Dark Artist
by Clanless(NCR)

Class: Sorcerer
Tag: DKA

Introduction

Dark Artists are a race of wizards specializing in the conjuration of monsters and dark arts. They are early ancestors of the Horadrim™, and some say the Dark Artists abandoned the Horadrim™ to learn the dark arts of the 3 prime evils. The prime evils did not enjoy the Dark Artists periodically disrupting the fight between good and evil, so they drove out the Dark Artists. The Dark Artists are hiding in Tristram until they can overcome and destroy the one prime evil that drove them out of their homeland, Diablo.

Rules

Dark Artists are mortal. Once they die you must leave the game and all your stuff behind! (The character may be kept, however.)

Dark Artists will not play with normal Warriors or Rogues, as they are too holy. People playing the Barbarian, Amazon, Martial Artist, Live off the Land, Archer, Beyond Naked Rogue/Mage/Warrior, and Elitist variants are good choices to play with, but other than that just fellow sorcerers or necromancers.

Gifts can be received only by fellow types of sorcerers, and you can only receive them on your 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, and 50th levels as an “every fifth jubilee gift”. Otherwise just trade for items or find them.

Statistic distribution is dictated by rank.

- Dark Artist Apprentice: +2 mag per clvl
- Dark Artist Magician: +3 mag/lvl
- Dark Artist Cleric: +2 vit +1 mag/lvl
- Dark Artist Warrior: +2 str/lvl
- Dark Artist Knight: +1 str +2 dex/lvl
- Dark Artist King: Anything

Items

Weapons (by rank)

- Apprentice: Staff w/acceptable spell
- Magician: Bow
- Cleric: Dagger
- Warrior: Sword (Not higher than a Claymore), and Shield (Not higher than a kite)
- Knight: 2 Handed Sword / Hammer
- King: Dagger and Shield (Up to Gothic) respectively

Armor

Splint Mail is never allowed, they have too much brightness, symbolizing happiness. Full Plate Mails and Gothic Plates are reserved for the King.

To use armor, you must first make sure you can move silently in it. You do this by putting the piece of armor on. You then add your strength and dexterity together and divide by 2. If the number is higher than your current AC you may wear it. (Credit to Charis for this idea)

Enchantment Restrictions

The following are reserved for Knight/King
Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril, Meteoric, Merciless, Ruthless, Knight’s, Master’s, Champion’s, King’s, Ruby, Sapphire, Diamond, Emerald, Hydra’s, Wyrm’s, Dragon’s, and Arch-Angel’s.

Uniques

These Uniques are allowed any time:
Torn Flesh of Souls, Wisdom’s Wrap, Gladiator’s Bane, Leather of Aut, Aguinara’s Hatchet, Bloodslayer, Hellslayer, Wicked Axe, Bow of the Dead, Cranium Basher, Dreamflange, Storm Spire, Staff of Shadow, Rod of Onan, Naj's Puzzler, Shadowhawk, Inferno, Bonesaw, Split Skull Shield, Stormshield, Veil of Steel, The Undead Crown, Helm of Spirits, Thinking Cap, The Bleeder, Constricting Ring, and Optic Amulet

These Uniques are reserved for Knight and King:
Scavenger’s Carapace, Demonspike Coat, Nightscape, Naj’s Light Plate, Messerschmidt’s Reaver, Blackoak Bow, Windforce, Thundercall, Gonnagall’s Dirk, Black Razor (King Only), Wizardspike, The Executioner's Blade, Blackoak Shield, Royal Circlet (King Only), and Ring of Regha

Uniques not listed at all are disallowed.

Shrines

The Dark Artists does not believe in any type of holy or sacred shrine, and therefore these are prohibited:

Spiritual, Sacred, Religious, Ornate, Magical, Holy, Glimmering, Fascinating, Divine

Spells

Spells are learned at any time but their usage is restricted by rank.

- Apprentice: Firebolt, Charged Bolt
- Magician: Inferno, Lightning, (Hellfire) Reflect
- Cleric: Heal, Heal Other, Mana Shield
- Warrior: Firewall, Flash, Telekinesis
- Knight: Chain Lightning, Fireball, Stone Curse
- King: Guardian, Golem, Elemental, and Bone Spirit.
- (Extra) Pyrotechnician: Flame Wave, Elemental
- (Extra) Shocker: Nova (book allowed in Hellfire), Teleport
- (Extra) Naj's Soldier: Phasing, Blood Star
- (Hellfire Extra) Pyrotechnician: Immolation, Ring of Fire
- (Hellfire Extra) Shocker: Lightning Wall, Search
- (Hellfire Extra) Naj's Soldier: Berserk, Warp
- (*BONUS*) Shocker, Naj's Soldier, and Pyrotechnician: Apocalypse

Town Portal, Identify, and Holy Bolt are always allowed. Resurrect and Infravision are not allowed at all.

Quests

1) Dark Artist Apprentice
The Dark Artist has just begun interest in the learning of spells, and his basic spell learning starts here. There are NO purchases in town. (Repair, Healing, and Recharge are allowed, no identifies) He searches the ruins of the Cathedral searching for a proper Bow, and uses his two spells, Firebolt and Charged Bolt. He must then use his staff and those spells to slay the Butcher and the 3 skeleton rulers of the lower Cathedral: Bonehead Keenaxe, Boneripper, and Deadeye (all level 2).

2) Dark Artist Magician
Once he has gained the basic teachings of magic, he goes to learn how to be stealth and shoot enemies in long-range so he can improve his aiming for ranged spells. He has the ability to use Inferno and Lightning for all those melee-enemies that come after him. After he has mastered the skill, he must go into the depths of level 3 and shoot Leoric with a bow, and his available spells. He then is able to purchase items from the Townsfolk. As his final test, he must destroy 11 uniques from the church and catacombs (there are many to choose from) but these are required: Brokenhead Bangshield, Moonbender, Wrathraven, Deathshade Fleshmaul, and Shadow Drinker with bows and spells.

3) Dark Artist Cleric
The Dark Artist becomes interested in the arts of healing, and is now able to use Heal, Heal Other, and Mana Shield. For this part of his quest, he must find a set of items from this list below:

- (2) Ring of Vitality/Zest/Vim
- Amulet of Vitality/Zest/Vim
- Robe of Vitality/Zest/Vim
- Skull Cap of Vitality/Zest/Vim
- Dagger of Vitality/Zest/Vim

These items can have prefixes. A shield may not be used during this quest.

Once you've completed that outfit you must destroy 5 of the following 10 beasts:

- Shadowcrow
- Bilefroth the Pit Master
- Nightwing the Cold
- Deathspit
- Chaoshowler
- Chaoscrawler
- Blightfire
- Goldblight of the Flame
- Viperflame
- Breakspine

4) Dark Artist Warrior
The Necromancer has finally realized the magic and skill involved in weapon-crafting, and just the same, he has realized the magic in strong spellcasting techniques. He has gained the honor of casting Firewall, Flash, and Telekinesis. He then begins the mastery of these items. Griswold's supply of swords and shields are running low, so you can't buy from him during this time, just repairs and sell. Griswold has told you of a certain beast hidden within the depths of hell who has stolen most of his armory, Rustweaver, and you must kill him and collect the 5 unidentified bastard swords stolen (any swords from hell will do) and sell them to Griswold unidentified. After that, Griswold's supply is replenished and you are able to buy from him, which you will need because your next task is challenging.

5) Dark Artist Knight
You will need as much strength as you can get, because 2-handed swords use a lot of strength, and you will need that. But, until you gain up the strength, you have a few new spells to toy with, Chain Lightning, Fireball, and Stone Curse. If you can't gain up enough strength to use a two-handed sword, grab a hammer instead. Your quest this time, enter the church. You will not stop this game until either you or Lazarus himself lies dead on the heated floors of hell. Due to severe interference of Lazarus’ Dark Arts, town portals are not allowed right now, but he accidentally left his dark arts scrolls out to the open, so if found, resurrection and Infravision scrolls can be used. This is extremely hard to complete, but after Lazarus is dead you become a Necromancer Knight.

6) Dark Artist King
After beating them all, you are pretty strong with combat. You may now do a dagger hunt from the cathedral to caves on any difficulty, but hell is a no-no. Your dagger can't be bought from Griswold, because the ones you are looking for is one with dark arts, and Griswold doesn't sell those type. After finding a decent dagger, you must skin Leoric one last time to grab his scrolls of knowledge, and you are able to learn Guardian, Golem, Elemental, Bone Spirit, Blood Star, Nova, and Apocalypse respectfully. Now for the ultimate test, you enter the cathedral with nothing but armor nothing above robes, a crown, the dagger of your choice and shield of your choice, plus with full jewelry. The quest is to keep going through the levels resurfacing 3 times only, plus one before Diablo. You must them brave it through Hell stabbing everything to death, until you come upon Diablo. To show Diablo the sheer power, you equip all of your old things previously unequipped, and destroy Diablo. You then are left free to try the extra quests available. (If you're not level 50 by now :)

7) Dark Artists
You must be a King to attempt this quest.
You have been outraged at the acts of Diablo, and he still defies you! You must show him who is the better master at Dark Arts, and you must go straight to hell to kill Lazarus using just a dagger (Wizardspike Ideal!) and spells. Then you move onto the pentagram, and kill Diablo using the Dark Arts spells (Golem, Guardian, Blood Star, and Bone Spirit) and a dagger w/shield.

Titles
Normal: Dark Artist
Nightmare: Fallen Knight
Hell: Fallen King

8) Elementalist
Requirements for this quest are Knight and King. (Note: He had "Knight & King." I assumed that you had to be a Knight to get King, so having both as a prerequisite wouldn't make much sense. He might have meant, however, that you had to be either of the ranks to do this quest. -Lem)
You choose 1 element to master: Lightning, Magic, or Fire.

Lightning
Defeat Diablo using only Charged Bolt, Lightning, Chain Lightning, Nova, Holy Bolt, and your choice of weapon (lightning enchantment required).

Titles
Normal: Shocker
Nightmare: Shocker Extreme
Hell: Elite Zeus General

Fire
Defeat Diablo using only Firebolt, Fireball, Flamewave, Firewall, and Inferno using your choice of weapon (fire enchantment required).

Titles
Normal: Pyrotechnician
Nightmare: Pyrotechnician Extreme
Hell: Elite Pyrotics General

Magic
Defeat Diablo using only Blood Star, Bone Spirit, Golem, Flash, and Stone Curse with your choice of weapon.

Titles
Normal: Naj's Soldier
Nightmare: Naj's General
Hell: Naj's Elite Guard

Mana Shield, Heal, Heal Other, and Town Portal permitted with all. Opposing spell types shall not be used during this quest. (e.g. Don't use Fire/Magic spells during the Lightning quest.)

9) The Gauntlet – Axe Mastery
Still the dark mages of Diablo have been terrorizing your camp! The most recent thing they have done is stolen every single weapon from the Dark Artist’s camp, and you can't continue fighting evil without them. They have also stolen your scrolls of knowledge, and only the most basic spells, Firebolt, Charged Bolt, Mana Shield, and Town Portal can be cast, and worst of all, the mages have teamed up with Lazarus, the infernal mage that doesn't die. You must buy an axe from Griswold (the best one) equip your finest armor and jewelry and enter the denizens of hell with the will to keep fighting, and destroy Lazarus and bring his drop back up to town.

Titles
Normal: Gauntlet Runner
Nightmare: Gauntlet Runner Elite
Hell: Gauntlet Runner Supreme

Special Thanks

Me :), Charis (He doesn't even know be but by making that Amazon variant is a good enough reason to thank him :) ), Patrick(NCR), BroQ120(NCR), LoriQ(NCR), and Simmy(NCR), the earliest Dark Artist players!