24h Challenge: From Rags to Riches

[Kalman]

Part 2: The Optimized Paladin - Dungeon Fun (Sessions 3 & 4)

Goal: Secure guaranteed high-value items and use the left time on long camps.
Time Elapsed: 13 hours 1 minute, 23 hours 59 minutes total

Session 3 (3:03h): Setbacks & The Great Shield

This session started with a crushing disappointment but ended with a key Paladin tanking item.

1. Karg's Cruel Joke: When I logged in I found Karg Ice Bear up! He wasn't wielding his fabled two-hander, so I was celebrating finaly getting his Cloak of the Ice Bear. To my surprise and also annoyance, he dropped the Gigantic Zweihander on his corpse anyway, confirming that the visual was misleading. Cloak attempt failed.
   
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2. Guaranteed Tank Item: Learned from the failure and pivoted to a guaranteed win. Ran south through the Karanas to Rathe Mountains and paid the iron price for Marr's Promise (AC 14, HP +25).
   
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   That's what Tabien the Goodly deserves for following the wrong gods!
   
3. Dreaded Guk: Took a shot at the Ghoul Savant in Lower Guk for the Enameled Black Chestplate (EBCP), but after a few rounds, I couldn't stand the camp anymore and loged for the session. Camping an EBCP might be too much RNG to justify the time in a 24-hour challenge. I did snag a Sewn Evil Eye Sack during the camp however. A crucial quality-of-life win.
   
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Session 4 (9:58h): The Final Push

The longest and most intense session, defined by bravery and force of will.

1. EBCP Loss Confirmed: After a few more PH kills, I fully abandoned the EBCP camp. Time for the deep dive.
2. The Travel Window: Took the Barrel Barge (Oasis > Timorous Deep > Overthere) to get to Kunark. This was a long window but necessary.
3. Kunark Accessory Push (Droga): In the Temple of Droga, I found my first high-value Kunark items: 2x Rings of the Rockchanters (4 AC, +3 WIS, +3 Stam) from Goblin Rockchanters. Crucial stat boosts for Paladin spell and tanking utility. A bit less points wise than Jagged Bands, but a much faster camp and time saved not having to run to Unrest.
   IIRC I only had to kill 2 Goblin Rockchanters to get both rings. Great efficiency!
   
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   I also killed Stonechanters which can drop a Ring that gives +3 Str instead of Sta.
   
4. Kunark Accessory Push (Warsliks Woods): Executed a perfect two-pronged farming strategy on the Iksar Bandit camp at Y-Roads and three smaller Goblin Camps north of it. After one or two rounds Grachnist the Destroyer spawned and dropped the jackpot: Iksar Scaled Gauntlets AND the Shrunken Goblin Skull Earring. What an amazing find for a 24h Challange!
   
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5. Cutting a Loss (Targishin again): Ran to Field of Bones. Targishin was no where to be found. Potentionaly killed by another player. Rather than stay and search for him or wait for a respawn, I immediately rerouted — no time wasted on dead camps.
6. The Shortcut: After a quick banking run to Firiona Vie I took the boat to Timorous Deep and swam to the Pot Room, where I took the Pot to Greater Faydark.
   
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7. The Trust in Steel: I quickly bought a Steel Visor in Kelethin and Steel Plate Boots in Felwhite.
   
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8. Final Faydwer Assault (Mistmoore): After securing those minor upgrades from the vendors, I returned to Mistmoore with roughly 5 hours left. The final rush:
   • I moved into the Castle through the back door and found the Avenging Caitiff up again. He dropped his Crested Helm which is a nice item but wasn't an upgrade to my Coif.
   • I started to camp the Spa and cleared the Fountains once. Since a level 40 Paladin showed up in the Gardens I gave up on the Damphyre camp and focused on the Spa and the Throneroom.
   • After several rounds neither Lasna nor the Princess had spawned. I had only about one and a half hour left and it started to look grim.
   • Since the other Paladin had left and time was running out I gave up on the two ladies and switched to the more promising Dhampyre camp.
     While staying at the Fountains I noticed the casting messages of Lasna in the chat window. I quickly made my way up the castle to kill her.
     
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     To my surprise she dropped her rare Platinum Skull Ring. While I was looking for her Diamondine Earrings her Ring was still a good upgrade.
     
   • I returned to the Fountains to kill the Dhampyre PHs. The clock was ticking and I calculated that Dhampyre would be up 2 mins for a last time before my 24h ran up.
     He spawned and dropped the highly desired Hooded Black Cloak!
     
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9. The Finish (23:09): I ran back to Kelethin for the final tally. I used my spare Platinum to purchase a Steel Breastplate, 5 minutes after my time was oficially up for the aesthetic and to give me 1 more AC over the Blackened Alloy Coat. I decided to let this count despite being 5 minutes over!