Larian Studios Forums Divine Divinity (English) General Mage Elemental Skill Suggestions

I'm a level 23 mage, and have 18 open skill points, a few of which will go to enchant weapon. However, I was looking for some offensive elemental skills, none of which I can decide. I was wondering if someone can suggest to me the most intense skills for a mage to use at crushing his foes. Also, are skills of stealing / picking locks of any value in the long run of the journey. Also, is that skill, I believe magic barrier, that adds +5 to all resistances, worthy of putting a few skill points into? When I do add the few points to enchant weapon, should I bother putting a silver instead of gold charm into an item such as my gloves. My gloves has a charm quality of five, and I don't know if silver vitality one is worth putting in. I am low on vitality, but, out of the gold charms i've found, i've only seen strength, and resistances one. Should I wait it out for a vitality one, or is silver worth putting in. Thanks.

I would only use your charms on a peice of armour that you think you will keep till the end...once out in - you can't remove them.
Lockpick - yes worth it - to get a piece of the map, you will need it.

Spells - Life Leech - i used it on huge bosses (gragons, the guardian of the eye of the cyclops)
Elemental Hail is good. As well as Hell spikes.
Though everyone has thier own opinions. But these i used straight till the end.

I would have to say it depends on your playing style. If you are roleplaying your character through and through (my mage is all about justice and helping out those in need) then go with whatever strikes your fancy (I have one point in Freeze, Elemental Hail, and a few others. I have definitly put in alot on Lightning, Meteorstrike, Elemental Bolt and others as these fit with my characters background I have made for him.) If your more for crushing your way through the game Elemntal Bolt is powerful though not very mana efficient (imo), Meteorstrike gives good damage, low mana cost and you can fire 'em off as fast as you can click a button. Lightning is pretty neat, though its usefulness could be debated, but I have found its good for holding an enemy back while I quaff a potion or two. I would say your most useful spells would be Freeze, Meteorstrike, Deadly Discs, Poisonous Cloud, Hellspikes and Elemental Bolt (though slow moving you can stream them at an opponent and it causes lots of pain and hurt for you target and whatever else is in the way.) Hope this helps, as I have not gone very far in the game (level 31 currently) except just wandered around enjoying the scenery and killing undead and orcs. I have no idea what will help you endgame but these spells have definitly made my mage's life easier. I would say with that many skill points, go with some of the recommendations people make here and choose any others that catch your fancy. Hope this helps a little.
Dunyain

You can also see if this would help you make your decisions. Mage Guide

I haven't seen elemental strike suggested anywhere. This spell crushes.
One more suggestion is to put points into 'know creature' so you know what their resistances are, and therefore what element is best used on them.

And put a few points in lock pickin because if you don't you will have to find all the keys and some doors dont even have them, like the one hatchs that leads to the tea...you'll find more about this later in the game <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/stupid.gif" alt="" />.

But be carefull with the tea, that you don't spill any tea on any trees or so, It doesn't do the trees any good. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> You will understand, sooner or later, you will understand

Thanks for the advice / mage guide. I don't know of this tea you speak of, I'm traveling through random sewers with lizards.