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How to survive the first few levels as a Mage?

StormvesselStormvessel Member Posts: 654
edited May 2014 in General Discussion (Spoiler Warning!)
I finally rolled the 98 I had been shooting for the last few days, and I went with a Wild Mage, Elf, Chaotic Evil.

10 Str
19 Dex
16 Con
18 Int
17 Wis (hope to get it to 20 before BG2 for wish)
18 Cha

He is going to be amazing endgame, and this is my FIRST caster.

I chose Darts for weapon. Sleep and Magic Missile for spells (aside from NRD).

Here is the problem. I am getting OWNED. I am going solo early on so I can grind the first three levels quickly, but it is extremely hard. I can kill anything when casting sleep, and then I cast it using NRD, but once I have exhausted that spell, it's either rest 24 hours or get owned.

I REALLY want to stick with this character because he has loads of potential, but I am getting owned so bad. I have had to reload so many times.

Is there any advice on how to make the early goings any easier with a Mage???
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Comments

  • FinneousPJFinneousPJ Member Posts: 6,455
    Don't go solo until you're a veteran.
  • ApocryphaApocrypha Member Posts: 105
    You do not want to go solo. At high levels, yes! Go solo! Own everyone with your spells! But at low levels you are a flimsy mage who needs meat shields. Grab Jaheira, Imoen, and Khalid.

    Spell-wise, Sleep is good. I'd actually recommend grabbing Find Familiar for the extra few hitpoints, then putting it in your backpack for the rest of your game because if it dies--BAM! There goes a point of CON. Though early on it could maybe be useful against an enemy. Chromatic Orb isn't so shabby, either.

    But, yeah, don't go solo. Wait until you can Summon Monster.
  • StormvesselStormvessel Member Posts: 654
    Thanks guys.

    Imoen is not an option. The first thing I did was take all of her possessions and then I killed her for the lulz. I will head back and see if Monty and Xzar are still available. Also, the sooner I can get Dorn the better.

    Mage is incredibly tough early on. Any other tips would be very much appreciated.
  • jackjackjackjack Member Posts: 3,251
    I'm liking this playthrough already. I second the notion of find familiar, but as you've already started your game, you'll have to wait for it until High Hedge, I think.
  • StormvesselStormvessel Member Posts: 654
    edited May 2014
    I appreciate you Jack! I will keep an eye out for that once I hit High Hedge. Yea, I am loving this playthrough. I am going to be truly evil, but not stupidly evil. I didn't name my character "Odious" for no reason! I may have to kiss a little backside early on but when I finally become powerful - Mwuhuhaha!

    Thanks elminster. I will keep an eye out for the wand and that ring! I can use all the help I can get here early on.
  • StormvesselStormvessel Member Posts: 654
    edited May 2014
    Spruce trees, got it. If it's anything like the diamond hidden in the tree in the beginning I should find it easily enough.
  • TressetTresset Member, Moderator Posts: 8,268
    Stormvessel said:

    Spruce trees, got it. If it's anything like the diamond hidden in the tree in the beginning I should find it easily enough.

    Oh, you found that one did you? There is another ring you may have missed in the area where the Lion's Way and the Coast Way roads cross...
  • StormvesselStormvessel Member Posts: 654
    edited May 2014
    Ok - I'll keep an eye out for it. Thnx.
  • QuartzQuartz Member Posts: 3,853
    elminster said:

    Get the wand of sleep so that you have something to use after you cast sleep (in case it doesn't work the first time).

    I also wouldn't be using NRD at this level (its way too unreliable).

    Also there is the ring of wizardry outside the friendly arm inn that should help give you extra spells.
    Yup, this is the only way to do things solo if you are not the exhaust spells -> rest -> exhaust spells -> rest type of player.
  • FinneousPJFinneousPJ Member Posts: 6,455
    edited May 2014
    EDIT: sorry, I have no idea what I'm posting, apparently
  • AurorusAurorus Member Posts: 201
    As a solo mage, your choice of quest and direction is important. Be very careful traveling the coast road as a bandit encounter spawns there with multiple archers who can kill you quickly. You will want to travel invisible as much as possible. Basically, get to the FAI quickly, grab the ring, and do not use the road again until you can travel it invisible (level 3 or higher).

    Your best bet is to start off to High Hedge and then south. Find Melicamp, the chicken, then return him to Thalyntir. Hope Thal can rez him and get 2000 XP, which should get you to level 2. You have to kill a wolf to get the chicken, so have a sleep spell and-or blindness ready.

    Do the easy Beregost quests next: talk Marl down, get Firebeard´s book, get Mirianne´s ring. This should get you to lvl 3 without much fighting (5000 xp). You really only need to kill a wolf, 2 ogrillons, and any random encounters that you spawn. Then head (invisible) to Nashkel to get your first Bhaalspawn ability (either is helpful). From Nashkel, you have several options... West is fairly easy as nothing West has missile weapons, so you can keep your distance from everything and always run away if need be. You could also head immediately to the basilisks if you like and kill a few (avoid Mutamin until you are higher level) for the XP to get yourself to level 5. After level 5, you have a lot more abilities and will probably want to head into Ulcaster. Avoid the wraith and Vampiric wolf if need be and just take the wand of fire. There is also a wand of paralysis in a tomb guarded by 3 ghasts in the area east of Nashkel. These guys are tricky as one hit is deadly. You should try to pull them out of the tomb, hitting then running, and range them down outside the tomb. With these wands, you should be good to go. You can then go kill some ankhergs, for more experience and another wand of fire.

    Rest near the edge of maps. If you spawn an encounter, run off the edge of the map. Again avoid resting on the road (as bandits or hobgoblins with bows can spawn there as encounters during rest).

    After level 3, always travel invisible, especially in Hobgoblin, Kobold, and bandit areas. These all have missile weapons. You should be able to run from the other encounters.
  • Eadwyn_G8keeperEadwyn_G8keeper Member Posts: 541
    edited May 2014
    Wand of Frost can also be picked up [free] with minimal danger not far from the entrance to Nashel Mines.

    I think someone pick-pocketed Xan as he was entering the mines and had to stash Frosty somewhere fast. He was planning to come back after his shift and retrieve it but ran afoul of some kobolds.

    Also, scoring a few basilisks runs the risk of a nasty Basilisk waylay on the way to and fro. I think mine came with an Ogre Mage also.
  • meaglothmeagloth Member Posts: 3,806
    @Aurorus‌ if you want hella XP early in with a solo Mage, go to high hedge, but protection from petrification, make friends with a certain ghoul, and farm basilisks. This will get you to level 5 or six, depending on how quick you are (PfP duration) and how long korax lasts.
  • StormvesselStormvessel Member Posts: 654
    Wow thnx Aurorus. I appreciate it. I will follow your guide.

    Thnx to all who answered. This help is sorely needed! I am thinking once I hit level 5 I may party up. Just wanted to grind out the first few levels seeing as how it's so quick solo. I did this as an Archer before and soloing was much easier. As a Mage, however, it's way harder.
  • Demonoid_LimewireDemonoid_Limewire Member Posts: 424
    Go find that ring of wizardry, son. It is going to save your ass, literally. Now in the enhanced edition, you cannot wear two at the same time, this would have turned your wild mage into an overpowered, kinky, imbalanced beast...

    Recruit one or two fighters, stay behind them, cast carefully (the worst point for a mage, is 1 beginning, you have too limited spells), and stay ranged attacker. A mage in 1 cannot solo. Period. Especially if you start the game as a level 1 character.

    Also, gee, great stats there! I myself have never gained over 96 total on a roll, ever! But why did you bother with charisma, anyway? In 2, a ring maxes it for you, but anyway, it is the most famous, dump stat! Even for a main! Unless being a druid/paladin, of course... You could have maxed your strength, too, instead.
  • jackjackjackjack Member Posts: 3,251
    edited May 2014
    @Demonoid_Limewire
    That ring is a blight on the Realms and is better destroyed than sold, much less worn.
    :P
    It is particularly useless when it comes to Mages, as they have more options than most when it comes to superior phalangeal adornments.
  • mumumomomumumomo Member Posts: 635
    @jackjack.
    Even if you are joking, i now avoid this ring (or any other free goodies) like the plague and i found out that my runs are much more interesting when i don't have 11 000 gold (ring of wizardry + ring of princes + diamond) right from the start.

    Same reason for which i now avoid doing basilisks.
  • jackjackjackjack Member Posts: 3,251
    Agreed. However, I was referring to the ring of human influence in BG2. Sorry for the ambiguity.
  • mumumomomumumomo Member Posts: 635
    My bad.

    Also agree on the fact that the ring of human influence is better left avoided : it makes an already useless stat even more useless
  • StormvesselStormvessel Member Posts: 654
    edited May 2014
    Demonoid_Limewire said:

    ...Also, gee, great stats there! I myself have never gained over 96 total on a roll, ever!...

    You think that roll is awesome? Take a look at my fighter...

    http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n511/Samuel_Rosenbalm/Fighter_zpsc37647ab.jpg

    I use BG autoroller and leave it on overnight. :P

    http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/10937/utility-bg-2-ee-autoroller-v4
  • QuartzQuartz Member Posts: 3,853
    The Ring of Human Influence should never be relied upon. There are SO many good rings out there. Ring slots are truly precious in BGII.
  • MacHurtoMacHurto Member Posts: 731
    Well, you can just carry it around and put it on before talking to any merchant that has something you want to buy. It should be called "Ring of Supreme Haggling"
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