I tend to agree with this. 10 seconds really isn't that much (enough for 1
casting at least, but depending on distance away and which spell you cast
may not be enough for 2). If this was too much then they could have it that
we only get the guaranteed 10 seconds on mobs that are the same level or
below. If we try to root a yellow or red the 10 second guarantee is not
valid.
My main gripes (I don't have many) are that like Alhassim stated, our
utility spells really arent very useful. I can think of maybe 2 times that
shadowstep has saved my life (out of the 15 times I have tried it when in
big trouble), and not once has fade helped at all (and believe me I tried).
If they want to make fade completely useless, at least allow shadowstep to
help us by giving it a minimum distance of teleport (at least enough to
where we can start running rather than just end up behind the monster and
get hit immediately). If we are supposedly the masters of teleport spells
then why the heck is shadowstep and fade so random? Ok maybe these lower
circle spells should be a little random as we are low level and maybe not
very good at wizardry yet, but how about having a 4th or 5th circle spell
upgrade from shadowstep to a spell that will reliably teleport us a decent
distance in a fairly straight line in the direction we are facing? Look at
it this way by level 20 we have the knowledge to teleport our WHOLE group to
a distant location, yet we still cant teleport ourselves a mere 100 yards
with any reliability? The fade --> shadowstep series needs another --> ???.
Hopefully Verant has been smart enough to include a researchable spell that
does this, but I won't hold my breath (sorry I am getting a bit cynical
here).
-Solric of the 4th circle
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Morrison [mailto:
ken.morrison@...]
Sent: Monday, May 17, 1999 4:22 PM
To:
eq_wizards@onelist.com
Subject: [eq_wizards] Wizards -R- US
Well I think we all realize that Verant seems to have done a pretty good job
balancing the classes. It is also evident that they have slanted the whole
game towards grouping...which makes perfect sense. It is an online, social
game. If all one wants to do is solo, go play another game, like Might and
Magic or a similar game. Fine, no problem, everyone understands that.
My point, and one which someone has no doubt made before is, that you cant
always go on at the same time as your regular group of close friends, or you
cant always find a "good" bunch of people to spontaneously group with.
Therefore, there SHOULD be some kind of provision for ALL classes to be able
to solo fairly effectively. What I am not saying is Verant make Wizards
powerhouses, just revamp the "utility" spells that are supposed to be
helpful, but which arent.
Take, for instance, the Root spell (again). Having a set minimum time limit
to it, even for 10 seconds, doesnt really greatly enhance its effectiveness
for grouping, but makes a HUGE difference for soloing. In a group, if you
ever cast it at all (and what would be the point, assuming you have some
warriors) it would be a waste of mana because the warriors are there to take
punishment and taunt the mob to keep it off of spellcasters. If the mob
runs, sure cast Root (or just blast and finish it for a more spectacular
finish ;-), if you have mana left, and the warriors finish it anyway, which
will be in way under 10 seconds, guaranteed. While soloing, if my Root only
lasts for 1 sec, why did I even bother casting it at all. Didnt help me and
I could have used the mana to blast it for a free shot at first or to get a
head start running.
Just seems to me that Root, Fade and Shadowstep are ALMOST insultingly
useless spells because of lazy programming. Seems like they got away with
generating some random numbers for spells and are happy that no one is
complaining that much.
Alhassim 8th (happily creeping up on 9 by soloing and grouping!) Erudite
Wizard of E'ci
P.S. (And I dont care about the creatures willpower or magic resistance,
who says Root isnt an impenetrable dome of force that traps it physically
rather than mentally.)