Nova and Thunder Storm should synergize with each other, not Static Field. There is no reason to ever max Static Field, it should not be used as a synergy. It is a waste of skill points, and pumping 20 points into it just as a synergy to nova/ts will feel bad.
Having Nova synergize with Thunder Storm makes more sense, because they would both gain benefit from putting more skill points into them and become better to use together. Static Field gains no benefit (other than range which, with some gear is already great) from additional skill points, so it will just feel like “I don’t get anything from maxing this skill, but I have to if I want to optimize Nova Sorceress.”
One point wonders are good, you shouldn’t need to max every skill you take in the tree. A skill being useful with only one point into it is not a bad thing. Please reconsider using Static Field as the synergy for Nova+TS, and consider synergizing them with each other. 
9 Likes
I second this. Nova and Thunder Storm should synergize off eachother. They could keep static synergy in addition for builds that specialize in nova and Thunder Storm.
1 Like
Totally agree on this, please make TS and Nova go together. Synergy with static makes no sense as already very well described.
And since the Act3 merc will have Static Field, putting hard points into it probably is complete waste.
3 Likes
I think Nova would synergized better with telekenesis
on the other hand, I do not think Thunderstorm require synergy, but actually a complete redesign
Currently Thunderstorm will drop 1 lighting every 4 seconds at lv 1, and 1 lighting every 1.5 second at lv 20. This is actually super weak, even the hurracine from Druid outperform thunderstorm as hurracine deals damage every 1 second to all target within range.
I think thunderstorm needs one of the 3 changes from below
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keep it single target, but make it drop more frequent, maybe 1 lighting every 0.4 seconds, or,
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Make it function like hurracine, hit multiple target every second in range, increase level also increase radius
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Keep the currnet cooldown as is, but increase the amount of lightning as the level of TS increase
most importantly, please give TS stun effect.
That way we don’t necessary require synergy for TS, but still very good incentive to invest into it.
1 Like
Absolutely agree with thunderstorm as a synergy for nova. This is because with only one 5% synergy, nova would still be too weak.
However, I think static as a (second) synergy is fine, as there has to be some kind of price you pay for upping a skills damage to the max.
With this (20 nova/ts/static/mastery) , you still have enough skill points left for eg energy shield.
Alternatively, you can stick to maxing only one synergy and go for a second element.
This adds meaningful choices and further diversification.
I totally agreed with you. Nova should give synergy benefit to Thunder Strom and Thunder Storm should give benefit to Nova. Why should Blizzard promote investing limited skill point in Static Field.
The change they planned for TS in 2.4 does not make senses.
Why so much support for adding a synergy at all on Thunderstorm?
Thunderstorm would be great as inclusion for Hybrid builds. Without a synergy at all, that’s only 40 points. With an added synergy, that’s a larger 60 point investment for a currently … mediocre spell. And with no planned adjustment of Thunderstorm mechanics or Frequency, I see no reason for just not adding any synergies there.
I’d prefer only add Thunderstorm as a synergy on Nova. This would keep the investment to 60 points; still Hybrid capable, though perhaps less so than before.
At least Thunderstorm has some benefit to complement Nova; Static field as a synergy has next to no benefit because you already get a usable static with just one hard point.
As noted below on PTR testing, static feels good at lower levels, makes it a good choice (changed my mind).
Dunno, for me the problem is not the 20 points in static but the lack of synergies for nova itself.
5% per level in static is not gonna be enough for cows at players 5+
Static synergy is excellent for Classic though so I wouldn’t touch that.
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Hi LoveBugs. Nova with the Obsession Non-set build already does Players 5 Cows… fairly well. ~5m full clears. Even if you’re talking about the Tal build or HotO+Spirit… those can clear P3, though admittedly Tal’s is better suited for P1, especially if you combine it with Insight instead of Infinity.
5% per level is 100% increase, that’s already doubling DPS output. This is edging towards too much of an increase, but I’ll wait for the PTR to see. EDIT: Tested modded single player, as noted below. 100% isn’t as overkill as I was initially thinking.
Also, where does it say we need to add a synergy to increase DPS? They could just as easily increase Nova’s output 100% and we’d be in the same place…
I’m only suggesting Thunderstorm as a synergy on Nova because someone is obviously hell bent on adding a synergy somewhere. 
Doing the best I can at damage control here. EDIT: Changed my mind after testing PTR, now favor static.
Would love to see increased frequency for Thunderstorm. 
Likely the easier change to make… maybe they just don’t have the extra time given the reach of 2.4’s scope.
Hi!
I am aware p1, and p3 are perfectly doable and you won’t even need obsession.
Mostly what I was aiming for was p5+ and no end game Runewords or skillers.
5% on static will help boosting the leveling process for Sorc, mostly 18-25 so it’s not a waste if you consider it a “starting build”.
I explicitly mentioned cows because during the MR Llama pre 2.4 streaming, devs talked about being able to do cows with nova, like we used to do, and I consider most of the cows gams at players7 or 8 (for group leveling)
Obviously, depending on your wealth, we have many different builds able to perform better and in BETTER AREAS than cows p3.
So bottom line, I have the feeling at the moment nova is not strong enough, compared to any other leading sorc specs.
But I’ll test extensively on PTR.
Edit.
100% increase is not that much.
Nova damage is very underwhelming compared to other meta skills.
2 Likes
Ive already done quite some testing with nova increases according to the patch notes (~8k nova) on players 1 through 8 in open bnet and it just doesn’t cut it.
We need a second synergy with 5% to give it the damage it needs to have to be competitive on its own, while still not making it an overpowered hybrid choice.
Yeah, as I thought.
Blizzard is already effective at player 7 without any conviction aura or end game gear, in hell cows.
I have a feeling synergy with static field is actually the perfect match because I probably won’t be using nova over another spec, for anything else than leveling a bit faster on normal.
Maybe NM… but blizzard and frozen orb are still better.
And a reminder, I am not talking about end game gear.
With end game gear I don’t see a single reason to be running a nova sorc, in the actual state of the game.
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With or without self holding infinity?
Gotcha! Had a feeling it was the budget vs endgame gearing power that was different in our heads.
I think you’ll get your wish for P5 with Tal Rasha gearing. I don’t think the insight setup will be able to do higher than that though on the PTR. Would be interesting to see exactly where it lands. Can’t wait!
100% is a large increase…
| Player Setting |
P1 |
P2 |
P3 |
P4 |
P5 |
P6 |
P7 |
P8 |
| % Life Total |
100% |
150% |
200% |
250% |
300% |
350% |
400% |
450% |
Let’s say it’s P3-P5 capable now… 2x DPS would then make it close to P7 capable (survivability aside).
- Just tested 6.7k sheet dps modded (original Nova sheet value unmodded was about 3.2k) and was able to clear P7 cows in 3 minutes flat. It was insane. Granted this was with the Obsession build (end game).
- Outfitted the Tal Build with Merc infinity (2.5k base sheet) with double dps (5k dps sheet modded). This build also can do P7 Cows, albeit just a tad slower… 4m clear.
- Ran Tal Insight (2.5k / 5k modded). This build cleared P7 cows in 6 minutes. This one notably struggled with Magic resistant elites.
- Now even though Tal Insight Modded to 5k can’t do P7… it can do P5 fairly readily, noted 4m clear.
Hmm. Maybe ya’ll are right, the 100% isn’t overkill. After testing though, even the budget build is pretty strong, maybe not as strong as a fully synergized Blizzard, but it’s definitely more mobile, agile, quicker at lower player count.
I think it’s okay if Nova is still slightly less DPS than Hydra or Blizzard, since the investment for it is less (60 points)… key word though is slight. Current proposed changes if you want both Nova and Thunderstorm puts it at 80 skill points though… that’s a bit high.
This is a terrible reason to have Static as a synergy. Go ahead and throw all of us Nova mains under the bus so you can have your cushy low level progression. 
I love the fact you were all able to test already and it’s already a good data.
I’ll refrain from saying anything else before testing myself and I am a good believer that not all the builds have to be end game.
But also, not all the builds have to be end game geared in order to work and in this very specific case, devs mentioned cow level.
Cows are not exactly your end game area so the way I see it, nova should be able to dish out more damage.
Respectfully, I disagree with your statement:
Points in static would help a lot during the low leveling phase and is NOT a terrible opinion.
Maybe you are not on board, maybe we have different points of view and we play the game at different levels but let’s just agree to disagree without throwing shade on eachothers.
It’s my opinion.
Edit:
Added wink 
2 Likes
Thanks! I will weigh these points before I give more formal feedback from real 2.4 testing.
Have fun testing PTR! Can’t wait.
Ah, are you into speed running? I often forget that’s a game mode.
Perhaps there is some legitimate claim there then. You’re right that my opinion favors the level 60+ state of the game though, not that I don’t enjoy the early game. Low level builds are fun too.
Yes, I am into speedrunning.
I am far away from the best records but I enjoy the process.
Also I love switching to classic sometimes.
1 Like
Hi LoveBugs, just wanted to thank you for your insight.
After testing on PTR, I’ve changed my mind… Static field is okay as a synergy to Nova. I tested lower levels / early game and the higher level static with less +skills makes a reasonable difference in clear speed. I like it.
Thunderstorm having a synergy is still problematic though.
Glad it helped.
After testing I can say I am ok with the synergy on static but the damage is still too low compared to the standard lightning sorc build.
I can see myself using nova build for leveling but nothing else.
Probably nova was meant to be paired with ES, but until they fix mana burn bug, is just a lesser lightning comp.
Thunderstorm is still meh.
Edit.
They did a better job on hydras, giving birth to the easiest, safest and possibly,
the most “console friendly” build ever made.
(Due to autotargeting)
That one, is gonna be very popular and I would argue we have a new queen on budget MF builds.
1 Like