While we're discussing builds...

[Aquizit]

I had a .... heated debate over warlock builds.

i.e. a shaman muttering how 0/40/21 is the only warlock build worth having after 70 since it's the most consistant high dmg build that a warlock can have, and if a warlock isn't mashing out tons of damage, it's useless.

In any case -- I was planning on going 18/43/0 .. and I've discussed this with Gavril at length -- he seems to agree it seems like a nice choice. Afflic to empow corruption and demo for the rest.

Oh, I also suggested that to go that far into demo it'd be a waste to not get the felguard -- I was .. barely not mocked.

Now, character wise.. ICly demo fits Aquizit perfectly. Control freak, doesn't like to do the dirty work if he doesn't have to, not crazy enough to go destro, and not sadistic enough to go full afflic. (He is, however, ruthless.. kill quickly, efficiently and the like) Especially if the +dmg gear is as good as Gavril suggests late-game.. I might flip to afflic.. but is demonology really as useless as it was suggested in the BC 5-mans?

[Valon]

From my experiance with warlocks in groups, this is how it goes. Mind you, this isn't based on character at all, this is purely game mechanic wise.

I, of course, don't know the actual spending of talent points, just the general trees.

Affliction = godly. Get a large chunk of +shadow, and your DPS will go through the roof. When I raided with my mage, this was the class to beat. If I could hold my own with an affliction warlock of slightly higher +dmg lvls (which, I could, if I paid complete attention to everything.) I knew I was doing my job (This usually had me a #1 or #2 on the damage meters.)

Destro is also pretty good. Get some +fire damage, spec for fire stuff, and you're basically a fire mage that has a DoT or two (but requires those DoTs to keep up with fire mages.)

Demo......lol. I have never played with a good demo lock, but I've played with some mediocre ones, and I actually have a good example of how lol my experiance has shown it to be.

Over the course of a Mech and Botanica group (Mech, then Botanica.) I grouped with a demo warlock who I had been told was reasonably good. I proceeded to kick his ass in damage output the whole instance, while the pet was useless for anything but keeping the lock alive with SL, because we had a competant tank who kept agro on him for the majority of the instance (unless I chain crit over and over. I had a moonkin in the group as well.....it was fun. 40% to crit with scorch for the win.). By the end of the group run, I was working my way towards 1.2 million more damage than said warlock.

It might be useful for those groups who maybe lacking in a competant/geared tank, but for overall damage output, you would be much better to spec affliction or destro from what I have seen/

------

Of course, PvPwise, Demo is just nasty.

[Aquizit]

Heh, well.. that's the other thing. I run a guild based around PvP really.. with our extreme rivalry with IFR and the Honor Guard. Although -- being a warlock.. anything's good in PvP. XD

[Nadea]

My warlock is destruction. I tried affliction and hated it. So I'm destro for life!

I am currently topping DPS charts as such. There really is no one build that does more damage than the other, its a matter of preference and gear/ how you use your spells.

[Aquizit]

For 5-mans now.. I'm usually 2nd or 3rd on the charts.. but I'm still relatively low on the +dmg side of things, as it really doesn't pick up until Outlands anyway. Also I tend to be on runner duty.. (paladins not JoJing and stuff) so having rank 1 curse of recklessness kinda kills my dps.


As for PvP ... I got complimented by Fhenrir.

'nough said

[Valon]

Pfft

Fhenrir sucks.

Yep! I said it! What are you going to do about it you overgrown cow?

[Sanrin]

For 25 man raids nothing will beat a affliction lock. Its too much damage over time, with little mana involved...additionally with a shadowpriest all that damage is amplified by a very large degree.

[Shadowspeak]

There is this one warlock in the 49 bracket who just uses corruption/lifedrain/CoA on my rogue and then... runs. And he wins.

I call shenanigans...

O' course I wont when my rogue is level 70 and has Cloak of Shadows, but... meh.

[Nadea]

There is this one warlock in the 49 bracket who just uses corruption/lifedrain/CoA on my rogue and then... runs. And he wins.

I call shenanigans...

O' course I wont when my rogue is level 70 and has Cloak of Shadows, but... meh.mmmm.. QFT. I cant *wait* to get Cloak....

[Evanthe]

Cloak of Shadows desn't really bother me too much. *shrug*

Anywho, on warlock builds, I've always been an affliction fan. The utility is -awesome- and instant shadowbolts and howls of terror are very, very fun.


Very fun.

And unstable affliction is neat.

I went demo for the balance, to get 15% more sta, improved fel armor and more mana for my pets (on account of dark pact).

So far the build is working out very nicely.

[Darkblade]

CoS @ 68
<3

But yeah, it's not all that powerful vs. warlocks, as they'll just dot you up again. I need to make a CoS/Vanish macro.

[Thalevia]

18/43/0 is a very nice build. It's what I run around with though I have some point allocation difference I think based on what you say. My DPS is a wee bit lower than other locks but once I replace a few of my lacking pieces with good DPS gear and socket my brand new boots I won't be to bad.

Granted all this is based around how I do in 5mans, I have yet to step foot into Kara.

[Lupen]

Yep, if you're into the DoT and run, or the DoT and wait for your Demon to DPS down, 18/43/0 is good. For pure affliction, I suggest 42/19/0. If you want a decent PvP spec, heavy destro, with imp corruption, imp lifetap, and at least 5 points in Demonic embrace. Then again, Demonology is very good in PvP as well.

Me? I'm a 38/2/21, it favours PvE, and I easily top the charts in 5 mans, and in Kara, it's usually Syreena and Muatah who beat me out... And then there's Abric, but I can't complain, this is a hybrid spec at best.

[Dwartmal]

I want to make sure I understand this. You plan on spending 18 talent points to optimize corruption? Why not throw 11 points into Destruction to get Shadowburn? It'll probably help you more in pvp and having Bane will make a huge difference in pve.

You should really just spec to whatever you have fun playing though.

[Sorvius]

You should really just spec to whatever you have fun playing though.

QFT!

You should spec to whatever suits you most, whatever abilities you use the most and which ones you like using!

Me? A rogue. I used to be combat but I went to Sub. and I am loving it. I like hitting someone for a ton O' dammage then vanishing into the darkness... quite fun.

[Aquizit]

I want to make sure I understand this. You plan on spending 18 talent points to optimize corruption? Why not throw 11 points into Destruction to get Shadowburn? It'll probably help you more in pvp and having Bane will make a huge difference in pve.

You should really just spec to whatever you have fun playing though.


Well, empowered corruption gives me an extra 36% of +dmg to apply to Corruption. Which fits well, imo, with Demonic Knowledge, giving 15% of demon's sta + int to +dmg .... just seemed like a nice fit, to me.

[Cyrus]

Hmm, since you'll be looking to PvP the IFR and Honor Guard...


I say go with the demons :)

[Kiraena]

Locks are scary. Period.

As far as spec, I've always been of the mindset to do what fits the character (my baby lock is demo at the moment). You can make any spec work for almost any situation if you and your friends know what you're doing.

/flings 2c