Hardcore Cleric?

[Pale_Horse]

Out of bordom I sometimes venture into the hardcore world of D2. I was thinking, since staying alive is the most important thing in HC, would making a Cleric Pally, with a pimped out merc be worth a try?

I may be wrong, but I believe all the runewords on Softcore sill apply to HC.

Merc - Act 2 Prayer
Stone (eth)
Gaze (eth, umed)
Insight (adds meditation aura)
- So basically this merc will have life and mana regen at a amazing rate.

Meanwhile semi decent gear for my Cleric Pally.
Gaze, Shako
Shaftstop, Gardian Angel
Bstar, Heavens, (whatever else that adds to skills)
Draculs Grip, Magefist
Ears, IK, ect
Marrowwalks, Treks
SS, Hoz
2x BK, metalgrid
Resist, + skill charms

Salvation, defience being the main auras, with FOH as the attack/healing skill. This will give everyone in the group mana, life regen, as well as added defence or resistences.

Keep in mind that, a cleric is highly dependent on his merc and allied team members. A Cleric is a helper not a fighter. Is this worth building, or not?

[COTA-GoD]

if you have friends, they will <3 you for life, but </3 you cause all you do is leach.

[Pale_Horse]

Umm...... So is that a yes or a no? Should I even bother making this guy or not?

[Darkmatter]

Well, it depends. In mot cases, most people dont care if you do anything, since yhey'll just kill everything with their cookie-cutter build characters and jack the bulk of the experience. But if you're there providing some useful auras and enhancements to them, I'm sure they won't mind much. That's my opinion anyways. I personally find this build viabnle and even to an extent exciting because it's a break from the normal way of playing Diablo II, or better yet, making a character build.