Your favourite school

[Zoltan]

I got Dynaheir, as my main mage and she's an invoker. She cannot cast Conjuration and Enchantment spells. Isn't it a big disadvantage? More over, I meet Edwin The Conjurer. Well this means he cannot cast evocation spells?? I cannot imagine a mage without fireball spell! It was a little bit different in BG2. Edwin can't cast ONLY divination spells in BG2, he's got only 1 opposite school but in Bg1 specialist mages have 2 opposite schools. It looks like the best choice is illusion. Necromancy spells are not really often in low levels. Do you agree? What's your favourite school?

[Intimadater]

Well it is just an opinion and it depends on how your game style is and what kinds of magic you use the most. Personally I like Xzar since he is a necromacer and I don't really like any of the other mages in the game.

[ 05-28-2002, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: Intimadater ]

[Ar-Cunin]

I usually use two mages - one of which is Quayle (Illusionist/Cleric)

The other depend on my allignment

P.S. Edwin CAN cast evocation - it's Xan that can't cast Evocation. But it isn't too much of a problem - there is plenty of wands, amulets and potions that gives the same effect (i.e. fireball). Besides - the best 3. lvl spell is 'haste'.

[The Jabberwocky]

I like Xzar because he's a Necromancer. Necromancers rule. Mommy, I wanna be a Necromancer too! :: [img]graemlins/crazyeyes.gif[/img] (Err... Ignore that last part. I had a 'stupid moment' there. )

[Forscythe]

I'll Take a mage you can cast Fireball anyDay!!

But i usually have Edwin and Quale.....

Both are pretty egotistical and thus FUNNY!!!

[The Ozzman]

Recently i rolled an entire party and i wanted to try a gnome mage. I was kinda miffed when i found out that Gnomes could only be illusinoist but i went ahead and used one anyways. Let me tell you he could use every spell that i consider to be good in the game. Magic Missle, Identify, Ag's Scorcher, Acid Arrow, Flame Arrow, Fireball, Haste, and the most important spell in the game for tough fights... Ortilukes Resilient Sphere.

[Zoltan]

Outlike's resillent sphere is useful? I think there's only few spells you use during the game. Which spells are deadly necessary in your opinion?

[Sir Heinrich Godfrie IV]

Posted By: Zoltan Outlike's resillent sphere is useful? I think there's only few spells you use during the game. Which spells are deadly necessary in your opinion?

My four most favorite/deadly spells would have to be; Monster Summon, Haste, lightning bolt, and dispell,

Monster Summon because it takes advantage of the game relatively poor AI, in other words it completely distracts the enemy. But be aware that some higher level mages may charm the summoned creatures and turn them against you!!

Haste is an obvious favorite for many people so I don't need to explain my reasoning on this one.

When you are in closed spaces such as; tunnels, corridors, and the like, lightning bolt is the damn best spell you can use...IMHO. This is true as long as you have a way out for your troops, since this spell richocets about 3-5 times causing immense damage.

And dispell magic of course when you run into some real tuffies that can cast powerful spells on themselves or you!

There are definetly other spells that I like, but its been awhile since I have played BG so I'm only going off of my memory at the present moment.

[Midget Gems]

Choosing the right School of Magic for your Mage(s) is down to personnel preference, which is why everyone has a different opinion. My favourite is probably Illusionist. The only important spell they miss out on is Skull Trap, so I often keep a few scrolls for this, in my quick items slot, and use them like grenades. Also I like the fact that Illusionists need at least 16 points in Dexterity, which is a pretty useful thing to have. Another good School is Conjuror and if you take Edwin he gets extra spells too. The only thing missing is Identify but again a pocketful of scrolls can help take the sting out of this problem (or a Bard could do the job).

I know there are a lot of Xzar fans out there but personally I don't like Necromancer at all. I just can't operate with a Mage without Mirror Image, especially when his only skill is in daggers. The same goes for Xan, a Mage without Magic Missile just can't cut it with me. Also from my point of view as a role-playing decision I never use Wands, so if a Mage can't learn the spell then I don't take the easy way out. Wands are not ment for Specialist Mages, they're for cheap immitators, like Bards, who can't do proper magic.

As a final thought on the subject of 'Schools', it's a shame that the choice is based on such negative features - what you can't do rather than what you can do best. I would rather have seen a bonus attached to each School rather than a penalty, but I guess that the AD&D rules don't allow this.

[SixOfSpades]

I'm with you there, Midget Gems--"Conjurer is best because Divination sucks." Not that Divination sucks, it's just there are so many other methods of Divination.

But I still think Xzar is the 2nd best in the game, because I don't 'waste' Illusion spells on protecting Mages who aren't going to get shot at anyway. And Magic Missile is good, but I'd rather be able to use a Wand of Frost and Identify. Personally, I don't think Mages using their Opposition Wands is cheesy--that's why they're there. Why would the game's plot lead you toward taking a Mage who can't Summon anything if she couldn't use a Summoning Wand?

Oh, and P.S.: In BG2, Specialist Mages can't put their Opposition scrolls in their Quick Slots. Sorry. (At least, I'm pretty sure about that.)