So I'm running around with the cookie cutter CMWW build, running explosive blast (chain reaction) as 2nd DPS spell after whirlwind.
My question here is: What makes explosive blast part of the cookie cutter build?
Is it the high dmg per arcane power? Wouldnt force weapon or familiar be a higher DPS gain in this case?
I've also played around with meteors for keyfarming (throwing 2.4 molten impacted meteors melts larger groups extremely fast).
Anyone care to share their experimental experiences of alternative 2nd damage spells?
PS: What HP/resist would be advised before dropping force armor from the build?
My question here is: What makes explosive blast part of the cookie cutter build?
Explosive Blast has a cooldown, i.e., it's a high damage spell that is not meant to be spammed. The CM mechanics take away the cooldown and make this relatively high damage spell more powerful than Force Weapon/Familiar.
For more info look at Loroese's CMWW guide, especially all the comments in his thread here and on the official forums. There are lots of people who have done theorycrafting on it. He also mentions the other viable runes, btw.
It's because it doesn't use an attack animation, so you can cast it at the same time as WW. If you tried replacing it with another skill like WoF, meteor, Arcane Orb, etc, you would only be able to cast that spell or WW, not both. Thus it's a huge dps gain to use EB.
And I don't recommend reading over that Force Armor thread. It's way out of date. There's an EHP vs MP table in my CMWW guide that I recommend using. If you can't get that much EHP using SA, then you can consider using EA, but it will come at a huge dps loss. Also APS and LoH has as much impact on being able to switch to SA as hp/resists. If you're only at 2.0 APS, for example, your survivability is going to be very low compared to 2.5 APS because you get a lot more LoH returns and faster DS+FN refreshing at higher APS, thus you can get away with having somewhat lower armor and resists. The table in my guide assumes 2.5+APS and 600-800+LoH.
My question here is: What makes explosive blast part of the cookie cutter build?
Is it the high dmg per arcane power? Wouldnt force weapon or familiar be a higher DPS gain in this case?
I've also played around with meteors for keyfarming (throwing 2.4 molten impacted meteors melts larger groups extremely fast).
Anyone care to share their experimental experiences of alternative 2nd damage spells?
PS: What HP/resist would be advised before dropping force armor from the build?
Explosive Blast has a cooldown, i.e., it's a high damage spell that is not meant to be spammed. The CM mechanics take away the cooldown and make this relatively high damage spell more powerful than Force Weapon/Familiar.
For more info look at Loroese's CMWW guide, especially all the comments in his thread here and on the official forums. There are lots of people who have done theorycrafting on it. He also mentions the other viable runes, btw.
You asked for it... so here you go... beware, heavy theory incoming: http://www.diablofans.com/topic/73391-105-force-armor-and-prismatic-armor-thresholds-and-breakpoints/
And I don't recommend reading over that Force Armor thread. It's way out of date. There's an EHP vs MP table in my CMWW guide that I recommend using. If you can't get that much EHP using SA, then you can consider using EA, but it will come at a huge dps loss. Also APS and LoH has as much impact on being able to switch to SA as hp/resists. If you're only at 2.0 APS, for example, your survivability is going to be very low compared to 2.5 APS because you get a lot more LoH returns and faster DS+FN refreshing at higher APS, thus you can get away with having somewhat lower armor and resists. The table in my guide assumes 2.5+APS and 600-800+LoH.
Crusader DPS and EHP Spreadsheet, meant for Crusaders
My Wizard