Do you guys feel motivated to play Wizard if there are no other planned changes for Season 2 and Patch 2.1.2?
I love the class, but I just can't play Firebird's anymore, even if it receives a major revamp like Marauder's to make it more interesting. I'm tired of a "Fire" Wizard - the whole Frozen Orb nostalgia barely lasted. And unless they introduce something that can perform at close to 3000-3500% weapon-dmg/sec, imo Firebird's will still be by far the only end-game for Wizs. Thoughts ?
Well, I think that's why a lot of players I know are waiting on the Delsere set. Firebird is the cookie cutter spec now, but there are other options for T6, they're just not nearly as fast. I still try to put random sets together (like the last iteration of my Ninja Wizard) for fun.
Devs already confirmed that the goal is to improve on the underused sets (like adding 6-piece bonuses). For wizards those would be Tal's and Vyr's, so we'll see how those get adjusted in the future.
Well, I think that's why a lot of players I know are waiting on the Delsere set. Firebird is the cookie cutter spec now, but there are other options for T6, they're just not nearly as fast. I still try to put random sets together (like the last iteration of my Ninja Wizard) for fun.
Devs already confirmed that the goal is to improve on the underused sets (like adding 6-piece bonuses). For wizards those would be Tal's and Vyr's, so we'll see how those get adjusted in the future.
Vyr's needs to buff the crap out of Archon in terms of damage and cool down reduction. imo, Archon's on kill damage bonus hurts it a LOT. Against higher grift monsters and especially guardians it's useless. I don't know why they went the on kill path with Wizards, they did it with Archon and originally firebirds as well, such a stupid mechanic for the tougher enemies, we don't need things that help us against trash mobs so why add such a mechanic on both the wizard's 'supposedly' most powerful skill and 6 piece set bonus?
Something creative (as a set bonus) could be, when you turn into Archon form, your mirror images also turn into Archon and do the same amount of damage you do. As for the damage bonus, it needs to be able to dynamically get stronger so maybe instead of on kill, make it on crit but change it from 6% to 1% (or whatever) for each crit.
Tal Rasha's I've always thought it should embrace the multi element build, so they need to add a bonus where your highest elemental damage % is applied to all elements. I recall reading somewhere that they won't drop the 8 second meteor cooldown because of server lag and screen clutter so they either apply a massive buff to meteor, or completely re design that unique bonus. Otherwise, can't see either being remotely competitive with Firebird.
Firebird is generally pretty boring, but as far as higher tier GR go and pushing the leaderboard it actually requires a great amount of skill and tactical gameplay. On that front I really enjoy it. I think Blizzard really put itself in a box with the mechanic though, because the damage output is so consistent that you basically just cast fire on everything and let things burn until death. It's really hard to offer styles of play that can be as competitively consistent.
My hope is that whoever is responsible for balancing the Wizard class will really take a look at Delseres, Vyrs, and Tal Rashas to really hone in and offer four uniquely different yet balanced levels of gameplay. Find a way to make it so that no set really outshines the other and start with Firebird as a base. Once you hone in on that, then maybe branch further out with newer sets and balancing some legendaries in the mix.
The Tal's suggestion in the post above mine seems like a no brainer. All elemental damage should equal your highest. That alone would go a huge way to improve the set. Also, no meteor casts on breakable objects.
^Holy crap, how are you getting such high ticks on the RG? Awesome job.
Snapshotted Power Pylon. First time I consciously tried to do it and succeeded.
Check the sequence starting around 9:02. Power Pylon grabbed, popped a potion (for some reason this is a catalyst). Firebird DoT is permanently increased barring changes in gear/stats. This is a known mechanic for Harrington Waistguard snapshotting. Same applies to Power Pylon. The #1 EU wizard has done this consistently in his clears.
How to maintain the snapshot and how to break it is still an ongoing research project.
Well, I just cleared GR47 without snapshotting anything so at least that's reassuring.
But I managed to successfully snapshot a Power Pylon again in the attempt before that.
It's a strange mechanic that I cannot explain. You change your stats, e.g. your offensive sheet stats (a la Harrington or Power Pylon), your Firebird DoTs get changed and when you change your other stats while the buff is active, it gets locked in somehow ("snapshot" effect). So even after the buff wears off, your Firebird DoTs still continue to tick as if you have the buff. Think of a camera and how it locks in one particular moment.
Hi Jaetch, how long did it take you to kill RG @ 47 without power pylon snapshot ?
Let's see... I spawned Blighter on my 47 clear with about 6.5 minutes remaining.
I cleared the Rift in 13:41, so that'd be a little over 5 minutes spent on the RG. I'd probably have killed it faster had there been choke points for me to use to trap the RG in place, but the majority of the fight I was kiting to find a better position.
My 46 clears usually took around 4-4.5 minutes to kill the RG. Snapshotted Power Pylon usually brings the kill time to around 1.5-2 minutes.
I've noticed little to no mention of anyone using Maximus for higher GRs? Any particular reason for this? It has served me quite well up to 36, the extra fire chain damage has been awesome when the demon hangs back and i'm still pushing forward. I don't know how much good it would do in the 40's, haven't been playing as much over the last couple months, it's been all about Hearthstone
Chain is unreliable, does not have 100% uptime, sword's APS does not affect Firebird DoT, you lose raw stats from one-hand + source combo (either lots of fire bonus using Devastator or elite damage using Sunkeeper), lose Cindercoat unless you use RoRG, which would then mean losing SOJ or Unity (recipe for utter disaster).
Maximus is like the last resort item when you have absolutely nothing else to use, which is pretty much never because you can at least craft a Devastator and likely gamble a Firebird's Eye before you gamble an ancient Maximus.
It's good for T6, though, and makes a good fashion statement if nothing else.
Do you guys feel motivated to play Wizard if there are no other planned changes for Season 2 and Patch 2.1.2?
I love the class, but I just can't play Firebird's anymore, even if it receives a major revamp like Marauder's to make it more interesting. I'm tired of a "Fire" Wizard - the whole Frozen Orb nostalgia barely lasted. And unless they introduce something that can perform at close to 3000-3500% weapon-dmg/sec, imo Firebird's will still be by far the only end-game for Wizs. Thoughts ?
Devs already confirmed that the goal is to improve on the underused sets (like adding 6-piece bonuses). For wizards those would be Tal's and Vyr's, so we'll see how those get adjusted in the future.
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Something creative (as a set bonus) could be, when you turn into Archon form, your mirror images also turn into Archon and do the same amount of damage you do. As for the damage bonus, it needs to be able to dynamically get stronger so maybe instead of on kill, make it on crit but change it from 6% to 1% (or whatever) for each crit.
Tal Rasha's I've always thought it should embrace the multi element build, so they need to add a bonus where your highest elemental damage % is applied to all elements. I recall reading somewhere that they won't drop the 8 second meteor cooldown because of server lag and screen clutter so they either apply a massive buff to meteor, or completely re design that unique bonus. Otherwise, can't see either being remotely competitive with Firebird.
My hope is that whoever is responsible for balancing the Wizard class will really take a look at Delseres, Vyrs, and Tal Rashas to really hone in and offer four uniquely different yet balanced levels of gameplay. Find a way to make it so that no set really outshines the other and start with Firebird as a base. Once you hone in on that, then maybe branch further out with newer sets and balancing some legendaries in the mix.
The Tal's suggestion in the post above mine seems like a no brainer. All elemental damage should equal your highest. That alone would go a huge way to improve the set. Also, no meteor casts on breakable objects.
Top 10 Solo Wizard Leaderboard - North America
Highest: Rank 6 // Greater Rift 42 12m40s
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how can you have 800 mil ticks on a rift guardian....
my gear is super duper and i barly get 250 mil with witching hour and trapped....
WHAT DA FUK?
(i also finished 44 in 12 min...) but What did i just see there?
Edit... should have watched more closely...
u snappshotted power pylon..
Check the sequence starting around 9:02. Power Pylon grabbed, popped a potion (for some reason this is a catalyst). Firebird DoT is permanently increased barring changes in gear/stats. This is a known mechanic for Harrington Waistguard snapshotting. Same applies to Power Pylon. The #1 EU wizard has done this consistently in his clears.
How to maintain the snapshot and how to break it is still an ongoing research project.
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However, i find this mechanic very unappealing and its a major example for whats wrong with the firebird set..
I want to clear a grift with my own power not depend on some mechanic which is reliant on the environment..
i think it should be fixed - especially because it extends the duration of the pylon to the duration of the guardian. - which should not be allowed.
In case they work correct...
but snapshotting ruins this ..
Can u explain the process to "snapshot" the pylon, or Harrington?
From what i saw i agree it is a bug and another example of the "unfair" side of GR. Hotfix?
But I managed to successfully snapshot a Power Pylon again in the attempt before that.
It's a strange mechanic that I cannot explain. You change your stats, e.g. your offensive sheet stats (a la Harrington or Power Pylon), your Firebird DoTs get changed and when you change your other stats while the buff is active, it gets locked in somehow ("snapshot" effect). So even after the buff wears off, your Firebird DoTs still continue to tick as if you have the buff. Think of a camera and how it locks in one particular moment.
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I cleared the Rift in 13:41, so that'd be a little over 5 minutes spent on the RG. I'd probably have killed it faster had there been choke points for me to use to trap the RG in place, but the majority of the fight I was kiting to find a better position.
My 46 clears usually took around 4-4.5 minutes to kill the RG. Snapshotted Power Pylon usually brings the kill time to around 1.5-2 minutes.
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May I ask what's better for higher grifts - a well rolled ancient Sunkeeper or a well rolled ancient Devastator?
I have a 3600 DPS furnace, a 2850 DPS / 28% a-SK and I'm considering changing to the a-SK or maybe craft a a-Dev.
http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Wiberg-21958/hero/35061489
Take your pick.
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Maximus is like the last resort item when you have absolutely nothing else to use, which is pretty much never because you can at least craft a Devastator and likely gamble a Firebird's Eye before you gamble an ancient Maximus.
It's good for T6, though, and makes a good fashion statement if nothing else.
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