Quote (PerfectLuck @ May 30 2012 02:48am)
I read it. Nothing changes from what I said. He simply stated what I stated, I'll quote.
If you insist, then I'm sorry. I must have mistook this "guide" as using Hydra as a primary source of damage. If you're prioritizing Damage over IAS value-for-value, then you must be using Piercing Orb and Blizzard as your sources for damage. In that case you're right. But that's a pretty crappy build for inferno then. I personally would use hydra for damage, allowing me to fly around the map throwing Blizzard for its slow and PO for extra damage, or arcane regen or whatever. I suggest you use Unrelenting Storm for more damage then.
However if your build happens to be centered around Hydras, like I thought it was, then DPS > damage per hit. I'd rather have my character be faster at casting than slower at casting. Why would you want to be slower at casting if the only drawback is lower damage on your supporting spells? Makes no sense unless those supporting spells are your main.
First, I never said that you should aim for slower casting--simply that you should not look for speed on a weapon, but on gear. And the 2.0 attack speed I suggested works wonders (A. because it's fast enough to provide versatility, and B. because slow casting Wizards have no chance in Inferno--that attack speed, of course, could be increased, but I'll explain in a second why that is not such a good idea).
After further reading, I've come to realize that you were, in fact, right; and yet, it changes nothing. It only changes the fact that when looking for a weapon, you shouldn't look only for average damage, but also DPS. You should still find it very important for a weapon to have high damage, though; as you always want your spells to pack the biggest punch per hit (since you use them rarely), and still not look for ias on a weapon. What you should look for is anything that provides you with more damage (min, max, int). The reasons are as follows:
Weapon #1: 500-1000 damage, 1.3 attack speed--975 DPS.
Weapon #2: 400-900 damage, 1.5 attack speed--975 DPS.
Your Hydra will deal the same amount of damage per hit, it turns out--but; but your Blizzard and Signature spells are going to suffer--and with enough dps-gear, that difference in damage will be significant. I said before that you have to aim for the most damage per hit, and so you should. Why limit yourself to only Hydra? While it is the primary spell for damage in Inferno for most builds, it isn't the only one.
So, your weapon is slower, but you have, on the other hand (because you can't afford those rares with 25 ias, 200 int, a socket, 100 vit, etc) a weapon that hits hard and provides you with a damage boost from mods that can actually be used for good (the most important one being int, I'm guessing). Now you focus on speed, because as I have explained, you need it nevertheless. You find pieces of armor with ias that add up to approximately 55% and you're golden. You find pieces that add 70 ias? Even better, it seems. Ias isn't a wasted modifier on gear other than weapons.
Now, your Hydra isn't dependent on attack speed, but your DPS. And since attack speed isn't the only way to increase DPS, you still shouldn't worry yourself over AS as much as, let's say, a DH. It is much more effective to have a DPS of 50k with spells hitting hard than to have 50k with spells that hit lightly. Hydra would be doing the same damage, but your other two spells (Blizzard and Piercing Orb) would benefit.