🚀 go-pugleaf

>>If you've maxed out all your books with that much magic boosting, you've
>>read a hell of a lot of books.. 
>
>Heh, I sure have.  :)  I can get my magic up to 176, still need a
>shield and helmet, and I might manage to break 200.

And you're a *warrior*?  My level 33 mage only has 262 normally (can go up
to 292 by switching jewelry of wizardry for jewelry of heavens.. still
looking for that elusive zodiac stuff =) )

>Well, I find one of the best is the fireball, which is currently maxed
>for me at level 9.  This delivers a whopping punch to creatures, and
>is great when they're standing in a crowd cause it hits all around
>where it explodes.  Obviously, it's also handy for those creatures
>that can't be slashed because they always run when you get close (most
>bow creatures, advocates and the bitches).

That's what a *mage* is supposed to do.  I guess it does help against the
witches and bowmen, but I haven't had a whole lot of trouble chasing them
down and hacking them apart.  If I'm up against a dozen at once, I'll drop
a few firewalls and that'll usually take out a bunch of them.

>>etc.)  A few firewalls take care of all of those except for soul burners..
>>can't do much but run from them and hit new game, unfortunately.
>
>See, that sucks that you're resigned to starting a new game...  ALL
>characters should be able to handle each creature somehow.

Warriors can still handle them.. chase them down individually and hack them
apart.. might need a lot of healing potions, but can still be done.  No
different from a mage trying to beat the immune-all guys in hell/hell.

>>Sorcerors get the same problem later on, though.. on hell difficulty,
>>there's a lot of immune-all creatures in hell that warriors have no trouble
>>with (Steel/Obsidian Lords in particular, and of course Diablo himself)
>
>Nah, they've always got a spell that works, even for those huge
>Knights that claim to be immune to magic, but can very easily be stone
>cursed.

Yeah, but how much damage is a mage with Dreamflange and maybe 90% to-hit
going to do during one stone curse?  And if you're up against four of
them... that's a lot of stone cursing (and it ain't a cheap spell to cast.)

>>The rogue is an all-round character.. she can kill with a sword, bow, or
>>magic.. 
>
>Have you tried swinging a sword with her?  Ugh!

I have.. not too effective, but it can be done.  Haven't tried it on any
level lower than 2, though =)

>Oh I agree, and I'm glad that each character has to be played
>differently... to begin with.  I think once you've reached a certain
>level, you're too limited, and it all gets a little boring.  And my
>specific problem with the Warrior is that I dare not venture into Hell
>alone with him, whereas if I was the same lvl Mage, I'd be there with
>no hesitation.

I can venture into normal/hell easily with my level 27 warrior.  Like I
said before, you need a good sword of haste and some good armor.. magic
resistance helps too but isn't completely necessary.

>>Without some serious ability-boosting items, the mage is going to be
>>restricted to splint mail or lesser armor, and can't use some of the bigger
>>shields.  
>
>So what?  The creatures will never get to close to him!  Plus he will
>have 600 mana, and a mana shield will be better than any armor he
>could wear.

In hell mode against archers, the lower AC really makes a difference.. he
often gets pelted with arrows so fast he can't get off a fireball.   It
doesn't matter a whole lot for normal/hell, though, I admit.

>I agree, but in most Hell situations, they can't.  The bully creatures
>that surround and pummel you are fine - my tough ol' Warrior with his
>King's Sword and Godly Armor can handle them.  But the spitters, the
>bitches, the advocates.... they shoot him down, and run away.  He
>should be able to at least use a bow as well to hit the far off
>creatures.

The spitters don't run away from you, and the advocates are no problem if
you've got some fire resistance.  The bitches are of course a problem, but
firewalls and chasing them down has always worked for me.

>(it's a shame there's no hotkey to switch between bow and sword/shield
>combinations)

Or between staff and sword/shield... I used a staff of lightning against
the bitches for a while.