Which would you choose?

[Metathron]

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?

[Elwin]

personaly i would take ancient amulet

[DGDobrev]

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.

[McSwan]

hmm,

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

[Vilk]

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.

[Metathron]

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

[DGDobrev]

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.

[Metathron]

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.

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

[DGDobrev]

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

[McSwan]

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.