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We all know that the Abjurer is the best specialist mage, so we will use him as an example.

In comparison with a Sorcerer, which class is better? I like the Abjurer because a Sorcerer cannot scribe new spells into his book, and can only learn 6 spells from each level, which is a pretty tight restriction.

The Sorceror is extremely powerful. He gets my vote all the way.

In which ways is me more powerful?

Sorcerers make the best battle mages, bar none. Imagine him just taking offensive spells, then being able to unleash his fury!! Then have another mage memorizing the 'other' spells.

As a main character however, who would be better? A Sorcerer, or an Abjurer?

A spec mage as PC. I love the giant exp that reading spells gives.

Also, one thing I like about non-sorcerors is the oppurtunity to do some 'research'. I'm not encyclopediac on the spells; I'd never used Oituke's Sphere before yesterday. Fun little thing, BTW. As a non-sorc, you can rotate through all of the spells. Then, as a sorc, play it through with your standard spellbook. Then, for an added challenge, try a non-sorc who uses any spell BUT those used by the sorc last time.

Reigns, what do you mean by "better?" Do you mean, tougher, or more effective in battle, or able to learn more spells...or exactly what?

Personally, I think the better of the two is whatever suits your style. I've played on my run-throughs mages, kensai/mages, and sorcerors. All were fun.

Basically I am up for a Wizard which has slight benefits, but not to harsh of penalties. I like the idea of a Sorcerer having thier spells set out the way they do, but the thing is, they dont have many spells to play with.
With an abjurer, for example, you can prepare for fights. By this I mean your can memorize spells required to kill trolls in De'Arnises Keep, and you could also memorize Lower Resistance for the fight with Firkraag.
This essence is mising from the sorcerer because he does not have this wide availibility of spells.

Sorcerors get 6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6/6 while specialist mages get 6/6/6/6/6/6/5/4/3. Sorcerors get more spells, don't need to memorize spells (it's really annoying for my mage to be level-drained), can cast more often (time stop, A-B's horrid wilting, Simulacrum), and get spells automatically. Sorcerors will become really powerful in ToB. Sorceror all the way!

[ 06-13-2001: Message edited by: leeho730 ]

@Reigns, I find the limitation you note for the sorceror--the lack of spell variety--one of the fun strategic challenges of playing the class. But for me, the question isn't "What is the best power group I can put together," as much as "What is the group I can put together that will best achieve its aims while keeping me interested and having fun?"

Just ask yourself this question: "What spells does my mage frequently cast?" You'll come up with an answer pretty quickly, and notice that there aren't more than 5 or 6 different spells from each level. my conclusion is that, spell-wise, a sorceror is not at a disadvantage.
As for writing scrolls (and gaining some XP with it), a sorceror is unable to do it, so on this point, the regular mage/specialist wins.
For casting ability: a sorceror can cast more spells of each level, but, more importantly, doesn't need to memorize his spells. This makes a *huge* difference. How many times haven't you mumbled some curse because you didn't have a particular spell memorized?

When comparing Sorcerors with mages/specialists, I give the sorcerors the edge: the can use their spells more efficiently...

TC, Geert

and they can cast more often..at level 20 a sorcerer will be able to cast 6 level 9 spells, compared to 3 by a specialist.

power word kill rocks against enemy mages. they rarely have hp enough to beat it.
just set autopause to enemy in sight. i remember offing the mage suneer in suldanesslar that easy..i entered the temple..was paused because of enemy in sight...imoen fires the scroll of power word:kill (which have a casting time of 1) result, dead suneer, none of his protections got time to kick in.

Why do you think Abjurer is the best specialist mage???? A lot of people like Conjurer....and i like Necromancer.
BTW i prefer the sorcerer 'cause you have more spells and you don't have to choose them before resting.....That's only my opinion...

please explain why the abjurer is better, a conjurer only lacks out on paltry divination spells

Yes well, your assumptions about mages will all most likely change once the wild mage gets in!

Give me the wild mage over the plain mage or sorcerer any day!

Imaging Horrid Wilting with the power of x4! YEEEEEHAAAA!

*does the two fingered eye poke gesture at any sorcerer, thus poking the sorcerer in the eye, rendering him helpless*

if you import a basic mage from bg1, you should be able to set the wild mage kit to him, as a plain bg1 mage can choose to become a specialist upon importing to bg2

On a side note:

Sorcerer is also known as the lazy man's mage.

The fact is that there are a lot of spells that you can do without so you don't need 1 spell of 200 diffrent but 4-5 spells of the best 20 makes him a powerhouse of magic and depending on your "lazyness" some don't like all that memo. and writing spells.

my vote goes to the sorc. for sure.

Garcia. What about the spells you don't have? I bet acid resitance would come in handy when fighting against an acid weilding maniac now wouldn't it?

Or what about Protection from normal weapons when you forget about the guy weilding a plane old ordinary sword.

Truth is, you cannot prepare for every situation when your a sorcerer so they are fallable.

Amen Vehemence!

B.T.W. I accidently wrote the Abjurer and the best specialist mage. Sorry, the Conjurer the one I meant.