Wizard's Ward Spell orb

[DarkForte]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

Why can't I dual wield eSoS?

Also, /not signed. No one is forcing you to use only 1 weapon all the time. I use my staff of the necromancer to instakill, would use twilight to down dancing balls/hold, and use the orb for general purpose nuking.

[DeafeningWhisper]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

Why waste time making a new item that is, for all intent and purpose, a shield when it could be better spent doing something useful? Also, why the bard hate?

[swimmer11]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

well now I remember why I don't post here often...a dev comes in with a sarcastic response instead of a real answer, much appreciated

[Ebondevil]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

Feat: Monkey Grip

Oh wait, yes I can!

(In D&D At least, if not DDO)

[Bzzzt]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

Many times the average caster quarterstaff is inferior to a pair of caster sticks due to number of enhancements possible. Since the lore/thermaturgy rolls are random, the majority of caster staff drops are not useful (Nothing like this corrosion/impulse of greater healing lore).

There are a couple of reasonable solutions:
A) Bump caster staffs up again so its a decent choice vs holding two scepters.
B) Enable the One-handed Quarterstaff with certain enhancements enabling/disabling the other hand (i.e. Quarterstaffs that generate with a certain enhancement may only be wielded with two hands, a drawback)
C) (and my favorite) Change caster quarterstaves to modify their bonuses depending on how many hands you use to wield them (i.e. 1-Handed might grant +60 Corrosion and Acid Lore while two handed would grant 80 Corrosion + Greater Acid Lore which gives the player more choice/adaptability. )
D) Ignore the player base (Not to be snarky, but it's also a reasonable solution :X)

Addressing the Greatsword x Khopesh analogy, I don't believe it's fitting. Balance-wise, it's more akin to asking to wield a dagger with a Greatsword, a definite dps increase, but not on a ridiculous level (I mean Khopeshes take a feat for proficiency! Gosh!)

[Amoneth]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

Not quite the same thing



P.S. Sorry for taking up a whole forum page, I can't seem to make this smaller!

[Havok.cry]

Most casters don't wield quarter staffs like they are acrobats. They use them like walking sticks.

Last time I used a walking stick it didn't EVER require two hands. Including the staffs my wizards use in D&D.

But we understand, feather... you are smarter than us, and know more than us, and we are grateful that you have deigned to speak down to us like the mewling retards we are. Thank you so much.

[MindSpecter]

Not quite the same thing


P.S. Sorry for taking up a whole forum page, I can't seem to make this smaller!

Nah man you don't understand, that's one heavy orb.

[BananaHat]

The tech is there through crossbows and rune arms, as has been pointed out. It would be cool to even allow orb shots like a rune arm, but they would only charge while blocking and release when you stop. Maybe a caster based AoE as you throw off your magical shielding.

One solution for allowing new loot propagation might be to allow orbs in the trinket slot as well, but this would prevent the blocking bonus. I can see where FoS was going from a balance perspective, you should get the same amount of power from the total of two filled hand slots.

I think they just figured everyone running around with two scepters (or 1 scepter, 1 kukri or 1 scepter, 1 dagger, etc.) looked awfully silly so they said let's put in orbs and give them new blocking bonuses!

Unfortunately, as mentioned, bards as casters get screwed. Will there ever be bard specific instruments that you would pull out instead of the lute? Equip in the off hand slot, still fight as if 1 handed, and allow them to modify songs. I know there is a splatbook somewhere that detailed various bonuses for using different instruments. That would make all bards ecstatic.

Of course, it would be neat if every class had a specific class slot. Rune arms for artis, orbs for sorc/wiz, instruments for bards, totems for barbarian/druid/ranger, poisons for rogues, holy symbol for cleric/paladin/FvS, ki straps for monks, and umm...something for fighters, maybe a weapon chain?

[swimmer11]

Most casters don't wield quarter staffs like they are acrobats. They use them like walking sticks.

Last time I used a walking stick it didn't EVER require two hands.

my point from the beginning, a walking staff which to a wizard or sorc is a quarterstaff, and I cant recall ever hiking in the mountains and needing two hands on a walking staff

[ArkoHighStar]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

this guy seems to have no issue holding a staff and doing something else with his other hand



I could pull up tons of images that show wizards holding a staff in one hand, and doing something else with their other hand including holding orbs. If you would like I can even take a picture of myself holding a walking stick and softball in the other hand.

[MindSpecter]

The tech is there through crossbows and rune arms, as has been pointed out. It would be cool to even allow orb shots like a rune arm, but they would only charge while blocking and release when you stop. Maybe a caster based AoE as you throw off your magical shielding.

One solution for allowing new loot propagation might be to allow orbs in the trinket slot as well, but this would prevent the blocking bonus. I can see where FoS was going from a balance perspective, you should get the same amount of power from the total of two filled hand slots.

I think they just figured everyone running around with two scepters (or 1 scepter, 1 kukri or 1 scepter, 1 dagger, etc.) looked awfully silly so they said let's put in orbs and give them new blocking bonuses!

Unfortunately, as mentioned, bards as casters get screwed. Will there ever be bard specific instruments that you would pull out instead of the lute? Equip in the off hand slot, still fight as if 1 handed, and allow them to modify songs. I know there is a splatbook somewhere that detailed various bonuses for using different instruments. That would make all bards ecstatic.

Of course, it would be neat if every class had a specific class slot. Rune arms for artis, orbs for sorc/wiz, instruments for bards, totems for barbarian/druid/ranger, poisons for rogues, holy symbol for cleric/paladin/FvS, ki straps for monks, and umm...something for fighters, maybe a weapon chain?

A neat idea, but I'm afraid most those would probably just end up as trinkets. A bardic instrument in the offhand would be nice to see though.

Edit: actually, to add to this idea, certain PrE would have a specialized instrument to hold that increases the strength of whatever path they take. I.E: A virtuoso is more potent with a lute while maybe a spellsinger gets better bonuses from a lyre.

[jortann]

Why can't I use a greatsword in my main hand, and a khopesh in my other hand at the same time?

I think the answer is 'game balance'.

Think about it. If I came on here and said, "wow, there are all these really new weapons out, but I can't hold them all and attack at the same time and this makes me sad. Please developers let me hold three weapons in each hand... please!!!!"

You guys would all laugh at me... in essence that is what the OP is asking for. I mean while we are at it why can't we wear multiple armors and just layer them on each other. I suppose I can put on two necklaces too... and 10 rings and 2 pairs of gloves and .....

[LordRavnos]

/signed. I just want a staff for the looks, the orb in my off hand would just increase the epic feel. Hell I would be 100% ok with putting an orb in my off hand and anything in my main hand but having it LOOK like I am using a staff, or let me use a staff but decrease its power so its not unbalanced since staves are normally stronger then a 1 hander. Just let me look awesome!

[Feather_of_Sun]

I think the answer is 'game balance'.

Think about it. If I came on here and said, "wow, there are all these really new weapons out, but I can't hold them all and attack at the same time and this makes me sad. Please developers let me hold three weapons in each hand... please!!!!"

You guys would all laugh at me... in essence that is what the OP is asking for. I mean while we are at it why can't we wear multiple armors and just layer them on each other. I suppose I can put on two necklaces too... and 10 rings and 2 pairs of gloves and .....

Exactly.

Orbs are not a purely cosmetic item. They are intended to provide bonuses to your character comparable to what you could otherwise find on an item that is equipped to one hand.

Staves, simply put, are designed to provide power to spellcasters equal to two hands worth of items.

While we can understand that players may want the thematic aspect of being a badass spellcaster with a staff of arcane power in one hand, and a swirling orb of thunderous fury in the other, that's something that we could only reasonably offer if orbs were a cosmetic item that conferred no in-game bonuses.

Unfortunately, that is not in our current vision for these items. We intend them to be paired with one-handed weapons, such as scepters, and the statistics on these items are balanced for that purpose.

[DeafeningWhisper]

Exactly.

Orbs are not a purely cosmetic item. They are intended to provide bonuses to your character comparable to what you could otherwise find on an item that is equipped to one hand.

Staves, simply put, are designed to provide power to spellcasters equal to two hands worth of items.

While we can understand that players may want the thematic aspect of being a badass spellcaster with a staff of arcane power in one hand, and a swirling orb of thunderous fury in the other, that's something that we could only reasonably offer if orbs were a cosmetic item that conferred no in-game bonuses.

Unfortunately, that is not in our current vision for these items. We intend them to be paired with one-handed weapons, such as scepters, and the statistics on these items are balanced for that purpose.

So why introduce orbs at all? Why not simply make shields with casters stats on them, why spend time on fluff if it has no new mechanic attached to it?


Also, the question stands: why-the-bard-hate.

[BlkDrgn28]

Exactly.

Orbs are not a purely cosmetic item. They are intended to provide bonuses to your character comparable to what you could otherwise find on an item that is equipped to one hand.

Staves, simply put, are designed to provide power to spellcasters equal to two hands worth of items.

While we can understand that players may want the thematic aspect of being a badass spellcaster with a staff of arcane power in one hand, and a swirling orb of thunderous fury in the other, that's something that we could only reasonably offer if orbs were a cosmetic item that conferred no in-game bonuses.

Unfortunately, that is not in our current vision for these items. We intend them to be paired with one-handed weapons, such as scepters, and the statistics on these items are balanced for that purpose.

While I do understand where you are coming from, I still don't see why Casters can't use quarterstaves in one hand.. you have allowed Artificers to use Heavy Repeaters with only one hand and use a rune arm in the other???? So why not casters??

[Memnir]

Eh, never mind.
Not worth my time arguing with people I care nothing about.

[DeafeningWhisper]

While I do understand where you are coming from, I still don't see why Casters can't use quarterstaves in one hand.. you have allowed Artificers to use Heavy Repeaters with only one hand and use a rune arm in the other???? So why not casters??

Because of balance issues, they created tamathurgy staves (spelling?) to compensate on the whole change to spellcaster formula and painted themselves into a corner.

[Qaliya]

Exactly.
Staves, simply put, are designed to provide power to spellcasters equal to two hands worth of items.

Makes sense.

One thing though... when I was a sorc I found I *had* to use a thaumaturgy staff because it was the only way to get a generic SP boost *and* two element-specific SP boosts in my hands.

Hope orbs change that.