Wizarding...

[TheKeg]

I finally decided to try out an Arcane caster. It's my first foray into offensive casting, as I have a FvS who heals/buffs/fights, but doesn't have anything offensive. I decided on wizard so that I could try out all of the spells even though I hate the low amounts of SP.

I wanted to do something a little different with him so I decided I'd go acid specced. Is this a waste of time as the levels progress? I know right now that he does pretty well when using melf's and acid spray, later to use acid blast and the like. But looking over the spell list, there seems to be a lack of upper level acid/lightening based spells.

How viable is a non-fire specced caster later in game? The furthest I've made it is 16th level range on any characters and it seems everything is all about FW or cold based spells for max efficiency. I know running tapestries in the Orchard is SUPER easy and fastest when with a mage and his FW. I guess I could just go acid until it just doesn't pay off and then switch to fire spec. *shrugs* I just really like the idea of my green-tinted WF Arcane blasting about with acid spells cause it was such a difference from what the norm is.

[Gulnar13]

Acid/lighting is IMHO very useful. Because if at level 7-14 firewall is GOD, after that, or more specifically, when you hit vale, it becomes... a little disappointing. I mean, what's the point of a firewall when the 90% of mobs that poses a threat are fire-immune? (Devils)
Instead, chain lightning + acid fog is pure win against devils.

[mws2970]

Acid/lighting is IMHO very useful. Because if at level 7-14 firewall is GOD, after that, or more specifically, when you hit vale, it becomes... a little disappointing. I mean, what's the point of a firewall when the 90% of mobs that poses a threat are fire-immune? (Devils)
Instead, chain lightning + acid fog is pure win against devils.

Agreed, but it's also nice to have FoD and Banishment too. It seems easier to find fire specced stuff though.

OP, do what you like and what works for you. Have fun playing with it. If you don't like it, you can always use TP to fix it! LOL

[totmacher]

I finally decided to try out an Arcane caster. It's my first foray into offensive casting, as I have a FvS who heals/buffs/fights, but doesn't have anything offensive. I decided on wizard so that I could try out all of the spells even though I hate the low amounts of SP.

I wanted to do something a little different with him so I decided I'd go acid specced. Is this a waste of time as the levels progress? I know right now that he does pretty well when using melf's and acid spray, later to use acid blast and the like. But looking over the spell list, there seems to be a lack of upper level acid/lightening based spells.

How viable is a non-fire specced caster later in game? The furthest I've made it is 16th level range on any characters and it seems everything is all about FW or cold based spells for max efficiency. I know running tapestries in the Orchard is SUPER easy and fastest when with a mage and his FW. I guess I could just go acid until it just doesn't pay off and then switch to fire spec. *shrugs* I just really like the idea of my green-tinted WF Arcane blasting about with acid spells cause it was such a difference from what the norm is.

Keg from Argo? *** are you doing?

[Cholera]

Acid/lighting is IMHO very useful. Because if at level 7-14 firewall is GOD, after that, or more specifically, when you hit vale, it becomes... a little disappointing. I mean, what's the point of a firewall when the 90% of mobs that poses a threat are fire-immune? (Devils)
Instead, chain lightning + acid fog is pure win against devils.

Of the 15-20 types of critters out there in the Vale only 3 (orthons, horned devils and fire mephs) are completely immune to fire (note: none are immune to cold) and I find that, of those that are fire immune, they fall to finger of death, banishment and / or PK very easily. And, of course, if those fail for some reason then there are a host of charm spells to turn them against each other.

To OP,

What the other spec types need are a fast casting, fall on target (rather than caster) AOE spell. Using acid fog as an example of this problem; it is good but it takes a couple seconds to cast where firewall is virtually instant. This isn't to say that one shouldn't spec in something other than fire/cold (play the way ya want because if you're not having fun, whats the point, right?) but rather, until the other specializations get a fast casting, targeted AOE they will never be quite as useful as fire/cold spec'ing. This is for the simple reason that for a caster, speed and range control (the two most important aspects of effective agro management) are everything.

That is just my opinion, however. Play what ya want and figure out what you have the most fun with. I expect that whatever you settle on, it'll be functional and thats all that really matters to anyone.

[TheKeg]

Acid/lighting is IMHO very useful. Because if at level 7-14 firewall is GOD, after that, or more specifically, when you hit vale, it becomes... a little disappointing. I mean, what's the point of a firewall when the 90% of mobs that poses a threat are fire-immune? (Devils)
Instead, chain lightning + acid fog is pure win against devils.

That's excellent news. Now, it's not like I won't have FW when needed, I just may not be super specced in it. I was hoping to stick with acid/lightening major with a minor in repair/force for healing myself and other WF (and to pay back those missle casters that always annoyed me so). I guess that brings up some other questions, how viable is FW if little to no points were put into it? What is a suitable alternative to it?

Agreed, but it's also nice to have FoD and Banishment too. It seems easier to find fire specced stuff though.

OP, do what you like and what works for you. Have fun playing with it. If you don't like it, you can always use TP to fix it! LOL

I won't hae to use TP to fix it, just in game gold to respec my enhancements. I plan on him being a solid character regardless of the means of damage chosen.

Keg from Argo? *** are you doing?

Wrong Keg totmacher, sorry.


Another question I thought of, do the lore items you find in game stack with the enchanments? If not, what's the point of training enhancments if you can get them for free in an item?

[oweieie]

I wanted to do something a little different with him so I decided I'd go acid specced. Is this a waste of time as the levels progress? I know right now that he does pretty well when using melf's and acid spray, later to use acid blast and the like. But looking over the spell list, there seems to be a lack of upper level acid/lightening based spells.

Turbine really really needs to add more spells. The orb spells and sound lance at a minimum. The Bite series would be nice and... hey, gimme Body of War, they have the model in the game already! *grin*

Until then though, Polar Ray's no save makes it the only real single target option at high levels which pigeon holes you to fire/cold. We really need orbs and such.