My New Dragon Mage - hopefully all the way

[siddham 19]

I have never gotten far with any character. Never finished the game; or even close.

I'm a serial beginner

Mostly Dragon Mages.

 

I'm thinking of starting a Dragon Mage from scratch; with no support characters; or any other characters of any kind;

as if the game is newly installed.

think I will allow my charater access to whatever the game provides for a solo character...so I will use shops.

Also thinking of both Enhanced Perception and Bargaining (taking EH to generate cash for shopping).

And maybe Alchemy ? ?

Play hardcore (but archive a save from time to time...just in case)

Not sure about Expert Touch.

With 3 general skills I wont have a lot of room for multile Combat Arts.

I like Mentalism. Might stick with that.

Maybe I should take ET?

 

Thinking of taking early skills in this order:

Armor Lore

Pole Arms

Bargaining

Mentalism Lore

Enhanced Perception

...not sure after that.

 

Any suggestions welcome

Edited November 16, 2013 by siddham

[chattius 2,522]

I put some thoughts into a polearm dragon mage here. It was my first real character in the AddOn so some of the newer discoveries are not in.

The Sohei

http://darkmatters.org/forums/index.php?/topic/13149-the-sohei/

 

To discuss your start:

You want probablly bargaining at level, enhanced perception at mastery. So you need some skills which are a sort of 'one-point-wonders'. I count alchemy into this category. The main reason would be having better working heal potions and longer lasting mentors. With a bargainer you should have enough +allSkills to make this useful. Trollteeth trophies at bosses?

Concentration

Another single point to add the companion, even unmodified. Its intelligence and willpower are nice.

 

Other Skills

Spell resistance

This is one which would have to be mastered for its full effect.

Mentalism Focus

Higher levels in mentalism CA's. Should be mastered later in game too.

 

Constitution or Toughness

For a polearm with alchemy probably constitution.

 

So to bring the 5 skills in some order:

Armor Lore

Pole Arms

Bargaining

Mentalism Lore

Enhanced Perception

18 Concentration - early so in this phase you have some use of the hitpoints it adds

25 Mentalism Focus

35 Alchemy - avoids nasty surprises when reaching gold before level 50.

50 Constitution

65 Spell Resistance

[siddham 19]

Hi chattius

Thanks for the feedback

I read through your guides on a previous occasion and I think it was you convinced me to go with pole arms.

In the early game the pole arm is my main damage against single enemies - champions etc; and I socket life leech and rph.

I think it was also something you wrote that convinced me to go with alchemy this time too?

...or was it Gogo?

I must reread your DM guides.

I am pleased to see that in your estimation I got the first five skills in the right order!

And one of my main wonderings was whether I should get Concentration or Mentalism Focus first.

What about Alchemy before MF?

[chattius 2,522]

Alchemy at 25:

I would take it this early only if the character is strong enough to collect trollteeth in the orc cave. In my experience it was like a trolltooth each second run.

The other advantages of alchemy are longer lasting mentors and better healing potions. But the better working healing potions start to rule when getting in a new difficulty. If you are used to healing potions doing a full heal and notice that they are only 70% healing in the new difficulty it is often after a death.

But it is very rare to reach gold before level 35, even many don't do it before level 50. So I think if taking alchemy then at 35 is best.

[siddham 19]

Ok I will wait until I know if I can handle the orc cave....which I have never reached yet!

As I said, I keep starting over.

I decided to go with EP first - to hopefully increase the quality of finds/drops for my DM in the early levels.

I can't afford to buy anything decent anyway; I'm reliant on what I can find or win during these early levels;

I have no supports nor patrons.

I am sacrificing damage for protection for now. I'll have to be cautious; I'm playing hardcore.

Thanks for your input Chattius

 

How is your new Dragon Mage progressing?

Edited November 20, 2013 by siddham