Acid Savant Spell Selection

[game5551]

Many of the spells have changed in small (and some not so small) ways, and I am unfamiliar with all of them, and I dont have any high level (15+) experience with a caster, so I wanted to post what my plan was for spell selection for an acid spec'ed savant, to see if anyone has some suggestions. I have borrowed from the old Mora Dots build: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=309471

Level 1
Nightshield, Hypnotism, Ray of Enfeeblement, Jump

Level 2
Resist Energy, Melf's Acid Arrow, Web, Blur

Level 3
Displacement, Haste, Chain Missile(?), Deep Slumber

Level 4
Stoneskin, Acid Rain, Wall of Fire, Burning Blood

Level 5
Protection from Elements, Break Enchantment, Cloudkill, Symbol of Pain (?)

Level 6
Acid Fog, Disintegrate, Flesh to Stone

Level 7
Prismatic Spray (?), Waves of Exhaustion, Finger of Death

Level 8
Otto's Irresistible Dance, Symbol of Death, Horrid Wilting

Level 9
Meteor Swarm, Mass Hold Monster, Wail of the Banshee

Edit: Exchanged heroism for deep slumber, polar ray for symbol of death (polar ray was my only cold spell, so I was unlikely to spend many ap advancing it), energy drain for mass hold monster: as suggested in posts below.

[richieelias27]

You might want to try and fit Deep Slumber in somewhere for a cheap catch all(most/many) aoe make things helpless spell since you do not have Mass Hold Monster and I don't believe Hypno applies the helpless state (previously autocrit). Deep Slumber = +50% damage to your Horrid Wilting (Or whatever big hitter you choose to use).

Drop Heroism and scroll Greater Heroism instead.

Symbol of Death (level 8) does aoe persistant energy drain now. It's pretty amazing. Perhaps drop Irresistible dance?

[skunk]

This is what i am doing.

Level 1
Nightshield, acid spray, Charm Person, Jump

Level 2
Invisibility, Melf's Acid Arrow, Web, Blur

Level 3
Displacement, Haste, Acid Blast , Rage

Level 4
Stoneskin, Acid Rain, Wall of Fire, Burning Blood

Level 5
Niacs Biting Cold,Cone of Cold, Cloudkill , Hold Monster

Level 6
Acid Fog, Disintegrate, Greater Heorism,

Level 7
Prismatic Spray, Otto's Sphere of Dancing, Finger of Death

Level 8
Otto's Irresistible Dance, Polar Ray, Horrid Wilting

Level 9
Meteor Swarm, Energy Drain, Wail of the Banshee

[game5551]

You might want to try and fit Deep Slumber in somewhere for a cheap catch all(most/many) aoe make things helpless spell since you do not have Mass Hold Monster and I don't believe Hypno applies the helpless state (previously autocrit). Deep Slumber = +50% damage to your Horrid Wilting (Or whatever big hitter you choose to use).

Drop Heroism and scroll Greater Heroism instead.

Symbol of Death (level 8) does aoe persistant energy drain now. It's pretty amazing. Perhaps drop Irresistible dance?

Thank you. Yes, I had grabbed Heroism simply because I didnt have room for greater heroism, forgot about scrolls. doh.

And good point with deep slumber, symbol of death.

[richieelias27]

Just keep in mind that there are many more things immune to sleep (all elves and drow for instance) than there are things that are flat out immune to enchantment (Mass Hold Monster). If you take Symbol of Death you could probably drop energy drain and thus pick up mass hold monster.

My opinion is that Deep Slumber would remain a very nice, cheap prep spell to cast before AOE's for extra damage in quests where it will be effective. I'll be taking both that and MHM on my sorc.

Regarding saves - casting Hypnosis applies a no save -3 will save debuff to all enemies in its area of effect for 15 seconds. Crushing Despair does the same with -6 to will saves at 20 I believe, -8 total if they fail the save for crushing despair. So if you cast crushing despair before casting, say, Dancing Sphere or whatever else, consider your enchantment spells +6 to 8 to your DC. That's a lot of prep work though. Best to practice such things and see if it is worth the effort to you. Personally I'm finding it more fun to have effective casting combo's than the previous "Hypno and run" or "WoF WoF WoF WoF WoF (hey its a dubstep song!)"

[game5551]

I was thinking of powerword stun, instead of irresistible dance to give a helpless state, but with the long cool down I am hesitating. I would like to keep a no save cc there, but Mass Hold Monster would be nice as well.

[game5551]

Just keep in mind that there are many more things immune to sleep (all elves and drow for instance) than there are things that are flat out immune to enchantment (Mass Hold Monster). If you take Symbol of Death you could probably drop energy drain and thus pick up mass hold monster.

So much to think about! You are right, a big CC there is better than the energy drain.

[illowock]

This is what i am doing.

Level 1
Nightshield, acid spray, Charm Person, Jump

Level 2
Invisibility, Melf's Acid Arrow, Web, Blur

Level 3
Displacement, Haste, Acid Blast , Rage
...

Don't you get these spells with the Earth Savant PrE line?

[richieelias27]

Also, before you drop polar ray and ice completely, niacs biting cold (5) does very impressive damage fully stacked on bosses.

Don't you get these spells with the Earth Savant PrE line?

They do have long cooldown timers on the SLA's though. Still worth considering whether to have them or not. Acid spray wouldnt be worth it, melfs as well since it is a DoT, but acid blast could be worth spamming.

[Jaid314]

i'm curious, what makes you guys take acid fog over, say, circle of death? or reconstruct (which basically grants you free passage into a number of raids...)

[richieelias27]

Well, Acid fog (or Solid fog) Do apply a -5 debuff to reflex saves (no save). Well worth having one of the two for me. Stack it with Web and spam Acid Blast for great results.

Edit: Nevermind, it appears they did away with that for Acid Fog (why???) And now Acid fog seems to only apply a -4AC debuff plus concealment? Not worth it in my opinion, even with the minor damage Acid Fog does. Solid Fog is much better with -2 to attack and damage and -5 to reflex saves and concealment. Solid fog is a level 4 spell though.... and that level is very packed.

[Pehtis]

Are symbol scrolls (re stun etc) useful? I mean do they actually work remotely reliably? The long cooldowns still apply to scrolls as well as player. Maybe scroll those.

[richieelias27]

Are symbol scrolls (re stun etc) useful? I mean do they actually work remotely reliably? The long cooldowns still apply to scrolls as well as player. Maybe scroll those.

I dont think you can purchase symbol of death scrolls. In my experience Symbol spells work excellently (Stunning, Weakness, Persuasion, and Death especially)

[Desteria]

If you havent noticed yet IR dance is now a 6-24 sec duration only so it kinda sucks now

[maddmatt70]

I would probably drop a fourth level spell so I could pick up enervate and then have mass hold, wail, and meteor swarm for level 9.

[Musouka]

Going for Acid/Force for this layout.


1st
Nightshield, Magic Missile, Jump, Ray of Enfeeblement

2nd
Web, Resist Energy, Blur, Melf's Acid Arrow

3rd
Haste, Displacement, Chain Missiles, Slow (Can always pot Rage for +1 Con modifier)

4th
Stoneskin, Burning Blood, Acid Rain, Dimension Door (Dismissed Wall of Fire, because it now is just a stationary DoT, while acid rain is a DoT where the enemies can move anywhere)

5th
Cloudkill, Protection from elements, Cyclonic Blast, Break Enchantment (Scroll: Teleport)

6th
Disintegrate, Acid fog, Flesh to stone (Scroll: Greater Heroism, Stone to Flesh, and Globe of Invulnerability)

7th
Waves of Exhaustion, Summon Monster VII, Finger of Death (Scroll: Greater Teleport, Mass Invisibility)

8th
Symbol of Death, Horrid Wilting, Power Word: Stun or Polar Ray (Wont have any ice boosts, and am thinking PW:Stun is the quick helpless for +50% damage for DoTs, regardless of cooldown)

9th
Energy Drain, Meteor Swarm, Wail of the Banshee