[WIP]Mariah's Guide to becoming a Magical girl (or guy)

[Hisashiburi]

Hmm someone told me that Amidahiji only dropped in DoN and Inaki woods. Guess I really should've double checked that information first :/. Well I guess I'll know where to farm it if someone I know wants to get the title.

Well, once you found the items that you're looking for drop in certain dungeon, why bother to look for another place right?
For example, orange glass marble. We all know it drops from daiku cave.. hard.. solo.. Is that the only place that give us the orange marble? (even though right now some people said that they got orange marble from plover pit as well, no SS yet though)
Most people dont want to farm on nether seki, maybe because it's so far from repairing, etc. (Unless they want to farm specific items)
And.. actually, if you farm on cerberus's dungeon, either the one near east or west camp, it's not that far to repairing if you compare it to den of needle or even inaki woods. It's just a little bit lonely in nether seki though

I'm stuck at my level right now, and can't get the title, as of now yet. So, it's useless right now since I can't equip it either. Perhaps later.. (not enough 0c to buy either.. )

If i can, i'd love to give my title to you, no need to get that amidahijiri
Pretty much bored right now, not even grinding to lvl up again
New game?

[Heimarmene]

I'm stuck at my level right now, and can't get the title, as of now yet. So, it's useless right now since I can't equip it either. Perhaps later.. (not enough 0c to buy either.. )

=o just saying, you don't actually need to equip the staff to get the title (actually if you equip it, Amaterasu doesn't give you the title because the staff isn't technically in your bag anymore).

[Rocksilver]

I don't know...from what I've run with Bow Users, their damage output isn't any stronger than say a wand, skill wise at least.

The only thing I've learned from them is that they have a clear advantage of in speed and sp management. Their AOE's aren't that impressive on Hell runs, and some are higher leveled than me. It could be that they aren't showing off, but that is another matter.

I know that a con says the sp costs are high for wand users, and it is certainly true, but I figure, your mana pool is by far larger than any other "class" so it can take the drain and keep going. If you run out, there is always falling back to restore with a throwaway weapon to recharge faster to get into the fray, or if you are like me, putting points into mind to recharge faster for less dura damage to said sacrificial weapon.

I mean, I'm level 56, and capped wand affinity, something that not many can say. Of course, having a Certain Title also helps, lol.

Anyways, thats my two cents.

[Lynneth]

I don't know...from what I've run with Bow Users, their damage output isn't any stronger than say a wand, skill wise at least.

The only thing I've learned from them is that they have a clear advantage of in speed and sp management. Their AOE's aren't that impressive on Hell runs, and some are higher leveled than me. It could be that they aren't showing off, but that is another matter.

I know that a con says the sp costs are high for wand users, and it is certainly true, but I figure, your mana pool is by far larger than any other "class" so it can take the drain and keep going. If you run out, there is always falling back to restore with a throwaway weapon to recharge faster to get into the fray, or if you are like me, putting points into mind to recharge faster for less dura damage to said sacrificial weapon.

I mean, I'm level 56, and capped wand affinity, something that not many can say. Of course, having a Certain Title also helps, lol.

Anyways, thats my two cents.

Mana Pool is not that big. With one or two big spells, you are done. Either you are forced to drink pots, or eating sushis, or ask someone to fill up your SP by invigorate.
I prefer to fill Spear's SP or Bows' Ougi's user SP though, rather than wand user's SP, since their SP consumption are insane, and they are usually 'more vulnerable'.

In terms of attack speed and range, bows are faster, safer and more distant, and can kite enemies better than wands.

In terms of critical rate, bows users are much more superior than wand user. Added with Chiaki Magatama which grant life leech from every critical attack, you will not need any sushis to replenish HP.

In terms of speed casting, every big and useful spells, wand user need to cast it first, and they're fixed and if they roll, the spell is canceled and SP consumed. and they are vulnerable of being gangbanged by the mobs. The only exception will be Fireball/Flamestrike/Hellfire (which are the same spells, only SP, attack power are different).
Bows cast almost instantenous and the instant you cast you can freely dodge and the effect still applies.

In terms of mobility, clearly bows are the winner. Normal attack are more distant and speedier.

In terms of SP consumption, bows skills are very efficient, damage/SP wise.

In terms of escape means, bows can hit the enemies while escaping, while wand user only teleport to backside, and becomes vulnerable for a while after teleporting (in PVP it means death).

In terms of damage enhancement/adding weapon affinity, you have native skills, Way of the Bows. Wand users must switch to other weapons first to add.

In terms of Ougis, bows are more focused, line of sight AOE and if you collect your mobs in single line, it's much better and cleaner than any of wands' ougis which are sporadic and sometimes miss the enemies in front of you.

In terms of damage, bows are similar to wands. The difference would be the stat, one using WIS and the other using DEX.

DEX stats, you can exchange blows using Twin Swords at close/point blank range if you're bored with bows.

WIS stats, you're stuck with Wands.

Bows and Wands both have, even other weapons besides wands, all the elemental attacks to each elemental weakness of enemies.

WIS -> Cast Speed, SP pool and SP recovery, and damage, middle ranged.
DEX -> Cooldown Time for skills, Critical Rate, Critical Force, and damage, far-ranged, and close-ranged, medium damage, but with very high critical rate, you can outnumber the damage of wand users tremendeously and efficiently. With very fast cooldown time, you can practically spam your skills, without CHANGING your weapons.

So, why should you still make character using Wands?

[Hisashiburi]

=== Lots of text ===

Literally, ruining mage's world.
Mage isnt your forte lyn, not because late bloomer job, hard to control, etc etc.
So please, if you dont want to play this job, just play other job rather than influencing other people or even new player not to choose mage (im not saying it's a bad influence, it's just not in a right place)
There're other threads that "promoting" their own job, meanwhile you still, like i said, ruining mage's world.

[Lynneth]

=== Lots of text ===

Literally, ruining mage's world.
Mage isnt your forte lyn, not because late bloomer job, hard to control, etc etc.
So please, if you dont want to play this job, just play other job rather than influencing other people or even new player not to choose mage (im not saying it's a bad influence, it's just not in a right place)
There're other threads that "promoting" their own job, meanwhile you still, like i said, ruining mage's world.

Well, truth always hurts. But, I will still play as mage/support. .

[Rocksilver]

I must be doing something different, because I can shoot off three level 7 nukes on a 580 sp pool, four if a lag spike happens and doesn't count off mana usage.

And that is using two ice glaive 7's and one hellfire 7.

Damage output is a lot stronger than a bow users without having to use some aiding skill because naturally, we don't need it. Mage's spells are meant to obliterate before they can react, if they are still standing, back up and try another. I don't count bosses because they are bosses and have a higher hp pool, but the peons go down hard, even on hell mode.

Kiting is a lot more efficient as a mage, because you don't need to circle too much, the AOE of certain spells covers much more what the radius affect. To aim properly, you must predict their movements. Just because they aren't in your spells range doesn't mean they won't step in the second it takes to cast.

Mages are not support, we have the potential to outstrip any weapon using class, all it takes is tactics and knowledge of the monster's movement's, which isn't all that hard.

Long story short: Mage spells go boom, target about a monster length away for AOE spells, watch them die, move on. Oh, and recover at your pace, completion time does not factor for a first time learner. After a while, they learn how to walk the walk of an engine of destruction.

Funny enough, when you get used to big flashy skills, you forget that lower tier skills can be just as deadly. I certainly did after using Kataimachi 1 and watch it do 1.5k damage to a wind resistant creature.

[Hisashiburi]

I must be doing something different, because I can shoot off three level 7 nukes on a 580 sp pool, four if a lag spike happens and doesn't count off mana usage.

And that is using two ice glaive 7's and one hellfire 7.

Damage output is a lot stronger than a bow users without having to use some aiding skill because naturally, we don't need it. Mage's spells are meant to obliterate before they can react, if they are still standing, back up and try another. I don't count bosses because they are bosses and have a higher hp pool, but the peons go down hard, even on hell mode.

Kiting is a lot more efficient as a mage, because you don't need to circle too much, the AOE of certain spells covers much more what the radius affect. To aim properly, you must predict their movements. Just because they aren't in your spells range doesn't mean they won't step in the second it takes to cast.

Mages are not support, we have the potential to outstrip any weapon using class, all it takes is tactics and knowledge of the monster's movement's, which isn't all that hard.

Long story short: Mage spells go boom, target about a monster length away for AOE spells, watch them die, move on. Oh, and recover at your pace, completion time does not factor for a first time learner. After a while, they learn how to walk the walk of an engine of destruction.

Funny enough, when you get used to big flashy skills, you forget that lower tier skills can be just as deadly. I certainly did after using Kataimachi 1 and watch it do 1.5k damage to a wind resistant creature.

Finally, some good talk about mage. You're doing good there
580 SP pool, im guessing you're lvl 50-60? or maybe 60+ but hybrid?
About single target skills, if you're already have 100 total wisdom, you shouldnt have a problem with SP cost from rank III or IV skills, or V and VI if you're using kamaitachi (this skill really have low SP cost compare to other). The problem is maybe, the magatama. Well, you have to use at least lord shokou or soutei to keep that rank III and IV boosted
But when you manage to use rank V or higher without problem with SP cost, then gion/gokan is your next step.
Different case if you're like majority, full aoe spell like call lightning, earth spike, and ofc ice glaive. Rank V (smelt) and VII (from skill card) are your only choice.

I like the way you're saying "Just because they aren't in your spells range doesn't mean they won't step in the second it takes to cast".
How fast are our enemies movement speed? When should i start to cast my spell?
Calculating... and click, boom, mobs wiped out

[Lynneth]

Are you sure about that? . You don't factor in the spells you cancel/got cancelled by enemies. Well, the most deadly spells for mage would be the nuke spells. ( Hellfire VII.. but well.. the animation and effect skills are rather lame for it )

I can bet with you, with the same strongest weapon and strongest skill, for example spears or bows can easily outmatch mage in 1vs1 battle or dungeon clearance time.

Mage's spells are meant to obliterate before they can react, if they are still standing, back up and try another. I don't count bosses because they are bosses and have a higher hp pool, but the peons go down hard, even on hell mode.

I want to see this in action. How do you deal with the SP consumption and SP pools. And bosses upper than 10 levels.

[Rocksilver]

Cancelling spells is an unfortunate phase of the game as of now, but I never realized that standing still is what I'm supposed to do when casting spells...

Mobility is the name of the game for any class, more so important to ranged fighters such as magic and archery. Hellfire isn't flashy, or greatly animated, it doesn't have to be, its a giant fireball racing toward you. It doesn't need to fly to the sky to strike at you, its a point A to B skill.

I am also curious to see if bows or spears can clear a dungeon faster than a mage can, but when I see footage of such a thing happening, I'll either concede or reinforce my position on it.

From my own experiences, I can say that the mage's level has a malleable range of up to 15 levels from the dungeon's recommended value from his or her own. That being said, trying to outdo Chief Daruma starting out with less than stellar gear on hell mode from level 6 is just foolishness. Like Bows and Spears and everything else, we learn our strengths and weaknesses. I can say with certainty that bows don't like close range and swords aren't expected to fight at range like bows or wands. Wands and mages are supposed to use skills, not their combos. This has been a staple of life from the Black Mage of ye olden times to now. We don't do up close, never have, never will.

It also takes practiced coordination and experimentation. Like bows, our skills have a set range and predicted landing point, usually straight from the caster's pov. For fast, low level skills up to level five that fire directly at where you are pointing at, the edge of the range line is where you want the enemy to be. For AOE skills, you must learn to lure and time your strike.

For example: You --------- __ X = Enemy
spell range = ------
sweet spot = __

From this obviously professionally done masterpiece of a battlefield, the caster and its spell range must be about a second before the chasing enemy can charge into you for an AOE spell.

You -----X---
spellrange w/enemy

This example is meant for direct contact spells like hellfire and other spells that don't require much timing, like lower level spells. Point and click, really.

After that, you must retreat and fall back to control the field of battle. after being sufficiently away you may drink an sp pot and either wait for the cooldown or switch to another weapon with the same exact skill, I can throw two ice glaive 7's and a hellfire this way without breaking my stride before I retreat. At lower levels, you need to retreat more often than not, but when you practice and learn from it, these things become instinct.

I understand that you had some less than stellar experiences with a wand. Maybe you don't hit as hard as your spear wielding friends or see that bows outstripped you in earlier levels, but that is irrelevant here. You aren't here to show off that you can fire quicker than your bow friends, you are here to make sure they don't get up after your first strike. If you want to be a hybrid warrior and wonder why aren't you hitting better than your pure stat friends, I can honestly say that I have no idea what the problem behind that is...

For anyone curious about my build, I'll list it.

Level: 56
Pow: 2 (+7)
Vit: 22 (+10)
Wis: 78 (+20)
MND: 24 (+15)
Dex: 7 (+14)

Using: Brionac + 60, Yousen Kamataichi +70m, Tokoyo Sword +10.

First two have Hellfire/Frost Glaive 7 and Tokoyo has Frost Glaive.

For my staff, I use what I can find so I can drain it for sp restoration. Currently, its a Flourite Staff.

My Magas:

Two Kouya Magatamas, One Lord Enma Maga for the skill force boost and One Peerless Maga, ornamented to cover for weaknesses like physical defense.

Wand affinity at 3k, and staff affinity at 565, not exactly a healer, but its good enough for Sanctuary spells.