Venom Mage - Revision history

Ge0ff: /* History */

2024-01-17T15:08:17Z

‎History

Ge0ff: /* History */ expand a bit

2024-01-17T15:06:57Z

‎History: expand a bit

Hordes: obsolete

2024-01-17T15:01:18Z

obsolete

Ge0ff at 13:16, 15 December 2023

2023-12-15T13:16:47Z

Hordes: /* Strategy */ "many types of damage" -> "many of your poison spells"

2023-12-13T23:49:13Z

‎Strategy: "many types of damage" -> "many of your poison spells"

Hordes: /* Strategy */ fix link

2023-12-13T23:47:38Z

‎Strategy: fix link

Hordes: /* Tips & Tricks */ complete the sentence

2023-12-13T23:47:08Z

‎Tips & Tricks: complete the sentence

Hordes: /* Strategy */

2023-12-13T23:46:26Z

‎Strategy

Ge0ff at 12:26, 13 December 2023

2023-12-13T12:26:36Z

Hordes: /* Spell Details */

2023-12-12T11:22:59Z

‎Spell Details

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ==History==
-*In [[0.31]], this background and the [[Poison Magic]] school were removed. The new [[Alchemist]] background inherited all Venom Mages' starting spells and got a reworked version of [[Sticky Flame]].
+*In [[0.31]], this background and the [[Poison Magic]] school were removed. The new [[Alchemist]] background inherited all Venom Mage's starting spells and got a reworked version of [[Sticky Flame]].
 *In [[0.29]], most backgrounds were buffed; all Mage backgrounds gained a [[potion of magic]].
 *Prior to [[0.27]], Venom Mages started with the [[Young Poisoner's Handbook]], and had [[Ignite Poison]].

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ==History==
-*In [[0.31]], Venom Mages were removed. They were replaced by [[Alchemist]]s.
+*In [[0.31]], this background and the [[Poison Magic]] school were removed. The new [[Alchemist]] background inherited all Venom Mages' starting spells and got a reworked version of [[Sticky Flame]].
 *In [[0.29]], most backgrounds were buffed; all Mage backgrounds gained a [[potion of magic]].
 *Prior to [[0.27]], Venom Mages started with the [[Young Poisoner's Handbook]], and had [[Ignite Poison]].

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-{{version030}}
+{{obsolete}}
 {{flavour|Venom Mages specialise in poison magic, which is extremely useful in the shallower levels of the Dungeon where few creatures are immune to it.}}
 '''Venom Mage''' are spellcasters who specialize in [[Poison Magic]]. Their toxic spells are effective against [[list of arthropods|insects and spiders]], but they are more than capable of exterminating warm-blooded creatures, too. However, they will probably have to branch out into other schools once they start facing more [[demon]]ic creatures and undead.
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ==History==
 *In [[0.29]], most backgrounds were buffed; all Mage backgrounds gained a [[potion of magic]].
 *Prior to [[0.27]], Venom Mages started with the [[Young Poisoner's Handbook]], and had [[Ignite Poison]].

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 **Early [[brand]]ed or [[artefact]] weapons can be a boon to most characters - even more so for Venom Mages.
 **Later on, poison resistance becomes more and more common. Either [[Sif Muna]] or [[Vehumet]] will help with your magic -- both your current spells and your future endeavors.
-*Note that Poison Magic is not ''useless'' in the mid- and late- game. Once you get <some other way of dealing damage>, poison is a great side option. For example, OTR can be used as as an MP-efficient option for crowd-control. Mephitic Cloud still has a good chance to confuse enemies in [[Vaults]] and [[Elven Halls|Elf]].
+*Note that Poison Magic is not ''useless'' in the mid- and late- game. Once you get some other way of dealing damage, poison is a great side option. For example, OTR can be used as an MP-efficient option for crowd-control. Mephitic Cloud still has a good chance to confuse enemies in [[Vaults]] and [[Elven Halls|Elf]].
 *For an ordinary, [[robe]]d caster, OTR only requires around 6-8 skill in Poison Magic to be reliably cast -- even with low Int. You can consider other options as soon as you hit that threshold (or well before).

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 ==Strategy==
-Poison Magic itself is a strong starting school. Many types of damage ignore both [[AC]] and [[EV]]. [[Mephitic Cloud]] inflicts confusion (and has multiple chances to do so), allowing you to disable dangerous monsters.
+Poison Magic itself is a strong starting school. Many of your poison spells ignore both [[AC]] and [[EV]]. [[Mephitic Cloud]] inflicts confusion (and has multiple chances to do so), allowing you to disable dangerous monsters.
-Unfortunately, monsters with poison resistance/immunity are very common. Even in the early game, you'll find [[ice beast]]s, [[jellies]], and [[wight]]s. Therefore, Venom Mages will need some other way to deal damage. What exactly you should use will depend on what items you find, as well as your background. Because you cannot rely solely on Poison Magic past the early game, Venom Mage can be unintuitive for new players.
+Unfortunately, monsters with poison resistance/immunity are very common. Even in the early game, you'll find resistant enemies like [[ice beast]]s, [[jellies]], and [[wight]]s. Therefore, Venom Mages will need some other way to deal damage. What exactly you should use will depend on what items you find, as well as your background. Because you cannot rely solely on Poison Magic past the early game, Venom Mage can be unintuitive for new players.
 Fast species like [[Spriggan]]s are good with keep-away tactics that make poison effective. Physically gifted [[species]] also benefit from this background. Even the dopiest character can manage to scrape enough [[experience]] together to get [[Poisonous Vapours]] and [[Mephitic Cloud]] functioning well, and those two spells can make a huge difference for an otherwise melee-based thug.

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 ===Tips & Tricks===
-*Other than the weak [[Sting]], your starting spells are useless against monsters with poison resistance. Poison resistance is common; early threats include [[undead]] such as [[wight]]s and [[sleepcap]]s, [[ice beast]]s, and [[water moccasin]]s. Several enemies in [[Lair]] have resistance, namely [[hydra]]s, [[black mamba]]s and [[cane toad]]s. Therefore, you'll want some
+*Other than the weak [[Sting]], your starting spells are useless against monsters with poison resistance. Poison resistance is common; early threats include [[undead]] such as [[wight]]s and [[sleepcap]]s, [[ice beast]]s, and [[water moccasin]]s. Several enemies in [[Lair]] have resistance, namely [[hydra]]s, [[black mamba]]s and [[cane toad]]s. Therefore, you'll need to find some other way of dealing damage.
 **As mentioned above, Ignite Poison can turn Mephitic Cloud into flame clouds. However, you are by no means guaranteed to find this spell. Even if you do find this spell, you can't rely on it forever.
 **Early [[brand]]ed or [[artefact]] weapons can be a boon to most characters - even more so for Venom Mages.
 **Later on, poison resistance becomes more and more common. Either [[Sif Muna]] or [[Vehumet]] will help with your magic -- both your current spells and your future endeavors.
-*Note that Poison Magic is not ''useless'' in the mid- and late- game. Once you get <another means of dealing damage>, poison is a great side option. For example, OTR can be used as as an MP-efficient option for crowd-control. Mephitic Cloud still has a good chance to confuse enemies in [[Vaults]] and [[Elven Halls|Elf]].
+*Note that Poison Magic is not ''useless'' in the mid- and late- game. Once you get <some other way of dealing damage>, poison is a great side option. For example, OTR can be used as as an MP-efficient option for crowd-control. Mephitic Cloud still has a good chance to confuse enemies in [[Vaults]] and [[Elven Halls|Elf]].
 *For an ordinary, [[robe]]d caster, OTR only requires around 6-8 skill in Poison Magic to be reliably cast -- even with low Int. You can consider other options as soon as you hit that threshold (or well before).

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 Learn [[Mephitic Cloud]] the instant you hit level 3. [[Confusion]] is a very strong status, preventing all spells, and monsters only have a 1/3 chance to successfully move towards you. However, this spell is quite loud, attracting other enemies to you. The clouds will affect you if used too close; either have poison resistance, or aim behind an enemy. Having 2-3 points into both Air Magic and Conjurations is helpful; its a little tough to cast by training Poison alone.
-[[Olgreb's Toxic Radiance]] is a powerful crowd controlling tool. It's effectively half of Poisonous Vapours, but against ''every vulnerable monster on the screen''. While Vapours is better against single targets, OTR excels against groups, obliterating the mid-dungeon and [[Orcish Mines]]. A frisky VM may want to go into Orc before Lair (though watch out for many threats: [[warg]]s are rPois, while [[paralysis]], [[stone giant]]s, and many melee threats are still scary).
+[[Olgreb's Toxic Radiance]] is a powerful crowd controlling tool. It inflicts less poison than Poisonous Vapours, but it affects all vulnerable monsters in your line of sight. While Vapours is better against single targets, OTR excels against groups, especially in the mid-dungeon and [[Orcish Mines]]. A frisky VM may want to go into Orc before Lair (though watch out for many threats: [[warg]]s are rPois, while [[paralysis]], [[stone giant]]s, and many melee threats are still scary).
 If you can find it, [[Ignite Poison]] is an ''extremely'' valuable spell for Venom Mages. It doubles the poison damage you've done, and turns it into fire damage. Great damage, great MP efficiency, and only takes a few turns to poison -> Ignite Poison. You can also turn Mephitic Cloud into [[flame cloud]]s, allowing you to damage foes with poison resistance.