Leap/Barbarian

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:07 pm

I'm playing Diablo 2:LoD
I'd like to know if "Leap" will help if I'm getting pummeled. Or doesn't it work once one is being attacked. I'd hate to waste a skill point on it. I'm going the Mace Mastery/Iron Skin/Concentrate/Berserk/Natural Resistance route. If you have any tips on best mace or shield etc, I'd appreciate the help. Being physically disabled, I have some trouble mousing/1-4 belt buttons/hotkeys etc, so I'm looking to make the right moves. Plus, I always seem to get surrounded = not good. I just started Lut Golem(...just found the Horadric Cube) and my level is quite high(20 or 21 ?) because I lost stat points when I hit 70 in Act 1 = I had to replay quests to get those pounts back(...I have my bacpack full of charms that pumped up my strength and dexterity). Also any advice on socketed vs plain equipment would be helpful = I noticed the rating differences and wonder if the gems make it worth going socketed. I'd like to continue on in difficulty, so I'm think long term ?. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:09 pm

There is always a chance of interuption of any mana using skill or any attack. Though, leap is usefull at around level 3-5 as it increases in range (Starts out rather small of a range) as you level it.

Definetly get leap at least thrice.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 11:05 pm

Leap Attack is as far as I know uninteruptable, it will help you greatly in escaping when surrounded.

You should never put more than one point in Leap, since Leap is inferior to Leap Attack in every way. One point is enough for Leap Attack as well.

I also adivce you not to put more than very few points in Natural resistance, as the payoff is smaller for every additional point you put in to it.

About weapons I'm not sure I understand what advice you are looking for. If you don't have a lot of good equipment already it is difficult to suggest options since it is not certain what you will find. Also, neither plain equipment or equipment socketed with gems will do in the long run. If you plan on reaching the higher difficulties it is rare(yellow) and unique(golden) equipment you should look for, along with runewords which are very powerful.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 1:25 am

Thanks for the help.
My equipment is good; my game playing is bad

Level 22
Scepter - 110% / 170% ratings vs undead
Armor - I imbued too early at 66 DEF in Act 1
Shield - 66% block rating ... 30% / 20% modifiers + 30% enhanced defense

My backpack is full of charms/resistances ... a few for dexterity ... a few for damage(fire, lightning, poison etc..)

My attack rating is about 900 ... concentrate rating about 1,000
Defense about 190.

My resistances are about 30% ... except for cold which is 0%(...can't find any charms or equipment to boost it ?)

I've equipped my merc with the best bow/armor/helm = she's a lifesaver
When I get swarmed I run back to her and let her pick them off one by one

I will look for the yellow/gold equipment ... no idea what runewords are = guess that will explain itself in time

Just found the Horadric Staff.
Have 2 skill points to spend = going to leap'em

Thank you for your time.

moltovir · Post by **moltovir** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 4:28 am

[QUOTE=Dottie]Leap Attack is as far as I know uninteruptable, it will help you greatly in escaping when surrounded.

You should never put more than one point in Leap, since Leap is inferior to Leap Attack in every way. One point is enough for Leap Attack as well.
[/QUOTE]

I'll have to correct you in this Dottie

If you initiate a Leap Attack in the exact same frame where you are hit (D2 is run at 25 frames per second, in 1 second a character can undertake a maximum of 25 different actions), LA will temporarily be "bugged" and will not work anymore for the rest of the game, until you exit and return to the game. This makes LA rather dangerous to use to escape difficult situations, as this might get you killed. With my own Barb I experienced this about once every 5 times I was surrounded (and it killed me all those times too).

Leap is a lot more useful then it seems, but it needs some points in it before it starts shining. The points are not to increase Jump radius (you're better off with LA then, that has a screen-wide radius even at slvl 1), but to increase the hidden Knockback bonus. If you use Leap to jump into a pack of monsters, they will be stunned and knocked back in a small radius. This radius increases with skill level, and at slvl 20 the radius covers the whole screen. If you're surrounded and have no way to escape, switch to Leap, press the Alt button (to disable mouse-click targetting), and execute a few Leaps. All the monsters will be stuck in some kind of Michael-Jackson-Breakdance animation, being pushed back and stunned every time you Leap. This is extremely handy in the Chaos Sanctuary, where one Leaper Barb can stun-lock all the Oblivion Knights against walls and pillars while the rest of the party kills them without being cursed or hit once.

GA_Havoc · Post by **GA_Havoc** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 4:30 am

What is your accountname? Maybe if I bump into you I could help.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:12 pm

Now I'm confused(...which is not hard to do)
I'm only interested in "Leaping" to get out of trouble ... I tend to get surrounded and pummeled frequently
Do to my physical limitations, I can't position my fingers on the "keys" to drink and fight = I have to remove my hands from the mouse and hit a belt key
Therefore, I die alot when surrounded :-(
If LA will cause me problems = yes, I will be hit when trying to Leap, then I guess Leap is my best option
However I can't afford to put that many points into it = I'm at the stage where I'm trying to max out Mace Mastery; add to Concentrate; add to Iron Skin ... then get ready to Berserk and Natural Resistance
At level 22, it seems to take forever to level up

I could probably put 2-3 points in Leap.
Would it be worth it ?
Or should I try and create a Tank-like Barbarian ?
Again, I'm physically limited in how many functions I can do in battle(mouse/keyboard) = so sometimes; more often than not, fleeing seems to be my best recourse.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I can't get to slvl(... I assume that means skill level 20) 20 in Leap = would 2-3 points be a waste ?
I can see as the game goes on, some passages/rooms are loaded with creatures and there is no way to bull your way through. Even trying to lure them out doesn't work all the time = sometimes you have to go in and do battle
I'm sure as I progress, it will only get tougher.
I'd like to try and get to Hell

If I'm having trouble now, I can only imagine what's ahead = and this is Normal mode :-(

To the individual who requested my account name.
I'm playing "single player" = not good enough to battle with you pros ... though that would be nice !
Appreciate the kind thought.

GA_Havoc · Post by **GA_Havoc** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:19 pm

No problem, but I made the suggestion because I find multiplayer actually easier then single.
This is because of the support you can get from stronger allies who sometimes have good items they'll give you.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:22 am

@Moltovir: I had no idea about either of these things, good to know. I must say I have never had any problems with using Leap Attack to get out of danger, but this might be due to the fact that I usally leap before I am completely surrounded.

@Joe05: Regardless of the bug Moltovir mention it is possible to leap out of danger, but then it might be necessary to leap early to avoid the bug. If you plan to play like this you should use Leap Attack.

What moltovir is describing is a way to use the skill Leap in a good way, you have to decide whether it can be applied to the same situations as you would use Leap Attack in, personally I belive (without having tried) that it can be used to quite good effect for escapes by leaping to create the knockback effeckt, and then using the time and space gained to run away.

I don't know what you mean by a "tank-like" barbarian, but if you mean that you should put all your points in combat skills and ignore skills that can help you escape tough situations I would say its a bad idea. The "escape" skills usally only cost a few points and they are very usefull, so don't be afraid to use a few points to get the one you want.

If I were you I would ask moltovir about the possibility of using "Grim Ward" to escape as well. I am not very good with barbarians, so I can't tell you if its viable or not.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:10 pm

Thanks for the help.
I put 1pt in Leap + Leap Attack ... I'll try to leap before get pummeled

Tested in a few times in the Viper Quest (... to get to the necromancers); jumped short a few; made some good jumps ... think it wil come in handy = yes; it looks like D2 requires lots of fleeing :-(

Found superior armor/shield.
I'm at my gold max = so more fighting and less portal back to sell
Seems you find better stuff than what's sold ?

I may become a pain, as I'm going to try all the characters + go as far in difficulty as I'm able.
I have ideas on all but the Paladin character = I'd like to go the Avenger(? - read about that setup) route, but nobody has flushed out how to allocate stat/skill points.
So, I'll probably become a royal pain when I hit that character

Siberys · Post by **Siberys** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:57 pm

Let me know when you get to Sorceresses then. They be my specialty and I can help you with that easily.

Dottie · Post by **Dottie** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:55 pm

[QUOTE=joe05]Found superior armor/shield.
I'm at my gold max = so more fighting and less portal back to sell
Seems you find better stuff than what's sold ?[/QUOTE]

Yes, you will find almost all of your god items, trade is only good for a very low number of highly specifical needs.

An exception is Gambling. If you have a lot of money it might be worth gambling for gloves, boots, amulets and rings, but only if you are quite high level. I don't think 30 or so is enough.

moltovir · Post by **moltovir** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:51 am

[quote="joe05]
I have ideas on all but the Paladin character = I'd like to go the Avenger(? - read about that setup) route"]

Average Avenger build:
Str: enough for gear
Dex: enough for gear, or enough for 75% block with Holy Shield
Vit: everything else
Ene: nothing

20 Vengeance
10 Resist Fire
10 Resist Lightning
10 Resist Cold
20 Conviction (main aura)
0-10 Holy Shield (depending on whether you use a shield or not, and on your dex)
1 point each in the utility aura's (Redemption, Cleansing, Vigor)
Spare points in Resist Aura's

Detailed list about how to increase Vengeance damage (maths heavy) It's best to use a one-handed weapon with as high physical damage as you can find.

joe05 · Post by **joe05** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 8:37 pm

Wow, thanks everyone !
I'm going to copy down the info.

Just got my but whooped going through the tombs = lost 130,000 in gold
Duriel whooped me twice = just couldn't get my fingers to thaw/heal + attack
But, we're on to Act 3.

Aztaroth · Post by **Aztaroth** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 4:34 am

[QUOTE=joe05]Wow, thanks everyone !
I'm going to copy down the info.

Just got my but whooped going through the tombs = lost 130,000 in gold
Duriel whooped me twice = just couldn't get my fingers to thaw/heal + attack
But, we're on to Act 3.[/QUOTE]

And that is why barbarians should have 2 weapons, at least one of which should do cold damage ^^ Bosses get very few hits on you that way. I still got whopped by Duriel, but you get the point >.<

BTW isn't it possible to change the hotkeys? If it is possible, you should change them so that you can reach them more easily.

Grimar · Post by **Grimar** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:50 pm

it is possible! just go options then controls.

remember that you can also set special attacks to your mouse 1 button. that can help a LOT