Question on battlemage build

I'm currently playing as a half-elf battlemage (bookworm) and I have a few questions on how to spend my char. points...

I'm thinking max melee, max dodge, master of Temporal, max Conveyance (I'm a lazy mage), one point in Earth/Force, three points in White Nec. and maybe Meta for the odd mage fight...

IN 12 (or 16?), max WP and max DX.

How much should I raise my CON? My concern is mostly fatigue - I want to maintain 3-4 spells (fx Strenght of Earth x2, Shield of Prot. and Tempus Fugit)
And how much should I raise my ST? I'm using Strenght of Earth (x2) which buffs me up to 16 at this point...

Also I like to charm people. I'm thinking about putting a few points in CH/Persuasion + Purity of Water for added BE (being a half-elf I'm a good looking guy)...

Puh, a long post but I hope you'll give me your thoughts on this...

 

I made a post on this recently just read through the list of threads right quick for one called 'Just created a new character' or somethin like that.

 

Hm... I already read that post (I usually try to read old threads before posting a new one). It mostly deals with spell selection. And I pretty much have my spell strategy covered.

My concern is main stats: how much should I raise CON/IN?

And will I have enough points to spend some on CH/Persuasion?

 

For a battlemage CN is useful, but not crucial. I'd recommend concentrating on DX, ST and combat skills. Boost ST to 20 so you could wield Arcane Great sword and other most effective blades (though Arcane axe requires 18 I think, and a usual Arcane sword requires just 15). Don't remember the MSR for the Bangellian Scourge though.

And spells, of course. Temporal and Conveyance are a good choice, but I wouldn't recommend SoE or AoF, as they require maintaining. 1 point for spell +4 points into INT for maintaining to get 3-4 points in ST and DX isn't really worth it. With INT 12 you can maintain Haste+Tempus Fugit+Shield of Protection- more than enough. I recommend you chose supprt spells that do not require maintaining- like Stun.

Charisma and persuasion- I remember having CH15 and 3 points in persiasion while playing a similar character. With Ring of Influence and the Jewel of Hebe you'll get those stats without investing much CPs. The rest depends on how many followers you're planning to drag with you.

If you're going for a high magick aptitude and using Shield of Protection spell, you don't have to worry too much about your armor class. When I played my battlemage, I had AC 90+ with no armor on (used to take it off for fighting fire elementals). So choose armor and rings that give the most resistances, not AC.
Arcane weapons don't get damaged when hitting ore golems, fire elementals and inanimate objects. Equip them before the fight even if you don't normally use them.
If your MA is low (below 70 I'd say) you don't get all of the bonus damage the Arcane weapons are supposed to deliver. Save them for until your MA is higher, and use the Sword of Baltar, or even the Filament sword if your ST is too low.
Magick followers have extremely dumb AI, and instead of casting direct damage spells they tend to engage into melee, even when their ST and combat skills are ridiculously low. I tried giving Jormund, Geoffrey and Perriman with Arcane staves, but they just kept rushing forward and trying to fight. Give them Filament swords, its the most "powerful" weapon they can use.

 

Well, thanks for posting...
It was an interesting read, Solaris.
I'm not planning on having to many followers along for the ride - maybe for role-playing reasons, though.

 

Nah, don't push stats, that's what spells are for. I have a 1/2 Ogre battlemage who stopped his ST at 20, SoE takes care of the other 4 points. With AoF & Gauntlets of DX providing 6 points of DX, you can stop your DX at 15.

You can carry 1 enchantment for each 4 points of IN so to carry 4 you need IN 16 or a potion of IN. Lasts forever in TBC mode.

Don't worry about CN, the Arcane weapons all provide some mana & potions handle the rest. There is an amulett that adds + 4 CN, but I usualy give it to a mage healer in the party. They need it, I never do.

You need to steal the Ring Of Influence, + 3 each BE & CH & + 3/4 persuasion & haggle, & the Jewel of Hebe, + 1 CH + 2 BE.

BTW, without a shield the MSR for the weapons that Solaris quoted is greatly reduced. Virgil, with ST 9, handles the Arcane Sword just fine as long as he has no shield.

Spells, Temporial is the battlemage's favored college. Conveyance is good. I consider the basic necessities to be SoP, AoF, PoW, & Disarm. The battlemage needs to add SoE & Temporial to Haste at a minimum. I usualy push Fire to Fireflash for large groups of baddies. I have only been in a few mage duels in my game play. If you carry scrolls of the top three Meta spells you will have your necessary ammo without investing the CPs.

Welcome aboard & have fun.

 

That may be, but Virgil's MA (especially before resurrection) is too low for the Arcane sword to be truly effective. He has to be Dark Helmed. Repeatedly.

 

Even at his normal low MA, it provides extra mana & is a better weapon than his beloved :roll: Envenomed Sword. It doesn't have to be at max to be a useful choice. Now if a weapon's magic boosted speed rather than dammage....