I entered Diablo II and started my search for the "right" name. Always an onerous task as the first dozen or so tries end up "Already in Use" or something to that effect on the Realms. I finally was able to create the name Hard-Xore and jumped into a game, only to find out three levels into it that I forgot to make the character hardcore! This was my intention all along. So, I said my good-byes, left the game, exited Battle.Net, and deleted and recreated the character. This time he was hardcore! So, Hard-Xore now exists on the US-West hardcore Realm.
And so, I was born.
I created a game to make sure all the quests were available. I stopped to talk with Akara and she laid upon me the quest of "The Den of Evil". I made my way quickly into the Blood Moor and started to kill the monsters I encountered on my way to the Den of Evil. About five people joined the game while I was doing this, and my character quickly benefited from the additional souls in the game; the experience awarded for my kills climbed quickly. A second level Sorceress partied and joined me about halfway through the Den of Evil. Each of us benefited from the teamwork and we soon cleared the level. "It was good to see the light" again!
I cast a Town Portal and went back to town. I talked to Akara and was awarded a skill point for completing the quest. In the process of clearing the Den of Evil, I had gained three levels, so I had acquired fifteen points to distribute in my attributes and four to distribute in my skill trees. This included the one awarded for the quest. I decided to put ten into Strength and five into Vitality. For the skills, I put two in Sword Mastery, one in Bash, and one in Howl.
I had been using the standard axe and shield (default equipment upon starting the character) to this point. While clearing out the Den of Evil I found a three-socketed and one Chipped Topaz gem. I put the Topaz in the bow and decided to use this in my optional (II) weapon area. Since I could do more damage with the bow at this point, I elected to use my option II weapon slots in my active attack until I found a sword I could use that did more damage. Additionally, this allowed me to kill from a distance, which was important since I lacked any decent armor at this point.
Also note that I had been picking up every regular and superior item I found to help build my poor Gold reserves. I am currently wearing quilted armor, some regular gloves, magic ("+1 to Stamina") boots, a ring with "+1 to Energy", and an empty two-socketed helm.
Now it was time to get back to the adventure! After a quick talk with Kashya I was given the quest of killing Blood Raven. The Sorceress and I decided to continue our partnership. We used my Town Portal, returned to the Blood Moor, and proceeded to kill all the monsters we came across on our way to the Cold Plains and the Burial Grounds beyond. In the process of making our way to the Burial Grounds, I leveled up twice, so before entering the graveyard area, I cast a Town Portal and went back to town to distribute my additional points before taking on Blood Raven and her crew of undead minions.
I distributed five of my attribute points to Strength and five to Vitality. I then distributed my skill points: I put one in Sword Mastery and one in Leap, as I was now at level 6.
I had also found a rare club with minimum damage of 3-6 and these effects: "+35 to Attack Rating" and "+1-6 Lightning Damage". I got rid of the axe and went with this as my primary weapon. Depending upon the situation, I would rotate between the club and the bow in combat. My money reserves had increased enough so that I could buy some good ring mail, so I upgraded my armor. I also found a two-socketed spiked shield and went with that as a replacement for the default shield I had upon creating the character. I had also come across a chipped Ruby so I dropped that in my socketed helm for the additional ten Hit Points it bestowed. I was now ready for Blood Raven.
The Sorceress and I entered the Burial Grounds. After a futile attempt to track down Blood Raven and strike her with my club, I switched to my off weapon (II). With the help of the Sorceress, also armed with a bow, we took Blood Raven out at a distance.
We proceeded down into the Mausoleum for some experience and magic items. Down there we met a lightning enchanted skeleton. I backed out of the room, but the Sorceress went in fighting. She died in about one and one-half seconds. I decided that running, at this point, was the better part of valor as I have 0% Lightning Resistance!
I cast a Town Portal and went back to town. I talked with Kashya and she awarded me a mercenary for killing Blood Raven. I decided to trade that mercenary in for one with Cold Arrow. I equipped her with some of my old gear, including my bow along with adding another chipped Topaz gem that I had found. The bow now had additional damage of 2-12 lightning.
Next, I went back through the Town Portal and let my mercenary take out the lightning enchanted skeleton, while I watched out of the lightning range. My mercenary and I then finished off the rest of the Mausoleum level. Following this, we made quick work of the Crypt as well.
We emerged and headed back to town another level higher. I distributed the additional 5 attribute points towards Strength and the one skill point towards Sword Mastery.
I then proceeded into the Cold Plains, killing at will. In the process of mapping out the area and killing all the monsters, I acquired two more levels. Leveling is a lot easier early on, with multiple people in the game!
My wife called me to dinner and it was time to shut down for the night. I opened up another Town Portal and went back to town and distributed my new points. I put ten points in Strength, one point in Sword Mastery and one point in Shout.
I proceeded to upgrade my mercenary's equipment as well as my own. I gave her my helm and ring mail, while I took a magic Barbarian helm I found (it had two sockets, "+2 to Bash" and "+1 Shout") and a ring mail with one socket. I had found two more chipped rubies, so I put them in my new helm for "+20 to Life".
I also bought a long bow to refill my second weapon slot so that I could attack at a distance should I need to. Well, my evening of fun had drawn to a close, yet my life as Hard-Xore had just begun. So I ended up at level nine.
RSS Feeds
