07-28-2003, 08:10 PM
At least until its damage bug is fixed.
Even then, it's a questionable choice. It's true that there are no prereqs or wasted points whatsoever, but one of the main problems still stands: Inferno forces you to stand still while you cast. Repeatedly disengaging and recasting will drive the damage you can do into the ground.
So, Inferno requires you to either have at least one reliable tank, or invest heavily in Str/Vit (for DR and HP) so you can stand your ground. The former can, to a degree, be taken care of by a merc, although you will have trouble against notorious merc-killers like Lister and company. The latter is something I personally wouldn't consider, not only because it takes stat points away from Energy, but also because the Sorc doesn't have the best Vit payoffs. It might be doable with a high-level cold armor and a Defiance merc, but like I said, it's not my cup of coffee.
That aside, the closer monsters get to you, the less effective "sweeping" Inferno over them becomes. Since that's one of the strong points of Inferno, it makes being your own tank even less viable in my opinion.
I have/had a Sorc with L31 Inferno, at around 1100-1200 alleged dmg/sec, who found the skill incredibly tedious and ineffective to use in Act 5 NM - but, basically, ever since she got Blizzard. At that point she had Blizzard as her secondary skill, but much to her surprise it was capable of dishing out far more death and destruction than Inferno - at roughly 1/4 of the points in the skill itself and about half the amount in synergies than Inferno.
Needless to say, I basically forgot about Inferno. To Ice Blast and Glacial Spike the skill points went; to the stash her 'Leaf' staff. (The cold-immune Sirens in the Frozen River were an interesting experience. Since Inferno failed to provide the required fire-power, I resorted to luring them away in small numbers and letting my woestaved merc stab them to death.)
Even then, it's a questionable choice. It's true that there are no prereqs or wasted points whatsoever, but one of the main problems still stands: Inferno forces you to stand still while you cast. Repeatedly disengaging and recasting will drive the damage you can do into the ground.
So, Inferno requires you to either have at least one reliable tank, or invest heavily in Str/Vit (for DR and HP) so you can stand your ground. The former can, to a degree, be taken care of by a merc, although you will have trouble against notorious merc-killers like Lister and company. The latter is something I personally wouldn't consider, not only because it takes stat points away from Energy, but also because the Sorc doesn't have the best Vit payoffs. It might be doable with a high-level cold armor and a Defiance merc, but like I said, it's not my cup of coffee.
That aside, the closer monsters get to you, the less effective "sweeping" Inferno over them becomes. Since that's one of the strong points of Inferno, it makes being your own tank even less viable in my opinion.
I have/had a Sorc with L31 Inferno, at around 1100-1200 alleged dmg/sec, who found the skill incredibly tedious and ineffective to use in Act 5 NM - but, basically, ever since she got Blizzard. At that point she had Blizzard as her secondary skill, but much to her surprise it was capable of dishing out far more death and destruction than Inferno - at roughly 1/4 of the points in the skill itself and about half the amount in synergies than Inferno.
Needless to say, I basically forgot about Inferno. To Ice Blast and Glacial Spike the skill points went; to the stash her 'Leaf' staff. (The cold-immune Sirens in the Frozen River were an interesting experience. Since Inferno failed to provide the required fire-power, I resorted to luring them away in small numbers and letting my woestaved merc stab them to death.)
And the days are not full enough
And the nights are not full enough
And life slips by like a field mouse
____________.Not shaking the grass.
-- Ezra Pound, "And the days are not full enough"
And the nights are not full enough
And life slips by like a field mouse
____________.Not shaking the grass.
-- Ezra Pound, "And the days are not full enough"