dc caster problems

[tekkentroop]

I really like the draconic incarnation destiny on my pm, but there are so many good abilities, I just dont have enough points!

must have:
Energy Burst II + prereqs (6 pts) (just great and prereqs are in low tiers)
Flyby+prereqs (4 pts) (I love flyby, breath is great, and the prereqs improve elemental damage)
2 tiers of int (4 pts) (nothing else in low tiers)

now, I have 10 points left and a lot of options:
2 more tiers of spellpower (2 pts)
2 more tiers of caster level (2 pts)
3 tiers of spell penetration (3 pts)
up to 4 more tiers of int (2-8 pts)
energy vortex (2 pts)

so, what should I take, and what should I kick out?

max dc caster option: +3 tiers of int, 3 spell pen, +1 spellpower
max nuker option: energy vortex, +2 spell power, +2 caster level, +2 tiers of int

something inbetween?

[Nerveya]

I really like the draconic incarnation destiny on my pm, but there are so many good abilities, I just dont have enough points!

must have:
Energy Burst II + prereqs (6 pts) (just great and prereqs are in low tiers)
Flyby+prereqs (4 pts) (I love flyby, breath is great, and the prereqs improve elemental damage)
2 tiers of int (4 pts) (nothing else in low tiers)

now, I have 10 points left and a lot of options:
2 more tiers of spellpower (2 pts)
2 more tiers of caster level (2 pts)
3 tiers of spell penetration (3 pts)
up to 4 more tiers of int (2-8 pts)
energy vortex (2 pts)

so, what should I take, and what should I kick out?

max dc caster option: +3 tiers of int, 3 spell pen, +1 spellpower
max nuker option: energy vortex, +2 spell power, +2 caster level, +2 tiers of int

something inbetween?

In personal practice, Spell Pen is king if you're planning on going against ehard/eelite drow and such. I would always try to max spell pen on a PM. DCs are also importantly, obviously, but you don't go draconic for max DCs... but a balance of DCs and damage for flexibility sake. Either way, I highly suggest maxing Energy Burst. It's just too good not to max... even if it costs 9 points.

So final verdict? Energy burst is incredible. Vortex is also very nice. Spell pen is key for any PM, as are DCs... so I would go a mix of both your options. Max Burst, get Energy Vortex, but also grab the spell pen. That's +3 (for burst), +2 (for vortex), and +3 (for spell pen) from your current numbers. Leaving you 1 point for the extra spellpower. Or you can choose to only get 2 spell pen and 2 of something else.

If you don't want to max energy burst, get Vortex and Spell pen. The rest are your options from there on. Remember that taking Draconic on a Pale Master is to balance damage and DCs, not max out either.

Just my two cents I would also highly consider twisting in spell pen from magister and fatesinger.

[tekkentroop]

hmm I was thinking about dropping vortex but its pretty useful for 2 pts. Its really hard to decide since all the abilities are quite good.

I disagree that chosing draconic means lower dcs.. you can have the same dcs/spell pen as a magister and burst on top of it, you only lose the +5 dc clicky with the long cooldown. Im planning to twist in bard spellpen and magister school mastery as soon as I have enough destiny points.

[hit_fido]

How I roll palemaster in draconic destiny:

T1: +1 int, energy sheath (1, cold), perception (1)
T2: +1 int, +1 DC conjuration, out with a bang (1, fire)
T3: +1 int, +3 spell pen, dragon heritage (1, acid)
T4: +1 int, energy burst (1, acid), +1 caster level
T5: +1 int, breath, fly by
T6: energy vortex

I personally think 1 rank in burst is enough to be quite effective but I know Nerveya is probably focused more on epic elite and maybe the damage is more important there. I take fire for go out with a bang as an extra tool against mobs that may be more susceptible to fire, and cold sheath as I'd like to try the shadow tanking gig sometime. I took spell focus conjuration at some point incorrectly thinking that precise casting in draconic was somehow required to unlock the dragon heritage stuff - if I could have a do over I'd drop that and then change +1 DC conjuration to whatever, probably another rank of perception for more reflex save. I take as much int as I can for better DC while still getting the 1st rank in the breath/burst/vortex because to me this build is still primarily about insta killing, but draconic brings these extra tools to supplement dots and other damage spells against bosses, or against swarms when wail, cod are on timer.

Twists I use are echos of magister (+1 int, +2 spell pen), necro specialist (+3 necro dc), endless faith (10% more sp). With all three spell focus feats I didn't feel like I needed to twist the +3 spell pen from magister even though this is essentially a first life wizard (no past life spell pen bonuses). But again - I only run up to ehard and this setup tests very well against, say, drow in von3.

[tekkentroop]

Energy sheath doesnt stack with energy shield so only acid or lightning make much sense.. go out with a bang requires being below 50% hp so I didnt even have it on my hotbar last life.

I take lvl 2 burst since +1 conjuration (cant take it anyway, no focus) +1 perception arent worth much in the lower tiers, so I can take burst prereqs as well. Im not worried about ehard spell penetration, my wiz has 2 wiz past lives and will have the epic spell pen feat at 21.