nice build.. i saw pet champion builds before using a staff bleeecchh disgusting

62 items per 1000 runs.. so that's like 6 items per 100.. you are luckier than me.. is that data for v1.57?

https://titanquestfans.net/index.php?topic=527.msg5417#msg5417

Greetings TQ players. This thread, well I guess I’m just here to say that you, you have fire. You have bolts like Zeus’ to throw. And I.… i…. I woke up at 3 in the morning with nothing to do so decided to write this instead.

This is about my tips for starting with a mage and playing it classic caster style. What do I mean classic caster style? Simple. A true spellcaster and kill before you get killed type of toon. Now isn’t that fun? I know it sounds bad for hardcore players but trust me, I hate deaths. And I find playing this way safer than playing classic close combat melee.

I will be covering early game tips for storm, earth, and dream. Early game only because if you want mid to late game, you might as well look for class guides. This is no theorycraft. This is based from personal experiences that started from failures and little by little made it effective that finally suits me. Of these, I have most experience with storm.


Storm

Start with squall. Get your mastery bar to tier lvl 10 just enough to unlock squall. You will need to use a staff this early so also put 1pt on storm nimbus and heart of frost (this will help if your staff is cold based)

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc0c9a0c9a0c9a.html?mastery=Stormcaller&master1=8&master2=0&sa=0&m1=10-0-1-0-0-1-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0&m2=0b

Put all succeeding points to squall. This will start weak but when you finally max it, It’s OP for this stage of the game.

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc0c9a0c9a0c9a.html?mastery=Stormcaller&master1=8&master2=0&sa=0&m1=10-0-1-0-0-1-0-0-12-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0&m2=0

After that, climb storm mastery until tier lvl 24. Put 1 pt on lightning bolt because it will help against bosses

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc0c9a0c9a0c9a.html?mastery=Stormcaller&master1=8&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-0-1-0-0-1-0-0-12-0-1-0-1-1-0-0-1-1-0-0-0&m2=0

After that, take all the points from squall and transfer it to ice shards, only 1pt on the first 2 and maxing the last

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc0c9a0c9a0c9a.html?mastery=Stormcaller&master1=8&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-1-1-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-3-0-0-1-0-8-1-1-0-0-0&m2=0

Unlike squall, ice shard is very mana hungry. So don’t put additional points on the first 2 yet. Instead, your next target is lightning bolt. Just the base skill because you will need a good long range single target damage skill for bosses

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc0c9a0c9a0c9a.html?mastery=Stormcaller&master1=8&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-1-1-0-0-1-0-1-0-0-12-0-0-1-0-8-1-1-0-0-0&m2=0

When you’ve done this you’re good for a long time already so you have some leeway. What I usually do is I max storm mastery to unlock eye of the storm. Then finally get a 2nd mastery and just put points on the mastery bar. That is so I get higher life and energy. Good items here are the oracle set. Just the helm and torso works well enough for me. When you’ve grown tired of those, a very good torso armor is bai hus mantle socketed with golden fleece relic. Ice shard is very mana hungry so you can delay getting it but if you have these items, mana won’t be that annoying. Spellbreaker is a good skill but early game, I find that i can get by without it.

late edit: probably the best artifact early game for this build is touch of the fool

Earth

I’m going to jump straight to tier lvl 24. You also have to use a staff early game. The popular choice is of course staff of the magi

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc9cdc9cdc9cdc.html?mastery=Pyromancer&master1=1&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-1-0-1-1-0-1-1-1-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0-0&m2=0

Don’t go straight to eruption yet. Eruption is very good but you need lots of skill points just to unlock it. Max Fragmentation instead

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc9cdc9cdc9cdc.html?mastery=Pyromancer&master1=1&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-1-0-1-1-0-1-1-1-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-12-0-0-0&m2=0

I tried going straight to eruption before and when I got to the gorgon queens (9 of them because I always play x3), it took an eternity to kill them because eruption was just at low lvl (maybe lvl 1) when I got to them. I started a new char and put the points on fragmentation instead and it went so much smoother
After that you can max earth mastery then max eruption.

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc9cdc9cdc9cdc.html?mastery=Pyromancer&master1=1&master2=0&sa=0&m1=32-1-0-1-1-0-1-1-1-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-12-1-1-12-0&m2=0

After this, I usually also just put points on my 2nd mastery to increase my health and mana. This is very good if you have recharge items.

edit: or you could max VO first before going for eruption

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc9cdc9cdc9cdc.html?mastery=Pyromancer&master1=1&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-1-0-1-1-0-12-1-1-0-1-1-0-1-0-1-0-12-0-0-0&m2=0

the kill speed will be faster but mana cost will also get higher.. either way should be fine


Dream

I will also jump straight to tier lvl 24

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc38b838b838b8.html?mastery=Seer&master1=9&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-1-0-0-1-1-1-1-0-1-1-0-0-0&m2=0

No psionic touch? No phantom strike? I told you this is a true spellcaster
Max Psionic Immolation

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc38b838b838b8.html?mastery=Seer&master1=9&master2=0&sa=0&m1=24-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-1-0-0-1-1-1-1-0-1-12-0-0-0&m2=0

The first 2 skills of Distortion Wave scales with str and at this point, I usually don’t have str yet. So I usually max dream and put a few points on Temporal Rift (not max yet, like 5 pts). This will be useful against tough mobs *cough* Dragonians *cough*. I also get a 2nd mastery around this time which I won’t show on this titancalc

https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc38b838b838b8.html?mastery=Seer&master1=9&master2=0&sa=0&m1=32-0-0-1-0-1-0-1-1-0-0-1-1-1-1-1-1-12-0-0-5-0&m2=0

You can put points on sands of sleep, freddy krueger style. Or you can get CC from the 2nd mastery instead (e.g.: core dweller, monster lure, throwing knife with envenom weapon)


So the trend is I tend to largely ignore my 2nd mastery at least early game. This is what I find effective for a caster. If I get nature, I get my nature bar to tier lvl 4 and put 1pt on HoO and regrowth (for pet or for self healing). But then I ignore it for a long time. I usually stop my int at about 400 and save it. This gives me the option to equip a shield or go true hybrid. Wait, a shield for a caster? Yes of course. and many regulars of this forum probably know I always do that. I just said it in case someone reads this 5 years from now. Because 5 years from now TQ will still be alive 

do you mean you don't know what to do with charon's oar? you give it to the quest guy in river styx

your int is too high.. you need good str to equip good shields

Fafnir has to be my favorite playmate



Dreamkiller - A Hybrid Shoddy
https://titanquestfans.net/index.php?topic=832.msg8982#msg8982

Rogue is King 

I find having alternate equipment for areas more beneficial than a scroll.

oh yes.. most of the time at least.. and interestingly, the good scrolls are not the ones that deal damage.. you'll do better with summon scrolls or unbroken fortitudes.. or for petmasters/trappers, stalwart alliance.. i like to explore many things so I've tried many of these.. when i receive scrolls as quest rewards, i often use them instead of selling them.. even if i don't need to

Too bad the Legendary version of the dude has max stun resist and 75% CTaP

yes of course legendary version is harder.. but there are tricks.. like Dactyl can be frozen and petrified iirc.. traps usually can kill them.. if Dactyl don't spawn, i always feel the most sensible thing to do is save and exit and do it again until Dactyl finally spawns.. so I'm used to it by now

You want many Dactyl appears at once?
Play Masssboss, there many place that them appears by group 

no i don't.. if Dactyl multiplies by 3, it might drive me crazy and might force me to quit the game

no.. no potions.. i play with fully zoomed angle and as you know, eruption can be cast anywhere if you press shift.. 2 secs becomes more than enough time.. it's probably with about 400 int (give or take a few points) and fully maxed EE (maybe)

batter is good LMB skill

like i said, hybrids are make or miss.. if done correctly, it will never fall off.. if done poorly, then bye2

@tqrunner you are one of only few people i know who likes to play hybrids.. some may play a hybrid or 2 but those who build hybrids because it's what they like or what they think is good, i think i can count by my fingers on one hand.. and that's a shame, we are like endangered species 

i think you should have chimed in on this https://titanquestfans.net/index.php?topic=355.0

aaaannndd...... care to share one of your hybrids? a guide or journal thread? a vid or pics with some explanations?