really enjoying the mage playthrough

[Spooky Bunyip]

I really like the Grimoire system where you can either spend points an memorize the spells, or spend an offhand weapon slot to hold the grimoire to cast out of.
And the spells feel pretty badass. My favorite so far is the one that summons an orb that fires magic missiles at everyone around it.
I unlocked that spell and then the next group of thugs I ran into melted. until they sicc'd a troll on me lol.

I haven't even really checked out the fighter or ranger trees yet, but if the magic one is indicative of the other two, I'm really looking forward to a warrior run.

[Janthis]

They actually managed to make all combat styles fun and rewarding imo. My first character was a fighter with a 2h hammer, and there was something supremely satisfying about whacking things and seeing them fly, or executing critical hits. Then I got an arquebus and became a long-range sniper. Add in companion abilities and it's great.

[hrafnskald]

I really like the Mage abilities, especially how Avowed let's you use them with any weapon & offhand set.

[Volpa]

I love that they made the essence/mana not regenerate.

[hrafnskald]

There are some good options for Essence(Mana Regen). There's a ring you can get very early on that makes your Essence regenerate when you're near companions (ie. nearly all the time).

You can craft food at your Camp's campfire that regenerates Essence. And best of all, that Regeneration builds up a buffer (the amount is visible) that automatically kicks in when you spend Essence or lose Health.

Food ingredients are plentiful and cheap (most cost 5 or 8 gold from vendors), and the cooked food and drinks give some great buffs.

[Volpa]

Originally posted by hrafnskald:

There's a ring you can get very early on that makes your Essence regenerate when you're near companions (ie. nearly all the time).

I used it for a while, but the regen is so slow and you have to be so close to the companions that I ditched it. I have now put a skill point into the void staff or whatever it's called, the one that regenerates mana when you hit enemies with it. Genuinely fun system.