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mage not needed?

raxtorenraxtoren Member Posts: 228
edited July 2013 in New Players (NO SPOILERS!)
So, I have finished BG2 but not so far BG1... in my singelplayer run ofc I have a mage with me, like Neera.
However, in my co-op run with 2 friends we lack a mage, is that okay?
Or is a mage almost a must at some point?

Party so far is 1 ranger, 1 fighter/cleric and 1 Fighter/Thief.

Comments

  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    No a mage isn't a must, you can go through this game fine without one.

    In BG1 they aren't at all that important.

    In BG2 they make some of the mage fights alot easier by dispelling. But it's possible to go through the game without a mage. I have done so several times myself.
  • raxtorenraxtoren Member Posts: 228
    edited July 2013
    Yeah, I thought so - thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

    And yes, dispelling magic is very important and strong, but I think even a Paladin can do that or one of its kit classes...
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    You're welcome. Also your cleric can use dispel magic and other great divine spells. If you have a cleric the need for a mage isn't as big.
  • HeindrichHeindrich Member, Moderator Posts: 2,959
    Fireballs are rather useful for clearing a mob, but I suppose u can use wands for that...
  • raxtorenraxtoren Member Posts: 228
    Heindrich1988 said:

    Fireballs are rather useful for clearing a mob, but I suppose u can use wands for that...

    Yepp, I used it in the singelplayer on my Wizard, seeing how if they run out of spells per day they are F'ed without a wand as a back-up.

  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    you don't need mage but they are very good support
    haste/fb/web/sleep/mirror image/dispell remove magic/invisibility/

    i think that your ranger could and should be mage because fighter/cleric and fighter/thief will be good enough in melee to take some damage while mage could easily cast spells from behind

    unless ranger is archer so you don't need anything and he will solo (almost) the game while they are picking pockets and summoning skeletons for fun
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    Sleep is a great spell. You can use a sleep wand but its not as good (sleep as a spell is more often effective due to the wand giving better saving throws). Still if you want to go the fighter route its so cheap I'd recommend it for at least the first half of the game (you can buy it at high hedge for roughly 2000-3000).
  • ZanathKariashiZanathKariashi Member Posts: 2,869
    edited July 2013
    Mages can make the game easier, but they're not crucial (thieves are much more necessary, and even they aren't really required...but damn is it so much more annoying to lose those gobs of bonus xp from locks/traps and having to suffer through traps and potentially unable to open chests/doors to get at what goodies they guard). Mages just bring more tactical options to the party....nothing more.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    playing without mage or thief is really annoying one can disarm traps other is best spellcaster/solo class destroyer of the world
  • atcDaveatcDave Member Posts: 2,387
    Mages also Identify, which is a huge expense otherwise.
  • SionIVSionIV Member Posts: 2,689
    edited July 2013
    atcDave said:

    Mages also Identify, which is a huge expense otherwise.

    This is one of the reasons to take a bard in your party. We have enough bards without a job cluttering up the streets and on wellfare. If you wouldn't take one of these corporate rich boys (Mages) and instead take and support the lower working class by taking one of their people with you (Bard) this world (Sword coast) would be a much better place!

    Bring your own bard today, help out the people in need!
  • FrecheFreche Member Posts: 473
    Are they necessary, no.
    But I find Mages to be the best tank for almost all harder encounters in BG2.
    You can stack all the AC you want on a fighter but he is still going to get hit by spells and the occasional physical attack.

    A Mage can get decent AC through spells, and then add Mirror Image, Stoneskin, Spell Immunity, etc.
    Making them far superior to the fighter at taking (absorbing) damage.
    They really make life easier in BG2.
  • Urd1enUrd1en Member Posts: 84
    edited July 2013
    The more spellcasters you have, the brighter the game is. Spells, scrolls, wands bring variety, introduce special BG flavor.

    Although, technically you can hack & slash everything.
  • zur312zur312 Member Posts: 1,366
    edited July 2013
    because you can solo the game with any character one could say that they are not needed at all so because mages are so strong i think they are more needed than thiefs and clerics and fighters lol

    mage + fighter/thief dwarf for more hp+berserker2/cleric or f/c dwarf/orc or ranger/cleric for some good summons and you are good to go

    berserker/cleric level much faster in cleric spells than f/c plus nice berserk

    fighter/thief is much better than pure thief in combat and doesn't really need fast levels like mage

    pure specialist mage levels faster than multi mages that means faster good spells

    berserker2/mage would be really good too but can't be a specialist in bg:ee bg2 engine
    but you don't really need another X/Fighter becaues you 2 fighters are pretty Fstrong
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