BL1 - hardcore playthrough?

[FlamesForAll (It's a SIEGE profile picture!)]

Which chest is this?

The one immediately outside the safehouse door on the raised area?

(Edit: asking cuz photos not loading on my phone right now)

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

The one in the room that claptrap opens for you.

Lilith w 5/5 hit and run can phase walk to the room without fighting anything.

[RavenOfArisia (Now we Slass!)]

You can see where the stupid Divine Wind claptraps are, before they’re on top of you

Really? I fought MINC last night for the first time (I never competed this DLC way back when) at level 61 and one of the frustrating points to me was that I did not see the suicide clappies coming up on me. One in, I’d say, 5 showed up as dots on my minimap, the rest did not. i.e., I died a lot.

And congrats on keeping up on this. I’ve 1Lifed a Siren up to UVHM and lvl 57 in BL2 (and have others in play), but I would not consider a BL1 1Life.
Too many random things. The proximity mines you can’t see. Laser-accuracy from a bandit 1/2 way across the map. Danged car mechanics. And so on, I’ll confine my hardcore to BL2 and simply admire your efforts.
–RoA

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Ha…I can’t imagine trying this in BL2! That seems absolutely impossible…especially UVHM. BL1 has its wonky vehicle mechanics, and yeah proximity mines, but at least the bandits don’t all deliberately hide when you go into FFYL! Plus no EXP-Loaders.

On-topic:
Had a nasty scare in the Dahl Headlands last night. During the kill 8 runners mission, I was heading up to the safe spot on revolver hill. Bee-lining straight for it, a bandit runner popped out from behind a pillar and we both flipped…AAAAAAAAA. I was nearly there, so just panicked and hit phasewalk and sprinted up the hill. Made it!

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Slow progress as usual. The farm for a decisive Mad Mel weapon took a very long time, but given that this is PT2 I wasn’t willing to compromise. After a couple hours at Lucky’s opening chests and selling stuff, I just started farming the Underdome machines. I apparently forgot a photo though - I used an HX barrel2 double Hyperion SMG w/ about 80 accuracy. Not ideal (wanted barrel5), but I have the explosive Maliwan below to deal with distant Psychos. It wasn’t bad. Been clearing up Rust Commons quests, and I’m about to go meet the Kobb brothers. It’s been kind of fun not having a Hellfire.

Good shield, not amazing but I’ll take it. Having quick recharge is most important - get the shield back to full by the time phasewalk wears off!

Garbage!

Pretty good - not really a fan of explosive weapons but I’ll hold on to it for the accuracy.

This thing kinda sucks but I always keep a defiler on hand…used it for Krom this time.

I don’t understand why they didn’t do something to fix this gun. Community patch to the rescue, I hope!!!

I bought this, intending to use it for leveling pistol proficiency at the Promontory assuming I get to level 69. It’s low level but that won’t really matter. I may not find another.

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Got through the rest of the Rust Commons stuff, Trash Coast, Old Haven, and Baron Flynt…one more session should get me through PT2. Fun times!

Not better damage or regen, but it sure beats the 2/2/2 skill boosts on my old one.

Impressive colors…too bad this isn’t a repeater Mordecai.

Got one…

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Progress…getting intense now! I got the codes from the World’s Largest Bullet, and will finish Knoxx soon.

After completing Crimson Enclave, I think I’ll just fast travel right here…removes the opportunity to run off the edge in the Descent or EP.

PT2 Complete! On to Knoxx!

Not the rare drop I would have liked from Hera…where’s my Specter COM?

Not quite an upgrade - barrel2 and no sight = frustration.

[RavenOfArisia (Now we Slass!)]

Arrrrg, your continued progress is seriously tempting me to do this. And I know how frustrating it’ll be. But I just did a Lilith through PT2 without dying (I didn’t realize it until near the end) and I continually 1life in BL2 so I think I’m going to try it in BL1.
I will blame you in a loud voice the first 20 times I fail at it for some dumb reason like a barrel or falling off, of course…
–RoA

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Haha, you’re doomed!

[bryanswpaulsen]

Still following this with keen interest. You definitely have the ability to finish it off!

[FlamesForAll (It's a SIEGE profile picture!)]

Yes, I love this adventure!

It’s epic!

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Sick day = lots of borderlands. I finished the Knoxx storyline, and this time did nearly all the Knoxx side missions. I left Lost Lewts, Circle of Duty, and Craw for now. I also didn’t do Thrown for a Loop - I went over to do it and noticed that there’s just a cliff on the other side of the loop. Sounds like a really stupid way to end a streak…maybe I’ll do it last, or just do it and save/quit before I careen to my death. Dunno.

I ran very quickly (like, 15 min each) through DLC 1 and 4 in PT1. I wanted the skill point for DLC4…and also am experimenting with SDUs. I got both PT1 SDUs while in PT2.5, which is supposed to be impossible. I’ll make another thread on this.

I did most of the Zombie DLC in PT2.5; just have the last mission to go. I had a stressful time with Undead Ned on my last run through - kept running of ammo, with a low-level double SMG and a low-regen Merc COM. I am much better equipped this time.

Next time will take out Dr. Ned and move on to Claptrap…I think I’m currently at level 65.

Always fun to finish something…one more milestone along the way!

Shield upgrades aren’t as sexy as weapons, but I’ll gladly take this one…w/ Diva, it’s 2600-ish.

Not bad, not bad…always good to keep one on hand for Badass Pyros and Jetpack Lance!

I haven’t done much Ajax farming, but enough to be disappointed by this.

Some stuff from the sprint through the Armory:

THIS WAS NOT FUN AT ALL!!! Seriously - this Badass Rocketeer nearly killed me. Daze is great most of the time - it decreases enemy movement speed and fire rate, and also projectile speed. Unfortunately that means that he was able to fire an absolute wall of slow-moving continuous shock death, reaching behind cover. AAAAaaaAAAAaaa

Far from perfect but pretty cool…timely too, since zombies hate fire and Tankensteins have a lot of health!

COM upgrades aren’t sexy either. I kind of like the Girl Power boost.

Last time I got killed partially because I was working on pistol proficiency instead of being careful. Here I am doing it again with zombies…this thing is about 400x7. Stupid? Not yet. To quote the great philosopher Aladdin - “you’re only in trouble if you get caught!”

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Zombie DLC - Done. Much easier this time than last. On to Claptrap!

[bryanswpaulsen]

You are right on the verge of closing out the challenge!

Also, you can do the Loop Mission with the Monster. More of a pain, but there is no way to go off the cliff with it. It barely suffices for completing the mission, but there you have it.

…

Not that I have ever gotten even remotely close to that cliff with the Racer. You should be fine doing it the normal way.

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

I am tantalizingly close. Over the weekend I wasted MINAC with no trouble at all, and cleaned up all the Tartarus Station sidequests. I’ve always found it a bit annoying that these are out of sync with progression - it’s just a way to make the DLC feel longer without adding any content. Marcus makes you fight through all 4 areas again. Whatever, at least I didn’t die doing it this time.

Upgrade for the Claptrap killer:

And another! No complaints at all about this…MINAC will love it.

The math says this is an upgrade, but eeehhhh

None of the bosses gave me trouble this time - I’m not sure why Steele was such a chore last time through. No matter.

This is in one of the chests right before MINAC. Timely - I’ll take it!

Sweet victory!

So what’s left now? Just Circle of Duty, Craw, and Underdome…so I did a few gift shop runs for some Craw gear.

This would be great except my sniper proficiency is literally zero.

Good Hellfire and Stinger:

Alrighty then

Probably close enough to perfect…

Also, you can do the Loop Mission with the Monster.

Indeed! Thanks - never would have thought to try it.

I am still missing a good Anarchy and a good shock weapon. I’ll do Circle of Duty without them, then hit the gift shop until I get them. One or two more play sessions?

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

Just a little bit last night - I think I’m going to bail on the Underdome for now. Even trying to go quickly, it took about 45 minutes to do one arena. I don’t think the extra skill points are going to help me with Craw - I mean, they’ll allow me to put a couple more points in Enforcer, but that won’t make any difference in that fight. Maybe over to Circle of Duty, then to Craw…Underdome later if I am successful.

Did a couple more gift shop runs and got my perfect (defense-focused) Mercenary. Cool.

Favorite scope replaces no-scope defiler

Possible gun for Craw Maggots?? I’ve always used revolvers (because I always played Mordy)…this seems weak but may be OK.

[billthebetta (band)]

The SMG won’t kill the Maggots very quick, compared to a good shock revolver, but it will do a great job at locking them down with the shock procs.
Which… revolvers proc on every shot… uh, maybe get a shock revolver?
It’ll work, but if you’re looking for the best chances at surviving Craw I’d have to suggest a shock revolver, yeah.

[bryanswpaulsen]

I can vouch for the Orion, Aries, and a 110 Eridian Thunder Storm for Craw Maggot duty. Any good purple Shock revolver will also work just fine. I’ve used a Shock Equalizer a few times.

Given you have a very high quality Orion I would just farm The Lost Cave for the proficiency. It does not take long running the bugs and that gun will one shot them. Grind? Yes. Worth it to use the God of Shock Weapons at its best? Yes.

Circle of Duty and Crawmerax are where most hardcore runs go to die in Playthrough 2.5.

Hopefully I do not jinx it this time. Good luck!

[MeltintheSun (kills Craw with Knoxx's Gold)]

So, shock revolver, got it. I don’t have the patience to farm proficiency for the Orion, and I never liked using it for maggots with Mordy anyway.

Circle of Duty and Crawmerax are where most hardcore runs go to die in Playthrough 2.5.

What’s so bad about Circle of Duty? I don’t remember it being too tough, as long as you stay out of the road when the lancers are out…

[bryanswpaulsen]

Setting aside Lancers, sometimes the enemies simply spawn with annoying to face weapons. Example: in my last successful no-death run a Badass Defender had an Aries.

Badass Rocketeers with Spread Shock Launchers can be a real nuisance too.

On the other hand, sometimes Circle of Duty sees the enemies spawn with nothing but junk. Those times it is easy enough.