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joemama1512 wrote:

Note that Sorcs add their special damage to "damage rolls", so they would be in the same boat, if we define "damage rolls" to only happen on the initial power use.

Yes, I sure hope that they don't define it that way (wasn't the first definition bounced around as anything following an attack roll?). That would really suck, since (at least Chaos, I haven't looked much into Draconic) sorcs are really a mix between striker and AOE blaster (to set them apart from martial strikers), but if secondary hits don't scale, then you'll be dealing 1d6 all the way through epic.

Thanks for putting this guide together btw, it's well done.

Undrhil wrote:

The At-wills modified are Acid Orb, Dragonfrost, Magic Missile, Eldritch Blast and Avenging Light. In case anyone wants to look it up, it was published in Dragon Magazine #372.

Well, it depends. Neither Acid Orb nor DFrost are 'great' spells: the former is just a basic attack, the latter targets fort (which I usually avoid doing, I might be overreacting).

Burning Spray is, IMO, too good to pass up, whether you're chaos or draconic (a close-blast 3 at-will that deals 1/2d8 + Dex + Cha/Str + Other bonuses? Hell yes). If you're Chaos, then your other choice is obviously Chaos Bolt. If you're draconic, then maybe you can take Acid Orb or DFrost (probably the latter to be able to attack Ref and Fort). But both? Not a chance.

Melee training then, is better choice for Chaos Sorcs, since you don't have to give up one of two great at-wills for a mediocre one, just to do more damage when you hit with an AO.

Reaper's Touch is actually far inferior to Blade Channeling because Blade Channeling does the same thing except it works for every ranged power and not just two at-wills. However, dependent on the interpretation of whether or not making a "basic ranged attack" into a "melee attack" also makes it a "basic melee attack", Reaper's Touch might be better if all you're trying to do is get a better "basic melee attack." However, if you interpret Blade Channeling to also make your basic ranged at-wills into basic melee at-wills, then Reaper's Touch is entirely redundant.

Either way, I think the OP is right: sorcs just don't have the defense to really put themselves into positions where making basic melee attacks are a good idea. Dragon mages can already do it somewhat reliably with their high Str, but Wild mages just can't afford the feats.

Also, to the OP: I haven't read your other post but I'd just like to say that your Cust Serv answer is, indeed, wrong. The damage section of the PHB that they quote does not include the word "initial" anywhere in it, which is really the entirety of their argument. There is nothing to indicate in any way that initial damage is different than ongoing/secondary/any other kind of damage. No idea where they got that from, actually.

Wild Spellfury deals damage to creatures adjacent to you which requires that you be in melee. Thus you want to hit with Chaos Bolt and have it bounce to keep on triggering Spellfury, adding 3+ damage each time it hits a creature. It doesn't hurt that it works with Two Weapon Opening.

Not every build is going to include Burning Spray, I'd rather have Storm Walk to allow me to shift around personally.

As for Sorceror's not having the defenses to go into melee. This guy would beg to differ. He needs a catchy name though.

Wyld_Mutation wrote:

Wild Spellfury deals damage to creatures adjacent to you which requires that you be in melee. Thus you want to hit with Chaos Bolt and have it bounce to keep on triggering Spellfury, adding 3+ damage each time it hits a creature. It doesn't hurt that it works with Two Weapon Opening.

Ah! Yeah, I missed that key aspect of it. It seemed a bit too good to be true.

I guess you could still spray everyone down and really mess up the 1 or 2 guys that are adjacent to you.

The bolt doesnt seem reliable enough to me. Assuming you hit in the first place, you only have a 50% shot at it bouncing, AND a 50% shot of actually hitting the second target.
Chaos Dagger is good and all, but its a DAILY that only works on the one target 'marked' for the encounter. By taking Chaos Tooth, you are sacrificing Jagged which loses out on the crit range.

Still, I am working on including this info. I actually HAD it in my text editor, then come to find out it only works vs adjacent TO YOU foes. ;-)