Sorcerer: Difference between revisions

====Arty Mages====

Arty mages generally eschew heavy plate armor and shields, and prefer to go with [[D1_Unique_Armor#Naj.27s_Light_Plate|Naj's Light Plate]] and AA staves (Arch Angel's = +2 to spell levels). Those items give them +3 to spells, and if they go with a [[D1_Unique_Helms#Thinking_Cap|Thinking Cap]] as well, they're at the maximum +5 to skills and capable of devastating any non-fireproof enemy with their massive level 20 Fireballs.  Other equipment usually focuses on very high mana, turning these characters into the prototypical "glass cannons."

Arty mages are capable of dealing enormous damage very quickly, but with their negligible Armor Class and lack of a shield, anything that gets near them will hit them. They can be stun locked very easily, and death is always possible from a couple of fast hitting enemies. They are also weak against triple immunes, since staffs do poor melee damage.

====Battle Mages ====

Battle Mages play almost the same way as Arty mages, but they wear heavy plate armor and use one handed weapons and shields. This means their +spell equipment is generally limited to a Dreamflange, and perhaps a [[D1_Unique_Helms#Thinking_Cap|Thinking Cap]], if they choose that instead of a [[D1_Unique_Helms#Royal_Circlet|Royal Circlet]], giving them, at most, +3 to all spells. They might use a KSoH or Civerb's Cudgel instead of a Dreamflange, especially on levels with triple immune monsters.

The play differences come from the equipment. Battle mages can take hits and let monsters get very close to them, since they can block some attacks, and other attacks will miss, especially if they have high AC on their armor and shield. This lets them play much more aggressively, blasting spells at point blank range, in situations no Arty Mage would dare risk. However, they will often need to cast more spells thanks to their lower spell level, and they likely have less mana and must therefore drink more potions.