Great post. You've been having a very good experience with the game from the sounds of it.
My first half dozen or more characters were all 'lets see how this works', no build, no plan, explorations. Slowly got better, but didn't really do very well and never really completed the first part of the game (back then it was split into three difficulties). So all those early characters have levels in the 20s and 30s with I think one in the low 40s.
After a long break away, I came back and discovered builds. First build used as a guide and I got into the 60s. And my current character is the first to get to the maps.
I've never traded still, though have looked into it a few times. Those uniques can build up and fill the stash up all on their own.
and thanks to the stash tab sales, I've bought 4 specialized tabs now, which helps provide so much more space in the 4 you start with.
I'm mostly glad that you're having fun, and having fun your way with it. That's pretty much what I love about gaming. There might be an optimal path, but you might have more fun off elsewhere, and there's nothing to stop you doing that.
oh, and as for the challenges, I think the first reward is at 12 complete this league. That's what I'm working towards with my syndicate farming of Act 8's bridge. There's at least 3 more for me to complete there
Agree with everything you wrote and I so appreciate your giving me some idea. I got a number from my pal and he made me feel a little better. lol I think I'm just burnt out with experimenting with too many spells. A lot of my wasteful deaths is related to that an when I get stubborn with the syndicate. For example, I just did another reconfig a moment ago, two insta-deaths! XD
So lost re the spells atm...
Thanks for dropping by ratt, I know you're busy with your little princess. hehe
I just killed the syndicate mastermind for the first time. cost me about 40-45% of a level's experience in deaths, but got the job done with 1 portal to spare... Will certainly need better chaos resist for it next time around!
One of the things with reconfigs, often you're going from well leveled gems, and so more powerful spells, to level 1 gems with their basic level. I often shove a thing I want to test out into one of the slots of things I don't use much/at all just to get it up a few levels before actually trying it even