Level 54 Master 2 thoughts .....

[Dyr]

<DIV> <DIV>I was surprised when I saw that so many people would pick the Ward as the Master 2 choice at level 54 considering that the chance of a mob resisting a spell is mostly determined by the level/quality of the spell that is being cast on it, along with the level of the mob to caster.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>From a warlock buddy considering a master root spell it was explained to him that in a given situation against a higher level mob X the chance to land a root was as follows ...... App2 16 % , Adept1 24 % Adept 3 36 % Master 2 64 % !!!!! </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If the same holds true for landing a slow this would seem to make the Slow a much more appealing consideration ...... as the ward at Adept 3 is still nice while the slow at master 2 has almost double the chance at landing and sticking. Guess it all depends on does the slow prevent more damage than the extra the ward at master 2 gives over say adept 3 .. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I dou a Mystic / Ranger 90% of the time and in the past always went with adept 3 wards and heals trying to keep my poor scout tank alive (pretty easy actually) and ignored the slows. Now however  the Master 2 Slow and Group Ward and Oberon at Adept 3 I can take name Heroics ^ with 2 buds at 3 levels above me with no trouble ....... not bad ! </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just a thought and interested in any thoughts or feedback</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV>

[Mystiq]

First of all, where is your warlock buddy getting the resist chance % that you listed? Is it something in the spell description or something he heard? As for taking Sacred Aegis as the level 54 Master 2 spell, I guess it mostly comes down to the desire to strengthen our main role, especially in a group, and getting the maxiumum benefit from our specialty healing line (i.e. wards) is the most prudent choice, whether you solo, group or raid. Naturally there are different playstyles though, and I wouldn't regard the slow choice to be out of consideration. You bring a good argument for the alternative to the ward master 2, especially since debuffs play such a huge role in the high end game now. <div></div>

[Banditman]

I still think the M2 Ward is the definitive choice.  I don't have any problem landing spells.  With a Warlock, I can understand why landing a spell is such a huge deal.  If their spell bounces, particularly root, they die.  Period. Debuffs certainly do play a large role at end game.  However, other classes debuff as well.  I think you'd find that it's a combination of debuffs from a menagerie of classes that create the overall effect that we sometimes attribute to "our" debuffs at the end game. Don't get me wrong.  Haze+Soul is a wonderful combination for damage reduction.  I just think that perhaps the picture is larger and more colorful than we realize.

[Sandain666]

I will still be going for the Ward at level 54 but you make an excellent argument. I guess if your playstyle benefits more from the slow than the ward I say go for it. Nice post by the way. Would 5 Star you if we could <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Sandain 53 Mystic <div></div>

[Evil Gandhi]

<P>I agree with the above posters.  Kudos to you for bringing up a point I never would have thought of.  That said...</P> <P>I can't wait for my Master 2 Ward <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>While end-game debuffs are very important, all the times I raided Arch Lich and Tremblar, I never once said, "Man, if I had Master 2 Haze instead of Adept 3, we wouldn't have wiped."  There's just too much-too fast there sometimes that I doubt the additional decrease in autoattack speed and combat abilities to the Mob would have saved a tank getting drilled.  In a group environment, a bigger ward means fewer wards applied, translating to less downtime & mana consumption and makes for easier application of other debuffs and DoTs, since the time needed between applications rises.  In the duo- and sometimes trio-healer role that I find myself in alot with my guild, I like a nice big ward to cover that DPS monster of a Warlock/Ranger who refuses to maintain any sort of aggro-control.</P> <P>Just my thoughts</P>

[Toob]

<DIV>LOL I got the master 1 slow spell the day I hit 54 so it was not big thing for me to take the ward.......then the next day I got the master 1 ward spell and am now thinking of a /respect and taking master 2 pox LOL the diffrence between master 2 slow and master 1 is 1% the diffrence between master 1 ward and master 2 is 46points.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Toobig</DIV> <DIV>Malice</DIV> <DIV>60 Mystic</DIV> <DIV>60 Sage</DIV>

[Mystiq]

I'm still using my master 1 Howling Haze due to the fact that I haven't upgraded many of my new spells yet beyond adept 1, which isn't always an improvment on the previous spell version if it's master 1. All of my other debuffs, save for Slothful Spirit which really debuffs nothing, are plain old adept 1's, and I generally have no problems landing them on normal mobs. Many raid mobs have high immunities though, and I can run myself down pretty low on power trying to land debuffs. The most recent example I've seen of this is with the new x2 epic orc in Clefts of Rujark...VERY resistant to disease. He hits like an anvil from the sky so I wanted to land those debuffs and maintain them as best I could.  If the spell upgrade level does in fact effect its chance to land on a mob, I might be tempted to upgrade those spells faster, despite whether the slow % or debuff value is what you'd call a worthy upgrade. Landing debuffs in tough situations makes your primary role of "Healing" a little easier, so if you are the type of player who likes their "utility" to work in tandem with their primary function, instead of just spamming heals, then taking the master 2 slow is a very viable option. <div></div>

[Krod]

Question from a new player: is there a way to go back and change your master2 choices? thanks! <div></div>

[Slinkie]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Krodah wrote:<BR>Question from a new player:<BR><BR>is there a way to go back and change your master2 choices?<BR><BR>thanks!<BR><BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>If you still have a /respec available, you can change your choices.  They just gave a new /respec due to changes in racial invis choices, so you might have one.