Re: AG: First Turn & Combat Magic

From: leeme@cnsvax.uwec.edu

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1993 22:22:06 +0000

In article <1993Jun17.020057.12934@physics.unr.edu>, kirby@pyramid.unr.edu (Stephen Kirby) writes:
>
> 	Also, since someone posted about Combat magic the cost to raise
> from trained to lvl1 is 15EP's. (Daze, Vertigo, and Heal)

The cost for elves is 15EP per level, but for other races it's different.
Humans, lizards, halflings cost 20EP/level.  Minos, goblins, half-trolls
cost 25EP/level.  Ogres cost 30EP/level.  Dwarves cost 40EP/level.  And
half-elf cost 17EP/level.

> My biggest question is on why I NEVER cast a spell during the entire turn.
> In one fight my opponent, an elf, cast 6 spells. 2 Daze, 2 Vertigo, and 2
> Heal. My settings were:
>                          Daze 9/9
>                          Vertigo 1/9
>                          Heal 4/5
> Desperate
>                          Daze 9/5
>                          Heal 9/7

I would need to look at your fights, but some possibilities are that
you were fighting at short range or you went to 'desperate' right away and
your second setting came into effect.  What was your secondary strategy
switch?

> Despite this maybe I was lucky ... I earned a damage bonus (good right?)

Yes, every damage point bonus helps.

> Any other suggestions for a first turn guy?
>
> Is better to INITALLY do attributes or to pick up a few cheap skills like
> distraction?

Since you're an elf, I'd go with attributes first, then spells later (and
then, specialize in only one, preferably Daze or Blast, until you're very good
in it).  The cheap skills are just that, cheap.  I think the moderator added
distraction in just so players would get sucked into picking it up.  It works
OK at the beginning, but later on it becomes fairly worthless.

> Do skills improve with use? i.e. will my Daze become level 1 if I use it
> enough?

There is almost no chance that Vertigo, Daze, Heal, Speed, or Power will go
up by itself (it'd be too easy since Daze is probably the most dangerous
spell out there).  However, many other skills go up by themselves,
including CM-Blast, CM-Blink, Head Butt, Kick, etc.

> If it helps here's what I've got:
>
> Str 11
> Dex 7
> Stam 11
> Cun 12

You're missing quite a few points!!! I assume you went ambidextrous...
(unfortunately) ;)

> Skills (Daze, Vertigo, Heal, and Move Quietly)
> Weapons: Club lvl-1
>
> I have 20 EP's and 7 KP's to use. I haven' figured out what to use the KP's
> on if anything, but I was planning to use the 20 EP's to raise Str, Stam, and
> Dex. Making Str and Stam above average and brining Dex closer to average
> so that I'll quit stumbling every time I move. :)

With the KP I usually get Mind Wall to trained, then raise Combat Sense
to trained, then to level 1.  After that, for this character, I'd go with
Universe Magic and some outside spells.  EP training is up to you.  What you
have there for your first turn is fine.

> Oh, Det ID# 875
>
> Thanks,
> Steve
>
> p.s. when are the turns run? I want to make sure I get my turn in on time
> since it took 5 days for the mail to arrive here.

Turns are due 9am on the duedate.  Turns get processed over Tuesday and
Wednesday, and are sent out on Thursday before noon.  He'll accept phone
in turns or faxes at no charge.

Mike Lee

References

AG: First Turn & Combat Magic
kirby@pyramid.unr.edu (Stephen Kirby)
Thu, 17 Jun 1993 02:00:57 +0000