Wizard Training Options [Archive] - EQ2 Forum Archive @ EQ2Wire

The_D

09-15-2005, 05:05 PM

Ok this some general information on the training updates. For those who missed the memo, training options now provide a Master II version of a spell you already have learned. Old training options which were not spell upgrades have been removed. We hope some of them will come back as quested spells. I will include screen shots as I get them. Numbers are based upon my character (Nigella, 48th wizard with about 250 INT) or based upon screenshots from Redorin's post on training options (<A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=23&message.id=14651" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=23&message.id=14651</A>). I generally solo and small group, but have begun to raid about once a week. My gear is almost all legendary, though I have a few treasured bits, mosly to increase my INT. I have no fabled (so far) :smileyhappy: If you do not agree with my thoughts, that is great. Let’s discuss it and maybe you will convince me that I should rethink something. I have tried to remain objective listing the facts and giving my opinion based upon two factors: <UL> <LI>Usefulness at the level where training happens</LI> <LI>Usefulness in the long run</LI></UL> Sorcerer Level 14 <UL> <LI>Blaze</LI> <UL> <LI>68-92 DD, 34-46 every 2 seconds for 8 seconds <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/BlazeAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Painful Meditation</LI> <UL> <LI>54 mana for 87 healt <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/PainfulMeditationAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Freezing Whorl</LI> <UL> <LI>12-14 every 4 seconds for 24 seconds, head/cold -215 <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/FreezingWhorlA3.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Conflagration</LI> <UL> <LI>153-285 AoE <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/ConflagrationM1.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/ConflagrationM2.JPG"></LI></UL></UL> This is a tough level to decide as it has been so long since I went through it. I suspect most people will go for the additional output of Blaze. However Conflagration and Blaze are the best options in my opinion. Wizard Level 24 <UL> <LI>Chilling Wind</LI> <UL> <LI>AoE 179-219 every 4 seconds for 16 seconds. Some my go for this upgrade, as it is great AoE doing a maximum of 880 or so per mob. At this level that is a lot of damage compared to what the mobs have. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/ChillingWindA3.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/ChillingWindAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Amplification </LI> <UL> <LI>Power +100, cold +277, heat +347, nice upgrade but most wizards are more interested in killing quickly than defending. This level range does not really worry too much about resists. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/AmplificationAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Ball of Fire </LI> <UL> <LI>512-950 DD. Good bump in damage and on the main DD used for the next 12 or so levels. It will share a timer with BoFlames, which will be much better at adep3. The problem being it is a long wait till 37. This will also be good for end game players who mentor people. Most players will opt for this upgrade. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/BoFireM2.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Breath of the Tyrant </LI> <UL> <LI>167-226, plus 84-113 dot every 2 seconds for 8 seconds. The damage on this is ok and sometimes you want a single target DoT. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/BreathoftheTyrantA4.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/BreathOfTheTyrantAd1.JPG"></LI></UL></UL> Level 34 <UL> <LI>Heat Stroke </LI> <UL> <LI>DoT: 66 every 2 seconds, 12.5 seconds, stifles. Not enough bang for the buck compared to freezing wind. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/HeatStrokeA4.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/HeatStrokeAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Surge of Flames </LI> <UL> <LI>50% chance to proc dot for 25-30 damage every second for 3 seconds. This is very weak and may be updated as it is basically useless at this time. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/SurgeofFlamesA4.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/SurgeofFlamesAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Intromission </LI> <UL> <LI>117 mana for 192 health <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/IntromissionA4.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/IntromissionAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Freezing Wind </LI> <UL> <LI>AoE 202-374 DD and 202-374 every 3 seconds for 9 seconds.This spell is now much better than Immolation (39) and hits a group. The down side is that it hits the group, which is not always desirable. Most players will opt for this upgrade. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/FreezingWindA4.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/FreezingWindM2.JPG"></LI></UL></UL> Level 44 <UL> <LI>Hand of the Tyrant </LI> <UL> <LI>Upgrade from +37 to +50 or so INT / STR, which is about what Fist of the Tyrant will do at 54. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/HandoftheTyrantAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Vital Flow </LI> <UL> <LI>188 mana for 307 health. This is much better than mana stone (202:690). Next upgrade is Vital Flood at 44 (200:44<img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />, which is not much of an improvement. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/VitalFlowAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Flamestrike </LI> <UL> <LI>465-863 DD, different timer than BoFlames, relatively quick recast. Most players will opt for this upgrade. <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/FlamestrikeA4.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/FlamestrikeM2.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Inferno </LI> <UL> <LI>True 636-861 AoE damage to all mobs near you. Maximum # of targets is unknown, but usually its 5. That would make max damage is in the 3000s, which is very good. Down side is its an AoE, while sometimes nice, we often want to do lots of damage to single targets while the others are held with RoC. Plus as a pure AoE you will also hurt non-hostile mobs if you are not careful.</LI></UL></UL> Essentially all four options are good, no one choice is clear for most players. It greatly depends on the individual’s play style. I believe most players will go for Inferno or Flamestrike. Level 54 <UL> <LI>Protoflame </LI> <UL> <LI>Pet (DoT which gathers hate) <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/ProtoflameA4.JPG"> <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/ProtoflameAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Frostshield </LI> <UL> <LI>528-646 damage shield for the group, all successful melee attacks, 20 second duration <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/FrostshieldAd1.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Ball of Incineration </LI> <UL> <LI>1445-2168 DD, same timer as BoFire and BoFlames <IMG src="http://www.akers-online.com/images/BoIncinerationA4.JPG"> </LI></UL> <LI>Fist of the Tyrant </LI> <UL> <LI>+69 Or so INT/STR</LI></UL></UL> Honestly I have no idea on this one, as I am not this level yet and have not reviewed all the spells we now get 50-60. Also with the changes in INT cap and introduction of a new continent worth of gear it is too early to make the best call. More comments to come… Edit: 15.09.2005 - Added some images, fixed some data. Edit 17.09.2005 - As requested, more images also fixed some data. Edit 18.09.2005 - More images, minor format change. Message Edited by The_Dan on 09-15-2005 09:20 PM Message Edited by The_Dan on 09-17-2005 02:09 PM Message Edited by The_Dan on 09-18-2005 03:54 PMMessage Edited by The_Dan on 09-18-2005 04:03 PM

brow27

09-15-2005, 07:43 PM

Very nice writeup, thanks! Oddly enough I chose all the ones in red the first day hehe. <div></div>

Solba

09-16-2005, 02:28 AM

Really nice, thanks alot :smileyhappy:

Astatine

09-16-2005, 04:39 AM

<DIV>It's a great writeup, but it would be very handy to have the "replacement" spells and their level for each of the training spells listed too. Apprentice stats for them would be the icing on the cake.</DIV>

kadwenth

09-16-2005, 07:33 AM

You would think Ice comet would be in there.

The_D

09-16-2005, 11:24 AM

<DIV>I will get all of the M2 training pictures when I respec next week. I will also get the App2 & 4 and Adept1 & 3 by checking the vendors/merchants. That way everyone can see the effect from each upgrade. We will have to live with the INT variation. There were some excellent posts on INT effect on damage earlier, but I think the tests need to be re-run on live now, as the INT effects were adjusted several times at the end of beta.</DIV> <DIV> I hope to use this post to start to build a wizard guide similar to the <A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=24&message.id=8255" target=_blank>Warlock Guide</A> which is at the top of their Forum. If it turns out people like it, we wizards may have our first sticky message. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-Nigella</DIV>

The_D

09-20-2005, 12:26 AM

<DIV>Sticky Please.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sorry for the self bump.</DIV>

Blackguard

09-20-2005, 09:25 PM

Great suggestions, The_Dan. <div></div>

Astatine

09-21-2005, 01:35 AM

<DIV>Great edits - and just in time for the post-LU13 respecs too. As for the first set of training options - I'd recommend Conflagration. The master II will do exactly the same damage as an Apprentice I Pyre (which is the level 28 replacement spell). Pyre App I begins to outdamage Conflagration Master 2 only when Conflagration greys out - and at double the mana cost. This has kept my Conflagration Master 2 in active use all the way into level 32, partly because the sage recipe for Pyre App IV seems to be missing. Before anyone chooses to upgrade Conflagration though it's really important to be comfortable with the idea of a real area spell that can bring any nearby peaceful mobs into your fight - that does often make it inconvenient to use the Conflagration and Pyre line of spells, but is really useful when you've already picked up all the nearby adds and have to finish them <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>Message Edited by Astatine on 09-20-2005 02:42 PM