To Extend or Not Extend?

[Anthios888]

IMHO, it probably wouldn't be worth it, were it not for BBs.

Let's put it this way - a proper, heavily meta'd (quicken, maximize, empower, heighten) BB costs somewhere around 100 spell points. To be precise, with FvS Empowering II enhancement and a Skiver, it costs 94 spell points. Turn on extend, 103 spell points. Duration - 25 seconds, extended - 50 seconds.

Those 25 seconds go by real, real fast.

I felt that way about a year ago. Now, it's either below my level (vale, amrath, snooze) and the stuff is dead fast, or it's above my level (epic) and blade barrier is a waste of spell points for the damage it deals. Your point is a good one, especially when it comes to leveling up or soloing extensively on a non-melee build.

These and other game chances have changed the divine class metamagic calculus in my opinion. I have since dropped both extend and empower and focused much more on bringing melee to the 'excellent' level (and, of course, healing). The blade barrier is still sufficient when I need it to pull aggro, take care of weaker trash mobs, or simply do AoE damage, but if I had those feats, I wouldn't use them anymore except to extend spells.

I know people are very concerned with the mid levels, but we often get very stuck to our build decisions and fail to realize when the ship has sailed in endgame.

[sweez]

Well, kinda depends on what "end-game" constitutes for you. If I'm doing raids or grouping for epic quests, basically the only things I need extended are Prayer and/or Holy Aura, and Extend is more of a luxury than a necessity. Then again, if I'm solo farming Amrath quests or something like eVoN1 or Wiz King for scrolls, it becomes invaluable. A lot of epic ogres and trolls wouldn't agree that BB does too little damage to be worth it's spell point cost.

When meleeing, I'd say that Extend improves QoL, but that it isn't really necessary. However, from what I've gathered, the OP wants to melee *and* cast offensively, in which case Extend improves both his life-line short duration buffs (Divine Power/Favor, Recitation) AND his main offensive spell (BB).

[Steveohio]

As a melee soul splash player primarly I just couldn't fit it in with TWF,ITWF,GTWF,PA,Toughness,Emp, Emp healing, maximixe, quicken all having more value IMO. I don't use mass heal, so all 4 metas are usually always on unless buffing. If I had mass heal or THF instead, I'd probably have to pick it up. Just the constant clicky/buff useage does get tiresome, but to me, SP effeciency goes out the window with pots being there inlieu of having better DPS.

[PurdueDave]

It's in my plan but not until around when I'm taking short duration AOE buffs.

[Jakarr]

I would really like to see a breakdown for 38 str and wis at the same time without like 8 con and 8 cha

Horc

Str 18+6 item+3 Tome+2 Enh +2Rage +3 Exp+2 Ship=36 Sustainable+6 Psionic+8 Scourge Choker=50(or 48 unsure of the stacking of scourge and rage)

Wis 18+5 Lvl +2 Enh +6 Item+3 Tome +3 Exp+1 Lit+2 Ship=40+2 Potion for 42

Might of gotten some things wrong so correct me if I am.


on a normal Horc thats

Str 18
Dex 8
Con 12
Int 6
Wis 18
Cha 8

On my 36 point Horc FvS Ill be going with 14 Con and 10 Cha.
Which I only need 2 more lvls togo weee.

[quitzquizar]

Ive found that early on its great to have, and as you get higher levels it doesn't really matter because your spells last a long time plus you usually get to the next rest shrine before they run out.

At lower levels the +10 mana for double duration is awesome, but later on i dont' need to double them, and that extra mana can be used to boost healing or other spells instead and give more of them. Also, laster on you'll get more buffing spells maybe, and all of those with extend on tend to drain you pretty fast.

So i say extend is a must have from like level 1-12ish, then diminishes after that. I'm level 10 and i find that unless im in an outdoor area that is big (not most dungeons) i just cast spells without extend, because a rest shrine is going to come up.

[sirgog]

I felt that way about a year ago. Now, it's either below my level (vale, amrath, snooze) and the stuff is dead fast, or it's above my level (epic) and blade barrier is a waste of spell points for the damage it deals. Your point is a good one, especially when it comes to leveling up or soloing extensively on a non-melee build.

These and other game chances have changed the divine class metamagic calculus in my opinion. I have since dropped both extend and empower and focused much more on bringing melee to the 'excellent' level (and, of course, healing). The blade barrier is still sufficient when I need it to pull aggro, take care of weaker trash mobs, or simply do AoE damage, but if I had those feats, I wouldn't use them anymore except to extend spells.

I know people are very concerned with the mid levels, but we often get very stuck to our build decisions and fail to realize when the ship has sailed in endgame.

I no longer have Extend, and miss it in exactly four places:

1) Soloing the Reaver
2) Soloing Sins of Attrition
3) Solo scroll farming in Epics
4) When playing a melee role, and the buff bar covers the whole screen, meaning I do not realise Divine Power and Divine Favor have expired.

[AylinIsAwesome]

Extend is a nice luxury, but it is one of the first feats to go, especially if your build is doing other things. I'm really surprised at some of the posters here. It's easy enough to decide by just turning it off for a few weeks.

I agree with this.

2 of my FvS have this, but my 3rd one doesn't. I don't actually miss it that much.

[Carpone]

I consider Extend critical for most FvS Builds.

DIvine Favor
Divine Power
Recitation
Holy Aura
Blade Barrier
Greater Command

Just a sampling of spells that benefit greatly from Extend.

This. Doesn't matter if you're melee or DC based, Extend is quite awesome.

[Ssmooth]

Horc

Str 18+6 item+3 Tome+2 Enh +2Rage +3 Exp+2 Ship=36 Sustainable+6 Psionic+8 Scourge Choker=50(or 48 unsure of the stacking of scourge and rage)

Wis 18+5 Lvl +2 Enh +6 Item+3 Tome +3 Exp+1 Lit+2 Ship=40+2 Potion for 42

Might of gotten some things wrong so correct me if I am.


on a normal Horc thats

Str 18
Dex 8
Con 12
Int 6
Wis 18
Cha 8

On my 36 point Horc FvS Ill be going with 14 Con and 10 Cha.
Which I only need 2 more lvls togo weee.

Or the WF version: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=249866