Caster w/o Firewall?!?!?!

[Lifespawn]

when i form a grp, im not going to ask casters if they have firewall or haste. im not going to ask barbs if they have power attack. im not going to ask clerics if they load heal. these are insulting questions and they will either be ignored or laughed at most of the time. either you know whats expected of you or u dont. when unforseen things happen, i will deal with them as my mood dictates.

exactly firewall haste heck even rage are all spells i expect all casters to have why would you not? no other spells in their levels is worth more than these spells.

[Drekisen]

...

[SableShadow]

I don't care what any class does as long as it's effective.

[FluffyCalico]

Something to keep in mind is how often you will be casting it.

Probably 8 of the spells I use most are
Haste
Resist element
Protection from element
Firewall
GH
Displacement
Finger
Flesh to stone

I would not reccomend scrolling or wanding any of these due to the frequency you cast them.

For anyone who says drop the 2 element ones and let the cleric cast them. I prefer the cleric has those spell points for other things. As a sorc I can buff the hell out of a party and still have as many SP left as a wizard.

[cypan41]

Completely agree. If you don't have FW, I'm dropping you as well. It's just a must have spell. Spec acid all you want, but keep fw handy. Sheesh it's really a no brainer.

[Raegoul]

I would like make small point: there was a time when firewall did not exist.

[Strykersz]

Something to keep in mind is how often you will be casting it.

Probably 8 of the spells I use most are
Haste
Resist element
Protection from element
Firewall
GH
Displacement
Finger
Flesh to stone

I would not reccomend scrolling or wanding any of these due to the frequency you cast them.

For anyone who says drop the 2 element ones and let the cleric cast them. I prefer the cleric has those spell points for other things. As a sorc I can buff the hell out of a party and still have as many SP left as a wizard.

You had to go and mention GH didn't you?

edit: You may want to fix your computer's clock, it's wrong.

[FluffyCalico]

I would like make small point: there was a time when firewall did not exist.

And this changes how useful it is how?

Just like web used to better than all other CC put together. Then they changed it. Any spell implemented poorly has the ability to be very powerful and thus very desired.

[Raegoul]

oh i do not doubt that firewall is usefull i just wish it wasnt the only spell that people knew how to use

i think it is a good idea to try not using it for a while for the learning experience.

[FluffyCalico]

oh i do not doubt that firewall is usefull i just wish it wasnt the only spell that people knew how to use

i think it is a good idea to try not using it for a while for the learning experience.

Personally I would to see heighten work on greese. Can you imagine FoM on everyone and a sorc tossing heightened greese all over the place if the DC on greese actually worked right that is?

[Impaqt]

Personally I would to see heighten work on greese. Can you imagine FoM on everyone and a sorc tossing heightened greese all over the place if the DC on greese actually worked right that is?

Doesnt Sleet Storm do the exact same thing?

[shores11]

Has anyone ever created a caster that specializes in Acid/Electric spells?

I just rolled a WF Wizzy that I had planned on building around acid/electric and cc spells. So I was wondering if there is anyone out there (and I'm sure there is) that has attepmted this before and if so did they like it? Just seems to me that almost every caster out there is fire spec'd.

My wizard is max speced in acid/lightning and I really do enjoy the different play. I crit. my chain lightning and lightning balls for 1100 to 1200 HP damage from time to time. The acid side does a little less damage but I use it mostly for crowd control but my acid fog crit's. in excess of 140 points per surge. My melf's acid arrow will hit for 40+ per surge but that also helps to interupt spell casting. I will say that I still carry firewall it is a must in some dungeons. Being non-speced in fire though it will only hit for 400+ when maximized and empowered.

Being the my wizard's name is Fizban I have to carry fireball just for role playing purposes, wizards have the luxury of having a throw away spell or two.

[shores11]

Completely agree. If you don't have FW, I'm dropping you as well. It's just a must have spell. Spec acid all you want, but keep fw handy. Sheesh it's really a no brainer.

I do keep firewall in my active spellbook but I rarely cast it. As an acid/lightning speced wizard I throw up an acid fog and cast a few chain lightning's mob gone. I will not and have never dropped anyone from my groups for their chosen play styles.

There is more than one way to skin a cat.

[raistlinmajere]

yes fireball is required for a wiz named Fizban.
Now what was the name of that spell?

[unionyes]

Can't believe that there are people out there who don't think Firewall is useful? Maybe I am missing the point.

People expect it. Like haste.

Feel free to run without Firewall, or Haste for that matter. Your choice.

However, understand this. In some quests, Firewall is a great saver of hit points, time, and effort. In other quests, it is scarcely needed, and those occasions where someone else would cast Firewall you can instead cast whatever else and get the same results. In other quests, other spells like Flesh To Stone make things run a lot smoother, and people know this. Madstone without Firewall and/or FTS? Lot longer to do than with those spells along. (Yes, I know, someone will say but I zerged Madstone solo on my whatever in like 4 minutes, so what, I am talking about us mere mortals here).

Your choice to not carry Firewall. My choice to say to you 'Sorry, looking for someone with Firewall for this quest' and dismiss you.

It isn't equitable for someone to insist on their rights to build/carry what they want, but for them to turn around and not respect MY right to say no thanks to taking you along on the quest.

I have a great deal of respect for people who make and play successfully non standard build types. But I am not compelled to take you along. Anyone who makes a non standard build or playstyle needs to understand that they will get some or a lot of resistance, and learn to deal with it.

[Mike626f]

I currently have a level 11 sorcerer(Phyzerre) specializing in acid/elec damage. I have received alot of criticism for it; even been rudely dismissed from parties because of it, but as a sorcerer because of having limited spells, in order for you do the most damage you about need to choose 1 area to specialize in. Since I wanted to be different and sorcerers having limited number of spells, I wont waste my spell choices on spells that I don't specialize in. And for the critics out there, electricity works on almost anything as opposed to fire where many monsters have resistances or immunities(it even does the same damage to undead.) My shocking grasp spell currently does about 80 pts damage a hit(without a critical hit), not to mention that my lightning bolt and ball lightning spells are deadly. Plus I like to attack with my spells a bit more aggresively and really don't care for hiding behind a wall of fire. In my opinion this is more of a defensive attack than an aggresive one. Not to mention if you're behind a wall of fire it's much harder to see what you're targeting. The way I see it, it's your toon; build it the way suited to the way you like to play.

Maximize Spell
Improved Maximize Spell I, II, III
Extend Spell (very helpful for buffs & acid spells)
Acid/elec damage I, II, III
Charisma I, II
Spell Points I, II, III
Mental toughness
Improved Mental Toughness (You need as many sp as you can get to leave maximize on at all times)
Deadly lineage of energy I, II

These are just current feats/enhancements as this is only a level 11 toon.

[Lifespawn]

I currently have a level 11 sorcerer(Phyzerre) specializing in acid/elec damage. I have received alot of criticism for it; even been rudely dismissed from parties because of it, but as a sorcerer because of having limited spells, in order for you do the most damage you about need to choose 1 area to specialize in. Since I wanted to be different and sorcerers having limited number of spells, I wont waste my spell choices on spells that I don't specialize in. And for the critics out there, electricity works on almost anything as opposed to fire where many monsters have resistances or immunities(it even does the same damage to undead.) My shocking grasp spell currently does about 80 pts damage a hit(without a critical hit), not to mention that my lightning bolt and ball lightning spells are deadly. Plus I like to attack with my spells a bit more aggresively and really don't care for hiding behind a wall of fire. In my opinion this is more of a defensive attack than an aggresive one. Not to mention if you're behind a wall of fire it's much harder to see what you're targeting. The way I see it, it's your toon; build it the way suited to the way you like to play.



Your wasting spellpoints plain and simple fire does double damage to undead and 1 max emp firewall with no enhancements will do 10x more damage to a group of undead or any other non resistant mob than your specced in electricity spells simply because it's a persistent spell not single cast.
Maximize Spell
Improved Maximize Spell I, II, III
Extend Spell (very helpful for buffs & acid spells)
Acid/elec damage I, II, III
Charisma I, II
Spell Points I, II, III
Mental toughness
Improved Mental Toughness (You need as many sp as you can get to leave maximize on at all times)
Deadly lineage of energy I, II

These are just current feats/enhancements as this is only a level 11 toon.

Your wasting spellpoints plain and simple fire does double damage to undead and 1 max emp firewall with no enhancements will do 10x more damage to a croup of undead than your specced in electricity spells simply because it's a persistent spell not single cast.


Your call to play how you want but be ready for criticism and being dropped from groups for your spell selection.

[Damionic]

My main from DDO EU is a Storm wiz and was maxed (rebuilding him now in khyber)

and I feel that FW is a bit like Haste..if you are not spamming it at least once per quest..then your a Noob!..this logic has to now change..because

1.Acid Fog is FAR more useful! (more hit area,more damage per tick,can use web,has 20% miss chance,Stacks with Firewall,Higher mobs have fire res..immune)

2.The Elec spells are very effective..and again there not normally ressed and immuned in later levels

3. For a cast and forget spell Acid Arrow works like a charm

Also I must point out..that as current the casters spec is NOT balanced

i. No purple damage for Elec/Acid..this alone is a cheat!
ii.There are 17 (Fire/Cold) spells..including Burningblood and only 7 (Elec/Acid) spells and acid rain is so gimped its untrue!

[Monkey_Archer]

exactly firewall haste heck even rage are all spells i expect all casters to have why would you not? no other spells in their levels is worth more than these spells.

ROFLMAO

No party needs firewall. If you need firewall, that is because your party sucks, not the caster. The only spell in the game that comes close to being "required" is haste...

I have a acid/lighting spec'd sorc that has never, and never will carry firewall... Or any other fire/cold spell for that matter.
So far i can do anything a fire spec'd sorc can do in all the raids where it matters. (including soloing fire/earth elemental in shroud). Would it be easier with firewall and cold spells? sure. There are also plenty of situations where am acid/lighting sorc is better.

A couple examples:
-Blackbone skeletons - immune to fire/cold - 1 ball lighting kills them en-mass
-Pit fiend/Devils - immune to fire/ resistant to cold - no resistance to electricity
- untill the level cap goes up, ball lighting is basically a delayed blast fireball that costs 10 less sp
-Acid arrow - most underrated spell in the game. This spell quite possibly does more damage per spell point then any other spell. Acid 101 - hit all names with 1 acid arrow first then nuke with whatever else you got.

If you want to run an acid/lighting spec caster I say go for it. Being a good caster has nothing to do with the suposebly "best" spells, and everything to do with using what spells you do have effectively.

[Lifespawn]

ROFLMAO

No party needs firewall. If you need firewall, that is because your party sucks, not the caster. The only spell in the game that comes close to being "required" is haste...
I never said required just a spell they Should have name a lvl 4 spell that is more usefull in more situations.

I have a acid/lighting spec'd sorc that has never, and never will carry firewall... Or any other fire/cold spell for that matter.
You use more spellpoints to do the same job
So far i can do anything a fire spec'd sorc can do in all the raids where it matters. (including soloing fire/earth elemental in shroud). Would it be easier with firewall and cold spells? sure. There are also plenty of situations where am acid/lighting sorc is better.
Take the wall aggro and prep them you can't do it without drinking pots or having to use a tree.

A couple examples:
-Blackbone skeletons - immune to fire/cold - 1 ball lighting kills them en-mass
-Pit fiend/Devils - immune to fire/ resistant to cold - no resistance to electricity
- untill the level cap goes up, ball lighting is basically a delayed blast fireball that costs 10 less sp
-Acid arrow - most underrated spell in the game. This spell quite possibly does more damage per spell point then any other spell. Acid 101 - hit all names with 1 acid arrow first then nuke with whatever else you got.

If you want to run an acid/lighting spec caster I say go for it. Being a good caster has nothing to do with the suposebly "best" spells, and everything to do with using what spells you do have effectively.

my fire specced sorc has ball lightning and can still kill those blackbones 1 shot just as you can

polar ray outdoes your ball lightning all day long on pit fiend and there is no save for 1/2 damage.

Acid lightning sorc can do well i never said they couldn't but there are very very few times where they can ever do better.

Play like you want i've said it multiple times but be ready for people to tell you your suboptimal and accept that.