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 ]