How do mages work?

[Minion27]

Just wondering how the mage role works? I'm guessing they must only use my usable spells? i never see them cast anything on their own so far.

[curio]

Further down in the tech tree, you will unlock potions (fireball, don't know if there are others) which are usable by dwarves equipped with a staff in the same way an archer uses arrows. The dwarf needn't be a mage (don't know if this contributes in some way). If you've just unlocked the staff, don't worry: the fireball spell will be unlocked only a while later.

The spell potions are unrelated to your „godly“ spells.

[Minion27]

Thanks, I've seen the fireball spell, haven't seen a staff though. guess I need to get to working on my skill tree.

[kaiyl_kariashi]

Yeah, the staff is basically at the end of the tree, or close to it. The mage role just increases the damage those dwarves deal with spells.

[Minion27]

hmm, I'll have to kill off a few then, my last 4 replacements have been mages..
thanks for the input.

[Mushuukyou]

I still don't get how mages work. I'm just about done with the small level, and the dude who has the mage skill, who I've given a staff to.. .doesn't do any spells at all - he just clobbers people over the head with the puny staff - and I researched everything...

[Minion27]

I never tried it, saw how far up the tree the staff was and i gave up. :p (bought too many new games during the black friday weekend)

[Hannibal the cannibal]

you need to craft the Elixir of Fireball its the only spell in the game right now that the dwarves can use their will be more soon as i've seen more new stuff in the main files that are not in the game right now. :D

[Minion27]

so do they even need the staff then? and do we need tokeep a supply of elixirs on hand for them?

[Mushuukyou]

Yea, the elixir worked. Yes, I think you need the staff. The fireball hits hard because I beefed up his mage power using the shop.

[Invest]

Can you please give another answer I still can't use the elixir of fireball. I equipped my dwarf with a staff but I can't do anything with the elixier. If I click on an arrow it gets ticked but this doesnt work with the elixir also I cant activate it or something like that.
Could you explain again how to use the elixir of fireballs pls?

[Othobrithol]

If you have elixirs made AND you have a dwarf with a staff the dwarf will, on their own, try to hurl a fireball at some enemies. They don't seem to do it too often and only when they are at range. It has a small area of effect and does not do that much damage, but it helps weaken the masses in later waves.

[Scobee]

Originally posted by curio:

Further down in the tech tree, you will unlock potions which are usable by dwarves equipped with a staff in the same way an archer uses arrows.

Thank you!

[primarccreagor]

Mages use healing potions as well when you control that dwarf. When you click one of your hurt dwarfs they will use it on them, not shure if it works when your not controling but it helps as mages AI is buged. Run into mob to shoot first target then run away after getting taken to no health, this is usally further into mobs and death is common.

[awxde]

What about the wooden staff? The dwarves will shoot lightning with it but do no damage, which confuses me, can you help?

[pikawu70]

If you look at the staff, you'll see that it doesn't do much damage. Mage's do not do a lot of damage with their lightning bolt. I've watched a Mage take about 10 minutes to kill a snail. At higher staff levels the lighting bolt will chain, but it never does as much as a sword or bow. They are the only ones that can use your alchemy potions and that's where they have tremendous value. Having healing potions alone won't be of any use unless you have a Mage that can use them on others. There are 4 types of potions they can use: Healing, Fireball, Transforming and Freezing. The Fireball especially is very useful for when you are being swarmed by the portals.

I generally will not have more than two mages and only if they have the Mage skill. I believe the Mage skill helps with crafting potions in the Alchemy Lab but I've never confirmed nor have I ever seen the skillup happen from crafting potions, just from using the potions.