Wizards: Need more Constitution-affected powers.

[DracoSuave]

Every time I look at Staff of Defense, it seems to get better and better to me.

I want to see someone build a half-elf or dwarven (!) wizard, so that they can get that tasty staff action going.

Now, I know what you're saying... 'Staff is suck!'

But then I look at you taking Shield as your Utility ability. Now, Shield is all kinds of good. I don't disagree with you.

But... if you look at Staff of Defense--

With a 16 Constitution, it is better than shield!

But, noob, you might say, shield gives you +4 AC as immediate interrupt!

But, noob, I reply, Don't Hit Me Stick gives you +1 AC to start... and then as immediate interrupt, you'd get +3, giving you the same AC bonus.

The -difference- however, is that Don't Hit Me Stick's interrupt isn't because of the hit-roll. No. You get to decide after the damage is rolled. It makes that huge damage roll that just smacked you... disappear!


So... Staff might not be as suck as you think, Shield-using mages.

It's only downside is the fact that no Wizard abilities key off of Constitution, except for one of the Blood Mage Paragon Path's.

So... if there were more, would this impliment be decent in everyone's eyes?


PS: Shield AND Stick is also good for DGH.

 

[Bolongo]

The -difference- however, is that Don't Hit Me Stick's interrupt isn't because of the hit-roll. No. You get to decide after the damage is rolled. It makes that huge damage roll that just smacked you... disappear!

Well... Shield also prevents the damage. A nitpicky DM could rule that you have to activate the Shield after the attack roll but before the damage roll, so you wouldn't know exactly how much damage you stopped. But in practice, I would never be that anal about it.

 

[DracoSuave]

Well... Shield also prevents the damage. A nitpicky DM could rule that you have to activate the Shield after the attack roll but before the damage roll, so you wouldn't know exactly how much damage you stopped. But in practice, I would never be that anal about it.

The difference is the Shield reacts to the attack roll, whereas the Can't-Touch-This-Stick -specifically- reacts to the damage roll (other powers also react to the damage roll, specifically). Nitpicking is more than allowed regarding this important difference, and something I'd do after the first time.

 

[Bolongo]

The difference is the Shield reacts to the attack roll, whereas the Can't-Touch-This-Stick -specifically- reacts to the damage roll (other powers also react to the damage roll, specifically). Nitpicking is more than allowed regarding this important difference, and something I'd do after the first time.

You really think it's that big a difference? OK, be my guest and enforce it then.

BTW, I'm not arguing against your main point. I think staff wizards are good, too, I'm just not sure superiority vs. Shield is a good linchpin for your position.u

 

[DracoSuave]

You really think it's that big a difference? OK, be my guest and enforce it then.

BTW, I'm not arguing against your main point. I think staff wizards are good, too, I'm just not sure superiority vs. Shield is a good linchpin for your position.u

It's rather the ability to save it until after you know what the attack does to you. So if the DM rolls a 1 for damage you can not bother with it, but when you decide not to block with the shield and the DM rolls a lucksack 50 points of damage you can make the decision then.

It isn't really that Stick is the best over Ball or Laserpointer, it's just Stick gets very little respect from the same mages that say Shield is a must-have defense.

My point isn't to take Stick -instead of- Shield, but rather, if you're taking Shield, then Stick is a valid option that'll free up one of your Utilities.... or if you prefer, be Shield Zero. (cause it's slightly better than Shield, it gets a lower number out of primogenship)

 

[Ravingdork]

My newest character uses both the Shield spell AND a Staff of Defense. Oh waht a sweet, sweet armor class rating! [Cool]

 

[DracoSuave]

My newest character uses both the Shield spell AND a Staff of Defense. Oh waht a sweet, sweet armor class rating! [Cool]

Shine on you Crazy Diamond! Always make sure you -watch- the DM every time you completely ignore one of his HITS OF DOOOOOOM with your Stick.

 

[Danceofmasks]

My fav wiz build is a pyro .. maxing hitroll. Without dex, 'cos 1/encounter fails at consistent.

Tiefling, 8 str, 13 con, 10 dex, 20 int, 13 wis, 12 cha
Start with staff, pick up second implement later for orb, and all but l28 stat+ points in int + wis.
Leather + 20 int + staff = AC 18

The way I figure, spell focus is plenty strong for save penalties ... I'll just rely on maxing my hitroll to inflict those status conditions as widely as possible off the bat.
As well as picking piles of fire spells for hellfire blood.

In fact, I'm likely to prep flaming sphere over sleep at levels 2-14 .. multiple-square automatic +int bonus (+hellfire blood) to damage per turn as a sustain minor (+possible move action), in addition to scorching burst action ... err ... silly amounts of multi-target damage.

I control j00 by inflicting death condition.

 

[LowSpine]

Hopefully one of the Necromancer class' build secondary stat will be CON.

Perhaps some Blood Mage thing for the wizard, I don't know.

We have only seen the 3 cores so we don't know what they plan in the future. My guess is they will make more build options for each class and include a load of powers, in this case spells and CON, to fit the build.

So you may get your wish in an arcane handbook.

 

[Lab_Monkey]

My fav wiz build is a pyro .. maxing hitroll. Without dex, 'cos 1/encounter fails at consistent.

Tiefling, 8 str, 13 con, 10 dex, 20 int, 13 wis, 12 cha
Start with staff, pick up second implement later for orb, and all but l28 stat+ points in int + wis.
Leather + 20 int + staff = AC 18

The way I figure, spell focus is plenty strong for save penalties ... I'll just rely on maxing my hitroll to inflict those status conditions as widely as possible off the bat.
As well as picking piles of fire spells for hellfire blood.

In fact, I'm likely to prep flaming sphere over sleep at levels 2-14 .. multiple-square automatic +int bonus (+hellfire blood) to damage per turn as a sustain minor (+possible move action), in addition to scorching burst action ... err ... silly amounts of multi-target damage.

I control j00 by inflicting death condition.

I really like this build. I'm doing something similar with a human wizard, starting staff and picking up the orb at 12th. My stat array is a little different than yours:
Str 8, Con 14, Dex 11, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 12 with increases going to Int and Wis. I'll have to take a second look at the tiefling though, that 20 Int is mighty nice.