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Post by gandoron on Jun 24, 2010 19:57:17 GMT
In abyss you will want PwK and wrack for sure. Both are insanely powerful. Some mobs have 30-40 elem resists, even with enervation they take very little damage from small packet/melee weapon damage.
I dropped Premo on my sorc, using Ely trans rod for G.stoneskin, with 59/1, I can channel +1 and still get +15 soak.
I think bigby 7 and 9 together it too much if you are focused on beyond hells. One or the other, keeping in mind that much of the time raks are not grabbed now, MS, wierd, plode, etc. BB7 is nice for para machs, but they can be killed relatively quickly.
BB8 is still nice for good phys damage. Marliths take 500-600 damage per hit. PF's take a lot as well. Together with Evards arcane is a blud damage machine.
-G
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Post by phalthallus on Jun 25, 2010 17:03:23 GMT
Okay, thanks guys.
I'm still interested to hear from others, including Were, but here's what I've gotten from you two:
- Keep Lesser Spell Mantle and Lesser Mind Blank, and probably Wrack, so Level 5 will be those 3 + Energy Buffer + one of: Vitriolich Sphere, Cone of Cold, or Freezing Fog.
I'm thinking of dropping Vit Sphere, because Mestil's is more damage, it looks like, on paper anyway. Plus being a lower-level spell, it will be easier on the spell slots. I find myself using all of my meta'd 6's, which leaves no castings of Vit Sphere after a while.
- Level 7 keep Rebuke
- Level 8, try to pick up Bigby8. That means dropping one of: Sunburst, Premo, or Polar Ray. Horrids is in for sure, with Abo's/Ely. Rain has Sunburst for Bodaks, Varrangoin's (except Arcanists), and Dust Wights. Are there other ways to insta those? I'm not sure I need to keep it for those 3, but would like to hear from others who've played in the Abyss a lot. Barring that, I rather hate to drop Premo, not having the Aboleth trans rod. Polar Ray could be dropped, if I pick up Cone of Cold or Freezing Fog above, and because I have Ice Dagger, but PR dmg is by far the best, and has the KD benefit.
What are the thoughts on Scint Sphere vs Ball Lightning? I just don't like the targeting of BL, since it's nothing like Firebrand. But it would let me get Slow, if I dropped Scint Sphere for BL. How does the damage compare on a non-DSM, comparing SS and BL?
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Post by gandoron on Jun 26, 2010 0:01:31 GMT
I actually dropped lesser mantle and MB. I really wanted to keep mantle, but with a splash my saves are high, and I can use a Gtr mantle scroll when I'm walking into a heavy caster fight. Lesser MB grants a one shot immunity, but with high saves it's not that important. Clarity cures more effects than LMB when cast after the effect is in place. (http://highergroundpoa.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Tavern&thread=17548&page=1#158823)
I have scint sphere. I think it's easier to control, and lvl 5 was pretty tight.
I personally kept, Mind Fog - -10 will save is big, with GSF and channel/draught, you have a reasonalbe chance of hitting. Once it hits it basically stays in effect. makes NB, maze, etc that much easier to land. Not all bards have high enough SP. BB5 Interposing - -10AB is massive on boss fights and elites, you don't always have an AA Vitrolic - my only acid damage on my sorc, though mestil's might be a decent option
Slow is nice. I ended up dropping it in the end for clarity, fireball, gust, neg burst and scint sphere. Slowing marliths is very nice. The duration isn't that great (round/CL) making it less useful for boss fights.
-G
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Post by Werehound Silverfang on Jun 26, 2010 6:31:15 GMT
I do cast stoneskin on myself.
Generally, I Maximize Brand Trees in Azzagrat (larger range, although less damage) and conserve my level 9s for other creatures.
As Jean said, I enjoy slowing lots of monsters. There isn't one I've found that's immune to having 1 attk lost, and a fair number of hells bosses are completely slow-able (Dis comes to mind right away).
I have Ball Lightning because I wanted Clarity for curing rages in the Abyss, but still needed an Elec damage spell. It's rather decent, doing ~320 damage per strike on each creature. Although, that is empowered with 127 lore.
ON your darkness mention, I use the CoVD, so I had no need to take Darkness as a spell.
Jean was right about splash sorcs. I've had little reason for any damage resistance spell other than stoneskin. if I do need more, it's for short periods of time, and can pop an Epic Warding from my staff.
And I find, being useful in both Abyss and Hells (not specialized for either) that having a level 59-62 Mords to cast is so much more helpful than a level 50 in dispelling Raks.
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Post by phalthallus on Jun 26, 2010 13:21:19 GMT
Thanks Were.
I think for level 3, I'll go with Neg Burst, Clarity, Slow, Gust, and Scint Sphere, by dropping Displacement. The Bard ALWAYS has these, so it's redundant anyway, and I get a lot more flexibility with this. Starting a fight off with Neg Burst + Slow sounds like a great opener.
Good point on Darkness Once demi'd (still only 54 atm), I could use that ring. I tend to on Ely anyway with my other casters, so it only makes sense. So I'll probably go Combust or Flurry of Fumes. I'm thinking Combust, from what jean said, and because I have Melf's Acid Arrow for sure already, and may keep Vitriolich (not sure yet).
I was thinking there was something LMB cured that Clarity didn't, so thanks for that link Gand. With that in mind, I don't mind dropping that and Mantle both, and going with Wrack, Vit Sphere, Energy Buffer, and one of Cone of Cold or Freezing Fog. I'm thinking CofC more, for breaking walls, and to not worry about KB mobs.
Thanks for all the info guys. I appreciate the insight, as I try to finalize my selections as I begin my Hells, Abyss, Ely, and Abo trips.
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Post by Werehound Silverfang on Aug 3, 2010 15:17:53 GMT
Spell Update.
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Post by nataani on Aug 3, 2010 16:04:57 GMT
A couple pointers after just redoing my sorc: Blindness (lvl 2) - Disables some nasty gazing mobs. Could drop melfs for it. Balagarns Iron horn (lvl 2) - With no PWS is your spell selection, this is a great disable spell for a fair few mobs, including those nasty dev crit melee. Could drop combust for it. Sunburst (lvl 8) - Is an instakill in its own right, for a fair few things that U2D cannot handle. Could drop GS for it (I always just gv anyway). FtS (lvl 6) - A rather mediocre spell in the abyss, druid gaze works far better, and considering how few things druids have to do in the abyss, I just leave it to them. I have never once felt that I was missing something by not having this. U2D or Acid fog are far superior choices. Magic circle vs alignment - Its great to have your own buff of this, clarity would be my choice to drop, but then again due to such low dc slow and NeB are both kinda meh too. A note on this.. I saw above that it was suggested to open spawns with these spells, I strongly disagree, wierd/wail is the best open into just about every spawn in the abyss. Why slow something when you can kill it outright. Plus, the chance of landing NEB or slow on uncursed, no sr drop mobs is so low its just not worth bothering. Balancing sorc spells now is near impossible. I managed to get everything in only by dropping two gr cha for extra spell known feats, link to my build and spell selection are here
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Post by uncanny on Dec 25, 2011 14:59:59 GMT
Does the 1pally hurt at all due to being unable to channel while leveling? Thinking of building up a sorcerer and scrapping my DSM, which means I'll be starting out around lvl44 or so - this looks idea but just nervous about the SP needs.
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Post by Vichya on Dec 25, 2011 15:19:55 GMT
Why should you be unable to channel? Every legendary sorcerer can channel. Having a paladin splash class only means you do not gain the bonus to channel for being a pure sorcerer. But you still have 1 more spell penetration than the usual cleric or druid with two splash classes.
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Post by Werehound Silverfang on Dec 25, 2011 19:36:07 GMT
Indeed, as soon as you become legendary you can begin channeling. Channeling I have 72 SP, and 69 without, but I'm using the spell penetration ego, and the Wrap of Fistandantilus. Yes, You could go with the Abyss DC robes, and DC ego, but with the recent drop in monster saves, you can get a much larger portion of your spells off with a higher SP over a higher DC. The DC is high anyway.
**Edit** Oh and spell update.
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Post by uncanny on Jan 7, 2012 13:18:37 GMT
Ah thanks.. I misread the documentation, thought it was only pure sorcerers that got the channelling (I see that it's just the free auto that you lose).
Question: you mention ball lightening a few times but I don't see it in your final list; is this recommended? Also... I'm finding without wall of flames (stone wall in upper levels), I got overwhelmed quickly when barrier came down. Wondering if theres something you'd suggest to replace at lvl4 for wall of flames?
Lastly.. is there any ring-based sequencers or other means to get BBoD? I find I'm burning through scrolls like crazy when repositioning in some locations (200 or so in the last week)!
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Post by uncanny on Feb 26, 2012 12:05:15 GMT
Any thoughts on what you would do with the 6 Paragon feats ? I've been thinking about the following: Paragon SP (no surprise)
Paragon Focus Evo Paragon Focus Necro
Paragon Spell Evo: Evo: "The caster drains the power of a deity for the duration of the spell. For a turn, all the caster's spells are auto-extended, empowered, and maximized, and have 2 DC added." Paragon Spell Necro: "All enemies in a Colossal radius around the caster must make a Fortitude save against DC (40 + caster modifier) or be slain. For each slain creature, a dead party member will be resurrected with 1,000 temporary hit points per slain enemy, divided by the number of resurrections, capping at 10,000 temporary hit points per party member."
Extra Spell Known: Level 9 for wail (CoD is great but DC is low) OR Lvl8 for BB8.
Thoughts?
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Post by Werehound Silverfang on Feb 26, 2012 17:52:53 GMT
I took:
Paragon Spell Penetration Paragon Spell Focus: Evocation Paragon Spell Focus: Illusion Paragon Spell Knowledge: Evocation Paragon Spell Knowledge: Illusion Paragon Inherent Survival: Waterbreathing
I also dropped CoD and Energy drain for Vitriolic Sphere and Wail.
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Post by fallenwizard on Feb 26, 2012 20:44:55 GMT
I took: Paragon Spell Penetration Paragon Spell Focus: Evocation Paragon Spell Focus: Illusion Paragon Spell Knowledge: Evocation Paragon Spell Knowledge: Illusion Paragon Inherent Survival: Waterbreathing I also dropped CoD and Energy drain for Vitriolic Sphere and Wail. You mean freezing sphere instead of vitriolic? Also, still no PWK at all?
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Post by uncanny on Feb 26, 2012 23:42:15 GMT
Not sure PWK is much use without LL Divination?
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