New Ice Storm... wow!

[bradleyforrest]

To answer a few questions that have come up since I last posted- the current version of Ice Storm we want to test won't have Extend, and other concerns like Cloudkill's usefulness and the limitations of caster level increases on many spells, while valid, are outside the scope of what we're doing right now with Ice Storm. I also can't say for sure when the new changes to Ice Storm will be available, but the next build we put up to Lamannia should have them. Finally, I do also want it to be clear that we're taking all your feedback into account, and changes in the future to this spell (and others) are always possible based on your responses. Thanks everyone.

So, what you're saying is that Ice Storm will fill a very small niche. The fact that it purposely won't have extend feel like a slap in the face.

You're reducing the damage that the spell deals, you're leaving it at a very short duration, and you expect it to be useful? Seriously?

[Primalhowl]

The fact that it purposely won't have extend feel like a slap in the face.

Really? A slap in the face? Hyperbole much? Either that or I can only assume you have a) never been slapped in the face or b) need to get out more often because it's been a really long time since you were slapped in the face.

Is Ice Storm the uber-monsterslayer-DPSmachine-therecanbeonlyone superspell now? No. Is it better than it was? Resoundingly yes. Would it be nice to be able to extend it? Yes. Does it affect my game play at all if I can't? No. I just cast it again.

They've said they are testing it out and do not *currently* plan on allowing extend. They have also said that in the future they are going to do a general pass over spells that have...to be polite... issues. This is not going to be the last change to spells...

[Khellendros13]

Regardless of mechanics, 3/4 current damage will be serviceable. Under half will be...hmmm...yea...not so much.

[Legendary_Agent]

so what exact damage are they trying to put on the "proper" version of ice storm?

cause if its the same damage as its written on it (2-12 cold 3-18) it is VERY useless for high level casters as firewall gives 2-12+20(20 represents your level).

[Jaid314]

so what exact damage are they trying to put on the "proper" version of ice storm?

cause if its the same damage as its written on it (2-12 cold 3-18) it is VERY useless for high level casters as firewall gives 2-12+20(20 represents your level).

once again, it is *not* useless because it deals bludgeoning damage, which means it bypasses all DR and all elemental resistances. it will work on crateos, it will work on shroud portals, it will work on golems, it will work on anything. 3d6 sounds weak to you? funny, my sorcerer crits his scorching rays with each ray (4d6 base) dishing out around 300 damage. 75% of that means 225 damage. per tick. with the other portion of the ice storm dealing about 150 on a crit. on a regular hit, my scorching ray deals about 90 damage. 75% of that is about 65-70, 50% of that is about 45... and again, this is per crit. and the simple fact that some portion of that is unresistible unless you have a mantle of invulnerability makes it *very* worthwhile. sure, it's not dishing out indescribably large amounts of damage. but it's going to have plenty of places where it's more worthwhile than wall of fire, simply because wall of fire will deal zero damage and this will at least do something. in fact, simply *because* it deals such nice damage for it's level, i expect people will be leaving wall of fire until *after* they've learned ice storm.

[Legendary_Agent]

once again, it is *not* useless because it deals bludgeoning damage, which means it bypasses all DR and all elemental resistances. it will work on crateos, it will work on shroud portals, it will work on golems, it will work on anything. 3d6 sounds weak to you? funny, my sorcerer crits his scorching rays with each ray (4d6 base) dishing out around 300 damage. 75% of that means 225 damage. per tick. with the other portion of the ice storm dealing about 150 on a crit. on a regular hit, my scorching ray deals about 90 damage. 75% of that is about 65-70, 50% of that is about 45... and again, this is per crit. and the simple fact that some portion of that is unresistible unless you have a mantle of invulnerability makes it *very* worthwhile. sure, it's not dishing out indescribably large amounts of damage. but it's going to have plenty of places where it's more worthwhile than wall of fire, simply because wall of fire will deal zero damage and this will at least do something. in fact, simply *because* it deals such nice damage for it's level, i expect people will be leaving wall of fire until *after* they've learned ice storm.

rly? it bypasses all dr? *cough..zombies* cough cough* mummies* so yep, pretty useless spell unless ofc 18dmg means anything to a real player at end games.
And please dont try **** with me ok? ive got a sorc too with all fire enhacements on +50% staff and 20% capstone the dmg it deals max is 50 per each if u maximize ure rly rly lucky if u reach 90 on each, which u wont unless u spam it all the time and thats a bad idea for sorc since that spell casts slower than a wizard.
also critical chance here means nothing since u cant improve critical chance or multiplier of bludgeoning damage.

PS i would love to see any construct suffering full dmg from this spell since they dont from bludgeoning melee and yes that includes portals.

[Jaid314]

rly? it bypasses all dr? *cough..zombies* cough cough* mummies* so yep, pretty useless spell unless ofc 18dmg means anything to a real player at end games.
And please dont try **** with me ok? ive got a sorc too with all fire enhacements on +50% staff and 20% capstone the dmg it deals max is 50 per each if u maximize ure rly rly lucky if u reach 90 on each, which u wont unless u spam it all the time and thats a bad idea for sorc since that spell casts slower than a wizard.
also critical chance here means nothing since u cant improve critical chance or multiplier of bludgeoning damage.

PS i would love to see any construct suffering full dmg from this spell since they dont from bludgeoning melee and yes that includes portals.

perhaps you should try to get informed better before you open your mouth.

it's spell damage. it bypasses all dr. it doesn't matter that it's bludgeoning, any more than it matters that blade barrier is considered slashing.

and i'm sorry to say, but if you're dishing out 50 with your scorching rays, you're doing something wrong. i have a level 15 sorcerer right now (he was 20, but then i TR'd) who deals better damage than your capped sorcerer. with empower, maximise, the full enhancement line, and no capstone, i am dealing more damage with my scorching ray than you. i can only presume you're using crappy gear, because i have nothing fancier than a superior inferno V clicky and a greater lore item (it's arcane lore, but it's no better than greater fire lore for these purposes) on when i throw my scorching rays, and that's nothing you couldn't get easily from the AH. you're not getting those numbers? well then, you're doing something wrong, because i get them very consistently.