How do you skill train staff?

[trenjeska]

I finally got a tier 2 wand applied to a staff member, but I can't seem to train the skill levels.
the primary skill and the random bonus skill are still not trained at al (stuck on 5/6 and 2/3 fully black progress bar), even if I let him do matching tasks.
I want the skills fully trained before I take him to combat.

[FDru]

It takes a really long time to level up through normal tasks so it can seem like it's not going up even though it is.

In the mage sheet you can see the exp number for each element if you mouse over it. Can you confirm that it isn't going up at all when casting?

[IxianMace]

This is why you want to give wand upgrades to mages before you make them staff. Staff will train their missing skill levels simply by doing tasks associated with that type of magic, but it can take a very long time and/or be very tedious depending on whether you want to micromanage them.

[trenjeska]

@Fdru indeed it went so slow that it was imperceptible, but it eventually showed (it did go up)
@IxianMace yep, apparently that is the way... Do not give wand upgrades to staff.

[Asa]

I realize that you are trying to train the skill before taking them to battle, but ironically If the skill not capped is aligned with the wand, the most efficient way to grind skill xp would be to take your staff to battles. Battle rewards level xp and skill xp corresponding to the mage's wand (and apprenticeship if dual-classing) and that applies to staffs too.

Even low level battles would be much more time efficient than trying to train those skills by doing task (maybe with the exception of nature). Put a mana lantern next to a rematch effigy that you can safely complete without casualty (or easily recoverable through drinking potions) and easily max out the skill level within an hour game time.

[TheBeardyMan]

Originally posted by IxianMace:

This is why you want to give wand upgrades to mages before you make them staff. Staff will train their missing skill levels simply by doing tasks associated with that type of magic, but it can take a very long time and/or be very tedious depending on whether you want to micromanage them.

Don't you also need to be careful when giving wand upgrades to apprentices?

When you upgrade a wand, one or two of the skill cap raises will be surprises, and if they're in skills for which you don't have the apprentice teaching station yet, the apprentice will have exactly the same problem as staff trying to raise a skill.

[IxianMace]

Originally posted by TheBeardyMan:

Don't you also need to be careful when giving wand upgrades to apprentices?

When you upgrade a wand, one or two of the skill cap raises will be surprises, and if they're in skills for which you don't have the apprentice teaching station yet, the apprentice will have exactly the same problem as staff trying to raise a skill.

That's a good point. Yes, you should be careful when giving wand upgrades to apprentices too.

[King Gabe]

I wouldn’t worry about having all the apprentice trainers before promoting an apprentice.

The random secondary skills can be trained in a basic/advanced classroom up to at least 3, possibly 4. It’s usually just the wand skill that needs an apprentice station to max out, and you can always do that once you research the station later

[FDru]

Originally posted by King Gabe:

I wouldn’t worry about having all the apprentice trainers before promoting an apprentice.

The random secondary skills can be trained in a basic/advanced classroom up to at least 3, possibly 4. It’s usually just the wand skill that needs an apprentice station to max out, and you can always do that once you research the station later

Apprentices aren't allowed to use the basic learning stone at all, so it's a good idea to make sure you have the capability to at least build all of the apprentice stations if needed.

I was stuck for a long time cause I didn't have enough sporecaps to build a dark apprentice portal (those things are a pain to get if your fog isn't already pushed way back).

[Aldehydra]

Originally posted by TheBeardyMan:

Don't you also need to be careful when giving wand upgrades to apprentices?

In theory, but in practice you can probably get any required apprentice object if you're at a point where you're making higher tier wands. You don't need to build a whole new classroom for it. Just swap out the object for the one you need at the moment.