Summoner vs. Elementalist vs. Druid

[trevah]

I'm having trouble deciding between these three comboes. I can't decide if an elementalist is worth it, seeing as there would be a lot of overlap, bad survivability, and not enough points. Nature seems like a great compliment to storm or earth with Oak, Refresh, and Plague. But I just can't pick between earth or storm.

If I were to go earth, I wouldn't have a spam skill (Flame Surge sucks) but I'd have a great tank, focused damage (good and bad), and Stoneform. Heat Shield seems like a good spell, but does it only absorb fire damage? And does it only offer the 15% damage resistance vs. fire? The thing I'm really afraid of with Earth is it's lack of -resistance. Since I'm only going to have one damage type (two counting physical), I'm scared of immunities. The only way to lower res's would be with plague.

Storm on the other hand, has all sorts of cool tricks. Multiple damage types, Squall, spel breaker, spam attack, huge stuns, crappy pet (nice aura though). The main thing that's stopping me from going earth is Squall. Essentially the only way for a caster to really not have to worry about archers. Also drops resitances AND damage with a big aoe. I guess that's because storm doesn't have a tank.

Anyways,
here's my summoner build and my druid build

Feel free to tear 'em apart

[Supermouse]

well, I never played a Druid or a Elementalist, so I can't tell you for personal experience, but I would say to you go for a Summoner.


I'm playing with one, and I'm in normal orient by now, and haven't died a single time. the CD is an amazing tank, that just take the heat off me, both meele and ranged, and the nymph, as though not so OMGSOPWNZ is a very good pet. I'm lvl 29 by now, still working to maximize nature mastery, with an almost maxed CD, a 1 point HotO, 1 point Regrowth, 1 point Enchantment of Earth and a few points in the nymph. my main attack is the normal fire staff attack boosted a little with EoE, and maybe later I'll try Plague to reduce resists. Oh, and I just drop the wolves off, with CD I don't need more tanks.

I heard good things about the Sothsayer (Spirit+Nature) too, specially with the OMGSOPWNZ Ternion, wolves in place of the CD, Lich in place of Nymph and Summon Outsider + Refresh for cheap playing.

[trevah]

Originally Posted by Supermouse

well, I never played a Druid or a Elementalist, so I can't tell you for personal experience, but I would say to you go for a Summoner.


I'm playing with one, and I'm in normal orient by now, and haven't died a single time. the CD is an amazing tank, that just take the heat off me, both meele and ranged, and the nymph, as though not so OMGSOPWNZ is a very good pet. I'm lvl 29 by now, still working to maximize nature mastery, with an almost maxed CD, a 1 point HotO, 1 point Regrowth, 1 point Enchantment of Earth and a few points in the nymph. my main attack is the normal fire staff attack boosted a little with EoE, and maybe later I'll try Plague to reduce resists. Oh, and I just drop the wolves off, with CD I don't need more tanks.

I heard good things about the Sothsayer (Spirit+Nature) too, specially with the OMGSOPWNZ Ternion, wolves in place of the CD, Lich in place of Nymph and Summon Outsider + Refresh for cheap playing.

Sounds fun, but I was looking for more of a caster rather than a pet-oriented build. Although who can say no to the awesome that is core dweller?

Anyone else have anything?

EDIT: I just read that briar ward is actually a good skill. Has anyone successfully used it? It seems a bit crappy except for the 2nd synergy. Also, does it foloow the caster or does it just sit there?

[trevah]

Alright, essentially this is my question:

What's better, storm or earth? Why?

And why the hell does earth masteries attributes suck so much? Storm gets 6 more int, 32 dex, about 200 more hp, and double the energy.

[CycloneJack]

The plus with Summoner is Pets + Heart of the Oak (hps). Depending on how you build the pets, it's possible for you to just escort them around and keep the healed every now and then. Very high survivability.

Elementalists have a very large disposal of skills available to them. Volcanic Orb's Fragmentation + Earth Enchant + Wisp's Eye of the Storm just obliterate groups of enemies in seconds. Squall is, from what I read, super effective later in the game at helping keep some of the ranged in line. Lightning Bolt + Chain Lightning is pretty impressive as well. The problem with Elementalist is that there is almost too many choices, and gear will determine how you spec. (My character was going to be more Storm than Earth, but I found two pieces of the Pyromancer's Set + some good +Fire +% Fire gear and respecced into Earht)

Druid is something I havn't messed with yet. I can see that Pets + Thunderball/Concussive Blast could be very good. Lots of Stun and some good pets. Throw in the Wisp + Eye and Squall for some added survivability coupled with Heart of the Oak for the HPs and chance of chaeper spells and you have a pretty good character. Oh, and don't forget Static Charge for the +% Lightning Damage. hmmm... Now that I look at it, I may have yet another character to try out. hahaha.

Cyclone Jack

[Charlatan]

One notable downside to Summoner (really, the only downside, in my opinion) is that since your only damage is fire, when you meet fire resistant mobs it takes a loooong time to kill them - guys like those fire demons near the Obsidian Caverns, and assorted fire-resistant bosses. Not that it's impossible to kill them, just that it takes forever.

If you're more of a caster than a pet handler, then definitely go Elementalist.

[CycloneJack]

Originally Posted by trevah

And why the hell does earth masteries attributes suck so much? Storm gets 6 more int, 32 dex, about 200 more hp, and double the energy.

Storms skills cost much more energy than Fire. Ice Shard can be spammed from the get go and Thunderball and Lightning Bolt are super expensive spells. Squall isn't cheap either. Plus, Storm has more Reserve in the Nimbus line than Earth has.

As for which is better? That solely depends on gear. No, really. I've got a L34 Elementalist that has done countless respecs trying various skills out. Both are pretty much equal. Fire seems a bit safer with the Core Dweller + Stone Form, but Storm has Squall, Spell Shock and Freezing Blast.

Cyclone Jack

[trevah]

Originally Posted by Charlatan

If you're more of a caster than a pet handler, then definitely go Elementalist.

That's what I'm trying to go for, but it seems like I'd have a hard time surviving without heart of the oak. But I was wondering, does the heat shield's %dmg res and absorb only apply to fire?

I'm looking at an elementalist build right now, and it still just seems like a lot of overlap. The thing that really bothers me about choosing fire is that it only has fire damage and that there are NO skills in the mastery that lwoers resistance. But the mastery that does have 2 damage types (storm) has a crapload of lower res skills! Argh! It would seem the ebst way to be successful with a straight fire build would be to use plague on the pesky monsters and bosses.

Here's an elementalist build I just thought up, but I still can't use all the points cuz it seems like a waste...

[trevah]

Originally Posted by CycloneJack

Storms skills cost much more energy than Fire. Ice Shard can be spammed from the get go and Thunderball and Lightning Bolt are super expensive spells. Squall isn't cheap either. Plus, Storm has more Reserve in the Nimbus line than Earth has.

As for which is better? That solely depends on gear. No, really. I've got a L34 Elementalist that has done countless respecs trying various skills out. Both are pretty much equal. Fire seems a bit safer with the Core Dweller + Stone Form, but Storm has Squall, Spell Shock and Freezing Blast.

Cyclone Jack

How hard is it for you to survive as an elemetalist? And what are the skills you consider essential in each tree no matter what you're speccing as?

[CycloneJack]

Originally Posted by trevah

How hard is it for you to survive as an elemetalist? And what are the skills you consider essential in each tree no matter what you're speccing as?

Right now, it's pretty easy [I'm currently at the end of Epic Egypt]. As I said, I happened upon a lot of +Fire gear. My fight usually consists of 1 Volcanic Orb and me shooting the staff a few times. Large groups of enemies may get a Volcano dropped as well for super fast kills. All through Normal I was melee specced, and did quite well. It wasn't until the end of China that I started running into trouble.

Skills that I would not go without, a (minimum) L5 Wisp and a Maxed Eye of the Storm. At L5, the Wisp gets Thunderclap and a maxed Eye adds +100% Elemental Damage (Fire, Lightning and Ice) to everyone near. Depending on if you focus on either Fire or Storm I would get the Earth Enchant or Nimbus line, respectively. Squall is pretty big on Legendary, form what I hear (I'm not there yet), and I plan on having that ready. Those are what I would call 'manditory'. The attacks all go under personal preference and style of play.

Cyclone Jack