AngryMojo
First Post
They really are an exceptionally powerful class if played right. A wizard going nova is a terror to behold.
Best of the Best - Controllers.
- Thread starter Kzach
- Start date
Mr. Wilson
Explorer
I would have killed to have a controller in the second encounter during the RPGA D&D Open (we had a taclord, barbarian, tempest fighter, guardian fighter, and dual wield ranger, i.e. no ranged). We spent more time on that fight than we did the other two combined.
That aside, my vote goes for the Wizard as well. Invoker is next best. I've played the Druid at the Dungeon Delve, and was not impressed at all.
That aside, my vote goes for the Wizard as well. Invoker is next best. I've played the Druid at the Dungeon Delve, and was not impressed at all.
Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
The Wizard seems to have some of the best dailies, and I think they exemplify what control can all be around. Zones, Summonings and Conjurations that last the entire encounter are very strong and shape the battlefield like nothing else.
If I had a second vote, I'd give it to the (Wrathful) Invoker. I love the flavor and the abilities. He rocks.
If I had a second vote, I'd give it to the (Wrathful) Invoker. I love the flavor and the abilities. He rocks.
DracoSuave
First Post
Dunno, we have a druid in the group I run who -rocks-. Grasping Tide is awesome, and she has the ability to immobilize who she wants, making sure the battle goes -exactly- her way.
Also, she does the most damage in the team.
I'm not going to diss the 'hodgepodge' that is the Druid, who is only a HodgePodge if you go half-and-half. Specialize in human form, and you have a control engine machine of awesome.
Mr. Wilson
Explorer
It's very possible I'm prejudging the Druid because it was poorly built (along with all the other delve characters). I still think an Orbizard would be tough to top for what it wants to do.
DracoSuave
First Post
Not a fan of the Orbizard, because it takes too long to really 'mature' into something powerful. I mean, yeah, at level 21 it's great... but this isn't WoW and powerlevelling to level 21 isn't really a real option.
Builds that are great at level 30 are irrelevant, builds that are great in Heroic to Paragon are better.
Chill Wind is decent, Grasping Tide is still amazing, and Savage Rend is a good back up for ST damage.
Twisting Vines is -crazy- for terrain altering, anything you hit -has- to go through difficult terrain to get out of that spot.
Fires of Life is a swing power, and Faerie Fire is just plain good.
Tundra Wind is amazing. 2d6+W, prone, AND push Con?
Roar of Terror. Yes please. It's great if you -miss-!
Tremor, yet another prone/immob.
Sunbeam=Blinded. Guaranteed damage is good.
The thing is, yeah, a Druid doesn't get so much bonus to saving throws... but -damn- they have a LOT of Aftereffects and unavoildable consequences.
They also combo well with Rogues, better than even Wizards, cause once you're done your tricks, you can still flank.
Builds that are great at level 30 are irrelevant, builds that are great in Heroic to Paragon are better.
Chill Wind is decent, Grasping Tide is still amazing, and Savage Rend is a good back up for ST damage.
Twisting Vines is -crazy- for terrain altering, anything you hit -has- to go through difficult terrain to get out of that spot.
Fires of Life is a swing power, and Faerie Fire is just plain good.
Tundra Wind is amazing. 2d6+W, prone, AND push Con?
Roar of Terror. Yes please. It's great if you -miss-!
Tremor, yet another prone/immob.
Sunbeam=Blinded. Guaranteed damage is good.
The thing is, yeah, a Druid doesn't get so much bonus to saving throws... but -damn- they have a LOT of Aftereffects and unavoildable consequences.
They also combo well with Rogues, better than even Wizards, cause once you're done your tricks, you can still flank.
Well, as usual for me, I see a class that is NOT a controller as the best controller...
The wizards I have seen don't really control the battlefield very well, they can put the boss to sleep, or make some massive damage... but the enemies usually have enough hp or defenses to make any attacks of them from AoE's pretty pointless (except for our current Wizard, whom I think is breaking the rules everytime I see his damage, but the guy is much too honest and we have checked his #'s too... he is more striker than our strikers!
As for control, the Avenger does pretty well at it, and so does the swordmage, better than any others I have seen...
The wizards I have seen don't really control the battlefield very well, they can put the boss to sleep, or make some massive damage... but the enemies usually have enough hp or defenses to make any attacks of them from AoE's pretty pointless (except for our current Wizard, whom I think is breaking the rules everytime I see his damage, but the guy is much too honest and we have checked his #'s too... he is more striker than our strikers!
As for control, the Avenger does pretty well at it, and so does the swordmage, better than any others I have seen...
DracoSuave
First Post
Neither the Avenger nor swordmage have AoE control, nor do they get them with enough frequency and synergy to make them dedicated controllers. They get -control- which is a different story. Fighters get control as well. But that's not the same as being a Controller, just as Fires of Life doesn't make a Druid a Leader.
When the difference in damage is between (as an example) 1d6+foo and 1d10+foo, the difference there is only 2 points per hit... unless the first attack goes after multiple targets in which case the damage is -way- in the lead of the first. Even -if- you're adding 1d6.
The idea is that the Controller isn't spreading damage, he's applying slightly smaller amounts individually but greater amounts holisticly. So that controller isn't damaging that -one- enemy faster so much as while he's contributing to its destruction, his enemy's friends are going to go down that much faster when the coordinated fire reaches them.
Our druid is the heavy damage of our party, and druids aren't even the AoE masters of Controllers.
Rashak Mani
First Post
I see controllers as more of a minion control role. In fact they have few effect spells overall. Cleaning up the minion that clutter and make fighters waste precious attacks is the controlling role.
As a damage dealer my War Wizard dishes out more damage than any striker. Even if my AoE spells only hit 2 targets. So I find it strange that Orb Wizards got so many votes.
As a damage dealer my War Wizard dishes out more damage than any striker. Even if my AoE spells only hit 2 targets. So I find it strange that Orb Wizards got so many votes.
tiornys
Explorer
The Orb itself is relatively weak at low levels, but Thunderwave and Cloud of Daggers both key off of Wis, and Thunderwave in particular is one of the best at-wills for a Wizard. Add in a focus on inflicting debilitating status effects to an area over raw damage (which is pretty independent of implement choice), and you have the Wizard build that I consider a control build.
t~
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