Both are good but the 2x sorc version will be the stronger one

KestrelFive wrote: »

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

Both are good but the 2x sorc version will be the stronger one

Curious for your reasons on this! Why would the 2x Sorc be stronger?

The simple answer is that you would have 2 damage boosting skill lines instead of 2 utility skill lines

But also crystal frag and assassins will are the 2 hardest hitting abilities in the game so any build that combines both is going to be extremely powerful

If you did want to run shadow tho, than I would suggest going shadow + assassination + dark magic since shadow and storm calling both serve the same purpose of giving you mobility and utility it’s kinda overkill to have both

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

KestrelFive wrote: »

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

Both are good but the 2x sorc version will be the stronger one

Curious for your reasons on this! Why would the 2x Sorc be stronger?

The simple answer is that you would have 2 damage boosting skill lines instead of 2 utility skill lines

But also crystal frag and assassins will are the 2 hardest hitting abilities in the game so any build that combines both is going to be extremely powerful

If you did want to run shadow tho, than I would suggest going shadow + assassination + dark magic since shadow and storm calling both serve the same purpose of giving you mobility and utility it’s kinda overkill to have both

Curious what your reasons are for describing Dark Magic as a DPS boosting line. It's 90% support/tank abilities/passives (and mostly bad/terrible ones for DPS builds at that).

Sure it has frags (or weapon) and the exploiter passive for minor prophecy, but everything else in that line (including the passives) are purely support/tank focused. Also, frags + exploiter are completely outmatched by spec bow + hemorrhage alone, and this completely ignores the rest of the assassination skills and passives that are also insanely overtuned.

The other thing I am curious is why you proposed shadow + assassination + dark magic combo? Assassination and dark magic double up on dark magics only DPS passive for minor crit chance (the exploiter passive) and unlike the raw damage stats and mobility offered by storm calling, that passive doesn't stack with assassinations hemorrhage passive for minor savagery and is a completely wasted passive.

I would suggest for OP (if they want to have NB as the base class with 1 sorc line and not use any other class lines), to try out Assassination + Storm Calling + Siphoning.
Siphoning grants an insane amount of ultimate generation (more ultimates = more DPS) and also +6% max stats (more than sorcs expert summoner passive grants) and siphoning attacks has so much passive sustain/healing when combined with crit surge that there's no need for something like dark deal and little need (in PvE) for much additional healing (even though siphoning also comes with NBs burst heal (offering).
Major resolve, speed and AoE DoTs (that would be granted by running twisting path with the shadow passives) are already covered by lightning form in the storm calling line.

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

Turtle_Bot wrote: »

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

KestrelFive wrote: »

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

Both are good but the 2x sorc version will be the stronger one

Curious for your reasons on this! Why would the 2x Sorc be stronger?

The simple answer is that you would have 2 damage boosting skill lines instead of 2 utility skill lines

But also crystal frag and assassins will are the 2 hardest hitting abilities in the game so any build that combines both is going to be extremely powerful

If you did want to run shadow tho, than I would suggest going shadow + assassination + dark magic since shadow and storm calling both serve the same purpose of giving you mobility and utility it’s kinda overkill to have both

Curious what your reasons are for describing Dark Magic as a DPS boosting line. It's 90% support/tank abilities/passives (and mostly bad/terrible ones for DPS builds at that).

Sure it has frags (or weapon) and the exploiter passive for minor prophecy, but everything else in that line (including the passives) are purely support/tank focused. Also, frags + exploiter are completely outmatched by spec bow + hemorrhage alone, and this completely ignores the rest of the assassination skills and passives that are also insanely overtuned.

The other thing I am curious is why you proposed shadow + assassination + dark magic combo? Assassination and dark magic double up on dark magics only DPS passive for minor crit chance (the exploiter passive) and unlike the raw damage stats and mobility offered by storm calling, that passive doesn't stack with assassinations hemorrhage passive for minor savagery and is a completely wasted passive.

I would suggest for OP (if they want to have NB as the base class with 1 sorc line and not use any other class lines), to try out Assassination + Storm Calling + Siphoning.
Siphoning grants an insane amount of ultimate generation (more ultimates = more DPS) and also +6% max stats (more than sorcs expert summoner passive grants) and siphoning attacks has so much passive sustain/healing when combined with crit surge that there's no need for something like dark deal and little need (in PvE) for much additional healing (even though siphoning also comes with NBs burst heal (offering).
Major resolve, speed and AoE DoTs (that would be granted by running twisting path with the shadow passives) are already covered by lightning form in the storm calling line.

You kinda answered your own question here

It really is as simple as frag + spec bow go brr

Storm calling had damage buffs too

So storm calling + assassination + dark magic would net you the most damage

Not really.

Like I said, the "DPS passive" (exploiter for minor prophecy) in dark magic is just an objectively worse carbon copy of NB's Hemorrhage passive (minor savagery + a unique 10% crit damage buff) and those passives don't stack with each other, so the exploiter passive is doing literally nothing for OPs DPS.

This leaves exclusively Frags, at which point, why bother? Why not run Daedric Summoning for 5% mag/stam + curse (which is AoE delayed burst that hits twice) and/or bound armaments (8% stam + a mini spec bow).

Frags really is nowhere near strong enough to carry an entire skill line on its own, especially when there are many other burst abilities that could be combined better with spec bow that also come with much better skill lines.

Turtle_Bot wrote: »

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

Turtle_Bot wrote: »

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

KestrelFive wrote: »

cuddles_with_wroble wrote: »

Both are good but the 2x sorc version will be the stronger one

Curious for your reasons on this! Why would the 2x Sorc be stronger?

The simple answer is that you would have 2 damage boosting skill lines instead of 2 utility skill lines

But also crystal frag and assassins will are the 2 hardest hitting abilities in the game so any build that combines both is going to be extremely powerful

If you did want to run shadow tho, than I would suggest going shadow + assassination + dark magic since shadow and storm calling both serve the same purpose of giving you mobility and utility it’s kinda overkill to have both

Curious what your reasons are for describing Dark Magic as a DPS boosting line. It's 90% support/tank abilities/passives (and mostly bad/terrible ones for DPS builds at that).

Sure it has frags (or weapon) and the exploiter passive for minor prophecy, but everything else in that line (including the passives) are purely support/tank focused. Also, frags + exploiter are completely outmatched by spec bow + hemorrhage alone, and this completely ignores the rest of the assassination skills and passives that are also insanely overtuned.

The other thing I am curious is why you proposed shadow + assassination + dark magic combo? Assassination and dark magic double up on dark magics only DPS passive for minor crit chance (the exploiter passive) and unlike the raw damage stats and mobility offered by storm calling, that passive doesn't stack with assassinations hemorrhage passive for minor savagery and is a completely wasted passive.

I would suggest for OP (if they want to have NB as the base class with 1 sorc line and not use any other class lines), to try out Assassination + Storm Calling + Siphoning.
Siphoning grants an insane amount of ultimate generation (more ultimates = more DPS) and also +6% max stats (more than sorcs expert summoner passive grants) and siphoning attacks has so much passive sustain/healing when combined with crit surge that there's no need for something like dark deal and little need (in PvE) for much additional healing (even though siphoning also comes with NBs burst heal (offering).
Major resolve, speed and AoE DoTs (that would be granted by running twisting path with the shadow passives) are already covered by lightning form in the storm calling line.

You kinda answered your own question here

It really is as simple as frag + spec bow go brr

Storm calling had damage buffs too

So storm calling + assassination + dark magic would net you the most damage

Not really.

Like I said, the "DPS passive" (exploiter for minor prophecy) in dark magic is just an objectively worse carbon copy of NB's Hemorrhage passive (minor savagery + a unique 10% crit damage buff) and those passives don't stack with each other, so the exploiter passive is doing literally nothing for OPs DPS.

This leaves exclusively Frags, at which point, why bother? Why not run Daedric Summoning for 5% mag/stam + curse (which is AoE delayed burst that hits twice) and/or bound armaments (8% stam + a mini spec bow).

Frags really is nowhere near strong enough to carry an entire skill line on its own, especially when there are many other burst abilities that could be combined better with spec bow that also come with much better skill lines.

See you would think that frag isn’t better than the entire deadric skill line, but alas you would be mistaken because frag is indeed better than that entire skill line

You could perfectly rotate all those skills you mentioned… or you could throw 2 crystals frags and still do more damage

Welcome to the reality of how unbalanced the skill lines are

KestrelFive wrote: »

Torn between either:

Nightblade base class: Assassination, Shadow, Storm Calling
Concept: NB skills such as Relentless Focus, Impale, Twisting Path, for damage procs, DOT + mobility, and ranged execute, adding in storm calling ultimate and hurricane for AoE + mobility.

Sorcerer base class: Storm Calling, Dark Magic, Assassination
Concept: Hurricane, Critical Surge, and Crystal Frags procs combined with Relentless Focus and Impale for ranged proc and execute.

Both classes will also utilize bow skills like Lethal Aim, Bombard, Poison Injection, and Endless Hail.

May I add my 2 cents ?
Would have been nice to know if you intend pve and/or pvp, solo and/or group with that, but afaiu ...

Assassination (Nightblade) : Relentless focus, Soul Harvest (for ultigen, applies on back bar), Concealed weapon (flex spot - on back bar, for free minor expedition, in case you don't get it from Hurricane)
Passive added crit for slotting + more crit
-> I would opt out of Impale, as we have other executes in next abilities, and that sounds overkill.

Storm calling (Sorcerer) : Crit Surge, Endless Fury (AOE execute, almost free when cast on low health target), Hurricane (flex spot - you may not need aoe around yourself when playing at range ...)
Passive added damage for slotting + ressource restore + reverse execute

Aedric spear (Templar) : Binding javelin (unblockable stun, bypasses resistances)
Passive added crit for slotting + damage proc + damage + "free" resistance bonus
-> Skill does not hit super hard, but the passives will add to your damage. You may pick another skill like Spear shards for group play, or Sun shield for survivability.
Alternatively, you may consider
Dawn's wrath (Templar) : Sun fire (20s major savagery + dot), Power of the light (sundered + 6s delayed burst)
Passive added damage, ultigen, and overall cost reduction

Anyway,
Psijic Order (Guild) : imbue weapon (spammable damage on light attack, so you keep Relentless focus stacks up anyway - pick stam morph to get major breach if playing solo or pvp), Race against time (for minor force and mobility - or the other morph if you go pve and want some more static rotation)
Passive shield on bracing for slotting + damage proc

And that leaves room for :
- Fighter's guild camo hunter (for major savagery, in case you don't already have the buff + passive damage boost and ultigen)
- 1 or 2 proper bow skill(s) (I'd say "Poison injection" by default, to add some dot)
- Sorc' s Overload ultimate (though Soul strike, Meteor, or Rapid fire may be nice options)

Why not Shadow - Twisting path ?
if wearing a bow, you already have major expedition just doing a roll-dodge. There are better static AOEs.
Alternatively, if you play a gank build, Cloak skill from that line will provide major savagery on both bars, a guaranteed crit hit, and a 10% damage bonus...

Why not Dark magic - Crystal frags ?
The passives from the skill line are comparatively not as good (you get a guaranteed +10 to 20% damage on everything else from alternative skill lines). The skill itself hits like a truck, but (imo) remains unreliable on a static rotation or burst combo.

OFC this requires testing and tweaking for personnal preferences.