Titan Quest dynasty - slow ride through "Legendary" play

[hoopsguy]

Just picked up a redundant item - can't use it, but it made me laugh:

Flaming Talon of Flame (rare):
54-60 Damage
15% Piercing
Speed: Very Fast
+16% Fire Damage
13-22 Fire Damage
12 Fire Damage
Required Dexterity: 222 (off by 16)

We also change out our armor, sacrificing some DPS for a better Combined Armor.

Padded Raiment of Refuge (rare):
80 Armor (28 better than previous)
+8% Armor Protection
+24 Defensive Ability

I give up +16% Intelligence, which definitely hurts, but the Armor Protection on top of the 28 points of armor, along with moving the Hydradon Hide for another 16% Armor Protection, means that the Combined Armor ranking goes up 61 points in exchange for 39 points of DPS. Hopefully we can make that up at some point ...

[hoopsguy]

For the first time in a long while, I'm equipping a yellow item and slotting it.

Curative Padded Raiment of Shelter
84 Armor (4 better than current)
+16% Armor Protection (8% better)
26% Poison Resistance
+38% Energy Regeneration (3% worse)

We lose out on +24 Defensive ability while increasing our armor and shoring up one resistance a little bit. Combined Armor is now up to 469, a 33 point jump from the armor I had just purchased. Getting closer to respectable all the time, although our fights are better when my armor never comes into play

[Eilim]

My luck has been insane this morning... or it could just be the fact I've been playign for so many hours straight I'm bound to get some good stuff. Anyways, actually got two of an item that made me think of you hoops, was wondering if you could use either of these. While not really focused on your element I figured the + to dream skills might be useful if only situational.. plus they can be slotted.





Its actually a pretty cool looking weapon, caught a screenshot of the second one be wielded thinking it might be some uber rare weapon not having seen the first one being wielded (casters are high on my hit list and usually drop quick the minute I see them.)



If you want either, just let me know and we can set up a time to pass it along in game.

[hoopsguy]

I've got one of those kicking around in my storage area right now. Figure I might take it for a look when I start putting more points in those spells, but up until recently I've had minimal points on my Dream spells.

I've found an Arcane Formula for epic items and I'm only one fragment away from being able to put it together.

Jade Idol
Required: Embodiment of Golden Fleece, Embodiment of Valor of Achilles (2 of 3), Epic Turtle Shell
10 Damage
+15 Defensive Ability
+17% Attack Speed
-8% Energy Cost

And Level 43 comes in while clearing out the monster camps beyond Parnassus. One point goes into Sands of Sleep (4/8) to bring it up to three targets affected. I'm tempted to bring on another pet (Nightmare) but think I'll spend my points on the existing ones rather than branching out for the moment. In fact, two more points into Call of the Wild (12/16) will close out the points for this level. I want to focus on my ground troops for the moment, while trying to set up a model where they live longer and I fight more from the back. They are now over 2,000 health which is great except that my heal spells really don't make a huge impact for them either. Both attribute points go into Intelligence.

Health: 3782
Energy: 1192
Strength: 246
Intelligence: 479
Dexterity: 206

Resistances: Fire -13, Cold -18, Electricity 13, Poison -9, Piercing -40, Vitality 95, Stun 72

DPS: 640
Combined Armor: 469

Health Regeneration: 1.00 (huh, not a single item helping this along now)
Energy Regeneration: 8.71

Offensive Ability: 243
Defensive Ability: 276

Cast Speed: 110
Run Speed: 124

Gold: 8,424,050
Deaths: 119 (and holding)

Best Item: Celestial Staff of Torment w/Fury's Heartblood
Worst Item: Molten Orb

[hoopsguy]

And I have my first legendary item - unfortunately I'm not going to be able to use it with this character anytime soon. This came courtesy of a Ratman Rogue prior to the Gorgon Queens.

Griefmaker
126-133 Damage
10% Piercing
Speed: Fast

15% Chance of +133% Pierce Damage
222 Bleeding Damage over 3 seconds
15% Chance of +131% Bleeding Damage w/+49% Improved Duration
36 Piercing Damage
+27 Strength
+30 Offensive Ability
Requirements: Level 38, Strength 287, Dexterity 235

[hoopsguy]

Level 44 comes while making my way towards the Minotaur in Knossos. Along the way I took my first Epic death, getting bushwhacked by a pack of Maenads and Centaurs. Really stupid death - I hate when I give them away like that. I've also completed my first Epic Artifact - Jade Idol.

Jade Idol
10 Damage
+15 Defensive Ability
+17% Attack Speed
-8% Energy Cost
Completion Bonus: 5-12 Piercing Damage (worthless)

Overall the speed bonus was enough to give a marginal value over the other artifact I was using. But this is still nothing to write home about - I'm hoping for better artifacts to come, but it may be challenging as a number of these artifacts require earlier artifacts as building blocks. I'm not exactly swimming in artifacts ...

I spend two points to cap Heart of Oak at 12/12 - which means the health benefits move from +55% to +65%. So I won't have anymore big health boosts coming unless it is from equipment. The last point goes into Temporal Flux, a new spell. Level one of six grants +2% Total Speed, +3% Avoid Projectiles, and 8% Slow Resistance. Attributes go to Intelligence.

Health: 4026
Energy: 1192
Strength: 246
Intelligence: 389
Dexterity: 206

Resistances: Fire -18, Cold -18, Electricity 13, Poison -9, Piercing -40, Vitality 95, Stun 72

DPS: 667
Combined Armor: 469

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 8.87

Offensive Ability: 243
Defensive Ability: 293

Cast Speed: 112%
Run Speed: 126%

Gold: 9,121,449 (made a few purchases, although none equipped)
Deaths: 120

Best Item: Celestial Staff of Torment w/Fury's Heartblood
Worst Item: Jade Idol (still a lesser artifact)

[hoopsguy]

Epic game play is very similar to the first level, but there are a couple of curves thrown in to try and freshen the story up a little bit. I just encountered one of those outside of the palace of Minos. Talos - Master Automatoi, is a giant automatoi who spits fire, has a lightning aura, and a stun attack when he extends his arm. Nice combination of tactics, along with a mountain of health. I fell to him once when mis-clicking, but otherwise was able to churn through him with a little patience and a lot of pet deaths.

The reward was my second legendary item - an amulet that I can use:

Blessing of the Gods

41% Pierce Resistance
49% Elemental Resistance
50% Poison Resistance
+18 Strength
+22 Intelligence
+18 Dexterity
+200 Health
+91 Energy

It is a massive shot in the arm for my resistances, but am I willing to give up 130 points of DPS? Short answer - yes, when the game convinces me that I will need to do so.

[TonyR]

I've gotten to Egypt on my first playthrough. Level 21 Juggernaugt (Earth/Defense). Going well, am currently at looking for the Sphynx and Eye orb. Only 9 or 10 deaths so far. I can say that I am enjoying this game. Curious as to how multi-player works, but that is for another time.

[hoopsguy]

Tony, I've looked for you before logging on to play over the last week or so but haven't found you during the times I'm on.

Glad to hear that you are making your way along - I really did enjoy the scenery as it switched between each of the Acts.

I've just made my way into Egypt as well on Epic. The Telkine's continue to be pretty serious wimps for the Colossal Squid.

[TonyR]

i've been sticking to one player. thought you were going to name a time as to when to try multi-player.
where is the lost brother or the tomb he went to? haven't found that yet.

[hoopsguy]

Lost brother - can you jog my memory a little bit on that? Is it a quest in Egypt?

[TonyR]

minor quest, sister in Memphis looking for her brother than ran off looking for a demon to fight the monsters. but i found the tomb. so now i'm looking for the eye of chaos.

[hoopsguy]

OK, eye of Chaos is in a pretty remote location - believe it is the farther northeast part of the desert areas.

Dinged Level 45 before calling it a night and found a new staff that takes DPS above 700 for the first time.

Dreadful Delphic Staff (rare):
49-110 Base Lightning Damage
114 Bleeding Damage over 3 seconds
23 Cold Damage
25 Vitality Damage
+1.3 Energy Regeneration per second
Fury's Heartblood adds 35 Vitality Damage and +8% Attack Damage

That jumped my DPS up about 80 points.

I also have had minor upgrades to a ring:

Plato's Loop of Mana (rare):
+26% Intelligence
+62 Energy
+6% Energy
+18% Energy Regeneration

That was about a push from my current item, but the higher Int % means it will out-perform the other item as I tack on levels. And I still need to slot it.

Level 45 - I bump up the wolf damage (Maul) from level 7 to 9. That means they will each deliver an extra 20 points per attack, along with another 5 piercing. The last point goes onto Temporal Flux, adding another 2% total speed. Attributes - both to Intelligence.

Health: 4026
Energy: 1258
Strength: 246
Intelligence: 500
Dexterity: 206

Resistances: Fire -18, Cold -18, Electricity 13, Poison -9, Piercing -40, Vitality 70, Stun 47 (can bump those numbers up if/when I move the slotted item for ring)

DPS: 779
Combined Armor: 529

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 9.49

Offensive Ability: 243
Defensive Ability: 293

Cast Speed: 114
Run Speed: 128

Gold: 8,470,849 (staff cost a couple of million)
Deaths: 123 (took one to a boss in Egypt, thanks to crappy resists)

Best Item: Dreadful Delphic Staff w/Fury's Heartblood
Worst Item: Jade Idol

[hoopsguy]

On the topic of the Eye of Chaos, I'm now in Egypt searching for this item.

Level 46 comes and it is time to turn my attention to protection from Elements. Enter the Permanence of Stone spell, which gets all three points to give me a 10% Elemental Resistance across the board for the cost of 1 energy/second. I drop one point each on Intelligence and Strength.

Health: 4075
Energy: 1229
Strength: 250
Intelligence: 517
Dexterity: 206

Resistances: Fire -8, Cold -8, Electricity 23, Poison 21, Piercing -40, Vitality 70, Stun 25

DPS: 786
Combined Armor: 545 (swapped in a helmet to give experience bonus instead of best armor option)

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 12.27

Offensive Ability: 243
Defensive Ability: 272

Cast Speed: 114
Run Speed: 128

Gold: 11,829,147
Deaths: 124

Best Item: Dreadful Delphic Staff w/Fury's Heartblood
Worst Item: Deathrattle (substitue artifact)

[hoopsguy]

Another encounter that I think is unique to Epic (going from memory here) is the Manticore in Egypt. He exploits my crappy piercing resistance in the first encounter, but the Blessing of the Gods covers up that sin in the rematch. I'm strongly considering making the move to this full-time when I hit the Orient.

And Level 47 comes after gathering the two main items in Egypt for Imhotep. I cap the Permanence of Stone at 6/6, bringing the Elemental Resist up to 18%. Stats go towards Intelligence x2.

Health: 4387
Energy: 1415
Strength: 220
Intelligence: 555
Dexterity: 206

Resistances: Fire 34, Cold 0, Electricity 31, Poison 21, Piercing -40, Vitality 70, Stun 25

DPS: 830
Combined Armor: 555

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 10.52

Offensive Ability: 243
Defensive Ability: 272
Cast Speed: 114
Run Speed: 128

Gold: 13,926,080
Deaths: 125

Best Item: the same staff until I get around to equpping the Blessing of the Gods
Worst Item: Deathrattle (artifact)

[PiemasterUK]

Bumping this thread to encourage you to keep on going and to let you know that I am now at level 30 with my main towards the end of Act 3. However, spam-healing wolves has started to get a bit repetitive, so I am going to go back and level some alts for a while I think.

[hoopsguy]

I'm still playing a little bit. My killer stretch of work ended on 5/14, but an unexpected new time-filler arrived on 5/15 that is going to limit some of my game time (see my Off Topic post, don't want to thread-jack the dynasty )

I'm about 60% of the way through Level 47 and just about ready to exit Egypt. I've picked up a new monster charm that increases vitality damage and slots with a ring - bringing DPS up around 100 points in the ballpark of 930.

The Squid was crushed by one monster hero that did a sick amount of damage. I'm guessing it was Piercing damage, where our resist is -40. That is definitely going to need to be addressed, likely with our Legenedary ring moving into the permanent rotation once Egypt is done.

[hoopsguy]

Got a little time in tonight and finished off Egypt. Just prior to wiping out the Telkine, the Squid hit Level 48. We put all three point into Temporal Flux, which boosts our Total Speed, Chance to Avoid Projectiles, and Slow Resistance. Moving from +4% to +10% for Speed is good for business, I expect. Attribute points are placed in Intelligence and Dexterity.

Also, it is probably worth noting here that I found a new set of armor that really made a difference for our character.

Ymochel's Riddlerobe (epic)
192 Armor (huge jump from 84 on old, but actually down when factoring in +32% Armor Protection)
21% Pierce Resistance
21% Fire Resistance
15% Chance of 123 Life Leech over 3.0 seconds or 1-3 Stun Retaliation
+21% Elemental Damage
+46 Intelligence
+110 Energy
+80% Energy Regeneration
+48 Defensive Ability

This was another 100 or so points benefit for DPS, as well as a shot in the arm for defense, energy regeneration, and pierce/fire at the expense of poison.

Health: 4263
Energy: 1401
Strength: 224
Intelligence: 590
Dexterity: 214

Resistances: Fire 21, Cold 0, Electricity 31, Poison -5, Piercing -19, Vitality 70, Energy 60, Stun 25

DPS: 1054 (up over 200 points from last level)
Combined Armor: 525 (down 30 points from last level)

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regenaration: 14.89 (up nearly 4.5)
Offensive Ability: 252
Defensive Ability: 338

Cast Speed: 120
Run Speed: 134

Total Deaths: 127
Gold: 17,946,291 (was as high as 22 million at one point)

Best Item: Ymochel's Riddlerobe
Worst Item: Deathrattle

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by PiemasterUK

Bumping this thread to encourage you to keep on going and to let you know that I am now at level 30 with my main towards the end of Act 3. However, spam-healing wolves has started to get a bit repetitive, so I am going to go back and level some alts for a while I think.

Along these lines, I'm curious to hear where other people are with their games. Has anyone else made their way to face Typhos or Hades yet? Anyone lapping me at this point?

[TonyR]

Nah, I just got past the big Yeti Master that killed me before I was able to take him down. I just needed him to focus on my pet lava monster before I hacked away at him to get him dead. Don't have a lot of time to play, but I am slowly going at it. Up to level 29 though :-)

[hoopsguy]

Level 49, very little of note in the early stages of the Orient. No deaths between levels 48 and 49, which was a nice change of pace.

It is time to introduce another pet to the mix - the Nightmare. I'm not that interested in building up all the Nightmare points right away, but I do have an interest in their "Master Mind" ability, which augments the total damage and regen (both health and energy) for all pets. I'll look to cap those eight points pretty quickly to bring damage up across the board. So one point on Summon Nightmare, one Hypnotic Gaze, and one point on Master Mind this time around. Let's see if the one point Nightmare actually lives through any fights. Attribute points go to INT and STR.

Health: 4281
Energy: 1497
Strength: 246
Intelligence: 625
Dexterity: 232

Resistances (now using the high resist amulet):
Fire 70, Cold 49, Electricity 80, Poison 45, Piercing 22. Vitality 70, Energy Resist 60, Stun 25

DPS: 900 (changing out the high damage amulet)
Combined Armor: 525

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 15.23
Offensive Ability: 273
Defensive Ability: 359
Cast Speed: 122%
Run Speed: 136%

Total Deaths: 127
Gold: 27,268,005
Best Item: Blessing of the Gods (high resist amulet)
Worst Item: Deathrattle (lesser artifact)

[bulletsponge]

ok i got a few questions about this game.

i loved Diablo 2, how similar is this game to it? how many lvls are there in this game? how customizable is this game as far as play styles? i always prefered bows with melee as secondary (think Amazon from D2), is it possible to play this way in this game?

[hoopsguy]

Bullet, if I was picking a game to compare this one to it would be Diablo 2. It is considered a "Diablo clone" in most of the reviews I've read. In terms of play styles, as you describe them, it is exceptionally customizable. If I wanted to use a bow for this character I certainly could although it would be sub-optimal given how far I've progressed in other directions by now. But I've got another character that rotates between using bows and spears as the preferred attack, depending on the quality of magic items and how much I want to mix it up versus firing away from afar.

Even with the exact choices that I've made for classes, I would expect another player could choose to play very differently based on spell selection. In fact, if I wanted to re-slot my spells I can do that in many of the towns in this game as long as I'm willing to shell out some gold to accomplish that.

[bulletsponge]

cool. thanks for the reply. ive been looking for a game to waste away some time and im getting bored of WoW

[hoopsguy]

Happy to help. Earlier in the thread I think someone found both the original game and expansion pack for $45-50 - prices may have dropped again with a few months of time going by since the release of the expansion pack.

Level 50 finds the Colossal Squid making his way further into the Orient. I'm past the Great Wall and now have to face off with the Dragon creatures that really started the portion of the game where I die more frequently. During Level 49 I had some challenges with the Neanderthal Lord who stuns and then one-shots. He got me a couple of times before I bagged him, even with 50+ Stun Resist. Note to people playing this one out - don't ever get stunned against him. Seriously. I could have avoided deaths if I had just run around and let my pets finish him off, but that is boring. And, I guess I like dying more than living a boring lifestyle. Or something like that.

Level 50 - I put three points into the Master Mind spell, bringing my pets damage up from 5% to 20%. Given that I have four of them running around, I'm expecting this to pay dividends. So far the Nightmare has been pretty resilient even with only the one spell level invested. The attribute points go to INT and DEX.

Health: 4281
Energy: 1497
Strength: 246
Intelligence: 631
Dexterity: 236

Resistances: Fire 70, Cold 49, Electricity 80, Poison 15, Piercing 49 (one change in gear helped this number out), Vitality 70, Energy Leech 60, Stun 25

DPS: 915
Combined Armor: 516

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 15.35
Offensive Ability: 278
Defensive Ability: 335

Cast Speed: 122%
Run Speed: 136%
Deaths: 132
Gold: 26,113,248

Best Item: Blessing of the Gods
Worst Item: Deathrattle (got a new artifact that was not better than this)

[bulletsponge]

Happy to help. Earlier in the thread I think someone found both the original game and expansion pack for $45-50 - prices may have dropped again with a few months of time going by since the release of the expansion pack.

i just found em both for about 53$ including S&H

[hoopsguy]

Level 51 comes in the heart of the Wusao Mountain, making our way to the Orient Telkine. All in all, the level of difficulty is still pretty consistent with what we saw last game. The Bull is still a real pain, and I had to get a little chintzy to take him down - establishing a beachhead on the bridge where he wouldn't chase any further. Outside of him, the large packs of charging Dragons in the Mountain got us a couple of times.

All points went into the Master Mind again, adding an additional +15% to damage for the pets. Attribute points went to INT and DEX. We also made a few equipment changes over this level, adding the following ring to the regular rotation:

Molten Loop of Intellect
114 Burn Damage over 3 seconds
19 Fire Damage
+36 Intelligence
Slotted w/Epic Demon's Blood
35% Vitality Damage Resist
35% Stun Resist
+50% Damage to Demons

Additionally, there is a new staff:
Crackling Seer's Staff of Torment
59-133 Base Lightning Damage
Speed: Slow
12-46 Lightning Damage
35 Vitality Damage
10% chance of 3 seconds stun (paid 8 million for this staff for this feature, sacrificing 30 points of DPS in the trade)
+1.3 Energy regen per second
Slotted w/Fury's Heartblood
35 Vitality Damage
+8% Attack Speed

Health: 4281
Energy: 1497
Strength: 250
Intelligence: 690
Dexterity: 240

Resistances: Fire 70, Cold 49, Electricity 55, Poison 15, Piercing 49, Vitality 80, Energy 60, Stun 35

DPS: 1190
Combined Armor: 516 (becoming a worry, has been stagnant for a couple of levels)

Health Regenartion: 1.00
Energy Regenaration: 15.94

Offensive Ability: 283
Defensive Ability: 339
Cast Speed: 122%
Run Spee: 136%

Deaths: 139
Gold: 11,503,071 (went on a spending spree)
Best Item: Blessing of the Gods
Worst Item: Deathrattle (am I ever going to get rid of this?)

[hoopsguy]

And Typhos goes down on the first try on Epic. That was very, very different than "Normal" for those of you who read along with this dynasty earlier. He also dropped a very cool/freaky looking legendary shield called "Bloodthirst the Glutton". Not ideal for this character, but I'm dying to equip it with my defender who is almost high enough level (37) to use it.

[TonyR]

I'm still in the Orient on my way to the Jade Palace. My guys is getting wallopped everytime I run across the group of tigermen with a champion and sorcerer... I've probably totaled about 4 deaths to those darn tigermen.

I thought tigers traveled solo.

[hoopsguy]

I make it a point of falling back when the champion plants his flag. Those battles are a ton harder if you fight with that nearby. I used to destroy the flag first, but just falling back and killing the Tigers when they are out of range seems easier now. Every once in a great while they give me some trouble with numbers, but for the most part I've found them among my easier opponents with this particular character.

[hoopsguy]

Now at Level 52, ready to head into Hades. I'm torn about cleaning up all the Medea missions first. On the one hand, I like the experience and think there is a reasonable chance to collect good items in the Ruins/Throneroom. But I'm also looking to push ahead with the main plot.

I put the last point into Master Mind, which leaves two additional spell points. The biggest vulnerability I'm finding with non-boss monsters at this point is getting charged by groups and overwhelmed with damage. So I can either try to buff my ability to take damage or look for a way to slow them. I opt for #2, going with a point in Distortion Wave and one in Psionic Immolation. Those two together will slow and damage my foes, as well as doing extra damage to demons - pretty much 1/2 of Hades at least. Attributes go to INT and DEX.

Health: 4661
Energy: 1351
Strength: 258
Intelligence: 560
Dexterity: 270

Resistances: FIre 70, Cold 49, Electricity 56, Poison 39, Piercing 72, Vitality 80, Energy 60, Stun 35

DPS: 1115
Combined Armor: 516

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 14.31

Offensive Ability: 346
Defensive Ability: 408
Cast Speed: 122%
Run Speed: 136%

Total Deaths: 148
Gold: 12,807,643

9 Deaths here - I'm averaging about one per boss and taking a few here and there where being jumped by big parties who overwhelm us. Also, DPS is down about 100 points from before as I've transitioned to items that help with resistances and Off/Def ability to create a little more balance for the Squid.

[thealmighty]

Recently bought the game and expansion after having read some of this. Two questions. First, the stupid one...what is the bottom left slot for on your inventory page? It isn't in the original manual picture (page 10) and I don't see it anywhere in the IT booklet. Now, the lazy one...I don't feel like looking through all the posts here for the answer as it might give me spoilers I don't want at this time, but have you mentioned any mods or add-ons you may have used?

Appreciate all the work this must be having now played to level 15- I am on the way to Athens.

[TonyR]

The bottom left slot is for relics.
You get them made by Alchemists when you find a recipe for one.
They require items like Yeti fur, boar's skin, essence of archemedis, demon's blood, etc.

[thealmighty]

Got it. Thanks for the reply.

[TonyR]

NP, just thought I'd help since hoopsguy got me hooked into buying this game also.

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by thealmighty

Recently bought the game and expansion after having read some of this. Two questions. First, the stupid one...what is the bottom left slot for on your inventory page? It isn't in the original manual picture (page 10) and I don't see it anywhere in the IT booklet. Now, the lazy one...I don't feel like looking through all the posts here for the answer as it might give me spoilers I don't want at this time, but have you mentioned any mods or add-ons you may have used?

Appreciate all the work this must be having now played to level 15- I am on the way to Athens.

Up to this point I haven't used any mods or add-ons. It has definitely been challenging managing the inventory without the vault add-on. I would be interested in hearing about any mods that people are using and enjoying.

It really wasn't all that much work doing this, outside of typing up stuff on my laptop while playing on my desktop. And it was fun recounting the plot - I know I had a blast with it the first time I played through the game. At some later point I might come back around with a game of this genre where I tell the story in first person, trying to create a little more mood. I think that would be much more challenging (think Izulde dynasties, for example).

At this point in the story I'm just posting updates on progress, as well as reporting new encounters. I figure that the plot is similar enough the second time around that it probably isn't worth a recounting from 200 posts earlier. But if there are details that you want that I'm not providing please ask.

[Eilim]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Up to this point I haven't used any mods or add-ons. It has definitely been challenging managing the inventory without the vault add-on. I would be interested in hearing about any mods that people are using and enjoying.

It really wasn't all that much work doing this, outside of typing up stuff on my laptop while playing on my desktop. And it was fun recounting the plot - I know I had a blast with it the first time I played through the game. At some later point I might come back around with a game of this genre where I tell the story in first person, trying to create a little more mood. I think that would be much more challenging (think Izulde dynasties, for example).

At this point in the story I'm just posting updates on progress, as well as reporting new encounters. I figure that the plot is similar enough the second time around that it probably isn't worth a recounting from 200 posts earlier. But if there are details that you want that I'm not providing please ask.

Maybe if I ever get off my rear and finish the multiplayer scenario I was working on (shooting for a semi-persistant, mini-mmorpg feel, run into a few snags.. but can be done with scripting.) , we can get some multiplayer going and you can do a first person based dynasty on our adventures. now off to play some Armed Assault, or maybe some UFO:ET, perhaps some Sim City 4... Might even try to get some TQ in.. *sigh*

[hoopsguy]

So level 53 arrives while traversing the Salt Flats. This was a fun part of Hades last time around, as there were a flurry of quests to complete and the visuals were brand new. I'm finding myself using my multi-creature attack spell pretty regularly, so I put all three points into Psionic Immolation. That adds about 100 points of damage to the Electrical burn damage, with the twin bonuses of +50% versus demons and +45% on Electrical burn. I'll probably be looking to max this out (have eight more points) as I work my way through Hades, unless I spend points on improving recharge times so I can cast this more frequently. My pets are holding solid, but don't really bring much to the table when 4-5 enemies get in close quarters attacking me. For attribute points I go with STR and INT.

Health: 4661
Energy: 1351
Strength: 262
Intelligence: 564
Dexterity: 270

Resistances: Fire 70, Cold 49, Electricity 56, Poison 39, Piercing 45, Vitality 80, Energy 60, Stun 35

DPS: 1103
Combined Armor: 583
Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 14.28
Offensive Ability: 346
Defensive Ability: 408
Cast Speed: 122%
Run Speed: 136%
Total Deaths: 157
Gold: 9,324,334
Best Item: Blessing of the Gods (amulet)
Worst Item: Deathrattle (artifact)

New item: I added some new gauntlets, beefing up my combined armor by 80 points while sacrificing 27% pierce resist and giving up about 10 points of DPS.

Staunch Binding of the Gryphon:
148 Armor
+35 Armor
+18% Elemental Damage
8 Elemental Damage
+16% Energy Regeneration
+12% Attack Speed

[hoopsguy]

I learned a lesson this time through that I didn't pick up on last time. When playing on Normal I died probably 10-12 times to the giant spider queen. She basically would hit me with a ranged attack that held me (webbing) and then chop me to pieces in close quarters. I thought she was basically impossible to fight heads-up, so I went with scroll options to hold her eventually. Well, the spider queen isn't that tough if you avoid her first shot. She still does a lot of damage with her hits, but it doesn't just cut through your health if you are not bound. I was able to hit and run, avoiding the ranged attack (takes about 15-20 seconds between uses) and beat her down after learning this lesson. Only one death to her this time around.

[PiemasterUK]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

We find a quest item - a Jade Figurine - in a cave in the Jingyang Woods. I have found this with three of my characters now and never been able to associate it with a quest so I can get rid of this item

My first character was baffled by this too, but I just worked it out with my second character.

Go to the transporter in Asia that is labelled 'Great Wall'. This takes you to a villiage that is a bit of a maze. At the far north of the villiage, tucked away in an area on his own, is a quest giver. He sends you on a quest to get the idol.

[PiemasterUK]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Not sure if you are still reading along, but were you posting over on the Diablo forums last week? Saw a name that looked like yours who was going to start playing. If so, would love to hear how it is going either in here or by PM.

Diablo forums? I doubt it as I have never played Diablo.

[hoopsguy]

Er, meant the TitanQuest forums - wonder what about this game made me think of Diablo?

[PiemasterUK]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Er, meant the TitanQuest forums - wonder what about this game made me think of Diablo?

I do post sometimes on the titanquest.net forums as Piemaster. Do you post there? Who as?

[hoopsguy]

I'm just a lurker over there - have never posted on those forums or created a user ID.

[thealmighty]

Finished the Normal stage. Died once on Hades when I killed him and stood around, not realizing he would respawn (should have read this more carefully and I would have known).

On to epic now.

[hoopsguy]

So I broke this out last night and had a marathon session where I polished off Epic. I missed my reports on one level (put points into my Psionic Immolation to continue buffing multi-attack spell) but I also collected a bunch of items. The character is pretty different than he was at the last report as he heads into Legendary play.

Colossal Squid
Level 54 Ritualist
Health: 5733
Energy: 1211
Strength: 301
Intelligence: 706
Dexterity: 270

Resistances (just hobbled by moving up a level): Fire -33, Cold -23, Electricity -16, Poison -21, Piercing 75, Vitality 35, Energy Resist 60, Stun 35

DPS: 1184
Combined Armor: 747

Health Regeneration: 1.00
Energy Regeneration: 14.11

Offensive Ability: 354
Defensive Ability: 508

Cast Speed: 124%
Run Speed: 156%

Total Deaths: 182
Gold: 17,925,586

New Items:
Dreamweaver's Vestment (Epic)
210 Armor
74% Pierce Resistance
+300 Health
+34% Energy Regeneration
+2 to Trance of Wrath
+1 to all skills in Dream Mastery

Battlemage Bracers (Legendary)
200 Armor
+34 Intelligence
+190 Health
+18% Energy Regeneration
+64 Defensive Ability
+34% Attack Speed

Battlemage Greaves (Legendary)
+29 Intelligence
+190 Health
+20% Energy Regeneration
+53 Defensive Ability
+32% Movement
Combined with Battlemage Bracers, they grant an extra
+20% Armor Protection
37% Pierce Resistance

Tome of Transfiguration (lesser artifact)
+15% Elemental Damage
10 Elemental Damage
25 Armor
+35 Strength
+25 Intelligence
+10% Attack Speed
+10% Cold Resistance

So, during Epic play the Squid advanced from Level 40 to Level 54. Went from 119 deaths to 182, which was a step in the right direction but still way too messy. I'm pondering a switch to Ironman mode (game doesn't offer it, but I can do house rules) for my next character to see how far I can get.

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by thealmighty

Finished the Normal stage. Died once on Hades when I killed him and stood around, not realizing he would respawn (should have read this more carefully and I would have known).

On to epic now.

Congrats on finishing up! Are you planning on pushing ahead with Epic?

[thealmighty]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Congrats on finishing up! Are you planning on pushing ahead with Epic?

Already started last night but I'm only to the third portal so far.

[Brillig]

I'm lagging behind you guys - my HD bit the dust, whereupon I discovered that the backups saved my characters, but not their stashed equipment. Kinda burned me out on the game for a month or so. LOTRO didn't help either

Finally got back into this last week, but I had to try different character combinations. My highest right now is a 33 Warlock (Spirit/Rogue) - very cool combo but not one I would have thought of originally. Built primarily as a staff user, with Ternion Attack (shoots 3 bolts from the staff instead of one, and the second tier adds a small AoE). A serendipitous discovery is that the rogue's poison skill works on staff bolts! So I'm merrily shooting 3 AoE balls that poison, slow, and confuse. Serious mayhem Just getting into act IV, managed Typhon on the first try with only one death (I was a bit too slow and got buried by rubble.)

Unfortunately, this game is terrible for my alt-itis. Every time I get a cool item (which of course that char can't use), I'm overwhelmed with the urge to start another character for that item. Case in point - I picked up a unique shield with +1 to warfare skills AND +1 to defense skills. Now I gots me some warfare characters and I gots me some defense characters, but I don't got no warfare/defense character. Grrrr.

Another thing I'm trying is, I tend to build attribute heavy characters - by which I mean I put lots and lots of points in Masteries, which gives me high attributes, hit points and mana, but crappy skills. My warlock, for example, had both rogue and spirit mastery maxxed at level 31! :P

So for a change of pace, I'm trying the exact opposite. Not being completely silly about it, but where it makes sense I'm maxing the skills before raising the mastery. For starters, I'm doing the easiest - pets. My new Wanderer is level 14, at Parnassus, and simply tearing up the countryside with a pair of level 17 wolves with 13 maul (+1 to skills. I looooove +to skills. To a frightening and unnatural extent.) Heh. Usually pets have trouble with bosses, but so far it's been no big deal. I didn't even have to hit and run on the cyclops, for example, the wolves took him down without even needing a heal. The Telkine will be the first big test I think. If I'm figuring it right, I'll still only have 4 points in Nature Mastery at that stage. Gulp. I'll probably still be doing only 30 or so DPS personally at that point, lol.

The next step up for a skill-based character is a ranged one, so I've already got a level 3 hunter with a stash full of gear he can't use

[hoopsguy]

I decided that I wanted to start working on a new alt to help collect some of the crappy items on Normal that I don't have to finish off artifacts. Plus take advantage of some of the items I've left behind, so I started a War guy - first time I've played this build. I've been on the wrong side of Battle Standard enough times, so I'm looking forward to using it against my foes. I believe this is my fifth alt, although it is only my second since getting the expansion pack.

For what it is worth, my "pets" build just ripped apart the Telkines - they were not much of a challenge compared to some of the other bosses out there. I don't believe they were performing at the level you described, either. So that may not be your first big test after all ...