Wizard Disappointment

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Ok, I thought I had come with the ultimate combo for adding a Wizard into my party. Here is what I created:

Crueak Arborshate
Male Drow Chaotic Evil
Rogue 2/Ranger 1/Fighter 2/Wizard X
STR 10 DEX 20 CON 10 INT 20 WIS 10 CHA 10
Weapons: Dual Small Blades (Piercing), Quaterstaff (Bludgeoning), Bow (Missile (Piercing))

I am currently heading to the goblin fortress (Chapter 1) and I am sadly disappointed in my Wizard's spells. He is currently Rogue 1/Ranger 1/Fighter 1/Wizard 5. I have numerous level 1 spells memorized, but only like Magic Missle. I am using a combination of Web and Merif's Acid Arrow as level 2 spells and I just bought Lightening Bolt from the mage lady in Targos. During the bridge escapde, I was squatting him at Wizard 3 and I found myself using him more in melee than spell casting. I would occasionally use him to blast a couple magic missles at orc archers to get them down fast, but other than that he dualed his short swords or battled with his long bow. At what point should I expect my Wiz to be more useful on the Arcane front?

My other two characters consist of:

Ravaatra Gellantara
Female Deep Gnome Lawfully Evil
Monk of the Old Order X
STR 16 DEX 20 CON 10 INT 4 WIS 20 CHA 4
Weapons: Axe (Slashing)/Fists, Polearm (Piercing), Sling (Missle(Bludgeoning))

Marros Droverson
Male Human Lawfully Neutral
Monk of the Old Order 1/Fighter 2/Druid X
STR 18 DEX 14 CON 16 INT 6 WIS 18 CHA 4
Weapons: Great Sword (Slashing), Mace (Bludgeoning), Crossbow (Missle(Piercing))

My druid who is Monk 1/Fighter 2/Druid 6 is totally kicking butt. In fact, b/c of the Monk level, he's wearing no armor and wielding a two-handed great sword (Wandering Sky). In fact, I like him so much, I'm considering dropping the Wizard and adding another Druid mixed w/ Rogue 3.

[ September 23, 2004, 20:50: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

 

Don't bother with direct damage spells for early arcane casters since they are often always single-target. Always - ALWAYS use area effect spells such as sleep etc. if you want to take a single enemy down, use your warriors to do it. Fireballing will probably become your Wizard's primay occupation. Don't use magic missile either, it's far overrated, use Chromatic Orb instead since it also throws in various effects and at certain levels can be your troll-killer.

 

You should consider Anganazzar's(sp?) Scorcher. It's pretty useful and, considering your Wizard's martial bent, it will serve you well on the front lines when properly set up.

The main problem is that your mage is multi-classed. Once they're up and running (ie: once they get Lvl 3 spells), pure casters are MUCH more effective than fighters and Multis.

 

The lower levels are best used for buffing and area affect spells.
Magic Missile is best used against spellcasters.
Until you get Fireball, your Wizard will melee.

 

Yeah, I've heard that Wizards hold their own once they get 3rd level spells (i.e Fireball), but I have yet to aquire any but purchasing lightening bolt in Targos. How long till I find any spells? The only ones I have found were 1st level spells and even with the heavy multi-classing, I'm ready to learn 3rd level.

 

It is a bit of a problem that sometimes your wizard will level up faster than his supply of spells. There are a few more spells for sale just out of Targos but I can't remember what level they are. After that, there are no more new spells to buy for ages - you have to rely on ones you pick up as loot. Are the any spells for sale between Shaengarne Ford (whatshername) and the Ice Temple (Zack)?

 

You'll find a fireball scroll in the goblin fortress--after going through a lot of fights where a fireball (or three) would come in real handy. I guess that's why I play sorcerers.

 

That is a huge reason why I prefer sorcerer to wizard. A solo wizard would have a nightmare in this game.

 

You can buy a decent offensive area-effect spell from the druids in chapter 1. Hey, I don't know about you guys, but I really like Collins's Snowball Swarm--I use that even at higher levels.