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I have used mages mostly for buffing my fighters and clearing riff-raff in TOB. I dislike having to rest to renew mage's effectiveness. I am interested in the strategies you have developed to allow the mage to overcome the bosses of TOB (in general). Please do not submit strategies that take advantage of bugs, stupid AI, or cheats of any type. Thanks.

Well, then you could focus in just few strats with a sorc, who has multiple casting of the same spells.

In truth, mages can do anything.
Buffing (self-buffing for multis-duals) it's just one of the uses.
Now, your question is quite vast, I hope we could answer with little time.
You may start with a search or read here the Elmonster's journal, single-class solo mage.

Oh, he used some cheese, but I'm sure you can find many good
strategies to start!

Thanks for your reply. I will consult your link. I'd like to get the opinion of several people. So, I'll make my question more specific...

Here's a challenge. Anyone can answer the challenge in part or full:

Part I. You have a sorcerer, mage, dual-mage, or multi-class mage with 5.5 million XP and any equipment available in the unmodified TOB game. You can choose any spell except chain contingency and contingency.

Opposition A: You are facing three demons (hypothetical monster) with 50% MR and THACO and saving throws of a fighter level 20. You can cast any spell with a casting time of 2 before the demons can attempt to strike you.

Opposition B: You are facing a series of 3 demons (dispatch one and the next will appear in its place leaving you no time to recover spells). These demons have a 75% MR and THACO and saving throws of a fighter level 25.

Opposition C: You are facing Melissan in the FINAL confrontation. Of course, she is immune to Time Stop and has a very high MR.

Part II. If these challenges are too easy. Then repeat the challenge without the Staff of the Magi or the Robes of Vecna. These are singular items (as the Ring of Gaxx should be). Thus, they would not be available to the second mage of the party.

Thanks.

Yeah mages or preferably sorcs can do pretty much anything. Fighter types might be better in some situations but unlike many fighter classes a sorc can clear all situations fairly easily with some strategy.

Oh and both of the first challenges are really easy. Summon one or more mordeikainen swords. Cast some lower res and pierce magic if needed. Follow with damage spells or maybe a planetar.
Ofcourse you have boots of speed and a stoneskin active before the battle. You could also try casting improved mantle. 24 secs of invulnerability against most enemies in the game sure is nice.

Seems like another challenge...
At the time I'm busy with another one
just two quick words:
Remember that your PC mage in ToB (I always take that ability in Hell) is immune to normal weapons.
So in this case prot magical weapons is WAY better than mantle,
as you are protected from ALL weapons, from normal to +6, and this includes elemental and special damage!

So against the demons or similar enemies, cast this spell, and then
follow with whatever strategy you want, you are free to cast...
Hasted swords are always good, demons *may* dominate them sometimes, but this is a bug....
More in the future I hope...

Dragons Breath, to knock them back/damage then timestop before they reach you.Then its up to u.For Mellisan get a planetar and lower her res.For the demons, just have stoneskin on, which any mage worth anything will have on

You probably want to remove the fighter type dual/multi mages otherwise you'll get the same buff and slay answer for basically all challenges. If you need time go invis and non-detect, SI:abjure (assuming they can dispel), imp haste, prot magic weapons and charge. Refresh prot magic weapons if needed but most opponents will die in under a round. You can multiply this further with simulacrums/timestops.

You haven't said anythign about these creatures attacks and/or spells so a detailed plan isn't going to be very meaningful since you can't account for the actions of the opponents.