The Titan Xmax Challenge - Diary

[bonobo4]

Ok, after a gap of about 4 months with little success, I'm reattempting the Hardcore Xmax Challenge. Only this time, it's personal. Rules:


100% xmax except for bugged quests where I'll be playing without mods.
No deaths.
No potions.
Only use items found by that character.


5th April 2011
Started the challenge, with a male character called "Titan". Currently only having 23 kills, 0 deaths and only Level 2. First mastery picked being Nature as I plan on making a Staff Druid (Squall + Regrowth + Call of the Wild + Heart of Oak + Elemental Resistances). My plan is to farm a lot so that I am overlevelled and will have enough Damage and Intelligence, regen and health etc. to remain on hardcore and to compensate for no potions. :)

[iwantthehidra27]

no pots?lol,thats masochistic :) but good luck anyway.Also,will u be kind enough to restart the uber recording thread????johnjov is in legendary now xD

[bonobo4]

no pots?lol,thats masochistic :) but good luck anyway.Also,will u be kind enough to restart the uber recording thread????johnjov is in legendary now xD
Hmm, we'll see. Chances are no. Whilst it was fun at first, it does quickly get boring and dull to update regularly. And yeah it is kinda masochistic, but it is the ultimate goal. :)

[mnoel23]

Wow, this is about as masochistic as you can get - reminds me of my one-handed sword build without a shield in M&B Warband crpg.

[bonobo4]

Wow, this is about as masochistic as you can get - reminds me of my one-handed sword build without a shield in M&B Warband crpg.
The only thing harder than this in my opinion is with Uber but same rules.

One thing I'll have to do is get to a fountain and quit and reload to regain health. Sounds simple, but actually getting to the fountain ain't so simple. :(

[bonobo4]

Should I update in new posts or in the Opening Post? Anyway:

These diary posts are supposed to be written in the style of the player and me by the way, so they may sound odd at times.

5th April 2011
Taken up the skill of Nature, killed around 150 but my wolves (both now level 7) have killed the rest, giving me lots of experience. I'm now a Level 5 Wanderer, with 0 potions and 0 deaths. I reckon since I'm going to be reliant on Wolves my Kill Count is going to be low, but unlike the "Official Rules" I'm not playing the 150,000 Kill count rule. Also deciding on what to spend attributes on, and what second class I'll want. I still think a Druid will work, but unsure. I need advice! Killed the Satyr shaman(s) with little trouble, stayed at the back with a bow and regrew the wolves. Wolves are literally like machine guns to enemies. Boars are going to cause trouble up ahead, and I may need to farm sometime soon for experience.

[Cardboard Book]

Good luck with your challenge, I might try it myself one day xx

[bonobo4]

Good luck with your challenge, I might try it myself one day xx
Good luck with that! What class are you going to use? I look forward to seeing you attempt it.

[Cardboard Book]

Probably nature but I'm not sure yet :)

[bonobo4]

Probably nature but I'm not sure yet :)
And what about your second and third classes?

[Cardboard Book]

And what about your second and third classes?

Earth as second and dream as third.

[Phantasy_snot]

hey bonobo-would you like me to enter your character under my RotHCXC thread?

[bonobo4]

Earth as second and dream as third.
You do realise you only get two classes, one at level 2 and one at level 8? Have you ever even played this game?

hey bonobo-would you like me to enter your character under my RotHCXC thread? Please do. Though like I said unlike the "Official Rules" I'm not playing the 150,000 Kill count rule, and I expect to be using lots of pets. Is that allowed?

Also, will a Druid work or should I choose something else? (I'm already using nature.)

[Cardboard Book]

You do realise you only get two classes, one at level 2 and one at level 8? Have you ever even played this game?


Yes of course, but I'm going to change my class halfway through to get the full advantage. I haven't played it in ages but will do so to do this quest.

[bonobo4]

Yes of course, but I'm going to change my class halfway through to get the full advantage. I haven't played it in ages but will do so to do this quest.
And how exactly do you plan on doing that? As far as I know it explicitly says once you put points in a mastery you can't undo. And you only get 2 classes. And you can't change halfway through.

[Cardboard Book]

And how exactly do you plan on doing that? As far as I know it explicitly says once you put points in a mastery you can't undo. And you only get 2 classes. And you can't change halfway through.

You can change your class if you go to the right place. And you can get a third if you use nature first and earth second. Otherwise I'd pick dream as second as it's better than earth imo, which is not atol necessary with nature.

[bonobo4]

You can change your class if you go to the right place. And you can get a third if you use nature first and earth second. Otherwise I'd pick dream as second as it's better than earth imo, which is not atol necessary with nature.
1. Where is this place? I've never heard of it.
2. No you can't get a third end of.
3. Dream better than earth is an opinion fair enough, but Nature/Earth not well going together? A Summoner is a very common Caster class.

[Cardboard Book]

3. Dream better than earth is an opinion fair enough, but Nature/Earth not well going together? A Summoner is a very common Caster class.


I think Earth/Nature is too conflicting, so Dream gives you the extra variety that you sometimes need. Only my opinion thoe.

[bonobo4]

I think Earth/Nature is too conflicting, so Dream gives you the extra variety that you sometimes need. Only my opinion thoe.
Fair enough, though in my opinion those two go very well together. And what about those other 2 points I mentioned?

[bonobo4]

6th April 2011
Progressed a bit further today. Got up to the first fountain after Helos, and saved the guy's friend from the cave. Also rekilled the shaman and his guards, am now Level 7 with 287 Kills and 0 deaths, 0 potions. And as proof here is a screenshot:
http://i.imgur.com/zSXcN.jpg

[Alek_tq]

And what about your second and third classes?

Even I fell for that. I was liek "wtf some mod or smth?? -.^ "

[bonobo4]

Even I fell for that. I was liek "wtf some mod or smth?? -.^ "
Hehe. ;)

Oh and Cardboard Book, give up already! Either you haven't played the game before (in which case why are you here?) or you didn't play it well (in which case don't try this challenge like you said you would.) ;)

[Phantasy_snot]

one of the exception to the 150000 kill rule is for pet users, which says they need 75000 or something like that.

[bonobo4]

one of the exception to the 150000 kill rule is for pet users, which says they need 75000 or something like that.
I might be able to do that. But we'll see! ;)

[bonobo4]

Just a question, do all side quests have to be a) Completed and be Completed in order? For example the guys in Old Eleusis are very tough to kill early on, so do I have to kill them asap or can they be killed after I become good enough to kill them?

[bonobo4]

7th April 2011
Now a Level 9 Druid, with a Spear, shield and a staff, and just completed "the necklace quest". Am at the fountain after this, have killed everything and explored everything there, done all quests and I've taken screenshots as proof:
http://i.imgur.com/w8RSs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/AsnDp.jpg

[Phantasy_snot]

AFAIK there is no need to complete any/all of the SQs

[bonobo4]

AFAIK there is no need to complete any/all of the SQs
Good to hear, makes my life a lot easier! Up to the Spartan Road now, am very scared! Nessus plus lots of boars, skeletons, and harpies are going to be tough. Harpies have already killed both my level 8 wolves before, looks like I'll need some more points in Heart of Oak and Wolves.

Also, how effective is Plague? Iirc it's later skills in the tree such as fatigue are very useful, but Plague on its own seems quite useless. Or is it like Squall where it's only useful later on/maxed?

[mnoel23]

Maxed out Plague is an amazing tool that greatly lowers resists, move speeds, and has a chance to take off 50% of their health. It works even better in X-Max, since the large amount of mobs means it spreads even more.

I would go 8/1/8 in the Plague tree when you get the chance.

I'm not sure how effective it is at lower levels - on my Guardian, I respecced and maxed out Plague instantly, and noticed a huge difference in killing potential. I never had a chance to level it gradually. I'm assuming it's not so great until Plague and the top synergy are maxed.

[bonobo4]

8th April 2011
Defeated Nessus, saved Hippias, spoken to Leonidas, and am now at the fountain after Nessus. Am a Level 11 Druid, with 0 deaths and 0 potions. Screenshots as proof:
http://i.imgur.com/gQpuP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/01IxT.jpg

[mnoel23]

Nice work - I'm currently on Spartan Road on my level 8 Theurgist, 0 deaths and 0 potions. Go go Liche King power!

I fear Nessus though....he killed my Hunter who was using potions, and it wasn't even on x-max.

[bonobo4]

Nice work - I'm currently on Spartan Road on my level 8 Theurgist, 0 deaths and 0 potions. Go go Liche King power!

I fear Nessus though....he killed my Hunter who was using potions, and it wasn't even on x-max.
Your going to have a hard time being melee, since I had to kite each one individually with a staff. But good luck! :D

[mnoel23]

I've been having a lot of luck luring single mobs away from packs - hopefully I get lucky this time as well.

[bonobo4]

9th April 2011
Level 12.5 Druid now at Tegea, just killed the Spiders and saved the Nymph. :)
http://i.imgur.com/W8HEK.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/TlAan.jpg

[bonobo4]

11th April 2011
I am up to Megara now, am Level 13. Not looking forward to meeting Polyphemus and the Old Eleusis trio. :(
http://i.imgur.com/mmP8s.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/fzEdR.jpg

[bonobo4]

12th April 2011
Polyphemus(es) are down! :D They were three mean SOBs. I had to kite them one by one, except it was 1 then 2 unfortunately! :( I am now at Level 14, and am at the fountain after Halcyon Coast (Boetia?)
http://i.imgur.com/eeklS.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gPGL9.jpg

[bonobo4]

Just so people know, I've not forgotten about this, it's merely a combination of lack of time and I don't want to play. But I will continue with this. :)