Wand Translocator

[MysticDaedra]

We seriously need at least one guaranteed (one? not even 100% sure how these work...) very early on in the underschool. Currently trying to find one, keep getting curb stomped and there's nothing I can do as I'm hard-gated until I can find one to upgrade my students and staff.

Is there any other way I can push through battles that are really hard in the early game? I only have my 3 starting level 5 staff and level 3 maxed out initiates...

[Ghevd]

Educate and graduate. This gives you relics. Now you equip the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ relics you don't want on new students. Once the relic is max level you pulverize it for gnosis that you'll need to hire staff. The higher level relic gives more gnosis.

Do this while also focusing on obtaining rooms and upgrading them to higher tier rooms. You need a mage's study to push to tier two of research.

Also don't sleep on the alchemy bench or the crystal ball. Potions help and the crystal ball helps in combat as well.

Get sleeping and and eating facilities for both staff and students up and running and make sure they use the correct one by disallowing them to use the other. Staff members should not be eating in mess halls but they will if it is closer and you didn't click the table and disallow them for doing so.

The same is true with sleeping quarters.

I hope this helped.

[RonEmpire]

It's usually on the first floor stone ruins end of the hall.

At least from all my playthroughs. The map generation has a common pattern.

[MysticDaedra]

Originally posted by RonEmpire:

It's usually on the first floor stone ruins end of the hall.

At least from all my playthroughs. The map generation has a common pattern.

Yes, I am well aware. The issue is that the recommended level keeps increasing as I go further horizontally, to the point where I cannot succeed anymore, even after repeated tries.

Originally posted by Ghevd:

Educate and graduate. This gives you relics. Now you equip the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ relics you don't want on new students. Once the relic is max level you pulverize it for gnosis that you'll need to hire staff. The higher level relic gives more gnosis.

Also don't sleep on the alchemy bench or the crystal ball. Potions help and the crystal ball helps in combat as well.

I haven't explored relics yet, I'll give that a try.

My understanding is that initiates cannot be upgraded to apprentices until they are given tier 2 wands, is this not correct?

[RonEmpire]

Originally posted by MysticDaedra:

Originally posted by RonEmpire:

It's usually on the first floor stone ruins end of the hall.

At least from all my playthroughs. The map generation has a common pattern.

Yes, I am well aware. The issue is that the recommended level keeps increasing as I go further horizontally, to the point where I cannot succeed anymore, even after repeated tries.

Originally posted by Ghevd:

Educate and graduate. This gives you relics. Now you equip the ♥♥♥♥♥♥ relics you don't want on new students. Once the relic is max level you pulverize it for gnosis that you'll need to hire staff. The higher level relic gives more gnosis.

Also don't sleep on the alchemy bench or the crystal ball. Potions help and the crystal ball helps in combat as well.

I haven't explored relics yet, I'll give that a try.

My understanding is that initiates cannot be upgraded to apprentices until they are given tier 2 wands, is this not correct?

NO. You can make apprentices with tier 1 initiates mages. You just need the teaching station for that.

Though, upgrading wands before apprentice can manifest better relics because you are increasing levels before the apprentice change.

[UltiBand]

What difficulty you're playing on? And, like, what is your combat party?
Also, Wand Transfigurator is bound to specific biome, I believe, so it's not "that" random.

[Pervy]

Early game any student that you aren't going to hire is a meat shield. Remember that when someone levels up they gain full HP. Dark magic deals an incredible amount of damage but obviously kills you as a side effect. It also scales really well early on compared to other types of damage magic. With all that in mind you can make 4 Dark students and have them blow up each encounter. Wait until they level up to heal themselves then blow up the next encounter. Make sure to have them swap rows to allow damage to be spread around evenly. Remember to throw up a single shadow cloak so they all have reduced HP costs. Repeat until you can graduate them and then start over with a new batch. Either save before each battle or research Critical Care to revive them since the scars won't matter since you shouldn't be hiring a Dark teacher until they upgraded their wands(They need rank 4 to be useful).

This strategy will generally get you to the end of the Stone Ruins even if it's deeper for the wand upgrader. Just remember to not neglect the other elements early on for hiring.

[Philtre]

Originally posted by MysticDaedra:

Originally posted by RonEmpire:

It's usually on the first floor stone ruins end of the hall.

Yes, I am well aware. The issue is that the recommended level keeps increasing as I go further horizontally, to the point where I cannot succeed anymore, even after repeated tries.

It sounds like you have picked a poor starting team, or are not strategizing the battles well. It is entirely possible to clear the first branch of the stone ruins and get to the first wand transfigurator with level 5/6 mages, since you can't upgrade their wands until you do. It may help to pick the races and elements of your starting 3 specifically to make a good combat team, with a student for the 4th until you can hire someone.

[Soul4hdwn]

Even a soso earth vivified in front then a water and nature backline is good enough (hopefully wolves or a new raven/shattered student)