Useful Wizards
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While I agree with the wand thing (every wizard should load up on wands) and can't say I agree with any of the stuff about spell choices. From my experience, being the proverbial 'buffbot' is absolutely the most boring way to play a wizard. Fireball may not be the most useful spell (hardly useless though) but its definitely one of the most fun to cast. People playing magic users like to get down and dirty and deep into the action just like fighters, and the only way they can do that is by blowing up/freezing/confusing/paralyzing their enemies. As long as the wizard isn't being a complete coward, let them choose the spells they most enjoy using.
That said, wizards, buy some damn wands. They're cheap and then you don't need to worry about people calling you useless.
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Another thing wizards would be wise to consider would be taking some none arcane feats and equipment. There several ways to get light armour feats and you be amazed how far May my ranger/wizard got up the food chain with medium armour, a flail and large sheild :D
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Marin bought so many wands she could out mage a mage. 36 at the highest.
MM spamming the bad guy when the fighters are struggling is as good as a God-Save. It can cost a lot, but way worth it. Whether it's MM or Sleep or something else, you need variety. One type is not enough, 'cos it'd be a real sod if the bad guy happened to be immune to the one wand you took!
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Another good wand to buy is an Arcane Healing wand. Seriously, no mage should be without one now that NPCs sell them. You can heal not just yourself but those that get to Injured or Badly Wounded during a fight.
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Khamal. Rhymo is totally playing another wizard.
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My elf wizard doesn't use wands as described above and keeps plenty busy none the less. He uses bulls strength and protect from evil on his two main fighters but otherwise buffs himself so that he can stay alive and keep his party alive. He has excellent concentration so with ghost visage running he's able to run into the thick of battle to provide improved invisibility and stoneskin touches as needed, as well as herbs and healing wand touches. Otherwise he "stands around" with his enchanted +3 might longbow + magical arrows and delivers death blows to the weakest foe he can find.
He has also learned how to use a shield and can draw his rapier and wade in when needed. So, just keep in mind that there is more than one way to play a wizard. Enough said :)
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@Rhymenoceros:
Khamal. Rhymo is totally playing another wizard.
OMG yes. Best. Wizzie. Player. Evar. :D Show 'em how it's done, Rhymo!
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@Hint:
Or buy unlimited firepower from COG. No magic skill required!
I concur! Nobody needs wizards anymore!
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I don't care what spells a wizard casts in a quest. I'm far more interested in hanging out with characters I enjoy being around. You could have all the wands in the world, the best spell selection and know the -exact- moment to cast them, but if that's all you bring to the party, I'll choose the wizzy with nothing but divination spells but is fun to be around.
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a character who makes wands should keep a supply handy and use them in quests to aid others in the party, that should be their function
be they wizard or whatever, they have to carry their share of the load, a wizard with a crossbow has already failed.
however..do not be hard on ones at lower levels, it is really hard for them, though once they can make wands, picking the proper ones can really help a party prosper, they can purchase healing wands in the city of the arcane variety if they cannot find someone to supply them, that way they become buff/heal bots, and i am sure if they focused more on things like that, they would actually get invited into groups more often, rather than get a terrible reputation and end up monster kibble
it is also a learning curve, it is possible some may not be aware of what they are capable of, i know it took me some time to figure it out
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I found that in quests as a wizard the best use of my spells was to memorize as many buff spells as possible and invisibility, it really is the most effective way for normal day to day questing at any level. Problem is that its boring as shit and you spend the whole damn quest invisible waiting for someones bull strength and stoneskin to run out..
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At all levels wizards have very useful spells.
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At all levels wizards have very useful spells.
I can't stress that enough. Understanding how to make use of ~every~ spell; not just the higher levels or "most commonly used" spells is how you make a great wizard.
Theres a number of spells in the game that are harder to use simply because they prefer easy-mode buffs.
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I hate the so called Buff Bot. I hate them so much, that I will most often rather let them stay the f… away from my quests, than to bring them along, even if they are useful.
Sure, it might be cheaper than buying wands and potions myself... But honestly, if he or she ruins my immersion into the setting, and reminds me of World of Warcraft, then you will find that the guy will not find a way into any quest i am leading.
Lamancha learned this the hard when, when I most often didnt join her questing groups, because of game immersion breakers in the party. In all honesty, I will rather be without exp and gold, than to feel like a WoW player.
That said! I want my wizards to be better knowing arcanist experts. The old Warwizard players, and in the last few years, the well played Warwizard apprentice of the Pilgrims were wickedly awesomely played wizards.
People who perfect the "I have spells, and I kill people for a living" approach. Nothing makes me more happy, than to see a wizard who is about to run out of spells, to suddenly draw a greatsword, cast bulls strength and shield on himself, and see him run into the fray with his 30 something hit points.
I dont care how you play your spellcaster. Just play one, and not a buff bot.
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I hate the so called Buff Bot. I hate them so much, that I will most often rather let them stay the f… away from my quests, than to bring them along, even if they are useful.
That is harsh. I never would stop someone for coming on a quest for OOC reasons like that.
I think playing a wizard must present it's own challenges, so I try not to judge. The biggest problem I see is lack of communication. Certain spells require other people in the party to behave a certain way or doom ensues. Also communication can help a wizard with their spell selection/use in the future, by letting them know what works, didn't work.
I don't see buffs used very much on anymore. I agree with Duck, in that it only takes a couple of spell slots to really help out the frontline of the party. Bulls Str and protection from evil will take a level 1 and level 2 spell slot, make the frontline feel good and make the group be alot more effective. Improved Invisibilty is a godsend on high level quest with high damage, high ab spawns.
Still, overall I like to see a Wizard -trying-. If they are doing that I have no problem. A wizard doing their best, contributing the RP is alot of fun, even if they don't have the best spells. I had a blast with Geek's level 2 wizard, cause he kept trying to make the fun.
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It may be harsh, but if the play style of another player spoils your enjoyment of the game, you are best looking around for other characters/players for your quests. You can do this with OOC consideration and In Character. You don't need to be a douch-bag in doing so, and, in fact, if you play your character well and reject the Buffbot Wizard with flair IC, they will thank you for the interaction, probably!
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Needs less elitism imo. Nothing wrong with buff bots. If mage players want to gimp themselves by not using the wide assortment of awesome spells they have at their disposal and fill the role traditionally filled by clerics only without healing spells, no heavy armour, and d4 hp a round let them.
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@Undead:
Needs less elitism imo. Nothing wrong with buff bots. If mage players want to gimp themselves by not using the wide assortment of awesome spells they have at their disposal and fill the role traditionally filled by clerics only without healing spells, no heavy armour, and d4 hp a round let them.
Trick is to be -more- than a buff bot.
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I see this whole thread as greatly pointless. Basically you are telling a mage how to play to be efficient. It would be like me opening a thread to say every fighter without expertise should take it, or not come on quests.
If a wizard memorizes buffing spells, it means that CHARACTER sees it as the most efficient approach to magic. If he memorizes fire based spells and blasts his enemies, most likely his teacher was a kossuthian sorcerer. If he wants to use a crossbow, maybe he started as a little thief and then evolved. But do not tell a player how to make his character efficient, and let him play as his past and his personality dictate.
The argument of wielding a greatsword and charing is, simply put, silly. Had anyone told so to my mage, he would have blasted him on the spot. And would have considered such a mage inferior FOREVER. Because that is what he believed. Saying a wizard is a good wizard because he uses wands or because he fights with a sword when is out of spells is definitely wrong.
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I'm not awesome enough to tell other people how they should play their characters. :roll:
This thread is starting to turn into a hatefest for wizards with a certain style of rp and mechanical know how. That ain't cool. I'm of the oppinion that we are not just here to be entertained, but to entertain others. That being said, there has to be some kind of respect for folks on the ooc level for how they chose to play. Immersion for the most part is dependant on the dude behind the keyboard. I'm an eight to fiver that plays a few hours a week and I don't spend any time at all memorizing monster manuals or crunching numbers on skill and stat points. I think we need to have a little more respect for each other in regards to this "your breaking my immersion" stuff.