What should I upgrade? (Gear List Included: 48 Mage)

[Eyry]

Hey All,

I am getting to the point now where I think I have pretty decent gear. I am trying to make the conversion from int gear to mana gear since I am approaching level 50 on my Mage. Here is a list of my current gear:

Both Ears: Golden Sapphire Earrings (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1930)
Neck: Sapphire Platinum Necklace (http://www.eqtraders.com/items/show_item.php?item=1883&printer=tree)
Mask: Sheer Bone Mask (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1850)
Head: Runed Cowl (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1399)
Both Rings: Moonstone Rings (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1668)
Both Wrists: Bracelet of Woven Grass (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=776)
Arms: Gatorscale Sleeves (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=2237)
Hands: Impskin Gloves (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1525)
Primary: Black Tome with Silver Runes (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=2274)
Secondary: Stein of Moggok (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=2332)
Shoulders: Embroidered Black Cape (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1020)
Chest: Shining Metallic Robes (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=2098)
Back: Mystic Cloak (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=2183)
Belt: Braided Cinch Cord (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=913)
Legs: Silversilk Leggings (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1274)
Boots: Golden Efreeti Boots (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1766)

Right now I am sitting at 210 INT which is 10int too much. So I thought it would be good maybe to start replacing my jewelry. Here is what I am thinking of getting:

Both Earrings: Golden Black Sapphire Earrings (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1928)
Necklace: Platinum Black Sapphire Necklace (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1149)

So that will bring me down to 195int. Which is 5int too little. So I though maybe I should get the following:

Mask: Polished Mithril Mask (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=1884) (NO DROP)

That will bring me to 199int which is 1 int too little. So then I thought, maybe I will replace:

Both Wrists: Golden Chiten Bracers (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=837)

That will bring me to 203int which is 3int too much. So then I thought maybe I should move my Stein of Moggok to primary and get:

Secondary: Rokyls Channeling Crystal (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=2323)

But as everyone knows, that will bring me to 199int which is 1int too little...

This is where I get stuck. Where can I get 1 extra int to complete my 200int quest!!! If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it greatly. Please keep in mind that I really do not have the playing time to join a guild and raid. I am only level 48 right now and this is my only toon. I am open to any gear suggestions so please suggest away.

Thanks all!

[Japan]

You should upgrade your items.

[Pheer]

worry more about what gives you more overall mana than whether it puts you at 199 or 201 int

[Anaiyah]

Only failmancers care about total mana pool as the primary statistic.

[Pheer]

Only failmancers care about total mana pool as the primary statistic.

Thanks for the protip, but the OP is a mage.

[azeth]

i wouldn't think too hard on upgrading your gear unless you know you won't be looting Apothic from PoHate. If you do foresee clearing trash up there then you can bank on an Apothic robe.

[Anaiyah]

Thanks for the protip, but the OP is a mage.

Indeed...

Apparently I am the failmancer today.

[Eyry]

worry more about what gives you more overall mana than whether it puts you at 199 or 201 int

This is what I am trying to get feedback on.

[Eyry]

Only failmancers care about total mana pool as the primary statistic.

Should I focus a little more on resists or HP? If so, what armor should I look at? Blue Diamond stuff? Your response is not very helpful

[Anaiyah]

The actual honest answer to your question is that you are already fine. Classic does not have some hidden pool of gear from which to upgrade the items you listed. The gains you will be able to muster up at this point will be extremely marginal.

[Aasimon]

1 int @ 50 = ~9 mana. Compute accordingly.

[Mountaineer]

Even over 200 INT? For me, 3 wisdom OVER 200 is only 19 more mana, but 3 wis UNDER 200 wis is 30 mana.

[Eyry]

Even over 200 INT? For me, 3 wisdom OVER 200 is only 19 more mana, but 3 wis UNDER 200 wis is 30 mana.

^^ This


1 int @ 50 = ~9 mana. Compute accordingly.

^^ This doesn't seem correct. You must mean 1 Int over 200 is roughly 9 mana. Which makes sense.

[Eyry]

The actual honest answer to your question is that you are already fine. Classic does not have some hidden pool of gear from which to upgrade the items you listed. The gains you will be able to muster up at this point will be extremely marginal.

Thank you for the feedback.

[guineapig]

THis largely depends on what you plan on doing with your mage. You mention BD resist gear. If you plan on raiding then yes you will want a set of resist gear but that's not something you need to be wearing full time.

Honestly mages are one of the least gear dependent classes in classic. If you are chain casting pets and medding the rest of the time the size of your mana pool really isn't going to make difference.

I would say that if you are happy with your mana pool than looking for things that start raising your hitpoints without reducing your mana pool. IE: black sapphire pieces.

If I were you I would just try to get some raid pieces in Hate and Sky then wait till Kunark. There is really nothing you shoudl be wasting your money on before then.

[fuji]

Does the SMR in p1999 have Spell Haste II?

[liveitup1216]

Does the SMR in p1999 have Spell Haste II?

no, effects like that were not classic.

[Aasimon]

^^ This
^^ This doesn't seem correct. You must mean 1 Int over 200 is roughly 9 mana. Which makes sense.

I was speaking in terms of < 200 INT/WIS, which his calculation confirms (3 wis = 30 mana, ~9 (it's actually 9 and a long fraction)).

So, if you're comparing an item that gave you 50 mana or 4 int, the 50 mana item is superior, at 200 int or otherwise.

[Skope]

1 int ~9-10 mana under 200 int and that number is halved (~4-5mana) after 200 int.

As a mage you don't really require top of the class gear. You are nearly as viable naked with a stack of malachite as you are in full apothic, black sapphire set and a stack of malachite :P

The items that will put you above the other mages on the server are the pet enhancement staves, like the fire staff in pohate, the earth staff from innoruuk and water from phinny.

[Noleafclover]

Even over 200 INT? For me, 3 wisdom OVER 200 is only 19 more mana, but 3 wis UNDER 200 wis is 30 mana.

This applies for wis-casters, I can confirm. So roughly 2/3 (6+ vs. 9+).

I would think half - -- 4-5, would be off, Skope, unless int casters are different? Haven't tested it on my mage.

To answer the OP's question, just do the math. int on piece being replaced x 6(10) > or < piece being replaced when over 200 (or under for x10).

[Chodan]

You should buy malachite as a mage.

/close thread.

[Eyry]

You should buy malachite as a mage.

/close thread.

Your worthless suggestions are epic...

[Harrison]

Having played a mage for a very long time between live, progression live, and now...he's kind of right.

Gear won't be changing your effectiveness past the focus items listed for a long time coming. Epic will be a gamechanger, and new spells. Gear, not so much...

[Troy]

Get HP gear in case you get hit for some reason.