;

1. Correctly guess how and when I will die.
2. Correctly guess that I complete the whole SSF playthrough.
3. If nobody wins either type of guess, a prize will go out to a single participant, randomly selected.

Note:

• Last time to guess was before I began Hell.
• I began Hell 2024-05-18T12:00:00   This timestamp has been automatically converted to your local date/time for convenience. The format is DD/MMM/YYYY, HH:MM am/pm. This is based off your browser time. , so no more guesses/changes.
• You cannot guess that I die and complete the playthrough without dying at the same time. You need to guess either or.
• Your last guess counts if you made multiple guessing posts.

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Prizes

The exact prize depends on the guess and how far I get. See below.

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1. Death guess

If you guess that I die, the prize for a correct guess goes up by ½

Ist for each Act;

Prize per Act & Difficulty where I die

Act 1 Normal = 1

Ist
Act 2 Normal = 1½

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 3 Normal = 2

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 4 Normal = 2½

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 5 Normal = 3

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 1 Nightmare = 4½

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 2 Nightmare = 4

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 3 Nightmare = 4½

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 4 Nightmare = 5

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 5 Nightmare = 5½

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 1 Hell = 6

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 2 Hell = 6½

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 3 Hell = 7

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 4 Hell = 7½

Ist (or equivalent)
Act 5 Hell = 8

Ist (or equivalent)

These are the parameters you need to guess:

1. Enemy type
2. Act
3. Area
4. Difficulty

You need to guess on at least two of these four parameters.
You can guess on more than two of the parameters but still win a prize for being partially correct.

• If you get two of these parameters correct, you win the listed prize based on how far I got.
• If you get three of these parameters correct, you win the listed prize x2.
• If you get all four of these parameters correct, you win the listed prize x4.
• If there are multiple winners, you split the winnings.

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2. Completed playthrough guess (no Death)

One random winner (who guessed correctly that I would complete the whole playthrough) gets a GRAND PRIZE.

The GRAND PRIZE is a choice between the following:

1. [SC NL] One of every rune in the game.
2. [SC NL] A fully geared Lightning Strike Amazon (spearzon).
3. [SC NL] A fully geared Mosaic Assassin.
4. [SC NL] A fully geared Traps Assassin (trapsin).
5. [SC NL] A fully geared Nova Sorceress.
6. [SC NL] A fully geared FoH/Smite Paladin (can also be made into a Hammerdin, or Tribrid).
7. [HC NL] A Cold Sorceress starter pack (not a full gear set).
8. [HC NL] A Nova Sorceress starter pack (not a full gear set).

All links point to maxroll.gg . None of the builds are "perfected", lots of poor/mid rolls, subpar charms, etc. They are basically former ladder characters of mine, that I no longer have any use for. I've tweaked them slightly specifically for this giveaway (just some minor improvements).

• ONE winner gets to pick ONE prize of the above.
• ONE runner-up gets an Enigma (on either SC NL or HC NL, your choice).

If you pick one of the gearsets, you will also get a

Token of Absolution, and if you want, a full grush*.
* only on PC and on SC NL, I don't have a rusher on HC NL

Whatever isn't picked will be passed on to a future giveaway event.




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3. Participation prize

In case nobody guesses my fate correctly, one random winner (among all participants) wins the same prize as per a correct Death guess (with x1 factor).

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NOTE: Any prizes will be handed out on NON-LADDER.

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You may of course just guess for fun without participating (i.e., you won't win any prizes), just let me know if that's the case

Have fun! xD

I guess...Hell Ancients

Knappogue wrote: 8 months ago

I guess...Hell Ancients

lol!

I'm going to have more faith and say that Shadowheart will reach the end.

Shar's bessings upon you!

Same as Lanceor, my bet is on your success !

PS. Do you keep the "dark and focused " screen parameters "?

I guess Barb

Also, Death to ubers after completion of playthrough because you didn't bother farming sufficient gear.

Also...just guessing for fun, keep me out of the drawings as usual.

GL

Knappogue wrote: 8 months ago

I guess...Hell Ancients

You're evil
... but I mean, it's a good guess

Necrarch wrote: 8 months ago

PS. Do you keep the "dark and focused " screen parameters "?

Probably not this time. It was an interesting experiment, and it added quite a bit to the challenge when you could hardly see anything at all, especially in indoor areas, but it was definitely a bit extreme. I might play with reduced brightness, just not that extreme lol.

Schnorki wrote: 8 months ago

Also, Death to ubers after completion of playthrough because you didn't bother farming sufficient gear.

Lol

I am very sorry you died twice. I was watching your posts and replaying your progress (before I went on some unrelated missions and lost the track), and I warned you on first journey of that 1-shot Ancient

Whirlwind guy. But I counted you would press town portal and wouldn't die, however you did just like me with one of my chars. He really kills in 1-shot no matter how much life you have, something like Dune Dervish elite reflect dmg from

Arrows in D3.
I don't play SC anymore, my only goal as a lieutenant of Dark Magic Lord Xanhast Alliance is simply to alure you totally on HC. I know it won't happen, but your 3rd try looks like a promising sign of realising there's no more excitement in SC after you once taste the blood in HC

I can add HC NL price for HC winner.

I think you're going to do better this time, but I'm going to wait until I see what character class you choose before guessing.

I'm only here for fun and but I'm out of the drawings.

Here we go again! We are ready, we are mad, the adrenaline is pumping (not yet), the sleeves are up (will be), palms are sweaty (ew? but also just a natural gamer thing), eatin' mama's spaghetti (it had to be done hehe) and we can enjoy another HC journey with our generous star Mr. Not-so-Shadow Heart! Wowee

We can guess and edit guesses until Hell (if you pass our guessed area) or is it just the first guess that counts (I forgoR)?

Anyways... I'm gonna go hard on you this time and say:
1) Beetle bug (or whatever their appropriate upgrade is) death on
2) Act 2
3) Maggot Lair
4) Nightmare
you gonna get stuck (aka enemies gonna block all exits) in one of those little spaced out areas/crannies that are between tunnels with a nasty group of beetles and they gonna pop and take you with them while they're being slaughtered. You're not gonna heal up in time even tho you gonna chug multi pots (or

Teleport away if you get that opportunity by class/equipment) and the actual low total Life is gonna cost you since you are NOT gonna give enough love to the good ol' Vitality. BONK!!!

There ya go... Enjoy! xd
But no... Really... Have fun and enjoy, looking forward to read more about HC adventure (and see other people's guesses as well). I'm definitely cheering for that win tho

Curumo69 wrote: 8 months ago

I am very sorry you died twice.

Oh I only tried one time so far - my Sorceress made it to Hell Ancients on my first try. This will be my second try

TheDoo wrote: 8 months ago

We can guess and edit guesses until Hell (if you pass our guessed area) or is it just the first guess that counts (I forgoR)?

Yeah, you can guess and freely change your guesses at any point before I start Hell

mockingbirdreal wrote: 8 months ago

I can add HC NL price for HC winner.

What did you have in mind?

My guess:

Bone Fetish
Act 3
Durance of Hate
Hell

Oh, then I misunderstood, or clicked twice on the same link and thought you made 2 Sorcs, lol. Better then.
PS
You won't feel safe on SSF Hell unless you make Java. I know it seems as selfish and subjective statement, but I tried several chars and nothing is so SECURE in HC as Java. There are plenty of RARE and MAGIC great Javelins or Stygian Pilums in LoD, unlike in Classic. So without any other great item she is extremely secure and always dual damaging (not to mention Dolls, you have Merc,

Valkyrie and

Decoy!). The only problem is

Nihlathak unless you find NP ring.

mockingbirdreal wrote: 8 months ago

I can add HC NL price for HC winner.

Such a great idea!
I can join, not very rich but can add few Ists at least, probably

Vex, or some item or PGems if needed.

ShadowHeart's Journey in 2029:

"I decided to try Naked SSF journey to Hell on SC after so many years of playing HC only..."

ShadowHeart wrote: 8 months ago

What did you have in mind?

Some basic stuffs such as : giffon,

Shako, viper, arach, Grief ba, Oath ba, ss, Infinity, Enigma, 2

Ber,

Jah, many

Ist, 3

Lo,

Sur, many

Mal, 261 def 0os MP, 13ED 0os MP,

Eth CV, 9ES Memory,

Death's Fathom, token, gerke

i guess you will complete the playthrough!

The class has been drawn!

Random pick:
Necromancer

The odds for each class was as follows: Amazon: 15.8% (3/19), Assassin: 10.5% (2/19), Barbarian: 15.8% (3/19), Druid: 26.3% (5/19), Necromancer: 15.8% (3/19), Paladin: 10.5% (2/19), Sorceress: 5.3% (1/19)

I've also moved up the start time to today, I'll start in ~4 hours.

For the record, Necromancer and Druid are the two classes I have the least experience with
I've "mained" softcore ladder seasons at least once as each of the other classes, but never those two lol.

necro eh?

whats the opposit e of speed run?