Pure Warlock LR to Carceri Storm

[Ravenbrew]

Hi. I made it to 20 loosely based on the Voodu warlock build(1st life-Great Old One/Enlightened Spirit). Now with 32 pt earned (and some tomes), I'm considering LR to Carceri. Do you think it works OK with Enlightened Spirit? I like the tankiness. Is there any gear I should try and get? Not sure but may have a nice ice orb and sickle. Thanks

[cru121]

make sure to have compatible alignment. that's all I have.

[Ravenbrew]

make sure to have compatible alignment. that's all I have.

Thanks, I’m Neutral

[SocratesBastardSon]

I did a multi-class version that I liked a lot: PDK Warlock 15/Bard 4/F 1. I took Carceri, ES, and Warchanter for freezing attacks. It was actually a lot of fun and worked well. While that doesn't help you, here's what I used that applies to your situation.

Area effect ice spells (which will eventually include the Carceri Ice Storm; it's currently a DOT) combined with EBT and ES Aura were very effective. One of the most useful was Sleet Storm. That means you need Freedom of Movement, and so do your teammates. That's a tall order, but if you can swing it, it was enormous fun, especially in hallways and stairs. I would pop off Sleet Storm, put EBT in the middle of it, in Epic I fired off Burst of Glacial Wrath as mobs closed, and that combination would usually immobilize half of them. When they close it's Cleave-Cleave, or Burst-Burst for you most likely, and then take out the stragglers.

If there's a spellcaster or ranged staying back, show them the error of their ways with Absolute Zero and Niac's plus your numerous DOTs. By this time you should have softened everyone up with Fortitude debuffs from SE's Taint the Blood (you need this), toss off a Wail of the Banshee, and move on to further adventures in cold meat storage.

I have not played a GOO Voodu, so I can't compare, but I do recommend Carceri-ES melee builds.

[Ravenbrew]

I did a multi-class version that I liked a lot: PDK Warlock 15/Bard 4/F 1. I took Carceri, ES, and Warchanter for freezing attacks. It was actually a lot of fun and worked well. While that doesn't help you, here's what I used that applies to your situation.

Area effect ice spells (which will eventually include the Carceri Ice Storm; it's currently a DOT) combined with EBT and ES Aura were very effective. One of the most useful was Sleet Storm. That means you need Freedom of Movement, and so do your teammates. That's a tall order, but if you can swing it, it was enormous fun, especially in hallways and stairs. I would pop off Sleet Storm, put EBT in the middle of it, in Epic I fired off Burst of Glacial Wrath as mobs closed, and that combination would usually immobilize half of them. When they close it's Cleave-Cleave, or Burst-Burst for you most likely, and then take out the stragglers.

If there's a spellcaster or ranged staying back, show them the error of their ways with Absolute Zero and Niac's plus your numerous DOTs. By this time you should have softened everyone up with Fortitude debuffs from SE's Taint the Blood (you need this), toss off a Wail of the Banshee, and move on to further adventures in cold meat storage.

I have not played a GOO Voodu, so I can't compare, but I do recommend Carceri-ES melee builds.

Thank you SocratesBastardSon. I'm not the best at handling a lot of buttons but would like more kinetic spells (charm spells aren't my thing and hardly landed probably due to higher Con investment - ALA Shining Through and Brilliance). Most rooms I cast EBT and hop around landing blasts and occasional circle of death.
Side bar - One of my favorite Playstation series (though the graphics/flow wasn't great) was called "Kajero Deception". You'd run into a room with limited time to set traps before the monsters came in. Some traps would blow up flinging them into a wall of spikes, saws, swinging blades, etc... It was funny. Bad part was you were dead if they got to you. Your combat description reminded me of that

[TitusOvid]

So I went pure Carceri Warlock this life up to 30, core cap in Tainted Scholar, Tier 5 in Soul Eater. I went for CC and insta kills because
- the dots are mediocre at best. You have to meta them to make a dent and that is pretty expensive in the long run.
- Absolute Zero is close to useless in endgame because of the DC formula (15 + Warlock level + Charisma Mod). So max. is around 85-90 on Will saves.
- lots of immunities vs cold and no way to strip that.

Best I can say is, it is okayish. Feels very sluggish. Damage output is still a joke. (I edit spellpower when the servers are back up).


Cheers,
Titus.

[cmecu]

Hi. I made it to 20 loosely based on the Voodu warlock build(1st life-Great Old One/Enlightened Spirit). Now with 32 pt earned (and some tomes), I'm considering LR to Carceri. Do you think it works OK with Enlightened Spirit? I like the tankiness. Is there any gear I should try and get? Not sure but may have a nice ice orb and sickle. Thanks

Hey that is awesome your going to try the Carceri Storm pact.. I too play tanky lock based off of Voodu build. I have some variations, and I did run it with 1 splash of rogue for traps, also tried 2 rogue splash for evasion, BUT the drawback to that is, gained evasion lost medium armor and large shield because you cant evade with those equipped. You also lose 1 5th level spell I think, plus you lose capstone.. If your looking for trap bonus nothing wrong with 1 rogue splash. You need to be able to craft cannith search / insightful search ,disable/ insightful disable items. I had no problems with traps from 1 to 30.

As for gear, I wrote a post months ago when I did that pact. At the time I was just trying stuff out and was asking for advice.

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...ing-my-warlock

I felt this was a good build for ES build lock. It has 4 dots which is great for you as a warlock when it comes to dpsing bosses. Its not super dps but those single target dots help bring stuff a boss a little faster. Also the single target freeze is nice. Gust of wind is very nice to have to blow fogs, fires, balls away... Just a decent build for tanky lock.
I am doing the Abyss pact this life and it surely is one you want to avoid.. Its needs a lot of love.

I have a gear list for Carceri Storm in that link of mine.

[Ravenbrew]

Hey that is awesome your going to try the Carceri Storm pact.. I too play tanky lock based off of Voodu build. I have some variations, and I did run it with 1 splash of rogue for traps, also tried 2 rogue splash for evasion, BUT the drawback to that is, gained evasion lost medium armor and large shield because you cant evade with those equipped. You also lose 1 5th level spell I think, plus you lose capstone.. If your looking for trap bonus nothing wrong with 1 rogue splash. You need to be able to craft cannith search / insightful search ,disable/ insightful disable items. I had no problems with traps from 1 to 30.

As for gear, I wrote a post months ago when I did that pact. At the time I was just trying stuff out and was asking for advice.

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...ing-my-warlock

I felt this was a good build for ES build lock. It has 4 dots which is great for you as a warlock when it comes to dpsing bosses. Its not super dps but those single target dots help bring stuff a boss a little faster. Also the single target freeze is nice. Gust of wind is very nice to have to blow fogs, fires, balls away...

I have a gear list for Carceri Storm in that link of mine.

Hey CMECU. That was a very helpful post/link! Reading it reminded me to be realistic in my expectations (regardless of pact) as this character is first life, very little gear and I often solo). Planning to keep the shield/medium armor so guessing the challenge will be having enough light AND ice power. Ice seems prominent in Orbs and staffs, which I don't use. If I cannot get the basic equipment together, maybe going try it next life. Thanks