What build did I see? WF Sorc DPS insanity...

[SINIBYTE]

So, in my travels I've come accross this build pretty frequently, and it looks like alot of fun, but well, asking someone "what's your build?" in chat doesn't really have enough details... so here I am. I know people love to talk about their characters, so if I've run into one of you, please share. Basically, what I see is a WF, dropping a couple firewalls, getting in defensive stance, and basically tank the mobs until the FW does its' job. I've even seen some able to pick locks, disable, buff, etc.. Seems to be an all around do everything solo build with massive DPS potential.

So, what am I looking at?

[Arryeo]

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=181901

[Montrose]

Two different builds. One is a WF sorc the other is a WF rogue/wizard. Here is the high-level advice.

I have one of each, and they're both fun, but I prefer the sorc. While the evasion and versatility of the wizard is nice, the spell point and casting speed differential of the sorc lend itself more towards my usual goal of powering through a quest as fast as possible.

For a WF sorc you'll want to max charisma and then put points into CON. INT, WIS and DEX are pure dump stats (unless you are really concerned about the -1 reflex and -1 will save). Some people prefer to start with a 10 STR. The exact stat distribution is up to you, but as long as you keep charisma maxxed and dump most/all of the rest of your points into CON you'll be ok.

For the Wiz, max out INT and then put points into CON. CHR and WIS are pure dump stats. Dex should be brought to 10 and left there. You only need dex for Move Silent, Hide in Shadows and Open locks, none of which require max dex. Bring up STR to taste.

Take your first level as rogue, then go wiz until you have firewall, then grab your second level of rogue. After that it's wizard the rest of the way.

Remember to take the 1AP enhancement at level 2 to prevent spell failure.

Do not attempt either of these builds unless you have unlocked 32 point characters.

[SINIBYTE]

Well, I'm going to get WF tonight, and start with rolling a pure sorc to experiment, once I get a feel for the class (never the caster, so this'll be new for me), I'll reroll. Suggestions? I'll likely get to 10-12 before I reroll... Just pump CHA, and CON and blast everything in front of me?

[Crazyfruit]

So, in my travels I've come accross this build pretty frequently, and it looks like alot of fun, but well, asking someone "what's your build?" in chat doesn't really have enough details... so here I am. I know people love to talk about their characters, so if I've run into one of you, please share. Basically, what I see is a WF, dropping a couple firewalls, getting in defensive stance, and basically tank the mobs until the FW does its' job. I've even seen some able to pick locks, disable, buff, etc.. Seems to be an all around do everything solo build with massive DPS potential.

So, what am I looking at?

A nice shield with high DR (damage reduction) will do the trick on the first one. You could also just stand there without one, hold shift, and repair when necessary

Making a decent AC will help with that too, but won't work as well at high levels & especially not in epic.

Being able to do trap/rogue stuff well as a sorcerer requires way too much intelligence than you can usually afford with your stats. IMO anyways. Wizards, on the other hand..

[Yargore]

Well, I'm going to get WF tonight, and start with rolling a pure sorc to experiment, once I get a feel for the class (never the caster, so this'll be new for me), I'll reroll. Suggestions? I'll likely get to 10-12 before I reroll... Just pump CHA, and CON and blast everything in front of me?

Aye, that's the way to go.
Make sure you have maximize and empower at level 6 and that your first level 3 spell is fireball.

Max the fire damage enhancements lines and improved maximize/empower.

Also, pick up some Superior combustion III potions from the vendors.

[Vuedoo]

Just an Added Note .. fo free to play Players ,You Really don't notice the Mass Damage and Survivabilty until you get Fire Wall and Reconstruct so Plan to Lvl them. early Lvls will not Reflect this.

[MrCow]

Make sure you have maximize and empower at level 6 and that your first level 3 spell is fireball.

Fireball is the older choice of good area of effect blast spells for that level range. I'd recommend Acid Blast now that it is available as an alternative being it doesn't destroy Web and it allows you to easily harm fire creatures (Fire Elementals, Hell Hounds, Fire Mephits, etc.).

[Crazyfruit]

it doesn't destroy Web

You sure on that? I seem to remember one of the new acid spells destroying mine when I tried, but that might've been the first level one

[Yargore]

Fireball is the older choice of good area of effect blast spells for that level range. I'd recommend Acid Blast now that it is available as an alternative being it doesn't destroy Web and it allows you to easily harm fire creatures (Fire Elementals, Hell Hounds, Fire Mephits, etc.).

I disagree. If you spec for acid you lose alot of damage from scorching ray, and the fire immunes can be taken care of with snowballs (half damage, but they are weak VS cold).

Why would you waste time with web anyway?:P

[Arctigis]

I disagree. If you spec for acid you lose alot of damage from scorching ray, and the fire immunes can be taken care of with snowballs (half damage, but they are weak VS cold).

Why would you waste time with web anyway?:P

I am assuming we are talking pre-WoF here. In the early (i.e. pre L8) levels there is much more synergy in
putting AP into acid/electric than Fire/Cold. IME, the most effective low level damage spells are Shocking
Grasp, Melf's and Acid Spray (AOE). You can then get Acid blast at level 6. As MrCow said, you can web things up
and hit them with acid blast/acid spray and it doesn't damage your webs. I personally don't take scorching
ray till at least L7 - my current build will take it at L11. Once you get WoF, then respec your enhancements
to favour Fire/Cold. I still keep points in Acid/Electric for Ball Lightning.

[Yargore]

I am assuming we are talking pre-WoF here. In the early (i.e. pre L8) levels there is much more synergy in
putting AP into acid/electric than Fire/Cold. IME, the most effective low level damage spells are Shocking
Grasp, Melf's and Acid Spray (AOE). You can then get Acid blast at level 6. As MrCow said, you can web things up
and hit them with acid blast/acid spray and it doesn't damage your webs. I personally don't take scorching
ray till at least L7 - my current build will take it at L11. Once you get WoF, then respec your enhancements
to favour Fire/Cold. I still keep points in Acid/Electric for Ball Lightning.

Melfs and shocking grasp? Are you joking?

Niacs, scorching ray and fireball is generally the only spells needed before you get FW. Burning hands might be useful, but niacs is usually good enough.

[Arctigis]

Melfs and shocking grasp? Are you joking?

No, I'm not joking. SG has no save, Niac's does. Fireball doesn't work on Fire immune mobs
(blackbones etc.) and destroys webs. Acid blast does the same damage and suffers from none
of these problems. Extended Melf's, whilst low DPS, delivers the highest amount of single
target damage at that level. It's fire and forget, great for orange/red named. At L10 I
am still killing the rares in the Orchard with Melf's.

Niacs, scorching ray and fireball is generally the only spells needed before you get FW. Burning hands might be useful, but niacs is usually good enough.

I don't agree with you at all, and having just done been through these levels (again) I am very
happy with the decisions I made (acid blast wasn't in the game the last time I did).

[Yargore]

No, I'm not joking. SG has no save, Niac's does. Fireball doesn't work on Fire immune mobs
(blackbones etc.) and destroys webs. Acid blast does the same damage and suffers from none
of these problems. Extended Melf's, whilst low DPS, delivers the highest amount of single
target damage at that level. It's fire and forget, great for orange/red named. At L10 I
am still killing the rares in the Orchard with Melf's.

I don't agree with you at all, and having just done been through these levels (again) I am very
happy with the decisions I made (acid blast wasn't in the game the last time I did).

I guess it depends on the playstyle then, if you want to do it quick and easy, go for fire/cold, if you want to do it slower just to have half your SP left in the end then go for acid/ele.

[Wizzly_Bear]

I advise not dumping strength or wisdom, despite what others here have said. Having a little strength helps prevent getting tripped and webbed, and having some wisdom helps prevent getting danced and commanded.

fwiw, Wizzly started with base 14, 08, 15, 18, 11, 06.
once he's rebuilt as a 36 it will be 14, 09, 15, 18, 11, 09

[Wizzly_Bear]

I disagree. If you spec for acid you lose alot of damage from scorching ray, and the fire immunes can be taken care of with snowballs (half damage, but they are weak VS cold).

Why would you waste time with web anyway?:P

what about blackbones?

[Yargore]

what about blackbones?

Skip them.

[Favis]

No, I'm not joking. SG has no save, Niac's does.

"Delivers a jolt of 1d6 per caster level (max 5d6)" http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Shocking_Grasp
" 1d10 cold damage per caster level (max 5d10)." http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Niac%27s_Cold_Ray
So what it best depends on the % of saves.
I have tryied Shocking Grasp on a caracter one. And if you have enough con to stay close (like on a WF or Dwarf) it can be realy fun the first five lvls

[Arctigis]

I guess it depends on the playstyle then, if you want to do it quick and easy, go for fire/cold, if you want to do it slower just to have half your SP left in the end then go for acid/ele.

On what do you base this?

Acid Blast is simply superior to Fireball for the all the content where they are both applicable. Acid Spray is,
IMO, superior to burning hands for the same reason. Very little is immune or even has resistance to acid.

Shocking grasp does as much damage per SP as Niac's (unless your Niac's never gets saved - which I don't
believe).

You don't have to wait for mobs to die with Melf's - you can hit them then go and do something else. Like I
said, it''s fire and forget.

Having done both, I can say that pre-WoF, with my playstyle, it was far quicker and SP efficient to go
acid and electric.

[Arctigis]

"Delivers a jolt of 1d6 per caster level (max 5d6)" http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Shocking_Grasp
" 1d10 cold damage per caster level (max 5d10)." http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Spell:Niac%27s_Cold_Ray
So what it best depends on the % of saves.
I have tryied Shocking Grasp on a caracter one. And if you have enough con to stay close (like on a WF or Dwarf) it can be realy fun the first five lvls

Indeed. I guess I should add that I speak from the perspective of playing a WF Sorc mostly solo.

I think SG, in reality, does more damage than that (or has a better average). I often see 110-120 points
of damage (max+emp).