Mage defence

[Naisikras]

What is the difference between:

wrestling vs.
weaponskill vs.
anat/eval vs.
mage wep (staff of the magi, etc...)

I haven't played for a couple years and it seems not as many mages have weaponskills.... or I just got a weird sample of mages that I saw.

P.S.

What is the best way to raise melee skills now?

 

[Basara]

Wrestling: Some minor offensive capability.
Weapon skill: Offense & Defense, but now requires 70 real skill in both Weapon and Tactics for Primary special move, 90 for Secondary.
Anat/eval: Defensive only, IIRC.
Mage Weapon: the -0 mage weapons (and other skills with low minuses) are good for offense and defense, but can't use special moves without the requisite weapon skill & Tactics. Plus, in many cases, you might want a spellbook in hand for the book's bonuses to your spells.

 

[northwoodschopper]

weapon skill: requires weapon, solid defense, offense dependant on secondary skills, can be disarmed rendering defenseless, access to special moves requires tactics, can utilize imbue/magical properties/etc.

mage weapon: requires specific artifacts for no penalty, otherwise penalty to magery, also needs spell channeling (possible fast cast penalty); defense good depending on weapon, can be disarmed rendering defenseless, no specials available, damage dependant on secondary skills, can utilize imbue/magical properties/etc.

wrestling: can be used barehanded and with spellbooks, solid defense, ability to interrupt on offense, access to special moves, limited to spellbooks and shields for properties

anat/eval: solid defense, evasion only -- no offensive capabilities, limited to spellbooks and shields for properties