Struggling to Start as a Mage

[Darsithis]

I played I & II but that was when they came out, so it's been closing in on a decade at this point. I picked up 3 and decided to dust it off and try it out. I picked out mage as my class. I took 3 levels in Elemental, picked up Cartography, Lore, and Mercantile.

I have no offensive spells to start. None, not even when I re-rolled with a max 5 in elemental. As far as I can see, there is no way to make enough gold to even buy your first spell without doing at least one or two quests (I looted everything in the starting zone and came away with 118 gold out of the 240 I need) but you have no offensive spells to do the quests with. I can't see how you're supposed to do the mage challenge, either, since you start with no spells yet you can't physically attack anything.

How do you start this game as a magic-user and survive, much less complete the mage challenge? Running around with 10 roaches on my tail constantly interrupting any attempt to heal is not fun.

[SpottedShroom]

Which spell you start with depends on your title - see below - and only titles whose starting skill is Elemental or Divine get starting spells at all. You can certainly beat the game without an offensive spell to start, but it would be way, way harder. I suggest trying a different build to start with Spark or Fleshboil.

• Illusionist: Spark
• Conjuror: Spark
• Mystic: Divine Heal
• Warlock/Sorceress: Spark
• Mage / Enchantress: Spark
• Sawbones / Pythoness: Fleshboil
• Cleric: Divine Heal
• Necromancer/Witch: Fleshboil
• Theurgist / Sibyl: Fleshboil
• Shephard / Warden: Fleshboil

[Darsithis]

Oh that make

Which spell you start with depends on your title - see below - and only titles whose starting skill is Elemental or Divine get starting spells at all. You can certainly beat the game without an offensive spell to start, but it would be way, way harder. I suggest trying a different build to start with Spark or Fleshboil.

• Illusionist: Spark
• Conjuror: Spark
• Mystic: Divine Heal
• Warlock/Sorceress: Spark
• Mage / Enchantress: Spark
• Sawbones / Pythoness: Fleshboil
• Cleric: Divine Heal
• Necromancer/Witch: Fleshboil
• Theurgist / Sibyl: Fleshboil
• Shephard / Warden: Fleshboil

Oh! That explains it, I was taking virtuous just...well...since it was a habit. Thanks so much!

[Painted Lady]

Also, you might want to start with a point in Foraging instead of Mercantile. It gives you stuff to sell, which is helpful, but it really helps with the hunger issue if you are playing Hardcore.

[Darsithis]

Also, you might want to start with a point in Foraging instead of Mercantile. It gives you stuff to sell, which is helpful, but it really helps with the hunger issue if you are playing Hardcore.

I'll hit level 2 and take that. I was wondering how I'd live with only roach legs to eat

[Kreador Freeaxe]

I'll hit level 2 and take that. I was wondering how I'd live with only roach legs to eat

What do you have against yummy, yummy roach legs?

[Leezar]

One point in repair is almost a must to save money

[Lord_P]

Always start with full 5 points in "your chosen starter skill here". Arcane, Elemental is the best starter skill for the True Mage challenge. Surviving fights will feel pretty difficult in the beginning, but a mage will soon start snowballing out of control when they acquire more spells. Mana is often an issue, so put points into perception as you level up.