New wizard assistance (race, spell changes)

[Alashir]

Looking to start a new wizard but I've been away for several years and pretty ignorant of new mechanics game wise let alone profession wise. I've got my eyes on a burghal gnome however I'd love input on what the rest of community thinks about the viability of a gnome versus other recommended choices. Also curious about any significant spell changes that may affect hunting that could be beneficial.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[Askip]

Race choice depends on whether it is for RP or mechanics, any race can be a viable wizard.

Would I have chosen dark elf if I had known about CoL and slow spirit recovery? There are numerous factors, encumbrance for the small races, etc.

Are you aware of the change to 502? Mages now have a low level CS spell with decent damage for two mana. Handy for when going offensive even at macro speed could be a problem. :D

[Sile2]

I like burg gnomes as wizards. They have great logic bonuses, good for warding and bolts. The only downfall is encumbrance which can still be managed with your disk.

Halfling is another good choice, especially if you want to focus on bolting. And they have great racial bonuses for elemental TD.

If encumbrance is something you worry about. Human is a good choice.

To be honest after when you get in the mid 40s the racial bonuses are not as noticable for the most part.

[Maerit]

Also consider if you plan to warmage at all, or just be a pure bolting wizard. I think the most general all-around capable race for either style is Elf. After that Human is pretty evenly balanced. Halfling is probably the strongest pure wizard option as you can have the highest bolt AS possible on a wizard while having +40 to Elemental TD (TD is a weakness for wizards). Burghal Gnomes make for good pures because they have very strong AS from DEX bonus while also having higher warding with their improved Aura. I'd say Burghals and DEs contend for #1 spot if you were going to be a CoL warding wizard (not a very loved variety of wizard). Although, having a capped Burghal I know that you cannot have "perfect" stats. You will have to have 2 stats less than 100 instead of having everything except your INF at 100.

In the end, you can only go wrong if you go Erithian (though half-krol makes for one ugly wizard who is slow to learn).

[Methais]

Assuming you're going pure, Half-Elf is the best all around imo. Unless you don't care about encumbrance, in which case you can't go wrong with Halfling either.

[Alashir]

Race choice depends on whether it is for RP or mechanics, any race can be a viable wizard.

Would I have chosen dark elf if I had known about CoL and slow spirit recovery? There are numerous factors, encumbrance for the small races, etc.

Are you aware of the change to 502? Mages now have a low level CS spell with decent damage for two mana. Handy for when going offensive even at macro speed could be a problem. :D

I didn't know about 502. Is it effective outside of early levels?

Mechanically Dark Elf looks amazing. How big of a factor is spirit loss at cap (outside of COL)? Either via hunting grounds or critters?

[Alashir]

Also consider if you plan to warmage at all, or just be a pure bolting wizard. I think the most general all-around capable race for either style is Elf. After that Human is pretty evenly balanced. Halfling is probably the strongest pure wizard option as you can have the highest bolt AS possible on a wizard while having +40 to Elemental TD (TD is a weakness for wizards). Burghal Gnomes make for good pures because they have very strong AS from DEX bonus while also having higher warding with their improved Aura. I'd say Burghals and DEs contend for #1 spot if you were going to be a CoL warding wizard (not a very loved variety of wizard). Although, having a capped Burghal I know that you cannot have "perfect" stats. You will have to have 2 stats less than 100 instead of having everything except your INF at 100.

In the end, you can only go wrong if you go Erithian (though half-krol makes for one ugly wizard who is slow to learn).

Is warmage a thing at cap? I'm assuming archery might work, what about UAC and or swinging?

[Sile2]

I didn't know about 502. Is it effective outside of early levels?



I only seen it for a little bit, but it seems like a very strong spell for 2 mana, and I'm sure it can bring you up to where you can start using 415 and 519 on your hunts. If you want to focus on warding only. It's base DF is very friendly to low endrolls also.

Concussion Damage = .400 × ((Endroll + Channeling Bonus) - 100), along with an open handed channeling bonus, you can see some nice damage even on a 101 endroll. It'll probably drop off end game and be more of a finisher spell, but at that point you wont have mana worries.

There is also phantom damage applied as well. So it can get pretty juicy.

[Maerit]

Is warmage a thing at cap? I'm assuming archery might work, what about UAC and or swinging?

I play a capped UAC warmage. Works fine. Is it as mechanically powerful as a pure with rapid fire bolts? No, especially not when compared to pure wizards vs swarms. Is it more fun and slightly more versatile? Yup. Nothing magic immune or resistant is a problem. Plus, I can still bolt if I really want, and I have better defenses naturally from specific training requirements.

[GSIV Rogue]

Human is a good choice.


Human is pretty evenly balanced.


Half-Elf is the best all around

I believe these two to be the best races overall (mechanically), regardless of profession - for the aforementioned reasons (well-balanced). Can't go wrong with either.

I lean towards humans but extremely strong arguments for half-elves as well.

Both races are well-rounded and have: Decent spirit regen, carrying capacity, hit points.

For a wizard:

Half-elf is going to be slightly better at:
-bolting
-dodging maneuvers

Human will have slightly higher:
-hit points
-carrying capacity
-weapon AS
-TD
-spirit regen

I'm not a huge fan of the smaller races for any character. That being said, many people love them.

I like CoL for pures, though there are good arguments for going Voln (End-game undead pwnage). If that's your plan (Voln) - you may want to consider dark elf as well (Very good at bolting, dodging maneuvers, and ability to have the highest wizard / elemental CS).

It all depends on what you want to do, your goals with the character, and style of play.

PS - One last thing which factors into my race selection when starting a new character. Simu has a history of nerfing anything / anyone that they consider to be "OP" in the name of "balance" - I believe that the more well-rounded races have a better time adjusting to these types of "changes" that make the game "better."

[Murrandii]

CAreful about balance, it's a trap most of the time in regard to race if you minmax wrongly.

Having a well balanced race with stats you don't care is not a good choice.

i.e.

The 15 dex difference from a human to a halfing is NOT just 15 AS. The 15 DEX is also a phantom crit weight that is added with a certain formula.

People pays HUGE amount of money to increase their AS for little numbers.

Assuming wizards got 2 key stats: DEX (bolt AS) and AURA (CS). Don't neglect CS as a wizard, you will need it for leach at the BARE minimum.

DE are the BEST mechanical race cause they get + 10 in both. BIG drawback is their racial penalty to selling stuff, in nelemar, it's a HUGE 25% worst. EURK

HAlfing are the BEST bolters with their +15 DEX. They get -5 un AURA. See here the choice? Another good point for halfing is their natural TD bonus. VERY HELPFUL. + 5 logic = 1 exp more per minute = pill up = good stuff.

B Gnome are somewhat good: + 10 DEX, + 5 aura. Their HUGE bonus is their + 10 logic making your wiz absorbing 2 exp, in average, per minute more than the others. That's not neglecting matter here.

Sylvain are kinda B gnome with no logic bonus. Bleh

You wanna go physical? Giant or Dwarf.

You wanna ranged? same as bolters.

Don't go average, you will hate your wiz. Go minmax, you will ADORE your max. OPiness = fun. Average = bleh

Society:

CoL is gs3 stuff. If you still decide to go there, know that wracking hurts your BOLT AS. Therefore, CoL is meh for wizards unless you CS (oh, see DE's advantages here over halfling?)

Sunfist and voln got no spirit problems. Sunfist stacks with his padding to 520. Sunfist mages are OP!

And post train 40, wizard leaches well so you'll have no mana issue if you minmaxed it like a prob

[Avaia]

I've got my eyes on a burghal gnome however I'd love input on what the rest of community thinks about the viability of a gnome versus other recommended choices.

Any race/class combo is viable in this game. You can obsess about every little +/-, or just do what you think would be cool. It really doesn't matter.

[Astray]

Any race/class combo is viable in this game. You can obsess about every little +/-, or just do what you think would be cool. It really doesn't matter.

This.

[Methais]

This.

This.

[GSIV Rogue]

This.


This.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4f/a7/06/4fa7063f04ab1997c8d3550014210ab9.gif

[Murrandii]

And in 2 years, spend millions to compensate the bonuses you'd have with a better racial selection LOL

[Fierna]

The RP aspects of racial selection is almost meaningless now, you can change your race using items and pretty soon we’ll get the monk ability to change race or even profession.

[Astray]

pretty soon

https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/016/729/large.jpg

[Methais]

you can change your race using items

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/720x405/p04y6n5r.jpg

[Avaia]

And in 2 years, spend millions to compensate the bonuses you'd have with a better racial selection LOL

Nah.

In 2 years you will realize that while you may bolt in the 460s and JoeminmaxerXXxX bolts in the 480s (completely made-up numbers)you still kill things with remarkable swiftness and the game is easy and it just doesn't matter.

[Avaia]

Why doesn't it matter, you ask?

...because all the really good looking girls would still go out with the guys from Mohawk because they've got all the money!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mf3Bypyk8

[Alashir]

How significant is the -10 logic of half krolvins vs say + 10 of burgh gnomes?

[Avaia]

How significant is the -10 logic of half krolvins vs say + 10 of burgh gnomes?

It's a few EXP points per pulse. Unless you are really paying close attention to the numbers ticking down you probably won't even notice.

[Murrandii]

-10 = -2 exp per minute / pulse on nodes

+ 10 = + 2 exp per minute / on nodes

that's a +4, all things considered equal, difference.

For each hour, it's 240 exp. If you you play 10 hours a day, it's 2,4k difference. 6 days a week = 14,4k, a month = 61k, a year = 743k.

If you play less, then, your impact is lessen.

If you aren't racing to cap bro, the effect is almost close to 0.

@Avaia: I agree on stats that some people put too much weight on em. This game, however, is a mechanical game for many purposes and the more numbers you have, normally, the "easier" it gets.

[kutter]

PICK THE RACE YOU WANT TO PLAY! By that I mean, pick the race you envision your character being, like so many have said, anything works. I have a half-elf bolting wizard that is very near cap and a UAC elf wizard in his 60's, I cannot tell the difference between the two as far as how dangerous each is relative to their levels and learning ability. As a side note, I always set my stats to cap at 19 and forget about them, so worrying about stats is silly. This is not a mechanical game it is an RP game with mechanics. If that is how some choose to play, and focus on only the mechanics, that's cool but they miss out on a lot.

[Astray]

This is not a mechanical game it is an RP game with mechanics.

Basically. If you focus too much on the mechanics of the game, this shit is not fun, imo.

[Alashir]

Awesome. Appreciate all the input

[Methais]

Nah.

In 2 years you will realize that while you may bolt in the 460s and JoeminmaxerXXxX bolts in the 480s (completely made-up numbers)you still kill things with remarkable swiftness and the game is easy and it just doesn't matter.

This is correct.

[Methais]

Other than rolling someone up and training in literally nothing, I wonder if it's possible make a build so gimped that it's impossible for them to level.

I'm too lazy for this experiment, but we need someone who is less lazy to do this.

"MY CHARACTER CAN THROW AWAY THE FUCK OUT OF SOME GARBAGE!"

[kutter]

Other than rolling someone up and training in literally nothing, I wonder if it's possible make a build so gimped that it's impossible for them to level.

I'm too lazy for this experiment, but we need someone who is less lazy to do this.

"MY CHARACTER CAN THROW AWAY THE FUCK OUT OF GARBAGE!"

He was not a wizard but for giggles I created a burghai gnome sorc that swings a naginata and even that build worked, and if that can work, I think most anything can work.

[Methais]

He was not a wizard but for giggles I created a burghai gnome sorc that swings a naginata and even that build worked, and if that can work, I think most anything can work.

Now I'm curious what the absolute worst build is that someone could throw together for any race/profession combo.

[Astray]

Now I'm curious what the absolute worst build is that someone could throw together for any race/profession combo.

2h throwing Cleric that doesn't cast.

[Methais]

2h throwing Cleric that doesn't cast.

What about a warrior that only uses scrolls?

[GSIV Rogue]

a build so gimped


a burghai gnome sorc that swings a naginata


2h throwing Cleric that doesn't cast.


a warrior that only uses scrolls


monk using only 1206


"MY CHARACTER CAN THROW AWAY THE FUCK OUT OF SOME GARBAGE!"

https://media1.giphy.com/media/gecNxHaA7NbCU/giphy.gif

[Maerit]

Now I'm curious what the absolute worst build is that someone could throw together for any race/profession combo.

They actually did this and leveled up with scrolls too. Think a warrior with scrolls made it to 15 or so before it become too tedious.

Now, monk using only 1206 - that's the ticket! They'd have to run errands or something to get enough mana to just cast once.

[Murrandii]

warding warrior (409).

When you hit 15, bring up the artillery! (415!)

[Askip]

I didn't know about 502. Is it effective outside of early levels?

Mechanically Dark Elf looks amazing. How big of a factor is spirit loss at cap (outside of COL)? Either via hunting grounds or critters?

I use 502 in OTF as a setup for anything that will stun and it is very effective. The Ithzir have a nasty trait of fading when cast at. :D

Spirit has not mattered outside of CoL signs, I had to stagger swords/shields/dissipation so I would not drop below 8 spirit which would impact AS spells.

[Maerit]

Spirit has not mattered outside of CoL signs, I had to stagger swords/shields/dissipation so I would not drop below 8 spirit which would impact AS spells.

Not a huge fan of CoL for wizards because they are AS dependent, and you will be forced to use wracking for mana in the field. This leaves you with 2 options after you wrack - 1. ward things with 502 to kill them, or 2. have 1x in wizard ranks to hunt with 917. Either options is viable, but neither option is as efficient as bolting.

For low level characters, Voln is actually ideal because 50 mana is often more than enough to finish your hunt. Once you get into your 60s/70s, then Voln stops being so ideal since the # of undead targets dwindle to barely any, and you're no longer getting a great benefit from just 50 mana. However, GoS does less for mana overall, yet the defensive benefits are impressive and there's a ton of hated foes allowing you to actually put weighting on your bolt spells.

In the end CoL is great for utility hunters. With the right training, 917 can 1-shot a lot of targets, and you will be better at enchanting in general. Which makes the spirit drain not horrible.

Alternately, you can focus on getting a ton of +AUR enhancives. Once you have 11 Spirit, you can keep swords/shields/dissipation going all the time, and you'll rarely run out of spirit during a hunt to hinder your bolt AS. Once you need to wrack though, you're done bolting for a good bit. Finding +Spirit Regen enhancives is hard and expensive also, but they can help with DE spirit issues.

Dark Elf is a good race - but CoL will likely be a problem if you want to bolt as a pure wizard. I'd stick to Voln or GoS if you go DE.

[Methais]

They actually did this and leveled up with scrolls too. Think a warrior with scrolls made it to 15 or so before it become too tedious.

Now, monk using only 1206 - that's the ticket! They'd have to run errands or something to get enough mana to just cast once.

If I was less lazy I’d roll up a 1206 monk and complain constantly on the forums about being shitty at casting it.