Need a sorcerer build (water savant)

[ProdigalGuru]

There have been many recent build request for Savants, and a scan of the forums should net you all you need to know as far as these (all very similar) builds are concerned. They are very simple. Spell selection is the real key to a Savant build.

These are my personal gear goals on my first life Lawful Good Drow Air Savant:

Dragontouched Shroud: Glacial Assault (Imp. Glaciation VIII), +5 Resistance, Ex. CHA +1, Armor Ritual
Triple Positive GS Cloak: +150 SP, +6 Ex. CHA Skills, True Res clickie, Cleansed
Air Savant Set: Ex. CHA +2, Savant CL Bonus, Sup. Spark VIII clickie, Ex. DEX +1
Gloves of the Glacier: Extend II, Maximize II
Skiver: Archmagi, Greater Arcane Lore, Empower II, Force Damage Ritual
Crafted Greater Evocation Focus Trinket of Persuasion
Verik's Ring: STR +6, Ex. CON +1, Ex. CHA +2
Mineral II Goggles: +45 HP, +6 Ex. CON Skills, Heavy Fort., Protection +5, Stoneskin clickie
Superior Potency VI Scepter
Epic Kundarak Delving Boots: +6 CON, Freedom of Movement, +1 Resistance Ritual
Epic Scorched Bracers: Toughness, Greater Fire Resist, +8 Armor, Fire Storm clickie
Epic Helm of Frost: +7 CHA, Greater Cold Resist, Greater False Life, Polar Ray clickie
Epic Torc of Prince Rayium-de: Greater Spell Pen VIII, Transform Kinetic, WIS +6
Epic Ring of Spell Storing (luxury item)
Mysterious Bauble (luxury item)
Pale Lavender Ioun Stone (more luxury)
Boots of Anchoring
+3 CHA Tome

Other notable items that I considered:

Eardweller
Ring of Thelis
Upgraded Regalia of the Phoenix, Red Dragonscale Robe, or Epic Robe of Fire. Helm of the Red Dragon (Fire Savant)
Epic Diabolist's Robe (Earth Savant)
Epic Greenblade
Epic Winter's Wrath (Cold Savant)
Epic Ring of Elemental Essence
Epic Shaman's Set
Epic Might of the Abishai Set
Epic Cloak of the Silver Concord
Litany of the Dead (non-Good)
Epic Dragon's Eye
Epic Ring of the Silver Concord
Epic Cloak of the Zephyr (Air Savant)
Epic Dusk Heart
Epic Staff of Arcane Power
Epic Torc of Prince Rayium-de II

My decisions were based off my desire to cover all the major bases, while requiring little to no swapping, and having no redundant abilities. I accepted the fact that my Acid and Insta-kill were never going to be strong, and ignored Spell Penetration entirely. I do not want to TR this character, as the Feat selection becomes too tight. I also did not want to force myself into always needing to run epics to improve my gear, and much of the gear I was able to start working on well before I hit 20. If I do not feel up for a massive challenge or consumables investment, I have many laid-back options (Litany, Shroud, VoD, SoS, Crafting). I did not participate in the Crystal Cove, Mabar, or Risia events for various reasons.

Feel free to comment on my intended setup, but I put a lot of thought into it, and am pretty sure this will be my final loadout until better stuff shows up.

[ProdigalGuru]

It`s 2 mins between casts.
Extend is ok if your human otherwise forget it.

Yeah, if you let them completely run out. Not like it makes much difference either way, considering it is just as big a hassle to do it every 2 mins instead.

From my experience, folks are generally very pleased to get extended Haste and Displacement.

Also your tone seems very condescending.

[Darkrok]

I am currently spec'd as a Water Savant with a secondary in Fire, but that is not something that everyone would want to play with.

Nice spec for leveling though. The water savant penalties to Wall of Fire are nearly non-existent. You lose no duration, and lose 3 damage for each tier of water savant you've taken. At low levels where it's likely to matter the most that's only 3 damage off making it still a hugely useful spell - especially against undead.

As for the Extend/not Extend thing...I'm still on the fence. Both of my boys that play have level 9/10 sorcs - one's human, one's warforged - and the human has Extend while the WF'd does not. There's a difference to playing with it versus without it but I'm not sure the difference is large enough to merit the feat.

Really depends on whether you want to go purely nuke or if you want to be able to add necro/enchantment to your repertoire. On flat nuking you don't really need the spell pen. Without the spell pen there's not a lot of point to taking Ench/Necro. That would leave Extend competing with something like Spell Focus: Conjuration (better webs/clouds). In that case I'd probably go with Extend and the Conjuration is secondary.

The only caveat to that for a pure nuker would be if you had access to the Wizard or Sorc past lives. Both trump taking SF/GSF evocation (as they give that benefit and more). On a non-human we already have to choose between GSF:Evo and Extend. On a human, one past life gives us that same decision to make. Given the fact that there are plenty of attack spells that do have a save for half (or none) I would say it would make sense to drop Extend in that situation as well.

[Nephilia]

Planned gear set-up

Helm: epic helm of frost
Googles: GS Conc-opp (10 hp/2 cha skill-mana/3cha skill mana)
bracers: glacier
Boot: ? something switchable without crying for ToD
gloves: glacier
Belt: amrath one for Greater lore multiplier
Cloak: GS Min II (Acid res/hp-cos skill/hp-cos skill)
Necklace: Torq
Trinket: eardweller/voice (during leveling)/?
Armor: DT (+5res/guard/glacier) & DT (+5res/guard/GSP VIII)
Weapon 1: Epic ornamented dagger (no upgrade on T_T)
Weapon 2: Superior Potency VI (?)
Ring 1: Amrath 1/+2 cos
Ring 2: Amrath 2/+2 cha

Is that ok or should I change something?
My intent is to be a nice nuker with some use of necromancy stuffs (and I would replace SP with necro DC feats at lv 18)

[Ridag]

There have been many recent build request for Savants, and a scan of the forums should net you all you need to know as far as these (all very similar) builds are concerned. They are very simple. Spell selection is the real key to a Savant build.

These are my personal gear goals on my first life Lawful Good Drow Air Savant:

Why Lawful Good?

Dragontouched Shroud: Greater Potency VII, +5 Resistance, Ex. CHA +1, Armor Ritual

I'd recommend GFL, +6 Con, Greater Spell Pen VIII as you cannot wear both the Occult Slayer set and Air Savant set at the same time.

You can slot +1 exc char into an epic. Or you can keep +1 Exc char on DT and slot +6 Con into an epic, either way works.

Having some Spell Pen is recommended, there are few spells level 7 and above without a spell resistance check.

Greater Potency VII < Superior Potency VI, the only level 7 spells that benefit from potency are Delayed Blast Fireball and Prismatic Spray, neither of which are go to spells as an Air Savant. Stick with Superior Potency VI.

Triple Positive GS Cloak: +150 SP, +6 Ex. CHA Skills, True Res clickie, Cleansed

Move this to your goggle slot (which you haven't listed here) and consider making it blindness/disease immunity, +150 SP, +5 Cha skills Conc/Opp (you can raise with scrolls anyway) and put the Epic Envenomed Cloak here.

Air Savant Set: Ex. CHA +2, Savant CL Bonus, Sup. Spark VIII clickie, Ex. DEX +1

Totally agreed, though this thread is about a Water Savant build.

Gloves of the Glacier: Extend II, Maximize II

At this level of gear layout the SP saving from these gloves is no longer worth taking up the slot, I'd recommend putting your Min II HP item here instead of in the helm slot.

Skiver: Archmagi, Greater Arcane Lore, Empower II, Force Damage Ritual

Why a Force ritual on Skiver?

Crafted Greater Evocation Focus trinket

Eardweller for the clicky, Noxious Embers, Mindfury Symbiont (which is not dropping yet)

Occult Slayer Set: STR +6, CON +6, Ex. CON +1, Ex CON +2, Greater False Life, Ex Will/Ref +2

As mentioned above you can't wear both sets at the same time, dump the belt and change your DT up a bit.

Mineral II Helmet: +45 HP, +6 Ex. CON Skills, Heavy Fort., Protection +5, Stoneskin clickie

Move this to glove slot and put Epic Helm of Frost here, freeing up a weapon slot.

Epic Elyd Edge: +7 CHA, +6 WIS, Force Damage Ritual

I would not recommend having your charisma item be in your hand, it limits you on weapon set swap and scroll usage. You can put a plain old Superior Potency VI item here and it would be better all around.

Epic Kundarak Delving Boots: +6 DEX, Freedom of Movement, +1 Resistance Ritual

Agreed.

Epic Scorched Bracers: Toughness, Greater Fire Resist, +8 Armor, Fire Storm clickie

This now also gives you the Greater Abashai set bonus, since I worked in the epic Helm of Frost and Envenomed Cloak. The only thing you lost was the efficient meta-magic on the Gloves of the Glacier, which will not be missed at this level of gear layout.

[Nephilia]

Try to re-arrange!

Helm: epic helm of frost
Googles: GS Conc-opp (10 hp/2 cha skill-mana/3cha skill mana)
bracers: Epic Scorched Bracers
Boot: ? something switchable without crying for ToD
gloves: GS Min II (Acid res/hp-cos skill/hp-cos skill)
Belt: amrath one for Greater lore multiplier
Cloak: Epic Envenomed Cloak
Necklace: Torq
Trinket: eardweller/voice (during leveling)/Noxious ember (I really dislike the new symbiot for the -2 cos!)
Armor: DT (+5res/guard/GSP VIII)
Weapon 1: Epic ornamented dagger (no upgrade on T_T)
Weapon 2: Superior Potency VI (?)
Ring 1: Amrath 1/+2 cos
Ring 2: Amrath 2/+2 cha

[ProdigalGuru]

1. Why Lawful Good?

2. I'd recommend GFL, +6 Con, Greater Spell Pen VIII as you cannot wear both the Occult Slayer set and Air Savant set at the same time.

3. Having some Spell Pen is recommended, there are few spells level 7 and above without a spell resistance check.

4. Greater Potency VII < Superior Potency VI, the only level 7 spells that benefit from potency are Delayed Blast Fireball and Prismatic Spray, neither of which are go to spells as an Air Savant. Stick with Superior Potency VI.

5. Move this to your goggle slot (which you haven't listed here) and consider making it blindness/disease immunity, +150 SP, +5 Cha skills Conc/Opp (you can raise with scrolls anyway) and put the Epic Envenomed Cloak here.

6. Totally agreed, though this thread is about a Water Savant build.

7. At this level of gear layout the SP saving from these gloves is no longer worth taking up the slot, I'd recommend putting your Min II HP item here instead of in the helm slot.

8.Why a Force ritual on Skiver?

9. Eardweller for the clicky, Noxious Embers, Mindfury Symbiont (which is not dropping yet)

10. Move this to glove slot and put Epic Helm of Frost here, freeing up a weapon slot.

11. I would not recommend having your charisma item be in your hand, it limits you on weapon set swap and scroll usage. You can put a plain old Superior Potency VI item here and it would be better all around.

1. Because that's how I roll. I like order and good, and in my fantasy role-play, I strive to be a hero, not a villain. I play games to ESCAPE from the chaos and evil that surrounds me.

2. This is the first time I have ever heard this, and I would like you to clarify. Are you saying that I will be physically unable to wear a Belt, a Necklace, and 2 rings for some reason? Or are you saying that I will not receive full benefits of both sets? The Occult Slayer set bonus was gravy, I just wanted +6 CON and GFL on my belt, and needed another ring for the +2 Exceptional CON, so the corresponding ring seemed an obvious choice.

3. I have very few spells that would even make an SR check, and they are situational at best. I almost exclusively cast Evocations, preferring to kill rather than control. I think this may be a play style choice, but also, the Wizards do it better, so my stuff would be weak redundancies.

4. I am well aware that I lose SOME damage by not having Superior Potency, and also understand that all of my go-to spells are level 6 and below. However, there is no option for that on the Sovereign Tier.

5. I certainly forgot the Goggles slot, but I will be moving my HP item there, as I already have made the Cloak. I will not be slotting Conc. Opp. anywhere because I do not like strategies that revolve around getting hit. I am a Sorcerer, I have plenty of SP, now that I have SLA's.

6. This was more to illustrate that the OP could just swap this for the Water Savant Set. Figured it was such a no-brainer, that I did not have to explain myself.

7. I run with Max/Emp/Height/Extend on ALL the time. I find it tedious to keep turning them off and on. Having the Ring of Thelis while waiting to get the Skiver and Gloves has shown me that I am saving a LOT of mana, and I will not be swayed away from using the Gloves. Between these items and my Enhancements, my metamagics will hardly cost anything.

8. Why NOT a Force Ritual on a Skiver? While I realize I will rarely even use the sharp pointy bit, I would still like to maximize it's potential. Plus it's pretty cheap and easy to do.

9. Almost all of my damage is evadable, so I really need as much DC as I can muster. +100% damage is irrelevant if I am doing zero damage to evasive mobs. Plus, it's only 1 minute, and a clickie. Perhaps you have also noticed I am trying to eliminate complex clicking and swapping routines? Also, the concept of the Symbiont in general gives me the willies.I do not own the new pack, and have no plans to buy it any time soon. I have been steadily leveling this toon in Crafting, and will take great pride in the Focus Trinket when it is completed, and I am sure I'll be adding a prefix to it, to fill out it's ML.The benefits of Noxious Embers for me would be either minimal or redundant, considering Skiver and Gloves.

10. I will be changing to Epic Helm of Frost for my CHA item, dropping Potency from DT for Glacial Assault, and sticking with the Sup. Potency VI for my main hand. This part of the setup had been bothering me, so thanks for that.

11. I have no interest in obtaining a Profane ANYTHING. I am Lawful Good. I am pretty sure my Caster Level will already be capped for the majority of my spells, anyways, and am willing to sacrifice the 20 HP to feel good about being true to my character. The STR and Armor bonuses for me are a non-issue.


I will update my previous post with planned changes, thanks for the help.

[Ridag]

1. Because that's how I roll. I like order and good, and in my fantasy role-play, I strive to be a hero, not a villain. I play games to ESCAPE from the chaos and evil that surrounds me.

2. This is the first time I have ever heard this, and I would like you to clarify. Are you saying that I will be physically unable to wear a Belt, a Necklace, and 2 rings for some reason? Or are you saying that I will not receive full benefits of both sets? The Occult Slayer set bonus was gravy, I just wanted +6 CON and GFL on my belt, and needed another ring for the +2 Exceptional CON, so the corresponding ring seemed an obvious choice.

3. I have very few spells that would even make an SR check, and they are situational at best. I almost exclusively cast Evocations, preferring to kill rather than control. I think this may be a play style choice, but also, the Wizards do it better, so my stuff would be weak redundancies.

4. I am well aware that I lose SOME damage by not having Superior Potency, and also understand that all of my go-to spells are level 6 and below. However, there is no option for that on the Sovereign Tier.

5. I certainly forgot the Goggles slot, but I will be moving my HP item there, as I already have made the Cloak. I will not be slotting Conc. Opp. anywhere because I do not like strategies that revolve around getting hit. I am a Sorcerer, I have plenty of SP, now that I have SLA's.

6. This was more to illustrate that the OP could just swap this for the Water Savant Set. Figured it was such a no-brainer, that I did not have to explain myself.

7. I run with Max/Emp/Height/Extend on ALL the time. I find it tedious to keep turning them off and on. Having the Ring of Thelis while waiting to get the Skiver and Gloves has shown me that I am saving a LOT of mana, and I will not be swayed away from using the Gloves. Between these items and my Enhancements, my metamagics will hardly cost anything.

8. Why NOT a Force Ritual on a Skiver? While I realize I will rarely even use the sharp pointy bit, I would still like to maximize it's potential. Plus it's pretty cheap and easy to do.

9. Almost all of my damage is evadable, so I really need as much DC as I can muster. +100% damage is irrelevant if I am doing zero damage to evasive mobs. Plus, it's only 1 minute, and a clickie. Perhaps you have also noticed I am trying to eliminate complex clicking and swapping routines? Also, the concept of the Symbiont in general gives me the willies.I do not own the new pack, and have no plans to buy it any time soon. I have been steadily leveling this toon in Crafting, and will take great pride in the Focus Trinket when it is completed, and I am sure I'll be adding a prefix to it, to fill out it's ML.The benefits of Noxious Embers for me would be either minimal or redundant, considering Skiver and Gloves.

10. I will be changing to Epic Helm of Frost for my CHA item, dropping Potency from DT for Glacial Assault, and sticking with the Sup. Potency VI for my main hand. This part of the setup had been bothering me, so thanks for that.

11. I have no interest in obtaining a Profane ANYTHING. I am Lawful Good. I am pretty sure my Caster Level will already be capped for the majority of my spells, anyways, and am willing to sacrifice the 20 HP to feel good about being true to my character. The STR and Armor bonuses for me are a non-issue.


I will update my previous post with planned changes, thanks for the help.

Glad that I could provide at least some help to optimize your gear setup!

The Occult Slayer set is a ring and belt, as is Calitomes' (the Air Savant set), neither of those sets have a necklace. That is why you couldn't wear both sets at the same time, and I didn't even realize that you had not listed a neck slot. The obvious filler for your neck slot would be an Epic Torc.

I can respect keeping your character into the theme that you have in mind for him and tailoring your gear as such.

The most important thing is that you enjoy your build and gear layout and have fun playing the game.

[ProdigalGuru]

Glad that I could provide at least some help to optimize your gear setup!

The Occult Slayer set is a ring and belt, as is Calitomes' (the Air Savant set), neither of those sets have a necklace. That is why you couldn't wear both sets at the same time, and I didn't even realize that you had not listed a neck slot. The obvious filler for your neck slot would be an Epic Torc.

I can respect keeping your character into the theme that you have in mind for him and tailoring your gear as such.

The most important thing is that you enjoy your build and gear layout and have fun playing the game.

/epicfacepalm

Calitome's SASH....omg now I have to re-do my whole set-up to slot +6 CON and GFL....

Any suggestions that do not require a massive re-arrange?

I will think on your suggestion in the neck slot, because this is my Deathblock swap spot, as well.

I just sort of assumed the set item was a necklace.

Thanks for catching that, I am glad the OP brought this up as it has given me a chance to really plan it out, and it is not as easy as one would think.

Edit: Why, oh why, can my Female character not tie a sash around her neck?

[Ridag]

/epicfacepalm

Calitome's SASH....omg now I have to re-do my whole set-up to slot +6 CON and GFL....

Any suggestions that do not require a massive re-arrange?

I will think on your suggestion in the neck slot, because this is my Deathblock swap spot, as well.

I just sort of assumed the set item was a necklace.

Thanks for catching that, I am glad the OP brought this up as it has given me a chance to really plan it out, and it is not as easy as one would think.

You can make your DT armor GFL, +6 Con, Greater Spell Pen. Then you lose +5 resistance, which you can get on Epic Envenomed Cloak. Ah but you already made the triple pos cloak! DOH! Hmmm....

Or you can slot GFL on the Epic Helm of Frost. Making your DT +5 Resistance, +6 Con, Greater Spell Pen still.

In which case you would need someplace to slot +1 exceptional charisma.... hrm this is not easy at all lol! My best advice would be to get the Epic envenomed cloak, put your green steel on your hands/goggles, slot Epic Helm of Frost with Exc Cha +1, and make your DT GFL, +6 Con and Greater Spell Pen VIII. Not an easy solution to stomach, I know.

The other option is to go without +5 resistance.

[ProdigalGuru]

OK, so after some juggling, I think I got it.

It's actually a great change, too!

I save on a +3 tome by getting Ex.CON instead, gain Greater Spell Pen VIII, AND get to take advantage of the Torc, while still being able to swap it out for the Silver Flame Talisman as needed. There are no downsides, either!

Thanks a bunch, now hopefully I am done planning... LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE I COME!

Or, as River Tam would say: "No force in the 'verse can stop me."


EDIT: And +1 to you!

[Ridag]

OK, so after some juggling, I think I got it.

It's actually a great change, too!

I save on a +3 tome by getting Ex.CON instead, gain Greater Spell Pen VIII, AND get to take advantage of the Torc, while still being able to swap it out for the Silver Flame Talisman as needed. There are no downsides, either!

Thanks a bunch, now hopefully I am done planning... LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE I COME!

Or, as River Tam would say: "No force in the 'verse can stop me."


EDIT: And +1 to you!

Glad that I could help you out!