What I think had to be in place for a AoE to work.

[TheWhiteRaid]

<DIV>Here are my thoughts on what makes a good AoE.    Most of our AoEs lack one of these I</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>1.   It must be able to put out more damage than a single nuke when two or more mobs are present.</EM>  </STRONG></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>         This is a must or else it will not be worth using if a single nuke can out damage it.    Because a single nuke with a better damage is must more useful since two dead mobs and one living is far better than three living with 1/3 health.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>2.  It must not be able to out damage a single nuke when only one mob is present.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><EM></EM> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>        This is to make it so AoEs stay where they are meant to.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>3.   The mana costs must be higher than a single nuke,  but not to an extreme.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>   Of course if it is going to put out more damage it should have a higher cost,  but not to the point where it is so costly that it isn't worth using.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>4.   The recast should only be high enough to prevent rapid use,  but it should not be so high that is drops the DPS greatly.   The cast time should also not be so high that it ruins the DPS.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I can't tell you how many games I have seen such a high re-use or cast time ruin a good AoE.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM><STRONG>5.  An AoE should not need more than 3 enemies to be effective.</STRONG></EM></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV>This is one of our issues right now I think.   We have so little damage per target that unless you get a ton of enemies it isn't worth the 5 seconds to cast.   Every AoE should be able to be useful with two or three enemies and really effective when four or more are present.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Fyvoclok_Shadow]

<P>I agree with this.  The biggest problem with our current line of pure damage AoE spells (starting with Conflagration at the Sorcerer level) is that the damage is too low, and/or the casting time is too high.  Unless you're facing 5 or more mobs, you're better off just using a MUCH shorter casting single target DD.</P>

[Lady Uaelr]

<DIV>Agree. excellent post let's hope someone reads this that can do something.</DIV>

[Ironcleaver]

I totaly agree as well. That said though, I'd be happy with our current AoE's if the cast and recast timers were both lowered again. I know lightning flash will never be placed back it it's former glory (150 damage, casting time 2, recast 3(?)). Currently is't something like 65 damage, 3 or 5 cast, and 12 recast, or there abouts. I could deal with a happy medium, the new low damage for the old cycle times <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Hark <div></div>

[Renynz]

How about this for an idea:  Have a spell called Mystical Fulmination.  It costs 5 power to cast.  Immediately after the spell is cast the player is bestowed a buff that lasts for 15-18 seconds.  The next single-target DD spell that hits while the buff is active gets converted into an AE attack, hitting everything in a tight radius, expending an additional 50% power per creature struck. For example, take a group of five mobs and the Ball of Flame spell.  The spell hits all five mobs for some 500-800 points of damage, but costs (approximately) a whopping 450 power (150 power for the initial creature; 75 power for each additional creature). Then just forget about our crappy AE's completely.  Considering the outrageous cost of some of our nukes, warlocks wouldn't have much to gripe about.  While it would allow us to do more immediate AE damage, they would still beat us in the long run, due to their much more effecient spells.  That, and we would probably be dead anyways after the first (or second) use. <div></div>

[Splatterpunk28]

<P>Is there any class that satisfies all those?  </P> <P>I'm a warlock and the only AE that satisfies all of those are our level 50 spell, devastation.  No others.  The only AoE line we have that I even put on my hotbar is the absolution line, and I only cast those when there are 4+ mobs.  Even still, with 4 mobs, if it hits all 4 for max damage (which is next to impossible as none will be debuffed), the total dmg is still below one single target max nuke.</P> <P>Nice thoughts, but you'd be lucky to find maybe a handful of spells amongst all the classes that'll meet that criteria.</P>

[TheWhiteRaid]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Splatterpunk28 wrote:<BR> <P>Is there any class that satisfies all those?  </P> <P>I'm a warlock and the only AE that satisfies all of those are our level 50 spell, devastation.  No others.  The only AoE line we have that I even put on my hotbar is the absolution line, and I only cast those when there are 4+ mobs.  Even still, with 4 mobs, if it hits all 4 for max damage (which is next to impossible as none will be debuffed), the total dmg is still below one single target max nuke.</P> <P>Nice thoughts, but you'd be lucky to find maybe a handful of spells amongst all the classes that'll meet that criteria.</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P> </P> <P>Of course that is an ideal AoE,  but getting it to follow those rules as close as possible is still not too much to ask for.    </P>

[Tamil]

<P>i agree that the wizard AoE spells need some fixing. currently i do not use any AE in any situation, it is just a waste of time and power.  </P> <P>cast time of 5 sec is too much. recast time is ok. damage is rediculous, main about 150 (not debuffed) and 2nd about 100 (not debuffed).</P>

[Ironcleaver]

I saw Conflagration Master 1 for 50 gold on the broker last night. This spell looks like it ramps up nicly. I have the adept 1 in my book and it dose a max of 86 or so, the Master on the other had maxed at 170, which is pretty good. Sadly, I still didn't think this was worth 50 gold, so I'm pretty sure it's still on the Freeport Broker; AB server. Hark <div></div>

[Fyvoclok_Shadow]

<DIV>Just had a thought that made me shiver.  Anyone else remember the Al'Kabor line from EQ1?  Completely worthless from day one, and stayed that way forever.  Hopefully, that won't be the fate of most/all EQ2 wizard AE nukes...  but I'm seeing some scary similarities between the two.</DIV>

[Ironcleaver]

and wasn't it the old rain spells that would damage everyone, friendly or not? haha. <div></div>

[TheWhiteRaid]

<DIV>I think the last time I had an AoE on my bar was when I was level 33.   :smileyindifferent:</DIV>