Wizard too 1-D?

skidmark · 09-13-2006, 10:00 PM

I glanced at the Wizard spell list and AA's. Does it get boring just doing a lot of damage? Is the solo wizard just a root and nuke class? In a group does it go: wait for tank to build aggro, and then unload? What kind of strategy do you have to use to be truly good wizard?I play a Coercer already, and I like the various utilitarian abilities that the coercer gets. My strongest nuke is a measly word of force from Splitpaw. I enjoy timing the stifles and dazes with stuns to keep a mob from doing much for a greater part of the battle, as well as using CC in various situations. With that said would a wizard alt offer me some utility (granted not nearly as much) with the twist of having some powerful nukes? EDIT: Oh, and I love the class hat.

Message Edited by skidmark on 09-13-2006 01:01 PM

Message Edited by skidmark on 09-13-2006 02:43 PM

valkyrja · 09-13-2006, 11:39 PM

skidmark wrote:
I glanced at the Wizard spell list and AA's. Does it get boring just doing a lot of damage? I suppose if you don't find it fun it does. Before my wiz, I played a mystic, troub and guard. Once I rolled the wizard I was hooked.s the solo wizard just a root and nuke class? More or lessIn a group does it go: wait for tank to build aggro, and then unload? For the most part yes, that is our job, to do DPS.What kind of strategy do you have to use to be truly good wizard? You have to learn how to best cast your spells based on the mob type, group makeup and other encounter variables. Thinking we just push 1-9 on our hotbar is pretty wrong, especially if you want to do good DPS.I play a Coercer already, and I like the various utilitarian abilities that the coercer gets. My strongest nuke is a measly word of force from Splitpaw. I enjoy timing the stifles and dazes with stuns to keep a mob from doing much for a greater part of the battle, as well as using CC in various situations. With that said would a wizard alt offer me some utility (granted not nearly as much) with the twist of having some powerful nukes? EDIT: Oh, and I love the class hat.
Message Edited by skidmark on 09-13-2006 01:01 PM

Thankfully, you can get a pretty good idea of if you'll enjoy a wizard or not by only playing the first 15 levels or so. Unlike lots of other classes who play way differently at 50 than they do at 15.

TheBu · 09-14-2006, 01:01 AM

aw the fun not in just nuking...

It in tring to stay alive!

There are to things we do well dps and dieing. No one can do them faster.

kajirala · 09-14-2006, 04:15 AM

TheBuzZ wrote:

aw the fun not in just nuking...

It in tring to stay alive!

There are to things we do well dps and dieing. No one can do them faster.

Necromancers are not the masters of death we are :smileytongue:

ailees · 09-14-2006, 01:13 PM

It is very difficult to see a general answer at your questions.I totally agree with Sparql and TheBuzz. We are almost pure damagers (from time to time I'm asked in raid to feed tank or healers. Usefull, but boring.. and dangerous)root, kill, do big booms (3 times 20/27K is a kind of orgasm) or cast faster than your own shadow...damage damage damage.and be happy my friend.

Didi · 09-14-2006, 01:37 PM

Wizard in a full group does tend to be pretty much the same all the time. I tend to load up a DPS parser (ACT works well) and watch it to see which combination of spells produces the best results on which type of encounter. But yeah, it's really about getting the big numbers without getting the aggro; if you don't enjoy seeing the big numbers, perhaps it's not for you.

Much more challenging, is wizard soloing; I find this more varied and more interesting. Wizards can to the single-target root-nuke-repeat tactic very well, but I find this gets boring; I prefer taking on groups of mobs with AoEs. I even went down the Battlemage (sta) achievement line for this, have an increased dodge ability, an inherent damage shield, and mitigation closer to a leather wearing class than a normal mage (more like 27% than the 17% or so I see on most other mages my level). Plus, when I do accidentally get aggro in a group, it's good fun to watch the tank get amazed when I actually manage to take a few hits without going crunchy. :smileyvery-happy:

As an earlier poster said though, try one out, by 15 or 20 (by the time you get your master II training choice for Conflagration) you should have a pretty good idea of whether you enjoy it. I have an illusionist too and I enjoy her lots also; but I really miss the way my wizard can cast just one spell and see the enemy's health just drop by a huge, visible chunk: ca-THUNK! Ah ... so satisfying! SMILEY

09-13-2006, 11:39 PM	#2
valkyrja Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 559	skidmark wrote: I glanced at the Wizard spell list and AA's. Does it get boring just doing a lot of damage? I suppose if you don't find it fun it does. Before my wiz, I played a mystic, troub and guard. Once I rolled the wizard I was hooked.s the solo wizard just a root and nuke class? More or lessIn a group does it go: wait for tank to build aggro, and then unload? For the most part yes, that is our job, to do DPS.What kind of strategy do you have to use to be truly good wizard? You have to learn how to best cast your spells based on the mob type, group makeup and other encounter variables. Thinking we just push 1-9 on our hotbar is pretty wrong, especially if you want to do good DPS.I play a Coercer already, and I like the various utilitarian abilities that the coercer gets. My strongest nuke is a measly word of force from Splitpaw. I enjoy timing the stifles and dazes with stuns to keep a mob from doing much for a greater part of the battle, as well as using CC in various situations. With that said would a wizard alt offer me some utility (granted not nearly as much) with the twist of having some powerful nukes? EDIT: Oh, and I love the class hat. Message Edited by skidmark on 09-13-2006 01:01 PM Thankfully, you can get a pretty good idea of if you'll enjoy a wizard or not by only playing the first 15 levels or so. Unlike lots of other classes who play way differently at 50 than they do at 15. __________________

09-14-2006, 04:15 AM	#4
kajirala Lord Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 372	TheBuzZ wrote: aw the fun not in just nuking... It in tring to stay alive! There are to things we do well dps and dieing. No one can do them faster. Necromancers are not the masters of death we are :smileytongue: __________________

09-14-2006, 01:13 PM	#5
ailees Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Toulouse (France) Posts: 553	It is very difficult to see a general answer at your questions.I totally agree with Sparql and TheBuzz. We are almost pure damagers (from time to time I'm asked in raid to feed tank or healers. Usefull, but boring.. and dangerous)root, kill, do big booms (3 times 20/27K is a kind of orgasm) or cast faster than your own shadow...damage damage damage.and be happy my friend. __________________

09-14-2006, 01:37 PM	#6
Didi Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 828	Wizard in a full group does tend to be pretty much the same all the time. I tend to load up a DPS parser (ACT works well) and watch it to see which combination of spells produces the best results on which type of encounter. But yeah, it's really about getting the big numbers without getting the aggro; if you don't enjoy seeing the big numbers, perhaps it's not for you. Much more challenging, is wizard soloing; I find this more varied and more interesting. Wizards can to the single-target root-nuke-repeat tactic very well, but I find this gets boring; I prefer taking on groups of mobs with AoEs. I even went down the Battlemage (sta) achievement line for this, have an increased dodge ability, an inherent damage shield, and mitigation closer to a leather wearing class than a normal mage (more like 27% than the 17% or so I see on most other mages my level). Plus, when I do accidentally get aggro in a group, it's good fun to watch the tank get amazed when I actually manage to take a few hits without going crunchy. :smileyvery-happy: As an earlier poster said though, try one out, by 15 or 20 (by the time you get your master II training choice for Conflagration) you should have a pretty good idea of whether you enjoy it. I have an illusionist too and I enjoy her lots also; but I really miss the way my wizard can cast just one spell and see the enemy's health just drop by a huge, visible chunk: ca-THUNK! Ah ... so satisfying! __________________

09-13-2006, 10:00 PM	#1
skidmark Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 486	I glanced at the Wizard spell list and AA's. Does it get boring just doing a lot of damage? Is the solo wizard just a root and nuke class? In a group does it go: wait for tank to build aggro, and then unload? What kind of strategy do you have to use to be truly good wizard?I play a Coercer already, and I like the various utilitarian abilities that the coercer gets. My strongest nuke is a measly word of force from Splitpaw. I enjoy timing the stifles and dazes with stuns to keep a mob from doing much for a greater part of the battle, as well as using CC in various situations. With that said would a wizard alt offer me some utility (granted not nearly as much) with the twist of having some powerful nukes? EDIT: Oh, and I love the class hat. Message Edited by skidmark on 09-13-2006 01:01 PM Message Edited by skidmark on 09-13-2006 02:43 PM

09-14-2006, 01:01 AM	#3
TheBu General Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 400	aw the fun not in just nuking... It in tring to stay alive! There are to things we do well dps and dieing. No one can do them faster.