Gem wand question?

[Royce]

Staffs... lol... is that really a question... IF ya already made the call to go staff... there is only one question, and to butcher Shakespeare ... "To AOE or not to AOE, that is the question"

Right but it's a more interesting question this time around. In AO3 the keeper was the clear staff choice because in addition to having AOE, it had the highest damage and skill damage of any staff. In BS, there are many new factors. The non-AOE staff has better damage (same skill damage though) and armor, an in BS AOE can be a bad idea in many situations. Anyway, don't want to go off topic (well apparently I do but I'll stop now).

[Vanced]

... Anyway, don't want to go off topic (well apparently I do but I'll stop now).

Ask and ye shall receive ...

http://www.spacetimestudios.com/show...staff-question

Figured out that drain proc yet?

[Kalielle]

Xom and I were testing the Drained combo in pvp yesterday night (weakness plus stone wand damage) and just like Royce found, we also couldn't for the world see that it does anything beyond the effect from Weakness. We were careful and tested many times and Xom was watching his stats the whole time but it just doesn't seem to do anything even though the animation with the shadow face showed up. Really strange. Would love to hear if anyone figures this one out.

[WhoIsThis]

I don't think that the shadow is for anything but looks at this point.

[Royce]

I don't think that the shadow is for anything but looks at this point.

I'm sure the Drained combo does something. Exactly what is a mystery, but it took weeks for the community to figure out all the new procs from AO3 when it came out (actually execute took months to properly define). I'm sure we can figure this one out too

[Xymorg]

Has the hypothesis that a "Drained" combo puts a mob in a temporary state where subsequent hits can proc a mana gain to the hitter been disproven? It fits all the observations I've seen.

I saw where the target mp doesn't decrease in testing, but it doesn't have to work like that. It could just be a straight mana gain proc without a drain on the target. The asymmetry may just have been something like a late balance adjustment for pvp concerns.

[Royce]

I considered that and will try to test. The problem is that, even using a gemstone wand with no regen and no regen gear, you will still have some mana regen from the Int you need to equip it. IOW if it's a big gain, it should be easy to spot but if not, it might prove difficult. I also want to test if it might just be an M/s buff for the caster, and will test that shortly.

[WhoIsThis]

Could it be possibly a second proc? Like the wand having both a weakness proc and maybe, say, a nightmare proc?

Until we can prove something and establish that it is potent enough to make a real difference, I think that I will assume for now that it is just for looks. Still, the gemstone is still my top choice for a wand.

[Royce]

Could it be possibly a second proc? Like the wand having both a weakness proc and maybe, say, a nightmare proc?

No I tested and it actually has neither effect (almost all dark wands proc weakness and dark staffs proc weakness and nightmare, so this is a definite oddball). I'm starting to think it is simply mana added to hour pool when it procs ( on a weakened mob). Unfortunately that's not super easy to test but it seems like the most likely answer at this point.

[WhoIsThis]

Another possibility that I suggested to the mages was area damage - ex: the wand has an area weakness proc.

Yet another suggested by another mage is that the shadow is some sort of damage over time on top of the main weapon damage. That one should be easier to test, but I don't think that it is true. I haven't heard anyone describe in PvP being hit by damage over time after engaging high level mages.

As I said earlier, I doubt right now that the shadow is much but for looks. Of course, it's entirely possible that future patches could change this.

[Xymorg]

Regular m/s doesn't show above your head so I don't see why it will be a hard calculation. Mana pots & getting hit with mana shield are the regular blue numbers. The small positive blues are likely the mana gain proc effect.

I can just imagine if a dev is following this thread they are getting a good chuckle at us runnin in circles

I went back & checked & all the gem wands have this mana gain proc effect:

1. Gem star with nightmare
2. Gem shard with nightmare
3. Gemstone with weakness

The gemstone is just the only one that has the animation for the combo.

Once you get into the mana gaining status with the appropriate debuff fr the wand, all debuffs and buffs (including heal) seem to cause you to roll for a small <10 mana gain.
That explains the multiple small mana gains you sometimes see back to back.

I kept switching back to other weapons to see if it was just always there & I just never noticed, but it seems to be only the gem wands with this effect.

[WhoIsThis]

I should probably buy a gemstone myself. I'm relying on observing other people right now for tests. Lol.

Any idea why the gemstone is the only animation? Maybe it's effect is more powerful than the other two?

[Xymorg]

Extra fun :
When mobs are in this gem wand/debuff affected state, other mages in party who don't even have a gem wand seem to also proc a mana gain (or at least get a small blue non-negative number rising out of their head) with buff or debuff skills.

The effect makes mobs give out mana like little pez dispensers.

[Royce]

Extra fun :
When mobs are in this gem wand/debuff affected state, other mages in party who don't even have a gem wand seem to also proc a mana gain (or at least get a small blue non-negative number rising out of their head) with buff or debuff skills.

The effect makes mobs give out mana like little pez dispensers.

This is very strange. The other wands do indeed show the same mana gain effect, except with nightmare. However, there is no combo text, visual or sound effect, or drained text. I'm wondering, if this is supposed to be an effect of all gem wands, if the fact the gemstone doesn't proc weakness might be a bug, or if possibly the proc happening with the other wands could be a bug...

[Vanced]

This is very strange. The other wands do indeed show the same mana gain effect, except with nightmare. However, there is no combo text, visual or sound effect, or drained text. I'm wondering, if this is supposed to be an effect of all gem wands, if the fact the gemstone doesn't proc weakness might be a bug, or if possibly the proc happening with the other wands could be a bug...

... * looks for his wand programming decoder ring * ...

[Royce]

... * looks for his wand programming decoder ring * ...

* PM's Cinco instead *

[Vanced]

* PM's Cinco instead *

Same thing right? You and all your silly semantics...

[CosmoxKramer]

I have a question. I am still having a hard time giving up my Blizzard stick. when i solo tested some of the highest dps wands (weapon dps) against some bosses with just pure wanding, the Blizzard stick always seems to kill quicker. I do tend to pull a lot of aggro on bosses as well in the Sewers.
Here are some screenshots. I have 55 MM helm, 55 MM chest, 55 Lowman's gemstone bracer, and 1% crit 11 damage ring.


Would you recommend getting an MM want.

<edit> updating pictures

[Vanced]

Hummm... do I want to save Royce the trouble here or not... knowing he is probably typing right now...

But I will rehash the short answer... it is a lesson we all need to learn... tons of threads already about total dps vs weapon dps... and benfits of high dmg weapons.. but in this case... bottom line look athe dmg of lightning then equip any gemstone wand lowmans for example then look at your skill damage... should be enough to prove it to ya... add the extra dmg of a mega mage wand bonus then... bOOm....

[FluffNStuff]

Drained is a simple damage combo, not a debuff or 'mana stealer'. Posted full details here:
http://www.spacetimestudios.com/show...d-Mage-Execute