Useless or misused ?

[Madha]

<DIV>I just dinged 28, and most of the time, the combination between Dark distortion adept 3 and Ice spike adept 1 (chaining HOs) is enough to wipe out everything around. Freeze is also part of the classic routine (with FM, of course), and that's it. Now I'm wondering if I'm not missing something, by putting away 80% of my spells... Am I ? Here are a few questions, so I can be sure.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>1) Conflagration</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Got this long ago, and never used it, as it appeared to waste too much mana for the crappy damage it does. It's still useless and it's green now. Am I missing something ? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Tongue twist</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I never understood how this one works. Stifle ? Not sure I know what it actually does. It seemed to have no effect at all every time I tried it. Am I missing something ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Invite void</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Having picked Nusk long ago, I still upgraded this one to adept 1. Useless for now. Should I keep it in my bars or will it still be inferior to Nusk in a few levels ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Negative absolution</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I never use it. It takes too long to cast, it does mediocre damage. Am I missing something ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Suffocating breath</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Doesn't seem to suffocate anything. It just does mediocre damage and that's it. Am I missing something ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>AEs (Putrid cloud, suffocating cloud)</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>AEs take so long to cast that they are interrupted 90% of the time. When (rarely) they don't get interrupted, they seem to do so little damage that it's better to deal with mobs one by one instead of wasting mana. Am I missing something ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>DoTs and debuffs</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I generally cast them when dealing with a single mob. Not sure whether they help a lot, as I don't see much difference when the real damage lands (DD is so fast to recast). When dealing with groups, I never have time to use them... I keep chaining FM and Freeze, hoping that I'll have enough time to DD everyone. Am I missing something ?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now if I am NOT missing anything, it means that a warlock's carreer consists in one single concept : DD, all over again. I hope there's more to it, even though I love DD <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV><p>Message Edited by Madhaus on <span class=date_text>06-21-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:34 AM</span>

[Vanra]

Yeah, we're sort of one sided when it comes to the pluses we have going for us. As long as we can DD well though, I can't really complain much, to be honest. We do have some pretty useless spells though, many of which you mention. Let me try and think if I actually used these and how. 1) Conflagration - I only think I used this once to see the graphic to be honest. The crappy damage and long casting time you mentioned is quite true. 2) Tongue Twist - I like this spell, really. I didn't learn to use it properly for a long time. The stifle, although short, will prevent the enemy from using combat arts or spells for that time. Its good to cast if the timer for freeze isn't up yet and you have an enemy bashing in your face and need to improve your chances of getting off an interrupt free root. 3) Invite Void - I upgraded this to Adept III, actually. This and Nusks gave me two different mana conversions. I duoed with a Warden for a short time and found that I could replenish a lot of mana and have it healed up quickly. It has it's uses, but usually one conversion is enough. 4) Negative Absolution - Not incredibly useful, really. I never casted it much. The upgrades we get, Null and Nil Absolution are great when soloing or grouping and are facing a multi-mob encounter. This spell line improves a good amount. 5) Suffocating Breath - Pretty lame, I don't usually cast it. The upgrades are pretty weak as well. It just sort of sits in my spellbook. 6) AE's - These aren't terribly useful, although some of them have a stun component attached. The only AE's that seem worthwhile are really Nil Absolution and Devastation. 7) DoTs and debuffs - I used Steal Breath and the later  Chaotic Maelstrom very often.  The debuff/dot rolled into one is handy, it depends on what I'm fighting. If it's going to be a long fight, I throw on something from the Curse of line, as they have long durations compared to Steal Breath. Sure, I mean, I could kill mobs without debuffing or dotting at all, but I guess it doesn't hurt. Some other DoTs are good later on. Dark Eminations is pathetic but Torment of Shadows is worthwhile. I just got it upgraded to Ad III and am very satisfied. I've been using it to pull lately, the damage adds up nicely. I don't want to disappoint you, but right now it's pretty much all DD. It's pretty straightforward. I love it, I don't really know what I would want to add.  Getting Aura of Darkness at 35 will add another dimension to your abilites though. It's a long duration stun that I consider to be one of the most positive spells we get. Warlocks are pretty one-dimensional, really. I'm not down with the raiding scene, honestly, so can't comment there, but I love doing day to day DD <span>:smileyhappy:</span> <div></div>

[Dae]

Conflagaration - Sucks. Both of your early AEs do. The only AEs we get worth using for their damage (imo) are the Absolution line. When I first got this it didn't even have a particle effect. Dunno if that's changed. Tongue Twist - Stifles stop a mob using any spells or combat arts. Good for pulling casters with but you can't really time it to do much since the duration is so short. Invite Void -  Separate timer to Nusks so you can use them both. It will also end up being better in the long run once you grow into it. Negative Absolution - Best line of AEs we get. 3 second cast time isn't too long. The dispell is a cherry on top. I use Null Absolution whenever I feel it's safe enough to do so. Suffocating Breath - Sucks and the stifle is not even noticeable (if it even works). I've certainly never been nuked by a mob using this and seen an icon. Use Ice Spike instead of this. Hold out for Noxious Bolt at 30. Putrid Cloud and Suffocating Clouth - Both of these are horrible damage. Putrid can be handy for the single target stun. Suffocating Cloud is just awful. DoT's & Debuffs - This seems to be a matter of personal style. If the mob is ^^ I'll use them both, if it's ^ I'll just use one and if it's not arrows or down arrows I'll just nuke. As you get higher level the damage range of your nukes and the amount these spells debuffs the mobs by increases significantly so the effect of debuffing resistances can be more clearly seen. If by your closing comment you mean do we primarily do our damage via nuking spells then yes. As you level up you'll gain access to more (Nil Distortion, Ice Flame, Noxious Bolt etc). There are a few broken spells like Suffocating Breath as you've found. You have access to several utility spells but you are primarily a nuker. <div></div>

[Madha]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Daerv wrote:<BR><BR>If by your closing comment you mean do we primarily do our damage via nuking spells then yes. As you level up you'll gain access to more (Nil Distortion, Ice Flame, Noxious Bolt etc). There are a few broken spells like Suffocating Breath as you've found. You have access to several utility spells but you are primarily a nuker.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Obviously. I suffered too much with my main char (pally), dealing less damage at 50 than my warlock at 25, not to be aware of this. The reason why I started a warlock is precisely to forget about these loooong, laborious, frustrating fights <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I know I'm a nuker. I just wanted to know whether DD is my only tool, like it seems to be.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>After all, I've neglected a couple of useful spells with my first character, not knowing how to use them... I wasn't familiar with the game then. So well, I didn't want to realize at 50 that Conflagration is a deadly weapon after all <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[chaos overlo]

<DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Conflagration: </FONT>Forget about it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Tongue twist:</FONT> Pretty useless</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Invite void: </FONT>I don't know your other spell, but this one is usually pretty handy when you run oop.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Negative absolution: </FONT>Don't ever bother about it.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Suffocating breath: </FONT>Same like Neg.Absol.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>AEs (Putrid cloud, suffocating cloud): </FONT>No, your not missing anything <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Far too long cast and far too low dmg.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>DoTs and debuffs: </FONT>OK, these spells are quite useful. Especially when you go for heroic mobs. Start with debuff, Root, put a DoT on it, Root, Nuke, Root... you got the picture?! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Unfortunatly you are right, most spells are pretty useless (not only in the warlock subclass) but there are a few which do the job:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Nukes: Dark Dist., Nil Dist., IceFlame, Soul Flay</DIV> <DIV>Debuffs: Curse of Darkness, Curse of Null (later: Curse of Emptiness, Chaotic Maelstrom and Curse of Nil)</DIV> <DIV>Roots: Frozen Manacles, Aura of Darkness (10sec Stun), Bony Grasp (you will get some other roots as well but they will break instantly if your target takes dmg -> useless)</DIV> <DIV>DoT: Dark Emanations, Torment of Shadows, Nil Absolution</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There are some other spells which might come handy sometimes, but I dont use them very often (Dark Pyre[dmg, +stifle],Vulian Interference[be careful with this one, draws tons of aggro when you are in a group], Deter[cold dmg, +stun]).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope that helps you a bit. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Xtremeeeee]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Madhaus wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Daerv wrote:<BR><BR>If by your closing comment you mean do we primarily do our damage via nuking spells then yes. As you level up you'll gain access to more (Nil Distortion, Ice Flame, Noxious Bolt etc). There are a few broken spells like Suffocating Breath as you've found. You have access to several utility spells but you are primarily a nuker.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Obviously. I suffered too much with my main char (pally), dealing less damage at 50 than my warlock at 25, not to be aware of this. The reason why I started a warlock is precisely to forget about these loooong, laborious, frustrating fights <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I know I'm a nuker. I just wanted to know whether DD is my only tool, like it seems to be.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>After all, I've neglected a couple of useful spells with my first character, not knowing how to use them... I wasn't familiar with the game then. So well, I didn't want to realize at 50 that Conflagration is a deadly weapon after all <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>ICE SPIKE!!!!! Get it adept3, its an awesome spell which i still use at 37. The rare is like 20g because its only T2 (coral or silver) 2 second casting time and very low power consumption. Its a great spell.</DIV>

[Madha]

<P>Ice spike... Hmm... Didn't think of it... though I use it ALL the time, HO-ing with Dark distortion... Actually I never thought of upgrading it to adept 3, probably because it didn't occur to me that it took a "cheap" T2 rare.</P> <P>Now that I'm 28, now that Ice spike is green, should I still bother upgrading it ? Won't it be replaced soon ? It would be stupid to waste 20g on a spell that I'd use for a couple of levels...</P>

[Vanra]

<div></div>For upgrading Ice Spike, In my opinion, definitely. I use it all the time at 46, it's still in my top 5 nukes on my hotbar. I didn't upgrade it to adept 3 until it was long gray and don't regret it, even if it's only a little difference. It's great for finishing HO's, finishing a mob thats down to a sliver of health and you don't want to waste a timer on one of your bigger nukes. It's great because it's on a totally seperate timer. That spell hasn't left my hotbar since I got it. <span>:smileywink:</span> <div></div><p>Message Edited by Vanrael on <span class=date_text>06-22-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:58 AM</span>

[Crono1321]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Madhaus wrote:<BR> <P>Ice spike... Hmm... Didn't think of it... though I use it ALL the time, HO-ing with Dark distortion... Actually I never thought of upgrading it to adept 3, probably because it didn't occur to me that it took a "cheap" T2 rare.</P> <P>Now that I'm 28, now that Ice spike is green, should I still bother upgrading it ? Won't it be replaced soon ? It would be stupid to waste 20g on a spell that I'd use for a couple of levels...</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Never outgrow it.</DIV>

[Mars]

Actually there is one good thing about Dark Emanations, provided I'm thinking of the right spell.  For pulling.  It really serves no other purpose since the damage is sub-par and the cast time is long.  But it can hit stuff that is WAYYY out of range for any other spell, so its good if you're trying to pull something with a lot of aggro around it.

[Darkka]

<BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Conflagration: </FONT>I use it to finish off groups. </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Tongue twist:</FONT> It's excelent when you think you are not going to make it, you stun the mob and then queue a strong nuke.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Negative absolution: </FONT>Not to much dmg and doesn't use much power, So I use it to finish off singles.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Suffocating breath: </FONT>Same like Neg.Absol.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>AEs (Putrid cloud, suffocating cloud): </FONT>The big thing to them, they look nasty and they stun. When the odds are overwhelming and we need time to run, this is perfect.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>DoTs and debuffs: </FONT><FONT color=#ffffff>Haven't mess with any of this.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I guess we all play differently, by the responses that I have been reading. :smileywink:</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Madha]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Darkkath wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>AEs (Putrid cloud, suffocating cloud): </FONT>The big thing to them, they look nasty and they stun. When the odds are overwhelming and we need time to run, this is perfect.</DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>I guess we all play differently, by the responses that I have been reading. :smileywink:</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>That's the good thing about casters : there actually are different ways of playing. Templars, for instance, get like 3 offensive spells, among which one is almost useless. Talk about strategy... Heal yourself, HO, heal yoursel, HO, heal...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now about AEs, I'm not sure they can really be of any use when we need time to run. They take so long to cast that you are almost sure they'll be interrupted (I'd say about 75%), not to mention that it gives more time for the mobs to finish you. When you really want to run from a group encounter, hitting the Help button is pretty much the best you can do <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Dae]

Tongue Twist doesn't stun. It stifles. The mob can still hit you with it's regular melee. Using AEs when trying to run is a bad idea. Long cast times and all that. Also only one of our AE lines has a stun component (Putrid Cloud line) and it's only a single target stun. Save your power for sprinting. <div></div>

[maddawg138]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Daerv wrote:<BR>Tongue Twist doesn't stun. It stifles. The mob can still hit you with it's regular melee.<BR><BR>Using AEs when trying to run is a bad idea. Long cast times and all that. Also only one of our AE lines has a stun component (Putrid Cloud line) and it's only a single target stun. Save your power for sprinting.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>also devastation has a short stun effect at the end of the spell...doesnt last long but its a slight stun.