Focused Casting

[housto]

At the end of our class-specific Hastenings AA tree is Focused Casting.  It says that it lasts for 15 seconds, and when used, "your casting and recovery speeds are doubled and you are unable to be interrupted.  While entranced in this manner, you are unable to move."  Does that mean that a spell that normally takes 2 seconds to cast with a cooldown of 8 will take 1 second to cast, recastable in 4, or 4 seconds to cast, recastable in 16?Thanks!<div></div>

[Legaroth]

if thats the exact wording it should DECREASE cast time and recast timer..so.. if x cast time gets doubled, time doubles ending up in higher cast times.. bad :pbut if x cast speed gets doubled, the speed at which you perform it gets higher, which is good<div></div>

[Ibunubi]

<DIV>When you read "casting speed" just think of "attack speed," but for casters.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This AA makes you cast super fast. I play on a PvP server, and my friend went down Aftershocks first. He didn't like it so much, so he went down Focused Casting, and he loves it. He can now get Rift, Apocalypse, and whatever else casted long before the duration expires and with NO interruptions at all. Not to mention the prior AA's increase your single target DPS.</DIV>

[Hellswrath]

<DIV>Agreed.  This ability rocks.  On beta I maxed this line and went through nearly every spell on my hotbars before the duration was up.  It was nuts. =).  Of course this will lead to aggro problems if used unwisely, so I recommend going down protections line as well for the aggro control help.</DIV>

[Zithromat]

According to the way it is read.While under this effect your <b>casting</b> and <b>recovery</b> times are <font color="#ff0000"><u>doubled</u></font> and you are unable to be <font color="#6633ff">interrupted</font>.  While entranced in this mode you are <u><font color="#ff0000">unable to move</font></u>.The way I see it is there are two cons and one pro.  The pro is you cannot be interrupted while everything takes longer to cast.  That is how I read it at first glance.  I hope you are all right that everything is faster!  Since I have read this post I am going to give it a second chance.Othethia70 Warlock - Mistmoore<div></div>

[Epictetus]

Thats it, im buying the expansions today. I know there has been a lot of moaning about the warlock AA lines, but after reading this i think i will be spending the 80 odd dollars just to get access to em. (wont be able to use much of the other stuff as i play with people that dont have any expansions at all). <div></div>

[Jaroth Cloudwalk]

I have the ability and it does let you cast and recover in half the time, you cannot be interupted unless you get knocked back at which point you will be rooted where you land.

[Worrick]

<DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Zithromat wrote:<BR>According to the way it is read.<BR><BR>While under this effect your <B>casting</B> and <B>recovery</B> times are <FONT color=#ff0000><U>doubled</U></FONT> and you are unable to be <FONT color=#6633ff>interrupted</FONT>.  While entranced in this mode you are <U><FONT color=#ff0000>unable to move</FONT></U>.<BR><BR>The way I see it is there are two cons and one pro.  The pro is you cannot be interrupted while everything takes longer to cast.  That is how I read it at first glance.  I hope you are all right that everything is faster!  Since I have read this post I am going to give it a second chance.<BR><BR>Othethia<BR>70 Warlock - Mistmoore<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>You are incorrect, it has 1 con and 2 pros</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Pros:</DIV> <DIV>Doubles <STRONG>Casting Speed = Faster Casting</STRONG></DIV> <DIV>Can not be interupted.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cons:</DIV> <DIV>you are rooted in place.</DIV>

[TheStateFish]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Worrick wrote:<BR> <DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Zithromat wrote:<BR>According to the way it is read.<BR><BR>While under this effect your <B>casting</B> and <B>recovery</B> times are <FONT color=#ff0000><U>doubled</U></FONT> and you are unable to be <FONT color=#6633ff>interrupted</FONT>.  While entranced in this mode you are <U><FONT color=#ff0000>unable to move</FONT></U>.<BR><BR>The way I see it is there are two cons and one pro.  The pro is you cannot be interrupted while everything takes longer to cast.  That is how I read it at first glance.  I hope you are all right that everything is faster!  Since I have read this post I am going to give it a second chance.<BR><BR>Othethia<BR>70 Warlock - Mistmoore<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>You are incorrect, it has 1 con and 2 pros</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Pros:</DIV> <DIV>Doubles <STRONG>Casting Speed = Faster Casting</STRONG></DIV> <DIV>Can not be interupted.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cons:</DIV> <DIV>you are rooted in place.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>If you are moving you aren't casting, and it's a short term buff.. no con in the root while its up.

[Hellswrath]

3 Pros, btw. :smileywink:  Faster Casting, Faster Recovery, No interrupts.  And Prof is dead on about the inability to move not really being much of a con, since you wouldn't be able to cast while moving anyway.

[EmberX]

Yeah, I'm a big fan of this achievement.One small point though - the 'cannot be interrupted' is partially lying - certainly you are not interrupted by most hits, but some interrupts still get through - I've been interrupted while using this probably a dozen times now.  I'm assuming it's just a wrestle between certain enemy interrupting skills vs this achievement's 'cannot be interrupted' ...E<div></div>

[Zithromat]

thanks everyone for replying.  I'm definately going to move my aa's around and try it.  You all see where the description can be confusing right?  Even that hate gain spell is confusing haha. increases or decreases the hate gain or loss??? [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] kind of wording is that???   <div></div>

[Groma]

<div><blockquote><hr>Zithromat wrote:thanks everyone for replying.  I'm definately going to move my aa's around and try it.  You all see where the description can be confusing right?  Even that hate gain spell is confusing haha. increases or decreases the hate gain or loss??? [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] kind of wording is that???   <div></div><hr></blockquote>Taunts taunt more, and detaunts detaunt more.  So if your Vullian decreases by 2k, it will decrease by 2300 with that ability.  If a taunt increases by 2k, same thing.</div>

[Pilgrim Divine]

i have 21 AAs in the warlock tree which i had put into protection. I respecced and put them into hastenings instead. Its truly a great boost and lots of fun. Im definately keeping this line.  i know im going to get almost my entire collection of spells out , including concussive, in that fifteen seconds whilst others are still casting 2-3 spells at most. For grps, this is sooo satisfying and great fun, not tried it in a raid tho yet.<div></div>

[Keitho]

<div><blockquote><hr>HellsWrath99 wrote:<div></div>3 Pros, btw. :smileywink:  Faster Casting, Faster Recovery, No interrupts.  And Prof is dead on about the inability to move not really being much of a con, since you wouldn't be able to cast while moving anyway.<hr></blockquote>trying kill a raid mob  ..has knock  back or aoe  gotta time  it just right knock back  right away  your ooted  away from  mob cant caste waste of spell ..    aoe  you rooted bam 1 shot dead :/love it though</div>

[Hellswrath]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Keithoth wrote:<BR> <DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> HellsWrath99 wrote:<BR> 3 Pros, btw. :smileywink:  Faster Casting, Faster Recovery, No interrupts.  And Prof is dead on about the inability to move not really being much of a con, since you wouldn't be able to cast while moving anyway.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE>trying kill a raid mob  ..has knock  back or aoe  gotta time  it just right knock back  right away  your ooted  away from  mob cant caste waste of spell ..    aoe  you rooted bam 1 shot dead :/<BR><BR>love it though<BR></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Yeah.  This will be one of those spells you have to be carefull with raiding.  You should be relatively safe if you time it around the AE's and stick with single target spells or are fighting only one mob.  But you already got that, I'm sure.  :smileywink:  Unfortunately, I'm still trying to finish off my protection line for Vacuous before I go for this one.  I'll get it soon enough though.  Loved this spell when I got to play with it before!

[Darlion]

<DIV>On another note... this spell is bugged, you can still be knocked back, and this will interupt your spell. You can also be interupted at strange times for no reason that I've been able to find, perhaps effects that actually interupt, but damage itself doesn't seem to interupt.</DIV>

[Groma]

knockback interrupts and knocks you back while rooted.  Also, stuns will interrupt(well freeze) your casting until the stun wears off.  Freedom of Mind potion takes care of the second one of these, so basically a knockback is the only thing that can prevent you from casting. In pvp, a full group ran up on me last night.  FCed, ApocaRifted followed by a Void Absolution was a complete wipe for them, dead grp in 7 seconds. Love this spell, when used properly it can be devistating, if you use it at the wrong time it will get you killed promptly <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>

[Darlion]

<DIV>Since this spell has a con... shouldn't it really be toggle-able? Really irritating to have to go to my spells, and cancel if it my target goes out of range.</DIV>

[Phineus]

 Wardens have an aa line that makes you immune to knockback as a group ae buff. Im gonna try it with this line and see if it cuts the interupts down.

[IllusiveThoughts]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> houstone wrote:<BR>At the end of our class-specific Hastenings AA tree is Focused Casting.  It says that it lasts for 15 seconds, and when used, "your casting and recovery speeds are doubled and you are unable to be interrupted.  While entranced in this manner, you are unable to move."  <BR><BR>Does that mean that a spell that normally takes 2 seconds to cast with a cooldown of 8 will take 1 second to cast, recastable in 4, or 4 seconds to cast, recastable in 16?<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>soe math works like this</P> <P>2 sec spell with 50% haste = 2 / 1.50 = 1.33s cast time</P> <P>8 sec recast with 50% haste = 8 / 1.50 = 5.33s re-cast time.</P> <P> </P> <P>while you and I and the rest of the world calc a 50% bonus as 2 * .50 = 1 soe does not.</P> <P>factor this in when you take this ability.</P>

[Worrick]

<DIV><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> IllusiveThoughts wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> houstone wrote:<BR>At the end of our class-specific Hastenings AA tree is Focused Casting.  It says that it lasts for 15 seconds, and when used, "your casting and recovery speeds are doubled and you are unable to be interrupted.  While entranced in this manner, you are unable to move." <BR><BR>Does that mean that a spell that normally takes 2 seconds to cast with a cooldown of 8 will take 1 second to cast, recastable in 4, or 4 seconds to cast, recastable in 16?<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>soe math works like this</P> <P>2 sec spell with 50% haste = 2 / 1.50 = 1.33s cast time</P> <P>8 sec recast with 50% haste = 8 / 1.50 = 5.33s re-cast time.</P> <P> </P> <P>while you and I and the rest of the world calc a 50% bonus as 2 * .50 = 1 soe does not.</P> <P>factor this in when you take this ability.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><BR>It's all about the wording. In EQ2 haste increases speed so that 2 sec spell with 50% haste = 2 / 1.50 = 1.33s cast time is the only correct way to do it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If Haste was defined as reducing casting time, then 2 * .50 = 1 would be the only correct way.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I belive sony uses castign speed for all percentage bases modifiers, and uses reduction in cast time in flat modifiers.</DIV>

[IllusiveThoughts]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Worrick wrote:<BR> <DIV><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> IllusiveThoughts wrote:<BR> <BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> houstone wrote:<BR>At the end of our class-specific Hastenings AA tree is Focused Casting.  It says that it lasts for 15 seconds, and when used, "your casting and recovery speeds are doubled and you are unable to be interrupted.  While entranced in this manner, you are unable to move." <BR><BR>Does that mean that a spell that normally takes 2 seconds to cast with a cooldown of 8 will take 1 second to cast, recastable in 4, or 4 seconds to cast, recastable in 16?<BR><BR>Thanks!<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>soe math works like this</P> <P>2 sec spell with 50% haste = 2 / 1.50 = 1.33s cast time</P> <P>8 sec recast with 50% haste = 8 / 1.50 = 5.33s re-cast time.</P> <P> </P> <P>while you and I and the rest of the world calc a 50% bonus as 2 * .50 = 1 soe does not.</P> <P>factor this in when you take this ability.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><BR>It's all about the wording. In EQ2 haste increases speed so that 2 sec spell with 50% haste = 2 / 1.50 = 1.33s cast time is the only correct way to do it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If Haste was defined as reducing casting time, then 2 * .50 = 1 would be the only correct way.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I belive sony uses castign speed for all percentage bases modifiers, and uses reduction in cast time in flat modifiers.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>what I was pointing out is that the average joe (which i seem to be part of) does not know that the math works this way unless its first explained to them. (i learned the math from the very first posts from the predetors in early KOS --mostly assasins, about their final str aa line that supposed to reduce re-use by 50%, but was only reducing 15 min re-uses to 10 min instead of 7.5 min)</P> <P>what typically happens, is they choose an ability that says 50% haste(or some arbitrary #), and somewhere down the line notice they aren't getting stated % of haste, and file /bug reports.</P> <P>In my entire life I never had to use math such as the one soe uses in this game for calcing haste bonuses.  </P>

[Binabink]

I'll bet those assassins were upset when they found out that 100% melee haste didn't attack infinitely fast.  But yes, the wording on all of those suck. I always forget which wording means it lowers the 0.5 sec delay between spells and which one lets me cast the same spell again sooner.<div></div>

[Hellswrath]

Except the spell description doesn't say 50% haste at all.  It says doubles the casting speed.  I don't have the ability yet in live, so I can only go with what I remember from messing around with it in beta, but it seemed like it was indeed twice as fast on even the shorter cast time spells.  However, I spent most of my time using it for the longest cast time spells anyway, so I could be wrong.  Does anyone have some proof of this either way?  If so, please post it.

[Araxes]

<div></div>In warlock tree :10 to Magi's Shielding (duh)5 to Concussive (duh)1 Vacuous (15% to hate decrease or taunt increase groupwide)4 to each of the 5 Hastenings (not including Dark Infestation - what's the point?)1 Focused CastingAGI line of Sorcerer tree 4 per each rank (8 in 4th ability; 1 in final ability)INT line of Sorcerer tree 4 per rank  (8 in 4th ability)redistribute remaining Warlock points as you like (Explosives or Hastenings)===Badass warlock with uber fast cast times and virtually NO hate generation ... === mass damage.<div></div><p>Message Edited by Vicontessa on <span class=date_text>12-26-2006</span> <span class=time_text>11:43 PM</span>

[Keitho]

<div><blockquote><hr>Vicontessa wrote:<div></div>In warlock tree :10 to Magi's Shielding (duh)5 to Concussive (duh)1 Vacuous (15% to hate decrease or taunt increase groupwide)4 to each of the 5 Hastenings (not including Dark Infestation - what's the point?)1 Focused CastingAGI line of Sorcerer tree 4 per each rank (8 in 4th ability; 1 in final ability)INT line of Sorcerer tree 4 per rank  (8 in 4th ability)redistribute remaining Warlock points as you like (Explosives or Hastenings)===Badass warlock with uber fast cast times and virtually NO hate generation ... === mass damage.<div></div><p>Message Edited by Vicontessa on <span class="date_text">12-26-2006</span> <span class="time_text">11:43 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote>FYI Dark Infestation isnt part of Hastening  line ....    btw   ... Not wasting my time with deagro=== Even Bad Asser  <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Warlock  with a Great raid set up and tank with virtually no agro</div>

[Raidi Sovin'faile]

<div><blockquote><hr>HellsWrath99 wrote:<div></div>Except the spell description doesn't say 50% haste at all.  It says doubles the casting speed.  I don't have the ability yet in live, so I can only go with what I remember from messing around with it in beta, but it seemed like it was indeed twice as fast on even the shorter cast time spells.  However, I spent most of my time using it for the longest cast time spells anyway, so I could be wrong.  Does anyone have some proof of this either way?  If so, please post it.<hr></blockquote>A gold star for you. <span>:smileyhappy:</span>It does indeed say "doubles your casting speed" and for that reason it does not give only 50% increase.. it in fact gives 100% increase to both casting speed and reovery speed.And for those confused on the wording.. they say "increases casting speed", ie, increases how quickly you cast. If it were the other way around, they'd say "increases casting timers", ie, increases how long it takes to cast. Crucial distinction here.Not only does the spell actually make your cast time into half what it normally is in the display, but if you also have one of those UI mods that has the cast speed/recovery indicators in it, you'll see it show up as 100% for both.I had shelved my warlock for some time now (shortly after KoS, only had 3 AA's), but when I looked over this spell recently, I boxed my wife's lowby char and burned through steamfont quest lines, and a couple quest lines I hadn't finished in sinking sands, and got the 21 points I needed to grab it. Wonderful spell, and actually quite a nice line overall.My soloing has definately found improvement with this... all those single target encounters aren't such a pain anymore. 2s cast, 3s recast Soul Blister now.. and it has damage increased. I'm tossing that sucker in between nearly every spell I cast now.</div>

[Gnomie]

<DIV>I dont know soulbringer... after looking at your rank on the worldwide warlock rankings lol. Only a few bot warlocks beat your death count rofl!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>giot 70 warlock</DIV>

[Keitho]

<div><blockquote><hr>Gnomie wrote:<div></div> <div>I dont know soulbringer... after looking at your rank on the worldwide warlock rankings lol. Only a few bot warlocks beat your death count rofl!</div> <div> </div> <div>giot 70 warlock</div><hr></blockquote>my dewath count is VERY low ...I transfered  servers from Nektulos to Kithicor  thus resetting my Death Count .. i had like 5k over there + i think not sure</div>

[Hellswrath]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Keithoth wrote:<BR> <DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Gnomie wrote:<BR> <DIV>I dont know soulbringer... after looking at your rank on the worldwide warlock rankings lol. Only a few bot warlocks beat your death count rofl!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>giot 70 warlock</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>my dewath count is VERY low ...I transfered  servers from Nektulos to Kithicor  thus resetting my Death Count .. i had like 5k over there + i think not sure<BR></DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>rofl, nice Soul!  Now that's a warlock ranking to be proud of.  :smileyvery-happy:</P> <P>As far as the AA set up, I was planning for exactly what Vicontessa was talking about, although I might throw some of those Magi Shielding points into reduced deaggro cast time.  Still on the fence on that one.  Does anyone know the final ward tally for maxed Magi Shielding off hand?</P>

[Binabink]

564 according to a thread in the wiz forums.336 for Ward of Sages.<div></div>

[Melseb]

Here is my warlock AA setup. Hastening stacks very very well with AGI sorc line. I cast many more spells per fight.Hastenings:3 blister3 scourge5 pyre 5 thwart5 distortionFCExplosive:5 chastorm5 absolution5 apocalypse5 riftAftershockProtection:3 mage shielding4 vulian interferenceDaenarys70 WarlockMob SquadKithicor<div></div>