1) Enlarge Spell - He has a fair number fo area attacks, so boosting it's size would be helpful. Especially for fun things like Stinking Cloud. Actually the IMPI mod we just played would have been easier in the last fight(s) with this because Stinking Cloud would have blocked LOS for the baddies up top. if you know what I mean.
2) Implement Expertise (Orb) - Hitting 6th he's +9 to hit. I haven't had many problems (other than bad die rolls) with a +8 up until now. +10 vs. NADs does sound good.
I have been in many situations where having one more square on either side would have been immensely helpful. I'd like to hear what other people think about these two. Especially anyone who has played wizards are other classes with lots of Area attacks simply because I know the first gut reaction of everyoen is "take the plus to hit!"
So my Wizard just hit 6th level, and I need to pick a feat... but I'm having a hard time picking between two of them...
1) Enlarge Spell - He has a fair number fo area attacks, so boosting it's size would be helpful. Especially for fun things like Stinking Cloud. Actually the IMPI mod we just played would have been easier in the last fight(s) with this because Stinking Cloud would have blocked LOS for the baddies up top. if you know what I mean.
2) Implement Expertise (Orb) - Hitting 6th he's +9 to hit. I haven't had many problems (other than bad die rolls) with a +8 up until now. +10 vs. NADs does sound good.
I have been in many situations where having one more square on either side would have been immensely helpful. I'd like to hear what other people think about these two. Especially anyone who has played wizards are other classes with lots of Area attacks simply because I know the first gut reaction of everyoen is "take the plus to hit!"
2) Implement Expertise (Orb).
Go with this because it helps every power not just the AoEs and when your charactor does use AoEs it will allow the charactor to hit those enemies easier. This also allows Enlarge Spell to become even more dangerous because not only do your spells hit a wider area they'll hit more often.
EDIT: Featwise he has: Action Surge, Improved Initiative, Initiate of the Faith, and Dark Fury.
It is also an area burst. I'm debating retraining Phantasmal Assailant to Grasp of the Grave, but Phantasmal Assailant is great when you have a couple rogues in your group.
Grasp of the Grave will do just as much for the rogues. They might need to ready an action to attack while the target is dazed, but you're still giving them plenty of combat advantage.
EDIT: Featwise he has: Action Surge, Improved Initiative, Initiate of the Faith, and Dark Fury.
Dark Fury? The feat that gives you +1 damage with illusion and psychic powers? If you don't retrain anything else, I'd recommend losing this and using the slot to pick up both feats.
Enlarge spell is a really cool feat too, but I'd say go with the basics first.
I also think there are a lot of great lvl 10 wiz utility powers:
1. Arcane Gate - sometimes, getting all your melee characters up to 20 squares away (including potentially up castle walls or other large vertical distances) makes the difference between an extremely difficult fight or an easy one. This can be a win button, and your party members will thank you for it.
2. Blur - the +2 to all defenses is really cool, but I think the best part of this power is the enemies more 5+ squares away from you can't see you. Not only is this cool defensively but its amazing offensively. Giving yourself CA for your AE attacks can be a big deal.
3. Mass Resistance - Sometimes you'll be fighting a dragon or all undead or an elementally themed encounter, and this one spell can basically turn something very challenging into a joke. Not always amazing but frequently can be.
4. Feywild Spell surge - sometimes you really need to hit. Compare to various other classes daily utility rerolls. Depends on your build.
and several others
As for lvl 5 daily powers, grasp of the grave is ridiculous and when properly employed (esp. w/ a fighter for locking down enemies) just ends combats. It has the tendency to make DMs a bit upset I think though as it's (IMO, not looking for a debate) overpowered.
Orbmaster's is great too. Area burst knock prone is amazing (especially when fighting flyers!). Also combos very well with color spray on action point (not sure what your enc 3 is though.)
Anyways I think the theme you got going there is solid. I'm a big fan of "control wizards" as opposed to "war/dmg wizards" and I think you'll find they just keep getting more amazing (relative to other characters) at higher levels. I believe as we see groups at H3 into P1 and beyond, you start seeing "control" controllers as becoming invaluable.
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Vermunder Braudostur, level 6
Human, Wizard
Arcane Implement Mastery: Orb of Imposition
Background: High Imaskar
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 13, Dex 10, Int 19, Wis 17, Cha 11.
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 8, Con 13, Dex 10, Int 16, Wis 16, Cha 11.
AC: 18 Fort: 16 Reflex: 19 Will: 20
HP: 43 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 10
TRAINED SKILLS
Religion +12, Arcana +12, Nature +11, Dungeoneering +11, Insight +11
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +3, Bluff +3, Diplomacy +3, Endurance +4, Heal +6, History +7, Intimidate +3, Perception +7, Stealth +3, Streetwise +3, Thievery +3, Athletics +2
FEATS
Wizard: Ritual Caster
Human: Improved Initiative
Level 1: Action Surge
Level 2: Dark Fury (retrained to Enlarge Spell at Level 6)
Level 4: Initiate of the Faith
Level 6: Implement Expertise (orb)
POWERS
Bonus At-Will Power: Scorching Burst
Wizard at-will 1: Illusory Ambush
Wizard at-will 1: Ray of Frost
Wizard encounter 1: Chill Strike
Wizard daily 1: Phantom Chasm
Wizard daily 1 Spellbook: Freezing Cloud
Wizard utility 2: Shield
Wizard utility 2 Spellbook: Feather Fall
Wizard encounter 3: Maze of Mirrors
Wizard daily 5: Phantasmal Assailant
Wizard daily 5 Spellbook: Stinking Cloud
Wizard utility 6: Wizard's Escape
Wizard utility 6 Spellbook: Dispel Magic
ITEMS
Spellbook, Adventurer's Kit, Dagger, Magic Orb +2, Robe of Eyes Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) +1, Amulet of Resolution +1, Alchemical Reagents (Arcana) (30), Orb of Impenetrable Escape +2, Potion of Clarity (level 5) (2)
RITUALS
Tenser's Floating Disk, Comprehend Language, Explorer's Fire, Endure Elements, Speak with Dead, Scroll of Raise Dead, Gentle Repose, Knock
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======
I also think there are a lot of great lvl 10 wiz utility powers:
1. Arcane Gate - sometimes, getting all your melee characters up to 20 squares away (including potentially up castle walls or other large vertical distances) makes the difference between an extremely difficult fight or an easy one. This can be a win button, and your party members will thank you for it.
2. Blur - the +2 to all defenses is really cool, but I think the best part of this power is the enemies more 5+ squares away from you can't see you. Not only is this cool defensively but its amazing offensively. Giving yourself CA for your AE attacks can be a big deal.
3. Mass Resistance - Sometimes you'll be fighting a dragon or all undead or an elementally themed encounter, and this one spell can basically turn something very challenging into a joke. Not always amazing but frequently can be.
4. Feywild Spell surge - sometimes you really need to hit. Compare to various other classes daily utility rerolls. Depends on your build.
and several others
Agree - the wizard 10 utility powers are jaw-droppingly good. Let's not forget about Illusory Wall either.
I don't think that the bonus elemental damage feats are worth it until paragon, at which point the bonus is appreciable, the stat requirements less horrendous (since you got +1 to everything at paragon), and by that time you might actually have enough powers that you'll get to use it more than once or twice a combat.
Heck, I don't even like weapon focus for anyone other than a ranger before 11th.
Just my opinion, of course.
Then again, I looked through the Wiz 10 utilities and didn't see anything I liked better than Fire Shield, so maybe my thinking is off.
--
Pauper
Show
In IMPI1-4, there's two towers with 3 Arcane Ballista on top. It's, in total, 7 squares across where they are. So I drop a Stinking Cloud on them to block line of sight, not knowing about Arcane Ballista and not knowing they can jump, they just move out of the cloud and rain unholy hell down upon us while getting our butts kicked by other baddies too. Had I had enlarge spell, i could have covered the entire top and they couldnt' have fired.
So my Wizard just hit 6th level, and I need to pick a feat... but I'm having a hard time picking between two of them...
Enlarge is probably better, in that being able to hit one or more additional targets in an area effect is more effective than having an additional +1 to hit.
Enlarge is definitely flashier. Combine with Staff of the War Mage to give your DM a few serious WTF moments :D
I would say that it never seems to me that an enlarged AOE area would help, especially because powers like Stinking Cloud attacks any creatures, not just enemies.
The Orb expertise is a great all-around little boost and you should probably take it eventually.
But my Wizard uses Spectral Hound in conjunction with Distant Advantage quite nicely. Just an idea of something fun!
You need to grab Fast Runner ASAP. If you have a spare feat slot, pick up Sure Climber when you get a chance, it's a phenomenal feat with many useful applications.
I think both Enlarge Spell and Implement Expertise are overrated. Arcane Power is full of fluff feats and those two are prime examples of useless fluff.
You need to grab Fast Runner ASAP. If you have a spare feat slot, pick up Sure Climber when you get a chance, it's a phenomenal feat with many useful applications.
Hang on a second, I have those on my fighter! Doh!
Distant Advantage is something that I plan on taking before long. Reaper's Touch seems... well, if I'm in melee range than I'm doing soemthign wrong. :D Are you the other wizard from the game of IMPI1-4 at the Bookery last Saturday?
No I've never played at the Bookery. My sister lives in Dayton, and so we checked with them about playing once and was basically told the tables are full
If I'm in melee range something is definitely wrong! But my wizard is like Batman... she has a contingency for everything. Bringing up the rear has its disadvantages when you get a surprise attack! But thanks to repulsion armor, Reaper's Touch, and Wizard's escape, I never sweat the close stuff.
In fact, I think the only time that Improved Initiative is not a waste is on a rogue because of First Strike.
I think Improved Initiative is a waste of a feat. If I were you, I would retrain out of it and pick up Implement Expertise and Enlarge Spell. Problem solved.
In fact, I think the only time that Improved Initiative is not a waste is on a rogue because of First Strike.
Generally I agree. There are a few builds I've put together where I've taken Improved Initiative in Heroic Tier kind of as a place holder, to retrain out for a second Paragon feat right at level 11 (that way I don't "lose" anything important for the retrain - mostly a psychological thing I suppose).
For Wizards that like their zones, it really helps to cast a zone before your comrades get in there and make positioning tricky.
Generally I agree. There are a few builds I've put together where I've taken Improved Initiative in Heroic Tier kind of as a place holder, to retrain out for a second Paragon feat right at level 11 (that way I don't "lose" anything important for the retrain - mostly a psychological thing I suppose).
I always thought that, when you retrain a feat, you have to replace it with a feat you could have taken at the time you got that slot. So, if you take Improved Init at 6th level, you can't train it out later for anything that requires you to be higher than 6th level (such as the power-swap feat that lets you swap dailies).
Otherwise, agree with Dragon9 and sagartland -- a controller (or for that matter, a tactical leader) can generally mess with the enemy's plans a lot more by going first than by going last.
--
Pauper
I always thought that, when you retrain a feat, you have to replace it with a feat you could have taken at the time you got that slot.
Nope, you just have to qualify at the time you do the swap. The only thing you can't really do is swap out a prerequisite, such as trading out Armor Proficiency (scale) for Armor Proficiency (plate).
The relevant bits are on PH 28
"For instance, at 11th level, you gain one feat and you can also retrain one of your heroic tier feats, gaining a paragon tier feat in its place. At 12th level you can do the same, so you can potentially have four paragon tier feats at 12th level."