Interview with : 

Battlemage Devasator

Name: Battlemage Devastator

Level: Currently 35, although I'll be lvl 40 by the time you read the journal next week.

Server: Good ole Frostfell

Message board name: For Dizz's it's Battlemage Devastator, on the ACVault it's Devastator.BM-FF!!

Favorit message board : All of Dizz's site plus the ACVault General Board where I'm the resident mage
troll with Gharuvy!!

How long have you been playing AC? Wow, um Nov '99 actually. I can't believe I've been roaming Dereth
that long.

How much do/did you play every week? About 4 nights a week and the occasional day off bender where I get a
whole day of adventuring!!

What template of mage do you currently Play?
Battlemage all they way with a side order of Og for flavor (that's my char Boss Ogg).

Is AC your first MMORPG? if not what others have you played and did you play a mage?
Yep, AC is my first and AC2 will be my second.

What was your first mage character? Do you still play it? Wow, great question. My first mage character was a stock war mage template named Threnadore Quenestar onthe very first day of retail. I made him in the morning and after a bit of frustration learning the magic system promptly deleted him and made a sword gimp named Xoeram Guildamire. Alas poor Threnadore was never rerolled nor heard from again.

How do you play AC? Are you in it to power-level, Dungeon Dwelling, adventuring, friends, etc. Hehe, well of Course I'm the original Dungeon Dweller, but I'm a huge Quest guy. My new buds ingame took me on many new mage oriented type quests I had never done with my sword character. I had the BEST time and saw new places I'd never even bothered since my sword guy didn't really need things like a focus stone. I'm mildly a power-leveler right now but only to the
extent that needs to be done to complete the template.

What gear do you normally hunt in? Blue dyed Neo-GSA with AL 218 Helm, 185 gaunts, and 190ish solls. I bane a mean robe in 5's but hardly ever use them for much other than DI's. Next stop will be still using Neo-GSA but also a mattie robe once I reach lvl 45 and can somewhat cast 7's.

What do you feel was the best thing to happen to mages in the game? Lvl 7 Spells and the return of the Mattie
robe.

What do you think is the worst thing that affects mages?  Spell Economy...it can be your worst enemy and
your best friend all in one night!

Are mages overpowered? Well according to Turbine's saying that your power now equals your skill credits spent I'd say no. But before I would've said they were a bit but only because it takes a melee longer to switch modes to vuln and slash than a mage to vuln and blast, seeing as how it's all in 1 spell bar, hehe.

What are your thoughts on Drain Health I? Well, until mages can carry a shield and a wand at the same time
I'd call Drain Health a Life saver!

What template do you advocate for starting mages? Heck Battlemages all the way. Sure it's 45 lvls, but the end result will be so sweet.  If you want to do the 5 lvl test a 4 spec all trained would do the trick to at least get you the feel for a mage character, but no more than a 5 lvl test.

What do you feel turbine needs to do with mages, if anything? I would like to see bane timers first of all. Then I would like to see some endurance love that would make stamina 2 mana look like a secondary spell, followed by a trade skill use for item at higher lvls. Item, it's not just for banes anymore. LOL Actually permanantly infusing armor with protects using item at an insanely hi lvl would make my day and my wallet.

After the primary skills have been obtained what skill do you think a mage should take? Arcane, Healing, Lockpicking, or MeleeD? Well, up until I had lvl 7's put on me by my buddy Mr Magex II the banes and pros produced 0 point hits from monsters. I quickly gave up the melee D option. Arcane first, since directly with the new cantrips this gives your stats a good boost. Lockpick next, since you'll be a hollow slapping fool by this lvl. Healing last to make you BM an
unstoppable force.

Care to reminisce? What has been the best patch or moment or epiphany that you have had in AC.
Best Patch was Sudden Season....waaaaaaaaaaaaay back when we were still n00bs. Snow on the ground was so cool. The fact that the environment changed dramatically from one day to the next was astonishing. We all knew we had a wonder on our hands after that. I also remember running into Animal on the Floating City one time. Cool guy, he was hanging out and running around in that loop of a place. Not sure if he was as lost as I was or was hiding out because I think he was PK at that time and maybe got ambushed so quickly grabbed the first random portal,around. Not 100% sure on that.

Comments? Shot outs? Yes, I want to give a shout out to my wife and baby boy James. I love you guys. My Mom and Pop for buying a computer and keeping me supplied with games as a young tyke. I also wish to give a big thanks to Dizzarian, without whom there'd be no awesome mage community nor a Dungeon Dweller's Guide. Thanks for your awesome site and keep up the good work. I'd like to send a special thanks to my Frostfell Crew......Mr. Magex II, Quazar'The Brave' and our Unarmed Hero Wannabe. 'Sup Guys. And Finally Thanks to the Fans of the Dungeon Dweller Guide...I look forward to bringing you more underground adventures as always.

Thank you for taking the time to do this.
Dizzarian