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Sorcery DPS question

I have a few questions about this build:
  1. Do I have enough curses from SBarrage and Wisp to build stacks with Spellcaster? I really don't want to take Concentration because of Spellcaster's damage boost to Soul Beam. I'd also prefer not to take the Light Everlasting enchantment adv on Sbarrage if I can avoid it.
  2. How can I replace Preparation with Tactician in the INT spec AND still have enough equilibrium to launch Crashing Incantation as an opener if I want to? (While also under the cost of Athletics running). I know it would involve re-arranging my Talents but not sure what to choose instead, or even if something more beyond that is required. I already plan to use 'Efficiency' utility gears (but the core mod will be Spell of Tako, not cost discount)
  3. I'm told L&L is a good AO for sorcery, but is it worth ranking? Because there's basically nowhere else to put points anyway
  4. Conjuring confuses me. I'm not sure what use this energy unlock is for a ranged build, unless it has a really large range to its effect? The description only says "being near targets affected by your curse"

Sorcery DPS - Freeform (Ranged Damage)
v3.44:37

Super Stats
Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Specialist (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Int: 8, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
Level 9: Investigator (Int: 5, End: 5)
Level 12: Boundless Reserves (Con: 5, End: 5)
Level 15: Coordinated (Dex: 5, Int: 5)
Level 18: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
Level 21: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
Level 1: Enchanter (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 6: Conjuring
Level 8: Spellcaster
Level 11: Star Barrage (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 17: Will-o'-the-Wisp (Guide, Cursed)
Level 20: Soul Beam (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 23: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 26: Eldritch Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 29: Lock N Load (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 32: Fiery Embrace
Level 35: Entrancing
Level 38: Crashing Incantation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Broomstick Flight
Level 35: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)

Specializations
Intelligence: Preparation (2/2)
Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

Devices

Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris

Comments

  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,742 Arc User
    edited November 2021
    1. Spellcaster's innate Enchantment classing isn't needed for Soul Beam when you have the Wisp, since the Wisp alone can provide both Curses and an Enchantment (Illum buff) w/ its Guide adv. If keeping the Wisp (w/ advs), then I may just use Concentration instead, since it's easier to proc overall and still uses Int.

    2. You could just get more Rec in Talents and a piece of gear or a mod with some Rec on it. Int will also help w/ cost discount a bit, so your solution will somewhat just come down to gear quality. In a quick test, with Int Mastery and 3/3 Enlightened I was able to get to 99 starter energy w/ 66 total Rec (w/ some Rec talents and +25 Rec from gear) and just 20 total End + 2/2 Prep (which just added ~5 more resting energy), when w/ ~450 Int and some cost discount gear the Ult was 'only' ~83 energy (w/ Athletics turned on). So it seems like there's some decent leeway there w/ Int PSS, but ymmv.

    3. I'm not sure how LNL is particularly good for Sorcery. It's a .. semi-decent AO overall, I guess (esp if there's not much else left to rank), but I wouldn't say it's that special to the powerset. It's not a stronger dps effect like Ice Sheath for builds that stack Chill, or Ego Surge w/ NM for TK builds that stack ELeech (or Imbue generally if you can use it when at a health deficit).

    4. Conjuring can work from a very long range (even well outside of 100ft, if you run away from the source), so you don't have to worry too much about any range check on it. It's also easily rolled by powers like the Wisp, since it frequently refreshes the EU's proc to its max duration while any of the Curses are up. If you're doubtful, you can always quickly test it for yourself in a PH or on the PTS.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • jaazaniah1jaazaniah1 Posts: 5,429 Arc User
    Personally, I'd take Hex of Suffering (Rune of Dismay, Rune of Terror) over LoL. Nothing like having a stun in the build.
    JwLmWoa.png
    Perseus, Captain Arcane, Tectonic Knight, Pankration, Siberiad, Sekhmet, Black Seraph, Clockwork
    Project Attalus: Saving the world so you don't have to!
  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    1. ok thanks Flow, I totally missed that part about the Guide adv also counting as an enchantment for Soul Beam so yeah, concentration would definitely be easier stack building I think. Other than that, does that mean I'm ok to put R3 into Sbarrage instead of the Light Everlasting adv?

    2. So if I replaced the talents with END with REC ones instead, and maybe slot one R5 INT/REC mod somewhere, I should be able to pull off replacing Prep with tactician for the Ultimate depending on gear? If so I'll try it. I'm just trying to be stingy with my retcons ;)

    3. I just can't think of any other AO that's all. I considered Imbue but I don't like how it's health bar dependent for its boost amount.

    4. Good to know, thanks!

    here's the changes with Concentration, Tactician, and replacing the END talents with REC instead:

    Sorcery DPS - Freeform (Ranged Damage)
    v3.44:37

    Super Stats
    Level 6: Intelligence (Primary)
    Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
    Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

    Talents
    Level 1: The Specialist (Dex: 10, Con: 10, Int: 8, Rec: 10)
    Level 6: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
    Level 9: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)
    Level 12: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
    Level 15: Coordinated (Dex: 5, Int: 5)
    Level 18: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
    Level 21: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)

    Powers
    Level 1: Eldritch Bolts
    Level 1: Enchanter (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 6: Conjuring
    Level 8: Concentration
    Level 11: Star Barrage (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 14: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 17: Will-o'-the-Wisp (Guide, Cursed)
    Level 20: Soul Beam (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 23: Resurgence (Rank 2)
    Level 26: Eldritch Shield (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 29: Lock N Load (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Level 32: Fiery Embrace
    Level 35: Entrancing
    Level 38: Crashing Incantation (Rank 2, Rank 3)
    Adv. Points: 36/36

    Travel Powers
    Level 6: Broomstick Flight
    Level 35: Athletics (Rank 2, Rank 3)

    Specializations
    Intelligence: Enlightened (3/3)
    Intelligence: Tactician (2/2)
    Intelligence: Detect Vulnerability (3/3)
    Intelligence: Expertise (2/2)
    Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
    Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
    Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
    Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
    Guardian: Fortified Gear (3/3)
    Guardian: Ruthless (2/2)
    Guardian: Find the Mark (3/3)
    Guardian: The Best Defense (2/3)
    Mastery: Intelligence Mastery (1/1)

    Devices
    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,742 Arc User
    ok thanks Flow, I totally missed that part about the Guide adv also counting as an enchantment for Soul Beam so yeah, concentration would definitely be easier stack building I think. Other than that, does that mean I'm ok to put R3 into Sbarrage instead of the Light Everlasting adv?
    Yea, you can take R3 on Star Barrage just fine. You don't need its LE adv for the build's mechanics, so you can skip that if you just want more dmg from the attack.

    The other changes also all look fine from here.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    jaazaniah1 wrote: »
    Personally, I'd take Hex of Suffering (Rune of Dismay, Rune of Terror) over LoL. Nothing like having a stun in the build.

    Thought about it because I saw it in one of the threads you posted in (I'm kinda combining yours and Flow's ideas) But I'm gonna see how this goes w/o it first just because I want to try keeping the threat wipe and self rez first. If I end up not needing either, I'll unrank LnL and grab hex


    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    flowcyto wrote: »
    ok thanks Flow, I totally missed that part about the Guide adv also counting as an enchantment for Soul Beam so yeah, concentration would definitely be easier stack building I think. Other than that, does that mean I'm ok to put R3 into Sbarrage instead of the Light Everlasting adv?
    Yea, you can take R3 on Star Barrage just fine. You don't need its LE adv for the build's mechanics, so you can skip that if you just want more dmg from the attack.

    The other changes also all look fine from here.

    excellent, thx
    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    edited November 2021
    I've been noticing some strange behavior with Will O Wisp's Cursed advantage for this build during testing in the Powerhouse.

    If you apply WISP again before Hexed (from the Cursed advantage) expires it causes all kinds of weird wonky behavior with the 15 second timer on Hexed, and not only that but I've also observed it not even applying Hexed at all. I noticed this happening while using the suggested DPS rotation that's posted in the DPS Guide sticky:

    Dm36613.png

    So how do we work around this? Use 3 full maintains of SB instead of 2? Or just say screw it and stick with it knowing that we're going to lose the Hexed -magic resist debuff for some of our SB maintains? Going to post this in the bugs section too
    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
  • flowcytoflowcyto Posts: 12,742 Arc User
    Hm, it could be an issue w/ refreshing it too early, yea, or just w/ general server lag. Since Soul Beam is a non-ramping maintain, you can interrupt it to put up the Wisp as soon as Hexed drops, if you want.
    <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
    - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!
  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    edited November 2021
    I don't think it's lag because this never happens to the Illuminated curse on the Guide adv whenever I reapply Wisp, it's always just the Hexed curse. Something weird is going on with refreshing Hexed though yep. For now as a workaround, I'm trying to change my rotation from Wisp > 2x Soul Beam to Wisp > 3x Soul Beam. Glad I didn't take Spellcaster as my Form now because I wouldn't want to rely on a form that's fueled by curses with this refresh problem on one of my main sources of that.

    I ran this by some folks on the CO-End channel last night and have since found out that buggy refreshes are an issue in game code for several powers in the game
    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
  • stratluverstratluver Posts: 311 Arc User
    Went to the powerhouse and checked Wisp and the debuffs.

    What I found was that if I maintained Soul Beam for 2 rounds and applied Wisp it worked ok (plenty of time left on the debuffs). The Hexed debuff would take a second+ to reapply but it did work.

    If I maintained 3 SB's and let the timer almost run out on debuffs weird things would happen. Like the Hexed would reapply but Debilitating Poison wouldn't. Or DP would and Hexed wouldn't. Back and forth like that.

  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    did Hexed refresh to the full 15 seconds for you? Because it wouldn't for me regardless of if I hit wisp immediately after CD or waited. In every case for me Hexed's timer went whacky. It seemed to love refreshing to 8 or 10 seconds specifically for some reason. The only thing that worked consistently was when I let Hexed expire before hitting Wisp again
    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
  • stratluverstratluver Posts: 311 Arc User
    In either case it would refresh. 2 SB's and it would refresh always. It would wait a second'ish but it would fully refresh. 3 SB's is where things got weird. It was acting like it was taking turns between Hexed and DP on which one would refresh.

  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    ok I'll take another run at the powerhouse, maybe I'll get different results on a different day
    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
  • omnius#0640 omnius Posts: 204 Arc User
    watched it again on live targets (mostly alert bosses) and I couldn't repeat the strange behavior like I was seeing against test dummies. I'm at a loss ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
    Unholy Consult | Pantheon | Lazarus Frost | Sword Saint | Gammatron | Blackguard | Imperator | Sardaukar | Risen Osiris
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