Warfare/Earth - still viable?

[nomec]

I have actually played a battlemage to around level 20 or so. I had to hang up the game for a while (about a month) because of time constraints. I have not purchased the expansion yet but plan on it.

Is a battlemage still going to be viable? My guy is dual-wielding with a purely melee focus. I noticed I had been having to use a decent amount of potions in bigger fights but otherwise I seem to do fine. Id like to hear from some of the people who have played a similar build and how it has worked out for them. Should I re-roll and do something else for fear that my guy won't make it through legendary, or should I stick it out? Thanks!

[clive]

It may be a harder build to use, but im sure with good items and skilled micro managing if should be a fine class to try.

Me personnally i would never make that class cause the two masterys dont fit together well.

[i.n.s.a.n.e]

Originally Posted by clive

Me personnally i would never make that class cause the two masterys dont fit together well.

Hi,

Really? Brimstone adds physical damage, Heat shield has damage resistance, Stone form is your save-life button, Volcanic Orb or Eruption are affected by your STR (the physical damage part) and there is lots of fire damage + very useful Core Dweller.

@Nomec: It's a great class, but has some problems on Legendary..without a good gear..you'll be very vulnerable without a shield, so I recomend you to equip it as a secondary weapon set..

Have fun, this class deserves it! :]

[Rose]

Earth + Dream is very nice if you want an offensive melee build, too, because you get two auras and +STR from dream, and various skills in the dream tree to augment your melee.

I think Earth is one of those specs that just rocks by itself (no pun intended), but you do have to be careful to add skill trees that synergize with it. Personally, I think Warfare just doesn't seem to synergize with it that well.

[nomec]

well I want to dual wield because it's fun so i am basically stuck with warfare.

[Sick_Mambo]

Edited: Silly me earth isn't nature....

[Rose]

Originally Posted by nomec

well I want to dual wield because it's fun so i am basically stuck with warfare.

It's not a big deal, and I think you can still do great damage without sacrificing too much survivability. Get all your dual wield goodies from Warfare, and try these skills from Earth:

Ring of Fire (amazing skill, max), Soften Metal (max, nicer damage since you will have a ton of STR and simultaneously lowering enemy armor), Brimstone (max), Heat Shield (1 point), Earth Enchantment (1 point), Stone Form (1 point), and try out the Core Hound with the Wildfire talent, and in later difficulties let it tank for you!

You won't have bad survivability this way, and you can always Stone Form in a pinch.

[Infares]

Here's an idea for a Battlemage. General strategy is to work up a big Onslaught and then cast Eruption at your feet for big physical damage while you wail on stuff with Dual Wield. Fluff points after 65 can go toward increasing Earth Enchantment.

[nomec]

It sounds like it would work but I dont see a dual-wielder as a caster. I dont want to mix casting and melee.

I figure thats a stubborn way to play but generally in RPGs a warrior cant even cast. I want to try something that will be sufficient without the use of damage spells. Buffs are fine and stuff like that but I would be more into stuff that enhances my melee ability.

[tim]

Dual wield slayer or champion is what you're looking for then.