Why would your wizard ever bother getting Meteor Swarm?

[Kobold Avenger]

Meteor Swarm is perhaps the weakest and least versatile 29th level daily spell. I don't see much of a reason for getting it, unless you specifically want a fire mage as part of your character concept. In which case, once you reach 30th level as an archmage you make that an encounter spell, and get a better 29th level daily spell.

So far with the PHBI material, you're probably better being an Ice Mage where you'll be better at damage and control, with the selection of feats from there (inflicting vulnerablity + combat advantage).

 

[Danceofmasks]

'cos you have expanded spellbook, and you get 3/3 picks.
Seriously though ... I'm a huge fan of legion's hold ... meteor swarm is abit feeble.

 

[DLichen]

Irresistable flame is pretty sweet for fire mages at least.

I already house-ruled Meteor storm to have a sustain standard: attack again (up to 3 times) rule since it stacks up so poorly with Astral Storm and Legion's Hold.

 

[Belphanior]

Meteor Swarm's weakness has been brought up quite often. It compares really poorly to other dailies of its level.

I myself houseruled the following:
On hit, add "and target is dazed (save ends)".
On miss, add "and target is dazed until the start of your next turn."

 

[DemonLord57]

Irresistable flame is pretty sweet for fire mages at least.

I already house-ruled Meteor storm to have a sustain standard: attack again (up to 3 times) rule since it stacks up so poorly with Astral Storm and Legion's Hold.

Hmm, that makes it quite a bit better. I think then I'd actually pick it as one of my two spells from that level. I'd still almost always use Legion's Hold, but then Meteor Storm would have power about comparable to Astral Storm... except for the nasty friendly fire, and that it only does fire damage, which is resisted. I think the trade-off of a larger action for damage is fair, unless you plan on using other very powerful powers (probably dailies), but most likely you wouldn't want to use more than one per encounter.

 

[drquestion]

except for the nasty friendly fire, and that it only does fire damage, which is resisted.

To be fair, by the time they hit level 29, most wizards will probably have Spell Accuracy, and even a 20 Wis would let you omit all of a typical party.

 

[keterys]

I already house-ruled Meteor storm to have a sustain standard: attack again (up to 3 times) rule since it stacks up so poorly with Astral Storm and Legion's Hold.

Not even sure you need the max 3 limitation there. At least as sustain standard. If it were minor, you'd definitely want some kind of limitation

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Meteor Swarm's weakness has been brought up quite often. It compares really poorly to other dailies of its level.

I myself houseruled the following:
On hit, add "and target is dazed (save ends)".
On miss, add "and target is dazed until the start of your next turn."

I thought about knocked prone on a hit - I mean, if you're hit by a meteor (you might fall )

 

[Doc Eldritch]

Heh, it seems almost everyone is houseruling Meteor Swarm. That says something about the spell!

My own personal houserule is that it adds:

Efftect: You can shift all targets in the area 2 squares.
Sustain: Standard

This actually lets the wizard bounce the targets into the 'center', possibly keeping them there for a second round. Thinking of adding a 'all targets are knocked prone.' portion to the end too.

 

[Cadfan]

Or it says something about the people houseruling it. It does a bunch of damage, has an enormous area of effect, and is compatible with a LOT of cool fire spell feats.

Envision it in the context of a tiefling fire mage with the appropriate feats. They'll be getting +1 attack, +4 damage, omitting allies from the area of effect, and piercing fire resistance. Plus nuking the entire battlefield.

Legion's Hold is pretty sweet, but it doesn't make meteor swarm bad.