Discussion:
Advice on gaming a javazon in Hell?
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CymTyr
2004-04-23 08:58:34 UTC
Permalink
I am asking for carte blanche advice, give me everything you know. I have
experience with javazons, but only in normal. Say I were to come across a
javazon in the early 90's, and I really really really really really do NOT
want her to die (HC). What are some good strategies for keeping her alive in
1.10? Tactics? Hunting areas? Assume that resistances are not a problem,
just the insane leap in Hell difficulty from 1.09 to 1.10.
--
Moving along, what is it you think you've found?
The ground quakes at the sound shaking all around
Purely poetic in nature, another wherewithall kid from the streets
Living and giving, striding and biding his time to complete
His goal, PLUR.
u
2004-04-23 14:35:45 UTC
Permalink
I think I might be able to help you a bit on that Cym.

First off, consider honing your skills in Nightmare for a while. Not
forever, just maybe a week or so, until your tactics and hand-eye
coordination are refined to a keen edge. Learn to use the different skills,
and start learning your new hotkeys. Don't venture back into Hell till you
can do them blindfolded. Learn the item charges and practice with them.

Do not forget to treat Nightmare monsters the same as you would Hell level
monsters. There are STILL potent Champion and Boss combinations in
Nightmare that can kill even the highest, most well-built character of ANY
class.

Most Javazons don't equip their Merc all that well, I don't know why. They
are very very helpful when they carry powerful equipment.

Depend on your Valk to be your meat shield, but your secret weapon is always
the Decoy. Decoys cost nothing but a little sliver of mana, you can cast 20
in a row and not even drain half your Mana globe. They will tell you if
there is anything up ahead and take the hits if there is. Just as with
voting, cast early and cast often. They are particularly helpful in against
Baal's minions. You can cast one, get out of the minion's "sensing range",
and pick them off with LF without ever even seeing the minons.
Remember....Decoys.

Thanks to the ubiquitous Thundergod's Vigor most Javazons wear, lightning
based attacks against you tickle, and little more. Still, a pack of Fanatic
Gloams in Hell is best sidestepped or picked off with your Glimmershred or
Demon's Arch from far, far away. In Nightmare you can likely stand in the
middle of a whole legion of Gloams and pretty much just laugh at them.

Heard of Carrion Wind ring? That O.S. charge is carries means the
difference between 1000 life and 1500 life. OS's don't last long and tend
to float into any trouble they see, but recharging that ring is fairly
inexpensive. Don't be stingy with it.

Try to be a ranged attacker as much as possible. A javazon can stand toe to
toe with anyone or anything, but take a lesson from the military...snipers
have the highest survival rate.

Be aware that Javazons get the slimmest pickings of all from any treasure
drops in 8 player games with strangers. You're always at a disadvantage as
a non-teleporting ranged attacker. If I run into a group that shares the
spoils, I'll be right up front in the heart of the battle. But in public
games having this be the case is a rarity. Because of this, my philosophy
is that if THEY are going to be greedy, I'm going to let them let them do
the dangerous stuff like teleporting, going through the TP first, activating
boss packs, etc. That's my personal philosophy, not my recommendation on
how you should play the game of course.

Get some Marrowalks. The BP charge will save your life if something is
chasing you or if you have to deal with big, powerful monsters such as
Lister or Duriel. Use it judiciously though, it's almost 50k per charge to
use, but remember it's only gold. You can always get more gold, but you
can't get back a dead HC character.

Always remember that Mercs and Valks, and any minion for that matter, will
always attack when you want them to stand still, and will always run back to
you after running ahead of you and activating 3 boss packs. Always.

Javazons with over-maxed resists, elemental aborb, damage reduction, and
high% blocking tend to have low blocking speed. Be careful about getting
into melee battles with monsters that can block-lock you, like fanatic
archers and multi-shot spike beasts. For that matter, avoid melee, one of
the few things that can kill you is Iron Maiden.

Feel free to laugh at the Blood Mana curses Harpys throw at you, they're
scary for Sorcs and Necros, but to you it's just a pretty animation above
your head, ignore it.

Beware Moon Lords, they are fast and tend to ignore Valks and Decoys.

If you are in a public Baal leveling game and are activating the minions,
use the chamber columns at the bottom of the screen to your advantage.
Stand in their shadow so that neither you nor any aura/curse animations
affecting you can be seen. The second column from the right on the bottom of
the screen is my favorite. You'll still be able to attack and pick up
treasure, but since these are usually animation intensive situations, the
confusion will hide you from potential pk attacks. I've personally survived
several pk attempts because the attacker was focusing too much on the game
screen and not enough on his mini-map. Being this close to a column also
puts you in a excellent position to use it as an obstacle against attacks
from monsters or other players.

Ok, I think I've rambled on long enough. Good luck and good hunting.


Anex.......Explodeazon, practice, practice, practice. Remember, giving
someone a Balabushka pool cue does not make him an expert billiards player,
only a potential expert billiards player with an edge.
Post by CymTyr
I am asking for carte blanche advice, give me everything you know. I have
experience with javazons, but only in normal. Say I were to come across a
javazon in the early 90's, and I really really really really really do NOT
want her to die (HC). What are some good strategies for keeping her alive in
1.10? Tactics? Hunting areas? Assume that resistances are not a problem,
just the insane leap in Hell difficulty from 1.09 to 1.10.
--
Moving along, what is it you think you've found?
The ground quakes at the sound shaking all around
Purely poetic in nature, another wherewithall kid from the streets
Living and giving, striding and biding his time to complete
His goal, PLUR.
Jean Lutrin
2004-04-23 19:23:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by u
Heard of Carrion Wind ring? That O.S. charge is carries means the
difference between 1000 life and 1500 life. OS's don't last long and tend
to float into any trouble they see, but recharging that ring is fairly
inexpensive. Don't be stingy with it.
I think u meant nature's peace ? After reading your post I went
checking my Carrion Wind ring and it for sure doesn't have
any Oak Sage charges on it ! (and I don't have nature's peace :(
Post by u
For that matter, avoid melee, one of the few things that can
kill you is Iron Maiden.
This is why I don't use a single melee skill on my Javazons :)

Lightning Fury, GA on the switch with a bow.
Post by u
If you are in a public Baal leveling game and are activating the minions,
use the chamber columns at the bottom of the screen to your advantage.
Stand in their shadow so that neither you nor any aura/curse animations
affecting you can be seen. The second column from the right on the bottom of
the screen is my favorite. You'll still be able to attack and pick up
treasure, but since these are usually animation intensive situations, the
confusion will hide you from potential pk attacks.
I need some help here : I don't get it ! If I'm in a public Baal game,
I notice when someone goes hostile and since there are two floors + the
way to the Throne to travel, even some pk tele'ing needs quite some time
to come and try to kill me !?

I mean : I definetely have the time to do a TP and take it... (when I'm
killing Baal minions in a public game, which is what your talking about) ?

Do you mean you stay there even when someone tries to PK ?

I asks this because you are scaring me : is there so way to go hostile
and pk me in a split second when I'm in the throne room killing Baal's
minions ?

Cya soon,

Jean
u
2004-04-23 19:38:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jean Lutrin
I think u meant nature's peace ?
Carrion, Nature, Dwarf, Raven, SoJ, too many damn rings! :)
Yes, my bad, I meant Nature's Peace, though use it too much around a Necro
and their will be precious little "peace" to speak of.
Post by Jean Lutrin
This is why I don't use a single melee skill on my Javazons :)
Lightning Fury, GA on the switch with a bow.
ack!!! and go shieldless in Hell?!? His resists will tumble by 19 points not
to mention the loss of his amazing blocking% and his 35% DR (He has a PD'd
Stormshield). But yes, though it opens up your defenses a lot, a bow on
weapon switch is certainly a viable and effective tactic.
Post by Jean Lutrin
I need some help here : I don't get it ! If I'm in a public Baal game,
I notice when someone goes hostile and since there are two floors + the
way to the Throne to travel, even some pk tele'ing needs quite some time
to come and try to kill me !?
I asks this because you are scaring me : is there so way to go hostile
and pk me in a split second when I'm in the throne room killing Baal's
minions ?
Please read Mark's reply to the "Trigger pk is back" thread from the 20th of
April. Forewarned is forearmed.


Anex.....Explodeazon, even if I had the president of Blizzard himself email
me telling me that they had fixed every possible pk trick out there, I would
still play warily and carefully around strangers.
CymTyr
2004-04-23 20:42:58 UTC
Permalink
Thanks, perhaps I should have asked this of you earlier.

:) - This advice is extremely beneficial!! :D
Bingain
2004-04-23 15:12:40 UTC
Permalink
I swear I have seen my amazon dodging Hydra bolts (from councils, not from
sorcs). I suppose nobody can overlook avoid anymore.

Also, a BO'ed maxed Valk can take any beatings, that include M60, RPG, any
WMD, and even sweet things said by an ill-minded barb.

Bing
Post by CymTyr
I am asking for carte blanche advice, give me everything you know. I have
experience with javazons, but only in normal. Say I were to come across a
javazon in the early 90's, and I really really really really really do NOT
want her to die (HC). What are some good strategies for keeping her alive in
1.10? Tactics? Hunting areas? Assume that resistances are not a problem,
just the insane leap in Hell difficulty from 1.09 to 1.10.
--
Moving along, what is it you think you've found?
The ground quakes at the sound shaking all around
Purely poetic in nature, another wherewithall kid from the streets
Living and giving, striding and biding his time to complete
His goal, PLUR.
CymTyr
2004-04-23 20:49:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bingain
I swear I have seen my amazon dodging Hydra bolts (from councils, not from
sorcs). I suppose nobody can overlook avoid anymore.
Also, a BO'ed maxed Valk can take any beatings, that include M60, RPG, any
WMD, and even sweet things said by an ill-minded barb.
Bing
Barbs should watch their manners! :D
Jean Lutrin
2004-04-23 20:04:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by CymTyr
I am asking for carte blanche advice, give me everything you know. I have
experience with javazons, but only in normal. Say I were to come across a
javazon in the early 90's, and I really really really really really do NOT
want her to die (HC).
Hi there,

I play only javazons since some time, and only in Hardcore (ladder, Europe),
and mostly in hell.

Here's how I do, then I explain you what my biggest javazons are wearing.

I've solo'ed several times act 1, 2, 3 and partially act 4 several times.
I don't dare to kill Diablo by myself (although I think I could) so when
one of my javazon needs to kill Diablo in Hell difficulty, I join a public
game (same for ancients).

I level from 42 to 54/55 soloing nightmare, all acts, with Titans (I start
doing NM when I'm level 42, so I can use Titan : which is somewhat "cheesy").

Then I do some "solo" Baal-minions runs, clearing everything that I encounter
and some private cow runs (I use another char to open the red portal to the
cow level). When leveling from (approx.) 54 to 65, I would say that one
"baal run" give nearly two level while one cow level gives maybe one ? (maybe
more, never really paid attention).

Anyway, three or four "baal-minions/cow" games and I'm level 65. Then I kill
baal and do some hell cow runs (using, once again, another char to open
the red portal). Killing hell cows with a jazon being lvl 64 is both funny
and scary, especially with "shitty mf gear" on. Yup. A javazon with shitty
gear and negative resists can do very very well in hell ! I play really
"hardcare" : I use decoy a lot, never take risks, never go melee. But I
do like to play with shitty gear and going into hell difficulty as soon
as possible (that is for me: as soon as I can safely kill Baal NM). My merc
is btw usually really useless when being less than lvl 70/75 in hell...

I've been solo'ing a javazon up to lvl 84 playing with the cow king set on !!!

Then I stupidly lost here to Pindleskin (first time I was trying "pindle
runs" : I thought it was riskless !).

I precise that I didn't lost her because of the shitty gear : I lost her
because I had no practice, because I didn't know hell-Pindle was mean !

Anyway, once of my javazon becomes high-level, I change her shitty mf gear
to something safer.

My two biggest Javazons have the following gear :

- Shaftstop (not upgraded, nothing socketed)
- Tal rasha mask (with TAL rune, for more poison resists)
- snow clash battle belt giving +15% max cold resist + some cold absorb
- "inferno stride demonhide" boots giving +10 % max fire resists
- moser shield with two perfect diamonds in it
- Raven Frost (cannot be frozen, cold absord, +DEX : a must ;)
- a nice dual leech ring with resists
- Titan's
- unique Balrog Spear (fire dmg to kill the LI / PI's)
- lots of charms

So this javazon (nearly 89 )has 85 / 90 / 75 / 75 resists
and 30% dmg reduction.

She can kill everything, including LI's / PI's... If I encounter a
LI/PI/FI in a solo game, I cast a decoy and run away ;)))

And this without having "uber" gear : no shako, no stormshield, no
annihilus, no Thundergod Vigor... Titan is very tradable, so is Shaft.

For the little story, I killed the ancients in a public games with this
ama : I could tank two ancients (hell difficulty) while the others players
were running around like crazy. Last ancient was cold + fire and when
he died, I could not see my life changing at all... While *two* other
players (both lvl 75) died !

My other big javazon has :

- Guardian angel (nearly perfect GA, with UM rune I found in it)
- Tal Rasha mask
- string of ears
- moser with two perfect diamonds in it
- Raven Frost
- don't remember what other ring
- Titan's
- Buriza (cold dmg to kill the LI / PI 's)
- lots of charms

So this second "big" javazon has 90 / 90 / 90 / 90 resists and
13 % dmg reduction.

With all the charms, resists are actually more than maxxed in hell, around
110 for all but poison (which is at 95).

I always use a maxed Valk (which nearly never dies), maxed Lightning
Fury, and other points in various passive skills (dodge / evade /
piercing / double damage).

I have several javazons because once I get lvl 87/88 I find it waaayyy
too boring to lvl up. So I just start another one, and solo NM and first
three acts in hell...

And they hardly ever die, besides when I play like crazy (lost an lvl 84
ama to hell pindle and a lvl 79 ama to hell cows, my first "cow" javazons,
didn't have enough practice ;) My mistake, both times...

A javazon with "ok" gear is IMHO good at surviving hardcore hell difficulty.

Cya,

Jean
CymTyr
2004-04-23 20:48:36 UTC
Permalink
Thanks, you posted some good advice here.
john graesser
2004-04-23 22:25:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jean Lutrin
A javazon with "ok" gear is IMHO good at surviving hardcore hell difficulty.
My only javazon is lvl 75 using titan and twin manalds for the mana leech,
and I still can't leech enough mana to keep LF going in a hell cow game,
where are your javazons getting enough mana to keep throwing lightning?
Jens Schmalzing
2004-04-23 22:27:23 UTC
Permalink
Hi,
Post by john graesser
My only javazon is lvl 75 using titan and twin manalds for the mana leech,
and I still can't leech enough mana to keep LF going in a hell cow game,
where are your javazons getting enough mana to keep throwing lightning?
Get items with + to mana after each kill, not mana leech.

Regards, Jens.
--
J'qbpbe, le m'en fquz pe j'qbpbe!
Le veux aimeb et mqubib panz je pezqbpbe je djuz tqtaj!
Bob I
2004-04-24 13:53:06 UTC
Permalink
Lidless Wall
Post by Jean Lutrin
Post by Jean Lutrin
A javazon with "ok" gear is IMHO good at surviving hardcore hell
difficulty.
My only javazon is lvl 75 using titan and twin manalds for the mana leech,
and I still can't leech enough mana to keep LF going in a hell cow game,
where are your javazons getting enough mana to keep throwing lightning?
Bingain
2004-04-24 14:11:13 UTC
Permalink
My javazon has 16% mana leech, 5-13% life leech (depends on weapon). I gave
her a lot of mana leech because she's an eldritch/pindle mfer and there
aren't that many bouncable targets to leech from.

Bing
Post by Jean Lutrin
Post by Jean Lutrin
A javazon with "ok" gear is IMHO good at surviving hardcore hell
difficulty.
My only javazon is lvl 75 using titan and twin manalds for the mana leech,
and I still can't leech enough mana to keep LF going in a hell cow game,
where are your javazons getting enough mana to keep throwing lightning?
Jean Lutrin
2004-04-25 16:26:28 UTC
Permalink
"john graesser" <***@tca.net> wrote in message news:<***@corp.supernews.com>...
...
Post by john graesser
My only javazon is lvl 75 using titan and twin manalds for the mana leech,
and I still can't leech enough mana to keep LF going in a hell cow game,
where are your javazons getting enough mana to keep throwing lightning?
Hi there,

in hell, where physical damage is reduced, mana leech is working much
less effectively than in normal or NM. But, I do mana leech and it
is definitely working : 10 % mana leech on Tal Rasha Mask (not a gosu
item), 4 % mana leech on a "blue" amulet that has 4 % mana leech/30 all
res (not a gosu item either), 4 % mana leech on a rare ring that has
some mana leech and some resists. So it's "only" 18 % mana leech but
it works quite well (I had also had nice gloves +2 skills / 3 % mana
leech / some resists but I lost them in an HC death :(

I also have some charm with "+10 to +15 mana"...

Now, I didn't mention that even with 18 % mana leech I do need to drink
potions : usually I have the first three columns of my belt filled with
mana potions and the last one filled with 4 full rejuv potions (which
I really rarely need).

I don't put a single characteristic point in energy/mana.

I do indeed go back to town during hell cow runs to reload titans and
buy mana pots (I do both at the same time).

Btw, each lvl you gain will get you some more mana : so the problem will
be less noticeable.

Reading the other posts, I am considering trying one of my lidless wall
for the "+3-5 to mana after each kill" (though I would probably socket
a shael in it to increase my block speed/efficiency !?).

Cya,

Jean (going to lvl up closer to 90... This is my next "big D2 LOD wish",
my first lvl 90 ever ! Even in 1.09 I never had a char lvl 90. In 15 days
or so I should have my first lvl 90 char :)
CymTyr
2004-04-27 01:41:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jean Lutrin
Jean (going to lvl up closer to 90... This is my next "big D2 LOD wish",
my first lvl 90 ever ! Even in 1.09 I never had a char lvl 90. In 15 days
or so I should have my first lvl 90 char :)
'Grats! I had a lvl 98 WindForce bowazon on my main 1.09 account, which was
given away in a fit of anxiety due to reality reasons.

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