Do Mages need to get retooled?

[Knightsong]

I've played a mage for a while and he's abou lvl 25. Great for damage but, not for much else. The reason I say this is I recently started playing an alt, which is a fighter. The fighter is far more playable. The reason being? He's got some defenses. My Fighter is level 16, I got him to that level in under half the time it took to get my mage there, and in 16 levels I've died twice. I can't even begin to count the number of times my mage has died. To say they have a glass jaw would be kind. This is pretty much my thoughts on playing a mage. Choose your target, unleash everything you got, and pray they're dead before they get to you. Because if they get to you, you're dead.

I truely believe the mages need a buffer of some sort, a pet or some kind of defensive spell (damage sheild ect.) I like being able to throw out the damage, but I really hate catching the agro from a nearby spawning mob and not having a chance. As it stands now, my fighter might become my new main, just because he's so much more flexible.

How do the other classes compare? Is the mage the only one with a glass jaw or do the archers and clerics have similar problems? What are your experiences playing the different classes? Share your thoughts on the topic.

[Hirochihachi]

I read a lot of posts that agree with you, but in my (minimal) experience with the mage, it's just a matter of watching health very very closely and being able to use stones and potions in time. A lot of people say to only be attacking green monsters, which at least for my build (+1/2 End per +3 Int), is ridiculous; It would take ages to level at that rate. Yellow mobs are (for the most part) no problem so long as you're careful to avoid getting surrounded by a bunch of agros, you need to be unleashing your skills in a time-efficient manner, and keep the stones stocked so you can use them and potions together.

[Hydr0]

Deal with it.. each class good at something and sux in other thing.
Mages - HIGH dmg LOW Def.
Figthers - Middle DMG HIGH DEF..

[eliasis]

omg.. yr mage must be fighting a high lvl monster then.. try killing easier mobs, or use vit/def scrolls to help u

[Knightsong]

I do use scrolls, and they have helped some. It's just I feel they need a buffer to aid them. I think pets would be ideal. I know other games have them to assist their casters and I feel it would be a fine addition to this game too.

[eliasis]

then party a tanker and a cleric

[Deedolith]

How do you play your mage ? stand still, nuking, till the mob or you is dead ?
By kitting, I have no problem killing yellow mobs (even some oranges) and I don't get hit that much (hint: speed scroll) Of course I have to be carefull and choose wisely the areas where I am hunting.
Only additional skill I think that could be usefull for mage, is a SPR shield absorber: You loose SPR instead of HP when you get hit, at a 2:1 spr:dmg ratio (or even higher).

[Knightsong]

In my experience there aren't great places to kite in this game, is dangerous in most places to say the least. The chance for adds are pretty high. And in most other games there are rooting or slow spells to assist you when doing so. I know this game is still a work in progress, which is why I am mentioning it now so that it might get looked at expanding their spell range.

[Zeffy]

My main is a Mage as well, and I agree.
D:<

RETOOL THEM DERG IT!!

[FireOpal]

I've found mages to be harder to play solo since they're fragile, but that's typical in almost every single game, until you get to high levels. They ARE much better with a party.

[SELECTuserid]

Guys guys guys.... I am 40+ and I agree the mage needs to be reworked a bit, don't start talking your trash without playing it, and if your not at least 35+

It's just a simple fact that the mage has its problems.

Ice Does not "freeze" even with 5d, does not even slow.
Cool downs are too long
there is nothing a mage can do to stop something from hitting it, other then run, and that does not work when you are in aggro mobs.

Not to mention one of the largest mages downfalls is its damage per cast per level / cool down. It's just not a working method.


Facts.

[Sheizou_Marizou]

Mages are very efficient kiters because their spells take next to no time to cast.

[Gravvi]

i just say they need their cooldown fixed. If it is lowered then it would be alot easier to survive.

[aznhmg]

I think everything is well balanced but Archers...
Everything has a Up and a Down ( Besides Clerics -.- )

[lilskaterdud3]

I've found mages to be harder to play solo since they're fragile, but that's typical in almost every single game, until you get to high levels. They ARE much better with a party.

I solod to 18 on mine.^^ It doesn't need retooling. The whole of the weaknesses and strengths in classes is so you work together.

[Da_Pipe]

I've been using the mage class since cbt and agree that the class needs a little modification. I found everything was ok to around lvl 15. For lvl 15 -20 I had to be careful but it wasn't too bad. After lvl 20 it's crazy. I have wasted numerous scrolls and pots trying to complete quest that I can't do unless I go back to somewhere easier and lvl up two or three lvls or can beg someone to party with me. I agree with SELECTuserid and Knightsong. The damage/cooldown needs to be adjusted and some type of shield spell that links to your sp or something needs to be available.

just an example of the cooldown problem, I have maxed out the cooldown reduction points on my fireball spell, meaning it won't let me add more. The base cooldown is 15s, after pouring like 8 skill points into it I shaved off a whoping 4.5s. That's right it stll takes over 10s of monsters beating my brains out before I can recast. I usually don't live that long.

[lilskaterdud3]

I used my MM[1], ice[1],fire[1], and the stun[1] ^^ then higher. With 8 on cooltime, they will take around 1-3 seconds to cast. Then use the higher lvl skills. ^^

[Neightking]

Guys guys guys.... I am 40+ and I agree the mage needs to be reworked a bit, don't start talking your trash without playing it, and if your not at least 35+

It's just a simple fact that the mage has its problems.

Ice Does not "freeze" even with 5d, does not even slow.
Cool downs are too long
there is nothing a mage can do to stop something from hitting it, other then run, and that does not work when you are in aggro mobs.

Not to mention one of the largest mages downfalls is its damage per cast per level / cool down. It's just not a working method.


Facts.

WORD.

Also the damage increase between spell levels needs to be increased. It really shouldn't be beneficial to use level 1 spells. And I am a level 40+ mage as well.

[Deedolith]

I maxed dmg and I have no troubles.

[Knightsong]

I find, unless I can group with people who just want to grind, that leveling is much slower because I have to fighterweaker mobs. I'm fighting mobs with my 15 fighter that I was almost 19-20 when I fought them with my mage. And as for kiting, it isn't an option past low levels. Any place where things agro on you...you can forget about it.

[m00gie00]

Well.. I play a mage. Killing monsters was pretty fast and easy for me. And yes, watching your health very carefully is a good point. I use Vit,Pwr and defense scrolls whenever i can and have the materials for. I have beatened orange colored monsters before. So Im guessing, People have their way in leveling a class. And i love leveling magic users. Most likely my next character is goin to be a cleric.. Even though there is way to many of them in Apoline.:)



Moogie lvl 26 Mage - Apoline

[ToorimaKun]

MAGES ether need MORE DAMAGE or MORE ARMER.... archers do about the same damage and don't die as easy.

i think mage sould just be able to do MORE DAMAGE... without pulling so much agro.
*it is to easy to pull agro away from tank with mage.

[Deedolith]

I find, unless I can group with people who just want to grind, that leveling is much slower because I have to fighterweaker mobs. I'm fighting mobs with my 15 fighter that I was almost 19-20 when I fought them with my mage. And as for kiting, it isn't an option past low levels. Any place where things agro on you...you can forget about it.
I'm 37, and I'm kitting yellow mobs every days, and I have little to no troubles. Maybe you need to rethink how to play your mage.


i think mage sould just be able to do MORE DAMAGE... without pulling so much agro.
*it is to easy to pull agro away from tank with mage.
What about managing your aggro ?

[nat2192]

i only read the 1st 3 posts but.

my idea would be to have a skill that when in use damge's owr SP insted of hp then when SP reach's 0 it starts to eat hp or , a buff to increase magic atk or mayb like the thread maker said a pet would be good to :P

[Blaow]

I haven't played a mage, so you could technically throw my opinions out.
What i've seen of them, they're the best KSers in Fiesta. I've seen Mages run in and drop 3 things within a few seconds that each one would take my cleric a bash and 2 or 3 hits. Yes they're squishy, but i DO know they have some spells that slow the monster's run speed down so they themself can get away. And have you seen a Mage up against a magic-based attacker? The floating books are prime examples. Mages have the best M.Def in the game.

They're fairly well balanced from what i've seen and that's how i voted. While their defense is laughable, their offensive punch is insane. There's also somethings you can do to assist your defense. Enhancements and scrolls.

Or just get a pocket tank or healer to run with you. I know as a cleric, i enjoy grouping with mages cuz i get to pretend i'm a tank and as a combined effort, the kill speed we have is very delicious. Its mainly the Mage but i get my bash in now and then.

[Liala]

I know mages need work, but I don't understand all the problems people seem to be having. =/

I mean..I tank red monsters!

With the help of a cleric. =p

[ToorimaKun]

What about managing your aggro ?

what about managing aggro?

i have a mage and an archer and havn't put any points on END and my levl 30 mage dies just as easy in mist as my levl 18 archer.

[Gravvi]

mages do way more damage than any archer i have seen. And mages have more distance than archers.

[MissusDolly]

Mages and archers both need to be worked on. I hate that I can die so quick because I can't run fast enough and do not wish to buy a scroll, not far enough away, and cooldown takes too long.

I feel sorry for mages because all they have are spells not even a small nothing spell to through at the monster while they are waiting for the cooldowns. But really archers and mages both need to get worked on some.
-Dolly

[Gravvi]

archers need less casttime and mages need less cooldown. THeir damage is still pretty much better than all other classes. Its just that the cleric has only one attack spell so i can just use it and lower its cooldown. the mages and archers you can't do that because there are 5-10 skills.