Sorc quandry, final spec and NF mezz-vs-purge

[RaiderX]

This has probably been done to death, but I've gone back
via the search mechanism and not found answers to all my
questions...


My Sorc is coming up to the point where I need to choose:

45 Body 28 Mind

- or -

40 Body 36 Mind

Let me say up front, that the majority of the time I will be
running in a caster group, debuffing for two Fire Wizzies.
That said, I'm not really happy with blue AoE Mezz.

My question really revolves around the benefits of going to
45 Body.

Pro's:
====
Red Fire Debuff
Red Spec Nuke
Red AoE Root

Con's:
=====
Blue AoE Mezz
Substandard Charm
Substandard Crack

I'm imformed that in all likelihood I will end up using the base
line Lifetap ahead of the spec Nuke. Now looking at the delve
(which I'll freely admit I don't fully understand):

Spec Nuke : 209 damage every 2.8 secs = 74.6 damage/sec
Base Lifetap: 179 damage every 2.5 secs = 71.6 damage/sec

Firstly - is there something I'm not taking into account here?

Lets assume then that since the difference is minimal, and the
maximum damage you can do is 3x Delve, I'd be missing out on
9pts of damage in total were I to get 3x Delve, I can see why
Sorcs would sacrifice the this miniscule extra damage in return
for a whole lot more utility, viz yellow AoE Mezz and a decent
personal Mezz reduction buff.

Taking into account then, that if I ever finish my SC template
I'll have +10casting speed and +25dexcap, by how much can
the casting speed drop ? (what is the hardcap?)

For the purposes of this example, lets say they hardcap it at
1sec

e.g. can you reduce casting speed by 1.5 ? (or more?)

Spec Nuke : 209 damage every 1.3 secs = 161 damage/sec
Base Lifetap: 179 damage every 1 secs = 179 damage/sec

or by 1.8secs (or more) ?

Spec Nuke : 209 damage every 1 secs = 209 damage/sec
Base Lifetap: 179 damage every 1 secs = 179 damage/sec

Thus as casting time decreases, the Lifetap gives greater dmg/time
until the hardcap.

Given my SC template will pretty much max dexcap and casting
speed - how far will I have to go with buffs/aug dex to hit the hard
cap casting wise ?

Am I missing any pertinent issues in the grand scheme of things in
the Body vs Split Sorc comparison?

------------------------------------

Can anyone suggest a good RA spread for a Sorc just below RR5 ?

------------------------------------

Given that everyone and his dog will have at least purge-I, how
effective is mezz in post-NF Zerg-vs-Zerg ... I mean RvR ?
(for roaming groups, not vs people in fortified positions).

 

[Chilly]

To answer your delve question - lifetap does do slightly more damage per second than the red spec nuke, but only marginally so. This is because of a ~5% damage increase towards but not ABOVE cap. so if you run with a cabba spec nuke will be better, especailly if you have a bit of pierce as well.

Also, when i was 46 body (ice debuff too) I nearly always used spec nuke because it uses far less power (about half as much) apart from when i was moccing against tank(s).

The hardcap of casting speed of any spell is 40% of its original delve time, so for a lifetap it is indeed 1sec, but for spec nuke its 1.12 seconds, certainly a noticable difference. At capped cast speed the animation for lifetap lags behind the actual spell casting and it can get quite confusing.

Im currently 5l9 and hace moc3, ichor1, dex3 and something else i cant remember ( i change it about 5 times a day atm)

I do NOT have purge, but iv never been a fan of purge cos i never group and take the view that if i get CCd/stunned im probably dead anyway.

Id say if your running in a debuff gorup for fire, then definately go 45b. Possibly even 47 because then you get the real caster killing purple dex debuff which is pretty fucking sick (ask fed).

I believe with 10% toa cast speed you need 380 dex to cap cast speed, but thats just a number iv seen many others use, im sure pin will correct me

 

[Javai]

So far I've found mezz to be as effective now as it was before - perhaps a little more so against Hibs who no longer have Group Purge (but its early days testing wise). Though I did have my first enounter with an mezzable SoS'ing Mids yesterday too.

I have personally found purge 2 to not be up in ~ 30% of fights so far am considering changing to purge 3 if I can bear to part with some passives (But then I'm almost rr9 so I can afford to). I don't see purge in NF (atm) being any more of a problem than purge was before in fact its slightly better because (atm) alot of low rr's are trying out rvr and they don't have purge2 sometimes not even purge1.

For a Sorc in a debuff group I think Wild Power is a must and some aug dex for cast speed is nice now that MotA no longer exists. My personal preference at the moment is for passives, though I have MoC1 which allows me to get demezzes in while under attack.

 

[RaiderX]

Wild power ahead of Master of Magery ?

 

[Painbringer]

one thing to remember there is alot more damage variance with baseline spells than spec spells, spec spells also tend to use less power.

 

[Javai]

Wild power ahead of Master of Magery ?

If you are in a debuff group with fire wizzies yes as it gives chance to get crits on debuffs

 

[Reno]

If you are in a debuff group with fire wizzies yes as it gives chance to get crits on debuffs

Regular debuffs do not crit any more, so I doubt that resist debuffs do.

Danita

 

[RaiderX]

one thing to remember there is alot more damage variance with baseline spells than spec spells, spec spells also tend to use less power.

I think I can appreciate the fact the Spec nukes use less power, but
will there be any variance if I am 40 Body +11 (items) +realmrank ?

 

[Melachi]

Since Ive never had a caster Ive never taken much interest into their workings.

However, regarding casting speed caps, I dont think its worked out like that, as in a cap at 1 second. I *think* I heard it being said that the cap is 40% of delve cast time, meaning:

Spec Nuke : 209 damage every 2.8 secs = 74.6 damage/sec
Base Lifetap: 179 damage every 2.5 secs = 71.6 damage/sec

@40% cast speed

Spec Nuke : 209 damage every 1.12 secs = 186.6 damage/sec
Base Lifetap: 179 damage every 1 sec = 179 damage/sec


My numbers could very really be wrong, but im 90% sure on the cap on cast speed being a percentage of its delve cast speed, rather than a blanket figure for all spells.

Im crap at explaining things sometimes so if you dont understand what I mean sorry

 

[Dracus]

You need 386 dex and 10% cast spd to cap casting time which you will get with aug dex3-4 dependin on where u spent ur points at creation and race.

http://daoc.nisrv.com/modules.php?name=DD_DMG_Calculator

Test it here if u like.

/Dracus