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Problems in Paradise!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:14 am
by Red
I'm new! I need help. What are the best mage spells? Which should I memorise and use? Thanks.

ps. Please write in this order:
level 1: - magic missile, -chromatic orb
level 2: - etc.

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:23 am
by geh4th
Well, guys, how's THIS one for an "open-ended" question?

Red: I will let the more experienced people on the board answer in detail, if they will; but I will say that I'll wager everyone has their favorites. It depends a lot on what your mage style is: do you cast offensively, or defensively? Are you a specialty mage?

There are just too many factors for such a general question, IMHO.

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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:28 am
by Red
I beg to differ! A wellrounded mage needs offensive AND defensive spells and tactics in general! I personnally feel there are a lot of bull**** spells out there! Identify for instance is useless. Just go to a shop or get high lore, etc.

Anybody got any idea?

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I am GOD here!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:32 am
by Garcia
I could explain why I picked them as get4th says there are many factors. never the less here are MY pick for you some might disaggree but this is what I found out worked best for me.

1. magic missile, protection from petrification, cromatic orb.

2. Knock (if no theif) web, Acid arrow

3. Fireball, flame arrow, Melf´s minute meteors

4. Ice storm, Imp.invisibillity. wizards eye (remember this one)

5. Breach, cloud kill, lower res., animate death (for mind flayers)

6. death spell, death fog, pirce magic, summon Nishruu (this one eat mages)

7. finger of death, summon Efreeti.

that's it for now. most attack spells but defence is the druid's department IMO

hope it helps

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:33 am
by TrIp-WiRe
Here is my list:
Level 1 - Magic Missile
Level 2 - Mirror Image, Melf's Acid Arrow
Level 3 - Fireball, Haste, Ghost Armour
Level 4 - Minor Sequencer, Stoneskin, Wizard Eye
Level 5 - Breach, Cloudkill
Level 6 - Disintegrate, Tensers Transformation(for bards), Invisible Stalker

I only have Level 6 spells - so I can not comment on anymore.

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:34 am
by Garcia
sorry get4th I ment geh4th Image

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:37 am
by Red
Thanks Garcia, anybody else?

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I am GOD here!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:39 am
by Red
For what do you use the minor sequencer, trIp-wire?


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I am GOD here!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:40 am
by geh4th
Exactly my point, Red. It is very difficult to come up with a "top to bottom" list of spells per level, ranked, because each spell is going to have a particular situation where it is more useful than any others.

You are right that some spells stink, but trash spells for you are great spells for someone else. Some people don't want to spend the money on shops identifying items, and if you are not playing a bard, there is nobody available with really high lore for a good bit of the game (if not the whole thing...)While I find Identify more useful than you, I could really live without ALL of the "divination" class spells, and as a result I would have no problem running a conjurer.

Your topic might be better served if you were to ask the question "What are your favorite spells at each level?" You would then get a variety of opinions that show how people feel about their favorite spell using tactics and such.


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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:43 am
by Garcia
It would also help a lot I you could tell what NPC's you have in your party.

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:47 am
by Red
Okay, here goes. My party: - Me (Kensai(/Mage), Korgan, Viconia, Jan, Edwin (still have to get him) and the sixth spot is for all the other NPC's starting of with Minsc (for the interaction with Edwin and Jan!)

Still have to get a cap remover BTW. Where can I get that?!

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I am GOD here!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:52 am
by geh4th
No problem on the name typo.

See what I mean? a list of favorite spells works pertty good. I will follow the trend here:

1) Magic missile (of course), protection from evil
2) Acid arrow, blur, mirror image, knock
3) Melf's meteors, flame arrow
4) Greater Malison, improved invisibility, stoneskin
5) Breach, cloudkill, cone of cold
6) contingency, improved haste, invisible stalker, tenser's transformation

That's as far as I've got to this point. first level spells are mostly useless in my opinion. As you can see, I am an attack-oriented mage, I go for the kill.

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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:55 am
by Red
Cone of Cold, what does that do? And I've never seen Invisible Stalker, is it good?

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I am GOD here!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 4:59 am
by Garcia
that's because they are Invisible Image

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 5:01 am
by Red
Good one there, Garcia! Image

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I am GOD here!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 5:05 am
by TrIp-WiRe
Minor sequencer stores 2 1st or 2nd level spells in it that can be activated at once on a single target instantly. I normally use magic missiles or defensively on myself - ghost Armour and mirror image. There is also a major version at level 7 or 8.

Cone of cold is exactly what it says a cone going away from the caster and affecting all caught in it - pretty decent damage too - try it on fire creatures and it works even better.

Invisible Stalker is probably one of the best summoning spells in the game - good HP, Dam and magic resistance

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 5:06 am
by geh4th
Don't have the manual around, huh?

Cone of Cold does 2-5 hp of damage per caster level in a cone 5' long and 1' in diameter per caster level. So if you are 10th level, it is 10' wide and 50' long.

Be careful, if your own party members get in the way you will get them, too.

An invisible stalker is an 8 HD monster that sticks around for 9 hours...and of cvourse it is invisible. One of the best "summon" monsters.

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"If you prefer, you could say EXPERT treasure hunter!"
--Gandalf the Grey, the Hobbit

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 5:12 am
by Red
That helps a lot! Now I still have a problem. My party (see above) doesn't have to much magic users at the moment. (I'm still just a Kensai) When I get Edwin I will have him, Viconia en Jan, but no mage (not really anyway). Should I get a mage (Nalia, Aerie?)

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I am GOD here!

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 5:13 am
by Garcia
How embarrassing I have completed the game twice and have never used Cone of Cold. When I get home I'm gonna be a man on a mission! Image

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2001 5:19 am
by Garcia
Jan is a heck of a thief but I would switch him with Nalia. I must emit that I have never played as a kensai you should have to "tanks" but if he works as that then Nalia would fit good. Edwin is a good mage too by the way