Freeze vs. Ice Spike

[MyopicMoe]

<DIV>Level 35 Wiz here.  I have a question about these 2 spells - apologies in advance if this is a tired topic, but the SoE search utility leaves a lot to be desired for me - too many "search busy" messages.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I enjoy playing this class a great deal, but lately I have noticed the following which bugs me.  I still use these spells (Ice Spike lvl15 and Freeze lvl16), my Ice Spike is Adept I and Freeze is Adept III.  I have noticed that I can use Ice Spike against level 40 mobs, but my Freeze spell generates "Target too powerful" against even level 37 mobs.  Why is this?  It does not make sense to me.  While I appreciate the recent buffs to our dmg spells, I don't see any difference in these 2 staple spells of mine.  Couple that with the lack of being able to create an Adept III Ice Spike (according to my research there is no Advanced Scholar Scrolls Volume 15 in the game which has the Adept III recipe for Ice Spike), and you can see my confusion.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The only thing I gained, at my current level, from the recent buff was an upgrade to Blazing Intimidation - which was desperately needed.  Heat Stroke is a laughable DoT spell at my level.  It hits for 44 dmg initially, then 35 for 5 ticks.  So, roughly 184 dmg over a 25-30 sec time period.  This hardly makes a dent in the health of a level 37+ mob.  Heat Stroke should be greater than Blazing Intimidation IMO since it is a higher level spell.  I grouped with a 38 Warlock the other day and he consistently hit for 1600+ dmg with his DD Adept III nuke.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Honestly, I don't care to hit that high.  This Warlock attracts aggro like mad.  I like to stay low on the aggro totem pole, but even my Adept III BoF rarely hits for even 600 dmg after all the elemental debuff spells I can throw out.  This is with me coupled with an 'chanter whose buffs had my INT at 199, yes 199!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Heat Stroke need some serious attention.  Right now it is below a level 16 spell (Freeze).  And for the love of all things good, give us the ability to create Ice Spike Adept III...please?  Are we the only class with this lacking ability?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Waiting to see what Immolation gives me at lvl39...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Stavenh]

You can make ice spike adept three, I made it the other day, the damage is 227-308, which is about a 37 points max damage over adept 1. I have screen shots and mean to post them. The increase is 3 more power cost.

[Zcenicx]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>I enjoy playing this class a great deal, but lately I have noticed the following which bugs me.  I still use these spells (Ice Spike lvl15 and Freeze lvl16), my Ice Spike is Adept I and Freeze is Adept III.  I have noticed that I can use Ice Spike against level 40 mobs, but my Freeze spell generates "Target too powerful" against even level 37 mobs.  Why is this?  It does not make sense to me.  While I appreciate the recent buffs to our dmg spells, I don't see any difference in these 2 staple spells of mine.  Couple that with the lack of being able to create an Adept III Ice Spike (according to my research there is no Advanced Scholar Scrolls Volume 15 in the game which has the Adept III recipe for Ice Spike), and you can see my confusion.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>Freeze is mainly a stun spell, not a nuke. Stuns normally have a limit to how high they can go while pure DDs like Ice Spike will go forever, although always resisted. At 35 you should have other spells to fall back on though, even if BotT and Pulse are inferior in damage they will hit.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The only thing I gained, at my current level, from the recent buff was an upgrade to Blazing Intimidation - which was desperately needed.  Heat Stroke is a laughable DoT spell at my level.  It hits for 44 dmg initially, then 35 for 5 ticks.  So, roughly 184 dmg over a 25-30 sec time period.  This hardly makes a dent in the health of a level 37+ mob.  Heat Stroke should be greater than Blazing Intimidation IMO since it is a higher level spell.  I grouped with a 38 Warlock the other day and he consistently hit for 1600+ dmg with his DD Adept III nuke.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>Heat Stroke's main effect is a stifle, not a DoT. Sorry. And don't compare yourself with a 38 Warlock. You haven't received your next generation spells yet, he has.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Honestly, I don't care to hit that high.  This Warlock attracts aggro like mad.  I like to stay low on the aggro totem pole, but even my Adept III BoF rarely hits for even 600 dmg after all the elemental debuff spells I can throw out.  This is with me coupled with an 'chanter whose buffs had my INT at 199, yes 199!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>At your level, Westfend's Ice Spear should begin outdamaging BoFi. At 37 you get Ball of Flames. At 39 Immolation. Also, intelligence does <STRONG>not</STRONG> affect spell damage. Only spell level and your level does.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Heat Stroke need some serious attention.  Right now it is below a level 16 spell (Freeze).  And for the love of all things good, give us the ability to create Ice Spike Adept III...please?  Are we the only class with this lacking ability?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>Still, Heat Stroke is just a stifle spell with a small DoT. Kinda useless, has always been. Our main DoTs at your level are Freezing Whorl, Icy Coil and Icy Wind. </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Waiting to see what Immolation gives me at lvl39...</DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>~700-1100 with 4 ticks over 4.5 sec at app1... 1000-1500 with ad3. Does 1300-1800ish for me at 42 (ad3)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>You're kinda in a transfer period though. 34-40 you get all your main spells upgraded. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>34 - Freezing Wind (Chilling Wind replacement)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>35 - Frostbound Gift (HP + Elemental & Arcane buff)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>36 - Scorching Pulse (Lightning Flash replacement)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>37 - Ball of Flames (Ball of Fire upgrade, separate timer)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>38 - Depart (evac)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>39 - Immolation (replaces BotT, major upgrade(!)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>40 - Piercing Icicles (Icy Coil upgrade, separate timer)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>Remember that Ball of Flames is on a separate timer from your earlier version, be it Ice Spear or Ball of Fire. The Ice Spear will rival an Ad3 BoFl up to 41, so you better have that. :smileywink:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#ffff00>Unfortunately, you need to plow through the levels up there before getting the rewards. It's worth it. I can easily pull aggro off of a guardian a couple of levels higher than me at 42.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>