greensteel plan for caster (currently ice sorc)

[chodelord]

My first caster toon is about to hit shroud and I'm wondering what the community opinion is of various greensteel items and abilities

My planned first item will be 150 elemental SP with tier one to be decided later, my second item will have 35 hp with tier one to be decided later

the questions are:

1. which slots are best?
goggles seem like an obvious choice and im planning on the glacial assault set set that covers gloves and bracers

next spot should be cloak? boots? helmet?

does the abishai set bonus increase the max caster level of spells because if not it is pretty pointless

2. is conc opp worth it for caster?

since displacement is my defense and I spent most of my time avoiding aggro is the proc chance of conc opp worth it

3. should I get heavy fort on my greensteel hp item? That seems like the best place for it since I need heavy fort anyway

thanks for advice

[soulaeon]

Green Steel actually has very few caster-specific options, so your choice of enhancements probably will make no difference.
Obviusly, you'll want HP, SP and Concordant Opposition, and possibly Charisma Skills. These should all fit in two items.

3. should I get heavy fort on my greensteel hp item? That seems like the best place for it since I need heavy fort anyway.

Fortitude could fit with a HP item, but I never tried because I always had fortitude on something else.

Helmet, gloves or goggles are good slots for Green Steel. Most of the other slots have something you'll want for other things. It really depends on the content you own.

Concordant Opposition procs often in raids or instances where you are being hit often in succession. It wont make up for most of your spells, but it can make up for your spell-like ablities as far as cost savings. I heard that this effect works with the Torque from Demon Sands, so both might be worth having.

[Isharah]

does the abishai set bonus increase the max caster level of spells because if not it is pretty pointless

The abishai set DOES NOT increase the maximum caster level of spells, but consider this.

MCL for water savant (polar ray) = 25(base) + 3(savant) + 2(telvi's tod set) = 30
Your CL for water savant (polar ray) = 20(caster) + 6(savant) = 26

Which requires 4 more caster levels to reach your MCL.

Options: abishai set (+3), epic staff of arcane power (+2), infused chaosrobe (+1).

People would usually opt to take the abishai set. Also, it also provides you with +7 on your most important stats (cha and con).

As a caster, you want to keep three of these slots free: helm, cloak, boots, bracers, gloves. These slots will carry your abishai set which will give you +3 to your level on evocation spells as well as possibly +7 cha (helm), +7 con (cloak), and disintegration guard (boots).

Goggles would definitely be your first spot. If you don't mind losing torc or swapping it out, putting your second GS on necklace would be fine. Though note that many high-end sorcs opt to dump one of the two items of the glacial set (usually the gloves since you have archmagi and spell pen on the bracers). The set bonus would be overridden by your clickies anyway.

About the conc opp, let's just say I have been called bad things for criticizing it. XD I guess it ultimately depends on how you play your toon. I usually don't like getting hit a lot, so on my sorc, I have it on a weapon which I could easily swap out when I'm not in the mood to get stomped on by monsters. I find that guards (radiance, perhaps) are better static GS items for my gamestyle.

Heavy fort would fit in one of the augment slots of your abishai set. If I were you I'd just do my hp GS as +45 hp.

[Jaid314]

as has been mentioned, don't get too attached to the glacier set. the set bonus is pretty lame.

the individual items are something to consider, both having some useful options for casters. neither are essential however, and replacements are available.

[Anneliese]

When going for 2 items, I would choose:

#1
Blindness ward and disease immunity
+50 SP (+2 charisma skills)
+100 SP (+3 charisma)
Con Opp

#2
Wizardry VI (+1 charisma skills)
+15 HP (+2 Con Skills)
+20 HP (+3 Con Skills)
Heavy Fort

Alternative to #2 if you dont want a dual shard:
+45 HP and one "cheap" special effect of your choice, like Earthgrab Guard

[stille_nacht]

get a mineral II 10,15,20 hp item (bracer or goggle)
and a conc. opp. blind/disease immunity (or wiz VI), 50 sp, 100 sp item (bracer or goggle)

that leaves room for epic helm of frost and whatnot. Bracers of glacier arent really that great, dont worry too much about them.

[chodelord]

great advice all TY

I had forgotten polar ray had max level of 25 so +1 for that tip

That pretty much makes 3 pieces of epic abishai mandatory to max things out, helm and cloak are easy choices for cha and con, 3rd piece could be bracers? for fire resists?

and I guess if I have an SP item anyway might as well put conc opp on it

[thewalex]

I love the name, chodelord, but how did you manage to slip that one by the filters? Haha

Agreed with above post: Blindness/Disease Immunity +50 SP, +100 SP, Conc. Op. on one and +10 HP, +15 HP, +20 HP, Min II on the other. (I do goggles for the former and gloves for the latter) because I hate giving up my Epic Cloak of Shadows' deathblock + permablur in the cloak slot.

[stille_nacht]

for abishai set i advise boots/helmet/cloak.

you could also go helmet/cloak/gloves if you want max dmg vs. horoth, but i think Majority of DDO> Horoth

[Jaid314]

for abishai set i advise boots/helmet/cloak.

you could also go helmet/cloak/gloves if you want max dmg vs. horoth, but i think Majority of DDO> Horoth

if you want your max dmg vs horoth, you could also get an ioun stone for the spell absorption. so long as you don't plan on hanging nearby the whole fight, you *should* be fine (and if it gets ugly, you can always put on your boots again and settle for lower damage).

[Ridag]

get a mineral II 10,15,20 hp item (bracer or goggle)
and a conc. opp. blind/disease immunity (or wiz VI), 50 sp, 100 sp item (bracer or goggle)

that leaves room for epic helm of frost and whatnot. Bracers of glacier arent really that great, dont worry too much about them.

I'd second this, with the exception of the Wizardry VI suggestion. Just be patient and wait for your archmagi item.

[chodelord]

for the abishai set what other pieces would be in the bracers slot instead?

[Jaid314]

I'd second this, with the exception of the Wizardry VI suggestion. Just be patient and wait for your archmagi item.

i presume the wizardry VI was for the +1 cha skills that comes with it.

[stille_nacht]

i presume the wizardry VI was for the +1 cha skills that comes with it.

that, and the off chance that he really didnt want to wait for a ToD belt.

if you want your max dmg vs horoth, you could also get an ioun stone for the spell absorption. so long as you don't plan on hanging nearby the whole fight, you *should* be fine (and if it gets ugly, you can always put on your boots again and settle for lower damage).

that's what i am going to do, but not everyone has an ioun stone :O, they are, after all, pretty rare

[Isharah]

for the abishai set what other pieces would be in the bracers slot instead?

I would keep Bracers of the Glacier on the bracers slot for Archmagi and Spell Pen VIII.

So far, recapping:

helm: epic helm of frost*
goggles: GS #1*
neck: Torc or ToD set or GS #2
cloak: epic envenomed cloak*
armor: -
bracers: GS #2 or bracers of the glacier
belt: telvi's sash*
gloves: GS #2 or epic charged gauntlets (if you opt to not get the epic boots of corrosion) or gloves of the glacier
boots: epic boots of corrosion
trinket: litany*
ring 1: telvi's ring*
ring 2: ToD set with neck or ToD with exc. stat

Those marked with an asterisk, you will probably want to have without second thoughts. :P

[soulaeon]

Those marked with an asterisk, you will probably want to have without second thoughts. :P

There is currently a whole thread about the TOD sets, and how horrible they are compared to other gear, not to mention that they are apparently broken.

[brucelee82]

I went with 45hp/con opp goggles and did +6 charisma skills/150sp on a cape. I like this because when I don't need UMD and I have spent that sp I can swap in other capes.

[Isharah]

There is currently a whole thread about the TOD sets, and how horrible they are compared to other gear, not to mention that they are apparently broken.

The crits and +% damage from the Telvi's set bonus don't stack with similar effects, but the +2 MCL allows for maximum damage output on a water savant.

[soulaeon]

The crits and +% damage from the Telvi's set bonus don't stack with similar effects, but the +2 MCL allows for maximum damage output on a water savant.

That would have to be taken into consideration, with what could be lost when using those slots for that effect. Some people might have their 9 charisma on another slot, and the critical chance is really not the best.
The Shaman set from Red Fens has a similar effect, and the stats on that seems like they could be better than the Savant set. So, the original poster should compare both sets, and see which is the best for each slot.

[Isharah]

Some people might have their 9 charisma on another slot

Not sure what you're talking about here.

The Shaman set from Red Fens has a similar effect, and the stats on that seems like they could be better than the Savant set.

Frow wiki (not sure if accurate):
Epic Shaman's Beads - Necklace: Charisma +6, Greater Evocation Focus, Efficient Metamagic - Maximize II
Epic Shaman's Band - Ring: Spell Penetration IX, Conjuration Focus
Epic Shaman Set Bonus - 40% Increase to effectiveness of 8th level and lower elemental spells. (non-stacking)

I don't know about comparing with the Telvi's Set Bonus, but consider this: the Shaman set bonus on water is overridden by the Telvi's Sash Superior Freeze VIII effect, which is 9 minutes worth of clickies, and whatever other ToD belt for the secondary line taken. One may argue that it's clickies, but 75% more damage for 9 minutes at a time is more than enough for pretty much any end-game or epic content you might want to run.

Taking advantage of the ToD belt clickies will override the Epic Shaman's Set Bonus for the elements of interest.

That would have to be taken into consideration, with what could be lost when using those slots for that effect. ... So, the original poster should compare both sets, and see which is the best for each slot.

I can't see why it has to be either Telvi's Set OR Epic Shaman's Set when you could have both if you opt to. (Telvi's is ring and belt, Shaman's is ring and necklace) Note though that as stated above, your Shaman's set bonus will be overridden everytime you use your ToD belt clicky.

Sorry for sounding like a broken record, but Telvi's Set allows you to reach the highest possible MCL in the game for your main damaging spell as a water savant (polar ray). Maxing. :P