Endgame and the relative worth of a Mage

[Thumper]

Don't know if this has been beaten to death yet, but...

I finished my first go-round of the game last night. One thing that bothered me in the late stages (i.e., Ascension Peak)was how worthless my level 27 mage was at that point. For about the last 2 or 3 level ups there were no new spells to add - but that mattered little it seemed. Most of the baddies that I met that were semi-challenging always seemed to cast eye-for-eye before my mage could cast anything (and she had snakespeed for crying out loud). Perhaps I was missing something (like negate magic?), but I played with what I considered a "traditional" W7 party - Fighter, Samurai, Rogue, Mage, Ranger and Lord. Heck, I've been waiting 10 years for this, I didn't want to mess with a winning combination [img]smile.gif[/img] .

I am obviously not disappointed (I have immediately started a second game), and I have played enough RPGs to understand the importance (and joy!) of frequent combat. It just seemed that I found my party being inevitably pushed towards becoming 6 or 7 grunts with superb melee skills and one little mage at the back plinking away with her sling.

My second party is an attempt at becoming more "rounded" in magic by including 2 bishops, so maybe I'll change my tune.

I would like to hear if others who have finished (or are near finishing) have a similar opinion.

[ZZOTH]

this game was my first experience with wizardry. never played a mge in this game,my bishop is like level 24 or so and he's kicking mucho ass. asphyxiation is a nice spell and i can't recommend death wish enough. they start out kinda weak but if you spend the crazy cash on the magic books you'll be more powerful than the others much faster. i can't see picking a mage over a bishop. a bishop can do everything a mage can do and then some. also try a ninja,some decent magic and once he/she gets their grove on the criticals will often happen with them 2 or 3 times in a single fight. i've had 2 in a row several times.

[Warhammer]

If you handle them corrctly mages top off at around level 19 (All the spell learnt, Wizardry and Realm skills above 75). Levelling up is then a disappointment: Spell picks wasted, skill points put in sling and ranged combat [img]graemlins/yawn.gif[/img]

Most veteran players chose to class change their mage either to bishop or to samurai at that point (level 18 Mage)

A Samurai-Mage level 8-18 is much funner than level 27 Mage.

Similar applies to other one-spellbook pure spellcasters.

Just my 2 cents

[MaskedFrog]

I found in the later stages of the game my spellcasters were casting more buff or healing spells than offensive magic. I did notice a majority of the later monsters casted eye for an eye. I just charged and had everyone beating them up in melee. Even though offensive magic plays a smaller roll in the end game, I would not give up having my dedidcated spell casters as it would be much more difficult to get to the end game without them.

As others have said, you need to convert your dedicated caster to either a Bishop or a hybrid that casts from the same spell school as a dedicated caster tops out at about level 18. Based on experience I would recommend switching as soon as you pick up the portal spell. Just remember that if you switch to a hybrid, you will not gain skill points through use until you reach level 5 in the hybrid class.

[tabbikaat]

Right now....my party is level 22ish and slogging their way up Ascension Peak.

I am finding my Fairy Mage pretty much worthless at this point. ALL of the critters up here have an extremely high magic resistance! I try to close the distance as fast as possible as my fighter, monk, and Vi can pretty much hack up anything in the shortest period of time. (The Dwarven Lord....coulda left him at the monastary)

My Mook Ranger has been indispensible with his 3x arrow shots and criticals! I depend upon him heavily. The rest of my party is out of arrows and I'm down to my last set of bolts for him. *sigh*

Right now, I'm being menaced by hordes of Mountain Sprites....a true pain in my weary butt!! Fortunately, the Bishop's "eye for an eye" has become the most valuable spell of the day! Oh no! I just looked in my backpack and I have ONE magic nectar left!

Well, gotta run..............I could use some help up here, guys!!

[MaskedFrog]

You mean you do not have a portal set to Ferro.

For most of the game I had a portal at Crocks to restock supplies. Later in the game I had portals at Ferro and the Trang Teleporter. I never really needed Magic Nectars as I would just teleport to the Trang Teleporter and rest.

BTW - Ferro has the best ammunition.

[Warhammer]

Magic Nectar ? Rest ?!

The best place to have a portal is

S
P
O
I
L
E
R

The fountain in lower Trynton (Infinite, free magic nectars !)

[tabbikaat]

MF -

No, unfortunately, my portal is set to the cranky rapax in Arnica.....and he's completely OUT of arrows/bolts - even after 24 hours of resting! And the temple is out of magic nectars....of course.


::wonders if UPS can deliver up on the mountain?::

[MaskedFrog]

Only G.O.D. could do that.

Thats Guaranteed Overnight Delivery for those that may not know.

[Jem]

quote:

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Originally posted by tabbikaat:
No, unfortunately, my portal is set to the cranky rapax in Arnica.....and he's completely OUT of arrows/bolts - even after 24 hours of resting! And the temple is out of magic nectars....of course.

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Can't help with the magic nectars but you WILL find plenty of decent ammo on Ascension Peak, if not the highest quality. There are a number of caches of barbed arrows and hunters quarrels that are just sitting around up there. One of them I found had over 300 arrows in it - all barbed. [img]smile.gif[/img]