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For my first 'squishy'....mage?
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Post by
betx
For whatever reason I've only rolled leather wearers up to now, but I'd like to try a pure caster--probably mage or warlock.
This is the mage board, so please tell me why mages are more fun!
(or maybe more to the point, what specific things do you like about mages over warlocks?)
Post by
517683
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243284
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Post by
Goyoma
A mage is probably one of the hardest classes to play in the game. In terms of PvP, every decision could be life or death.
As a mage you can be the center of attention as well, for being a source of food/water, portals, and other nifty tools like powerful Crowd Control.
I don't know much about PvE, but don't get frustrated for how fast you can die in PvP.
I would agree, but maybe it's because I'm the type of guy that always wants to play the "hardest to play" class in every game.
All I have to say is when you first hit 80, you will die in PvP. A lot. A ton. So much you'll just want to cry.
Once you're geared and have gotten used to your character, you will start pulling off stuff like this.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8897/wowscrnshot011410215249.jpg
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/766/wowscrnshot021010193132.jpg
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/672/wowscrnshot021610132248.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5079/wowscrnshot022010145149.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7452/wowscrnshot122209113644.jpg
Now for most of these I most likely had a good healer that just happened to be where I was at the right times, but there were 2-3 of these that just ended up that way.
I don't consider myself good, but just using the right spells at the right times and knowing when to retreat and Evocate can save you a lot of grief.
You could argue that a Warlock could do it just the same, but I end up with games like these far more often than I see a Warlock topping the charts like that. Also, Warlock = Easy Mode Mage.
You'll have to try a bit harder, and be far more aware during any situation as a Mage than as a Warlock, but when you pull off stuff like what I posted above, and solo 3 people at a node in AB with a Mage, you feel like a friggen' hero.
P.S. If Frost isn't for you (and really, it rocks once you get used to it), get a decent Arcane PvP spec and waltz into Battlegrounds. 3 shotting people is great fun.
Post by
Minipretzels
There are many reasons why I believe mages are the hardest, funnest (?), and most rewarding class that I have enjoyed playing. Sure we can't take the blunt end of a club or heal (lolbandage spec ftw), but we have our highlights.
Portals are amazing. That is not an opinion, that is a fact. To travel across these great contenents (typo) in a matter of seconds is not only amazing, but is extremely convienant. Save time, money, and sanity. The Holiday achievements/Explorer are so simplified with portals, I can't begin to express the love I have for them without breaking out in tears.
We are difficult to master. I like a challenge, and the Mage struck to me as a fun class that would test my skill. PvP requires fast reactions, and what spells you use in what order can either earn you a satisfying HK, or a trip to the graveyard.
Free food. We are the vending machines of WoW, with an never endling supply of food to help with questing and lower downtime in raids.
We have high dps. If properly geared, speced, and skilled, you can and will eventually be topping the dps charts, and if you like big numbers spamming across your screen that will cause you siezures, you've come to the right place.
All in all, the Mage class is a very rewarding and fun class to enjoy and play. We are almost perfect (although many classes change with x-pacs and patches, Mages are usually to sometimes left alone). Yes, we have our problems like other classes, and yes sometimes we are altered (Goodbye 3min Mages), but we seem to always bounce back. Master of the elements, we have some amazing spells and abilities at our disposal to unleash on those who threaten us (Dirty locks...). Magi forever.
There was a poem on one of these threads that beautifully and perfectly described the mage class. If you or someone else finds it and you read it, all will be explained.
Lastly, we have Lady Jiana on our side. /autowin
Post by
StrangerWifCandy
Are we bragging about BG scores now?
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/6715/wowscrnshot111609232624.jpg
Anyways, mages have a very distinct play style compared to other casters. When you look at it, Warlocks/Boomkins/Priests/Ele Shamans/Every other caster (healers and DPS alike) are all largely built around tanking (I'm talking pvp here). They have talents like Soul Link, Dispersion, Astral Shift, Pain Suppression, Barkskin, 500% armor, etc. etc.
What do mages get? Nothing! We're the only caster class that relies solely on completely avoiding dangerous situations instead of facing them head-on and hoping we live. With the spells we learn before we're even level 20, we're expected to suavely navigate our way out of harm's way. One mistake and you're either dead, or you put your healer behind in the mana war. It's a rush kiting 3-4 DPS in 5s around a tomb to LOS damage, and pop back into LOS for heals when it's safe. It's hard to explain, but imagine where every single GCD can mean death, and if you don't use your cooldowns at the right time, it can easily spell death.
Other than that respect, I feel mages bring the same things to the table warlocks do: CC, damage (arguably different amounts), and some useful raid benefits like free food/drink, and portals make the Holiday events so much easier/faster.
Post by
Zakkhar
Once you're geared and have gotten used to your character, you will start pulling off stuff like this.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8897/wowscrnshot011410215249.jpg
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/766/wowscrnshot021010193132.jpg
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/672/wowscrnshot021610132248.jpg
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5079/wowscrnshot022010145149.jpg
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7452/wowscrnshot122209113644.jpg
BGs...
Arcane lol. AB and AE spam. Your frost isnt great either.
You dont even have all your skills on your bars.
Judging by the number of deaths probably along with a healer.
Post by
Goyoma
BGs...
Arcane lol. AB and AE spam. Your frost isnt great either.
You dont even have all your skills on your bars
.
Judging by the number of deaths probably along with a healer.
You're sure guessing a whole lot there.
Ever hear of Macros? I have a lot of my abilities macroed to be shift + keyed.
Why don't you go ahead and tell me what abilities you
think
I don't have keybound and I'll tell you which shift + key I use for them.
I don't consider myself good
Also, you seemed to miss that part of the post. Why does everything have to turn into a &*!@ing contest? Seriously, screw off.
And furthermore, I'm aware that "ARCANE LULZ IS FACROLE", that was back when I was on my Arcane PvP kick and grinding honor. And you know what, it was easy to grind it. Anything that makes the grind easier is good in my book.
Also, since when is being proud of something you've accomplished such a bad thing? I've been playing the game for about 7 months at this point, and I think I'm doing pretty decently for that time frame. Did anybody dig into Stranger? No? Because he's good?
Oh, well I forgot good is relative, and to me, those scores are pretty decent. You may argue that anybody could achieve those scores, but I don't think so. And this coming from somebody who asks what the best PvP class is. You sure don't have much room to talk.
Being proud of something you've done isn't nearly as criminal as putting somebody down when you can't even do what they've done yourself.
Also, did Stranger say anything to me about my scores? No, he simply posted his. And it's well known that he's a great PvPer, so I'm far more apt to listen to anything he says than from some cool kid who just talks %^&* all day.
Post by
334814
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385379
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477440
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Post by
betx
Thanks for all the replies! I have to say that I was leaning Warlock, but at the same time I'm in the mood to go Troll, which would mean Mage....will have to see.
Post by
Goyoma
Someone called Warlocks easy-mode mages. Seriously? Have you ever played Affliction? Juggling Life Tap, Corruption, Curse of Agony, Unstable Affliction, Haunt, filling with Shadow Bolt and THEN adding Drain Soul during Execute is hardly easy mode. We may have been easy mode in BC with 2 button rotations, but that certainly isn't the case now. Demo has the easiest Priority of them with only 3 dots and one of three filler spells depending on procs, but it still isn't a faceroll if you want to really do competitive DPS.
That would be me. I was mostly being facetious, but you have a constant tank in the form of your Voidwalker, and you don't even really need fear in a solo leveling environment, which is what I was referencing.
Also, if you're just spamming Frostbolt as a Mage, you're not pulling enough mobs ;)
Post by
shadosan
Personally, i have a mage. If i had to rethink who was my main, i'd go with my mage.
- Teleportation to any capital city of your faction (require cheap reagent)
- Portal to any capital city of your faction (require cheap reagent)
- Free food and water
- Blink
- Many crowd control
- Evocation (especially as a arcana mage lvl 45 and higher)
- Ease of AoE killing
- At least one good group buff (intellect)
- Invisibility for when the group die but you don't want
- Topping the dps chart often
- Cool-looking gears... sometimes
CONS :
- Squishy -- you'd prefer staying as far away from mobs that you can
- Very mana reliant -- no mana = as if you weren't there
- Aggro control -- sometimes you may be pulling TOO MUCH dps, meaning in either a dead mage or a tank/healer with a headache.
- Many abilities -- It may get confusing, but there is guides on the 'net for that. Namely, on the wowhead i'm sure. If not, on the official WoW class forum.
If i am to give you a tip, go for Frost until lvl 64, then go with a arcane and don't look back.
As for the profession, try tailoring, it suites mages very well.
Post by
betx
I rolled a mage a couple of weeks back, but didn't really do anything with it until this weekend.
Wow...the damage of the spells, even under level 10, compared to shamans is huge--things die before they get to you a lot of the time :) On the other hand, if things do get up to you, like when pulling two mobs, oh the pain! I've got to get it into my head that this character is squishy, so when dual pulls happen to frost shock both mobs and run, rather than think it can tough it out.
Haven't gotten it on to the more fun spells yet, but so far I've at least enjoyed it more than rogue or hunter (but haven't yet tried warlock or priest)
Post by
cheesechamp
lol mage hardest class to play in game, seriously? No.
Good counterpoint.
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