Diablo III basic noob strategy

[megnin]

I rarely ever play computer games, but I liked Diablo and Diablo II some years ago when they came out.  I wasted a lot of time playing both of them.  So, I got Diablo III LE.  Anyway, I'm not an experienced "gamer" and I'm looking for a little general strategy advice.

Particularly, should I search every nook and craney to find every single dead body and chest looking for magic items and gold, or should I proceed to each quest objective as quickly as possible because the items are random and I'm just as likely to find good weapons and armor on the way to a goal as I am just searching around every field and cellar?  

Is searching every field and killing all the creatures what's refered to as "farming"?

I'm playing a Wizard and am currently at level 21.  I've probably been playing for 20 or so hours.

Please feel free to offer any advice or strategy tips.  If they are your secret tips, I promise I won't tell them to anyone.  ;-)

Thanks!

[ekw808]

At earlier levels, I think it is more important to gain levels than finding items; items you find at lower levels will be useless later on in the game when you reach 40+, 50+, I repeat quests for exp with other public games to try to level asap, farming is much easier later on when you can one shot groups of enemies easily. Farming doesn't have to be searching every nook and craney, but is a general term of repeating the same stage or act over and over killing the bosses and elite monsters.

[megnin]

That makes sense.  But, it seems like it's easier to gain levels and exp if you gave better weapons and armor.

I see.  Thanks.  That helps.

[ekw808]

I personally feel it is better to just grind out the lower levels and have 1 good weapon for every 10-15 levels, it is stupid to spend money on items at lower levels because the jump in item prices at level 55-60, mainly 60, goes into 300k+ for something decent, so I would save my money for something worth while later on instead of looking for something better every level, if you just play the game, the items will come to you so don't worry too much about them now, and focus on saving.

[pitashen]

Unless you are having problem progressing the game, don't bother with farming/looting until u r at least level 50

[megnin]

Well, I did have a pretty hard time killing the Butcher.  It took me three or four tries on levels, oh, I don't remember now, maybe 16 or 17.  Belial at the end of Act II was a son-of-a-***** to kill.  I tried two or three times as level 26 with different weapon and skill configurations and different followers, then came back as a level 27 wizard with my optimum weapon and skill configuration and kicked his ASS!  ... on my second try... ;-)

I have been trying to save my gold up and not spend it on weapons.  I don't buy weapons.  I do train the artisans though and that gets expensive and I added slots to my stash chest.  Those are expensive.  Other than that I try to save as much as possible and sell all the magic weapons I find except for the nice ones I use or give to my three followers.  I Salvage about half of them with the craftsman, but as a Master, he can still only make a couple of weapons or armor that are half way decent at level 27.

How can you even get to level 50 without good weapons to beat bosses with to get exp?

Thanks for the suggestions!

[ekw808]

I recommend public games, but I know some people have had bad experiences with that, pub games helps you find weapon upgrades alot more frequently than playing by yourself not to mention asking around... and most of the time people don't mind playing with 3-4 people, the game is much easier as a multi-player game rather than trying to solo everything. Beliel is probably one of the hardest bosses in the game, if not THE hardest IMO, but Diablo is pretty tough as well without the proper team.

[Reptile]

Post your info. I still need to add everyone from the other thread. It's more fun with multiple people

[1391401]

At the lower levels I would concentrate on learning how to play your character.  Analyze the skills and understand when and where they are useful and when they are worthless and master choosing skills for the right encounter / zone.  Items will always come, at the low levels lewt is thrown at you in piles so deep you won't know what to do with it all.  Once you need to worry about gear you should know your char well and you can concentrate on farming.

[megnin]

Reptile, my info, id + number, is listed in the other thread.  The last time I looked my name was the last one on the list.

[Desu]

Use the auction house to buy your gear at around level 15, and you're set

[megnin]

Oh, I forgot about the auction house.  I've only used it to buy some Vanishing Dye trying to get my female wizard neked, but it only works on armor.  :fish:

[Desu]

The auction house is great! Just look for a few items at ~500 gp early in the game and upgrade every 5-10 levels and you're super stacked!