11-10-2003, 01:16 PM
I agree with you in that... "feeling?" when using -dfe items with Sorcerors: I remember once when I started a Sorceror following this strategy, and I seemed unstoppable: every lvl up, I placed points into vitality to avoid the MS bug and being stunlocked, but the critters wheren't strong enough. It seemed like... cheating?. I thought young Sorcerors should be advised to follow this tactic for survival, and then develop their own style when they would be stronger (older) enough.
Well, these are some interesting and kind of fun setups. I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from playing them. But frankly, if you are going to be getting to know these monsters up close and personal, a tank mage setup is just as easy to get (if not easier) and FAR more effective. And if you plan to avoid melee contact most of the time, then most of this equipment is just taking up space that could be used for mana and resistances (and spell levels if desired).
The zen setup combines the attractiveness of the harmony suffix with two basically wasted items to gain a barely noticeable improvement. The -DFE setup is a similar deal: the Scavenger's Carapace can be worth it, and the other items are obviously worth more in combination than they are individually, but giving up an entire piece of jewelry for -2 DFE is quite a sacrifice, as is giving up half of your character's potential mana supply for -DFE. So when you say it felt like cheating, that is just the natural power of the sorcerer class. The equipment you were using was IMHO not particularly effective compared to any run of the mill sorcerer gear. A full tank mage, a tank hybrid with medium AC, or an arty hybrid with a single "of harmony" item (with Carapace as a viable armor choice) should all be easier and more effective. I would not advise a young sorcerer to look for a fullblown Zen setup, because he will need the mana items for spellcasting, and by the time he finds a Carapace he is probably not a young mage any more.
Well, these are some interesting and kind of fun setups. I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from playing them. But frankly, if you are going to be getting to know these monsters up close and personal, a tank mage setup is just as easy to get (if not easier) and FAR more effective. And if you plan to avoid melee contact most of the time, then most of this equipment is just taking up space that could be used for mana and resistances (and spell levels if desired).
The zen setup combines the attractiveness of the harmony suffix with two basically wasted items to gain a barely noticeable improvement. The -DFE setup is a similar deal: the Scavenger's Carapace can be worth it, and the other items are obviously worth more in combination than they are individually, but giving up an entire piece of jewelry for -2 DFE is quite a sacrifice, as is giving up half of your character's potential mana supply for -DFE. So when you say it felt like cheating, that is just the natural power of the sorcerer class. The equipment you were using was IMHO not particularly effective compared to any run of the mill sorcerer gear. A full tank mage, a tank hybrid with medium AC, or an arty hybrid with a single "of harmony" item (with Carapace as a viable armor choice) should all be easier and more effective. I would not advise a young sorcerer to look for a fullblown Zen setup, because he will need the mana items for spellcasting, and by the time he finds a Carapace he is probably not a young mage any more.