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Whats the best way to defend against enemy spellcasters?

Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:43 pm
by LordyLordy
My character keeps getting mullered by npc spellcasters. I choose the Apprentice Starsign and didn't realise just how dodgy 100% weakness to magic could be until I ran into the undead Aelid king in the Great Welkin stone quest. That dude was taking me out in one or two lightning bolts. Took many many attempts to beat him and a lot of running away.

I see there are a few choices. magic resistance, spell absorption, spell reflection or just tring to boost health before a fight. I wondered what everyone else would recomend?

Lordy

Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:48 pm
by Ts198
probably spell reflection because it goes off of you and hits them back, of course if they reflect it also then it hits you

Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:52 pm
by Book Worm
My battlemage has somthing like 90% spell absorbtion, i would reccomend that if your a magic oriented player... if your character is more of the hack and slash or ranger character then i'd go for spell reflect. Either way it's nice to see magic attempts either bounce back to the caster or be absorbed and transferred to your magika pool :D

Also about the reflection - You can reflect your own reflect: If you get my meaning! YOur target reflects a spell and you in turn reflect it back! Usually if i get a reflect spell back on me i just absorb it... I can't stress how useful absorbtion is! Almost an essential if your a magika based character!

Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 9:31 pm
by Jeff
http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Reflect_Spell
Spells will only reflect once. If your spell bounces against an enemy back to you, no amount of spell reflection is going to bounce it back.
Custom enchantments are not possible with Reflect Spell: this effect is disabled at the Enchanting Altar.
Here are some worthwhile items to acquire if you're trying to achieve a high spell reflection:
Mundane Ring has 35% Reflect Spell, but it is a random item and therefore can be hard to obtain. (If you are at least level 22, Raven Camoran will always be wearing this ring when you kill him in either of his associated quests.)
Spell Breaker is a shield with 30% Reflect Spell that you get for completing Peryite's Daedric quest.
Ring of Sunfire can provide 25% Reflect Spell, but only if you get it at a high level.
Ayleid Crown of Nenalata can provide 25% Reflect Spell, but only if you get it at a high level.
Amulet of Reflection provides 20% Reflect Spell; it is also a random item, but can be found starting at level 9
Info on Spell Absorptionhttp://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Spell_Absorption

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 10:13 am
by Belthazor
Since you've mentioned it: In your case I would forget about magic resistance. As an Apprentice, you would need 100% Resist Magic just to take normal damage from magic. Go with Spell Reflection or Spell Absorption instead, as the others suggested.

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 4:46 pm
by Undead(-)Necro
is silence an option? :?

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 5:04 pm
by Book Worm
Lol that put me in my place... i must of absorbed it then... dam flash's of purple confusing me!

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 6:06 pm
by Progress
YOU RUN! You run as far as as your legs can take you! Out on to the nearest main road and let the Imperial Guard take care of it. I had the same problem and you just have to take you time and let the other pick em off!

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 6:25 pm
by bradleemilk
It gets a little slow when you do that throughout the whole game, and pointless.

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 8:01 pm
by Elzar
Kill them before they kill you. The best tactic is because the game uses real-time combat, move around alot. Arrows are harder to dodge than magic, so as a certain dodgeball coach says,

"If you can dodge an arrow, you can dodge magic!"

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 9:49 pm
by Most Honored Listener
Elzar wrote:"If you can dodge an arrow, you can dodge magic!"
except you don't know when a spell caster is about to cast like you get a 5 second warning with arrows

Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 10:51 pm
by Jeff
Watch their arms. They move before they cast, then their hands glow.

Do what the AI spell casters do, shoot and move.

The best defense is a strong offense, or rather, a sneak attack with a poisoned bow.

Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 12:27 pm
by LordyLordy
Thanks for all the advice :) I'll try and be a bit nimbler on me toes until I can find some of those funky spell reflecting items.

Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 2:17 pm
by Elzar
I'm not sure if a shield can dodge it, but I don't think so. You might be able to enchant one with reflect magic. Hey, I don't know, so don't flame me...

Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 6:57 pm
by Jeff
Correct, a shield only helps against Physical Attacks, not Magical Attacks.

Enchanting it with reflect/absorb Spell will definately help.

Posted: Thu May 31, 2007 7:01 pm
by bradleemilk
The "Spell Breaker" shield from the daedra shrine quest is good against magical enemies.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:50 am
by JuggernauT
Get Spell Breaker, the shield.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:53 am
by JuggernauT
bradleemilk wrote:The "Spell Breaker" shield from the daedra shrine quest is good against magical enemies.
Sorry I didn't read any other posts, good thinking bradleemilk.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:05 am
by Most Honored Listener
I would have to say sneak and silence or if your not a sneaking type well just run like a rabid dog and have at them with a "silence" poisoned weapon
works for me

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:17 am
by Belthazor
jeff wrote:Correct, a shield only helps against Physical Attacks, not Magical Attacks.

Enchanting it with reflect/absorb Spell will definately help.
As far as I know, Reflect Spell is not available for enchanting, though.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:23 am
by mikekearn
Belthazor wrote:
jeff wrote:Correct, a shield only helps against Physical Attacks, not Magical Attacks.

Enchanting it with reflect/absorb Spell will definately help.
As far as I know, Reflect Spell is not available for enchanting, though.
Reflect Spell is not available for enchanting, but you can do Resist Magic (through sigil stones). Up to 20% right there. Get several, and you can cut down the weakness you brought upon yourself. :lol:

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:38 am
by Logius
When dealing with spellcasters in early levels I've always found the "double D" approach works best. Distance & Dodge. Can't even count how many times I killed Wraiths, Liche, or mages with my bow rather than risk the up-close-and-personal attack.

If you keep your distance and are careful, it's almost laughable how easy avoiding spells can be.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 1:44 pm
by Jeff
jeff wrote:http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Reflect_Spell
Spells will only reflect once. If your spell bounces against an enemy back to you, no amount of spell reflection is going to bounce it back.
Custom enchantments are not possible with Reflect Spell: this effect is disabled at the Enchanting Altar.
Here are some worthwhile items to acquire if you're trying to achieve a high spell reflection:
Mundane Ring has 35% Reflect Spell, but it is a random item and therefore can be hard to obtain. (If you are at least level 22, Raven Camoran will always be wearing this ring when you kill him in either of his associated quests.)
Spell Breaker is a shield with 30% Reflect Spell that you get for completing Peryite's Daedric quest.
Ring of Sunfire can provide 25% Reflect Spell, but only if you get it at a high level.
Ayleid Crown of Nenalata can provide 25% Reflect Spell, but only if you get it at a high level.
Amulet of Reflection provides 20% Reflect Spell; it is also a random item, but can be found starting at level 9
Info on Spell Absorptionhttp://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Spell_Absorption
Sorry, I knew that, and even posted it earlier.

Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:46 pm
by bradleemilk
Logius wrote:I've always found the "double D" approach works best.
For some reason that just sounds so great. :lol:

Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:17 pm
by Mazer
My Nord have 110% of reflect spell (mundane ring, spell breaker, crown of nenalata and amulet of reflection) 8) and im immune to enemies casting magical attacks unless enemies have reflect spell effect to.And I think 110 points of this spell has same effect as 100% :?