Spell tactics

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Just wondering what tactics you all use when employing spells.
Personaly i favour the disrupt enemy and enhance party spells, then have the spell casters use ranged weapons, firing off spells when needed.
A favored tactic is use magic missile to disrupt enemy spell casters getting tyheir spells off, using Otiluke's resiliant sphere to take an annoying enemy out of a fight, and any enhancing spells like haste and Fearie dust to give the party an advantage.
Please don't post the cloudkill just outside viewing range tactic here, it's well known now.

 

I go with the full offencive spells, First i try some confusion spells then some secret word spells, when a mage reaches level 14 Warding whip is gotta be the best spell ive ever seen. Well anyway, Enfeeblement, ect. Then i have 2 mages, both cast in any possible spells, like acid arrow, magic missle, and so on. I use to be a summoning freak but now i just damage em with spells like this. and 3 attackers clean up what the mages didnt do

 

I prefer to use the cloudki...oops

 

After reading all the wisdom on this board I went with a mixed bag o' tricks so I've got everything I need when I need it. I used to tailor my spellcasing to whether I was facing all undead or a mix or whatnot, but I discovered when I ran into that nasty mage that was controlling all those undead (an example here... work with me!) I was without what I needed to whoop up on his ass.

Right now I've got a lot of offensive stuff with Aerie and anti-mage stuffies, Anomem and Jahiera with lots o' party protects and just a few healing spells because I feel that too many healing spells is a hinderance more than a help. There's too many good high up cleric spells that you can't use if you're loaded in heavy healers. Just my humble opinion.

 

Got to agree with Jayshaw on that last one, after a few quests you find/can afford plenty of extra heal potions for in action use and you can afford to use the temples for a post action cure-up. Only need a few heals with your clerics for emergencies.

 

There are some tested and true methods that continually work for my party. I dont focus on the 'immediate attack' by a Magic Missle or the like simply due to the fact that the higher level Mages in BG2 have... multiple contingencies. Mantles, Stoneskins, certain Spell protections, etc. That will protect them for a few rounds at the least. So I now use Breach because it 'dispells ALL' protection spells that will block Missle or Hand Weapon attacks. After Breaching the Mages defense my 'Air' attack as well as 'Ground' attack can eleminate the Mage in the same round or 1-2 rounds afterwards due to multiple attacks by each party member. If needed I'll have my Mage (or secondary Mage) 'summon' either a Nishruu or a Hakeashar the following round (or same beginning round if I have a secondary Mage) . It appears that all opposing spellcasters FOCUS on these creatures due to devestation they cause to one's memorized spells.

My method is: breakdown the Mages defenses (to allow other party members to have 'successful attacks) and if needed to 'wipe' out (via summoned creature) the 'higher' level spells that cause FAR more devestation and headaches to my party.

Of course I still memorize Pierce Shield, Secret Word and an occasional Lower Magic Resist only for when fighting Liches & Dragons.

[This message has been edited by Draco Vlasavius (edited November 07, 2000).]

 

The spell that takes out Spell Reflection is actually Pierce Shield. However I normally NEVER cast any 'offensive' based spells at any spellcaster and therefore do not have to worry about it 'reflecting' back at my MAGE. Thanks for the 'clarifying eye' I'll update my post! Nevertheless, PLEASE look into using Breach more and more if your party can deliver 10 + weapon attacks per/round.

 

The best combo to take out anyone is:

any protection dispel necesarry (IE Breach)
Lower Resistance x4
Greater Malision
Finger of Death

I took out every dragon and any majorly hard boss with that. My main character was a sorcerer so that was my highlight instead of hack and slash.

 

I try to keep multiple mages and druid/clerics in my parties. I like magic a lot and this gives me a lot more options. I keep a wide variety of mage spells, but they usually are offensive either to dispell magic protections or for straight firepower. I usually don't keep to many enhancement spells memorized with mages unless they are dualed with the fighter class.
For the druids/clerics, I can keep healing spells around. Almost all of my level I spells go for minor healing, while some of the higher ups do as well. The rest are offensive, unless again my cleric/druid is combined with a fighter class.
Regardless of class, I like summoning. Nice barriers and cannon fodder. Don't usually use things like fireball or cloudkill though.

 

The clerics in BG2 have some nice offensive spells in addition to defensive spells. If you have a high enough Cleric, try Slay Living. I took out Firkraag with one Slay Living touch after a lower resist spell from a mage. No as spectacular as quivering palm perhaps but just as effective.

There is also an opposite of Heal (called Harm, IIRC) which if successful, will reduce opponents to 1 hit point.