The Elephant in the Room: Spells and Caster Level

[Eladiun]

So, you released Savants an eon ago and now with the Expansion and a Level Cap of 25, Caster Levels will increase significantly beyond 25. As of right now, only two direct damage spells can even take advantage of CL25, Black Dragon Bolt and Polar Ray. Not only does this leave, Air and Fire Savants in the back of the bus but it severely limits the usefulness of direct damage for Wizards.

Is this an oversight? Why no new Spells? Any plans to address this?

[Siftrant]

So, you released Savants an eon ago and now with the Expansion and a Level Cap of 25, Caster Levels will increase significantly beyond 25. As of right now, only two direct damage spells can even take advantage of CL25, Black Dragon Bolt and Polar Ray. Not only does this leave, Air and Fire Savants in the back of the bus but it severely limits the usefulness of direct damage for Wizards.

Is this an oversight? Why no new Spells? Any plans to address this?

Pretty sure its an "unintended consequence".

[knockcocker]

Indeed. Nuking damage hardly scales at all from L20 to L25.

There have been numerous threads on this MCL/CL bunk. I don't expect it to change. Cone of Cold is still
borked from U9...

[danotmano1998]

As of right now, only two direct damage spells can even take advantage of CL25, Black Dragon Bolt and Polar Ray. Not only does this leave, Air and Fire Savants in the back of the bus but it severely limits the usefulness of direct damage for Wizards.

I'm hoping this is in the "we'll be fixing this soon" category.

Though that list is growing so much lately, I imagine the "soons" they have promised will be split into "eventually", "maybe some day", and "oh, just forget it and move on" categories.

[MattiG]

I may have missed a previous discussion or may just generally be ignorant, but doesn't necrotic ray go above CL20 as well?

Then again, PMs ostensibly just got voted off the island, so yeah... Guess it doesn't matter either way.

[scoobmx]

I don't see how MCL is an unintended consequence. CL and MCL go hand in hand and they DESIGNED this system. You'd have to be dense to not even think about the consequences in the system that you designed.

[Eladiun]

You'd have to be dense

...

[scoobmx]

...

Just saying, a lot of these changes seem like 'change this, change that, adjust some numbers' from lots of independent developers rather than 'let's sit down with the rest of the designers and talk over some changes'.

[Eladiun]

Just saying, a lot of these changes seem like 'change this, change that, adjust some numbers' from lots of independent developers rather than 'let's sit down with the rest of the designers and talk over some changes'.

Oh, I'm not disagreeing I'm seconding.

[Schmoe]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, that this hasn't been addressed, documented and described in full detail.

[Shade]

Pretty sure its an "unintended consequence".

Um they JUST created all the druid spells, and they all suffer the exact same issues.

Im pretty sure its just a decision that needs to be reconsidered.

[Chai]

Uncapping spells is all fun and games until the mobs are using them on you, and doing 1500 points per cast.

[Eladiun]

Uncapping spells is all fun and games until the mobs are using them on you, and doing 1500 points per cast.

Death is only temporary or make a save. Also who said all?

[Siftrant]

I don't see how MCL is an unintended consequence. CL and MCL go hand in hand and they DESIGNED this system. You'd have to be dense to not even think about the consequences in the system that you designed.

I'm not sure if you are calling me dense, or alluding to something else.....

[Siftrant]

Um they JUST created all the druid spells, and they all suffer the exact same issues.

Im pretty sure its just a decision that needs to be reconsidered.

Actually I'd be more likely to believe, based on Turbine's history of change and change management, that they simply didn't even think about what happens in this context. Like they didn't take into account the "unintended consequences" of when they decided they needed to change the exceptionals to insight...

"Oh, darn we didn't realize that had a really negative effect on Kensai we'll look into it."

"Okay guys, to fix the fix we are going to make Kensai bonus psionic now. And to darnation with that +6 clickie of the Titan's gloves."

And why did they pick Psionic? I'd guess because it is the least common bonus type around, no more real thought about it than that. Just another spit-and-bailing-wire "fix".

[Violith]

I believe this was addressed in a thread in the closed beta. that they dont plan on increasing the mcl of spells, nuking in 20-25 should be done with epic destinies which dont have a mcl on them. or something along those lines.

[Schmoe]

I believe this was addressed in a thread in the closed beta. that they dont plan on increasing the mcl of spells, nuking in 20-25 should be done with epic destinies which dont have a mcl on them. or something along those lines.

So essentially, "Spells are for heroic-level schmucks"?

[Carpone]

I believe this was addressed in a thread in the closed beta. that they dont plan on increasing the mcl of spells, nuking in 20-25 should be done with epic destinies which dont have a mcl on them. or something along those lines.

Went through the beta devtracker and saw no such dev comment. Link or it didn't happen.

[knockcocker]

I believe this was addressed in a thread in the closed beta. that they dont plan on increasing the mcl of spells, nuking in 20-25 should be done with epic destinies which dont have a mcl on them. or something along those lines.

Well, if you're referring to the Draconic ED - good luck with that!.

Timers - ridiculous
Damage - ridiculous
Cast times - ridiculous

The only active ability I enjoyed was the flyby - for the knockdown effect not the damage.

The main benefit I found was from passives - more DPS from marginal spellpower increases, most from increased
DCs.