Straight Answer on Seal line? Anyone?

[Kalel]

<DIV>Explain the Warlock's "Seal" line. Dark Pact, Seal of Dark Rumination, Seal of Ebon Thought.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So how about it SoE? Lockeye? Glendral (Fellow Warlock)? Help us out here. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Please explain to your faithful Warlocks how this spell is actually supposed to work. You have stated its not to raise your effective casting lvl. You have also stated that it would be more noticeable on lower lvl foes. So tell us exactly how this buff is "supposed" to operate. Over many hours of testing by me and countless other warlocks that post these boards there isnt a definative answer as to what it does. Does it lower resist rates noticeably? No sir. If it is the case that its supposed to lower resist rates then why in gods name would it work better on lower lvl mobs? They dont resist spells anyhow. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any word at all would be excellent. Considering that noone in the warlock community can explain how it works either, I would think an answer from a Dev is in order. Dont you? Patience is wearing thin due to lack of communication. Thanks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Spo]

<DIV>I would also like to know, please and thankyou.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Leperous</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[MilkToa]

<P>I'm still amazed how many people chose a master 2 of Seal without any empirical evidence that the spell does anything. </P> <P> </P>

[myrii]

the seal line is just a fluff spell to take up concentration

[Black_Mark]

<P>Bump with support.</P> <P><A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=24&message.id=13921" target=_blank>http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=24&message.id=13921</A></P>

[Crowbar_Catspaw]

Many warlocks have tested this spell and not seen anything noticeable.  I wonder if we will ever get a straight answer?

[Synd]

Looks like I wasted Master 2 on this one.............

[TheBladesCaress]

I used my Master 2 on Dark Nebula.  The Seal spell does nothing as far as I can tell. <div></div>

[CrimsonAveng]

<P><FONT color=#33cc00>Some not so empirical data.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#33cc00>After the great ice flame and aoe resistance nerfs of last week I was down about 20% dps with my adept 1 dark seal at 14.1.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#33cc00>At lvl 54 i took dark seal master 2. At the 27, my resists seem to be back at normal before the great nerf.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#33cc00>Again, not empirical but it allowed this old warlock a chance to keep playing this class. I was determined if the seal at master 2 didn't help, I was goona shelve my warlock until a later date.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#33cc00>Luckily, I HAVE noticed quite a difference.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#33cc00>That's my story and I'm sticking to it.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#33cc00></FONT> </P>

[Korpo]

I love how fixing an <b>irresistible</b> spell so that it's properly resistible is called a nerf. It's perfectly logical to assume that a level 35 warlock could throw Ice Flame at a level 67 mob and have it hit... if you're an idiot. <div></div>

[Tevilspek]

<DIV>I think I've been fortunate in being skipped by the Almighty Resist Nerf.. I don't get resisted any more than any other person in my group.<BR>I do insane damage...<BR>What exactly are you talking about with this seemingly massive resists? Poison immune mobs?<BR>I don't even USE the Seal line and my resists are nothing bad at all for me...<BR>You trying to compare your resist rates on orange mobs?<BR><BR>I'm not questioning the Seal line. AFAIK, it's pos and I don't use it.</DIV> <DIV>But the resist rates?</DIV> <DIV>Guess I'm just lucky? o.O</DIV>

[CrimsonAveng]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> korpo53 wrote:<BR>I love how fixing an <B>irresistible</B> spell so that it's properly resistible is called a nerf.<BR><BR>It's perfectly logical to assume that a level 35 warlock could throw Ice Flame at a level 67 mob and have it hit... if you're an idiot.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>It's also perfectly logical that at lvl 54 my go to spell is a lvl 36 spell? uh huh. Anyhow, personal attacks aside, even though you statred it first, I will expound in a civilized manner.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>Ice flame is part of my major attack line. By making one of my top 4 spells resistable my damage goes down. That is, it has been lessened. Ummm, isn't that the definition of a nerf?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>As far as resists, yes im lvl 54 atm and my major solo target is harpies (lvls 54 and 55 & yellow). Before the AoE nerf, and yes it was a nerf, I would rarely see a resist, especially on the 4.5 sec AoE stun. After the nerf, on an average cast 1-2 would resist the stun. So, what are my options? Deter one and cower one? Sure, if I want to die in short order. Skeletal Grasp? Sure if i want to aggro everything in the area and die in short order. Cast devestation followed by one of my other 2 AoEs? Sure. Again rarely resisted. But after the nerf? 1-2 resisted every time. Result, every other encounter resulted in death especially when i didnt have Ice flame to bail me out. So playing for 9 months to completely relearn my class and then playing a few more weeks to completely relearn my class again isnt something I wanted to deal with again. I dont pay SOE to force me to change my play style at a whim every few weeks by means of some (innocent & needed patches...pfft).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>So, yes I know that yellows are supposed to be challenging. But going from easy exp (as long as you watch your positioning and incomings) to dying every other encounter? Hmmm...can we say...NERF?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>You might say group more? I say why? I can have 2-3 days of vitality and burn it up on harpies in 30 min or less. So why group when after a few kills my exp bar moves slower the t6 prov fixes in the tradeskill dept?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>Maybe, after next week after the new patch and vit stays longer & accrues faster I might. Until then I will kill my harpies and stick to my story that the lvl 54 master 2 choice made the difference between easy xp and suicide runs and this the difference between a working warlock and a shelved warlock. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>Again, no empirical data here but certainly a straight answer on noticed effects which the OP asked for.</FONT></DIV>

[Synd]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> CrimsonAvenger wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT color=#66ff00> Skeletal Grasp? Sure if i want to aggro everything in the area and die in short order. </FONT> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>They fixed ninja root. You can root  your target only, not everything in the area.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Darkcreat]

<DIV><A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/view_profile?user.id=75675" target=_blank><SPAN>CrimsonAvenger</SPAN></A><BR></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You argue so adamantly yet you have no data. Well there's some data that you might want to look at. That is the Dev. post where they stated that Seal of Ebon Thought has NO EFFECT on yellow, orange, or red mobs. Its supposed benefit is for white con and lower, although there really is no benefit which has been shown by countless parsings.</DIV> <DIV>So since the Dev's told us that it doesn't affect resist rates on yellow con and higher your "observations" on yellow harpies is shall I say... pure crapola.</DIV> <DIV>But feel free to continue to delude yourself. Don't let the facts stop you.</DIV>

[CrimsonAveng]

<DIV><U>Darkcreator</U>: (see i can do it too)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV>You argue so adamantly yet you have no data. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#33cc00>Doh. Said that smart guy. Not a data guy here, observation guy here which IMO is better and has always served me well.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#33cc00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>Well there's some data that you might want to look at. That is the Dev. post where they stated that Seal of Ebon Thought has NO EFFECT on yellow, orange, or red mobs. Its supposed benefit is for white con and lower, although there really is no benefit which has been shown by countless parsings.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#33cc00>Uh huh...and the link is where?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So since the Dev's told us that it doesn't affect resist rates on yellow con and higher your "observations" on yellow harpies is shall I say... pure crapola.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#33cc00>Like I care. I see what I see and I notice a difference and that's all that matters to me. So you can take your Type A anger and your crapola and stuff it up your Colbalt Leggings for all I care. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#33cc00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>But feel free to continue to delude yourself. Don't let the facts stop you.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#339900>Ex-cuse me? Baking powder? What data? Facts? Where?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#339900>I haven't seen anything from you except a couple of personal attacks and some anger. </FONT></DIV><FONT color=#339900></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>

[El Chupacabr]

<span><blockquote><hr>CrimsonAvenger wrote:<div><u>Darkcreator</u>: (see i can do it too)</div> <div> </div> <div> <blockquote> <div>You argue so adamantly yet you have no data. </div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#33cc00">Doh. Said that smart guy. Not a data guy here, observation guy here which IMO is better and has always served me well.</font></div> <div> </div> <div>Well there's some data that you might want to look at. That is the Dev. post where they stated that Seal of Ebon Thought has NO EFFECT on yellow, orange, or red mobs. Its supposed benefit is for white con and lower, although there really is no benefit which has been shown by countless parsings.</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#33cc00">Uh huh...and the link is where?</font></div> <div> </div> <div>So since the Dev's told us that it doesn't affect resist rates on yellow con and higher your "observations" on yellow harpies is shall I say... pure crapola.</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#33cc00">Like I care. I see what I see and I notice a difference and that's all that matters to me. So you can take your Type A anger and your crapola and stuff it up your Colbalt Leggings for all I care. </font></div> <div> </div> <div>But feel free to continue to delude yourself. Don't let the facts stop you.</div> <div> </div> <div><font color="#339900">Ex-cuse me? Baking powder? What data? Facts? Where?</font></div> <div><font color="#339900">I haven't seen anything from you except a couple of personal attacks and some anger. </font></div></blockquote> <blockquote> <div></div></blockquote></div><hr></blockquote>Here's the quote: </span> <blockquote> <hr> Crono1321 wrote:I am a 53 Warlock and currently have (solo) 289 disruption.  This is equivalent to 57.8 Warlock, and with a troubador my casting skills are approximately 308-310, making me cast at (supposedly) a level of 62.  Can someone please explain to me why only 20% or less of my spells will land on an orange mob?  Granted oranges are supposed to be harder now, but if I am casting at a level of 58, why can I not hit "theoretically" WHITE mobs?  <hr> </blockquote> <div>Skill buffs don't work the way they did before LU13. Pre-combat changes, a skill boost of +5 essentially made you a level higher when it came to using that skill. This caused all kinds of things to become broken, especially considering the way buffs could be stacked.</div> <div> </div> <div>Now, skill buffs are just that: a buff to your skill's effectiveness. They don't, however, allow you to roll the dice as if you were higher level than you really are.</div> <div> </div> <div>In other words, you're not hitting as if you're a 57.8 warlock; you're hitting as a 53 warlock with buffs. That's definitely better than not having the buffs, but keep in mind that their effectiveness scales based on the con of your opponent. The buffs will matter less against oranges and reds, and will make a considerable difference against opponents below your level.</div> <div> </div> <div>This same reasoning applies to melee skill buffs as well.</div> <p>===========================Steve Danuser, a.k.a. MoorgardGame Designer, EverQuest II </p> Here's the link:  http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=combat&message.id=71317&view=by_date_ascending&page=1 <div></div>

[myrii]

so basically all this arguing amounts to the spell is basically useless and not worth wasting concentration on

[Kalel]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> myriick wrote:<BR>so basically all this arguing amounts to the spell is basically useless and not worth wasting concentration on <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>You are correct, sir.

[Dart]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kalel22 wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> myriick wrote:<BR>so basically all this arguing amounts to the spell is basically useless and not worth wasting concentration on <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>You are correct, sir. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Woot go plus 12 Int buff! My uber sorce spell now has a purpose) Just think now we may get in the raid tank group with your sweet plus int/str buff! Flash that buff around as if it were a set of cow bells.</P> <P>/sarcasm off</P>

[Maelwy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Darton wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kalel22 wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> myriick wrote:<BR>so basically all this arguing amounts to the spell is basically useless and not worth wasting concentration on <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>You are correct, sir. <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Woot go plus 12 Int buff! My uber sorce spell now has a purpose) Just think now we may get in the raid tank group with your sweet plus int/str buff! Flash that buff around as if it were a set of cow bells.</P> <P>/sarcasm off</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>13.4 int/str at adept 3...    well worth it</P> <P><BR> </P>

[Ziffna]

too bad all the 13.4 get rounded down and won't stack with say the 12.9 from imbued bloodstone rings in stead of a combined 26 bonus to the skill between the spells you get a 25 bonus not a huge deal but would be nice if a game that intearnally runs on so much math could at least do basic addtion normally rounding even if  it is always done down to the smallest whole number should always be done at the end of the addtion not prior too if your dealing with fractional numbers.

[Korpo]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> CrimsonAvenger wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> korpo53 wrote:<BR>I love how fixing an <B>irresistible</B> spell so that it's properly resistible is called a nerf.<BR><BR>It's perfectly logical to assume that a level 35 warlock could throw Ice Flame at a level 67 mob and have it hit... if you're an idiot.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>It's also perfectly logical that at lvl 54 my go to spell is a lvl 36 spell? uh huh. Anyhow, personal attacks aside, even though you statred it first, I will expound in a civilized manner.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>Ice flame is part of my major attack line. By making one of my top 4 spells resistable my damage goes down. That is, it has been lessened. Ummm, isn't that the definition of a nerf?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#66ff00>blah blah blah and a bunch more nonsense.</FONT></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>If a level 35 spell is your go-to spell at 54, you need to look at the rest of your spells. Ice Flame does similar damage to Soul Flay, but is on a muuuuuch longer recast timer.</P> <P>We'll try again, since you seem to be missing the point... up until recently you could evac when your buffs were about to expire, and the buffs wouldn't expire. You could uber buff a tank with all your 30s buffs, get them berserk, get them Hero's Armor, etc., evac, and have an uber tank that was unbeatable running around the zone. They fixed that bug, or in your lingo, nerfed the ability for that guy to tank.</P>

[Crono1321]

Ice Flame is just a support spell..you can usually use it once a battle or 2-3 times per raid mob.  It is a very nice spell to keep the damage chain going and keeps me above 300dps on single targets.  I was the one to create the post about the seal line, and I can say that I think resists have been somewhat ADJUSTED.  I dont' know if this has to do with the seal line being "fixed", or if they just lowered resists on everything in general.  However, at 58 I was hitting level 65's (not reliably by any means, usually 2 in 5 spells landed) with casting ability around 330 being buffed by myself (+27) and a troubador's dove song (+23 I think).  Again, I believe I have noticed a difference with these two buffs turned off and then on, but resists and damage are so random now it's almost too hard to tell. <div></div>

[VentoCurat]

<DIV>Use vivid seal, there's your answer.</DIV>

[Kaeylum]

I realize this will get me flamed to no end for not having any data, but screw it. I'm a lvl 57 warlock and i go to the poets palace every night. I have done the zone without SOET, and i have done it with SOET. Now, based on just my OBSERVATION(once again no hard evidence) I hit the lvl 60+ mobs much more consistantly when i'm using SOET. So take that for what u will. I'm happy with the spell. Of course i wish i had a better explanation of what it does, but just based on empirical evidence, it's A OK in my book.

[Mailvaltar]

<DIV>Yep Kaeylum, same here. We were killing giants in PoF three hours straight, first half without, second half with Soet. It definetely does make a difference!</DIV> <DIV>I'm glad I chose it as training spell at 54!</DIV>

[Victicu]

<P>I'll give you a straight answer on our seal buff.</P> <P>.</P> <P>.</P> <P>.</P> <P>It sucks.</P>