Hybird Casters Vs Pure Casters

[fung]

I actually have quite a fre questions about this one...maybe someone can help me.

1) I have a Hobbit Samurai at lvl 4, and I wanna get him to learn some mage spells at lvl 5. I'm cuurently putting skill points into close-combat, sword, dual weapon, critical stirke etc. However, I tink that if I get him to learn some magic, it will hurt my combat abilities. Is it worth it? I think I will put points into the mental realm only, even then, I don't think he will be any good for damage spells. But spells like turncoat etc. will be useful.

2) I currently have a Bishop specialisaing in Preist and Psionic. I read recently (can't remember where) that because of skill levels etc. A pure caster, i.e. pure preist or pure mage will be far more powerful than a Bishop? If this is correct i think I might restart.

[otter]

I would rather put points in Wizardry. Casters need points in their Schools to learn spells above L2.
Pure casters don't get more than 3 levels higher than Bishops by the time most parties are done with the game. They make up for it by having a much higher Mana pool by learning all the spells.
The hard part of Bishop development is holding off on spell picks until you get to Arnika. You can get 5 spellbooks at the Monastery, these should all go to the Bishop, and if you want every spell, (and you do) learn only from books. There are books to be bought and found (and killed for) for all but a few of the L1-5 spells. The other hard part about Bishops is that you really benifit from hours of practise, and if you have the patience, you'll absolutely love the results.

[fung]

but will the sammurai work tho, coz he it will hurt his combat skills. The idea is, he can cast some spells to help the party, before he can attack at melee range. I'm already aware that a samurai who cast spells won't be able to do much damage on direct damage spells. But I'm thinking he can help by caasting healing, armour spells as well as mental spells like turncoat etc.

putting points into wizardry hmmm...since I only want my samurai to work in one realm, isn't it a tad more efficient to put the points just in that realm.

Has anyone built a smaurair similar to the one I described?.. advice welcomed.

P.S. What is the istant death bug? I know that the charc. dosn't get the kills on the kill count...but does the charc. still gain experience from it?

[Wolfie]

Originally posted by otter: There are books to be bought and found for all but a few of the L1-5 spells.

In fact otto, the only L1-5 spell not available to be found or bought is the Holy Water spell, have a look at Mage_77's list at http://wiz8.web1000.com/mage_77.html.

Originally posted by fung: ...since I only want my samurai to work in one realm, isn't it a tad more efficient to put the points just in that realm.

Samurais' can only gain in the Wizardry realm anyways. Here's an article on Spell Learning you might like to read.

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[ 06-29-2002, 04:42 AM: Message edited by: Wolfie ]

[fung]

Thanx for your reply, i found it insightful. But there is still something I don't understand.

1) Since my samurai has to focus on melee skills (i.e. critical strike, sword etc.). When he learn spells, is it best for me to focus on pumping wizardry or (one realm of choice...mental, water etc.)

2)What is the instant kill bug? I know it doesn't reward kills, but does it reward experience?

[Oruboris]

Experience is calculated for the total amount of enemy exp. points destroyed in a combat, so anything that dies is counted. An enemy who is injured but escapes from combat range isn't counted until you hunt him down and finish him off. If you do this in a timely manner, he will still be missing however many hit points...

Your samurai won't get heal or rest spells, but will get enchanted blade and missle shield. If you cast these every time he has enough mana, he will increase in skill: never rest him until he's cast all the spells he can. Also, he can cast sonic boom when not in combat: a very handy way of boosting air magic.

Would assign any 'extra' points to Wizzardry, which seems less inclined to boost from use than the realm skills like fire. Always cast practice spells like light at as high a level possible, rather than staying in the 'safe' zone.

Practice magic bigtime when you hit the manna font in Trynton.

Oru

[el_kalkylus]

I never practice with my bishops anymore, and they turn out fine anyway. If your controlling attributes are high, the skills will go high, and you won't have to bother with practice.

And about samurai: It's worth it to have magic, definately. The samurai can skip ranged weapons and go with magic instead. So pump wizardry 3 points at every levelup. You will get fireball early and other such spells that are useful against many monsters in the game.

[fung]

el_kalkylus spoke my mind...I was thinking exactly the same thing, use spells and skip range weapons.

Any spells anyone can recomend?

[Oruboris]

My thing is to use spells whenever I can: I very rarely allow them to engage in combat, ranged or close, if they have manna enough to cast a spell. It's surpriseing how much faster their skills in the relms go up this way.

I generally have 2 bishops who concentrate on 2 books each until they've maxed one of them, they select a third book to use up exp. points and add to their manna.

While they turn out fine without much practice, their skills in the realms [and occasionally books] increase quicker with practice, giving them access to higher level skills earlier, and greatly increasing the levels at which spells can be cast. Once I have portal, I set the first one at the trynton manna font, and very rarely rest after that. All characters who can cast do so: the lords or valks heal and rest the party, do any buffs they can, and the casters buff or practice those combat spells they can.

Early on, I use the 'passive' spells like shadow hound and chameleon that won't hurt much even if they back fire, and sonic boom [which will cast outside combat, for some reason]. Even having a samurai cast light at every opportunity will bump his fire realm considerably. Helpful hint: cast repeatedly at as high a level as possible, saving manna for a final level one cast: each time its cast supersedes the spell currently in effect, so a final level one light will shorten the duration of the spell.

Portal is a great for skill bumps all by itself, and can be cast repeatedly in the same location. Non-tartgeted combat spells like summon elemental can be cast if you hit the 'start combat' icon.

Oru

[armakh]

One thing that no one has mentioned yet is that when you go to Arnika, you'll find a great sam sword, bloodlust. It is great for melee, but it's cursed, so you won't be able to use a ranged weapon. This gives you ample opportunity to cast your combat spells in place of a ranged weapon. And you'll likely use bloodlust unil you can beat the temple in the SE wilderness-a very substantial portion of the game. Your sam should easily become your best hybrid spellcaster. If you go the route to train magic, you may be a little frustrated with him for a while, but with patience, properly developed sams are very potent.