Empower and Maximize

[josejgcosta]

Hello
I took empower at lvl 1 sorcerer, and i am going to lvl up to 6 and take maximize feat too. So when i have these too feat activeted my spells give more 150% damage? You think is worthy having hese too feats, or i'll burn many spell points? Should i go to fred and change empower to other feat?

These might b the feat i'll take [human]
Level 1 - Empower Spell
Level 1 - Toughness [human]
Level 3 - Extend Spell
Level 6 - Maximize Spel
Level 9 - Heighten Spell
Level 12 - Spell Penetration
Level 15 - Greater Spell Penetration
Level 18 - Spell Focus: Evocation or Force of Personality

Thks for the attencion!

[Aurora1979]

Taking both feats as a sorc is fine. you can really bang out some major FW and polar rays.

IMO though, i would of taken them a bit later. I like to take extend earlier, for buffs etc. keep maxi and empower until a bit later when you have the big hitting spells and more mana.

Having said that, Im not sure i would feat swap yet if i were you as its probably best to solider on with what you got rather then using your free feat swap just yet.

[josejgcosta]

Taking both feats as a sorc is fine. you can really bang out some major FW and polar rays.

IMO though, i would of taken them a bit later. I like to take extend earlier, for buffs etc. keep maxi and empower until a bit later when you have the big hitting spells and more mana.

Having said that, Im not sure i would feat swap yet if i were you as its probably best to solider on with what you got rather then using your free feat swap just yet.

thks for the info, by the way wht's "IMO"?

[Dawnsfire]

thks for the info, by the way wht's "IMO"?

IMO= In My Opinion

[rodallec]

depending on your play style you should check out quicken.

[Esserbe]

I also wouldn't recommend spell focus: evocation as a feat choice. Enchantment would probably be a better choice, for better CC saves.

[vVAnjilaVv]

Meh....quicken is a waste of a feat on a Sorc IMO.........I can see how some people might like it, but if u are a skilled player u should be able to get by fine without it. Now quicken on a Wiz, Cleric, and FvS...that's another story entirely

[Carpone]

Hi. Go read this. http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=175911

[tinyelvis]

I know this is a horrible thing to ask you to do but, I suggest you break out a calculator and do the math. You know the spell costs with and without meta magic. Calculate how many you can cast one way, then calculate how many you cast another.

Which do you prefer, more spells or less spells that do more damage?

[Varis]

I know this is a horrible thing to ask you to do but, I suggest you break out a calculator and do the math. You know the spell costs with and without meta magic. Calculate how many you can cast one way, then calculate how many you cast another.

Which do you prefer, more spells or less spells that do more damage?

Is that a trick question? A nuker should heighten, empower and maximise flushing the toilet.

Everytime you nuke things need to go boom! Melee tears of frustration add a special morale bonus to damage btw, don't forget!!!!

[Rawum]

Hello
I took empower at lvl 1 sorcerer, and i am going to lvl up to 6 and take maximize feat too. So when i have these too feat activeted my spells give more 150% damage? You think is worthy having hese too feats, or i'll burn many spell points? Should i go to fred and change empower to other feat?

These might b the feat i'll take [human]
Level 1 - Empower Spell
Level 1 - Toughness [human]
Level 3 - Extend Spell
Level 6 - Maximize Spel
Level 9 - Heighten Spell
Level 12 - Spell Penetration
Level 15 - Greater Spell Penetration
Level 18 - Spell Focus: Evocation or Force of Personality

Thks for the attencion!

This feat list looks good. Your level 18 feat could be 1 of a few different spell focus depending on what spells you like but everything else is great.

By the time you get to 20 you will have enough spell points and want to do as much damage as possible so Heighten, empower and maxmize won't get turned off.

[vVAnjilaVv]

If u built ur character with a decent CON and started with at least an 11 or 12 STR u might want to consider Power Attack for your 18th level feat and get a few DP clickies.

If u solo a lot u will find having melee capabilities to be a great boon to your character especially at higher levels, of course this will most likely require u know how to use hirelings properly to heal you as well.

[tinyelvis]

Is that a trick question? A nuker should heighten, empower and maximise flushing the toilet.

Everytime you nuke things need to go boom! Melee tears of frustration add a special morale bonus to damage btw, don't forget!!!!

With all due respect it depends on your level. Prior to level 8 or 9, I find it much better not to maximize (let alone max and empower) my spells. Your DPS can be a tad lower but your ability to consistently put out lots of damage over a longer period of time is higher, and I believe you end up with more kills. With my super high DCs, mobs miss saves very often. True some kills are stolen from time to time by melee, but it keeps them a little interested in the battle. My attacks are so aggressive and fast (I hot key all important attack spells) that the party usually thinks I am maximizing and empowering.

I almost always rapid fire spells using much of the time two spell combinations. I stop casting when the mobs are all dead. You can't do that at low levels with max and empower on. Unless you plan to only engage the enemy a few times or so between shrines. On the other hand, with my cheaper spells, I can afford (after I kill 90% of the foes) to additionally cast the killing blow against that bugbear with a sliver of health that the monk has been working on in the corner and achieve the tears of frustration you mentioned if I desire.

At high level all the meta magic usually is on.

[Crann]

When you select a spell focus as a feat, look at your list of spells, especially the ones you cast the most.

If you dont cast spells from that focus which have saving throws, than that focus will not help you.

Spell Focus: Evocation will not help your Wall of Fire spell.....it has no saving throw.

[josejgcosta]

When you select a spell focus as a feat, look at your list of spells, especially the ones you cast the most.

If you dont cast spells from that focus which have saving throws, than that focus will not help you.

Spell Focus: Evocation will not help your Wall of Fire spell.....it has no saving throw.

so which spell focus will help wall of fire?

[krud]

so which spell focus will help wall of fire?

none, it has no saving throw. Spell focus only helps with spells that have a saving throw.

[Carpone]

If u built ur character with a decent CON and started with at least an 11 or 12 STR u might want to consider Power Attack for your 18th level feat and get a few DP clickies.

Horrible advice. Focus on being a better caster, not a terribad melee.

[Sydril]

If u built ur character with a decent CON and started with at least an 11 or 12 STR u might want to consider Power Attack for your 18th level feat and get a few DP clickies.

If u solo a lot u will find having melee capabilities to be a great boon to your character especially at higher levels, of course this will most likely require u know how to use hirelings properly to heal you as well.

This is definitely NOT bad advice. This is good advice to anyone, and choosing to follow depends entirely on your play style.

Anyone who thinks having a melee option on a pure caster build is a terrible idea has either never tried one or is just another one of the fools who think they own advice on the forums.

[richieelias27]

This is definitely NOT bad advice. This is good advice to anyone, and choosing to follow depends entirely on your play style.

Anyone who thinks having a melee option on a pure caster build is a terrible idea has either never tried one or is just another one of the fools who think they own advice on the forums.

Bumping STR a little at creation - fine.

Planning for a melee-caster at creation - fine.

Taking power attack as a last minute melee fling at level 18 on a feat starved casting class = a horrible idea ranked among taking that 1st rogue level at 20.

[vVAnjilaVv]

Bumping STR a little at creation - fine.

Planning for a melee-caster at creation - fine.

Taking power attack as a last minute melee fling at level 18 on a feat starved casting class = a horrible idea ranked among taking that 1st rogue level at 20.

Being as I have done this on my max CHA sorc, I speak from experience.....it works just fine.......I feel sorry for the people who are so pigeon-holed into one way of thinking.

I definitely have to say that playing some gimpy caster who can't hit the broadside of a barn in melee and even if they can do a laughable amount of damage has to be the most un-fun casting type build to play.

A good weapon, at least a 12 or 14 base STR, PA, and DP clickies most certainly allows you to do a very nice amount of DPS combined with your spell DPS.

If you would rather grind mindlessly for mnemonics, all the raid gear u may never get for better spell DC's and power and buy items from the store to help your caster...by all means...go for it...I personally think THAT is horrible advice.

I hate a situation where u run out of mana, ur party or urself are struggling, and all u are left with is melee, and you can't do a thing because when it comes to that your completely gimped. IMO, it is a very very small price to pay to have another outlet for taking care of monsters.

If u want a spell school focused caster...make a Wizard.....they were made for it, I really don't think any other class was, and I think it's too much of a stretch to even bother trying to do it with any other class.

BTW....there is absolutely not even remotely any way at all my advice is comparable to someone taking their first rouge level at 20, you either don't know what your talking about...or u just needed someone to insult for the day.

*throws u a piece of troll food*

Feel better now....ur no longer a starving artist.