Diablo Apocalypse

[bobquasit]

At ethesis' suggestion, I tried switching out the equipment on my D1 solo sorcerer. I bought a Bountiful Staff of Apocalypse (36 charges) from the witch, replacing my sword and shield.

I was surprised at the results.

My sorc had already beaten Diablo at Hell difficulty, but it had been a bit tedious; lots of Stone Cursing and beating things to death with the help of my golem. Triple-immunes (i.e. creatures immune to all three types of spell damage) in particular were a HUGE pain.

What I didn't know what that A) Apocalypse works on triple-immunes, and B) Apocalypse works through walls, and even in sealed rooms - with certain exceptions.

What that means is that I was able to clear out Hell/Hell with astonishing speed. On the final level, all I had to do was go up against the walls of the three sealed areas and Apocalypse until the monsters inside stopped flaming (which meant, of course, that they were dead). I had to go back to town for a staff recharge every so often, of course, but I was able to polish off huge numbers of enemies without any danger at all. It was interesting to watch the experience points zooming upward when I cast the spell; it almost seemed too fast for the program to keep up.

The open northern room was a bit more difficult, but even there I was able to pre-destroy a lot of enemies by getting up against the northern wall of the west room and using Apocalypse. Plus the spell was very useful when I waded in, of course. Combined with the golem, there was no threat at all.

The only exceptions to the spell were certain sealed-room uniques. For example, the Warlord of Blood; I was able to destroy all the other monsters in the room before I opened it, but although he himself flamed each time I cast Apocalypse, he was obviously immune to its effects until I opened the room and went close enough to activate him.

Diablo was also immune before the room was opened, although no other monster with him was. In that case I cast Infravision; it was interesting to watch the creatures inside flaming and dying. After I opened the room, I led Diablo on the traditional chase into the spiral maze and teleported out at the last minute, leaving him trapped. Then I went back to town, got a full charge on the staff, and went just far enough into the maze to affect him with the Apocalypse. It took 17 charges to kill him, although he may have still had some damage from a few Guardians when I led him in.

All of this sounds about as sportsmanlike as a Dick Cheney hunting party, I must say!

Having pretty much exhausted the possibilities of solo play, I decided to try the same technique on Battle.net - yes, I was bored at the time and had too much time on my hands (tick-tick-tick ticking away).

I wasn't able to pick up a Plentiful or Bountiful staff of Apocalypse, but I was able to find an Archangels Staff of Apocalypse with ten charges. Haven't had a chance to test it out much yet, though.

Comments

[ethesis.livejournal.com]

Ok, now you are about to experience the effect that an extra two levels has on Apocalypse.

What I always did with Diablo was hit him with holy bolt (he is undead, so he is the only one who is affected) and then lead him into the spiral maze. Then come back and roast out the zone he was trapped in. You are right that at higher levels of difficulty, with the immunes, it is a pain.

BTW, in the original game, pre-release, if you didn't kill Diablo soon enough (after the timer started), he turned into Angry Diablo. He regenerates hit points faster than a wall of fire can dish them out. To kill him you have to turn him to stone (he isn't immune as an angry Diablo) and use blood spirit (to reduce his hit points by 1/3 each shot) while keeping him in a wall of fire. Eventually spammed blood spirit will drop him enough that the wall of fire kills him.

But, that is the only real use for blood spirit in the game and the reason for it. Though you can use it when you have him in the maze too.

Lots of fun, sounds like you've got a whole new lease on life, so to speak.

[bobquasit.livejournal.com]

Ok, now you are about to experience the effect that an extra two levels has on Apocalypse.

Now that's interesting. I was trying to figure out if the "Archangel's" +2 applied to the Apocalypse. Jarulf's says that in D1, spell levels don't apply to Apocalypse, so I was thinking that maybe there was no difference.

The only way I can think of to test that, though, would be to compare the effects of Apocalypse cast from the staff with Apocalypse cast from a scroll while the staff is de-equipped. Which raises another interesting question: does the AA +2 apply to scroll spells, too?

Heh. I just remembered that my solo character has a Thinking Cap; I have yet to find a Hidden Shrine, so I'm not using it yet, but once I do I'll have some fun.

I wish there was a community for D1 here. Unfortunately there isn't. I could start one, I guess, but I doubt that it would get much interest. Maybe there's a "old video/computer game" community...I should look.

As for dealing with Diablo, I've used the Holy Bolt tactic, among others. It's amazing how effective firewall is for clearing out that room, but Apocalypse is definitely even better.

I didn't know about Angry Diablo, and that surprises me; I thought I'd read everything about the game. And it's interesting to hear that there was an actual use for Blood Spirit; that damned spell is so useless, otherwise!

Actually, that's an annoying thing about D1: too many useless spells. Phasing, for example. Why does it exist? I've also almost never had any use for Blood Star, which means that 275,000 is an even MORE ridiculous price for a BS book. There are a lot of spells that are okay, but only if you don't have the really good spells. For example, I'd only use Elemental if I didn't have Guardian.

As far as I'm concerned, all you really need to do well in D1 is Guardian, Chain Lightning, Mana Shield, Fireball, and Golem. I use Firebolt a lot at lower levels (and of course it's necessary for Guardian - I wonder, if you don't have Firebolt at all, what damage does your Guardian spell do?), and I used Charged Bolt even in Hell/Hell, sometimes. I might add Teleport to that list, just for convenience and dealing with Diablo, but that's it.

Well, Firewall can be awfully useful, too.

Say, did you write zines for TWH, back in the day? Before my time there, that is?

[ethesis.livejournal.com]

Yes, I wrote a number of TWH zines, including a last one for the Glenn Blacow memorial issue (which went astray on its way to me, twice).

I used to play rogues with firewall as their best spell.

One important thing is that your level is a hidden modifier on all spells. As a result, a high level character's charged bolt or firebolt packs a terrific wallop.

With a thinking cap, the right armor and an archangel's staff, a character has quite a boost to all spells. That really makes a difference. Once I finally started playing mages ...

Glad you are enjoying things.

[bobquasit.livejournal.com]

Yes, I wrote a number of TWH zines, including a last one for the Glenn Blacow memorial issue (which went astray on its way to me, twice).

I remember collating the Glenn memorial issue, and of course I contributed a zine, too. Did you finally get a copy? If not, I probably have an extra one in a box somewhere.

I believe that I was one of the last people to see Glenn, actually, although we weren't all that close - I was of a different generation, after all. I can't remember why I visited him at the hospital, to be honest; I think I was bringing him something from Mark. Come to think of it, I pushed his wheelchair around at the last Arisia that he went to, and put my con ID badge on him so he wouldn't get kicked out. Never really roleplayed with him, though.

Glad you are enjoying things.

Thanks! Your tips have been very helpful. I have to admit, though, that I still get more out of tabletop roleplaying than I do out of any computer game. I just wish I could roleplay more often! Well, maybe that will be possible once the boy's a bit older...I hope.

[ethesis.livejournal.com]

I had really hoped that the change in jobs, getting a computer and some focus would save Glenn.

I'd like a copy of that issue.

I've been conflicted about it, figuring that two tries and not having it reach me was more than enough, but I'd like one.

I had dropped out of a lot of things by then, I was in the midst of my daughters dying. Burying three children in five years really took a lot out of me.

But time passes.

[bobquasit.livejournal.com]

I had really hoped that the change in jobs, getting a computer and some focus would save Glenn.

The diabetes was just too damaging, I think. It had reached the point where he'd had several minor amputations, you know; I visited him in the hospital a couple of times after the surgery. He seemed in a relatively good mood, considering. I'd have been a hell of a lot more depressed.

I'd like a copy of that issue.

I'll see if I can dig up a copy, then. You see, back when I was writing for TWH, I ran a copy center; I used to run off a few extra copies of each issue for backup purposes, and I usually bound a couple of reading copies. So I should have a copy or two somewhere in the basement.

Burying three children in five years really took a lot out of me.

I'm sure it did! I can't imagine what that would be like - it would be far too much for me to cope with. I'm just not strong enough.