In a party of 6 (so jack-of-all-trades are not required) where you have at least two mages, what mage-types would you choose: (a) dual class mage, (b) multi-class mage, (c) specialist, (d) wild-mage, or (e) sorcerer? Note that you are trying to assemble the most powerful group you can.

If I were the type to use full parties this would be mine:

Fighter - always need a tank.
Fighter/Theif - Preferably Elven multiclass, possibly Halfling. For back up tanking, and theiving abilities.
Fighter/Cleric - Preferably dualclass fighter13 then to cleric
Ranger(archer) - main bowman/also good scout.
Fighter/Mage - Dualclass like the cleric except fighter16/then to mage(backup mage).
Sorcerer - Main magic-user.
Now, if you needed another theif in the party, then you could drop the Archer, and have a pure theif in his place

IMO that is a fairly well balanced party.
But I prefer smaller parties such as 4 or less members.

(Im assuming that you ment a multiplayer created party, without the NPC's)

[This message has been edited by DeBhaal Stasion (edited May 29, 2002).]

Actually, the focus of my query is on the mages. I stated that it would be a 6 member group so no one would think that the mage NEEDS to be a mage-thief-fighter or such. I hope to find out what the general opinion is of the most powerful spell caster. Everybody has their own opinion about party composition.

So, it looks like one vote is for a dual class fighter-mage and a sorcerer.

P.S. I have not tired of the comical interactions of the big group of NPCs yet. Although my avatar may complete parts of quests alone, currently I have a full group.

Personally I like a multiclassed mage. Cleric/Mage that is. Although this class is rather low on hp, it can be very devestating when combining the spells from both pools. :)

I wouldn't recommend using more than one mage per group. Fighters can handle about everything on thier own with ease, and don't require rest after everyother battle, nor have contingencies and spell triggers ect that need to be constantly replaced. I say keep one mage (Wild Mage is my recommendation) loaded up with massive ammounts of artilery for those really tough battles.

Well, while what you say may be true, I will still recommend at least a second mage. If your first is killed or otherwise disabled, you'll still be able to use the second mage to breach, dispell or whatever mageskill you might need.

As long as your fighters can handle their role as tanks, you can have the other characters as ranged.

Adding some more variation in your party makes the game much more fun. You can do very well with five fighters and one fighter/mage (for example) but 6 fighters all hogging onto some foes provide with little variation in a game. It get's old quickly, believe me.

Kull

If I were you here's what i would take.

(1)Main:A Sorceror(heavy magick power makes them really cool.Elf,lawfu good.)
(2)A paladin(Cavalier.The immunity to fear is quite cool and lay on hand's eventually heals from 40-60 HP.They are also a sub for a cleric/fighter.Human.)
(3)A cleric.(take a dwarf.)
(4)I woul take an elf ranger/archer.(the bow bownesses combined with dexterity at 19 and called shot equals one nasty blow.)
(5)A fighter(Human.Any alighment.I prefer a good one.)
(6)An elf thief.(the dexterity give's them some cool bonusses.)

That should be good.I don't know about the main charachter.I said a sorceror because you are asking for the best mage class.I would have normaly taken a main charachter as a fighter or paladin.

PC: Elf Sorcerer (VERY solid spellcaster, but will have to deal with having limited spells, but remedy that small problem with this...)
NPC1: Elf Cleric-Mage (The combination of cleric and mage spells in things like spell triggers and spell sequencers is very useful. and an ok backup fighter, but wait till you see this...)
NPC2: Dwarf Barbarian (soak it up and dish it out is this fighter's motto, and with axes and hammers, many possibilities in equipment are presented to him. "but where's the theif skills?!" i hear you ask. well wait no longer...)
NPC3: Halfling Swashbuckler (a fantastic theif and skilled fighter, the swashy can perform in any situation. he may not be able to backstab, but he makes up for this by dual wielding katanas and scimitars and pumping out heaps of damage and attacks. "i cant wait for those cool swords he can get, but how can he know how to use them?" i hear you cry! well have no fear, because...)
NPC4: Half Elf Skald (is here!!! his ability to conjure knowledge and use weapons to full effect are definite advantages. no more wasting valuable spell slots on identify spells, cos he knows alot more about weapons than any old mage. you may not necessarily want this so-called "jack of all trades" in your warband of so many skills, but his benefits FAR outweigh the negatives, cos there arent any!!! a backup mage and fighter, what more could you want in a party, but...)
NPC5: Half-Orc True Fighter (you need someone to wear those chunky suits of armour that your bard find lying around in the strange land of faerun! Two Handed Swords and Halberds are this half-breed's forte, and his immense strength and hardy constitution befit these weapons' character.)

i sort of cr*pped on a bit in this post, but you catch my drift. i hope you like this party. it took me ages to write it up!!!

Jeez, answer the question asked, eh, guys?

2 Mages:

1: Sorcerer. Best in the business.

2: M/C Mage/Cleric or Mage/Thief depending on what else you plan on having along. Mage Cleric does allow some very nift sequencer combo's though.

I thought I... Oh wait, room for two mages?

Okay, so a MC Cleric/Mage, and for second I'd throw in a wildmage, or a singleclass Mage (for quickly accessing the higher level spells)

A Wild Mage and a Sorcerer.
Both are very good classes.

I like dualclassed fighter (or some kit)-mage. He has very good HP and THACO, so what do you need more in addition for spellcasting?

Yes, my personal opinion is a true spell caster, the sorcerer, and a fighter-mage multiclass. I have never played the wild mage and was unsure about the potential of this class. However, it seems that most people (in this thread and others) seem to agree with my inclination that the sorcerer is superior.

Personally in my opinion i'd choose a Wild Mage. Basically they get the extra spells per level that specialist mages get and have no opposing school thus allowing you to cast all the mage spells in the game. Although there is the random wild magic surges.

When you like to manage two mages - that's ok, some may think it involves too much micromanagement - however, I like it, though it migt become a little annoying when you add a cleric then - three spellcasters means to pause a lot ... weeeeeeeee! ... maybe too muchn ;) IMO a full spellcaster and "half" spellcaster work fine. I like the variants invoker or sorcerer + bard or fighter-mage/ illusionist-thief especially.

Wild Mages rule! :hippy:

Seriously now, there are a lot of good reasons to like a wild mage. Firstly they get +1 spell per lvl without school restrictions. Secondly, Nahall's Reckless Dweomer can make a 10th lvl mage casting time stop. And with Chaos Shields and probably high levels wild surges tend to be mostly beneficial.

Now about the Sorcerers. Many people say they rule but I am a little doubtful :book:. I mean by the end of the game you have ONLY 4 level 9 spells. ONLY FOUR. I mean what would you choose? I would go for Time Stop, Wish, Comet Summon Planetar but I would also like to have Spellstrike, Imprisonment(it's cool!!) and Dragon's Breath(works well in not Fire Resistant enemies).