Best Mage

[the fly]

I was wondering what everyone thinks the best mage in the game is. I just started playing BGI for the first time a few days ago.

[SixOfSpades]

If you want to get right down to it, the very best Mage in the game is YOU, the character you rolled to have 18 INT & DEX, and 16 CON. But you probably meant an NPC (Non-Player Character) Mage.

The main Mage problem is that all of the NPC Mages are Specialist Mages: You'll meet a Necromancer, Enchanter, Conjurer, Invoker, and an Illusionist, but no pure Mages. So, if you want a Mage who doesn't have any Wizard spells barred to them, you'll have to make that Mage. Also, you may find a really good Mage.....whose Alignment conflicts with yours.

I could give you a rundown on the available Mages in the game, but instead I'll say this: You're only in your first few games, right? You don't need a Mage yet. They're a real drawback in the early stages of the game--they die too easily, and they can't cast enough good spells per day to pull their weight in a fight. Only near the end of the game will you encounter battles where you'll wish you could cast {whatever}. For now, stick with a Warrior-heavy party, and get some knowledge of the game under your belt, before you start worrying about Magery.

[Ar-Cunin]

You can also dual-class Imoen into a mage - she has excelent STATS and IMO makes the best NPC-mage in the game

[Albromor]

I personally liked Dynaheir. Great NPC and not at all annoying.

[Willard]

I hate starting out as a mage. You only get four hit points. And worse, there's no Stoneskin in this game! (I just started playing again after beating BG2) Those gibberlings are looking a lot more powerful now......
For an NPC mage, I would recommend Xan or Edwin. Edwin can cast extra spells because he's a red wizard, and Xan has a cool sword.

[ 07-01-2002, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: Willard ]

[Midget Gems]

For starters I would go with Dynaheir - not great, but no major disadvatages.
But as you guys have pointed out it's better to 'roll your own', provided you can get through the early stages unscathed. And a good way to do that is to start as a Fighter and then dual to Mage at, say, level 3. Shame this limits you to Humans only, but those extra HP and Weapons Skills make for the best Mage ever.

[Debaser]

Originally posted by Albromor: I personally liked Dynaheir. Great NPC and not at all annoying.

I agree with both, but the main problem w/ Dynaheir is the she is barred from using TWO schools of magic and not just one. I think she is the best NPC mage in the game though, especially if you have another single- or multi-classed mage in the party as well to cover the spells that Dynaheir cannot use (Identify being a major one of these......also, Detect Invisibility.)

[tonious]

Elminster... It's too bad you can't play as him...

[Eoghan Rutledge]

The choice of the best mage in the game is difficult yet clear.
Although several options are open to the Baldur's Gate player such as the sycotic Xzar, enprisoned Xan and the witch Dynaheir i believe that edwin is the best selection. My reasons are as follows. Edwin first of all initially starts out with majic missiles the most useful battle spell for hurting + slaying opponents in the game (in my opinion') which means the amateur player will not have to waste time, energy and whatever little money he has in the begining in obtaining the scroll of magic missiles. Secondly Xzar although being quite hilarious with his inaffectionate persona towards Montaron is inadequate and unhelpful with limited spell knowledge and no real major contribution in battles untill the latter stages of your game he will eat up precious XP points. Xan, as with all other wielders of magic will be undoutfully massacred in hand to hand combat with huge monsters and because he has such a cool sword players will be tempted to use him for such bloody ordeals charging him blindly into the thick of battle against Flind's in the Knoll stronghold or even batches of Battle Horor's outside Durlag's Tower (not a smart idea).
Even though i think Dynaheir is a skilled witch i believe Edwin has the edge, not trying to be shovanistic or anything, but as a red wizard as WILLARD has pointed out he gets extra spells which gives him the upper hand. Finally Edwin is located in Nashkel and so can be used to rid its mines of those pesky little barking ejit deamons which ave plagued the town and its iron supplies for so long.

[ezekill]

And a good way to do that is to start as a Fighter and then dual to Mage at, say, level 3

Damn strait! thats exactly what i did, and i have just finished the game using only him to finish sarevok, he kicks ass in melee and has a -4 ac, now onto BG2 with him