[FA] Specializations

[Narvius]

First off, FAangband is pretty much the game I was looking for. Playing a mage is SO much more fun than in vanilla - especially thanks to the Mage Staff, which allowed me to fight a group of orcs and crows simultanously at clvl 7 (and which generally, in addition to the day cycle, simply keeps me moving all the time instead of resting up after every fight). "Resist Magic" is pure genius. As is the fact that you don't get a 100% reliable damaging spell (at least not soon).

Also, the (standard) wilderness is just awesome.

Eeeeither way. I've been trying out various specializations. My question is - how useful are things like "Heighten Magic" actually? It says they get more powerful when you use them repeatedly, which makes me assume it's a bonus that gets reset when you do anything other than recast the same spell; How large is the bonus? Does it cap out?

Finally, which specialization would you recommend for an Easterling mage?

[Psi]

IIRC Heighten Magic increases spell level regardless of which spell you cast. I believe I used to spam magic missile (or the equivalent) against the wall before engaging in a big fight. My memory is a little hazy, but I think it has a decay on it rather than it resetting if you take a different action. The cap on it was something like 20 additional levels (if I've picked the right one). ISTR that taking the two specialities that increase casting level meant you could cast at the equivalent of CL84.

I'm struggling to remember the name, but you may want to start with the speciality that increase int/wis and mana to begin with. Makes the early game a lot easier.

[Narvius]

I used to take Clarity (that's the Int/Wis one), but then I started thinking that "meh, stats can be gained later, I'd rather have other effects than pile on top of stats". That said, the character I'm playing right now (this very moment) is my first one to ever reach the first dungeon, so there's that.

[Psi]

I know what you mean, but the Int bonus does give you a bit more flexibility when rearranging your kit and trying to maintain max Int. If I am doing a speed run with a mage, I'll take Clarity, kill Mim, take Heighten Magic and then head for Angband. They are the two most useful specialities for a mage in my eyes.

[Narvius]

I'll try doing that too, then. Mim is in Amon Rudh?

[Psi]

Yep... down at AR30 unless anything has changed since I last played.

[Nick]

I never know what to take as a mage - it's usually Clarity and Meditation, I guess, and then I never get a third. Beguile is an interesting choice (although I rarely do it), and Heighten Magic is actually really good later (increased speed boosts). Power Siphon might be OK, but to me it always suffers in comparison to the Necro's awesome Soul Siphon.

Oh, and glad you like the early spells - I put quite a bit of thought into those.

[LostTemplar]

Heighten magic is good for mages, since you often cast your mana regen spell and it gives you a cap (40% boost to many spells at max level). Meditation seems obsolete with mage staves, you only need to get to lvl 18 before ulimited source of power turns on.