FoC lack of popularity?

Necromonger

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2006

N/Me

Just a quick question, I've been using a Feast of Corruption Necro build for a long time now.

Yet whenever I look at Necro build discussions or wikis or anything, very rarely do you see FoC as a ""viable" build. Even in this forum, the one FoC build I saw had "or SS" next to it.

Why is that? cap too dificult for most? or not considered effective enough? IMO the damage plus healing makes it quite a nice build setup.

Pick Me

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2006

Thornill, ON, Canada

THE CANUCK MONKS (TCM)

W/R

FoC has a recharge time of 20 seconds. It is a one time use. SS has a recharge time of 10 seconds and has a duration on target.

To gain a better benefit from FoC, you need foes near target to be hexed as well.

This is just one reason why there are few builds. The biggest reason is that people love SS and thus ignore a lot of other elites in Curses. FoC just isn't used as often, where people will use SS because it is more frequent to cast and has a more desired effect.

Capping is one of the most enjoyable experiencees you can have. Maw isn't that tough, but Maw is just wonderful to face.

Jetdoc

Jetdoc

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Jul 2005

The Eyes of Texas [BEVO]

D/A

The key with FoC is finding a group of targets that are adjacent to one another. Unless someone is holding their aggro, generally applying a mass hex (e.g. Shadow of Fear) and following up with a slow casting FoC won't affect as many as you would want it to, as your targets would've likely dispersed in that time.

Ensign

Ensign

Just Plain Fluffy

Join Date: Dec 2004

Berkeley, CA

Idiot Savants

It's a weak skill in the same line as Spiteful Spirit, a very strong skill in PvE?

Coloneh

Coloneh

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2006

D/W

SS is better for almost everything. unless you have a ss necro in your team already, then try FoC.

Shuuda

Shuuda

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2006

Guildless

Me/

FoC is awsome in my books, goes well in Suffering and arcane Echo, dispite being a tad costly. It's not that FoC is bad, just that SS is too powerful (A lot of Necro hexes need their rehcarge times sorting out, I mean 10s on a hex that lasts +20, no wonder we have a hex based Meta, Hexes > Hex remover, when it should be Hex = Hex remover, why even bother removing a powerful hex, when it can easily be reapplyied 2 seconds later? /rant) Anyway I like FoC, it's different from all the boring old builds like MM/SS etc.

TGgold

TGgold

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Flying Gophers

Rt/P

I used an FoC necro vs. the mursaat in the ring of fire. It was mainly to spike the ether seals.
For FoC to be viable, it basically requires Arcane Echo.

BladeDVD

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2006

Hawaii

Clan Of Elders

N/

I was using FoC against the torment creatures. When they do that call to torment stuff SS isn't much use.

But it's slooooow. Not very satisfying when you can't use it that much. And I use a 20/20 cast/recharge wand/offhand set too. AE helps, but makes it pretty costly, and it still can't be cast that often. Maybe a buff, like more life steal on hexed foe and adjacent foes? Problem with reducing cast/recharge time is it would probably become overpowered. lol

ArKaiN

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Lotus Branca[Lbr]

Mo/Me

its not bad, but SS if better 95% of the time, and If you want a similar spammable elite there's always Icy Veins(this one not being more used in PvE is something I REALLY don't get)

BladeDVD

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2006

Hawaii

Clan Of Elders

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArKaiN
its not bad, but SS if better 95% of the time, and If you want a similar spammable elite there's always Icy Veins(this one not being more used in PvE is something I REALLY don't get) Not armor ignoring damage. As you face tougher and tougher foes, it becomes less and less effective.

Lots of fun when dye farming in post searing ascalon though.

Teh [prefession]-zorz

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2007

wisconsin

Spiders Lair Kurz [SpL]

W/A

Do you think they could buff this skill? like the recharge time/cast time or more damage?

maybe would get more use, and idk if thatd be a bad thing...

ZenRgy

ZenRgy

Zookeeper

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australian Discussion Posse HQ - Glorious leader

҉ ̵̡̢̢̛̛̛̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟&#

N/E

FoC is a spike skill, and when it's run on just one necro it's not effective, it's 100 damage every 20 seconds, possibly AoE.

You could spike out targets if you say brought 2 necro heroes with you but this skill I find only useful when you have a few multiple copies of it.

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

FoC was standard on the first challenge mission in Factions.

What was that all about?

LifeInfusion

LifeInfusion

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

in the midline

E/Mo

FoC --> spike. Problem is the recharge and the new skill Oppressive gaze.

By all accounts, Enfeebling blood + Oppressive gaze>AoE hex+FoC

since A. it isn't elite
B. it has 7 recharge not 20

Moloch Vein

Moloch Vein

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2007

Reactive Hexing Sucks

[Thay]

N/

Yes, Oppressive Gaze does 110 damage at 16 blood magic. FoC does 126 (this assumes both are covered with condition/hex).

FoC should be rebalanced. In this case balance != nerf.

Muspellsheimr

Muspellsheimr

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2007

Feast of Corruption is one of my favorite skills, but unfortunately, it is very underpowered, so I rarely play with it.

It really needs a boost - reduce cost to 10, reduce recharge to 10, increase area of effect, and/or increase conditional life stealing. Two of these options would likely be enough. Doing this would make it far more playable, and you would see many more builds using it.

cloudbunny

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

DVD Forums (DVDF)

I never play echo-SS, but when I made a FoC build I felt I had to.

Arcane Echo, FoC, Desecrete and defile enchantments. High damage combo but the cost and recharge make you a sitting duck after casting it. In pve it certianly needs a buff to be worth it again.

However, every buff may make it overpowered again in PvP spike teams.

Regards,
Cloudbunny