New Diablo 2 LOD Player Needs Help!

[Lambeth]

First, a couple of issues I need resloved.

1. How do you assign your spells/abilities to hotkeys?

2. How do you increase your character's resistances?


Second, a few questions regarding "how to play".

1. What is the best character for a "newb" to start with?

2. Given the character I would start with, what stats would you recommend boosting and what spells/abilities would you recommend getting early in the game?

3. What is the best strategy to use early on with socketed items and gems (use 'em or save 'em)?

4. What is the best combo of socketed items and gems early on (what gems, if any, should go in my helmet, armor, etc.)?


Thanks for the help! If there is any other advice you would give, please do so! Thanks again.

[Lambeth]

Also, how do you turn "players8" on, so that you can increase your level faster early on?

For that matter, what other cool things can you do similar to "players8"?

Thanks again to all the wise and helpful Diablo players out there!

[washe]

First of all welcome to Techimo...

Issues need resolved..
1. Open the skill box like you normally do, place the mouse cursor in the desired skill and press Function key you want to hot key F1 per example. Im you have a mouse with a wheel, skill hotkeyed on the right button can be changed with the wheel...

2. Caracter resistances well some abilities give resistances but on later levels, you will have to rely on equipment.. Amulets, rings, armor, shields...


The how to play section I will leave to other members more experinced than me... I use a paladin now.... but it depends on the taste you have, you want a melee, ranged or magic caracter depends totally in you..

[Lambeth]

Thanks for the help washe. Like I said, if you have anything else, please post!

So, there is no way to raise your character's resistance outside of skills and items? You should be able to invest level points in them or something...

As for character, I have tinkered with the Paladin, Barbarian, Druid, and Sorceress. I really like the Druid and Sorceress' ability to lay down some heavy elemental magic, but I also like melee combat. The Druid is good at melee combat, but I really dislike his other skills. Lycanthropy is just not my style at all; I respect his summoning powers - useful, but they don't seem strong. The Barbarian, on the other hand, has little elemental powers, so I really don't see myself liking his character in the long run. The Paladin is cool overall, but his magical skills seem to tilt heavily to multiplayer, which is something I won't be doing much of.

If I were to pick right now, I'd probably go for the Paladin or the Druid. Given these two choices, which would be better, and what stats and skills would you focus on?

On a side note to that, is it wiser to wield a shield and a one-handed weapon, or is a two-handed weapon "worth it"? The Paladin has a couple of skills that use a shield, but I've always been a fan of one huge weapon ("shields are for wusses"-style).

[washe]

well i had some time back a barbarian that used a maul, dont remember the name tought was in the very beggining, It was devastating, then made another one wielding two swords with frenzy, he was a killing cow machine ... when i was surrounded with cow a small jump backwards and go go with more cows.... it the only character i was able to clear up the cow level...

I think my current paladin could make it also, Im using basically conversion and thorns aura... cows are melee (at least the last time i played the cow level) so it would do the trick....

You can go to www.gamefaqs.com and look for diablo ii I saw some specific builds for the characters maybe one fits your needs...

Druids are good, last single play game I played i used the druid but used lycantropy path instead of the elemental one.....

[CraigK]

You can't be told what the best newb character is. It's all in individual preferences. I can tell you this, you could make an elemental character, but there are monsters in nm and hell that have resistances.

[Lambeth]

Elemental magic would be regarded, then, as a path not wisely taken?

What areas of skills and strengths, in your opinions, are good ideas for the higher difficulties? From there, I could more easily decide what type of character I would prefer to use.

On another note, I would like to know how to engage "players 8," what all that entails, and other cool things you can do similar to that. For that matter, is it recommended that you play with "players 8"? Thanks for the help!

[CraigK]

I have no idea what "players8" is, so i can't help you there.

Elemental characters aren't bad, don't get me wrong, but you should get a better feel of the game first. They are fun, but IMO they make better party characters. If anything, pickl a character and focus on one skill, and work on that skills synergies.

Don't just pick one character. you'll start out like that anyway, but you will notice after a month or so that you'll have 2 or 3 characters.

[usslindstrom]

Just be careful. Diablo is an EXTREMELY unbalanced game in the later levels. If you are going to use a Paladin like it sounds, then be wise with the skills you choose. They're not easy to play by yourself. That's a character that pays to have party members.

[Dj-Icer]

You should start surfing few cool FAQ's.