Game of the Week

Game of the Week (GotW) is a game held once a week, which always falls on different days of the week (to provide variety). It always begins at 7pm Pacific, and everyone who desires to participate (Hand members only) must meet in channel "Hand Brothers" 5-10 minutes before the game begins. GotW always has a unique password, which, if you arrive late, can be obtained from any member in the game by whispering.

Game of the Week never has a designated activity. Before the game begins (either in the channel or in the forums) we discuss what we would like to do for the night, be it magic finding, starting a new character, leveling in cow levels or bloody runs, holding a Hunt, etc. Anything goes. You could even request that GotW be completely friendly duels, if you want to.

If there are more than 8 participants, games will be split up evenly (i.e., if there are 10 participants, there will be 5 people in 2 games).

All-class is a sign-up game, or in other words, the game was announced at some point and those who wished to participate signed up for it. By signing up they promised to be at every game (held weekly) indefinitely, as best as they could manage. The characters that are built for All-Class are never played in any game outside of the designated All-Class game, unless it is for catch-up (if they missed a game). All-Class consists of one character from each character class Diablo 2: LOD includes. Quests are done in order and the group always sticks together. Characters are built with team-play in mind. Currently the Hand has only 1 All-Class game, which plays every Thursday at 7pm Pacific. If there are more members willing to devote 2 hours on a weekly basis to an All-Class game, requests for a new team must be sent to Leiahs via email.

The Hand currently has 1 Hardcore Team which participates in the Guild HC tourney. As stipulated by the Guild, teams must be made of 4 members, they must do quests in order, and they must not be twinked characters. The HC team plays once a week. If you desire to be a part of a Hard Core team, you can either participate with other Hand members, or you can participate with Guild members.

"Steamroller" - A character who will do all the fighting and who will be most active through the rush.

"Leech" - A character who will sit in town and jump in to "Leech" the boss quests off the Steamroller.

• Have act 2 "Staff" mules ready and available for each difficulty and map out the locations of each tomb symbol in the Canyon of the Magi (the symbols are always on the same tombs).
• Try not to have more Leeches than Steamrollers, this shouldn't be a problem in normal and most of nightmare difficulties but it will become harder on the Steamrollers as the rush moves through the difficulties and will slow the rush down.
• Leeches should stay alert and listen to the Steamrollers instructions.
• Leeches should never go through a TP unless the Steamrollers give the all clear.
• Steamrollers should have first pick of any items that drop (like uniques, rares and set items)... after all they're doing all the work and should get some perk for helping the Leeches out.

ACT 1

1. Steamrollers rush through to Catacombs Lvl 4 and open a TP in the entry room and give the "All Clear" after clearing it first.
2. Leeches go to entry room and stay away from the door (so as to not lure remaining monsters to them) and give the "Ready" when they are all there.
3. Steamrollers kill Andariel and portal to Rogue Encampment should appear.
4. Leeches take portal to town, talk to Warriv. Quest complete, move on to act 2.

ACT 2

1. Make new game with "staff" mule and give tomb symbol.
2. Steamrollers make their way to and clear staff room, open a TP and give the "All Clear".
3. Leeches use TP and go to staff room.
4. Once all Leeches are present the Steamrollers kill Duriel, Leeches should stay in staff room while this occurs.
5. After the "All Clear" is given, the Leeches enter and go talk to Tyreal, take portal to town, talk to Jyrhen and then Meshif. Quest complete, move on to act 3.

ACT 3

1. Steamrollers make their way to Durance Lvl 3 and Clear entry area, open TP near stairs and give the "All Clear".
2. Leeches use TP and go to entry area and give the "Ready" to the Steamrollers when all are present.
3. Steamrollers clear a path to Meph, kill him and give "All Clear".
4. Leeches proceed to use Portal, quest complete, move on to act 4.

ACT 4

1. Steamrollers make their way to the Chaos Sanctuary and clear it completely of monsters and pop all but one seal to release Diablo, open a TP and give the "All Clear".
2. Leeches use TP and prepare themselves. The best place to hide where you won't take any damage is behind the columns above and to the left off of the pentagram where Diablo appears.
3. Steamrollers pop the last seal and kill Diablo. You'll know when this quest is done.
4. Leeches go back to Pandemonium Fortress, talk to Tyreal, quest complete, take Portal to act 5.

ACT 5

1. Steamrollers make their way to the Throne of Destruction and clear it out to trigger the final battle with Baal, open a TP and give the "All Clear".
2. Leeches use TP and when everyone is present, the group proceeds (Steamrollers first, followed by the Leeches a second or two later) through the portal to the Worldstone Chamber.
3. Steamrollers advance on Baal as the Leeches move to the wall to their right.
4. Once all Leeches are present the Steamrollers kill Baal. Once again, you'll know when this quest is done.
5. Congratulations... your done with the difficulty level.

• Once the group makes it to act 2 (as in after making a new game with the "Staff" mule). Those Steamrollers who are capable and/or confident enough can prep acts 3, 4 and 5 while one Steamroller does act 2. This way you can hit each act rapidly and complete the difficulty that much quicker.
• Take the time and effort to make "Staff" mules for act 2. They will more than pay for themselves in the time you save (of course the Brotherhood of the Hand has an account with dedicated staff mules).

Once you get a system down and everyone follows it, you'll be amazed at how fast you can finish a difficulty level. I've seen normal and nightmare completed in around 15 minutes each (hell of course will take longer). I'm sure that there are those out there who can do them even quicker. It's all about coordination and teamwork. Once your done, you can power level by leeching xp in Hell Cow Games and then go back and finish the other quests at your leisure (of course it helps if someone gives you all the wps in each act).