There sure are a lot of worthless spells in this game

[Alenkii]

I didn't realize that 95% of the spells in this game were so worthless otherwise I wouldn't of took a mage as my main. About the only spells that are of any use is Armor, Identify, Melf's Minute Meteors. Right now I have level 8 spells and those are the only ones I even bother to memorize.

Any ways, there is a reason why I posting. Does anyone know of a cheat that will allow me to dual class my Wild Mage so I don't have to start over?

[drewal]

I would differ on the useless spells comment. I have found that many spells I thought were useless, were actually very potent given the right situation.

Of course, some spells are rendered impotent by advancing to high levels and gathering powerful items. Who needs haste, when you've got a pair of boots of speed, etc.

I was originally of a similar mind. When I went though BG series for the first time, I only used a very limited set of spells. Magic missile, identify, magic missile, identify, chromatic orb... then later...improved alacrity, timestop, wilting, wilting, ia, timestop, etc.

Now I started a character I am going to take all thr way through from BGI to TOB - except in an all-mage party (not just all-magic, all-mage, no duals or multis). After a few hours of BGI, I found every first level spell exceedingly useful, and tip-toed around wilderness area when I had cast my last version of prismatic spray. A whole new appreciation for the magic-suer class.

As for wild mage dual cheats, I imagine you could do that with Shadowkeeper. Downloadable at a variety of places (www.teambg.com/planetbladdersgate.com/maybe here).

[Hayashi]

Although I haven't played a age character, I think it's a bit of an exaggeration that 95% of the spells are useless.
I think the problem is that starting the game at mid-level (level 7 or so) negates the effectiveness of a number of the lower level spells. Spells which are effective in games where you started off as a lowly level 1 character are of not much use in BG2 because of the tougher enemies, and hence better saving throws.
Still there are a number of useful spells, and as Drewal said, there are many others that are useful under the right circumstances.
Here are some (off the top of my head):

Magic Missile
Haste
Cloudkill
Fireball
Lightning Bolt (but watch out in confined spaces! )
Melf's Acid Arrow and Flame Arrow (very useful vs trolls)
Otiluke's Resilient Sphere (useful to take someone out of a fight completely).
Spell turning/deflection, etc
Flamestrike
etc, etc

[Xero279]

u guys forget spells like abi-dalzims horrid wilting, finger of death, lower resistance, (minor) spell sequenter, spell trigger, mardakenians sword, etc. those are just a few of the awesome spells in bg2. i think you are mistaken

[Dundee Slaytern]

Flipping through my spellbook, I did a quick calculations and excluding ToB spells, I find...

38% of lvl 1 spells to be useful
52% of lvl 2 spells to be useful
42% of lvl 3 spells to be useful
52% of lvl 4 spells to be useful
48% of lvl 5 spells to be useful
71% of lvl 6 spells to be useful
55% of lvl 7 spells to be useful
23% of lvl 8 spells to be useful
64% of lvl 9 spells to be useful

So on average, 50% of all the spells are found to be useful. Bear in mind that this is my opinion, and I have used all these spells before. Some swear by Burning Hands, but to me it is an useless spell, so I am already being cynical in my idea of the usefulness of these spells.

[Sazerac]

Originally posted by Dundee Slaytern: So on average, 50% of all the spells are found to be useful. Bear in mind that this is my opinion, and I have used all these spells before. Some swear by Burning Hands, but to me it is an useless spell, so I am already being cynical in my idea of the usefulness of these spells.

Burning Hands is useful on trolls when you're out of acid arrows and other fire spells.

I must admit that I generally use my mages as backup, and as such, mainly have them casting the powerful abjuration spells such as Ruby Ray, Pierce Shield and Pierce Magic, Breach, Spell Thrust, Warding Whip, Greater Malison, Lower Resistance, etc., etc. When the fighters get in there afterward there's nothing left but enemy mage pieces from here to yon.

Interestingly enough, I find more of the cleric spells to be useful rather than the mage ones.

-Sazerac

[Dundee Slaytern]

Heh, I generally use Melf's Acid Arrow, Chromatic Orb, Flame Arrow and Melf's Minute Meteors to get rid of Trolls; but as I said repeatedly, spell lists really do vary from person to person.

I really should keep a spellbook for Priest spells as well... but I never did, because well... I already know I will have all of them, whether I want them or not. I only kept a spellbook for Mage spells because I need to refer to it everytime I need a spell-list.

Sadly though, people tend to overlook the combat spells in the Priest spell selection, because when they think Cleric, they think Healer.

[Alisttair]

A very fun level 1 spell is Find Familiar for your main character [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Maxamus]

Spell lists (clerical and mage) very from person to person

For instance, I'm more of a direct approche, isntead of the beef up. I cast Missles and arrows and all this weird stuff at my enemys while my tanks take card of the bigger boys, then I summon out summon out summon out. I build up a small army.

But I know people who turn themselves into tanks. They use sequencers and the likeand imedately can take on the de-arnise hold alone with soem missles and flames spells.

But I'm two adrenilien filled in battles, I forget to mirror image my self and instead summon an army.

Whatever floats your boat

(by the way. familliar are hilarious, the imp and the rabbit are my favorate)

[Memnoch]

Useful all depends on the situation.

Let's take Knock...normally a useless spell, since a thief can open a lot of doors or chests. What if you decide to play without a thief? Knock gets useful then, doesn't it.

Most mage spells have some utilitarian value. If you have access to level 8 spells why are you using Armor when you can use Improved Mantle? Or why use Melf's when you can use Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting, which is probably one of the most effective AOE spells you can use in BG2 (since it does not affect your party).

Here's another one - Emotion. Useless? Try casting it at the group of adventurers at the Den of the Seven Vales. With it you will defeat them even if your party is low-level.

Another one - Stoneskin. Makes your impervious to backstab.

It all depends on the situation.