Cross Platform Hard Ironman

[carthaginians]

Well the last post on this board was like 4 months ago. Join us sickos in NMI!

[jag]

Apr 11, 2015 19:13:54 GMT -5 carthaginians said:

Well the last post on this board was like 4 months ago. Join us sickos in NMI!

Well, I had a group that I thought was going to go the distance. They were making good progress - trudging perhaps, but still steady ever on. My girlfriend called abd we chatted, made plans, etc. 45 minutes later, I resumed playing when out of nowhere BOOM HEADSHOT! and down goes Selen. I'd forgotten that I had been about to rebuff when I got the call.

Ah, well. Next time.

[fallen]

jag - how far had you made it?

[jag]

fallen - They were in Rivers Edge. No one had dropped below ~80% health up until then.

I was going to start a new Hard Ironman group, but I realized that I've never really given Fyona a fair chance. I want to include her in this one. I just need to figure out how to build her into a solid tank.

[Gr8Scott]

Is there something that needs to be done on my end to be registered on the Google No Death score list?   My score shows under Classic but not on the No Death list. 

[fallen]

Gr8Scott - what difficulty, and have you died?

The only requirement is that you have a group that is on high enough difficulty and that you haven't died.

[Gr8Scott]

Fallen- It just showed up after I completed the Burning Bridge scene.  Started last night and it didn't show this a.m.  I am 54th so it looks like this might be harder than I thought if people are dying before even getting to Oskahold.  

Do you build Kyera with a healing spell early on or does WShield & EA allow you to use potions?    I am asking since the rewards are 80% of Normal and I likely will need even more with the buffed enemies.  Also do you lean more towards Defense skills on Ironman  with Vraes and KJ?  And how do you keep Tami alive leading the party for first strikes?  Recommendations for adjustments appreciated since I usually play on Normal  and really like the synergy of the A Team(original characters) -  armor & resistance buffs, - ap and stripping with MeterShock & SilentStalk.  I tend to die when Ky gets nailed by archers (raise dex to 8 help much?) or Tami misses a stealth roll and everyone hits her for high damage.  How much more damage do the +2 lvl & +10% enemies tend to dish out? 

[fallen]

@gr8tscott - ah yes -- scores are recored in one of two cases (1) you die or (2) you stay at a Waystation or inn.

[Gr8Scott]

Jul 6, 2015 14:41:39 GMT -5 fallen said:

@gr8tscott - ah yes -- scores are recored in one of two cases (1) you die or (2) you stay at a Waystation or inn.

Hmmm. It seems like there is an awful lot of dying going on for the introduction part of the game then.  Those spiders did hit fairly hard though.  So maybe there is a thread for this already you can direct me to, but what tactical changes does one need to make to survive in hard to nightmare levels?  Retreating sounds like option lol. 

[matrim]

Defences are top priority on ironman any difficulty. The first act especially will require retreating to safe locations where only 1-2 melee can get at you and preferably a place where you can hide from archers easily so they are not getting free shots on you. As for healing talents I personally have not touched a healing talent and am at the edge of the new content on ironman nightmare, so you can potion your way through the current content. That said it took me a lot of tries to get the party build right in order to minimize damage and maximize sp efficiency so I would not run out of potions. With the original 4, I recommend Phalanx Shield for Vraes, Choking Ash for Kjartan, Warder's Shield for Kyera, and Deadly Intuition for Tam. Only real weakness is ap curses but with Tam's ap curse on the way it should be easy to remedy soon.

[Gr8Scott]

Jul 6, 2015 16:13:46 GMT -5 matrim said:

Defences are top priority on ironman any difficulty. The first act especially will require retreating to safe locations where only 1-2 melee can get at you and preferably a place where you can hide from archers easily so they are not getting free shots on you. As for healing talents I personally have not touched a healing talent and am at the edge of the new content on ironman nightmare, so you can potion your way through the current content. That said it took me a lot of tries to get the party build right in order to minimize damage and maximize sp efficiency so I would not run out of potions. With the original 4, I recommend Phalanx Shield for Vraes, Choking Ash for Kjartan, Warder's Shield for Kyera, and Deadly Intuition for Tam. Only real weakness is ap curses but with Tam's ap curse on the way it should be easy to remedy soon.

Thanks. That sounds like my plan.  Kyera WShield then EA to lvl 6 for the - 2ap.  Definately PhalanxShield for Vraes and ChokingAsh for KJ at least to lvl 5/AoE9.  I was planning on Blacknight for Tami so Vraes can get in front of her to take damage before enemy attacks and SilentStalker crit and curses.  I am not sure how much Deadly Intuition I can add to her before Ep2. Plus I like DisarmTouch lvl3 early to clear areas mid combat as you run into those difficulies darly with Ratkin... Although  if I will more.... Hmm

[matrim]

I would definitely not use points (especially early ones) on disarm. It saves you very minimal ap on very few fights and after act 1 the traps thin out significantly. Almost anywhere else would be better (the exception being the open lock skill).

[Gr8Scott]

Jul 6, 2015 16:41:34 GMT -5 matrim said:

I would definitely not use points (especially early ones) on disarm. It saves you very minimal ap on very few fights and after act 1 the traps thin out significantly. Almost anywhere else would be better (the exception being the open lock skill).

Thanks for the advice. Most advise gear for open locks. There is a recent thread on that.  

[Deleted]

I've got two Hard Ironman groups who are currently in the hunt

Amazon: KVKT at 132 mil in River's Edge

I think this is my overall favorite combination of heroes. This group hits on all cylinders and with Kincaid as my "stealth" lead I barely ever take hits. Everyone just walks up to him and misses and then is ready for LS 10 from Vincent. Also, I've grown to love Kyera and Tamilin much much more than their replacements. I've had my flings with Holy Strickening and Pinning Shot but these two get the job done and then some.

Google: VKKT at 25 mil in Vermin Warrens

Probably shouldn't post ironman groups until I get past the Shaman...

This OG run is my attempt to make friends with Vraes again. I'm loving Crushing Blow comboed with Choking Ash. 1 shotting Ratkin warriors has never been so cheap or fun. Also, after playing with Kincaid as my lead, I'm back in the real stealth game with Tam. Up to 18 stealth total now and continuing to increase every other level (unless I get upgraded gear). Haven't lost a stealth roll since I got to Oskahold. I think I can make a real ironman happen with her in the lead (famous last words I know, and admittedly I am only on Hard, not NMI like all the psychos on these boards).

Also, Gr8Scott are you still moving up the boards with your group?

[Gr8Scott]

@rearick I just entered Red Hill dungeons with Bloodlace's help with the A Team.  I'm like 12th on the Google Hard No Death table.  

Please explain how you make Vincent work in your KVKT run.  I end up with low hit percentage with that group when I run it and get frustrated. Even with the Boost in testing, Giant Rats hang  around forever even with ThunderBlade 3.  Also I can never decide whether to build Tami with Deadly Intuition or Silent Stalker early. Without KJ's Choking Ash Silent Stalker doesn't work often enough so I stick with DI and +crit.  Until I come to a boss who really needs that curse slapped on him.