Are wands and staffs that shoot projectiles a good thing?

[theeliminator]

I have been thinking about this for a day or so. At first I thought to myself "its a no brainer of course they are good." But after I sat and thought about it, what do wands and staffs that shoot projectiles really do? They take away from the skills, instead of casting a spell you just use your weapon. After all Bliz did with making the skills awesome, if they were to add in Projectile shooting wands and staffs it would take away from the caster classes.

I would like to get your input on this. What do you think? Should Bliz have them in D3 or leave them out?

[adiddevil]

staffs and wands may give the player free missiles to shoot (no mana use) nd also certain bonuses(attributes and skills etc).... but your point is quite right too....i wonder whats the use of the orb or globe which she equips... ??

[Sonolegolas]

I'd rather have the staff/wand augment the spells cast, in a way. Perhaps changing the colour of the spell to the colour of the staff/wands jewels or inherited evilness/holiness.

[Runestar]

I'd rather have the staff/wand augment the spells cast, in a way. Perhaps changing the colour of the spell to the colour of the staff/wands jewels or inherited evilness/holiness.

Not a bad idea. They could add new abilities to the spells you cast, such as tacking on extra damage or some rider-on effect such as stun or slow.

[Funkopotamus]

I think this is like arguing normal attack is taking away from combat skills.

[Flux]

i wonder whats the use of the orb or globe which she equips... ??

They add stats. It's like a shield that doesn't block. Basically how the Necromancer totems *should* have worked in D2.

[Grug]

I played the demo at Blizzcon 09, and while I can't comment on damage, the projectiles moved so freaking Slow that there would be no reason to use one unless you're out of mana or feel like Cherry Tapping.