Yep. But the thing is that builds that DON'T require you to be in melee will also become much better with new gems, resulting in better progress in Grifts.
That actually depends on how much damage they can contribute and what kind of other skills the class has. It's not as simple as "if not in melee = must be better".
Given the EB buffs I'm seeing on the PTR I don't think ruling EB out entirely is warranted at the moment. Especially seeing some of the available gems.
Edit: BTW Crusader full set is actually pretty bland. Yes it's got a lot of synergy but it also places way too much emphasis on one skill (Champion), with no alternatives. Both of the Wizard sets are actually far more flexible than other class sets. If there are any issues with synergy it's that Firebird's guaranteed stats kinda suck. And that wizard legends are expected to pick up the slack for having no uber set bonuses/ while being limited i navailable number of slots (1)
What they did with firebirds adds so much versatility to the set. I can't wait to dump AT and start using it!
I just got done testing on the PTR with Mirror Ball+Firebirds and I can say things are beginning to look good for wizards.
based on what`? that you do more damage on the PTR than on live? you don't need to "test" that. it's given. but there are still TONS of problems with the wizard, i wouldn't say it does look good, especially as it looks like the devs really have no ideas on the direction in which they want to move wizards. i don't think much will change in 2.1. more damage, but the old problems keep existing (2-3 mandatory "active passives", bad coefficients since the CM nurf, bad distribution of "good" and "bad" skill (just look at our primaries), et cetera).
You posted the same crap in my other thread, have you tested the set yet?
This issue isn't whether or not the set is good, it's the core mechanics of the class. Maybe this set makes us the best class in the game in solo greater rifts; that is still not indicative of Blizzard addressing the fundamental problems with our class. It will be great if Firebird is good and gives us a viable spec or two, but that does nothing for the people who want to play cold/lightning/arcane, or anything besides MM Firebird for that matter.
I would love to see a set where the 6 piece bonus is "changes damage dealt from skills to your highest % elemental stat." Now image that I could do Mammoth hydra in arcane damage, or MM-conflag with a cold burn effect, or a lightning blizzard. It may not have synergy with Tal's set, I would be okay with that.
I just wish they would give us more abilities that deal fire damage. Seems silly the 6 set bonus only works on fire and then give us so few ways to deal fire damage (although i think every wiz would agree that it would be more fun and allow for amazing build diversity if they dropped the whole firebird set must be fire based stuff). Giving a single rune for AT/disintegrate that dealt fire damage I think would open up a lot more builds as right now while I think we scale much better we are still basically forced into mm conflag (less you have a WoW)
I agree it's frustrating for wizard that most skills have either one element or every element, which means that if you want to use certain skills you have to build certain ways. And if you want to use certain elements you have to use certain runes (even if you don't much like them).
Though I'd take a LOT more sets and uniques over changing the "focused" skills any day. It's flavorful that disintegrate is naturally only arcane, even if occasionally frustrating. Having a unique that changed it would be cool, but changing the base element spread less so.
I just wish they would give us more abilities that deal fire damage. Seems silly the 6 set bonus only works on fire and then give us so few ways to deal fire damage (although i think every wiz would agree that it would be more fun and allow for amazing build diversity if they dropped the whole firebird set must be fire based stuff). Giving a single rune for AT/disintegrate that dealt fire damage I think would open up a lot more builds as right now while I think we scale much better we are still basically forced into mm conflag (less you have a WoW)
Instead of giving the 2 major arcane spells a fire rune maybe it would make sense to grant some buffs to Arcane Orb - Scorcs, the jumping heatwave and meteor?
There are actually quite a lot of fire spells.. It's just that they all suck for some reason.
@SuchFear: Maybe you should make another thread complaining about the droprate of Wand of Woh.
I just wish they would give us more abilities that deal fire damage. Seems silly the 6 set bonus only works on fire and then give us so few ways to deal fire damage (although i think every wiz would agree that it would be more fun and allow for amazing build diversity if they dropped the whole firebird set must be fire based stuff). Giving a single rune for AT/disintegrate that dealt fire damage I think would open up a lot more builds as right now while I think we scale much better we are still basically forced into mm conflag (less you have a WoW)
Instead of giving the 2 major arcane spells a fire rune maybe it would make sense to grant some buffs to Arcane Orb - Scorcs, the jumping heatwave and meteor?
There are actually quite a lot of fire spells.. It's just that they all suck for some reason.
@SuchFear: Maybe you should make another thread complaining about the droprate of Wand of Woh.
Or not, I already did, and also, firebirds is pretty strong right now, long live wizards!
Given the EB buffs I'm seeing on the PTR I don't think ruling EB out entirely is warranted at the moment. Especially seeing some of the available gems.
Edit: BTW Crusader full set is actually pretty bland. Yes it's got a lot of synergy but it also places way too much emphasis on one skill (Champion), with no alternatives. Both of the Wizard sets are actually far more flexible than other class sets. If there are any issues with synergy it's that Firebird's guaranteed stats kinda suck. And that wizard legends are expected to pick up the slack for having no uber set bonuses/ while being limited i navailable number of slots (1)
Though I'd take a LOT more sets and uniques over changing the "focused" skills any day. It's flavorful that disintegrate is naturally only arcane, even if occasionally frustrating. Having a unique that changed it would be cool, but changing the base element spread less so.
There are actually quite a lot of fire spells.. It's just that they all suck for some reason.
@SuchFear: Maybe you should make another thread complaining about the droprate of Wand of Woh.