Isn't Ice TB supposed to be about control?

Then why does it seem a full ice TB is so much more squishy then fire TB? I been playing rps's a long time and from what I have experienced the dps classes sacrifice some survivability for damage and the survival classes sacrifice some dps for added survivability. It seems that ice tb dps isn't as high as fire and neither is it's survival. Unless I am playing him wrong lol. Anyone care to give thier input? Thanks...

1,945 views 11 replies
Reply #1 Top

well TB is squishy regardless of the mode you are playing(but that tends to happen only in early game,lategame TB kicks ass), and yes an ice TB is about crowd control while fire concentrates more on damage.

Reply #2 Top

As a somewhat experienced Frost Bearer, I'll give you some pros and cons that might explain it.

Fire TBs will move faster than Frost TBs due to their auras, HOWEVER, Frost Presence (I THINK thats the name of the aura,) Slows EVERYONE around you down. This isn't gonna stop that Rook from catching you by itself, but with the help of speed items (Boots of Speed, Swift Anklet etc.) You'll be able to outrun most Demigods.

Fire's spells only have one fuction: Blowing stuff up, Frost's spells have two. Damage or control.

Hail of Ice slows attack speed of Demigods by a big amount.

Frost Nova (After the initial stun) Cuts movement speed by roughly half.

Biting Chill (This is acquired by stacking Hail to max level) Even Stops Mana and Health Regen.

Deep Freeze has two main effects you have to decide on, Shatter Combo and Interupts. Shatter is where most of Frost's Damage comes from, the other source is hail.

If you use Deep Freeze to interupt, odds are you will not shatter. If you use Deep Freeze for Shatter, and the target isn't dead, you are wide open. This situation dumps all sources of control out of your hands and into theirs.

If you play with a survivalist mind set, I find you do alot better as a Frost Bearer. OH! One more thing.

Heart of Life. Get it whenever you can after grabbing Boots of Speed and the Pleanor Crown.

 

Reply #3 Top

A few mistakes in the previous post I can't help but correct (no offense)

Quoting Overac, reply 2

Fire TBs will move faster than Frost TBs due to their auras, HOWEVER, Frost Presence (I THINK thats the name of the aura,) Slows EVERYONE around you down. This isn't gonna stop that Rook from catching you by itself, but with the help of speed items (Boots of Speed, Swift Anklet etc.) You'll be able to outrun most Demigods.
End of Overac's quote

I believe the fire aura only affects your allies, so your speed is not increased. It only adds to your basic damage after the first level.


Frost Nova (After the initial stun) Cuts movement speed by roughly half.
End of quote

Only by 20% for 5 seconds, so only 1/5, not a half (I wish it would :) )

Biting Chill (This is acquired by stacking Hail to max level) Even Stops Mana and Health Regen.
End of quote

well, it cuts regen by 75% so it doesn't stop it, but greatly decreases it :)

The problem of shatter to me, is it consumes all the debuffs you spend time to cast on your enemy, so it kind of negates the control effect of ice. I tend to play a mix of fire and ice most of the times. The funny thing with TB is your opponent never knows which path you're going to follow, so it's a bit harder to have an anti-TB tactic...

Reply #4 Top

The fire aura gives more speed iirc, also the "fire and forget" spell circle of flames can make it annoying for people to follow Fire TB. But lategame when the ice TB has a nice HP pool and more points in the ice skills i think he is harder to kill.

Reply #5 Top

Ice TB is about support, about slowing your enemies down (and freezing their cooldowns) for your allies while having an extremely powerful ranged burst AOE.

 

That said, you're not locked into playing one or the other. Personally I like to have both AOE's, fireball and freeze, just switch personas at will.

Reply #6 Top

I had a feeling I got some stuff mixed up. Thanks for the corrections.(I'll have to double check on Fire's Aura, since I know both auras have effects that do not help the TB himself) Generally I try not to depend on Shatter combos in the early-mid game, since then they're somewhat negligable unless the opponent is incredibly wounded or if I think it'll scare them off.

Reply #7 Top

Quoting Valorel, reply 3
I believe the fire aura only affects your allies, so your speed is not increased. It only adds to your basic damage after the first level.
End of Valorel's quote

Fire aura also increases the Torchbearer's movement speed.  This is easily verified by opening your character information pane which shows your movement speed.  Toggle fire mode on and off, and you will see the speed increase there.

Reply #9 Top

Torchbearer is his own ally. his buff aura's absolutely do affect him. 

 

similarly, the Vlemish Face guard provides a +4 mana regen aura. you benefit from this effect just the same as people near you. 

Reply #10 Top

Thanks for the info about the aura, guys, I need to put it in my build then... I really need more than 20 points cause I'm frustrated with the choices we have to make ;) I agree with Mortissia, an aura who only buff allies would be stupid... I guess My brain decided it doesn't work in order to keep points for other skills ;)

 

I think frost bearer is more squishy than a flame bearer cause he lacks the power of circle of fire AND fire nova which allows to keep most melee DG at a distance, or at least it helps doing so...

Reply #11 Top

Not really, if you use ice nova correctly. Use it BEFORE they are right on top of you, it does have the same range as fire nova, which is your auto attack range. It's not small. Start casting it early and start kiting. Auto attack only if they start going for something else and just keep moving in general.

Same should be said of fire though really, cast fire circle early and start kiting if they come after you.