So what is the consensus on Wizards

[Arclyte]

I know that they can't compete DPS wise in a good group, but how are they solo? Do they get worse/stay the same/better in Velious?

Ports and soon to be translocs are a big plus.

[phobus]

I seem to recall there being some nice quad spots for Wizards in Velious. Cobalt Scar? Maybe others as well.

Also, once they get high enough for AE groups, there's that. Probably the fastest exp from 50-60.

[Fael]

1. They are incredibly fast leveling 34-60, with circle of force, and then pillar line starting at 51.
2. They, and rogues, do most dps for single target raid mobs (much needed for slow ae dragons).
3. In velious they drop behind rogues, and maybe rangers on non-dragon / giant bane encounters.
4. Very convenient class to have; but they can't solo well or camp things that well. So, kinda below average outside of raiding at max level.
5. i like wizards though, always have.

[Ephirith]

There are some pretty informative threads about this:

http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=88136&highlight=velious+class

Wizard: The Good - Lure spells are introduced to help you combat the insane MR of raid targets in Velious. Wizards maintain their specialty role of burning targets at 30% or so, being unmatched in DPS those last percentages of a raid mobs health. I recall Wizards being the raid heroes during some of the Velious era boss fights because of their ability to pull off a last second burnout to kill the raid mob with 8-10 people still standing. In a group setting, Ice Spear of Solist is simply amazing due to it's mana/damage ratio. Wizards, in my opinion, gain a great deal of grouping utility in Velious due to obtaining this one spell. You get translocate spells! Prepare to be bombarded with tells for people asking to be translocated. Also be prepared to pocket the tip money too! No more zoning over with your compatriots to bring them to the zones of their desire. Simply point at them and POOF, off they go.

The Bad - Outside of lure spells, Wizards are hit extremely hard in Velious. Get used to the fact (if you're not already) that a large percentage of your nukes will be resisted, in most cases, outright resisted. Also be prepared to spend an additional 5 minutes medding (on top of the 15 minutes already) to reach a full mana bar from OOM. With the newly introduced caster equipment, your mana pool should be huge and thus your time spent sitting will be even more huge, to compensate!

and

http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43914&highlight=velious+class

Melee still out-shines them, raid mobs get so many HP that you can't burn them down, and there isn't enough flowing thought gear in the game until Luclin/PoP for a wizard to really be able to provide sustained damage throughout the entire fight.

Ultimately the class will have the same shortcomings it does currently. Great raid mob dps tho!

Sure you can quad kite and blast down a mob, but in terms of meaningful solo power you can't take any of the really tough camps or mobs that the real solo classes can.

[Arclyte]

The more I read the more it seems like wizards are just petless mages with ports

Kind of sucks =\

[Psionide]

The only people who play wizards are the select few who really enjoy the class.

[Alarti0001]

There are some pretty informative threads about this:

http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=88136&highlight=velious+class



and

http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=43914&highlight=velious+class



I think the second quote puts things more accurately. Life may become better in Velious in some ways, worse in others. Better spells, but more resistance. Ultimately the class will be flawed just like it is currently. Great raid mob dps tho!

Sure you can quad kite and blast down a mob, but in terms of meaningful solo power you can't take any of the really tough camps or mobs that the real solo classes can.


Alot of the information you posted isn't accurate. Velious actually has lower resist rates on most mobs. Especially compared to Kunark raids.

[Arclyte]

I'm gonna give it a shot. I remember playing a wizard back in 2000 and liking it.

[rekreant]

Alot of the information you posted isn't accurate. Velious actually has lower resist rates on most mobs. Especially compared to Kunark raids.

^. You may not be top dps on Kael, but we have a ton of viability in Velious. This is also when the great quadding spots open up for both leveling and cash. While farming wyverns for cash may not be as good as farming Hiero cloaks or whatever other solo group camp, its still very good for straight pp earning.

Also in the here and now, raids LOVE to have wizards for their amazing burst dps. People act like its so bad cause its not sustained, but if you start nuking at 40% and kill the boss THAT much faster(high burst dps) I believe that benefit outweighs the benefit of sustained.

The only point on those old guides I might agree with is about Flowing Thought and AAs making us top dps contenders in all situations. I remember once I got all my crit aas and FT15 being able to nuke almost the entire fight.

[Swish]

Had a wizard on live around Velious/Luclin - loved it!

Had a wizard here a good while ago, couldn't get past L12 for the insane LFG time (and when a wizard PMs a tank/healer to get something going, they're usually not too enthusiastic about starting a group lol).

[pasi]

Wyverns and Bulthars are a great quad spot that will take you to 60 (and pays decently well via quest gems and tusks), just be sure to get dubious CoV faction first.

The epic (which imo is a HUGE deal for wizards) becomes a great deal easier in Velious when Cazic Thule is no longer required. Furthermore, Venril Sathir becomes a lot less contested when VSR can be spawned and (many) Kunark Legs lose significance behind PoG/PoM/Quest Armor. On the minus side, Phinigel becomes more contested due to the Strength of the Elements. Epic opens up porting back and forth with Manastone.

Velketor Robe (and to a much lesser degree, PoG/Quest Robe) gives an additional form of free damage for those without Rend Robes.

[Splorf22]

I think the real problem is that wizards are very specialized. They are fantastic on raids, can solo very well for XP in a few limited ways, good for ports, and utterly suck for everything else. In comparison classes like monks, shamans, clerics and so on are a lot more versatile.

[Arclyte]

lol, what's the deal with the al'kabor line of aoe spells?

Same damage, twice the mana and recast time of the Column line one spell tier before it

[Ele]

lol, what's the deal with the al'kabor line of aoe spells?

Same damage, twice the mana and recast time of the Column line one spell tier before it

Al'Kabor is like the mac daddy of wizards, but trolls everyone of you.

[Neryn]

The consensus on wizards is they suck so you'll struggle finding pug groups. But who cares, really?

This is a MMO. If you're nice to hang out with and know how to play, you'll get in a guild / make some friends and then you won't have to worry about pug groups. Group with your friends when they're on, quad kite when they're not.

You can't solo lucrative camps in dungeons but you can live without it. There's a lot of fun stuff to do out there with your wizard if you have the friends and the imagination.

Also, don't go anonymous once you reach 53 and get ready for "chardok AE group?" tells.

Al'Kabor is like the mac daddy of wizards, but trolls everyone of you.

QFT. Get his cap and forget all about him.

[Arclyte]

Any suggestions on where to quad from 25-30ish? I'm currently in SK killing aviaks and it seems decent

[Neryn]

Any suggestions on where to quad from 25-30ish? I'm currently in SK killing aviaks and it seems decent

Have you tried quadding mammoths in Everfrost? It's been a very long time since I was level 25-30, but I recall quadding there at some point. Exp and money was good, iirc.

[Estu]

lol, what's the deal with the al'kabor line of aoe spells?

Same damage, twice the mana and recast time of the Column line one spell tier before it

They can hit five rather than four targets at a time. Which is pretty much useless.