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Whats a poor mage to do?

Dodger

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Heya,

Can anyone tell me a way around casting protection on oneself so your not interuped whilst casting and a way that you still have enough physical prot and magic resist so you dont get whacked in fel? :wall:
 

Bazer

Slightly Crazed
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
used to you could have lumberjacking on your mage and not get interrupted, not sure if its still possible
 
D

DarkScripture

Guest
If you cast Reactive Armor is get some of you phys resist back but lose 5 in all others.
 

Diomedes Artega

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
used to you could have lumberjacking on your mage and not get interrupted, not sure if its still possible
Not really...is a waste of a skill aside from wacking trees at a forest near you. Wrestling you can achieve the desired effect, not to mention disarm people for kicks and giggles.
 

HunterXHunter

Visitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Not really...is a waste of a skill aside from wacking trees at a forest near you. Wrestling you can achieve the desired effect, not to mention disarm people for kicks and giggles.
I think he's talking about a way to not get interrupted while getting hit like how dexers can still hack and slash and heal and run while taking damage and dishing out dmg.

And its not lumberjacking, it was inscribe. When faction was first introduced Gm inscribe will give your protection spell (if i recall correctly) a bonus to give you uninterrupted casting. If I recall correctly GM inscribe gave 40% chance uniterrupted casting and is later on changed.
 
A

archite666

Guest
You do realise that explosion+flamestrike while a dexxer in next to you is not how you fight with a mage right?
 

Sneaky Que

Babbling Loonie
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Wrestling..

And Learn to time spells correctly..
QFT

Don't use protection for a pvp mage, it will put you at a major disadvantage. Train yourself in magery, it is the hardest skill to learn how to play. That does not mean training the skill, that is the easy part.
 

Clog|Mordain

Lore Master
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
But basically to help with ur defensive either wear a -0 mage weap or have a weapon skill and stack on your DCI.
 

Black Majick

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
But basically to help with ur defensive either wear a -0 mage weap or have a weapon skill and stack on your DCI.
QFT. I try to tell folks that when they ask me about playing on a mage. They dont listen.

Dont use protection though. Learn to time your spells and learn your macros. Use small spells in close quarters fights. Exp, FS, or EB are good spells to use precasted for sync dumping, but LT, FB, Harm, MA, Nox, etc are the good ones to use in close quarters. Learning your timing is also very important too being able to play a good mage. I am still a 4 or 5 in a scale of 1-10 on mage, but you will get better. I slowly am. What kills me is just lagg. Having a good conn also helps a ton with playing a mage.
 

Diomedes Artega

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I think he's talking about a way to not get interrupted while getting hit like how dexers can still hack and slash and heal and run while taking damage and dishing out dmg.

And its not lumberjacking, it was inscribe. When faction was first introduced Gm inscribe will give your protection spell (if i recall correctly) a bonus to give you uninterrupted casting. If I recall correctly GM inscribe gave 40% chance uniterrupted casting and is later on changed.
Actually, I was just telling him the skill wasn't worth a hoot. In terms of inscription, yes you get a "hidden" bonus. And yes, you have to have a good connection to play well on a mage toon.
 

PlayerSkillFTW

Babbling Loonie
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
The Protection Spell lowers your Magic Resist skill by about -35, lowers your Physical Resist by about 20, and lowers your FC by 2, as well as CAPPING it at 0 FC, but makes your spells uninterruptable. GM Inscription will make it do -20 Magic Resist/-10 Physical Resist instead. Might be a little off, haven't played alot in the past year.

But yeah, Wrestling and learning when/what to cast will drastically lower your chance to be hit, thus you won't be interrupted as much. Disarming people and Para Punch+Exp+FS is so much fun.
If you use a -0 Mage Wep, it can be Disarmed from you, and you will be hit 95% of the time if you don't have Wrest.
 

hawkeye_pike

Babbling Loonie
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I also want to add:

  • Max out your Defense Chance Increase to at least 45%.
  • Raise your Wrestling (or other weapon skill) at least to 110.
  • Max out your Faster Casting and Faster Cast Recovery.
  • Disarm your opponent with weapon or wrestling.
  • Then blister his skin with whatever spell you like.
 

o2bavr6

Slightly Crazed
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I also want to add:

  • Max out your Defense Chance Increase to at least 45%.
  • Raise your Wrestling (or other weapon skill) at least to 110.
  • Max out your Faster Casting and Faster Cast Recovery.
  • Disarm your opponent with weapon or wrestling.
  • Then blister his skin with whatever spell you like.
All good points :thumbsup:

I would like to add that you should try to get your DCI as high as possible, ideally 70DCI.

This way when a person with a Hit Lower Defense weapon hits you and drops your DCI by 25, you will still be at 45DCI.
 

Aran

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
That's squeezing a suit pretty tight though, unless you're the in-game equivalent of Donald Trump.
 

HunterXHunter

Visitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
That's squeezing a suit pretty tight though, unless you're the in-game equivalent of Donald Trump.
You can accomplish that by spending a few hundreds of dollors cash... buying hammers and kits from the friendly dupers near you. :thumbsup:

Another way to be more survivable is strengthen your offense. Best defense is good offensive. And that can be achieved by fitting animal taming and animal lore into your template and acquire a dread warhorse and a bake. Dismount yourself and all kill can run off most dexers most of the time 1v1.

Cheap-tactic, but it works.
 
L

Limlight

Guest
You could create a char similiar to my most recent creation.

105 Magery (120 with ring)
120 Eval
115 Resist Spells (120 with items...while in protection)
90 Spirit Speak (100 with Bloodwood Spirit)
100 Necromancy (105 with Bloodwood Spirit)
100 Inscribe
90 Meditation

Cast Protection...
Make sure you have 35+ Resist Spells on items..
I have +10 on Scappers, +10 Aegis of Grace, +15 Resiliant Bracer
In all...my items add 65+ in skills...

With Inscribe you get higher bonuses from Reactive Armor, Protection and Magic Reflection.

My full suit is - (Main reasons)
Aegis of Grace - 20 DCI and +10 Resist Spells
Scrappers - +10 Resist Spells and 15 LRC and the 1 FCR
Chaos Musuem Shield - For the 2 FCR
Bracelet - +15 Resist Spells, 10 DCI - 20 Physical Resist
Ring - +15 Magery, 2 FCR, 20 LRC, 10 DCI, 8 LMC
Quiver of Infinity - 5 DCI
Gloves, Arms, Tunic, Legs...you can use what you want...

My suit is all 70's with 35 LMC, 100 LRC, a little MR ..
I might swap out my legs for Spell Woven Britches to give me more Int and LMC and Meditation.

This allows you to run around in Protection without getting Para'ed and Poisoned to death by Mages...and with the DCI...you dodge alot of Dexers...
Of Course Blood Oath helps...

Its my newest Template I created and frankly....I am owning with it....when normally I get powned while in protection.

This allows me to heal through Mage Dumps and to also heal through dexers while still being a spawn character.
 
F

Favith

Guest
Limlight:

That's an interesting template and one that I might try now that I know how you gear it out (I think I could put together that same suit with my funds--I already have alot of it actually).

I'm interested in your stats (max int I assume but what levels for dex/str?) and your general strategy in both PVP and PVE.

I'm a returning player (after a LONG absence) so I'm definately a noob all over.

Any advice you feel like giving on general strats and whatnot would be greatly appreciated.
 

Kaleb

Lore Master
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You can use wrestle and that helps you get to use the specials Disarm and Paralize, You can get anatomy: amatomy+Eval+20=the same as the defensive side of wrestle, You can use a -0mage weapon, can use a -20 mage weapon with crystal ring.
 

Lynk

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
This allows you to run around in Protection without getting Para'ed and Poisoned to death by Mages...and with the DCI...you dodge alot of Dexers...
Of Course Blood Oath helps...

Its my newest Template I created and frankly....I am owning with it....when normally I get powned while in protection.

This allows me to heal through Mage Dumps and to also heal through dexers while still being a spawn character.
In reality you get your teeth kicked in, he honest.
 

Harlequin

Babbling Loonie
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You can accomplish that by spending a few hundreds of dollors cash... buying hammers and kits from the friendly dupers near you. :thumbsup:

Another way to be more survivable is strengthen your offense. Best defense is good offensive. And that can be achieved by fitting animal taming and animal lore into your template and acquire a dread warhorse and a bake. Dismount yourself and all kill can run off most dexers most of the time 1v1.

Cheap-tactic, but it works.
Or do it the Scrouge Mcduck way, swap out suit pieces using faction items. Fey leggings/crystaline ring/orny/kasa etc. Definitely much easier to farm the few thousand silver for the faction versions than to farm the millions of gold for the doom versions.
 

TheScoundrelRico

Stratics Legend
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm curious why nobody has suggested anatomy. Coupled with EI can give the same quality of a melee skill. There are some mages that don't use pots, carry shields and tomes...la
 

Harlequin

Babbling Loonie
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm curious why nobody has suggested anatomy. Coupled with EI can give the same quality of a melee skill. There are some mages that don't use pots, carry shields and tomes...la
What? And use skills in place of items? Sir Ricola, that's blasphemy!

Next you'd be suggesting using magic resist to offset whatever physical resist penalties from protection and magic reflect! And on top of that, select armour with low physical coz you'll still have 42, but high resists in other areas!

Are you from siege or something? Hey, wait a min... :D

J/k aside, it won't work as well if you are primarily going up against dexxers. Same rule of thumb still applies, move alot.
 

Aran

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm curious why nobody has suggested anatomy. Coupled with EI can give the same quality of a melee skill. There are some mages that don't use pots, carry shields and tomes...la
Anat+EI is only good for dodging, Wrestle gives you the special moves as well (Though you need Tactics now, don't you?)
 

HunterXHunter

Visitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Anat+EI is only good for dodging, Wrestle gives you the special moves as well (Though you need Tactics now, don't you?)
No wrestling specials are not tactics dependent. :thumbsup:

Only thing Anat+EI is good for is you save 20 skill point (all you need is 120 eval and GM anatomy to achieve 120 Defensive Wrestling) at the expense of Paralying Hit and Disarm.
 
L

Limlight

Guest
In reality you get your teeth kicked in, he honest.
Actually...no its awesome...I have been owning people with it.

Its not limlight...a Weave Necro Pro Mage...

The template is on my new red: Redlight....
 

Alezi

Lore Keeper
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You're not going to convince me.. I look forward to fighting players with protection. Easiest kills in the game..
Especially those who are wearing a spellbook+shield and hence, can't chug.
 

TheScoundrelRico

Stratics Legend
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm curious why nobody has suggested anatomy. Coupled with EI can give the same quality of a melee skill. There are some mages that don't use pots, carry shields and tomes...la
Anat+EI is only good for dodging, Wrestle gives you the special moves as well (Though you need Tactics now, don't you?)
Yeah, but chugging pots and special moves kinda suck when you plan to hold a tome and a shield...la
 

Lynk

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Especially those who are wearing a spellbook+shield and hence, can't chug.
Not only that, but I just don't see a mage with protection on dishing out enough damage quickly enough to make any sort of impact.
 

Aran

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm curious why nobody has suggested anatomy. Coupled with EI can give the same quality of a melee skill. There are some mages that don't use pots, carry shields and tomes...la
Anat+EI is only good for dodging, Wrestle gives you the special moves as well (Though you need Tactics now, don't you?)
Yeah, but chugging pots and special moves kinda suck when you plan to hold a tome and a shield...la
fyi I'm not really reading the thread, just skimming, so....
 

Kaleb

Lore Master
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm curious why nobody has suggested anatomy. Coupled with EI can give the same quality of a melee skill. There are some mages that don't use pots, carry shields and tomes...la
Look at my post just slightly above this one.
 
L

Limlight

Guest
You're not going to convince me.. I look forward to fighting players with protection. Easiest kills in the game..
Yes, Protection Mages are the easiest kills because of the ability to spam poison on them...

Hence the 120 Resist while in protection.

Trust me...its not as easy to kill as you imply.
 

Setnaffa

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You can also go with a Scribe Mage. (Scribe + Eval + 20) / 2 gives you the defensive equivalent of a melee skill.

Wrestling has the benefit of disarm, but it takes a full 120 skill points to achieve the same defensive capability of 100 Scribe.

I'll also chime in about DCI. The more you have, the less likely you will be hit.

You may also want to try a parry mage, but that takes some Dexterity to be optimized.
 

Lynk

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Yes, Protection Mages are the easiest kills because of the ability to spam poison on them...

Hence the 120 Resist while in protection.

Trust me...its not as easy to kill as you imply.
Yes it is. I don't care what your resist is in protection. You cast too slow to ever kill anyone that is worth a damn.

Not only that, gheal takes way to long to cast.

Nothing you can say will change my mind, or anyone that knows how to PvP.
 

Lynk

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You can also go with a Scribe Mage. (Scribe + Eval + 20) / 2 gives you the defensive equivalent of a melee skill.

Wrestling has the benefit of disarm, but it takes a full 120 skill points to achieve the same defensive capability of 100 Scribe.

I'll also chime in about DCI. The more you have, the less likely you will be hit.

You may also want to try a parry mage, but that takes some Dexterity to be optimized.
I think you are thinking of (Anatomy + Eval + 20) / 2.
 
L

Limlight

Guest
Yes it is. I don't care what your resist is in protection. You cast too slow to ever kill anyone that is worth a damn.

Not only that, gheal takes way to long to cast.

Nothing you can say will change my mind, or anyone that knows how to PvP.
lol...I dont need to change your mind.

I play on the largest shard with plenty of people to fight.

My new template has no problem healing through anything.

You are right..a good pvper will not likely die to me...but I also wont die to them. Greater Heal is healing 50 per shot. You arent doing enough damage fast enough to counter it unless you can curse me or poison me.

Which apples handle just fine....

My templates are always more defensive...I always play my mages in a defensive mechanism...

My other mage is a weave necro mage...GOR and Attunement is always on...the point is to live as long as possible while being able to Essence the competition and allow my allies to kill.

Your 1vs1 garbage while nice...is hardly neccessary outside of duels and yew...

Nothing is ever a 1vs1 situation anymore...

If my template helps my team win...its a good template to me.
The point of the defensive playstyle is to make you waste your mana and then go for the kill...

You would be surprised how many people panic when their mana gets low.

First, dexers are easy to kill now with blood oath and the apple timer. Blood Oath spam handles all dexers...and Pro allows you to always heal through dexers.

Frankly, the only template that is completely deadly to me and I have a hard time with is a 100 poison dexer...as Arch Cure takes too long to cast..and I cant chug with the book and shield.
 

Lynk

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
This is me not buying any of it.

In reality, you probably play with a zerg guild, and when there are less than 8 of you you see monochrome pretty quickly.
 

HunterXHunter

Visitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
This is me not buying any of it.

In reality, you probably play with a zerg guild, and when there are less than 8 of you you see monochrome pretty quickly.
I've played a bard mage with real 120 music+120 disco+120 provoke no pot in a zerg group and didnt die once in many many battles. Hes talking like it's all because his leet template and/or leet skillz. :coco:
 
L

Limlight

Guest
This is me not buying any of it.

In reality, you probably play with a zerg guild, and when there are less than 8 of you you see monochrome pretty quickly.
I am in a Zerg guild yes. But I am barely on when they are on.
lol @ your arrogant pompous attitude to presume that you know jack crap about what happens on other shards.

Just because the protection mages on your shard suck butt...continue living in your little shell...

Also, any good mage (like the ones from VIP! or SX of old) will tell you the reason pro mages suck is they are easy to cycle through with poison and curse.
120 Resist negates the whole weakness of protection.
Casting speed is not the weakness.
 

Kaleb

Lore Master
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I know people on pacific who use protection in pvp all the time and do well. The only ones in PvP that have problems with running protection are the Mages who think Dual casting is the be all end all of PvP 9/10 times they are the mages in the group that feel they need to leave the group, Dont X-heal, Feel they are above fielding, Seein gray and getting upset they died becuase they left the group thinking they can 1v5 the enemy 3 screens away.
 
M

mr.blackmage

Guest
"dual" type mages don't like protection because "dual" type mages like being able to kill people, which means people running off screen, every time. Protection is a situational spell. People who pvp in it are looked down upon as the skill requirement for playing a mage drops about 300% when active.

@lim; Killing a player with protection on and 120 resist is the same as killing one with 90 resist... They will all pot, just like you will when you drop the tome, so resist isn't a factor. You also WILL get poisoned, even with 120 resist, and as any mage pvper knows you will get poisoned 10 times in a row at the most inconvenient time. You could find this out by simply dueling a mage that doesn't have protection on. Yes, it would be annoying and boring for the other mage, but eventually he would get those poisons off. I understand (from your own words, correct me if im wrong) that you like to play as a meat shield. That's cool, but soaking up damage isn't really a skill. I can definitely see how that template and suit can be used for certain situations with protection, but I bet you would have better results mixing the two.


@kaleb again; define "do well". To me, a mage in protection is just fighting 1/2 second slower on every spell. That "do well" could be amazing if they used it situationally.
 
I

InspectorGadget

Guest
I think you are thinking of (Anatomy + Eval + 20) / 2.
Im sure they are and im also very sure they all need to go to maths classes again!

The poster above:

Scribe(if it was scribe)give you the same as wrestle but only 100points.

The formula he gave was scribe+anat/2 = 100 +20(joat)/2 =60 defensive "wrestle"

In actual fact wrestle saves you 120points to achieve a DCI, the reason, Anatomy is in the formula as in the days of old anatomy was needed to disarm(i believe, i played a dexxer back then but think i remember hearing that).

At that time i would assume not many had wrestle so they gave them a way to have defensive skill.

(120anat + 120 eval)/2 = 120 defensive wrestle
(20anat(joat) + 120eval)/2 = 70 defensive wrestle(this is what most PvP necro mages will have when disarmed)

120wrestle = 120 defensive and offensive skill

You decide which one saves you points!
 

HunterXHunter

Visitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Im sure they are and im also very sure they all need to go to maths classes again!

The poster above:

Scribe(if it was scribe)give you the same as wrestle but only 100points.

The formula he gave was scribe+anat/2 = 100 +20(joat)/2 =60 defensive "wrestle"

In actual fact wrestle saves you 120points to achieve a DCI, the reason, Anatomy is in the formula as in the days of old anatomy was needed to disarm(i believe, i played a dexxer back then but think i remember hearing that).

At that time i would assume not many had wrestle so they gave them a way to have defensive skill.

(120anat + 120 eval)/2 = 120 defensive wrestle
(20anat(joat) + 120eval)/2 = 70 defensive wrestle(this is what most PvP necro mages will have when disarmed)

120wrestle = 120 defensive and offensive skill

You decide which one saves you points!
Inscribe had never ever given a defensive wrestle bonus. There is no (Scribe+Eval+20)/2 existed. It's always been anatomy and eval. Scribe never was one used in any kind of weapon skill calculation (which wont hurt, I think (Scribe+Eval+20)/2 is more reasonable than the current anatomy).

And since wrestle is most likely used by mages (already have 120 eval), realistically you SAVE 20 point for pick up anatomy in the "defensive department" compared to wrestling.

Believe me if the formula were (inscribe+eval+20)/2 then you wont even see any mage carrying a mage weapon anymore.
 
I

InspectorGadget

Guest
Inscribe had never ever given a defensive wrestle bonus. There is no (Scribe+Eval+20)/2 existed. It's always been anatomy and eval. Scribe never was one used in any kind of weapon skill calculation (which wont hurt, I think (Scribe+Eval+20)/2 is more reasonable than the current anatomy).

And since wrestle is most likely used by mages (already have 120 eval), realistically you SAVE 20 point for pick up anatomy in the "defensive department" compared to wrestling.

Believe me if the formula were (inscribe+eval+20)/2 then you wont even see any mage carrying a mage weapon anymore.
I know it never existed...READ THE POST!!!
 
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