Utilising mages

[mr_sir]

[QUOTE=krunchyfrogg]I think mages kinda stink too, because I never know when to use their spells (don't want to use them too early, but hate having a useless character).

You best bet, IMHO is a multiclassed mage, or maybe a Bard (or both!). Both of these guys have uses outside of casting spells, and can use the mage equipment.[/QUOTE]

I don't save up mage spells, but i am guilty of saving up scrolls and potions and wands and never using them. but with spells you get them back when you rest anyway so i very rarely go very long with my mages having no spells left at all. i use the conservatively in battles in the sense that i tend to use them to either take out all the weaker minions straight away leaving my party to focus on the more tougher enemies if they are around or if the enemy is a 'boss' character i just lay into them with as many spells that will lower their hp or rolls as possible so minsc can then lay into them with his two handed sword while imoen rains in arrows.

i have to admit in bg1 i don't use mages anywhere near to the extent that i do in bg2 cos once you get there the spells become a lot more powerful and useful.

[mr_sir]

[QUOTE=Minerva]Am I right to think people who can't find a good use for the mage in BG1 tend to have played BG2 first?

I played BG1 first, so found mages spells like Web and summoning are very useful. Summoning wild dogs in Spider's Den or the house with the horrors etc saved my life, while Web helped me a lot when I was ambushed by Black Talons (I think...those with Ice Arrows) while wandering in the wilderness.

Also, Identify saved a lot of money for the early days. It costs 100gp per identification in shops. That is a lot for the young traveler who can't even afford a bunch of Arrows+1.

You need a lot of creatifvity in BG1, because of the low hit points, less efficient equipments, less money etc. It is completely different from BG2. And I never traveled without a mage.

Oh, and my most powerful and favourite PC I traveled through BG1 to ToB, it was a mage/cleric multi. It was tough at the begining, but it was the most enjoyable and the most powerful by the time I hit Baldur's Gate.[/QUOTE]

i played bg2 first with my main character as a single class mage. i am now doing the same with bg1 with the view to play through the entire story. its tough due to the low hit points but i would be lost without them. my party has both dynaheir and my main character who is a mage and they just sit at the back of battles out of harms way while summoned monsters, web etc. and my fighters dish out the damage then when i feel the need to or if minsc starts having a little trouble i start raining in magic missile, melfs acid arrow, that scorcher spell etc. also a well aimed fireball can take out, or dish out a lot of damage, loads of weaker enemies without harming your party as it just misses them. my favourite is dynaheir casting web then my main character firing in a fireball while imoen rains in arrows.

my style of play tends to focus on spell casters but thats just cos its the way i like to play. i rarely have more than one non-casting party member and generally make sure i have a cleric and druid somewhere in the mix as well as mages.the clerics and druids are often good back up fighters if minsc needs the help and they have some good buffing/summoning spells and i love call lightning that druids get. that combo combined with imoen who is a good little thief and is quite effective with a bow is usually able to back up minsc enough in battles and if anyone gets injured or scared, both the druid and the cleric are capable of sorting that out for you. Oh and lastly, the cleric spell that grants divine/holy power or whatever it is called can turn your average cleric into a very good back up fighter. the druids get a strength enhancing spell too and by casting barkskin on your frontline it enables them to take a few extra hits in a big battle.

[ruscavo]

Wow, thanks for all the replies and advice people.

Since posting this thread I have put alot of work into using my mages to the best of their abilties and I'm having a great deal of success (and fun ).

I've stopped looking at them as damage-dealers and more as enemy managers. Charm spells can turn the tide of battles in your favour and web is usefull for preventing your party coming to any harm. Saying that though, now they have leveled up they can still bring and world of hurt to anything you may face with spells like fireball, magic missles and Melf's acid arrows.

I'm also using my scrolls and wands alot more effectively. Wands of fire can take down whole groups of enemies in a flash and Monsters summoning gives instance fodder.

As I said I having great fun with mages now and I'm looking for to more as they get more and more powerfull

[qwertitus]

One of the most overlooked spells is Chromatic Orb. At first glance it's is a first just a simple 1st level spell that deals very little damage. But once your mage is at higher levels it blinds or stuns enemies for great periods of time. I often use it instead of Hold Person just because it's does the same job and there are mucher better third level spells. A tip: never forget to fully read spell descriptions, you might find that a spell much more effective than you originally thought.

[TheAmazingOopah]

Aye, qwertitus is right on that one. Chromatic Orb can be quite strong on a higher level, and I also use it sometimes just for the sake of not having only Magic Missele selected as a Level 1 harming spell. Of course power gaming is needed sometimes to have a better chance in the big battles, but I do like to have some spell diversity for a tad more realism.

I think Burning Hands can be interesting too, as that one also gets stronger with the level. I believe that you have to stand right next to your opponent, which isn't very safe for a mage, but you can still keep one ready in case an unexpected Dire Wolf makes it through to your wizard... Wusjh!

[Coot]

[QUOTE=qwertitus]One of the most overlooked spells is Chromatic Orb. [/QUOTE]Absolutely. Magic Misslile looks more neat, but I'll never forget I nailed Firkaag with a Chromatic Orb once.

[VonDondu]

Grease is sort of a poor man's Web. I sometimes use it when my Mage(s) can only cast 1st Level spells. Sleep is even better for low level opponents. As for Chromatic Orb, I fully agree with everything said about it. Chromatic Orb was especially useful in Icewind Dale, although it lost its appeal in BG2. (In BG2, I was more likely to use Glitterdust and Emotion to immobilize my opponents.)

As for 2nd Level spells, Horror and Stinking Cloud are fun.

Skull Trap is my favorite 3rd Level spell. I'd rather use a Wand of Fire than memorize Fireball. And Flame Arrow can be deadly against single opponents.

[krunchyfrogg]

Grease really is an awesome spell. It's casting time is so fast!

I love chromatic orb too, depending on the opponent (Magic missile is great for tearing down stoneskins and mirror images).

[dragon wench]

The first time I played BG1, I rarely utilised my mages, except to have them use wands; I was totally new to the RPG genre and the style of play.

This time around, I am using my magic a lot. Larloch's Minor drain has proven to be surprisingly useful, as has Colour Spray (another overlooked spell in BG1). I'm even playing a bard, a class I have rarely used.

I think the difference is that having played through BG2 multiple times (often with all caster parties), I am now much more aware of how to properly use magic, and now I really would not want to be without a mage.

[Reuel]

[QUOTE=CFM]When I played thru BG1...

I says to myself: "Dynaheir the witch, save your spells for that next *big* battle that should be coming up." So she refrains from casting, and before I knew it...
It was time to rest.

Then I says to myself: "Imoen the dualled mage, save those scrolls & wands & potions for when we *really* need them." So she accumulates an arsenal of consumable magicks, and before I knew it...
End Credits were rolling.

So I says to myself: "Boo the space hamster, this is for the better. We'll import all this stuff into BG2, SoA, *the* ultimate sequel." So I imported my Final Save into BG2, and before I knew it...
I was standing naked in a cage.

The moral of the story is...
If you see a red circle on-screen, shoot off your fireworks. July 4th may never come.[/QUOTE]

hauhauhauhauhauhauha Exactly like me...

I recommend to use all the magic you can each chapter and, when the battles come strongly... Then, hold some magic for the next chapter and... And so.

[Monkyboy]

The best way to use mages in BG1 is to learn and use summoning spells. Magic missile is also the most use(according to me) spell in the game.

[Squee]

Last time I played BG1 i had 3 mages:

PC: Fighter/Conjurer, dual-class
Imoen: Dual classed to conjurer aroun level 4-5
And Dynaheir

And this party rocked! Blast lesser creeps with fireballs, it takes 2 secs. I bigger battles use Horror, Hold, Hopelessness, Web and fireballs to quickly immobilize and destroy tougher enemies. Web is totaly awesome combined with Free Action on 2 fighters. Mages are awesome in BG1, just keep them out of harms way...