Well, I have seen many people bash the Wizard Slayer (WS) kit for many reasons, and I have also seen FAQ writters refer to it as a "loser's kit" and things like that. My question is: are they really that bad? Personally, I have never played one, but they look very nice on paper.

Let's see:

Firstly, they gain 2% magic resistance (MR) per level (even though the manual says it is 1%). In addition to this, in ToB they gain 5% MR starting from level 20, and every even level thereafter. Thus, at level 20, a WS would have 43% MR. At level 37, they would have 101% MR. The only downside I see here is that the Monk gains 3% MR per level, but it is capped at 78%, so the WS wins in the end.

Second, the 10% cumulative spell casting failure that the WS inflicts on spellcasters with every successful hit. As far as I know, this penalty is applied if the To Hit calculation succeeds. That is, the WS doesn't actually need to damage the spellcaster because a successful To Hit roll will suffice to inflict the penalty. That means that a WS with the Tansheron's bow, darts or throwing daggers could quickly render a mage unable to cast anything.

The greatest downfall, though, is that you can't use any magical items. In a sense, this penalty is far greater than the bonuses.

You could make a WS with points in Single or Two-Handed weapon style, give him a swift Scimitar or Long Sword, or maybe a powerful Two-Handed Sword, and a bow, darts or throwing daggers for quickly applying the spellcasting failure.

So, going back to my question, what do you think about the WS?

It's a rather interesting and pretty powerful class when you know to appreciate the special advantages ... on costs of the limitations. A wiz-slayer (especially with ToB installed) is a very powerful char. However, I somehow feel the archer is better in disrupting spellcasting of enemy mages, anyway, the wis-slayer is much more potent in melee.

JanusDamein, All in all, the WS is a powerful char. Played corectly.

But a slight missconception you have there.
The greatest downfall, though, is that you can't use any magical items. In a sense, this penalty is far greater than the bonuses.
That is not completely true.. a WS can use some magical items. Armor, Weapons, and if you have TOB installed Potions. just not rings and such.

Another thing, maybe someone could test this, or say if it is right or not. I dont think WS 10% penalty to spellusers applyes when used with a bow/ranged weapon. Some one pelease clarify if that is right or not.

Well, I am pretty sure that it works with ranged weapons since I played a dart using wizard slayer successfully. Never tried with bows, but I don't see why it wouldn't work.

The main beef with the disruption ability is that, for the most part, if you are hitting the mage to generate the disruptive effects, you are likely to be screwing up his spellcasting anyway. Not many wizards are gonna get off a spell in between the four arrows or five darts you are hitting him with, if he even lives through that for long. This is especially true if you use stunning or wounding type ammo. There are cases where you do get a real advantage from that disruptive effect, but its not as big as it initially sounds.

Most people, therefore, look at it as 'gain MR at the cost of many magic item slots'. Not a great trade off, generally. Also, many of those wizardslayer impressions were formed in straight SoA, where Wiz slayers couldn't use healing potions. That was a big drag, let me tell you. My first wizardslayer compensated by dual wielding the Dragonslayer sword (regen) and the longsword from the Planar Prison that steals hp with each blow. Still got pretty ugly, though.

Anyway, I like the wizardslayer but the disadvantages are very obvious while the advantages don't always seem so. Not being able to have rings, belts, boots, etc hurts in every battle, while MR and Wizbashing helps only in some. That's why it gets trashed in guides.

The first time I completed the game was on a Wizard slayer, the extra magic resistance is really cool, and very helpful.

The WS is not a BAD character just, there are better ones to choose. I use plain fighter rarely, i like them dual to mage (even the WS).

That is true that the Monk can have only 78% MR but can wear ring(s), amulets which can give at least extra 20% MR...

I suppose it is a matter of style, but it seems to me that there are better means of killing wizards than the wizard slayer and that other types of fighters are better fighters than the wizards slayer.

Neone notice the M.R. for a wizard slayer is capped at 84%...well it is. Not only that, the mage hit spell distruption ability is impressive but not good enough to sacrafice magical items! With the magehit ability to disrupt, you can interupt a spell even if the mage is stoneskinned, wether those abilities make up for no magic items c'ept armour and bracers...i dunno.

You realise as soon as Padine get's to this post; he's gonna say:
CAVALIERSS RUUUULLEE!!!!!! :angel:
WIZARDSLAYERS SSSUUUUUCKKKK!!!!!:evil:

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Anyway, i believe they made a pretty good attempt in ToB to improve the Wizard Slayer, giving him 5% MR every 2 or 3 levels IIRC. They probably realised that no-one played it and tried to 'fix' it without changing him/her too much.

A high-level Wizard Slayer is pretty alright.
Especially if you Dual-Class a Wizard Slayer to a Thief, you get the Use Any Item ability....guess which restriction that takes away....:)

The 'Slayer isnt too bad in my opinion.

They Rule!

A very good mage killer. And since this is already in the ToB forum, I think it's worth mentioning that Wizard Slayers can use healing potions.

Good with the Monty Haul of weapons in SoA/ToB as well..

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>FoA for slow, elemental damage
<LI>CFury for stun
<LI>Belm, Kundane, Tuigan for the extra attack
[/list]

Any of these beneficial abilities combined with cumulative spell failure can make a WS dangerous indeed, and they get nice MR.

An understated class, but worth taking for a spin.

First of all I dont Like your sence of humor gopher and it's started to piss me off.Anyway.I think that wizyslayers do a good job.They only really get good at level 20-25.I the wirlwind attack cimbined with any weapon makes wizards into mash.The main dowside is that they cant use magical equipment.

Padine, don't get your panties all in a bunch. And another thing: use the spell-checker that's provided for you at the bottom of the page when you are posting.

[This message has been edited by SlimShogun (edited June 02, 2002).]

Alright, that's enough comments on Padine. Use PM if you have a message specifically for him. Leave the rest to moderators.