Sign Up! • Login: Password: New User? Forgot? Support
Home
Calendar
Chat
Forums
Mail
Forums
Forums : Character Discussion > wizard... too many options
Hrulgin (Member) 12/16/2010 7:20 PM EST : wizard... too many options link

Hrulgin
Posts: 158
0
Like
0
Dislike

Intell will be TRing back into a wizard soon.

I cant really decide if I want rogue-splash this time or not. Its the dumb Archmage pre that is messing everything up here.

One option is pure wizard, archmage, enchanter 1st then conjurer 2nd. (see: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=281875 ) 

Pros:

gets hypno and web for free.

amazing dcs on enchantments and conjures (trap the soul is underrated).

would be really good in epics (non-solo!)

good spell pen

+1 to all dcs and cheap metas (ie capstone)

Archmage V + Rakirs set gets +2 to caster level randomly, good but not great.

Cons:

really bad in epics (solo)

dps is lower by quite a bit (only room for 1 damage line maxed, a party that has a wizard needs a sorc? that sucks)

has too many spell points (2500+ is too many, i rarely used the 2000 i had before!)

has to spend AP on sucky enh to meet prereqs on AM (concentration IV (4) scholar IV(10) )

loses toughness feat (have to fit in 3 SF feats to get archmage)

Another option i have toyed with is an 18/2 that goes Archmage enchanter (with no secondary school). Same as above with no capstone, 2 less spell pen, still no toughness but at least evasion.

3rd option is to go 18/2 or 17/2/1 and only get archmage II  enchanter that would get free hypnos, nice enchantment DCs, good DPS (should fit all dmg lines needed), toughness, evasion, sprint boost if 17/2/1, but only average DCs on everything else (looks at web and trap the soul and stuff)

It seems like the 3rd option (most like what I have rolled in the past) has the "best synergy", "least waste" etc in the build, but the momentum DCs or tipping point or whatever DCs of the pure wizard could really be worth it. I guess if I had to argue based on quest content, it kinda comes down to U9 (assuming GH goes epic in U9). Without epic GH, i think the pure is best? With GH I lean towards one of the evasion mixes, probably the AMII version (ie 3rd option) seems best. Thoughts? Anyone using Archmage pre much?
Top • Bottom

Tomoman (Member) 12/17/2010 8:35 AM EST : RE: wizard... too many options link
Tomoman
Posts: 66
0
Like
0
Dislike
Tomoman is a 18/2 wizard (TR from Sorc).  I've currently got him spec'd Archmage, but only using MM and Chain MM primarily.  Lots of low cost DPS, machine gun Kelly style.  I picked up Archmage IV and V (without the spells) to get the extra spell points.  Honestly, thinking about switching back to Pale Master with the changes they have made recently...

I went through the same arguements about splashing 2 levels of rogue when I TR'd.  I decided the evasion, and rogue abilities are much more valuable, ESPECIALLY for a TR which can use the extra XP gained for dismantling draps.  I can still search and disable traps in EPIC content with only 2 levels of rogue at level 20.  The Evasion (with Insightful Reflexes) is really the key for me though, if I TR him again, I would splash 2 levels of rogue or monk, no question.  It is amazing how much damage evasion can negate.

One other thought, if you do splash rogue, you can always lesser TR those 2 levels out after you level him back up to 20 if your not happy without the capstone.  So you can take advantage of the XP trap bonuses and then flip to 20 Wizard at the end for the capstone.

Tomo
Tomo:
Main = Tomoman (current TR project)
Alts = Witchking, Witchlord, Swampking, Tman, Tees, Accountant
Mules & 2nd Account toons in the guild: Army of Darkness
Top • Bottom

AelynSpellweave (Officer) 12/17/2010 9:33 AM EST : RE: wizard... too many options link
AelynSpellweave
Posts: 183
0
Like
0
Dislike
I'm looking into the same thing since I'm going to TR Aelyn. Haven't done a whole lot of research on the subject, but I'm interested in pure wiz Archmage or 18/2 with monk splash. I like Tomo's idea of going rogue then LR to change levels when you hit 20 to get the trap xp bonus. I'm leaning towards the monk splash cause as Deol pointed out, I already have a straight caster so why not try something new that can survive.
              ~Aelyn Spellweave

I'm a sexy... shoeless... god of war!

   Aelyn - 20 Sorcerer
   Aelyin - 20 Sorcerer
   Jerra - 7 Ranger/2 monk/1 Rogue (Trap Monkey)
   Vaas - 6 Ranger/13 Barbarian (Tempest)
   Dalan -20 Cleric (This is not really me, don't ask me to cleric for you)
   Joraan - 17 Bard
   Jaayde - 18 Ranger/2 Monk
   Khisanth - 11 Rogue
   Draane - 4 Barbarian
   Slaayde - 20 Favored Soul
   Talendir - 11 Fighter
Top • Bottom

Hrulgin (Member) 12/17/2010 1:53 PM EST : RE: wizard... too many options link

Hrulgin
Posts: 158
0
Like
0
Dislike
So, tomo, you have Archmage V on your 18/2, do you also have Rakirs set bonus? if so can you comment on the +2 random caster level and how valuable you think that proc is? I'm leaning towards only going Archmage II because i suspect both the cost benefit really decreases later on and the rakirs set bonus not being game changing

Top • Bottom

Redraider2 (Officer) 12/17/2010 4:47 PM EST : RE: wizard... too many options link
Redraider2
Posts: 916
0
Like
0
Dislike
I LR'd red out of the one Barb.  I regret it.  The extra HPS and the speed really were fun.  Go 17/2/1.
Paul from Atlanta GA
Team RedRaider
_____________________________________________
Top • Bottom

Tomoman (Member) 12/21/2010 8:55 AM EST : RE: wizard... too many options link
Tomoman
Posts: 66
0
Like
0
Dislike
Red, you can always LR the Barb level back...

I do not have that set.  Tomoman is my very first toon at launch.  He has a ton of raid gear, green steel, EPIC gear etc..  I haven't tried to even look at upgrading his gear in a while, except for EPIC upgrades.  I've been working on my other toons.

I did not try to MIN/MAX him totally, so his DC's are not MAX, but nearly MAX.  Right now he is built as a nuker, so DC doesn't matter as much.  With MM, Chain Missles, Sorc TR Missles, and regular spell power, he does a fair amount of DPS fast.  I regenerate mana back from the Con-Op and Torc.  I rarely have to use mana pots.  With Evasion linked to INT, most AoE & traps miss.  I think Evasion is worth more than the capstone in my opinion for non-EPIC adventuring.

I went with Archmage V to get the extra Spell points.  I only use 2 of the spells, MM and Chain Missles.  I didn't pick up arcane bolt etc, as they were not stacking with item and metas at the time.  Maybe they fixed that?  Switching to Archmage was an experiment however, I was trying it out.  I'm not sure I will stick with it long term.  But the flexibility and variables are endless, so there is a lot you can do, so not saying my build is the only way.  I love that there is no perfect way to build a wizard right now...

If I was spec'ing him for EPIC (Mass Hold Monster), you need to sell out for DCs.  My current build is not best for EPICs atm.  But outside of EPIC content, I think Evasion is worth the DC loss...

Tomo
Tomo:
Main = Tomoman (current TR project)
Alts = Witchking, Witchlord, Swampking, Tman, Tees, Accountant
Mules & 2nd Account toons in the guild: Army of Darkness
Top • Bottom

So-and-so has logged on!
%title%
%message%