Which would you choose?
 

I'm starting a new game on impossible playing as the mage. As usual, I start several games to see what kind of items King Mark's Castle and the Temple will offer, so I can choose the ones I'd most like to have when money allows.

This time around I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I'll mention just the important items (i.e. who cares about a +1 defense shield):

The 1st game offered Battle Mage helmet (+3 intellect, +1 defense) for 18,000 and the Class 2 Intellect Ring for 19500 (+3 intellect, eventually imparts +3 intellect on your hero at which point it becomes useless, but it's great because you got +3 intellect and a free slot).

The 2nd game offered the Dragon Slayer Sword for 45,000 which was a Wow moment for me, as I really didn't expect this to be offered. On the one hand, there won't be any dragons as enemies for a long time, but on the other it will make quite a difference when I do eventually fight them, and the +5 Attack is great, especially for a wizard. The temple offers the Banner of True Faith for 60,000 (+4 defense, +800 leadership, 10 mind runes after 50 victories).

The 3rd game offered the Ancient Amulet (+4 intellect, +15 mana, 10 magic runes after 50 victories) for 50,000 and the Pilgrim's Staff (+1 intellect, but can be upgraded twice) for 4,100.

I'm tempted by the Dragon Sword because I would not expect it to appear, and it, together with the Banner, would compensate for the wizard's poor attack/defense/leadership ratings to an extent. These items are pretty expensive, though.

On the other hand, the wizard's main weapon lies in the strength of his spells, especially direct damage ones, so the intellect is always more than welcome.

So which would you choose?

personaly i would take ancient amulet

I would reset till I get ancient amulet and banner of true faith or ancient amulet + prismatic helm. In my eyes, that's the best start for a mage.

The dragon slayer is nice, but it is an item with morale and it may become useless very early in the game, and you can't suppress it easily.

The price of the items is not a problem, even on impossible. If you clean up darion properly, you will have enough money to buy troops, both items and even more. In my impossible paladin game, I reset till I started off with gladiator sword and ancient amulet (both giving runes) and a marshal's baton found on the cemetery zombie. It took quite some time, but that was one of the best starts possible.

hmm,

I focused on getting the +leadership items as the longer you can put off choosing leadership on level up, the better.

With a mage starting with a very low leadership that will be rude to do that in impossible mode until you can buy the items bringing large leadership. But that's perhaps possible anyway.

So how much does the game punish you on impossible if you skip leadership up to, say, level 10-15?

A lot :)

That's why I always take leadership from lvl 2 upwards, unless I play normal :) I remember how it was with the paladin, I can imagine how will it be with a mage.

I figured as much. :)

I took the puny +80 leadership at level 2, but it wasn't too difficult because next to it I was offered +4 rage. :grin:

However, I have skipped leadership at level 4, and took +6 mana instead because mana is precious. :rolleyes:

Well, if you decide to play with powerspells, mana and intellect will be vital :) In that case, it is prudent to omit leadership for a while... Still, that leaves you quite weak in the beginning, so it won't be easy. But I guess it's worth it :)

Well, if you avoid every battle at the start and grab all the free gold and leadership and mage does just fine without leadership upgrade for a long time with +800 leadership banner. Then go hard on leadership from about level 12 to 30.

a mage hardly needs leadership in darion or freedom

(given he has the proper spells)

trap or ice snake

or even phantom

resu/sacri/gift ofc ^^

just take strong tank units

so they live long an u can let the spells do their workD:

Here are the items that give +10 runes:

Ancient Amulet
• +4 to Intellect
• +15 to Mana
Use: Gives 10 Magic Runes after 50 victories

Gladiator Sword
• +4 to Attack
• +15 to Rage
Use: Gives 10 Might Runes after 50 victories

Banner of True Faith
• +4 to Defense
• +800 Leadership
• -1 to the Morale of Undead allies
Use: Gives 10 Mind Runes after 50 victories

Since you want to go mage, you should take Ancient Amulet and Banner of True Faith. Personally, since I have a paladin, I go with Ancient Amulet and Gladiator Sword.

IMO, any combination of these three items should be your target for a good game. Intellect Ring is also a reasonable choice if you don't have the intestinal fortitude to grind for the above three items.

Gold is really a non-issue, even on impossible. Get Marauders if you are having money issues (or want to get the items asap to start the kill count), then dump them once you have bought the two power items. Not losing any troops also helps your finances (and troop inventory management).

doon't buy any before going to freedom ;-)

unless u want horseman and inqi's in darion

because the graveyard should get u enough good units(swamp for coffinfs)

The DRagon Slayer Sword you can also get by completing all the Arena fights. And frankly, until then you can avoid dragons pretty much everywhere. Or, use the Dragon Slayer spell.

dragons aren't a big problem anyway they don't come in super large numbers and traps are perfect for those wuzzies :D

Ohhh, just you wait until you see the dragon stacks in the Death Land or the Dragon's land (where you teleport from Demonis). I even left some of those behind as I could not kill them without losses.

i ripped through the dragons in death land they are very easy

first round i place a trap or 2 depends on how many seprated dragons i see

and 4-5 die because of it ^^
then hammer with units and place more traps their AI is SO prodictable ;-)

trap+any UNIT with no retaltion is a killer for dragons:D

Really? I find it hard to use, since dragons fly and it's not always easy to predict where they'll land to attack your units. Blacks also often use Wake of Fire instead of attacking.

I found Trap to be extremely usefull against Giants, though.

they mostly fly to the weakest ranged unit

;-)

place a trap there

and bye bye blackie:-)