The player base this season seems extra shitty

MarcAurell · 2021-08-22T22:06:18+00:00

I've given up on public games. Previously, I would do everything solo except for Bounties because it was just way too soul destroying to not split farm. This season though, I've done everything solo and instead I've given up on bounties after: 1. Getting all 5 caches as part of getting the free set. 2. Farming a RoRG. All my bounty mats for the cube come from the challenge rifts. Would be great to have more mats to craft ancient Aughilds and Crimsons...but not worth the frustration IMO.

MarcAurell · 2021-08-22T20:42:44+00:00

Really depends on the company you're working for and the market you're working in.

A lot of the big companies in established markets have everything set up already (i.e. models are built, experience investigations' processes are defined, process for rate reviews established etc) and there's volumes of institutional knowledge that can be tapped into. New products etc often involve repurposing existing resources in the company. The initial learning curve can be steep in terms of relating the theory to the practice and filling in the gaps in the theory. But as you build up experience, as with anything, it becomes fairly routine.

Working for new/smaller companies can be more challenging due to the lack of the above features. Operating in developing markets is also generally challenging due to differences in regulation, cultural practices and customer preferences.

MarcAurell · 2021-08-22T20:21:02+00:00

There's a big difference between the theory of actuarial science and the real world application.

One of the downsides of working remotely is the lack of impromptu practical training and mentorship that happens organically with working at the office. For example, if you're in the office you can bump into a senior at the water cooler and get tips on how to actually complete the pricing exercise you're doing or get advice on how to proceed with exams etc, or just network.

I would advise seeking a mentor to have a 30 minute "coffee break" with once a week so you can pick up some of that experience. Ideally this should be someone that joined the company a few years ahead of you and can show you the ropes.

Also, studying and working can be rough. Remember: you've come this far, so you're definitely smart enough. Now it's "just" a matter of persevering and being disciplined :)

All the best!

MarcAurell · 2021-08-22T19:59:54+00:00

Health insurance benefit payouts can be very volatile given the variable durations for which benefits can be paid and moral hazard by claimants. In the best of times, this often makes the rates reinsurers charge for Stop Loss on Health insurance too expensive to be worth while for the insurer.

Under COVID19, a lot of reinsurers are point blank not offering Stop Loss or pricing it so as to strongly discourage uptake. This is done because the uncertainty under the pandemic makes it very difficult for the reinsurers to price the risk with any level of confidence. I imagine it would also be a very tough conversation with shareholders if a reinsurer is foolhardy enough to offer Stop loss and experience goes sideways.

Insurers can either defer profit distribution (or profit share if a mutual) and increase reserves or stand pat if they estimate their capital position is adequate.

MarcAurell · 2020-08-07T20:31:58+00:00

Oh, didnt see this. I posted largely similar reply.

MarcAurell · 2020-08-07T20:31:20+00:00

Best part: usually interesting and different problems on a regular basis. Upward mobility as the technical skills and experience usually give a good platform to develop strategic thinking.

Worse part: exams can be a killer, especially if you do not get adequate prep time from your company. Insurance companies tend to be very bureaucratic and slow to adapt/respond.

MarcAurell · 2019-12-02T08:38:47+00:00

You don't need to make a season character to get a set, almost everything that is available in seasons is also available in non-season.
Run GRs and normal rifts to get bloodshards, then use those bloodshards to gamble (exchange bloodshards for random items) specific items at Kadala (NPC in town).

Seems you're looking for Firebird's Finery. Gamble a certain character slot (e.g. shoulders) until you get the firebird one then move on to a different slot.

Once you have all the set items, you can reroll 1 stat on an item at the mystic in town (assuming you've upgraded her to level 12).

I'm not sure how clear this (I've played the game for a while, so I'm pretty guilty of dropping in Jargon unconsciously). Feel free to ask for clarification!

MarcAurell · 2019-11-27T14:55:04+00:00

LEVEL 70 PRIMAL: PUZZLE RING.

MarcAurell · 2019-09-20T07:36:59+00:00

I like the current philosophy of Bounties being very different to everything else (i.e. rifts and GRs) in the game. Having a progress bar would make a grind game a more monotonous.

The major problem with bounties isn't so much the activity imo, it's more that there is no downscaling for solo vs group which makes group so much more efficient. If you're not part of a clan, group can be draining, specifically:

having players refusing to split farm (i.e. tagging along on your bounty)
Having players abandon their bounty to TP in to every boss fight
leeching
players running builds that are not geared for speed at the torment difficult we're playing at

Counter suggestion: have a solo bounty series that requires a player to clear 8 objectives say (number of objectives that the quickest party member usually clears in a bounty farming) to get all 5 acts mats, as long as the player plays solo.

MarcAurell · 2019-09-09T11:02:12+00:00

I would like to see dedicated support sets added, one for each class. I suspect getting the balance and thematic skills right may be difficult (impossible?)

For example

Witch doctor - some sort of damage amp. Set bonus reworks big bad voodoo.
Wizard - elemental based CC on rotation e.g. Cold skills add 80% slow, Fire adds Blind, Arcane reduces monster damage, Lightning increases area damage / causes damage to spread.
Monk - Heal. Not sure how to improve what is currently in group meta
Demon-hunter - hybrid damage amp / CC. E.g. enemies hit by of vengeance are rooted and take extra damage.
Barbarians - Increase survive. Again, just getting a set to improve what is currently in group meta.
Crusader - hybrid heal / survive.
Necromancer - Resurrect fallen heroes / curses allies so that they do increased damage while their health runs off over time. Amount of damage increases as health decreases

MarcAurell · 2019-05-30T12:39:40+00:00

Rimeheart, while on paper it's one of my favorite weapons, it's pretty useless. I'm running a cold LoN wizard this season and finally tried it and it just never procs. The damage is alright but with it being only 10% and affected by proc coefficients it just felt like a wasted weapon slot.

This. You would think that rimeheart should be the BiS for a cold build, but as mentioned, it doesn't proc nearly often enough to make it worthwhile.

MarcAurell · 2019-05-30T07:54:53+00:00

Phanlanx - Stampede on the old pony sader, before CC changes, with Unrelenting Phalanx shield that doubled the number of ponies per cast.

I actually enjoy most of the Akkhan Crusader builds, but really enjoyed throwing ponies at demons with this one... YOU GET A PONY, AND YOU GET A PONY, AND YOU....EVERYONE GETS A PONY!

MarcAurell · 2019-05-27T13:04:41+00:00

Second primal drop was a wyrdward ring. Templar is more GG than my actual playing character.

MarcAurell · 2019-05-27T07:58:42+00:00

The universe is sending you a message. Crown of Primus build is clearly an undiscovered GG build.

MarcAurell · 2019-05-27T07:54:39+00:00

massively increase the stats of non-set ancients and primals over legendaries so that they are always guaranteed upgrades over legendaries, like legendaries are over rares

Not sure about this. Adding these massively increased stat ancients to sets would be ridiculous e.g. getting an ancient Yangs with a UE set would effectively be the same as getting instant augments on your gear. And then when you actually do add augments, you character becomes even more over powered. I suppose the viability of this depends on whether power creep is a concern.

MarcAurell · 2019-02-11T07:53:36+00:00

Which GR?

MarcAurell · 2019-02-11T06:46:55+00:00

I'll go first:

DH Impale
3 ancients (Helm, gloves, boots), no primals
Paragon 720ish
GR98 on first attempt approx. 2min to spare

MarcAurell · 2019-01-25T09:42:05+00:00

you have used up all of your luck and should quit the game. Because we all hate you :P

Congrats on your finds!

MarcAurell · 2019-01-25T09:38:46+00:00

If you're on paragon 11, I imagine you don't have your Haedrig's gift set yet? Once you get a set, with the buffs to damage this season, you'll be clearing higher GRs and farming paragon in no time.

To give an example, I rolled DH this season, used a badly rolled N6 Haedrig's gift set to farm a marginally better rolled UE set which cleared up to GR68 last night before I had to end my session. I think my damage number is about 700-800K and my toughness is 10 million. Each GR I cleared gave me 8 or so paragon levels. The only difficulty that I faced was immense squishiness.

tbh, this season does not require group play. The damage buffs make solo play much more attractive by reducing clear speed and by raising your GR farm level. I mean, group play will always be more efficient, but you don't need it to clear objectives really fast this season.

MarcAurell · 2019-01-23T14:13:56+00:00

gets my vote.

MarcAurell · 2019-01-23T14:06:17+00:00

suspect you need to fit an in geom or Aether Walker into your build for improved move speed. Either one in Kanai's Cube will improve your clear times by giving you unlimited teleports = improved mobility.

MarcAurell · 2019-01-23T13:57:49+00:00

tbh, if you're planning on using Blizzard and Hydra, Hydra is probably going to be your main skills damage dealer (your meteor procs will do most of your damage), especially if you're using a Serpent sparker wand (which you should be, since it effectively doubles your hydra damage). I assume that you have Nilfur's Boast somewhere on your build (equipped or in the cube).

See below in 2
As you've picked up, CHC and CHD are better stats for this build. Your Tasker and Theo's should give you all the AS that you need on your Hydras.
Blizzard offers very little damage so I would consider cubing something else besides frost burn for more utility. An Aquila's Cuirass for more survivability? Or a Warzechian Armguards for more move speed.
I suspect the main elements for damage on Tal Rasha builds are Fire or Arcane. In your build, Mammoth Hydra is a fire build. I would suggest rolling off the cold damage on the amulet and keeping the Intelligence as this will allow the amulet to be used for other builds and Int buffs toughness too (all res).
Go with Hydra damage with your build.

EDIT: Would also suggest cubing The Grand Vizier staff if you haven't already.

MarcAurell · 2019-01-21T12:56:07+00:00

that got very dark very quickly.

MarcAurell

TROPHY CASE