Best spell selection for a mage?

AbysmalNature · Post by **AbysmalNature** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 9:30 am

Well what is your advise on what are the best spells which should be picked. Magic Missiles, Breach, any others for my character, never really plaid a mage before, mainly a fighter class or ranger.

Is that familiar spell a good spell, could you give me some advice as to which are the most useful spells?

Quitch · Post by **Quitch** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 10:12 am

Myself,I've always been rather fond of Colour Spray and Energy Drain.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 12:46 pm

I never use familiars, the only thing they do is cost inventory space.
For spells, that depends on how you play.
magic missile is alway good, casue every missile has his own roll, so you have a good chance of hitting the creature.
I currently solo a fighter/mage/thief so I use a lot of cload and summoning spells,
but when you play in a team i find the lesser cloud spells anoying cause they hurt you're own party members (higher level spells don't)
I realy like fireball. And against mages i would recommand pierce magic/breach (and insectplague (druid spell))
I also realy like lower resitance (great for dragons)

The best spell IMO is magic missile, and i know a lot of people agree with me!

FudD · Post by **FudD** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 3:08 pm

chain lightening (one of my fav's)
protect from petrification (needed if soloing)
knock (needed if soloing non theif)
haste (always lets you woop em' )
lightening bolt (cast in hallways for many hits)
slow (after you are hasted they are finished)
stoneskin (a must for mage)
pierce magic (gives a lil' bonus)
protect from magic weapons (Drow?...lol)
spell trigger (unleash your power!)
black blade of disaster (+5 that does 2-24)
meteor swarm (long time fav of mine)
spell trap (my fav protect spell)
time stop (hard to beat this spell)

there are more but that a big enuff list

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 3:47 pm

Originally posted by Stilgar:
<STRONG>I never use familiars, the only thing they do is cost inventory space.
</STRONG>

Man, talk about a misunderstanding... Familars can be quite useful in the beginning of the game. You should at least get one in order to obtain the extra HPs (which are very useful considering the low number of HPs a Mage normally gets). If you can't stand having the spell inscribed in your spellbook, you can always remove it after installing ToB (or use SK).

These are my favourites level 1-6 spells:

Level 1

Burning Hands - "What a cute little troll, may I touch it?", damage higher with levels

Chromatic Orb - great effects

Find Familiar - use once, may be cast from scroll

Identify - "I wonder, I wonder...", if no Bard in party

Magic Missile - "Gotta catch them all!", very fast and oh so effective, damage higher with levels

Spook - "Scared you, did I?", most underrated spell, does wonders even to high level ennemies

Level 2

Blur - "Had a drink to much?", nice protection

Horror - human ennemies often fail save

Invisibility - for scouting or backstabbing

Knock - if no good Thief in party

Melf's Acid Arrow - "Bull's eye!", higher damage with levels

Mirror Image - "Aren't we all looking particulary good today?", great protection

Web - "You'd think those sticky webs would burn once all the fireballs come sweeping in. Unfortunately for you, they don't!"

Level 3

Dispel Magic - you may let Keldorn or your Priests take care of this one. It is essential, though.

Fireball - "Well now, how did that fireball go?", *the* Mage spell per definition, higher damage with levels

Flame Arrow - when Fireballs ain't an option

Haste - good pre-battle spell

Hold Undead - "Thought on draining a level or two, did you? Time to die again!"

Melf's Minute Meteors - "The nasty Fighter's being hit by a Mage, the nasty Fighter's being hit by a Maaage...!

Skull Trap - higher damage with levels and no cap, be careful with the distance!

Slow - underrated, great for ennemy parties

Vampiric Touch - "I may be ill, are my hands feeling cold to you?", good when still got Stoneskin up but low on HPs

Level 4

Fireshield Red - "Nice try Firkraag!"

Improved Invisibility - "And how many leathal weapons am I holding up right now?"

Spider Spawn - "I sincerely hope you have more than one spell of Stoneskin - my pets beside you do five attacks per round. Each."

Spirit Armor - "Ouch, I hurt myself!"

Stoneskin - "Man, do I feel grey today!"

Level 5

Breach - "Peeling the onion, peeling the onion..."

Chaos - "You must have hurt yourself real badly. Those guys dressed like you are the ennemy here, remember? Yeah, that's right."

Cloudkill - "Take a nice deep breath and you'll soon feel better!"

Lower Resistance

Level 6

Chain Lightning - "Stand together folks, stand together!"

Contingency

Death Spell - very nice for Umber Hulks in particular

Improved Haste - "Kung fu fighting, fast as lightning..."

Pierce Magic

Tenser's Transformation - "Did I mention I suffer from dual personalities?"

[ 12-06-2001: Message edited by: Astafas ]

MindShadow · Post by **MindShadow** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 8:54 pm

Nice!

Dying Wizard · Post by **Dying Wizard** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 9:25 pm

somethi8ng that works better than cloudkill; abi-dalzims horrid wilting. Great spell. fireball is also a classic.

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Wed Dec 05, 2001 9:41 pm

@astafas, you are my new hero, not just listing good spells, but oh the witty commentary, you've livend up my day

Astafas · Post by **Astafas** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 1:14 am

Originally posted by Knight Errant:
<STRONG>@astafas, you are my new hero, not just listing good spells, but oh the witty commentary, you've livend up my day</STRONG>

That's great. Thanks!

PS. I like to get votes DS.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Thu Dec 06, 2001 2:54 pm

See Xyx's site for the mage spells. He has rated them and explained what they do.