Haste - Worth It?

[OzmarDDO]

Hello,

As a relatively new player (about a year), I've learned that haste is a very useful spell, but I haven't bothered to take it for my sorceress yet, preferring to blast foes with fireballs and lightning bolts.

I've noticed, though, that a lot of other players ask for it, and perhaps there is a general assumption that, like firewall, a good sorceress has to have it.

So my question is: how important is haste, really? Once I reach the lofty heights of epic levels am I going to be totally gimped if I don't have it? Will I be rejected from all raids as a talentless pariah who cannot keep up with the party?

Or is haste simply a nice-to-have? A great spell to have around, surely, but not a deal-breaker when it comes to defeating that epic raid?

-Ozmar the Curious Newbie

[lethargos]

I guess its pretty much the ONLY must have spell.

[dranreb]

Well, not only is it nice for just getting around, but it does give a decent boost to attack speed. I carry it on all my arcane casters.

I guess you could call it a "must have."

[SolarDawning]

It's a deal-breaker.

It increases melee attack speed by 15%.

However much damage you're doing with your fireballs or lightning bolts, if you compare one of those to 15% more attacks by every member of your group across the full duration of the Haste spell, Haste is orders of magnitude better.

It's what is termed a "force multiplier". Buffs are extremely powerful.

[Cardtrick]

Haste is essential on any character who can learn it. Sorcerers, bards, wizards -- all need haste, if they plan on grouping with others at all. Rage, too, but to a somewhat lesser extent. Haste is half the reason most groups want an arcane at all.

[kernal42]

There are very few situations when questing in a party that a spell will grant better damage/sp than haste does.

Take it, cast it, and cast it again shortly before it expires.

-Kernal

[azrael4h]

Haste is the arcane's way for taking the musket-armed infantry and giving them assault rifles.

[TheDearLeader]

Get it - cast it - love it.

I got Haste before I even got my first 3rd level damage spell as a Sorc. I did not regret this.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaste plz!

[Jaid314]

seriously, before long you're going to reach the point where your other level 3 slots leave you thinking "huh. do i actually even have any use at all for these outside of buffing?"

fireball and acid blast are great spells, don't get me wrong. they just become a lot *less* great as you gain levels. eventually, you'll probably forget you ever had them, as you upgrade to bigger and better things.

honestly, i have haste, rage, and displace on my sorcerer right now, and my 4th spell... i think it's halt undead. i haven't used it in months.

[TheHolyDarkness]

Hello,

As a relatively new player (about a year), I've learned that haste is a very useful spell, but I haven't bothered to take it for my sorceress yet, preferring to blast foes with fireballs and lightning bolts.

...

[OzmarDDO]

Ok, I'm not hearing a lot of (any) dissent here: I guess I'll re-spec haste next chance I get.

Thanks!
-Ozmar the Convinced

[stille_nacht]

my main question is, how does he have 500 rep and not know if he should take haste o-O

[Bogenbroom]

Personally I have yet to ever find fireball to be useful enough to keep it memorized. Acid blast is useful only because it is the only viable directional acid direct damage spell, but generally if I have a 3rd level damage spell, it is frost lance. Fireball is best relegated to wands... and I normally only keep those for blowing up doors!

But, to answer the question at hand directly. There is no point in the game where any third level damage spell is more useful than haste. Yes, it is remarkably unsatisfying to basically walk around as the Energizer to the melee's drum-beating bunny, but it is orders of magnitude more efficient.

2 points, though....

1 - This may change when Update 9 comes out. (Doubt it, but there are changes afoot,) and
2 - The tedium of level 6-7 (5-6 for Wiz) goes away when yo get fourth level spells. That is when the interesting stuff starts.

[lethargos]

I thought i would add this: my sorcerer took fireball before haste, but it was a tough decision. I think i helped my parties more with my first good aoe spell than haste. And it was WAY much more fun to level up than it would have been with haste as your first choice. Haste is essential but i would never give anyone grief if they would pick something else as their first choice (i got some in a pug once and yeah...).

[OzmarDDO]

my main question is, how does he have 500 rep and not know if he should take haste o-O

I play a lot of fighters. Gimme a break!

-Ozmar the Slow Learner

[Lithic]

Haste is great, but haste potions are plentiful. On a sorcerer I wouldn't get it until lvl 8 at the earliest (after fireball and displacement probably) On a wizard, I'd slot it at 5, but would only use it for major boss fights until I could extend it to about 90+ seconds.

Parties that demand they be hasted 24/7 before level 10 need to get themselves a stack of haste potions, because at that level the haste is so short that you could literally devote your entire spellpoint pool to it and still run out before the boss fight. After lvl 10, and especially if you have extend, sure keep it up full time.