New Tricks for an Old Dog

[Megilhir]

Well you have me curious now. I have been searching for areas to solo effectively. My last time playing was just after the release of Samurai Empire. As I have once more taken up the fight I am unfamiliar with much of the new content.

Any advice on the Cavern of the Discarded or any other locations for a solo mage?
Template is basic without much enhancement…virtues…70 R suits etc.

Magery 95
Resist 100
Eval Int 100
Inscription 97.5 (?)
Alchemy 100
Meditation 100
Fishing 100

100 LMC med suit. Broke down and bought a Scrappers for 250K (ACK!!) on Pacific.
Name is Webster on Pacific if you wish to search him somewhere or the other on-line.

So! Strategy, tactics, survivability. Any other factors you can imagine that will enable me to explore new content such as the Cavern of the Discarded I have recently looked up.

I await your replies.

BTW: Istari on Atlantic has much the same template but with Focus instead of Fishing. Magery is 98, I think and Alchemy is 97.4 or so. Still needs Scrappers.

 

[Trebr Drab]

First off, Invisibility is your friend, just like it always was.

I'm not an expert, but this is what I'd do.
Buy a powerscroll, 110 magery or 105 if nothing else.
Get magery jewelry until you can build it up, so you can cast EV without much fail.
Remember that you can use Reactive Armor as a toggle, and while on your spells won't be disrupted by damage, but any fast casting bonuses won't work. Anyplace where you don't get poisoned or other damage over timed effects this works good in.

The cavern isn't that hard as long as you can invis to keep the numbers off your back.

To get there, start on the Garg side so you don't have to go past the big bad beasty at the bridge. He freezes you, and that could lead to problems.

 

[Stupid Miner]

huh, Plain Scrappers are usually 1/10th that price.

Cast EVs.
Know your opponent's weakest resist and which spell to use to exploit that. Energy bolt is often better than Flamestrike.
Slayer Spellbooks.

Can't offer many specifics, I don't use plain mages, especially for PvM.

Remember that you can use Reactive Armor as a toggle, and while on your spells won't be disrupted by damage, but any fast casting bonuses won't work. Anyplace where you don't get poisoned or other damage over timed effects this works good in.

You mean Protection, not Reactive Armor.

100 LMC med suit

Assuming you mean 100 LRC (lower reagent cost)

 

[Megilhir]

My error and typo, yes LRC.

 

[Guido_LS]

I run what is basically a straight mage template -

110 Mage
110 Eval
100 Med
115 Focus
120 Imbue
100 Alchemy
~80 Mysticism

(Eval and focus are both jeweled to the max of the PS)

As has been pointed out, invis is your friend. I have spells not only hot-keyed, but set within very fast mouse pointer range - Invis, EV, Greater Heal, and Cure. On this template, I have little to no issues with a large number of critters in the Abyss, or overland, or pretty much anywhere else. There are, of course, exceptions. Certain reknowned are nowhere near easy. It's a learn as you go thing on which is which.

However, if you can play a pure mage well enough to handle, say, the Demon Temple, or the middle of the road Paragons in Ilsh, you should be mostly fine in the Abyss. But be aware that ultimately, the template is limited. You simply won't do enough damage on some monsters to make a dent in their HP bar, regardless of what you cast. How to get around that is simply, go through the forums here, and see what successful templates are in use.

 

[Trebr Drab]

Remember that you can use Reactive Armor as a toggle, and while on your spells won't be disrupted by damage, but any fast casting bonuses won't work. Anyplace where you don't get poisoned or other damage over timed effects this works good in.

You mean Protection, not Reactive Armor.

Hey, it's button number 2. That's all I need to know.

 

[Shelleybean]

I hate to discourage you, but it's always painful to watch mages hunting in the Cavern of the Discarded. I think you will do just fine on the lower levels of the spawn, but the renowned take a long time to kill. The other bad thing is that it doesn't take long after killing the low end monsters before the renowned spawn. Hopefully others will be there to help you, but if not, expect to cast energy vortex repeatedly and invis. Be wary of the renowned rat in the northeast corner (shoots arrows). Once you get comfortable down there, you may try casting directly on the rats to speed it up. I think a repond slayer spellbook would help you out.

 

[Fermi]

I play mages too.
I like goblins, tomb of kings near the back with the gargoyles and silver serpants, the fire elemental renowned at the first mini spawn entering from the tomb. I hate fire ants but once they are gone its all good. The imps and mongbats to pit fiends is also one of my favorites. I would bring pots which i m sure you do since your an alchemist. I like the cure but I bet explode be kinda cool too.

It is easy to stay on the edges and kill a little at a time. dont rush.

Cavern of the discarded is absolutley a dexxers area.