State placement for War Mage

[SHAFT]

I haven't rolled up one of these in years, looking for some help. How important is it to set myself up for capped stats at 100? I know the early years are tough on a war mage. I'm wondering if I'll struggle through the early years trying to get to cap if I go that route.

Any war mages out there currently?

[Methais]

How important is it to set myself up for capped stats at 100?

With annual fixskills and fixstat potions, it's not important at all.

[SHAFT]

With annual fixskills and fixstat potions, it's not important at all.

You get a fixstat every year too?

[Methais]

Uh no nevermind. Forget that part of the post. I'm going to bed now.

[AestheticDeath]

If your making this guy for Sorrow, don't place for max stats. Place for whatever stats you need to survive the weapon, and hunt well etc...

Then buy the fixstat later if you get that far.

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

For serious though, just start your stats off nicely balanced (70 agi, 65 dex, 65 con, 80 str if not 90, then fill out the rest), buy 7 mana regen worth of misc items, and get cooking with your perma-haste. It's worth it.

Naginatas swing in two seconds with noob haste and a decent race, so that'll be your best option for the early levels.

Really though, setting stats for max at cap isn't that viable anymore for a war mage, you need too much for dodging, cman defense, and spiritual TD to tank anything and still swing well. Abuse the premium point system and cap your stats when you're close enough to really see a difference.

[Khariz]

If your making this guy for Sorrow, don't place for max stats. Place for whatever stats you need to survive the weapon, and hunt well etc...

Then buy the fixstat later if you get that far.

Sorrow's backlash isn't based on stats as far as I can tell. It's just all about whether or not it likes you. A bonding process, if you will.

I could be wrong, but I dunno.

[Fallen]

If you're going to be using sorrow you are definitely still going to want 2x Spell aim for the focused implosion. If you're not making use of Sorrow's implosion, you're wasting a ton of potential for the weapon.

[Khariz]

If you're going to be using sorrow you are definitely still going to want 2x Spell aim for the focused implosion. If you're not making use of Sorrow's implosion, you're wasting a ton of potential for the weapon.

That's why he's creating this character. We had a discussion about how the implosion was useless to me.

[RichardCranium]

Ask Anticor.

[SHAFT]

I will definitely 2x in SA. I want to have perfect control of the Implosion with Sorrow. I'm not sure anyone has ever done a war mage with Sorrow before have they? I thought most of former owners were squares.

Besides training in spells, what else could I do to raise my sorcery CS?

[Drew]

I will definitely 2x in SA. I want to have perfect control of the Implosion with Sorrow. I'm not sure anyone has ever done a war mage with Sorrow before have they?


Yes it's been done.

[Methais]

Besides training in spells, what else could I do to raise my sorcery CS?

Stock up on heavy quartz orbs. Other than that, nothing.

[Peanut Butter Jelly Time]

Stock up on heavy quartz orbs. Other than that, nothing.

Or stock up on the less weight-instensive 20 charge Mystic Focus orbs they released a while ago (I think) at Ebon's Gate. Then apparently there's one or two Mystic Focus self-chargers or something of that nature.

If you want something more common, (1612) Champion's Might is money, and gives you cool purpley wispy stuff around your hands. I THINK (it may not, but I think) it does work with Sorcerer circle, but it may be worth testing first.

[Danical]

It would work at 1/2 effectiveness as does 425.

[SHAFT]

Race: Dark Elf Profession: Wizard (not shown)
Gender: Male Age: 0 Expr: 610 Level: 0
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 90 (20) ... 90 (20)
Constitution (CON): 90 (15) ... 90 (15)
Dexterity (DEX): 50 (10) ... 50 (10)
Agility (AGI): 70 (15) ... 70 (15)
Discipline (DIS): 95 (12) ... 95 (12)
Aura (AUR): 70 (20) ... 70 (20)
Logic (LOG): 65 (7) ... 65 (7)
Intuition (INT): 50 (5) ... 50 (5)
Wisdom (WIS): 60 (10) ... 60 (10)
Influence (INF): 20 (-20) ... 20 (-20)

Here's what I rolled up. This doable?

[Xcalibur]

With my war mage, back in the days, I went 1X armor, 1X 2 handed, 1X CM, 1X PT until max, 1X perception, 2X spells.

No need for spell aim since I was relying on my claidh + haste 2.

Now, I'd do 1X air lore until you get a -1 for your RT. You don't need to throw bolt spells as your weapon is way faster and do more damage. 1X HP -1 would be enough too.

Since you can realocate easily, stats for low level would be majorly high for strength, reflex, aura, discipline and logic. Would place em for growth later.

Hardest levels for warmarging is between 15 to 18. At least it was for me. After those levels, you can quake, haste and kill in 2-3 hits. Rince and repeat.

And to brag a bit, I was really the strongest war mage (besides Morq who was hunting with 409/415 anyway) until they screwed armor prior to the changes GS4 was creating. I was hunting wind wraith in chain mail with a 1 second RT 2 handed sword. Man, it was cool.

[SHAFT]

With my war mage, back in the days, I went 1X armor, 1X 2 handed, 1X CM, 1X PT until max, 1X perception, 2X spells.

No need for spell aim since I was relying on my claidh + haste 2.

Now, I'd do 1X air lore until you get a -1 for your RT. You don't need to throw bolt spells as your weapon is way faster and do more damage. 1X HP -1 would be enough too.

Since you can realocate easily, stats for low level would be majorly high for strength, reflex, aura, discipline and logic. Would place em for growth later.

Hardest levels for warmarging is between 15 to 18. At least it was for me. After those levels, you can quake, haste and kill in 2-3 hits. Rince and repeat.

And to brag a bit, I was really the strongest war mage (besides Morq who was hunting with 409/415 anyway) until they screwed armor prior to the changes GS4 was creating. I was hunting wind wraith in chain mail with a 1 second RT 2 handed sword. Man, it was cool.

Thanks for the reply man! I'm gonna get my armor trainings in and then go after CMans. I have to train in 2x SA in order to get full Implosion effect out of Sorrow as well. After I get my climbing, swimming, and armor ranks in I'll go after the CMans.

[AestheticDeath]

What are you actually planning on doing? Having a wizard who can use the sword? Using your wizard spells for DS/TD and haste, then swinging the sword? Are you going to swing the sword, or just use the CS spells?

I would think the most useful way to implement the sword is by swinging it, throwing in an implosion for hard guys, and honestly it seems pointless to try the CS spells, since your CS will be pretty low using sorcerer spells.

And if your swinging, it seems to me you need either a giant/dwarf for more base AS, or an elf/dark elf for dex/agi bonus and swing faster.

Your dark elf as is has small mods for lowering RT. Are you hoping to grow into that later? Your CS stats are low too..

Your stats look pretty close to stat growth. But not totally, why are you putting discipline so high?

- Does using the spell abilities of the sword cost mana or stamina or anything? I assume you can use them at will. Or is there a timer? Random act etc..

[Khariz]

What are you actually planning on doing? Having a wizard who can use the sword? Using your wizard spells for DS/TD and haste, then swinging the sword? Are you going to swing the sword, or just use the CS spells?

I would think the most useful way to implement the sword is by swinging it, throwing in an implosion for hard guys, and honestly it seems pointless to try the CS spells, since your CS will be pretty low using sorcerer spells.

And if your swinging, it seems to me you need either a giant/dwarf for more base AS, or an elf/dark elf for dex/agi bonus and swing faster.

Your dark elf as is has small mods for lowering RT. Are you hoping to grow into that later? Your CS stats are low too..

Your stats look pretty close to stat growth. But not totally, why are you putting discipline so high?

- Does using the spell abilities of the sword cost mana or stamina or anything? I assume you can use them at will. Or is there a timer? Random act etc..


Few points:

1. He has to swing the sword and be able to kill mobs via swinging to charge it up.

2. I agree that Dark Elf was a bad choice. I would have picked Halfling, or at least Half-elf if you have to have some elf.

[Durgrimst]

Name?????

[Methais]

I'd guess the high DI is for TPs (it gives physical and mental). Having a better exp bucket and absorption rate (DI helps absorb either on or off a node i forgot which, at least in GS3) is never a bad thing either.

[AestheticDeath]

Personally I would go giant, dwarf, or elf. I stay away from halflings just for the low strength mod. It really puts a damper on so many things...

[Methais]

My warmage was a dwarf. They're almost as strong as giants, have a good natural TD bonus, and pwnage spirit regen. I think they get a good DI bonus too I don't remember. I only took my warmage to 25 or so though.

[Khariz]

I support dwarves.

[Methais]

In Soviet Russia, dwarves support you!

[SHAFT]

At first I thought about making a dwarf but I didn't like the idea of a dwarf using Sorrow. But after hearing the comments I figured should give it a shot, see how it goes. Much, much better stat placements with a dwarf. Plus I started off with 10 SP's.

Race: Dwarf Profession: Wizard (not shown)
Gender: Male Age: 0 Expr: 698 Level: 0
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 80 (25) ... 80 (25)
Constitution (CON): 50 (15) ... 50 (15)
Dexterity (DEX): 70 (10) ... 70 (10)
Agility (AGI): 80 (10) ... 80 (10)
Discipline (DIS): 60 (15) ... 60 (15)
Aura (AUR): 100 (15) ... 100 (15)
Logic (LOG): 60 (10) ... 60 (10)
Intuition (INT): 70 (10) ... 70 (10)
Wisdom (WIS): 70 (10) ... 70 (10)
Influence (INF): 20 (-25) ... 20 (-25)
Mana: 5 Silver: 942

[Xcalibur]

I'd lower aura a bit to get 23 in dex + reflex so you'll have -2 for your swinging right of the start if you want to swing a 2 handed at low level. If not, place em for growth when it really matters (after 10).

I'd raise logic to get more exp per pulse.

You will need more PTP than the average wizard, lower wisdom and intuition.

[AnticorRifling]

Here's where I was when I stopped playing:

Level 0 Stats for Anticor, Giant Wizard

Strength (STR): 85
Constitution (CON): 54
Dexterity (DEX): 68
Agility (AGI): 85
Discipline (DIS): 73
Aura (AUR): 55
Logic (LOG): 62
Intuition (INT): 59
Wisdom (WIS): 73
Influence (INF): 46

Name: Anticor Rifling Race: Giant Profession: Wizard (shown as: War Mage)
Gender: Male Age: 47 Expr: 4034769 Level: 66
Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 97 (38) ... 97 (38)
Constitution (CON): 75 (22) ... 75 (22)
Dexterity (DEX): 91 (15) ... 91 (15)
Agility (AGI): 95 (17) ... 95 (17)
Discipline (DIS): 91 (20) ... 91 (20)
Aura (AUR): 91 (15) ... 91 (15)
Logic (LOG): 89 (14) ... 89 (14)
Intuition (INT): 89 (19) ... 89 (19)
Wisdom (WIS): 91 (20) ... 91 (20)
Influence (INF): 73 (16) ... 73 (16)
Mana: 192 Silver: 0

Anticor (at level 66), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 111 27
Combat Maneuvers...................| 168 68
Polearm Weapons....................| 168 68
Physical Fitness...................| 105 25
Arcane Symbols.....................| 154 54
Magic Item Use.....................| 154 54
Spell Aiming.......................| 236 136
Harness Power......................| 164 64
Elemental Mana Control.............| 102 24
Elemental Lore - Air...............| 120 30
Perception.........................| 126 33
Climbing...........................| 120 30
Swimming...........................| 120 30

Spell Lists
Major Elemental....................| 34

Spell Lists
Minor Elemental....................| 65

Spell Lists
Wizard.............................| 34
Training Points: 157 Phy 3 Mnt
(Use SKILLS BASE to display unmodified ranks and goals)

Anticor, your Combat Maneuver training is as follows:

Skill name Mnemonic Ranks
Disarm Weapon disarm 2
Feint feint 5

Available Combat Maneuver Training Points: 2


I would have dropped polearms for swords in a second if I had the chance to use Sorrow.

[SHAFT]

If a war mage were to join a society, would he rather with CoL or GoS?

[RichardCranium]

CoL

[SHAFT]

Was curious what some of the other war mages used for armor? Should I stop at double leather or continue to brig or somewhere in between? I'm not completely worried about the hindrance, but I don't want it to be a nuisance either.

[Fallen]

I've heard LBP at a minimum. Brig would likely rule out the use of most spells. I would do either LBP or Cuirb.

[AnticorRifling]

Doubles at the very least. LBP or Cuirb preferred. I used LBP.

Go CoL also.

[SHAFT]

Doubles at the very least. LBP or Cuirb preferred. I used LBP.

Go CoL also.

If I use LBP, the chest and torso would be protected by the LBP, and the rest of my body would be a rank below LBP correct? So that's double leather? I've never used anything besides brig or double leather so I'm trying to understand this.

[NocturnalRob]

yup

[SHAFT]

yup

Excellent. Cuirb sounds like the way to go then. Also, if I were to wear cuirb and add a helm, does that do anything to change to hindrance %?

[Fallen]

Yes. That would jump you instantly up to Brig hindrance, which is a no-go for non Empaths/clerics.

[SHAFT]

Yes. That would jump you instantly up to Brig hindrance, which is a no-go for non Empaths/clerics.

Ok. I wanted to do a helm for the dwarf but I'll do a war mask instead. I'll keep it at LBP or cuirb then.

[Fallen]

I would hold off. There are a lot of awesome headworn enhancives out there that aren't armor. Catch one of those before you go altering something.

[Izzy]

If I use LBP, the chest and torso would be protected by the LBP, and the rest of my body would be a rank below LBP correct? So that's double leather? I've never used anything besides brig or double leather so I'm trying to understand this.

Everything gets the scale crit divisor, the torso gets the scale damage factor and the limbs/head get soft leather damage factor. So even the limbs and head are better protected than standard soft leather. Slightly offset by the increase in AvD vs your armor, but not significantly (DS won't be a huge problem anyway, methinks)

[SHAFT]

I have a few days before I have to set my stats for good. Looking for some help with the stat placement. THW using war mage here. I'd like to have a decent CS as well.

Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 91 (30) ... 91 (30)
Constitution (CON): 63 (21) ... 63 (21)
Dexterity (DEX): 65 (7) ... 65 (7)
Agility (AGI): 91 (15) ... 91 (15)
Discipline (DIS): 100 (35) ... 100 (35)
Aura (AUR): 75 (2) ... 75 (2)
Logic (LOG): 100 (30) ... 100 (30)
Intuition (INT): 55 (2) ... 55 (2)
Wisdom (WIS): 31 (-9) ... 31 (-9)
Influence (INF): 31 (-19) ... 31 (-19)