To find out what to cast and the skills required there really is only one place to visit -http://spc.darkmud.co.uk/ it lists all the spells available and if you input your skills will tell you how you will go with casing a selected spell. This is another essential site that you should bookmark.
Bigger and better shields
We all want bigger and better shields. We are not impervious, so we have to accept that we will take damage in combat sometimes. Our shields are there to allow us time to cast offensive magic. The range of shields for a wizard are TPA – a magical shield, CCC – stone skin, EFF – a floating shield, physical armour and GRG – a skeleton warrior… 5 levels of protection! If that is not enough the NPC you are attacking is definitely out of your league…leave it alone. you also have one other defensive skill that is the envy of all other guilds, you can run very fast!..this is something to be admired not be ashamed of. As the old saying goes 'he who runs away lives to eat dinner…and possibly second helpings'.
With every advantage that a shield gives there are balancing disadvantages, more and better armour is heavier and therefore reduces other things you can carry such as spell components. SFP, the first magic shield is easy to learn at a very young age but does not last long and is not effective against all but the lowest level NPC. EFF requires a shield which will float around you and swoop in to protect you from damage, heavier shields swoop less at low skill levels and require bigger skills to get into the air. To increase your magic defences should be a priority.
Ma.sp,de defines the swooping for shields ma.me.ph.bi defines the size of shield you can float. It is no good floating a large metal shield if it does not swoop in combat. Far better a shield that protects you just long enough to kill the opponent than one that looks good but does not swoop. Sined's site has a lot of information on EFF shields so go here http://sinedondisc.tripod.com/wiz/shields-eff.htm
Faster and more powerful spells
There are two parts to faster and more powerful spells. More Ma.sp.of will increase the speed of your casting, whilst the power increases with the skill bonus of the relevant methods used in the spell. i.e. Ma.me.el.fi for the fire component of PFG. Remember too that the more you use a spell the better chance you have of TM'ing the methods it uses. To find out how your skills currently meet the requirements to cast a spell use the ‘Spellcheck‘ Command i.e. “Spellcheck fully PFG”
Components for spells
Looking for some common components try here http://www.molcon.f2s.com/discworld/#wiki/Components_prices_and_places or if you like more detail try Sined’s page here http://sinedondisc.tripod.com/wiz/components.htm
The best armour
Gryflx scale or better still TPA and EFF with CCC. You are a wizard after all. Opinions on armour are like backsides everyone has one and they are all different. You will have to experiment. Heavy armour will protect you more but increase your burden. Light armour is…well...lighter but it will break more easily. In the end there is no ‘best armour’, or ‘best shield’ even, it depends on you and what you will be playing like.
Non magic weapons
By now you will be out there killing things, hopefully you are casting a range of spells and getting results, sometimes though the spell does not kill the victim instantly or even after repeated casting and your GP level is too low to cast again. Your shields are holding up and you don’t want to run to wait fir the GP to regenerate…it’s time to use your Fighting skills.
There are an enormous number of weapons available to everyone on the Disc, from Scythes to Swords, Knives to Nunchaku and even swords that have special commands to burn or heal targets. The Katana is a great choice for a wizard, lightweight and easy to use. The Tachibo is also very good as it has a blade inside and so is a sword as well as a polearm, and can be used to Octograve as well. Pick a weapon to go with your character and stick with it. It will TM and you can put XP into advancing the skills needed to use it better. Some great tables on weapons and armour can be found here http://homepage.ntlworld.com/guiderjo/DISC010.HTM
