Evolution Tournament Series - Chapter One

[Al-T]

EVOLUTION SERIES – CHAPTER ONE!

This is the first in a series of mini-tournaments which will increase in difficulty as your character “evolves” and will eventually become a major as scores will be carried forward to each subsequent chapter!

RULES

Please read the entire ruleset carefully before beginning. You are responsible for knowing all rules. It’s straightforward, but infractions may result in points deductions or disqualification. Any use of 3rd party map-revealing software, h@cks, editors and use of the -Act switch is not allowed.

Character. Create 1 new character, any you choose is fine apart from a Paladin “summoner” but must be SC only. Register before beginning and always use the Current Zy-El Patch.

Multiplay. No multiplay allowed. This is a single player tournament only.

Skill/Stat reallocation is NOT allowed.

Skill Restrictions. No skill restrictions apart from Paladins who are not allowed to summon in any shape or form and no matter the source of the summons (CtC, Charges etc). The “Conversion” skill is allowed as it is not technically a summoning skill.

Rerunning. Rerunning areas is fine. As your character and the tournament both evolve so shall the rules and we will make a ruling on returning to previous difficulties when we get to that stage. That means at least 4 Chapters before that happens.

Shared Stash. You must start with a new empty stash (both shared and personal). You can dump any items into Shared/Personal Stash pages. You will need to and want to do so in order to “evolve”. See below.

Equipment. Chapter One sees you emerge from the cosmic soup as an Amoeba and takes place in Act 1 Normal mode. As you are just starting out, you can only use white items which will include runewords but any runewords you make must be <= your character level. Whether you actually use them is up to you but you must be able to equip all runewords that you make. No making an “Oath of <char>” before you are level 255 for example. As mentioned above, any other items may be stored for future use but you can NOT equip them. This restriction stays in place until you rescue Cain, at which point he imparts to you the secrets of making Minor CHoMs. At this point you are only allowed minor CHoMs in addition to the aforementioned “whites”.

Recipes. Any recipes that use items that are not in the equipment list must not be used to modify gear you find, gamble or are using (see the exception for downgrading immediately below).

Downgrading. Downgrade recipes can be used to make an item that this chapter allows the use of. Any other downgraded items must be stored in your stash.

Mercs. No restrictions on hiring and firing. The same item restrictions apply to mercs as to your character at all times.

Death. Deaths will not count in Act 1 until your hero is ready to do the Andariel quest and at this point, the accumulated knowledge of the entire Rogue Camp residents, including yourself and Cain, make the discovery of transmuting minor posters. From this point on, all deaths will count, regardless of whether you have managed to make a poster or not. Deaths will incur a 0.005% reduction in your Evolution Modifier (EM),

SCORING

RW: 1st runeword made = 500 pts. (Must be made in Act 1 normal and must be <= you character level. Whether you use runewords or not is up to you)

CHoM: 1st minor CHoM made = 1500 pts. (Must be made after rescuing Cain but before advancing to Act 2. Any made after this can be used but do not score)

POST: 1st minor poster made = 3000 pts. (Must be made after you get the quest for but before killing Andariel and can only be a minor poster. Album and Major posters will not score and can not be used. Any minor posters made after this can be used but do not score. Whether you use minor posters or not is up to you).

AC: Act Completion results in an award of 5000 pts.

EM: The Evolution Modifier starts at 1.00 but deaths after Cain gives you the news that you must kill Andariel will result in a 0.005% penalty.

TOTAL: Total points = RW + CHoM + POST + AC * EM

Perfect Score Example => 500 + 1500 + 3000 + 5000 * 1.00 = 10000

1 Death Example => 500 + 1500 + 3000 + 5000 * 0.995 = 9950

No Death, No Poster Example => 500 + 1500 + 0 + 5000 * 1.00 = 7000

NB: A Perfect Score will allow you to start with an Evolution Modifier of 1.005% in Chapter 2.

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Tournament is Active! Register and Begin Any Time. Tournament Ends — When No Updates Have Been Made in 30 Days or All Entrants Have Completed Act 1 or 90 Days From The Day You Start Your Character.....Then It Will Be On To Chapter 2!


EXAMPLE TABLE:

Code: Select all

Player             Character/Class     RW    CHoM      POST     AC       EM      TOTAL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Al-T               Dora/Ama            0     0         0        0        1.000   0

Having a start date of 25th March gives you a few days to ask any questions you have about the tournament. One question I can think of that someone will ask is "can I use gems?" and the answer is yes you can. I didn't see the point in making a separate ruling about gems as they are probably a must for everyone right at the start.

Another question might be "are the rules ready for the other chapters and how many will there be?". The answer is, Chapters 2 & 3 rulesets are ready in the main but we may need to make minor tweaks to them after seeing how Chapter 1 progresses. There will be at least 15 Chapters, 5 Acts in 3 Modes (Normal, NM & Hell) but there will also be additional chapters for areas such as the Insanity levels and other side quests. There is a huge amount that Hans and I can do with this one but having it split into chapters gives players smaller, more manageable challenges and allows Hans and I the time to perfect the rules for each successive chapter while the previous ones are in progress.

Good luck, everyone! — Al & Hans.

[EDIT]

From time to time in each Chapter there will be a cosmic disruption caused by the "Alignment of The Trillion Cubes" which will, in the main, impose restrictions upon your character but sometimes give you access to all your godly skills and items. There may be more than one alignment in each Chapter but in each case there will be an optional side quest for you to participate in.

Chapter One Optional Side Quest - "Escape from Chaos"

There has been an "Alignment of The Trillion Cubes" causing disruption and chaos to your universe....read on

RULES

(1) The cosmic imbalance caused by the "Alignment of The Trillion Cubes" means you have been captured and must make your escape from the Jail Waypoint to the Inner Cloister Waypoint in one single run with only items you find on your escape attempt. If you die before you reach the Inner Cloister Waypoint then your attempt at this side quest is finished with no gains.

(2) Another side effect of this alignment is that you have been more or less stripped of all items and abilities and your character is naked apart from 5 charms, 1 of which may be a CHoM and the other 4 can be the best/most needed charms of your choice (they must only be charms you have already made and can use in Chapter One). Posters are NOT allowed. You are also not allowed to tp back to town so no TP books or scrolls are allowed. ID scrolls/books and keys are all you are allowed in addition to the aforementioned charms when starting this side quest.

(3) All magic and physical powers are also in "stasis" due to the imbalance so this really is an escape attempt. You are not allowed to use any summons/caster spells or engage in direct melee combat unless you are (a) completely surrounded, (b) need to clear a path to run through or (c) your life is in imminent danger.

(4) You may play at any setting from Players 1 through to Players 127 and you may only equip items which drop from chests/monsters. You may even equip items that are not allowed normally in Chapter One, so if you get a nice unique ring/charm etc., equip it. You can ID items in field only as long as you have ID scrolls to do so. You may not tp back to town to get Cain to do this. If you do make your escape to the Inner Cloister waypoint, you must immediately go back to town and place all items that aren't allowed in Chapter One in your stash or sell them.

(5) Your merc has suffered the same fate as you have (poor sod). You must strip your merc of all equipment (place them in the stash) but can take them to start this side quest as long as they are completely naked. As you can't tp to town, if they die that's very sad but also too bad.

(6) Level restriciton:- You must be <= level 75 when you start this quest.

SCORING

Completing your escape from the chaotic "Alignment of The Trillion Cubes" in a single run allows you to add 0.005% to your Evolution Modifier. Any deaths do not incur any penalties other than you are now excluded from this side quest and can not gain the additional 0.005%.

Good luck, everyone! — Al & Hans.

[Hans]

I will be joining in as soon as I get Zy-El reinstalled. I did a clean wipe of D2 to get 1.13c installed and started playing battle-net with a clan I belong to (Playing an Ugly Suicide Paly with other paladins) If you see a Paladin named Bod-Kamikaze give me a shout (too bad it is not hardcore). I do have 1.09 clean files to work with.

I am thinking about doing a Paladin in this tourney.

[wolfwing]

SXounds exciting :> I might join, though will still work on my other tournament char too.

One question I have, I assume the answer is no, but more for clarification.

Is there a stopping point? Like if we beat Andariel, do we then stop period? Can we continue on to act 2, or need to wait untill chapter 2 starts? Or can we do tons of andariel runs while waiting for next chapter? And if were allowed to continue will there be a max level? I think if you allow leveling after completion perhaps a limit, like you can't get past level 80 or what eve be a good idea at each chapter, to allow for more balanced approach to next chapter, so everyones nearly at the same playing field.Oh and how do you get a empty shared/primary stash?

[wolfwing]

A couple more, I assume that by white you mean grey/white so socketed items count under them, for purposes of rune words and such?

Is there a way to get minor celeberty poster parts other then drops, or rerolling 3 minor to get a random new ones?

And last but not least, where exactly is the point before you go to fight Andariel? You mean when you get the quest, when you enter the last region, enter her level, or what? This is to do with when death counts for DP.

[Al-T]

I'll answer your questions but first can I ask you please to not double post. If you are the last person who has posted in a topic edit your last post rather than make a new one (Log in to the Keep and click on the Edit button).

1. Runewords may be made in white items (universally accepted generic term for not magic, not rare, not set, not crafted and not unique) only. Runewords that accept either a jewel or a gem (gmj) can only be made using the gem variant as by definition the lowest quality jewel is magic.

2. The stopping point is when the tournament ends. This is implicit in the rules as is the rule for rerunning areas. You can rerun any area as many times as you like. There will be no character level restriction at this point. Character level restrictions will probably only start to apply when we get to the Insanity levels and Nightmare and Hell modes.

3. No you may not advance to Act 2. This is also implicit in the rules. How can you start Chapter Two if you don't know the rules we have for it? They are made but won't be posted until the start of chapter 2.

4. You get an empty shared stash by either editing your PlugY.ini to save your character in a new folder (see the bottom of this post for an example) or by renaming your _LOD_SharedStashSave.sss (you will find this in your save folder) file to another name. In both cases you will generate a new stash the moment you create your character.

5. Drops and rerolling poster fragments is the only way you are allowed to make minor posters for Chapter 1. This may or may not change for chapter 2. You'll just have to wait and see.

6. A soon as you get the quest icon for Andariel, all deaths from then on will count. This is also implicit in the rules;

EM: The Evolution Modifier starts at 1.00 but deaths after Cain gives you the news that you must kill Andariel will result in a 0.005% penalty.

Hopefully that answers all your questions.

I'll also add one of my own in case anyone asks:

Cube scrolls may be used as they tell you on them what to do, however, if they transform a white item into a magic, rare, set, crafted or unique you must immediately place the item in your stash. It can not be used.

Examples: "Hit point 1 to belt" applied to a white/white runeword belt will be fine as it remains white.

"Any Armour to Magic Armour" can be used but the magic armour must immediately go in the shared/personal stash.

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[EDIT] Example extract from PlugY.ini to change save folder:

Code: Select all

[SAVEPATH]
ActiveSavePathChange=1
;SavePath=save\PlugY Only\ZyEl\
SavePath=save\PlugY Only\ZyEl\Evolution\

In the example above, commenting out the first SavePath by prefixing it with a semi-colon disables it and the second path is used instead. It will also create the "Evolution" folder for you if you haven't already created it.

[wolfwing]

Well I'm in this, going druid shifter/pack master. Wolftournament the name :> I know totally original, and sorry about the double post. I tend to do that if I post a while after the other one in case people don't go back to check the edit.

[gogodanny]

... sorry about the double post. I tend to do that if I post a while after the other one in case people don't go back to check the edit.

and that's exactly what the "edit" does - it makes it look like there's a new post so people will see

[wolfwing]

A thought I had for the tournament for later on if you hadn't already is limiting what you can use for certain areas further on, like only set, or unique, or rare items and so on, least once the chances of having a decent collection to handle running something like that.

[Al-T]

We already have limitations in place for Chapters 2 and 3 but each chapter sees you "evolve" and a greater range of items becomes available each successive chapter in order that you can face the increased challenges, although it isn't going to be easy.

We also have a good idea of the rules we want for Chapters 4 & 5 and some ideas for side quests, including but not limited to, the Insanity Levels. Some chapters/side quests may actually reduce the number and type of items you can use while others will give you access to any item...but that is a long way away

[Hellwolf_36]

I'm in. But I need to see what character I want to play as first.

The tournament for Ch.1 seems doable, but I am caught in a dilemma in what class to do (thinking a spell-caster again, but not sure which of the 4 (I consider Trap Assassin one)).

[Al-T]

Nice to see you Hellwolf_36 and thanks for saying you will join this one

I think I am going to make an Amazon this time. Mainly because I haven't played one in earnest since the "Septathlon" 2 years ago and my first ever 10K char which was even longer.

Chapter 1 should be easily doable as long as you make effective use of the "Rerunning" rule.

[Mithendil]

I'll join in on this also.
Reloaded the game Sunday after about a year, so this will be a fun way to get back into Zy-el.
Will probably play a necro.

Mith

[wolfwing]

Heh I was a bit concerned about how much activity we have, but seems we got a few numbers. I will try to keep at it, FFXIV goes back live friday also, but should be fun :>

Stupid question, but are socketed charms okay? I only ask due to them having bonuses anyway, and where is best place to find posters? I've collected 1 full one, but that was by act 2 and despite having 1-2 in like 40 posters havn't completed another.

[Al-T]

I'll join in on this also.
Reloaded the game Sunday after about a year, so this will be a fun way to get back into Zy-el.
Will probably play a necro.

Mith

Nice one Mithendil. I hope we all have a lot of fun playing this one.

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......Stupid question, but are socketed charms okay? I only ask due to them having bonuses anyway, and where is best place to find posters? I've collected 1 full one, but that was by act 2 and despite having 1-2 in like 40 posters havn't completed another.

Socketed charms are allowed but only if they are not magic, rare, crafted or unique (later chapters will see their introduction). Everything must be WHITE for chapter 1, so no jewels/jewelery either. White socketed charms because of the equipment restrictions will be a "must have" for everyone for making runewords, even the low level ones you probably wouldn't normally consider.

Poster fragments should drop in all areas so make sure you visit all locations once the tourney starts. You'll have to anyway in order to get the Act completion bonus i.e. all quests must be completed. I've never tried it myself but someone once said the Outer Cloister, where GhostEth is, can be good for poster fragments as is the Inner Cloister (pop the chests).

It's nice to see a decent number of people saying they will play. That's us up to 5 now (Hans, wolfwing, Hellwolf_36, Mithendil and myself) and we may get even more before and after the tournament starts. Even if someone joined half-way through it should still be plenty time to complete this chapter. We will also be allowing people to join in subsequent chapters as long as they realise there will be a small penalty for not starting at Chapter One.

[wolfwing]

Last poster question, are they 100% compeltly random, or are you more likly to find certain posters in certain parts? I noticed with my necromancer and drud that I was finding a couple of the posters at the start of the game in both, while otehrs were rather wildly random.

[gogodanny]

i have experienced something similar, but the only person who knows for sure is kato

[Al-T]

Hi gogodanny. Are you joining this tournament It would be nice to see another Zy-El "veteran" taking part

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Last poster question, are they 100% compeltly random, or are you more likly to find certain posters in certain parts? I noticed with my necromancer and drud that I was finding a couple of the posters at the start of the game in both, while otehrs were rather wildly random.

Kato has said in the past that certain poster fragments are more likely to drop in certain areas and that some are spread across the difficulties also i.e. you may have to visit Nightmare and Hell to complete some of them. This seems to be especially true for Album and Major posters, minor posters less so. Don't worry, it will still be possible to complete all 3 types as and when they are needed and can be equipped for the tournament

[Hans]

Wolfwing. The activity might be picking up due to the announce ladder reset and we are getting closer to D3 being released so players are getting back into shape to tackle the big D when D3 arrives.

[Hellwolf_36]

Nice to see you Hellwolf_36 and thanks for saying you will join this one

I think I am going to make an Amazon this time. Mainly because I haven't played one in earnest since the "Septathlon" 2 years ago and my first ever 10K char which was even longer.

Chapter 1 should be easily doable as long as you make effective use of the "Rerunning" rule.

Of course. The trick requires the user to pay attention to their EXP gains when they kill a monster and its called "EXP value"

From my experiences, you need to go for monsters that are either:
A) In Large swarms: (eg: Fallen Shaman variants are worth way more than the Fallen themselves, but Fallen are numerous)
B) Pick off power creatures (eg: Venom Klaws, Knight Who Says Nyeh, Magogs, Monoliths etc.)
C) Make full use of not only ReRunning, but also our dear friend, the playersX command (eg: Players127, although it buffs damage output and HP off the creature by 127x, it also improves your summons and you get 10.5x EXP payoff when you kill something, a Pecker worth 10 XP is all of a sudden worth 100 XP). But this command must be used within reason, usually melee people have no trouble doing Players8-10 depending on what you are wearing.

The top 3 XP payoffs are from: Venom Klaws, Dark Shaman, Knight Who Says Nyeh in Act 1.

After thinking about it, I am going to do a Sorceress (still thinking on name). I used to have one when I did TCP/IP back in the old days, but this was over a year ago. My plan for getting through A1 is this:

-Blood Moor/Cold Plains till Charged Bolt, abuse Firebolt as much as possible
-Switch out Charged Bolt for Frost Nova and Nova when acquired, use FN till Glacial Spike is acquired.

Stats is really just HP, Vit and enough STR to wear Ring Mail/Large Shield from Charsi for A1.

If I need summons, I can just make the Summoner CHoM when I save Cain.

The only brutal thing is I cannot rely on rings and ammies as they are classified as Magic items. But this isnt too bad as they become Gold and transmutation items for upgrading the magic charms I find for CHoMs.

[Hans]

Hellwolf: Yes it is all about the evolution of the character and to get the most bang for the character. Remember that one character may have an advantage in one act but then the next act may have a disadvantage to a different character. At least for the first mini you do have a choice on the character. Later minis will also require thought on how to make the most of the character you have and to get the best score for it.

This series of tournaments might be the most complex tournament since the tourney evolves over time.

[gogodanny]

@Al: you might be surprised, but I would indeed be very willing to join in - it's just that I have NO idea which character to use. I kept on playing other RPGs (Two Worlds 2, Dragon Age, ...) for quite a while and need a change to the good old hack 'n slay genre

One thing that's for sure is that I need a build that is easy to start (not necro) as I completely lost with all the features of Zy-El (at least until i'm lvl 100ish again :-D )

perhaps I'm starting an assassin, trapper has always been cool and with those great chargeup skills ... Or a sorceress ... *humm*

Any recommendations? :-D

[John11]

This sounds fun. I'll join as well. I'm going to try out an Amazon for this one.

[Hans]

Assassin is a good choice many tactical strategies she can use during the various minis.

--------------------------
I have sparked an interest for a few players in my D2 clan in trying out Zy-El. Some play Eastern Sun already.

[gogodanny]

Assassin it is.

She will go by the name of "Black_Death". I'll only add her to the table when the tournament starts though

until then - really looking forward to it

[Hans]

I still have not decided on a character yet. I am leaning on a Paladin. He will be the toughest to start since no summons at all. I will be dependent on the hireling to tank. Plus I have not played that class much in Zy-El so it will be fun to focus on that character. I have a few ideas to work with.