by 12345 » Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:25 pm
Melee types have quite the advantage at lower levels, to be sure. However, once you start picking up your higher level blasting spells, get some +spelldam equipment and get attuned to channeling, you'll be running circles around the same melee types at high levels.
Your classo is pretty good I think, some might argue that your natural dex is a bit low, but considering mirrors will help you more than AC will, I think you'll be fine. Some of the pro mages might have better advice in that area for you.
What you have to remember is that you're not after melee type mobs like the ones in star city or blaster's temple. You're built for quick damage against thin mobs that hit kinda hard. I think the shadow playground was made for newbie mages, but the time I spent there was disappointing.
First thing you'll want to do, if you haven't already, is get some ioun stones. 'help ioun' should give you some hints as to how to use them. It will let you cast spells like ice ray that cost you 50 mana in battle without breaking the mana bank. Next, learn spell economy. Remember that your highest level blasting spell isn't always the best one to use. Fireball is going to be your bread and butter until you leave Valk. Next, look for mobs that are built for players like you. These include the shadows that are north and south of Newbatia. They're ether... the only thing that can hurt them is spell damage.
After you break your teeth in on those, you can work on the gargoyles in star city. These are HUGE ether mobs that will probably take all your mana and mems to drag down.
Next, remember that it's almost always a horrible plan to solo. The way the xp calculations are on Sloth, running 2man will get you almost the same xp (if not more) as solo. It's also safer, allows you to take down bigger mobs, and run faster. Teaming up with a melee type will allow you to take down some very large mobs that neither could take down by themselves. I frequently team up with a mage type to kill mobs in the 2 mil range at Valk levels. Also, Ersa, in the carnival is a great mob if you can learn how to run group-style (tank/healo/debuffs/etc). She's worth about 4 mil xp these days.
Other places that come to mind are the starlings in Sakura at higher levels. The Xanth ghosts and Mansion of the mourned will be regular hangouts for you after you get frostbolt I think. Teaming up with a thief types opens up areas like Infirmary, Demon web and such.
Kein Mehrheit Fur Die Mitleid -KMFDM