Single Mage Strategy Help NEEDED! (in General)

Alrighty, WELL! It's that time again, where all has changed in CB land, and I have no idea whats going on.. I am making an NCB, and I have a basic single mage strategy, which I would like to keep.. I have a few questions regarding the strategy although. With the DD spell of FireBall, and the Offensive Enchantment, Dispel Magic, I am wondering how to place the exp, and how to keep my skills in place.. Here are some of my questions..

I have been told to keep DM at about 1/4 of the skill level of my FB.. Correct? [Example - 10,000 FB = 2,500 DM]

For my HP, Do I keep it about half of my FB lvl? [Example - 5,000 HP = 10,000 FB]

Do I train evasion or protection at approximately 50,000 MPR?
Do I train it sooner or later than that?
How should I level it accordingly to my other skills?

Those are some of my questions regarding the strategy part.. Now I would like to get on with some equipment choices.. With all the new gear in place, I don't really know what to be using.

Alatar Gloves or Noldorin Spellcasters?

Alatars give the DD spell boost, but by not having AMF, the Spellcasters will help give an advantage over opponents that use mages.

Cornuthaum?

Seems reasonable, as it is the only helmet that will help the setup, skill wise, by boosting my enchantments.

Displacement Boots?

To give some extra evasion?

ToE or Familiar? If Familiar, What type?

I have been told by plenty of people to be using a ToE to help take damage, so I have been asking around, attempting to find one. Now that I look at some other 1minion characters, I see they are using Familiars.. As of right now, I use an RoE (thans Deflein[sp?]) but for in the future, where should i be headed tattoo wise?


Thats all, Thanks alot

Single minion FB mage:

1/4 HP, 1/2 FB, 1/4 DM, and junction to 1.0. Add a low level 54k or so protection if needed

I would say use a HoC, AG, EB, and AoAC.

I would also recommend a SF.

If using an SF, why would EB's? Doesnt that give a dex boost?

Also, does HoC almost allow mages to shoot twice in ranged?

and with Ag's, will i be more vulnerable to mages?

EBs will boost your junction, allowing you to spend less on it.
HoC allows MM and FB to fire four times in ranged, and CoC and Decay fire once in ranged.
AGs will boost your DD spell's level so they won't protect against mages, but they will help to protect (a very tiny amount) against AMF.

Well that answers all those questions... but why SF instead of ToE..

With SF i get the extra attacker, and the HoC letting me attack 8 times in ranged.. but wouldn't the ToE help absorb much more damage, or is inflicting damage more important?

You want more attack. The TOE is great but more designed for multi-minion teams.

Alright, thanks.. Now to level and try and grab some equipment

DBs would be a better choice than EBs in a SFBM + Familiar - Junction bonus isn't that important compared to evasion, and besides the DBs will junction off to your familiar also, where as EBs will do nothing for it. I also disagree with using AGs compared to NS's. Since you're not using a ToE to protect vs. AMF damage, and many, many teams do use AMF, you'll take quite a beating from them without the help of the NS.

AG, the NS (I know, I have them) aren't for quick kill strats...

As a SMFB mage one is not really concerned with AMF backlash as you likely will not be in battles long enough for it to kill you.

AGs work vs both AMF and DM teams and your main concern is to do as much damage as you can.

I prefer EBs for the xp savings on junction. DB's would need to be massive to really make a difference. For 100 DB's it costs over 18M cb2, money that could be better spent on other items and buying BA to raise your MPR.

To be straight friggin forward: Buy DBs if you have the money.. They will allow you to take the tank teams that you otherwise have no chance of defeating. Sure EBs give you an extra 1/2 ton of EXP, but if you have the money DBs for a mage!!