My main concern with this one is the +5e mod that can be found on spears, axes, and swords... Why is it that on a melee weapon, intended for non-energy intensive classes they get a better energy mod than casters can get on a wand. The best energy mod on a wand with NF now is the +5e^50 and before that in the time of factions the best was +3e^50. There is nearly no incentive to wield a wand.
Does this bug anyone else? or am I the only one?
Why do martial weapons have better caster mods than caster weapons?
Helcaraxe
Dzan
Wands can get +15e -1 regen. Thats about the only reason to use a wand.
deluxe
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Originally Posted by Dzan
Wands can get +15e -1 regen. Thats about the only reason to use a wand.
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MercenaryKnight
I too find this a bit weird. I think wands should be able to be "enchanting" since the only way to get a 20% enchant mod for a caster is a real weapon or a staff. Which kind of ruins the point for casters to use a wand and focus.
Dr Strangelove
If you decide to use a martial weapon, you lose the ability to wand things. Usually doesn't matter, but that's the tradeoff for better mods.
-Loki-
The mods should be reversed - martial weapons should have +5en^50, caster weapons have +5en. However, dual recharge sets are very nice on casters.
lyra_song
i personally think the that the +5 unconditional energy and +20% enchanting mods are available on martial weapons as intention to bolster the lack of magic of the martial classes and provide alternatives to wands.
Perhaps its also to not overpower some weapons as choices over others for the casters.
Pros and cons to everything.
Perhaps its also to not overpower some weapons as choices over others for the casters.
Pros and cons to everything.
Dr Strangelove
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Originally Posted by -Loki-
The mods should be reversed - martial weapons should have +5en^50, caster weapons have +5en. However, dual recharge sets are very nice on casters.
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That being said, dual recharges isn't quite as nice as it used to be, now that you can get 10% HSR on martial weapons.
Oofus
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Originally Posted by Helcaraxe
The best energy mod on a wand with NF now is the +5e^50 and before that in the time of factions the best was +3e^50.
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I personally I enjoy a 20/20 wand for my ele with a switch to 20/+5^50 when I need a tad more energy. I also keep a couple of martials in my bag for that extra +30 health or 20% enchants. Each weapon is used as needed. But it would be prety uber to have a +5 allways/20% enchants wand
Series
I sort of like having to use martial weapons. Seeing monks with swords is always cool
lyra_song
spears are more fun for monks though ^^
Apok Omen
ANet Supports Whammos, mystery solved.
Curse You
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Originally Posted by Dr Strangelove
If you decide to use a martial weapon, you lose the ability to wand things. Usually doesn't matter, but that's the tradeoff for better mods.
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Originally Posted by Oofus
What game where you playing? +5^50 was always around, in Factions and in Prophecies.
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Ludo
Yeah, this has always bugged me too. Given that melee classes don't even have enchantments (well, ranger and warrior), aside from secondaries, I don't see why they even have 20% enchants available. But it's one of those quirks that I've learned to live with. And I have to admit it is fun using an axe as a monk, even if you never get to actually slash stuff.
One thing I've always wished was availabe was the option to boost energy rather than damage on spellcasting weapons when customizing. There are no (or very few) people who really depend on wanding monsters to death, and I would guess there are very few customized wands and staffs out there. But add in a +5 energy option to the customize guy and wands and staves would be customized in droves. Give us a few choices! ;p (4/5 of my regularly used chars are spellcasters and I rarely get the chance to face the customize dilema).
One thing I've always wished was availabe was the option to boost energy rather than damage on spellcasting weapons when customizing. There are no (or very few) people who really depend on wanding monsters to death, and I would guess there are very few customized wands and staffs out there. But add in a +5 energy option to the customize guy and wands and staves would be customized in droves. Give us a few choices! ;p (4/5 of my regularly used chars are spellcasters and I rarely get the chance to face the customize dilema).
Miral
55 farmers wanted something that could automatically bring them in range for sliver and ae? main use for the +5e 20% enchant melee weapons is 55 farming, of course, not wammos....
??Ripskin
For 55ing I use a katana +5e 20% enchant. End of questions. That's what they're there for. And for all the damn wammos, but other than that, that's what they're there for.
Ludo
Yeah, I agree. My Wammo (who is actually quite a Sophisticated Wammo) grimaces when I try to put a 20% enchants +5 Energy weapon in her hands. I would go out on a limb and say that only spellcasters use these things, almost without expecption. But oh well. It's not really a big deal at this point. However I do think that Loki is right and they should be reversed, 5^50 and +5e unconditional. Seems to make more sense.
Avarre
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Originally Posted by Dr Strangelove
That being said, dual recharges isn't quite as nice as it used to be, now that you can get 10% HSR on martial weapons. |
Galahad
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Originally Posted by Curse You
I remember a long time ago when there were only +3^50 mods for wands. Yes they existed. Here's a link into the history of Gordac's Needle, when it was +3^50
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+5 martial weapons are designed to be used with a shield in the other hand not a focus.
Just to state the obvious if you want to use one as 1/2 of a caster set, choose a spear and then you can still hit things from range.
The spear and focus combo nets you +2 Energy over staff with similar stats but the staff will allow 20% recharge on all spells not just the one branch of magic the focus does.
Avarre
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Originally Posted by Galahad
+5 martial weapons are designed to be used with a shield in the other hand not a focus.
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| Just to state the obvious if you want to use one as 1/2 of a caster set, choose a spear and then you can still hit things from range. |
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| The spear and focus combo nets you +2 Energy over staff with similar stats but the staff will allow 20% recharge on all spells not just the one branch of magic the focus does. |
Galahad
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Originally Posted by Avarre
According to whom? There are builds where recharge is irrelevant (zzz MoR) where you can go martial/focus for +60hp and energy.
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+5 energy weapons are better over others for hitting thing when you have low energy, one reason you might have low energy is you are holding a shield in the other hand.
I'm not saying for one second that they are not useful or cannot be used in other builds.
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Originally Posted by Avarre
Why does this matter? 2 dps, trapper interrupts...?
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Originally Posted by Avarre
There is no single superior weapon set.
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Yichi
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Originally Posted by Galahad
+5 martial weapons are designed to be used with a shield in the other hand not a focus.
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Originally Posted by Galahad
Just to state the obvious if you want to use one as 1/2 of a caster set, choose a spear and then you can still hit things from range.
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-Loki-
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Originally Posted by Galahad
Being able to target for heroes and henchies easily, why is a sword or axe preferable?
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Luna Star
zealous spear for energy..../sarcasm
Cass
I do find it odd that 2 or 3 out of 4 of my pre-set caster sets are at least partially martial weapons (spear, axe, sword and/or shield). I guess it works out like this, but it is not very elegant. Why could a wand not have 20% enchanting or +30hp? Even for a focus one could argue that it could have +8 armor, so that you could wield one instead of a shield. Of course, that's a big bonus with the +12 energy so perhaps that's not feasible. Maybe +8 armor instead of energy? Just so a caster can wield caster weapons. 
On the same note: Why are staffs so inferior still?
By the way, when the green wands from Sorrows had +3 over 50%, there were gold wands with +5^50 too. But getting a dual-mod gold wand that was perfect was really hard. The green with 3 energy and another mod was a reasonable alternative then.
On the same note: Why are staffs so inferior still?
By the way, when the green wands from Sorrows had +3 over 50%, there were gold wands with +5^50 too. But getting a dual-mod gold wand that was perfect was really hard. The green with 3 energy and another mod was a reasonable alternative then.
Ensign
The short answer is that they did not intend to put +5 energy or other caster mods on physical weapons. They slipped through on a few special items that were overlooked right before release (the Fiery Flame Spitter, HoD items in general), and were caught after too many had been made. When deciding what to do, the designers concluded that casters using some martial weapons was good for interesting itemization, so most of them remained.
Arena.net did not intend to put unconditional energy on wands...probably because of some desire to not have 'must have' mods on any particular weapon. I can't comment on how good of a decision that was at the time, but after all the other changes to caster itemization, and a general devaluing of +energy mods by better caster players has left those conditional energy mods at the bottom of the heap.
One fun bit of irony is that the characters that get the most use out of staves are non-casters, because they have the +10 energy unconditional mod (unlike focii which need an attribute spec). The only time you really see casters on a high level using staves is when they really want double cast time mods - because, under the new inscription system, you can't get that with a focus anymore.
Peace,
-CxE
Arena.net did not intend to put unconditional energy on wands...probably because of some desire to not have 'must have' mods on any particular weapon. I can't comment on how good of a decision that was at the time, but after all the other changes to caster itemization, and a general devaluing of +energy mods by better caster players has left those conditional energy mods at the bottom of the heap.
One fun bit of irony is that the characters that get the most use out of staves are non-casters, because they have the +10 energy unconditional mod (unlike focii which need an attribute spec). The only time you really see casters on a high level using staves is when they really want double cast time mods - because, under the new inscription system, you can't get that with a focus anymore.
Peace,
-CxE
HawkofStorms
^^Ensign wins.
+5 energy martial weapons were NEVER itended to be in the game. They were in the HoD swords at launch and the crafter was quickly removed from the game. However, a.net couldn't get rid of the +5 energy HoD swords that were out there already and they became very expensive and useful items. Rather then give a few super rich players a control of the market of a furbar item, a.net just added that mod into the game with the release of factions.
+5 energy martial weapons were NEVER itended to be in the game. They were in the HoD swords at launch and the crafter was quickly removed from the game. However, a.net couldn't get rid of the +5 energy HoD swords that were out there already and they became very expensive and useful items. Rather then give a few super rich players a control of the market of a furbar item, a.net just added that mod into the game with the release of factions.
RoadKill97
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Originally Posted by Ensign
The only time you really see casters on a high level using staves is when they really want double cast time mods - because, under the new inscription system, you can't get that with a focus anymore.
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Kuldebar Valiturus
1.) I am fairly certain that martial weapons with energy and recharge bonuses were generally designed with lower energy endowed professions in mind: Warrior, Paragon, etc.
2.) I think "better" is too strong a word to use when comparing martial weapons to caster weapons. Martial weapons have far less variety when it comes to energy bonuses and also tend to have far lesser amount of energy gains.
2.) I think "better" is too strong a word to use when comparing martial weapons to caster weapons. Martial weapons have far less variety when it comes to energy bonuses and also tend to have far lesser amount of energy gains.
Seef II
Point is, +5^50, while enchanted, or whatever are pretty much moot - you won't have the energy when you need it. Why go for conditional energy over unconditional energy?
icymanipulator
I dropped an almost max gold Rit channeling req 11 Forbidden Staff in Raisu Palace just the other day. It had a +5e unconditional as well as +19% enchant. I think the mods are out there for caster weapons just unusual. If you meant a wand/focus rather than a Staff I can't help ya. There is always Rajazan's Fervor though...plus it looks awesome.
Scutilla
A single +5 energy mod may be better than a wand's +5>50 mod, but overall wands are more conducive to casters. Let's look at the numbers:
Spear + Focus combo
Wand + Focus combo
Staff
No real-cut winner. Spears have more energy than wands while under 50% (assuming the wand has a +5>50 mod, other +energy options are available), but you're stuck with an Enchanting suffix on a spear, which isn't useful in all situations. Staves have less energy but an overall better set of mods, plus the inherent HSR 20% for all spells (which is impossible to get on wands or martial weapons).
They're referring to +5 energy for wands, not staves.
Spear + Focus combo
- +17 Energy
- (useless prefix)
- Enchanting 20%
- HCT 20% (single attribute)
- HSR 20% (single attribute)
Wand + Focus combo
- +17 Energy while above 50%, +12 while below
- HCT 20% (single attribute)
- HSR 20% (single attribute)
- HSR 20% (single attribute)
Staff
- +15 Energy
- Enchanting 20% (or other staff wrapping of choice)
- HCT 20% (single attribute)
- HSR 20% (all spells)
No real-cut winner. Spears have more energy than wands while under 50% (assuming the wand has a +5>50 mod, other +energy options are available), but you're stuck with an Enchanting suffix on a spear, which isn't useful in all situations. Staves have less energy but an overall better set of mods, plus the inherent HSR 20% for all spells (which is impossible to get on wands or martial weapons).
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Originally Posted by icymanipulator
I dropped an almost max gold Rit channeling req 11 Forbidden Staff in Raisu Palace just the other day. It had a +5e unconditional as well as +19% enchant. I think the mods are out there for caster weapons just unusual. If you meant a wand/focus rather than a Staff I can't help ya. There is always Rajazan's Fervor though...plus it looks awesome.
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Skyy High
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Originally Posted by icymanipulator
I dropped an almost max gold Rit channeling req 11 Forbidden Staff in Raisu Palace just the other day. It had a +5e unconditional as well as +19% enchant. I think the mods are out there for caster weapons just unusual. If you meant a wand/focus rather than a Staff I can't help ya. There is always Rajazan's Fervor though...plus it looks awesome.
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icymanipulator
After prefacing my own statement was it really worth either of your times to "correct" me 
this board is nothing if not amusing. Anyways...as its been said earlier and I will echo. If you want this particular combo its obvious (to me at least) you are planning on doing some invinci-soloing of some sort. Get the Rajazan's Fervor or the Totem Axe with the Cities of Ascalon -50hp cesta and go to town. The whole premise behind having the martial weapon in this case is to put you in range of the boss usually for a touch skill vamp (in the case of boss farm necro) or silver with monk.
this board is nothing if not amusing. Anyways...as its been said earlier and I will echo. If you want this particular combo its obvious (to me at least) you are planning on doing some invinci-soloing of some sort. Get the Rajazan's Fervor or the Totem Axe with the Cities of Ascalon -50hp cesta and go to town. The whole premise behind having the martial weapon in this case is to put you in range of the boss usually for a touch skill vamp (in the case of boss farm necro) or silver with monk.
Shmanka
I use a wand still... I just like the HSR and the wanding damage... I don't care who says what wands add damage, and sometimes just enough to finish targets.
mlandry
If they were to add +5energy mods to wands, they would also need to add the +armor/-energy mod for shields that only focii have; I wish I could have 20+ armor shields + that 13 str requirement armor and a weapon with +5 defense... now that would be HIGH defense at all time heh
On topic : Like everyone said, it would be too good to have +5energy on wands and would make casters that much slightly better
On topic : Like everyone said, it would be too good to have +5energy on wands and would make casters that much slightly better
fenix
They added the +5's on Martial weapons so that the HoD sword prices would drop. Now that they are common, adding +5 to wands would be nice, but there would be no difference between using a Martial weapon or a wand. So it isn't really needed, as wands are used for 1 purpose, and Martial weapons for another.
SotiCoto
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Originally Posted by Ensign
The only time you really see casters on a high level using staves is when they really want double cast time mods - because, under the new inscription system, you can't get that with a focus anymore.
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Wands and Foci... each with 20% faster cast and recharge of specific spell type...
Plus of course the Foci can be gained in that form as collector weapons, even if the wands themselves cannot.
Why the heck bother with inscriptions?
I'm in the rather expensive process of kitting out all my spellcaster heroes on all my characters with 20/20 Wands. At least it is easier than trying to mod up staves or collect greens / golds for them. (There are only so many times I'm willing to farm the Scar Eater or Stoneweaver before I get sick of doing it)...
Avarre
Ensign most likely was referring to PvP characters, which have notorious trouble reaching Vasburg Armory.
makosi
As good as a caster looks with a sword, I've never been a fan of martial weapons on them. The best use of martial weaponry for a caster is for energy hiding.
If you use an Insightful Staff you have a net increase of 15 energy. A +5 energy sword + +12 energy Focus Item gives *gasp* another two energy. Yes, you could have the +60 health set which is a bonus but, personally, the 20% universal recharge seems superior to me.
From that last sentence it is fair to conclude that it's entirely up to personal preference.
I remember the days crying about of the HoD and people paying a fortune for them. Good times.
If you use an Insightful Staff you have a net increase of 15 energy. A +5 energy sword + +12 energy Focus Item gives *gasp* another two energy. Yes, you could have the +60 health set which is a bonus but, personally, the 20% universal recharge seems superior to me.
From that last sentence it is fair to conclude that it's entirely up to personal preference.
I remember the days crying about of the HoD and people paying a fortune for them. Good times.