madphilb on 6/3/2004 at 21:09
Quote:
Originally posted by RyushiBlade I tried to start a mage character, and I just couldn't. I don't see how you manage to survive the first few days.
It's not real easy, but it is doable (and I'm not using the most efficent method either).
Note up front that I've paid for little or no training with this character (I think I bought a few points in something early on, but I can't remember what) and my self enforced rules where to not use Mudcrab/Creeper or buy training.
Sylvitayn is currently a Level 23 character.
Sex: Female
Sign: The Mage (Magicka bonus)
Race: Brenton (int and wil are highest by default than other characters)
bonuses: +5 - Alchemy, Alteration, and Illusion
+10 - Conjuration, Mysticism, and Restoration
Class: Mage (specialization: magic)
Major Skills: Mysticism, destruction, Alteration, Illusion, Restoration
Minor Skills: Enchant, Alchemy, Unarmored, Short Blade, Conjuration
currently my character has only 100 health, but 188 Magicka.
Since Unarmored is a Minor Skill it's best if you don't use any armor. The up side is you are lighter (which you'll need), the down side is that you can't add much of anything to improve your armor rating (I'm still only at 23).
Short Blade is your choice of weapon (you're more likey to hit with those), but you might also want to work on blunt weapon and spear (bound weapons work best for building your skill since you get a bonus to the skill while the bound weapon is used.
Survival won't be on those weapons alone.... 1st and foremost, learn Absorb Health somewhere (I think you can even earn it as a reward for a quest)... if reflected back you won't be damaged by it (the health you drain is your own)..... and it's good for literally sucking the life out of people.
Fast transport options are good too, keeps you from getting you're butt kicked too badly going from place to place. The Mark/Recall pair and the Intervention spells are a must for the Mage.
Make good use of Alchemy, a few trips via the Mage Guild's tranport system will get you the ingredients for making restore Magicka potions, as well as some INT boosters to help with both your Magicka amount as well as for making more powerful potions (though eventually as your Alchemy grows you'll not be needing it as much).
Paralyze will do wonders for you (as part of a magic weapon, i.e - Jink blade, or as part of a spell... the BURNING HANDS OF STILLNESS spell I made works ok, but requires more Magicka than I care to think about (Paralyse 5 seconds and Fire Damage 5 points for 5 seconds on touch), I'll have to see where I found that one and see what the numbers are supposed to be for that, it's supposed to be a low power spell that's rather effective. Botom line is you can't get hit if they can't hit back (not good later on creatures that reflect).
Calm Creature and Calm Humanoid can help too... gives you the edge you need to deal with that frisky group of Ashlander outcasts that want to split your head open if you don't want to fight them, cast and run....
.... or beter yet LEVETATE your way out of trouble (spell or potion).
After a while you'll get more and more powerful... do as much as you can with spells (to boost not only your skills but your levels so you can increase you Magicka pool).
Don't pick too many fights... you won't win most of them.
Buy some nice clothes to up the NPCs perception a bit, and work on your Speachcraft skills when you can (bribe, bribe, bribe).
Now, the best place to start is to
1) do some of the odd jobs around Seyda Neen, get some cash and some people liking you, buy yourself something nice (and take a trip to the north/northwest and find that nice falling guy, nice short bladed magic weapon and a very pretty robe as I recall).
2) Goto Balmora and report ot Caius Casades and get the starting cash for joining him, then talk to the other blade trainers in Blamora about "Blade Trainers" and get what they give you (sell/use whatever you get)...
3) Then make your way to Ebonheart (safest/quickest way is via the Strider and then by Boat) and head up to the Imperial Cult in the back of the fort there.
The Imperial Cult is a great place to start, the tasks aren't to difficult, all the people you report to are right there in that same building, and you can fail those quests if you want (but I recommend you pass them all with flying colors as you get some really nifty gifts from them).
I'd start downstairs with Wynnotian Tunitus who will send you on ingredient finding missions (and a few other errands). You won't kill yourself doing these missions and if nothing else you should quicly have the stuff to start making your own potions... again, Alchemy is your friend.
You can rotate thought the 3 lay-servant quest givers or stick with one at a time. Most are fairly easy, though I'd gain some levels before talking to the Redguard upstairs about his missions (had to do a few restores doing his missions).
4) Join the Mages Guild and start working your way up through that group as well, good resources (including the chests at the guilds that include restore Magikca potions, though they don't restock the chests often enough).
5) Eventually you'll want to join the Telvanni too (unless you don't want to :p ), it is however the best house for mages (though you might be able to make the others work with some training or whatnot).
Many fights I've done quaffing levitation potions that I made myself (often lasting quite a while) and pelting the tougher enemies from out of their reach with some targeted spell or another. The ones where I've got to be more hand-to-hand with them where tougher, but with the right combination of spells and whatnot it's not too bad... and again, drain health does wonders against others (since you're refilling that health you lost on that last hit to you with the health of the one who did it).
Oh, Sylvitayn is also a "Brother" in the Morag Tong, though she's held up from advancing more due to low "Illusion" status (didn't do more early on)... and talk about lots of cash... compared to other things I'm rolling in it from those writs.
Questions/comments... feel free.....
again, be aware that I know this isn't the most efficent Mage type character you can do, but it does use a standard class, and I regenerate my Magicka when I sleep (which is why I picked "The Mage" for my sign).
I believe there is either a FAQ at GameFAQs or a web page (might have the link if you're interested) in a more detailed construction of the uber Mage character, but this one has been fun to play (I only stopped because it's been so long since I played it I didn't feel like trying to figure out where I was with it, stupid XBox and it's lack of an update to the Journal/Quest list in the GOTY version).
PHIL
