Category:Mages - Revision history

3nki: /* Mages at Lord Tier */

2021-05-28T16:05:14Z

Mages at Lord Tier

Zahri: /* Practicing */

2014-04-29T16:29:09Z

Practicing

3nki: /* Worshipping */

2013-11-18T02:30:47Z

Worshipping

3nki: /* Worshipping */

2013-11-18T02:26:48Z

Worshipping

Murk: Corrected minor typo

2013-11-18T00:19:43Z

Corrected minor typo

Murk: Rectified the statement about higher mana with Qxl. This is unfounded.

2013-11-18T00:19:06Z

Rectified the statement about higher mana with Qxl. This is unfounded.

Murk: Corrected the threshold for no-fail from 91-95% to 95-100%.

2013-11-18T00:03:29Z

Corrected the threshold for no-fail from 91-95% to 95-100%.

3nki: /* Mages in General */

2013-04-29T18:46:00Z

Mages in General

Neyne: /* Mage Prestige Options */

2013-01-24T15:56:42Z

Mage Prestige Options

Neyne: /* Fighting */

2013-01-24T15:42:09Z

Fighting

@@ Line 264: / Line 264: @@
 == Mages at Lord Tier ==
-Mages are always welcome in groups at [[:Category:Lord |lord]] [[:Category: Tiers |tier]] because they excel at dealing damage and there are only a few runs where they are useless. Unlike  [[:Category: Hero |hero]] [[:Category: Tiers |tier]] mages are almost a requirement for most Lord running. They are also considerably larger and more robust than Wizards and Sorcerers (bested only by Mindbenders and Stormlords hp-wise), permitting them to serve as tank on smaller runs if their gear allows it. This physical advantage over the more powerful remort and prestige classes is moderated by their reduced usefulness in terms of available mana for damage purposes. They may also [[Practice |practice]] a [[:Category: Skills And Spells |spell]] that enables them to [[Christen|rename]] [[:Category: Objects |objects]].
+Mages are always welcome in groups at [[:Category:Lord |lord]] [[:Category: Tiers |tier]] because they excel at dealing damage and there are only a few runs where they are useless. Unlike  [[:Category: Hero |hero]] [[:Category: Tiers |tier]] mages are almost a requirement for most Lord running. They are also considerably larger and more robust than Wizards and Sorcerers (bested only by Mindbenders and Stormlords hp-wise), permitting them to serve as tank on smaller runs if their gear allows it. This physical advantage over the more powerful remort and prestige classes is moderated by their reduced usefulness in terms of available mana for damage purposes. They may also [[Practice |practice]] a [[:Category: Skills And Spells |spell]] that enables them to [[Christen|rename]] [[:Category: Objects |objects]]. Mages are also able to [[Transmogrify]].
-<Br>
 Side note: Mages are the least of a liability when they run in AC gear. Despite their status as "hitters," they should probably not run in DR gear, as it will do little for their damage and make them a liability. In addition, while it can be wise to regen in HP or Mana gear, if nothing else than for an extra oomph to clear the shift, it is advised against running in these kinds of gear, as again, they can make the Mage an instant splat, instead of someone who has a chance to survive.
 == Mage Remort Options ==

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 After maximizing their [[Wisdom |wisdom]], [[Intelligence |intelligence]], and [[Constitution |constitution]], mages should start practicing [[:Category: Skills And Spells |skills]].
-The trainer in [[Midgaard]] for mages is the [[Guildmaster (mage)|Arch Mage]]. To locate her, you will need to cast [[Detect Magic]] on yourself and follow the hidden signs that appear in the streets in the southwest quarter of the city. After you learn [[Teleport]], you can travel directly to '''arch mage guild'''.
+The trainer in [[:Category: Town Of Solace |Solace]] for mages is [[Guildmaster (mage)|apprentice Tevin]]. To locate him, you can cast [[Detect Magic]] on yourself and follow the hidden arrows that appear once leaving Stonehall.
 Mages adept their skills at 95%, so view the [[Intelligence]] table to see what amount of intelligence you need to spend as few practice points as possible.

@@ Line 153: / Line 153: @@
 '''Bhyss vs. Shizaga vs. Quixoltan:'''  [[Quixoltan]] and [[Shizaga]] are most popular among Avatar MUD's mages.  Both of these [[:Category: Gods And Goddesses |deities]] increase their worshippers' spell damage, which is very beneficial to mages because they do most of their damage via their [[:Category: Spells |spells]]. [[Bhyss]] increases spell damage more than [[Shizaga]] or [[Quixoltan]] do. [[Bhyss]] and [[Quixoltan]] also increases melee damage, while [[Shizaga]] decreases it. The melee bonus Quixoltan and Bhyss provide is somewhat useful on brutish races that switch into hit gear while fighting, but otherwise is not significant.
-Overall, [[Bhyss]] and [[Quixoltan]] ideal for mages wishing to maximize their overall combat damage, but [[Bhyss]] worship carries the penalty of (significantly) lower level-up gains across all stats.
+Overall, [[Bhyss]] and [[Quixoltan]] are good for mages wishing to maximize their combat damage, although [[Bhyss]] worship carries the penalty of (significantly) lower level-up gains across all stats.
 A short rundown:
-* If you are interested in a fast leveler (with a remort goal in sight), and/or an efficient enchanter for making gear, worship Shizaga. Or if you're more concerned about enjoying play than maximizing hit points. Shizaga is the most popular choice among Avatar's mages due to versatility, good mana gains, decreased spell lag, increased mana regeneration, and no significant penalties.
+* If you are interested in a fast leveler (with a remort goal in sight), and/or an efficient enchanter for making gear, worship Shizaga. Or if you're more concerned about enjoying play than maximizing hit points. Shizaga is the most popular choice among Avatar's mages due to versatility, good mana gains, decreased spell lag, slightly decreased spell cost, improved enchanting, and no significant penalties.
 * For those seeking to maximize their hp, Quixoltan is the best choice. However, Quixoltan makes characters slow to cast their spells, regenerate slower, and have a daunting penalty with each death.  There is also the higher spell cost, no-boon for sacrificing corpses, and lack of an experience bonus. Finally, there is zero evidence that the extra int point (when devoting to this God) increases mana pools. Mana gains are identical to Shizaga with ample anecdotal evidence to sustain this.
-* Bhyss is popular with casters at Lord tier since characters are well-developed by then and the level-up penalties are not as significant. The damage bonus Bhyss provides outweighs all other penalties at Lord tier. If you care about your level-up gains, worshipping Bhyss throughout hero tier is not recommended.
+* Bhyss is popular with casters at Lord tier since characters are well-developed by then and the level-up penalties are not as significant. The damage bonus Bhyss provides outweighs all other penalties at Lord tier. Bhyss also reduces spell cost. If you care about your level-up gains, worshipping Bhyss throughout hero tier is not recommended.
 See [[Worship |Worship]] for more detail regarding [[:Category: Gods And Goddesses |worship options]] and their effects.

@@ Line 151: / Line 151: @@
 |}
-'''Bhyss vs. Shizaga vs. Quixoltan:'''  [[Quixoltan]] and [[Shizaga]] are most popular among Avatar MUD's mages.  Both of these [[:Category: Gods And Goddesses |deities]] increase their worshippers' spell damage, which is very beneficial to mages because they do most of their damage via their [[:Category: Spells |spells]]. [[Bhyss]] increases spell damage more than [[Shizaga]] or [[Quixoltan]] do. [[Bhyss]] and [[Quixoltan]] also increases melee damage, while [[Shizaga]] decreases it. However melee bonus Quixoltan and Bhyss provide is more useful on the brutish races since it will not significantly impact a typical mage's melee ability.
+'''Bhyss vs. Shizaga vs. Quixoltan:'''  [[Quixoltan]] and [[Shizaga]] are most popular among Avatar MUD's mages.  Both of these [[:Category: Gods And Goddesses |deities]] increase their worshippers' spell damage, which is very beneficial to mages because they do most of their damage via their [[:Category: Spells |spells]]. [[Bhyss]] increases spell damage more than [[Shizaga]] or [[Quixoltan]] do. [[Bhyss]] and [[Quixoltan]] also increases melee damage, while [[Shizaga]] decreases it. The melee bonus Quixoltan and Bhyss provide is somewhat useful on brutish races that switch into hit gear while fighting, but otherwise is not significant.
 Overall, [[Bhyss]] and [[Quixoltan]] ideal for mages wishing to maximize their overall combat damage, but [[Bhyss]] worship carries the penalty of (significantly) lower level-up gains across all stats.

@@ Line 159: / Line 159: @@
 * If you are interested in a fast leveler (with a remort goal in sight), and/or an efficient enchanter for making gear, worship Shizaga. Or if you're more concerned about enjoying play than maximizing hit points. Shizaga is the most popular choice among Avatar's mages due to versatility, good mana gains, decreased spell lag, increased mana regeneration, and no significant penalties.
-* For those seeking to maximize their hp, Quixoltan is the best choice. However, Quixoltan makes characters slow to cast their spells, regenerate slower, and have a daunting penalty with each death.  There is also the higher spell cost, no-boon for sacrificing corpses, lower and experience bonus. Finally, there is zero evidence that the extra int point (when devoting to this God) increases mana pools. Mana gains are identical to Shizaga with ample anecdotal evidence to sustain this.
+* For those seeking to maximize their hp, Quixoltan is the best choice. However, Quixoltan makes characters slow to cast their spells, regenerate slower, and have a daunting penalty with each death.  There is also the higher spell cost, no-boon for sacrificing corpses, and lack of an experience bonus. Finally, there is zero evidence that the extra int point (when devoting to this God) increases mana pools. Mana gains are identical to Shizaga with ample anecdotal evidence to sustain this.
 * Bhyss is popular with casters at Lord tier since characters are well-developed by then and the level-up penalties are not as significant. The damage bonus Bhyss provides outweighs all other penalties at Lord tier. If you care about your level-up gains, worshipping Bhyss throughout hero tier is not recommended.

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Certain races carry inherent bonuses when casting the arcane spells - these manifest as:
 * cheaper spells - requiring less mana to cast them, and
-* ability to become ''nofail'' upon reaching a certain level of expertise, most often 91-95%. This means they will not fail to cast a spell once they practice it fully.
+* ability to become ''nofail'' upon reaching a certain level of expertise, most often 95-100%. This means they will not fail to cast a spell once they practice it fully.
 Races such as [[Elf|Elves]], for example have both, and are thus an excellent choice for this class.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Mages specialize in casting [[:Category: Skills And Spells That Harm Mobs |offensive spells]].  They can generally do more damage than many other [[:Category: Classes |classes]] as long as they do not become depleted of their [[Mana Points |mana]]; this dependence upon their mana supply may be their greatest weakness.
-Mages, with their in-class transportation spells and [[Surge |surging ability]], can obtain and [[Enchanting |enchant]] [[:Category: Gear |gear]] more easily than most other [[:Category: Classes |classes]], which makes them handy either for equipping their alternate [[:Category: Characters |characters]] or for earning money by selling enchanted gear to other players.
+Mages, with their in-class transportation spells and [[Surge |surging ability]], can obtain and [[Enchanting |enchant]] [[:Category: Gear |gear]] more easily than most other [[:Category: Classes |classes]], which makes them handy either for equipping their alternate [[:Category: Characters |characters]] or for earning money by selling enchanted gear to other players. Also, mages and [[:Category: Wizards |wizards]] are the only two classes that can [[Charge Shield |charge shields]], which is very handy both for themselves and for charging shields for other characters.
 Their ability to solo more easily than melee or healer [[:Category:Classes|classes]] may make mages especially appealing to players whose circumstances do not always allow them to conveniently fight in groups.  Mages, sadly, tend to die more frequently over time than other classes for a variety of reasons, including their fewer [[Hit Points |hit-points]] and the fact that [[:Category:Mana Gear|mana gear]], which enables their damage abilities, is not very protective in combat.  For this reason, it can be argued that [[:Category: Tank Gear |tank gear]] is more important to mages than any other set of [[:Category: Gear |gear]], accompanied by an ability to change into it rapidly (using effective [[:Category: Gear Changing Aliases |gear-changing aliases]]) at moments of mortal danger.

@@ Line 179: / Line 179: @@
 == Mage Prestige Options ==
-[[Level |Level]]-50 mages may choose to become either [[:Category: Stormlords |stormlords]] or [[:Category: Wizards |wizards]] instead.  As [[:Category: Stormlords |stormlords]], they will gain more [[Hit Points |hit points]] but less [[Mana Points |mana]], will not be able to [[surge]] as high, and will cast [[:Category:Sustained Spells |sustained spells]]; see [[:Category: Stormlords |Stormlords]] for more information about this [[:Category: Prestige Classes |prestige class]].  As [[:Category: Wizards |wizards]], they will gain less [[Hit Points |hit points]] but more [[Mana Points |mana]] and they will forfeit their ability to learn certain useful spells & skills (particularly [[:Category: Psionicist Lowmort Skills And Spells |psionic spells]]) but will gain other [[:Category: Wizard Hero Skills And Spells |unique abilities]] instead; see [[:Category: Wizards |Wizards]] for more information about this [[:Category: Prestige Classes |prestige class]].
+As long as you are not a [[Racial Nosun|no-sun]] race (with the exception of [[Gargoyles]]) you can [[:Category:Prestige_Classes|prestige]] as a [[:Category:Stormlords|Stormlord]]. Stormlords gain more [[Hit Points |hit points]] but less [[Mana Points |mana]], and will not be able to [[surge]] as high. See [[:Category: Stormlords |Stormlords]] for more information about their unique weather oriented [[:Category:Sustained Spells|sustained spells]].
 == Mages at Hero Tier ==

@@ Line 169: / Line 169: @@
 As with all [[:Category: Classes |classes]], most [[:Category: Lowmort |lowmort]] mages should have little trouble soloing from level 1 to level 11 very quickly.  Afterward, gaining [[Experience Points |experience]] alone will grow increasingly difficult and mages should seriously consider grouping with other players.  Once mages practice [[Surge |surge]] at level 25, they will find soloing easier once again.
-'''Soloing:'''  Once mages learn [[Surge]], they will have a much easier time soloing than a melee class such as a [[Warrior]] or [[Rogue]]. Surge soloing enables mages to quickly kill enemies that would otherwise kill them in prolonged combat, but at a high cost to their mana. For example, a surge level of 2, which doubles spell damage, more than triples spell cost. A surge level of 4 actually costs 10 times what it normally would. Surge is an incredibly useful skill that mages will use constantly from lowmort to lord, but do note that surge can fail. Avoid fighting mobs so difficult that they require maximum surge to kill, since a single failure might spell death.
+'''Soloing:'''  Once mages learn [[Surge]], they will have a much easier time soloing than a melee class such as a [[:Category:Warriors|warrior]] or [[:Category:Rogues|rogue]]. Surge soloing enables mages to quickly kill enemies that would otherwise kill them in prolonged combat, but at a high cost to their mana. For example, a surge level of 2, which doubles spell damage, more than triples spell cost. A surge level of 4 actually costs 10 times what it normally would. Surge is an incredibly useful skill that mages will use constantly from lowmort to lord, but do note that surge can fail. Avoid fighting mobs so difficult that they require maximum surge to kill, since a single failure might spell death.
 '''Tanking:'''  Mages hardly ever serve as [[Tanks |tanks]] at [[:Category: Lowmort |lowmort]] [[:Category: Tiers |tier]], although there are rare exceptions.  Mages become much better able to tank groups during [[:Category: Hero |hero]] after practicing certain [[:Category: Mage Hero Skills And Spells |hero-tier skills]] (see below).