But Zeb, the 4-piece bonus from HV isn't random or situational. It's easy to apply, and you know exactly how to apply it.
So what you're doing is trading a very predictable +30% damage buff for a small stat increase, which isn't likely adding more than 1-2% total damage. And that's even worse when you're in a group, and amplified during dragon fights or in Tiamat.
I'm to the point where I would suggest that even if you hate HV for whatever reason, you should wear it at the very least when you're fighting Tiamat. Making sure that +30% damage boost is up all the time on any head getting attacked is phenomenal, when you consider it can be boosting the damage of 25 people.
Starting a fight with Steal Time is going to drop 3 stacks of HV on 5 mobs from the get go. It can't be much easier than that.
Then on top of that Icy Terrain will apply a stack, Ice Knife applies three, and Oppressive Force applies three. It's just plain easy to keep a near-constant 3 stacks of HV up on a Tiamat head.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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zebularMember, Neverwinter Moderator, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 15,270Community Moderator
Then on top of that Icy Terrain will apply a stack, Ice Knife applies three, and Oppressive Force applies three. It's just plain easy to keep a near-constant 3 stacks of HV up on a Tiamat head.
I don't use any cold abilities on Zeb, except boss fights, I'll slot Chill Strike in Mastery for more aoe or direct damage. He's pure lightning/arcane, specced for crowd control, aoe, and close quarters fighting. I'd rather have a constant and steady stream of damage on Zeb than relying on situational and random elements. That's just how I play Old Zeb and it works fine. I play for fun, not to "be the best" or do the most damage. I still top damage charts in skirmishes and delves, unless there's a chill stacking HV mage in the party. Besides, I never was able to reinforce my HV gloves, just my Shadow Weaver ones and I do not like SW's 4 set bonus at all, but I like the stats. If I ever do get a kit to fortify my HV gloves, I may switch back to my full HV set. Going full HV is not something I am worried about though.
Plus, high damage isn't my main focus on Zeb, it's AP gain and control, which he excels at and dropping the stats I have now to go full HV would take away from that too much.
My other mages are all played differently. I also have a cold mage, a fire mage, an arcane mage, as well as one that is more like the common power-house/elitist builds. My sixth mage is then going to be an experiment in control/support only, but she's still leveling and I doubt she'll be any good but I love mages and want to try something else different than the other 5 that I have.
Zeb, you're free to play any way you wish. I won't criticize anyone who plays the game to have fun (that is the point after all). If you want to stick to lightning spells because you want to stick to a lightning-theme then that makes sense.
However, this statement is what raises eyebrows:
I do wear full sets on my other mages (non-renegade), which are Vizier or Shadow Weaver. Eventually, as they get more set pieces, I'll 2-2/4 them too.
It sounds like you're advocating 2/2 sets as a superior option to HV and Shadow Weaver sets. And that is simply not the case. The bonuses from HV and SW contribute more team DPS by an order of magnitude than a 2/2 bonus will. Again, if that's how you want to play, fine. But people come to these boards looking for advice on how to improve their characters and I wouldn't want them to get bad information that 2/2 sets are an improvement on a full HV set. That's simply not the case. Anyone opting for a 2/2 set is reducing their effectiveness.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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zebularMember, Neverwinter Moderator, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 15,270Community Moderator
edited December 2014
I disagree that DPS is the better option regardless. I'm patient, things don't need to die fast, just effectively.
i think people forget u have to slot control spells for hv stacks
High Vizier Set:
Total stats (Including bonus)
Power: 1271
Critical: 0
Recovery: 1721
Defense: 521
Deflection: 574
Regeneration: 574
Set Bonus 1: +450 Recovery
Set Bonus 2: Steals 450 Defense from target and applies to yourself, when using a control spell, Stacks 3 times lasts 6 seconds and is refreshed at 3 stacks when another is applied.
(Stacks 3 times but can be placed on multiple enemies, most control spells will place this debuff but only some will give you the bonus. This stacks with other defense reduction % abilities and other wizards using this set. Arguably the best for PvP and PvE in terms of damage as it is effectively a 20-25% damage bonus for that target)
Procs Debuff with:
Chill Strike x2 (x3 on mastery on main target, x1 on others)
Icy Terrain x1 per target.
Ice Knife: x3
Ice Storm: x2 per target
Icy rays: x1
Shard of Endless Avalanche x1 per target on roll, x1 on explode.
Oppressive force x4 over the duration per target
Buff and Debuff (buff stacks up to 3 times)
Entangling force x1 (x1 per hit on mastery)
Steal time x3 per target (x1 buff total, x2 on mastery)
Repel x1 (x1 per target on mastery)
Shield x1 per target.
i think alot of people slot 2/2 sets for higher GS epeen and its inferior to hv debuff
i still slot tabd entagle which hv stacks alot and lines mobs up nicely for a ss
drow armors gonna be interesting . so excited!!!
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ironzerg79Member, Neverwinter Moderator, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 4,942Arc User
I disagree that DPS is the better option regardless. I'm patient, things don't need to die fast, just effectively.
Tell that to the adds on the Dracolich, trying to burn Valindra before the coffins spawn, or trying to knock out that last head on Tiamat with only a few seconds left on the clock...
Going 2/2 gives you neither more control or DPS. I can understand if you have personal RP reasons for wearing different armor types, but going 2/2 is inferior in every way.
"Meanwhile in the moderator's lounge..."
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zebularMember, Neverwinter Moderator, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 15,270Community Moderator
Tell that to the adds on the Dracolich, trying to burn Valindra before the coffins spawn, or trying to knock out that last head on Tiamat with only a few seconds left on the clock...
I've never had an issue with any bosses that were because of my character's build and gear. Save for Tiamat of course, as I haven't done Tiamat and don't care to any time soon.
Going 2/2 gives you neither more control or DPS. I can understand if you have personal RP reasons for wearing different armor types, but going 2/2 is inferior in every way.
Not true, I am much more survivable with my ap gain, recharge speed, and so on. All of which I'd loose for some DPS. DPS doesn't help if I am dead or unable to cast my encounters and dailies as fast as I do. For examples: My DPS is great and my added recharge speed that I'd not have lets me cast damaging spells more often. I can cast my dailies really fast, almost like they're a third and slightly slower encounter. Also, going into Maelstrom more often, making me immune to CC and take little damage and when used as needed to counteract such things, it adds to my survivability greatly as well as does some aoe stun, damage, and repositioning of mobs for sudden storm, etc.
Going 2/2 has nothing to do with roleplaying or appearance, my gear is all transmuted to Ilybranuien (sp) anyway.
I've never had an issue with any bosses that were because of my character's build and gear. Save for Tiamat of course, as I haven't done Tiamat and don't care to any time soon.
Not true, I am much more survivable with my ap gain, recharge speed, and so on. All of which I'd loose for some DPS. DPS doesn't help if I am dead or unable to cast my encounters and dailies as fast as I do. For examples: My DPS is great and my added recharge speed that I'd not have lets me cast damaging spells more often. I can cast my dailies really fast, almost like they're a third and slightly slower encounter. Also, going into Maelstrom more often, making me immune to CC and take little damage and when used as needed to counteract such things, it adds to my survivability greatly as well as does some aoe stun, damage, and repositioning of mobs for sudden storm, etc.
Going 2/2 has nothing to do with roleplaying or appearance, my gear is all transmuted to Ilybranuien (sp) anyway.
You highly overestimate the effect of the added recovery from the 2 2/4 sets compared to using high vizier. The difference is negligible (the difference will be 0,1 second at BEST). The impact on dailies is similar too. I'll give you that if you are concerned about your survival, then the tier 2 sets aren't the best thing but neither are 2 2/4 sets. You'd be better with either corrupted/purified black ice or draconic/draconic templar. Using 2 2/4 is nothing but showing that you do not understand the class or the game mechanics.
thefabricantMember, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 5,248Arc User
edited December 2014
Leave zeb alone lol..I can appretiate the fact that he does things differently for the fun of it, even if it isn't by any means optimal The current state of PvE means you don't have to play optimally and you will still be able to manage fine in PvE.
Not true, I am much more survivable with my ap gain, recharge speed, and so on. All of which I'd loose for some DPS. DPS doesn't help if I am dead or unable to cast my encounters and dailies as fast as I do. For examples: My DPS is great and my added recharge speed that I'd not have lets me cast damaging spells more often. I can cast my dailies really fast, almost like they're a third and slightly slower encounter. Also, going into Maelstrom more often, making me immune to CC and take little damage and when used as needed to counteract such things, it adds to my survivability greatly as well as does some aoe stun, damage, and repositioning of mobs for sudden storm, etc.
Going 2/2 has nothing to do with roleplaying or appearance, my gear is all transmuted to Ilybranuien (sp) anyway.
2/2 SW/HV doesn't grant you more recovery than full HV. It just adds more critical.
thefabricant, the problem is not that he plays as he wants, it's the fact that he's stating how he plays might more efficient, and giving wrong arguments.
For CW, the current PvE has no challenge at all, bordering to boredom. See opti builds such a Chem's MoF.
So, yes, it's still a viable option to put oneself deliberately, through sub-opti build, in situations where survivability becomes a concern.
Besides my state-of-the-art CW, I have another one, a pure-chill CW, almost a roleplay one. Never uses Arcane or Fire. Viable? Sure. Would I post the build, or recommand it? Certainly not.
Russian leaderboard first page. The proof.
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ironzerg79Member, Neverwinter Moderator, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 4,942Arc User
edited December 2014
Zeb, you might be happier with the Draconic sets, then.
The Draconic armor has great stats, AP gain as a 2/2 bonus and then a 10% reduction in power cooldowns as an "always on" bonus (and it works as intended), which also provides the 50' aura for your team, which is nice. There's a great combination of offensive and defensive stats on it, too, if you're concerned about survivability.
I adore when people state how HV is outdated, and then ragequit shot because
|ERMAGED wtf renegade|
|ERMAGED wtf no points in thaum?!|
|ERMAGED wtf rofl lolo HV, where's Corrupted/Purified 2/2|
| lol nub, 6k power|
|Why would anyone use repel in ToT lol?|
and my favorite
|"Where's your weapon enchantment? You hacked"|
True Neutral
Left the Game due to heavy Damage Control & Missing Spanish Language
0
thefabricantMember, NW M9 PlaytestPosts: 5,248Arc User
I adore when people state how HV is outdated, and then ragequit shot because
|ERMAGED wtf renegade|
|ERMAGED wtf no points in thaum?!|
|ERMAGED wtf rofl lolo HV, where's Corrupted/Purified 2/2|
| lol nub, 6k power|
|Why would anyone use repel in ToT lol?|
and my favorite
|"Where's your weapon enchantment? You hacked"|
Lol I love this as well I also love the outrageous GS requirements some players set for easy dungeons...I mean seriously, look in lfg, 16k gs for Karru??? lol. Whenever I form a group with lfg I am easy to spot. Why? Simple. I am the only one who doesn't set these ridiculous GS requirements when for easy content. Making a group with that kind of gear saves you maybe 2 mins over forming the same group with 14k gs assuming you going for speed and assuming you just want to finish the dungeon regardless of speed, then 10k or less is fine.
Comments
Then on top of that Icy Terrain will apply a stack, Ice Knife applies three, and Oppressive Force applies three. It's just plain easy to keep a near-constant 3 stacks of HV up on a Tiamat head.
Plus, high damage isn't my main focus on Zeb, it's AP gain and control, which he excels at and dropping the stats I have now to go full HV would take away from that too much.
My other mages are all played differently. I also have a cold mage, a fire mage, an arcane mage, as well as one that is more like the common power-house/elitist builds. My sixth mage is then going to be an experiment in control/support only, but she's still leveling and I doubt she'll be any good but I love mages and want to try something else different than the other 5 that I have.
[ Support Center • Rules & Policies and Guidelines • ARC ToS • Guild Recruitment Guidelines | FR DM Since 1993 ]
However, this statement is what raises eyebrows:
It sounds like you're advocating 2/2 sets as a superior option to HV and Shadow Weaver sets. And that is simply not the case. The bonuses from HV and SW contribute more team DPS by an order of magnitude than a 2/2 bonus will. Again, if that's how you want to play, fine. But people come to these boards looking for advice on how to improve their characters and I wouldn't want them to get bad information that 2/2 sets are an improvement on a full HV set. That's simply not the case. Anyone opting for a 2/2 set is reducing their effectiveness.
[ Support Center • Rules & Policies and Guidelines • ARC ToS • Guild Recruitment Guidelines | FR DM Since 1993 ]
High Vizier Set:
Total stats (Including bonus)
Power: 1271
Critical: 0
Recovery: 1721
Defense: 521
Deflection: 574
Regeneration: 574
Set Bonus 1: +450 Recovery
Set Bonus 2: Steals 450 Defense from target and applies to yourself, when using a control spell, Stacks 3 times lasts 6 seconds and is refreshed at 3 stacks when another is applied.
(Stacks 3 times but can be placed on multiple enemies, most control spells will place this debuff but only some will give you the bonus. This stacks with other defense reduction % abilities and other wizards using this set. Arguably the best for PvP and PvE in terms of damage as it is effectively a 20-25% damage bonus for that target)
Procs Debuff with:
Chill Strike x2 (x3 on mastery on main target, x1 on others)
Icy Terrain x1 per target.
Ice Knife: x3
Ice Storm: x2 per target
Icy rays: x1
Shard of Endless Avalanche x1 per target on roll, x1 on explode.
Oppressive force x4 over the duration per target
Buff and Debuff (buff stacks up to 3 times)
Entangling force x1 (x1 per hit on mastery)
Steal time x3 per target (x1 buff total, x2 on mastery)
Repel x1 (x1 per target on mastery)
Shield x1 per target.
i think alot of people slot 2/2 sets for higher GS epeen and its inferior to hv debuff
i still slot tabd entagle which hv stacks alot and lines mobs up nicely for a ss
drow armors gonna be interesting . so excited!!!
Tell that to the adds on the Dracolich, trying to burn Valindra before the coffins spawn, or trying to knock out that last head on Tiamat with only a few seconds left on the clock...
Going 2/2 gives you neither more control or DPS. I can understand if you have personal RP reasons for wearing different armor types, but going 2/2 is inferior in every way.
Not true, I am much more survivable with my ap gain, recharge speed, and so on. All of which I'd loose for some DPS. DPS doesn't help if I am dead or unable to cast my encounters and dailies as fast as I do. For examples: My DPS is great and my added recharge speed that I'd not have lets me cast damaging spells more often. I can cast my dailies really fast, almost like they're a third and slightly slower encounter. Also, going into Maelstrom more often, making me immune to CC and take little damage and when used as needed to counteract such things, it adds to my survivability greatly as well as does some aoe stun, damage, and repositioning of mobs for sudden storm, etc.
Going 2/2 has nothing to do with roleplaying or appearance, my gear is all transmuted to Ilybranuien (sp) anyway.
[ Support Center • Rules & Policies and Guidelines • ARC ToS • Guild Recruitment Guidelines | FR DM Since 1993 ]
You highly overestimate the effect of the added recovery from the 2 2/4 sets compared to using high vizier. The difference is negligible (the difference will be 0,1 second at BEST). The impact on dailies is similar too. I'll give you that if you are concerned about your survival, then the tier 2 sets aren't the best thing but neither are 2 2/4 sets. You'd be better with either corrupted/purified black ice or draconic/draconic templar. Using 2 2/4 is nothing but showing that you do not understand the class or the game mechanics.
2/2 SW/HV doesn't grant you more recovery than full HV. It just adds more critical.
thefabricant, the problem is not that he plays as he wants, it's the fact that he's stating how he plays might more efficient, and giving wrong arguments.
For CW, the current PvE has no challenge at all, bordering to boredom. See opti builds such a Chem's MoF.
So, yes, it's still a viable option to put oneself deliberately, through sub-opti build, in situations where survivability becomes a concern.
Besides my state-of-the-art CW, I have another one, a pure-chill CW, almost a roleplay one. Never uses Arcane or Fire. Viable? Sure. Would I post the build, or recommand it? Certainly not.
The Draconic armor has great stats, AP gain as a 2/2 bonus and then a 10% reduction in power cooldowns as an "always on" bonus (and it works as intended), which also provides the 50' aura for your team, which is nice. There's a great combination of offensive and defensive stats on it, too, if you're concerned about survivability.
|ERMAGED wtf renegade|
|ERMAGED wtf no points in thaum?!|
|ERMAGED wtf rofl lolo HV, where's Corrupted/Purified 2/2|
| lol nub, 6k power|
|Why would anyone use repel in ToT lol?|
and my favorite
|"Where's your weapon enchantment? You hacked"|
Lol I love this as well