I've heard that wizard's have numerous builds. From wands to even axes?? But i dun get it why wld a wizard in d3 want to equip a melee item. Wldnt u prefer something that cld give u mana like a wand and orb so u can use many skills. I mean using an axe and spectral blade is sort of weird. U wld have pumped all stats on intl right? So u wont even have life to tank damage when ur up close to an enemy...
On top of what people have said so far, I want to equip because, well I want to?
My Diablo experiences have always been more fun playing builds that people think wouldn't work, not that a melee wizard is any kind of stretch of imagination.
After recent stats changes there wont be wizards with melee weapons, even if its "melee wizard". They will benefit from their stats (int), as melee classes benefits from their (str, etc).
I was pretty sure you'd be able to find melee weapons with +Int on them. I've seen some crafting videos that support this, dropping axes with the +int affix.
all abilities from every class now rely on weapon damage, which is why casters now might want axes. i dont mind the change, i just wish they would add extra incentive to use the class-only weapons. most likely they will have less damage. though i suppose if they add +x% to wizard/witch doctor damage like before, it would work out perfectly
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(this build was before D3 launched... looking back on it now - i had no idea what i was doing)
After recent stats changes there wont be wizards with melee weapons, even if its "melee wizard". They will benefit from their stats (int), as melee classes benefits from their (str, etc).
I was pretty sure you'd be able to find melee weapons with +Int on them. I've seen some crafting videos that support this, dropping axes with the +int affix.
this. my wiz has an AXE with x17 int on it. (i made it) lawlz
all abilities from every class now rely on weapon damage, which is why casters now might want axes. i dont mind the change, i just wish they would add extra incentive to use the class-only weapons. most likely they will have less damage. though i suppose if they add +x% to wizard/witch doctor damage like before, it would work out perfectly
it has been said they are doing this. and adding affixes that add x specific skill dmg
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"once the pretty hardcore gamers we had testing inferno found it fairly difficult, we then we doubled it" -trolololol jay wilson
all abilities from every class now rely on weapon damage, which is why casters now might want axes. i dont mind the change, i just wish they would add extra incentive to use the class-only weapons. most likely they will have less damage. though i suppose if they add +x% to wizard/witch doctor damage like before, it would work out perfectly
They are in the process of adding a bunch of skill-specific modifiers to the game (probably something like "+X damage to Cleave" and things like that). I wouldn't be surprised if these affixes were restricted to the class specific weapons and armor. The "normal" items would still be pretty good, but the absolute best would be class-specific items with bonuses to your favorite skills.
After recent stats changes there wont be wizards with melee weapons, even if its "melee wizard". They will benefit from their stats (int), as melee classes benefits from their (str, etc).
I was pretty sure you'd be able to find melee weapons with +Int on them. I've seen some crafting videos that support this, dropping axes with the +int affix.
Then its caster weapon, regardless of shape of the weapon. So it depends what people mean by "melee weapon", to me its with stats worn by melee class like Barbarian. Before stats change we actually could do that, now we cannot, i.e. "we can" but not with much use. Every class has its own stats now.
Surfing these fora has taught me that I don't understand most people's definition of a Melee Wizard. To me, it's a Wizard that uses close range attacks and carries a short-range weapon for hitting people with. Just to avoid my own confusion, were there stats that Barbarians and Melee Wizards used before that normal Wizards didn't? That might make sense, I guess, but to me a Wizard is a spell caster whether or not they fight in the melee or from a distance, which means that they need stats to make their spells stronger, not stats to make their arms stronger. Personally, I like the new stat system - I guess you're right in saying that it makes all +int weapons identical to one another except for appearance and all +str weapons interchangable, etc, but before it was worse - all classes used the same stats so ALL non-ranged weapons were the same.
I think the only change that needs to be made to make Melee Wizard a viable build is to change the passive that makes wand attacks more powerful so that it applies to all basic attacks.
On top of what people have said so far, I want to equip because, well I want to?
My Diablo experiences have always been more fun playing builds that people think wouldn't work, not that a melee wizard is any kind of stretch of imagination.
My Diablo experiences have always been more fun playing builds that people think wouldn't work, not that a melee wizard is any kind of stretch of imagination.
I was pretty sure you'd be able to find melee weapons with +Int on them. I've seen some crafting videos that support this, dropping axes with the +int affix.
this. my wiz has an AXE with x17 int on it. (i made it) lawlz
it has been said they are doing this. and adding affixes that add x specific skill dmg
They are in the process of adding a bunch of skill-specific modifiers to the game (probably something like "+X damage to Cleave" and things like that). I wouldn't be surprised if these affixes were restricted to the class specific weapons and armor. The "normal" items would still be pretty good, but the absolute best would be class-specific items with bonuses to your favorite skills.
Surfing these fora has taught me that I don't understand most people's definition of a Melee Wizard. To me, it's a Wizard that uses close range attacks and carries a short-range weapon for hitting people with. Just to avoid my own confusion, were there stats that Barbarians and Melee Wizards used before that normal Wizards didn't? That might make sense, I guess, but to me a Wizard is a spell caster whether or not they fight in the melee or from a distance, which means that they need stats to make their spells stronger, not stats to make their arms stronger. Personally, I like the new stat system - I guess you're right in saying that it makes all +int weapons identical to one another except for appearance and all +str weapons interchangable, etc, but before it was worse - all classes used the same stats so ALL non-ranged weapons were the same.
I think the only change that needs to be made to make Melee Wizard a viable build is to change the passive that makes wand attacks more powerful so that it applies to all basic attacks.
great minds think alike!