18 réponses à ce sujet

[The-Oracle]

I'm starting this on Hard mode! I've decided to walk the path of the Mage! I'm still in debate should I pick an elf or a human? With that aside I'm also trying to figure out the best specialization for this new Mage! I'd really like your input.

[PapaCharlie9]

Unless you are going as a female elf mage, there's not much difference. You can go with whichever one fits your roleplaying goals or whimsy (I know, what's the diff, right?)

Only a female elf can romance Solas.

How many playthroughs have you completed? If this is your first, or your first as a mage, I'd recommend Rift Mage. It's the easiest of the three to play (IMO) and has most straightforward RP connection to the main story.

If you've been around the block a few times, KE can be fun. KE has two flavors to choose from, as a distant cousin to a 2H Arcane Warrior, or more optimally, as a range-attacking mage with infinite barrier.

I wouldn't commit to Necro until you've played as Dorian for a few major quests/boss battles and got a feel for the specialization. No point going Necro and then at the end of Abyss, during the boss battle, deciding you hate it.

[The-Oracle]

This is actually my 2nd go around! The first I did on normal I was a qunari 2h warrior. I'm gradually climbing the difficulty ratings! Btw I'm probably going to try a male Mage.

[andy6915]

Unless you are going as a female elf mage, there's not much difference. You can go with whichever one fits your roleplaying goals or whimsy (I know, what's the diff, right?)

Only a female elf can romance Solas.

How many playthroughs have you completed? If this is your first, or your first as a mage, I'd recommend Rift Mage. It's the easiest of the three to play (IMO) and has most straightforward RP connection to the main story.

If you've been around the block a few times, KE can be fun. KE has two flavors to choose from, as a distant cousin to a 2H Arcane Warrior, or more optimally, as a range-attacking mage with infinite barrier.

I wouldn't commit to Necro until you've played as Dorian for a few major quests/boss battles and got a feel for the specialization. No point going Necro and then at the end of Abyss, during the boss battle, deciding you hate it.

 

Wait, you called rift mage easier than playing "god-mode invincible game breaking powerful can effortlessly solo nightmare" knight enchanter? I'm not saying KE is the best choice, it might be less fun to you than rift mage. And rift mage is excellent by itself. But in terms of which makes the game easier? That's not even for debate, KE wins easily. More than that it's the strongest character build in all of DAI even against other classes and specializations, not just mages.

[The Baconer]

If you've been around the block a few times, KE can be fun. KE has two flavors to choose from, as a distant cousin to a 2H Arcane Warrior, or more optimally, as a range-attacking mage with infinite barrier.

 

I would strongly disagree with that. Fighting in close range allows you to utilize Fade Cloak as a DPS rotation at 1000% spirit damage, in addition to every other offensive option. It's also generally required for Combat Clarity to function, which is an exceptionally better option for passive mana regen than Winter Stillness.

[The-Oracle]

It seems KE is also good for defense for you and your allies.

[capn233]

If you do decide to go KE, please play it at close range. What's nice about KE is you can run Frost Step and Decloaking Blast simultaneously with enough room for damage powers.

 

I haven't played RM, but judging from the powers in the tree which appear in MP as well, I can't imagine it would be much more difficult than melee KE if at all given that the RM tree is probably the best single collection of powers and passives available to a mage.  Stonefist detonations were fixed for SP too, were they not?  But in any case, high mana regen (Restorative Veil) and nightmare combos should be pretty useful.

[The-Oracle]

I read something online and it said KE turns you into a warrior like Mage. The RM keeps you in the Mage role. My only problem is the barriers, I'd like them to last and be strong but I'm willing to try Rift Mage for my hard mode game.

[Cute Nug]

If you are choosing a male mage I would go human the male elf body frame was too disturbing for me with the broken arms and weird small size. I wanted an elf on my second character but the male elf just looks too strange for me. I switched to a female elf which still looks a little strange in some armor but not as bad as the male elf IMO.  

[draken-heart]

I read something online and it said KE turns you into a warrior like Mage. The RM keeps you in the Mage role. My only problem is the barriers, I'd like them to last and be strong but I'm willing to try Rift Mage for my hard mode game.

 

Thing is, once you get high enough level, and gear, Barrier is not that important, as you will crush everything. Rift mage works best best as a full AoE Offense/Crowd Control hybrid mage.

[The-Oracle]

I see so as rift Mage you set up your allies with your different abilities and passives, while the knight enchanter helps turn you into a close range hybrid Mage?

[draken-heart]

I see so as rift Mage you set up your allies with your different abilities and passives, while the knight enchanter helps turn you into a close range hybrid Mage?

 

Pretty much.

[The-Oracle]

I've actually found an ice/knight enchanter build I really like! So I think I'll try that out. I think I'll be able to find a way to keep my Mage intact while adding a different dimension to how he fights!

[Nathonaws]

It all depends on whether you just want to enjoy the game, or "min-max" for the best possible character. For example, Knight-Enchanter is universally agreed to be the strongest mage spec, whereas Rift Mage is notoriously weak against bosses.

 

Race wise it doesn't matter THAT much, although I would say Human is the best for mages because that extra skill point really helps early on.

[Bigdawg13]

Compared to other weapons, the base damage of staves is fairly low.  That's why you see things like 1600% damage on fire mine as compared to +400% on a rogue ability or 200% on a warrior.

 

It is for this reason that Qunari make really great mages.  The face paint adds to the base damage.  I.E. that extra 20 points of damage added to a stave means a heck of a lot, especially when compared to the base damage of a 2H sword.

 

I recognize the OP asked about elves vs humans though.  I think both make compelling choices.  Late game neither selection will matter.  Pre-skyhold I prefer human due to the extra skill point.

[Inverse_Twilight]

I'm starting this on Hard mode! I've decided to walk the path of the Mage! I'm still in debate should I pick an elf or a human? With that aside I'm also trying to figure out the best specialization for this new Mage! I'd really like your input.

I prefer elven mages because you get a bonus to ranged defense for being an elf. If you are a mage, the most damage that is done to you is by archers and enemy mages, so the ranged defense does help with negating some of that damage.

 

If you do go with a human, I would craft armour that gives bonus to ranged defense.

[The-Oracle]

The build can be found here: http://liftedgeek.co...sition-pro-tips

[PapaCharlie9]

Wait, you called rift mage easier than playing "god-mode invincible game breaking powerful can effortlessly solo nightmare" knight enchanter? I'm not saying KE is the best choice, it might be less fun to you than rift mage. And rift mage is excellent by itself. But in terms of which makes the game easier?

Yes, IMO Rift Mage is easiest to play, in the sense that the skills are straight-forward. You click on Stonefist, it does what you expect. You click on Veilstrike, it does what you expect. One practice battle and you are pretty much using the spec optimally.

Now compare to KE. Sure, it comes close to being a "god-mode invincible game breaking powerful can effortlessly solo nightmare" spec, but getting to the highest level of effectiveness takes more practice than for Rift Mage. First, you have to remember to cast Barrier on yourself, or have someone cast it on you. Then you have to Frost Step into melee range. Then you have to position yourself correctly to get the most bang out of Decloaking Blast. Then you have to spam Spirit Blade enough to get Decloaking Blast back. Then you have to maneuver into position again, etc. Ideally, between all of those steps, you are keeping an eye out for an opportunity to use other mage skills, like Fire Mine. I'm exhausted just writing that up!

So I stand by my O that RM is easier to play than KE.

Where I'll take correction is this: I said that ranged attacking with KE was optimal -- that was an overstatement. I was thinking more along the lines of optimal barrier generation, rather than overall combat effectiveness. It is easier to rack up hits with auto-attacks or Energy Barrage at range to keep your KE barrier at maximum than it is with SB in melee, particularly if at melee range you are getting hit back a lot. With max barrier, you can fuel a big damage spell, like Fire Mine, with Chaotic Focus. Damage for damage, that may not be a match for optimal execution of spamming SB to recharge DB, but my (previous) point is, it's a lot harder to execute that sequence than fighting at range/Fire Mine, let alone as a Rift Mage.

 

But, I do agree that fighting a KE at range only is not optimal.
 

I would strongly disagree with that. Fighting in close range allows you to utilize Fade Cloak as a DPS rotation at 1000% spirit damage, in addition to every other offensive option. It's also generally required for Combat Clarity to function, which is an exceptionally better option for passive mana regen than Winter Stillness.

Agreed. I certainly got my share of 5 digit damage hits with that technique. But see above.
 
 

If you do decide to go KE, please play it at close range. What's nice about KE is you can run Frost Step and Decloaking Blast simultaneously with enough room for damage powers.

But that's just the thing. Maybe it's just me, but I find it hard to split my attention between swinging the Spirit Blade, maneuvering into position for best DB effect, and also firing off other spells like friendly Barriers, Dispels, Chain Lightning, Immolate, etc., etc. I get attention overload, particularly with big mobs.

[Dai Grepher]

Probably too late for this but, don't play it on hard. Just skip straight to nightmare. I did nightmare on my first playthrough and it wasn't that difficult. It just takes longer to kill things is all.