I've played this game since it came out. I couldn't help but notice the all specialist mage party proposition. I'm going through the game with a party that qualifies for sure. Also, because each specialist mage needs a high stat other than intelligence to qualify for his class, they actually end up being rather well balanced. I have an elf Enchanter with 16 charisma for diplomacy, a Cleric/Illusionist for healing (worst character), an Abjurer, a dual-classed Thief/Invoker, a dual classed Fighter/Conjurer, and a Transmuter. I started at level one on Heart of Fury mode. Also, bards really do suck. I've taken one all the way through and they never become useful.

Really? I found bards to be quite useful, especially once he gets that song that heals your party in-between battles. Even with your magic-heavy party, he would still be useful. With all those spellcasters however, I'm wondering how you handled distribution of spell scrolls. There's not alot of copies of the same spells littered about the area.

Am I the only one who thinks a Gnome Illusionist is the best specialist mage? He gets 19 INT so he can scribe all the scrolls he wants. The only spells he misses out on are the ones from the Necromancy school, which seemed pretty lackluster to begin with.

Gnome illusionist is the best specialist mage (unless you want to set a lot of traps with skull trap), but human dualclass fighter/illusionist is better.

Why not a gnome multiclass fighter/illusionist? Get 19 INT and can wear the Helm of the Trusted Defender (I think that's the name of it, it's that helmet only Gnomes and Halflings can use).

Multiclasses level more slowly, keeping them from reaching the higher spell levels.

I prefer specialist mages over generalist mages. I like the extra spell slot at each level and the loss of the opposing school isn't a big deal to me. In fact, I think you can cast opposing spells as scrolls from the quick item slot (I'll have to check on that tonight).

Right now, my party consists of a Enchanter, Transmuter, Fighter/Illusionist, mage/cleric, fighter, and Cleric/Thief. I'm almost done with Dragon's Eye and my mages are starting to show their power. It was definitely a challenge during some parts.

And bards are good.

I ain't one to ask about most mages, but I have played an Invoker, Conjurer and Necromancer. And in my opinion, I enjoy the Conjurer the most. Summon Monster gets pretty powerful when you get it and adds "Party" members in the form of monsters which has saved my warriors some hit points of the course.


But, I am a Fighter type, so I wouldn't know much about Mages. My party always consists of a 2 Fighters, A Cleric, Some kinda Rogue, and a mage of some sort with a sixth party member determined by need(Usually a Ranger or a Paladin)