War Mage/Warring Mana Mage
Strength - 60
Endurance - 50
Coordination - 10
Quickness - 10
Focus - 100
Self - 100
Specialize: War Magic, Mana Conversion
Train: Item(my choice) or Creature or Arcane/Healing
Get Life @ 16, (other skill based on my choices), Arcane @ 26, Creature @ 60
As I've always said, the important thing is specializing War Magic and Mana Conversion. After that, it's your choice as to what you want to do.
I did Focusing Stone. Focusing Stone is one of those quests that finally puts this template in a position to show off all of it's strengths, which involve blowing things away... not that I could, mind you, considering the creatures in the first half of the quest are too simple, and the Deceased Warriors, Fleshless Warriors (fancy name for... Skeletons), and Unstable Magma Golems have such high magic defense, you couldn't touch these with a 50 foot war bolt. But the quest was fun nonetheless. The excitement came from the simple fact that I was displaying my power, that I could display my power, and that I didn't need anyone to babysit me (not that I have for a long while now). I'm a quester, so being able to do well on quests is one of the main reasons I started this template to begin with. War Magic is a boon on quests, as it likes to effortlessly waste anything in its path, which is good considering the number of high level quests that could rip you a new one. Though I couldn't exactly help on the second part (I almost got left, mind you, not because I was sitting around, but because I had to use the restroom, and when I came back, I needed to buff slightly, and everyone just left me... grrr.) I had a blast and got my stuff. Now... I need Arcane so I can use it.
My predictions for Arcane Lore are phenomenal. I did some calculations in Splitpea as to the different amounts that I could possibly have after I click that green arrow enough time come level 26. The single lowest amount I could have, according to my calculations (and I could very well be wrong, as I've been known to be) is 150 points. That's nothing to sneeze at, as I'll come off using Level 4 wands, jewelry, etc, and actually some of my saved up level 5 with other requirements (which makes things REAL NICE). The oppurtunities that Arcane Lore will open up at level 26 make my mouth water. And through the constant boosting of my skills, the time will finally come when I come equip level 6 items, downsizing my buff times. I think I've made a good choice when it comes to that.
Mana management has finally gotten to the point where I can do a full buff session in 2 mana bars. What I tend to do is that around the time I know my buffs are going to wear off (why is it only I know when my buffs will wear off and I'm no longer using Mage Minder, mind you, but I just KNOW when they are), I find a quiet place and make sure I have a full tank of stamina (this requires all of 10 seconds time) and at the very least 1/2 to 3/4ths of a tank of Mana. And this is when Mana Conversion kicks in. I'll equip my War Magic/Mana Conversion Mastery Explorer Wand to help with the endeavor (base ManaC at this time is 144... more on this later), since I'm able to consistently (read: 95% of the time) cast level 4 Life Magic protection spells now. I'll cast Rejuvenation Self 4, Mana Renewal Self 4, Armor 4, Piercing Protection 4, Blade Protection 4. I rarely cast Bludgeoning unless I KNOW I'm going to fight golems. Stamina to Mana 4, Stamina to Mana 3, Stamina to Mana 1, Stamina to Mana 1. I'm back to 85% or 90% of my original Mana amount. Cast Impen 4, Piercing Bane 4, Blade Bane 4, and Bludgeoning Bane 4. Lay down to regain mana, fill bar back up, and I'm ready to go. Unless there is something I know that I will fight with a certain attack (ie gold wasps = lightning, silver rats = acid), there's no need to buff senselessly. I tank just about anything, from drudges to golems to low level banders, just fine with my set-up and there's really no reason to go beyond that. As Mana Conversion gets higher in skill (it essentially caps out around 250-255 I was told, but I will still raise it much higher than that), it will become much more obvious as to the advantages of specializing it, than it is right now. But that time will come.
There was a dicussion on Magic Tab Bars and their organization on here the other day. I decided I would take pictutes of mine (pray to whatever entity you need highest and holy that this works) and show you how I organize my spells. I'm a very neat and organized person (when it comes to certain things... you don't want to see the room around me... really...) and my spell bars are a reflection of that. So, like I said, let's hope this works... if not... oh well.
As you can see here (hope it showed up), I have my War Magic spells. Tab Number 1. No other tab. And I only have the Bolts. There's no reason for the other spells. What do I need to do, show off to my friends? The only impression I need to make is on the enemies as they crumble, fall, or explode beneat my raging magic, though I will get the ring spells because they have their usefulness in certain situations (my patron demosntrated this the other day at Colier).
This tab, number 2, involves healing self and others, stamina to mana, my drains, and my rejuvenation and mana renewal spell. It's not hard to switch back and forth as I cosntantly work both hands for magic, as well as strafing (sometimes my fingers slip... that's how I die too). On to tab three...
Self protections, Item spell Banes, and True Value. Not much else to see here...
Protection Other Spells. When I eventually get Creature magic, I'll also put creature into this tab... creature other that is. I also put the Item spells for weapons here, simply because I don't use a weapon and have no need for those spells... my friends do though. (not shown because I did it AFTER I took this picture)
Debuffs, debuffs, debuffs, portal? Yup, this is where I put that handy portal spell. Why? Simple, it's right next to my war tab (I simply switch back and forth between the two) which makes for easy clickin's. And I simply press 9. No need to select a specific destination. If I'm gettin' whipped, I select 9, which is to my Lifestone. One way or another, I'm going to end up there. Heh.
So, if you feel this set-up is right for you, use it. I like it. I can't understand some of the set-ups that some people have, but I was never meant to. Their mage is their mage and their tabs are their tabs. I was only supposed to understand my own set-up... and this, I do.
Hunting locations are changing every minute. I'm still lifestone'd in Teth but I venture out much further than before. I've also taken to slamming on Golems more than anything else these days. I do fiddle with the odd Drudge pack or two, but they are no longer on my exclusive eatery list. Iron golems are the most fun to toy with. Slap on a Bludgeoning, Fire, and Ice protect and I'm ready to fiddle with the boys. Acid Stream 4, Vuln 3, Acid Stream 4, Acid Stream 4, watch him crumble. Muwahahah. Some of the best places to hunt are out the western gates of Tethana. In fact, that's where I've been doing all my hunting. With the number of peas I carry now (thank god for peas) I'm able to stay out for hours without having any problems at all. The only thing that brings me back? Well, buying more peas of course and loot or trade items I've found that I want to sell or mule (in that order mind you). At about level 28, I'm moving to the Obsidian Plains and no one is going to stop me... but first, I need to test my luck with one of these Virindi party floating around here lately....
I'm now level 24... time for that long haul. 24 to 26 is my recuperation period, which means I save all of my experience earned for Arcane lore. At the beginning of level 24, my stats looked as follows:
You can see my attributes as follows.
My spec'd skills are rising very quickly and nicely.
And my trained skills are coming along as well.
So now it's time for the long haul. My skills will remain as such for awhile but during level 26, I'll begin working on them again. I just have to get Arcane Lore...
Well, this is all from me. I just wanted to give you some progress on me. I must also give a shout out to someone who helped me the other day. Thank you Dragons Sire, those buffed provided VERY nicely. He buffed me with Level 6 spells and after I thanked him graciously he said "For the Chronicle!" And ran off! If he was able to see the smile I had on my face in real life, I think he would've been pleased... so I know one person reads! *hugs Dragons Sire* Thank you! Until next time friends (level 26), good hunting!
~.~EmeraldWind~.~
Warring Mana Mage of LeafCull