Opinions on Battlemage build

[kneeki]

Just so you all know, I assume that these questions are pretty basic, but I've only been playing for two days, level 12 now!
Currently, this is my build for leveling: TitanCalc by stonedonkey - A Titan Quest Calculator - Battlemage
I've been thinking of switching my points from the puney Flame Surge to the fireball deal, cause it sounds neater and a bit more fun/damage... Anyway!

1. Elemental Enhancement says it increases my elemental damage by +x%, does this affect all of my fire damage done, by my Flame Surge/Fireball and the damage done from my melee attacks?
2. Is my Core Dweller worth putting points in as I am leveling? So far, with only one point in him, he kinda sucks. However, he does hold aggro away from me (which is very good considering how easily I am killed) while I beat the crap outta stuff.
3. For leveling, would it be best to max out Elemental Enhancement & brimstone and put the rest of my pts in Warfare for melee damage? (Also, would it be wise to remove my points from Flame Surge & so forth to help make this quicker?)
4. And how viable is a Core Dweller end game w/ max pts in him?

Sorry again for the questions, but I'm hoping someone will take the time to give me a few quick tips for leveling my Battlemage =)

[Infares]

Originally Posted by kneeki

Just so you all know, I assume that these questions are pretty basic, but I've only been playing for two days, level 12 now!
Currently, this is my build for leveling: TitanCalc by stonedonkey - A Titan Quest Calculator - Battlemage
I've been thinking of switching my points from the puney Flame Surge to the fireball deal, cause it sounds neater and a bit more fun/damage... Anyway!

1. Elemental Enhancement says it increases my elemental damage by +x%, does this affect all of my fire damage done, by my Flame Surge/Fireball and the damage done from my melee attacks?
2. Is my Core Dweller worth putting points in as I am leveling? So far, with only one point in him, he kinda sucks. However, he does hold aggro away from me (which is very good considering how easily I am killed) while I beat the crap outta stuff.
3. For leveling, would it be best to max out Elemental Enhancement & brimstone and put the rest of my pts in Warfare for melee damage? (Also, would it be wise to remove my points from Flame Surge & so forth to help make this quicker?)
4. And how viable is a Core Dweller end game w/ max pts in him?

Sorry again for the questions, but I'm hoping someone will take the time to give me a few quick tips for leveling my Battlemage =)

1. Yes, but only the elemental damage, your physical damage would get boosted by Brimstone. Additionally your physical damage done with Volcanic Orb Fragmentation and Eruption is boosted by Brimstone and also by your strength. (I know it sounds weird because those are magical spells, but the game calculates all damage of a certain type the same, and all "Damage" is boosted by Strength)
2. Core Dweller is best maxed, you'll always get lackluster results if you don't dedicate fully into him and his synergies (other than Wildfire which is pretty conditional.). With a Summoner I respecced all my points out of everything and got CD maxed, he pretty much set the game to Cruise Control for me from early in Act II until a certain boss in Act III involving massive hailstones.
3. This is a viable option. Later you should get Eruption and Core Dweller but IMO Volcanic Orb is better for the pure casters which don't have a lot of options for skill point placement. Warfare is a veritable smörgåsbord (lol auto spellcheck function) of great skills, some of which like Onslaught actually can make your Eruption spell do more damage (reference the Damage = Strength comment above).
4. All pets get a straight percentile boost in Epic and again in Legendary. Provided you've dedicated enough skill points into the main pet skill itself and any synergies that enhance their survival (in Core Dweller's case that would be Inner Fire and Metamorphosis) they can survive very well and actually produce admirable damage. For you, Core Dweller will get the benefit of Earth Enchantment and Brimstone as well as Battle Standard should you opt into it.

Another option later is to try to fit yourself with gear that reduces the recharge time on your spells so you can use Ancestral Horn along with Core Dweller to have a lot of melee presence.

Edit: By the way, welcome to the boards. ^^;
Enjoy one of the best ARPGs ever made and one of the best communities on the internet.

[kneeki]

Very nice, thanks for the info man!

[kneeki]

mmm, the Forums sure did get alot better once I setup all my options =)

That's a bit off topic, but oh well