Saving Magic

[Max]

In a couple of threads I have read about not using spell points on gaining magic at level ups, because there are lots of books for the lower spells.

So this I have been doing, but when to stop doing this I think my bishop and mage have 6 spell choices saved up (each) now. Can I start to use some of these on future level ups say saving 5 of them for future use or should I keep saving them. As yet I have not found many books, I'm in Arnika now and just about to go down the vaults in the jail.

[ObverseReaction]

You probably won't 'find' a lot of books, but you certainly can steal a lot. [img]smile.gif[/img] Most shopkeepers that sell books have ones you can steal.

But as for your spell choices, saving them is good, but make sure you take the important skills if you haven't found books for them. Sometimes it's worth it to use the point now instead of waiting for the book down the road.

O.R.

[Mage of Mystra]

Don't worry about the books, you can steal plenty of them later on, just try to save as much as you can. Tell yourself that in the long run, it'll pay off.

[vesselle]

but-but-but-but what about building up your spell skills? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

i think it's just as important to have at least one spell in a few key areas, so that you can get your spell casting ability up to a decent level.

i don't see the good side of being a level 10 mage, who fizzles when she tries to cast a fireball at power level 3. i mean, that's more than awful. no disrespect, but in my game it's pathetic.

i don't want to be facing some big ugly smelly thing that can eat me in one bite and have it giggle because my teensy tiny web just tickles it. LOL!

i think its important to do both. i have used the manual spell lists to plan it out so that i can build up spell skills from the beginning and still have the points set aside for the later ones.

we are like level 10-ish, and finally are green all the way in nearly all our spell houses. i don't think we coulda gotten this far in one piece without that.


V***V

[Max]

Good stuff i'll keep saving them spell points up then.

As far as stealing books, I hadn't pushed Myles much on he's pickpocket skill but thought I'd give it a go anyways. So I'm in the Marina shop in Arnika and I'm trying to pickpocket and shoplift with Myles (pickpocket skill = 18), and basicly he can't steal anything I really want. So I figure I'll start with the small things like arrows and try to get he's pickpocket skill up. Anyways to cut a log story short an hour and a half later he's pickpocket skill is 38 and I have everything that the shop had to offer all for free and about 2000 in gold. Ya gotta love that shoplifting option and the ability to learn skill, thats one thing I realy like about this game.

So now I got books that I can't learn...lol.

[Morgalas Everhate]

I tend to agree with Vesselle, you need to develop your power fast. So I pick some useful spells to achieve such an end then buy/steal/find books to expand my spells options. Even if I don't plan on using the spell, just gaining it through the books gives you more spell points in that area so you can cast you regular spell more often.

But hey, to each their own.

I did not save spells, instead I chose a spell per level when I was able and used it to increase my skill with it and bought (or stold) books to add spell points to that & other realms to be able to use more spells if needed.

With playing Elite Roles (Samurai, Lord, Monk, Ninja Bishop, etc) I also chose a spell per level up, acquired books to add points to those and other realms and use the spells regulary in combat situations where we are safe from getting killed for our "playing around"...adding points to the magic skills by use, so that when we need them to be powerful, they can be since they do advance more slowly than basic level spellcasters.
Focusing on adding points (while leveling up) to one or two spellbooks for elite roles is a good idea but it never hurts to have the spells (available at the lowest casting level that will keep them from fizzling) in other realms so that you can earn points as you go along the way I mentioned above.

I also have a heal spell for each of four elite characters that I use after fights starting with the weakest spell caster first and working my way though the others and hoping I can save my Bishop's healing spells for in-battle purposes. This way, the Ninja, the Monk and the Lord have all been able to become more powerful in that realm which has come in handy when the Bishop has had his hands full trying to keep everyone alive. My Monk and my Lord now have as powerful heals spells as the Bishop but still not the spells points since they do not qualify for the higher level spells that the Bishop does at this point in time.

I have found (not stolen LOL) a lot of books for higher level spells that I am saving for the time when my characters can learn them.

How you go about it is all a matter of personal choice though.

[Vaprakgruumsh]

LOL! What I did was ... I used my Rogue to steal low quality stuff (arrows and such) to increase his skill, then turn around and sell the arrows to the merchant (get money), steal the arrows back, sell, steal the arrows, sell, steal, sell, steal, sell - this brought up my rogue's pick pocket and also put a good amount of money in my pocket over time. I'd save before every theft attempt though, in case it went bad (which it often did in the beginning)! [img]smile.gif[/img]

LOL Vaprakgruumsh!
Yeah, I did the same... esp with Crock...and saved the money I made selling stuff back to him to buy out the books he had available since I never seemed to be able to steal any of them.