the best of the best of the best

[Attila]

Okay i just restarted Baldurs gate and i decided to pick another Mage character, specialising this time around... I remeber a while back this was a major issue, Which is the Best Specialist mage?

And many people decided that an illustionist was the best and safest option... So i decided to create one... PROBLEM i dont know if it is my version of the game or a bug but to be an illustionist 16 is the required DEX, now really what does an mage need 16Dex for...so he or she can whack people better? Now that is a waste of precious points, i feel its a waste of 9 infact... If one is not planning on a cookie cutter, ie high 80 above i dont see the illustionist as an option, because i like my mage to be as strong as possible, so he can carry more than just his staff and robe...

[Garnet FalconDance]

My son, who is all-knowing , says the Conjurer would the best bet.

::shrugs:: I prefer rangers, personally, or fighter combos.

[250]

conjunor is the best, he loses divination spells (which are pretty powerful in AD&D PnP games, but not in BG)

you basically lose nothing as a conjunor

[Kaz]

I always like Transmuter. You cannot cast Abjuration spells (for instance Minor Globe of Invulnerbility) but I never use those anyway. NOTE: Do NOT use a Transmuter in BG2. The protection spells are far more important than in BG1.

[SixOfSpades]

Basically, the only 3 Specialist Mages to be are Necromancer, Illusionist, and Conjurer. Each one loses the ability to cast about *THREE* good spells, and that's it. I had Imoen become a Conjurer last time, but not being able to Identify really got to me, so I think on my next time around I'll make her an Illusionist.
Mages need as much DEX as they can possibly get. A) Mages have the weakest armor capabilities in the game, so they'd better be able to dodge things pretty damn well. B) Mages have the weakest armor capabilities in the game, so it's idiotic to try to take them into a melee. For a Mage to put his first weapon point into anything but Missile is foolish.

Pure mage is always the best class to be, regardless what a lot of people say. So you get a spell per level more by being a specialist mage. So what? There are always rings, amulets and scrolls which can increase the amount of spells you can cast, but nothing can make up for the often very important and useful spells you lose by specialising in one type of magic.

[ 11-16-2001: Message edited by: Arledrian ]

[250]

quote:

---

Originally posted by SixOfSpades:
Basically, the only 3 Specialist Mages to be are Necromancer, Illusionist, and Conjurer. Each one loses the ability to cast about *THREE* good spells, and that's it. I had Imoen become a Conjurer last time, but not being able to Identify really got to me, so I think on my next time around I'll make her an Illusionist.
Mages need as much DEX as they can possibly get. A) Mages have the weakest armor capabilities in the game, so they'd better be able to dodge things pretty damn well. B) Mages have the weakest armor capabilities in the game, so it's idiotic to try to take them into a melee. For a Mage to put his first weapon point into anything but Missile is foolish.

---

my mage does kung fu fighting, he teleports around and smash people with Mau de Tel... wait, I am thinking about DII here...

[ 11-16-2001: Message edited by: 250 ]

[Svenman{GUARD}]

The best to be is a pure mage. But if you really want to be a specialist, coose conjurur.

[SixOfSpades]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Arledrian:
nothing can make up for the often very important and useful spells you lose by specialising in one type of magic.

---

That's not quite true.....what about those truckloads of wands your Mage always seems to be carting around? I hear people complaining that Xan can't cast Fireball, Lightning, Magic Missile.....Wands, folks. Same with Dynaheir and Monster Summoning. (Okay, so there's only one Wand of that before Chapter 5.....so remember to recharge it!)
Xan's Moonblade is a hell of a nice weapon....too bad it's a Dagger and not a Sling.

[Attila]

Hmmmm there is a general consensus that a conjurer is the better option... Not being able to Identify stuff for free digs into very existence as a tight wad, however ive realised the second time round u basically should know what each useful item looks like and does so identify does become obsolete...

Back to the Dex!

quote:

---

A) Mages have the weakest armor capabilities in the game, so they'd better be able to dodge things pretty damn well. B) Mages have the weakest armor capabilities in the game, so it's idiotic to try to take them into a melee.

---

Hmmm i dont understand why a mage would ever have to dodge missiles at all, seeing as if its a fact of life that a mage always goes in last, And B) i don understand why this was written anyway as it is also a precept, a mutual understanding among RPG players.

Illusitionist, is in my opinion just not viable because of the wasted pts in Dex, Which comes to another understanding that Dex is just not for a Spellcaster... if u really want high DEX the Gauntlets are an early get and it gives u 18 straight away...

quote:

---

The best to be is a pure mage

---

Whats more pure than a specialist Mage who specialises in one field, The normal Mage is not pure, its a hybrid mongrel that is an apprentice to all fields but a master in none...sorry got carried away

And i feel the extra spell per lvl is extremely beneficial u just dont know when that extra Stinking Cloud will come in handy...