How exactly do YOU play as a sorcerer/mage?

[Sabaithal]

Not really looking for strategy guide lines, more like personal experiences. Because I've tried it before in the past and its been...frustrating, to say the least. A lot of the problem was your vulnerability.

The big thing is fast or exceeding huge enemies. Ogres can charge you very quickly, cursed dragons have a lunge biting attack that can happen very suddenly, then there's Daimon (which I never got to) which was already a challenge as a melee class. With the way he flies all over the damn arena, never stops moving, and seemingly is constantly attacking, how do you find enough time to cast spells, and/or get out of the line of fire? Then there's the Ur-dragon constantly charging you whilst breathing fire.

Bear in mind, I did try it on the 360 version of this game, and the rules seem to be different (aggro was a big thing, big enemies ALWAYS seemed to aggro on the player no matter what, not nearly as much on PC I've found).

[Nightwalker]

I play the spell casting vocations badly.

[KarmaTheAlligator]

Holy enchant, Holy Focus Bolt, and sometimes a Levin or High Levin (the lightning spell). If I'm feeling saucy, I'll try one of the advanced spells.

[K]

Sometimes I open a fight with a solo cast high maelstrom. If I have to move, then I just spam holy focused bolt. High miasma is useful for knocking some big flying targets to the ground. Some of the enemy resists become irrelevant with enough magick. My pawns are built to deal with the magick immune obstacles. Many of the tougher encounters you listed become FREE if you torpor them. Just swap to your trusty rusty archistave and holy focused bolt em once or twice.

[Fredericks of Cursewood]

2 words: Rusted Archstaff

Miasma, Maelstrom, and Fulmination are all extremely good with the Rusted Staff.

My favorite loadout are those 3 spells along with, Holy, Fire, and Ice buffs. I usually buff the pawns with fire rather than holy because it alters their use of skills.

I also carry a Golden staff and a Sanguine Stalk or Caged Fury. Pull those out for when they are needed.

For Mage, it would be somewhat similar with the rusted staff and instead of the 3 sorc spells, I would go with Grapnel, Levin, and Comestion.

[Sabaithal]

Originally posted by Fredericks of Cursewood:

2 words: Rusted Archstaff

Miasma, Maelstrom, and Fulmination are all extremely good with the Rusted Staff.

I might be missing something here, but doesn't the rusted staff have the lowest magic damage rating out of any archstaff?

Also what effects does buffing your pawns with fire have? How do they behave differently?

[zadymek]

Mage I play this way
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1441786189

BTW I'd also add that Grapnel and Spellscreen are a game changers - which I discovered way after writing the anti-guide ;). With first one I can stop anything smaller than an Ogre, with the other you have to be hit really hard to not be able to finish casting.

As Sorc I have no Grapnel or Spellscreen so have to rely on tactics and deterrents like Necromancy or Magick Agent. Also, for most intense battles Lassitude is a must - that's why I don't bother with Rusted Archistaff. And ofc there's spell syncing which makes things a lot easier.

Originally posted by Sabaithal:

The big thing is fast or exceeding huge enemies. Ogres can charge you very quickly, cursed dragons have a lunge biting attack that can happen very suddenly, then there's Daimon (which I never got to) which was already a challenge as a melee class. With the way he flies all over the damn arena, never stops moving, and seemingly is constantly attacking, how do you find enough time to cast spells, and/or get out of the line of fire? Then there's the Ur-dragon constantly charging you whilst breathing fire.

Ogres are also very tactical enemy (you don't ask for tactics, so not giving any). And may be easily overpowered with magick. Cursed Dragons even more so. Ur is melted by good ol' HFB. And Daimon? Well, is Daimon an argument? ;)

Improve your party composition, and tactics and it will be much more entertaining. Sure, caster is not "just-shoot'em-in-a-face" like Magick Archer, it's more positioning and timing sensitive job, but it'll pay off.

[Fredericks of Cursewood]

I hope this explains the difference in the pawn behavior between fire and holy.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1758199739

As far as the strength on the Rusted Archstaff goes, it is one of the weakest in the game. From my experience, the strength of the weapon is only part of the equation. Casting the appropriate spell. In some cases, the rusted staff may do more damage when it torpors an enemy and prevents them from a speedy recovery from a stagger or knockdown as when using High Maelstrom against flying wyverns.

[zadymek]

Originally posted by Fredericks of Cursewood:

I hope this explains the difference in the pawn behavior between fire and holy.

Nevermind Holy and Fire...you should try Ice ;)

[Grr. [SG CMD] Majah Lazah]

Originally posted by Fredericks of Cursewood:

I hope this explains the difference in the pawn behavior between fire and holy.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1758199739

As far as the strength on the Rusted Archstaff goes, it is one of the weakest in the game. From my experience, the strength of the weapon is only part of the equation. Casting the appropriate spell. In some cases, the rusted staff may do more damage when it torpors an enemy and prevents them from a speedy recovery from a stagger or knockdown as when using High Maelstrom against flying wyverns.

Ice is far more useful in BBI than either fire or holy unless you're fighting a living armor or disembodied.

[EMDream]

Spam Maelstrom and Holy Bolts

if you are feeling bored hire 3 more sorcerer pawns and spam synced Bolide spells.

Maybe toss in a Fulmination party every so often with all striders that love to climb on the monsters and light them up.

I got bored of magic and how easy it made the game it can be very fun; however, I started to like getting into the thick of it more.

[󠀡]

I always used high firewall for the stagger/stun effect and after that tried to position myself in a way that my pawns could tank for a bit while I charged a Fulmination/Maelstrom. If you can get that off you should be good

[Asphe]

The way spell-synching** works, the enemy has to interrupt all participating casters to stop the spell casting progress. So instead of having a pawn or two tanking... why not go with four sorcies and hope the enemy doesn't do a good whack-a-mole? It's not the 'best' nor the 'meta' but it can be lots of fun as you stay in position... watching your Grand Bolide* cast bar reaching the end... as the Dragon comes nearer and nearer...


*Sure, you can equip Maelstrom but you might want to actually see...

**as long as someone's still casting the spell, another caster can join in and continue at the 'current' progress of the spell cast.

[Sabaithal]

Originally posted by Asphe:

**as long as someone's still casting the spell, another caster can join in and continue at the 'current' progress of the spell cast.

Wasn't aware of that. In fact, that does sound pretty broken if used correctly.

[Fredericks of Cursewood]

I put up a few videos with a 4 sorc team syncing different spells. Its pretty cool to do although it doesn't make much of a difference as to what the make up of the group is when playing sorc.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1515547502

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1517962160