Dragon 370 - Invoker Preview

[Rechan]

When comparing at-wills for controllers, the wizard has some issues. His at-wills focus more on damage than control. The consensus is that controllers need a little more, well, control in their at-wills than we've handed out so far.

Vanguard's lightning is what I'd see as a baseline controller at-will, with scorching burst slightly *below* baseline. That little extra bit on vanguard's lightning is precisely the kind of thing that makes controllers go - they limit/mess up the enemy's plans.

Now, this may seem pretty annoying - WotC released stuff that was too weak! However, I think it's actually a strength of the meta systems of 4e. We've never before had the ability to so clearly compare classes/roles and, when necessary, make adjustments. It's a lot easier to listen to feedback, gather hard data, and make comparisons between powers when we have a unified power scale.

So, any suggestion on how to "Improve" the Wizard's at-wills?

Can we expect to see this "fixed" with Arcane Power, introducing new Wizard At-Wills?

 

[gribble]

It's a subtle point, and in the grand scheme of things I don't think a PH 1 wizard is crippled compared to the PH 2 classes, but it is a sign of the subtle adjustments we're likely to make to the game going forward.

Interesting insight. It wasn't until I got to the last sentence that I realised you were one of the D&D design team!


From what I've seen in local play, most players think that Scorching Burst is one of the better wizard at-wills - certainly it's usually one of the two that first level wizards take (while Thunderwave is better stats-wise, it has the downside of usually being harder to use effectively and putting your wizard in harms way). Can you comment on what Scorching Burst being considered sub-par means for the other wizard powers?

Are we likely to see errataed wizard at will powers (or just wholesale better/replacement powers in Arcane Power)? Or will the wizard just languish at the bottom of the controller at-will totem pole as more controller classes are released with better at-wills?

IME, your at-wills really determine the relative power of classes, as they're the powers which are always available and generally always useful in a particular encounter...

Oh, and I agree wizards aren't "crippled" per-se, but I think they can be noticibly weaker under most circumstances... and I can see it getting worse once Druids and Invokers hit the gametable for real!

 

[Ktulu]

So, any suggestion on how to "Improve" the Wizard's at-wills?

Can we expect to see this "fixed" with Arcane Power, introducing new Wizard At-Wills?

[edit] like the guy above me, I didn't realize you were speaking to Mearls. My thoughts aren't really that important or informative, by comparison [/edit]

Ktulu

 

[Dionysos]

Thanks so much for the insights into the design thought-process, Mr Mearls!

It would be really nice to get an assurance that the Wizard will be brought up to speed in Arcane Power, so that we can know that this class won't just be left low on the power curve. Are you able to speak to that point at all?

 

[Nahat Anoj]

It's a subtle point, and in the grand scheme of things I don't think a PH 1 wizard is crippled compared to the PH 2 classes, but it is a sign of the subtle adjustments we're likely to make to the game going forward.

Thanks for the insights! While I understand the need to focus on the road ahead as opposed to what's been done in the past, I do hope that at some juncture the wizard at-wills get revisited. Here I think DDI is great, as it offers an easy way to quickly update the game (even if this makes the books go out of date!). Indeed, part of me hopes that 5e is completely electronic, so that when things are updated everyone who subscribes can get the current version.

I think it might be neat if Wizards offered a contest or article space or something to update the wizard at-wills. I'm not saying *I* could do it, but if Wizards wants to move ahead while still keeping an eye on where they've been, they do have a host of obsessive fans who would do that work for them.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

While they wouldn't be updates. I am sure we are likely to see some more controller-oriented At-Wills come Arcane Power for the Wizard.

 

[Rechan]

While they wouldn't be updates. I am sure we are likely to see some more controller-oriented At-Wills come Arcane Power for the Wizard.

Hey FS! As soon as I saw the Invoker fluff, I thought "Hmm, I wonder how FS is going to implement this into his Voodoo setting."

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Hey FS! As soon as I saw the Invoker fluff, I thought "Hmm, I wonder how FS is going to implement this into his Voodoo setting."

I have to admit this one seems like it may be a bit tougher then some to implement. But I shall, oh I shall.

I am thinking right now Invokers are going to be viewed by the common folk as, "those crazy guys in the swamps" since they will know the truth about the Loa. They will reside in the swamp away from the watchful eyes of the other fake-Loa faiths.

I am thinking refluff wise for the Powers. All the radiant energy stuff will probably be depedent on the Loa (or more likely the House of Loas), the summoning... I am not sure yet... Need to figure out some good embodiments that each Loa could take.

 

[Ander00]

I'm liking the trend for at-will powers, though I would've hoped for a few more at-wills in martial power.


cheers

 

[SpydersWebbing]

Aaaah... I love house rules. I think I'll edit a few of the wizard at wills to make them more controller-ish. Adding more targets for some powers, tacking on some additional effects, etc.