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Post by xian on Jul 28, 2009 23:00:31 GMT
Hi, I'm very new to the bloodfire mage quasiclass, so please be gentle with me.
I want to start a Rakshasa bfm, and was looking over the rakshasa variation on the front page. I haven't ventured forth into the hells that much due to time/patience constraints, so my gear isn't going to be very good.
What is the reason behind taking Legendary Spell Focus Transmutation? Has Greater Ruin become something important to include in this build? Is it better to take timestop instead of bigby level 9?
I read through this thread, but the dates seem kind of old, so I am asking in case any changes have been made.
ALSO, because there seem to be a bunch of nifty new HG Enhanced spells, so I wasn 't sure if they'd be more useful than the ones currently listed for this build.
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Post by Werehound Silverfang on Jul 28, 2009 23:07:12 GMT
I would NOT recommend taking timestop. There is a BUR shield that comes with Timestop. Also, if affects your party too, freezing your party while you cast.You won't need it until hells/LL, and even then you will VERY RARELY (If ever) use it. In almost two years of playing I've only seen it cast once, and that was a last ditch effort to save a party in Dis.
Level 9 bigby is much preferred (for me) because it's the only spell a sorcerer has to disable potentially nasty Rakshasas in Hell.
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Post by gandoron on Jul 28, 2009 23:15:12 GMT
BB9 is very useful. A must have if you want to play the grabby mage role in hells. However Timestop is awesome, from being able to use it on small groups or solo in lower levels/LL, to throwing one down before you rez 4 of your comrads in a near wipe.
I had a nessus wipe, where if the mage would have used timestop we would have been fine, but didn't have it mem'd and no wands.
-G
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Post by chainlink on Jul 28, 2009 23:20:48 GMT
TS definitely has its uses and due to the lack of effective BFM level 9 spells you're stuck with MS (BFM spell), Bigby's Crushing Hand (not a BFM spell but doesn't really matter with this one) and a choice of Mord, TS, BBoD or other spells that are caster level dependant and going to be pretty much useless for you. TS is really handy when you're levelling between 40 and 60 (or possibly 55 if you're talking non-HC) as there are areas you can solo a whole lot more painlessly if you have it. You can always swap it out in LL by using the spell change pedestal when you decide you don't need it anymore.
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Post by xian on Jul 28, 2009 23:53:36 GMT
We can change our spells in LL levels?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? That wouldn't happen to be the pedestal up the hill behind the bank at the docks, would it?
Okay, so then does that mean I can switch it out for Bigby level 9, or Mord or whatever according to what run I'm going on? That's extremely cool if that's the case.
Thanks for the speedy replies!
Now can someone tell me what the Legendary Spell Focus in Transumutation is for? I must have missed the fine print somewhere =/
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Post by the1kobra on Jul 29, 2009 1:21:11 GMT
Sorry for not having responded earlier, I've been a bit busy. Anyways...:
I took legendary spell focus transmutation back when disintegrate was implemented, as you could insta-kill (with a +1 DC) anything as long as SR was taken care of, either on no SR targets (like machines), or if a druid cast natures balance. Disintegrate resistance kind of made it worthless for this character, but flesh to stone can still be helped by it. Since you're already taking ESF trans for the wall, I figured it was an easy grab. Now however, it's not as practical. With the lore changes, I've been thinking about taking ESF: Lore instead, for extra bonus damage.
Greater ruin is not implemented, you do not get your RDD levels for it, so it's maximum DC is 54. It's not worth it for this character.
I don't like timestop, it's got far too narrow of a use range and there are wands that cast it, I think I've only spent one in my entire stay on the server.
As for new HG enhanced spells, grab Greater orb of fire at 7th and orb of fire at 4th. An empowered greater orb of fire can deal very high damage to the right targets.
I still have to go through the build and review since the update, I only added a note to take the two orbs (the lesser orb isn't worth it), but I'll probably end up swapping LSF Trans for ESF Lore on this.
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Post by xian on Jul 29, 2009 2:33:32 GMT
Awesome, thanks for clarifying that for me!
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Post by uncanny on Aug 2, 2009 16:12:41 GMT
Wondering.. What would you think of Hound Archon for BFM? It has some useful stats ( STR +4, CON +2, WIS +2) and CHA +4 like Rakshasa; and FC is pally so you won't get any xp penalties. If I had Radiance Gen, would be a better choice; but given that I don't.. ?
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Post by gren on Aug 3, 2009 7:00:07 GMT
Hound is definitely a good choice if you are going the tank BfM route. Worth considering if you are thinking of using it.
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Post by bigminer on Aug 12, 2009 15:42:28 GMT
Couple of questions and a comment.
First, I used the Rakasha build and noticed there are no illusion feats in this build. As a result, whenever I use ghostly visage I don't become ethereal and monsters dont forget about me they just keep coming at me. I normally use GV to quickly drop aggro or hate or whatever you call it. At least this is how i believe it works. Am I correct?
Secondly, I selected LSF lore as mentioned in a post above at LVL 60. I can't see it listed as a feat on my character. Is something wrong or does it simply add Skill Points to my Lore and not list as a feat?
Finally, not sure if this mentioned in this thread anywhere but I just found out the BFMs can wear Light or Medium Armor without arcane spell failure penalty! I wish this was mentioned in the build notes up front because it wasnt obvious to me and totally helps with AC vs wearing robes.
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Post by the1kobra on Aug 12, 2009 17:11:19 GMT
There are some items that have the "Spell Focus: Illusion" feat on them, I know the stygia fan and the tia staff are among those, though the dachy staff and UR staff might have them. That will allow you a short GV. I wouldn't try to get the illusion feats unless you're using radiance though, you have other more pressing feats to take. LSF Lore is a special HG feat, check '!list feats' to see that you have it. I would recommend taking ESF lore though... ESF doesn't count towards the +50 cap. Yes, Bfms can use light/medium armor (NOT shields) without spell failure, details are: wiki.hgweb.org/wiki/Bloodfire_MageOn another note, I updated the builds.
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Post by tagnusd on Aug 12, 2009 17:39:54 GMT
For my level 9 slots, i took mord, TS and hands. I have 34 million xp and have been no deeper than Phleg with this toon. I have used it very successfully farming legendary levels and amassing large quantities of URs, rares and cash from selling. When i don't have 2 hours+ to run a hellrun, i can go and play in legendary levels where I can finish the run in an hour or less. I can't count the number of times i have TS'd some people to Uro, Dulvuroth, Toyshop, Desert, Myco etc, etc tags. Warning* this is by no means fun for the other folks, as they just sit and watch so unless they have homework or something else to do, they will get no enjoyment from it. I have used it a few times in hells, to gs, spawn raks then TS and grab them. Not necessary, but negates the chance of area-mord to the party. One big problem with this is that it leaves the party members flatfooted once you come out of it and can get hit HARD if there are spawns close to them. BFM is a very fun class. enjoy playing it
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Post by jadespawn on Oct 9, 2009 23:34:28 GMT
so is the builds on page one fully updated? im intersteding in making a pixie one
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Post by the1kobra on Oct 10, 2009 1:08:59 GMT
The builds there are updated, you get a semi-free feat at 60, which is what I tend to juggle around. With the latest batch of edits, I took ESF lore. I suppose you could sub it out for an extra spell feat, but considering a bfm's already limited spell selection, I don't see what you could use it on.
That said, I wouldn't recommend making a bfm with pixie, the CON penalty hurts.
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Post by jadespawn on Oct 10, 2009 1:30:30 GMT
aw i see so rakasha then, ok, i was asking bout the update cus i read alot bout spell selections in this thread adn with the new changes was wondering if they still apply from yoru list you hvae. or if otehrs would be better, Im not acustomed to magic users so this is all new to me
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