Wizard Sacdaddicus

Sacdaddicus Wizard currently of Antonia Bayle was recently nominated as a wizard of influence. Although he did not place in the event we thought he might have some pearls of wisdom for new raiding wizards. We asked him a few questions, see what he told us...

Q: What is you favorite thing about being a wizard over other classes?
A: "The raw damage capability"

Q: What expansion has been your favorite, what was so appealing about it.
A: "The Isle of Mara. Not really an expansion, but a chill place nonetheless. I go there to just relax and think about stuff a lot." >> "For raiding, EoF though."

Q: Since which lvl/expansion have you been raiding (on any level)?
A: "I hit 70 about 2 months after KoS launched, and have been raiding ever since"

Q: Is Antonia Bayle your starting server or have you transfered before?
A: "AB was my starting server. My RL friend Teknis got me hooked."

Q: Why are you planning to transfer servers now?
A: "For a chance to kill content I have not yet and play with similar minded people like me"

Q: What do you think brought on your nomination, how do you feel you are influential on your server, guild, favorite forum, channel etc?
A: "I will help any wizard that I believe is truly trying to improve their game. I constantly strive to perfect my art of warfare, annoying tanks and healers since '05"

Q: How do you feel about the results of the contest?
A: "Grats renevan and Pinski. Ren is very good. I respect him."

Q: What do you think is the biggest issue facing the wizard class these days , if any?
A: "ummm. I guess aggro. The class is very dependent on others in the raid to perform their best. Same with warlocks. But other classes that are capable of high damage output aren't nearly as needy as sorcerers to maintain those numbers. I'm not exactly sure how you could improve that. The INT line is a catch-22. lower your DPS that much and the inherent deaggros dont really become neccessary."

Q: As a wizard, as a priority do you aim for Power pool, INT, Crit chance, Bolt of energy, aggro redux, power regen, or base damage boost (plasma boost VW boots etc).
A: "Base damage boost by far. followed by crit chance. I focus on my only job in a raid. And that is to destroy my target."

Q: What are your thoughts on Manaburn and raiding wizards?
A: "eh, I tried it for a little while. It really depends on your guild and how they raid. In a fast pulling force that decimates epics regularly, MB is not near as good as speccing Fire/Ice. Zonewides are what matter to those guilds, and the MB specc'd wizard will suffer on the zonewide parse. A more casual raid force, that has downtime between each pull, ya, Manaburn can be fun in that situation."

Q: What is your recommendation for a new raiding wizard for AA specs?
A: "Agi/wis Kos tree, Fire/Ice EoF. practice, and always push the envelope"

Q: What is you advice for a young raiding wizard to get their parse up? spell line up, group requests, gear set ups to get them started?
A: "Get your masters. Then get proc gear. While you are working on those two, practice your spell cycle on sustained (1 min + ) fights. you should never stop casting, try to get at least 2 novas in every fight, etc. You need a troub in your group, if you are lucky get an illusi for TC as well. Your tank needs a hate transfer and a hate mod in his group. pref dirge/swash"

Q: What are the key spells for a raiding wizard? (ie first to get to M1 levels)
A: "Ice nova. Ball of Lava. Firestorm. Irradiate. Fusion. Pick Glacial winds for your M2 and enhance it in the EoF tree. Great for encounters."

Q: What is the best looking Mage graphic on a mage equipment?
A: "Staff of Light looks pretty killer"

Q: If you could ask a dev any one question in all seriousness regarding Mages, what would it be?
A: "Do you love us? lol. just please keep us viable as the kings of DPS we should be in EoF, thanks =) ."

Q: If you could give a personal compliment to a dev about something pertaining to the mage archetype, what would you say?
A: "ummm. thanks for EQ2. I've never spent more money or time on a game before. Still having fun over two years later. Props."

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A wizard with an arrogant name, but he seemed to be what those who nominated him said. A helpful knowledgeable wizard who just might be on the road to making a name for himself, enjoying the game as he goes.

"practice, and always push the envelope" --- great advice for Wizards, sorcerers, all mages alike.
Thank you Sacdaddicus for taking the time to answer our questions and best of luck in your future endeavors.

The Most Influential Mages of our Time

It's been said the Mage community does not have a sense of itself, that there are no true leaders among us. It's been said we have great players who shine but rarely united for common goals separated by each class' personal goals. These last 2 weeks the mage community and extended community came together to nominate and elect the most influential of us all. There were debates on the values a mage of influence must have, who posses such qualities and lobbying of support for passionate players. Among those qualities the most agreed upon were consistent public activity and knowledge of class and execution. I felt a great sense of community these last 2 weeks. I saw selfless nominations by great players. There was no doubt this was a heated contest as so many feel quite passionate for their candidates. In the end I'm very proud to announce the results.

Eq2BattleMage's Most influential Mage of our time is none other than the outspoken and highly supported Calaglin of Nektulos. A player often loved or hated but always respected for the years of work he has put into the community via the various communities, test server, beta testing, and all around great play and knowledge of several mage classes..
This year an Illusionist holds the title of the most influential of us all.

I'm excited to get to know the newer names that were nominated and we will be keeping an eye out for future mages of influence among them. We hope to see great things from many. Among the Most Influential Mage of our time Calaglin, are the class leaders: (In no particular order)

• Wizard Renaven, Ne Plus Ultra of Guk
• Warlock Gromann, of Vox
• Illusionist Calaglin, Dissolution on Nektulos (a.k.a. Pinski)
• Conjuror Ishbu, Dissolution on Nektulos
• Necromancer Malignx, (Reserves of) Second Dawn of Najena
• Coercer Sharpcharm, Nerfed of Blackburrow

This "Game"

When I was a little girl my father gave me a chessboard for Christmas. I was 8 and it was my first game that did not have a spinner, dice or cards. I remember holding the pieces in awe of their simplistic beauty. Of course being 8 I had no idea it was so much more than just an ornate box of simple figurines. I did know even then it was not "just" a game. I begged my father every weekend for a re-match, of course he always won, being a man of principle determined to teach his daughter there are no free-wins. "Acomplishments should be your own, and not given to you", he told me.

It was years before I won my first game. I stared at the board in disbelief for minutes when I saw the "kill" a couple of moves out. I couldn't believe I had him, there was no way. I had to be missing something, but yet I had that anticipation that hope that this was my first true accomplishment in my life. Year later sitting in my kitchen in my first apartment teaching a friend some strategies, It occurred to me how 1 game had shaped the way I saw life, how I related the conflicts and triumphs in my life to the strategies of a game.

I truly loved this game. It taught me determination, and the intuitive nature of gauging your opponent, and more importantly underestimate them at your own peril. I learned a straight lines is rarely the road to success and the best laid plans fall apart with execution proving flexibility the most important facet of life.

No one ever mocked me for my slightly more than simple enjoyment of this game, nor did they for my near obsession with the sport of baseball. With Baseball you employ team coordination, humility, pride, intuition, and my favorite skill stats and the law of averages to determine the meaning of the universe... When the numbers fit the world feel right. When you round a base or drive in a run in you chest fills with something more than air, something indescribable. As a sports star I was praised, cheered, encouraged and commended for my dedication to the game. No one ever told me it was "just" a game.

I've grown older and I don't run as fast as I did, nor can I throw as fast and accurate, but my wits and stamina and determination are still tested just as much as they ever were. I'm part of a team still, one I'm proud of. In fact I am more proud of this team than any other in my sports career. The drive to be where we are, we were are going, is even more so. Our unity, sense of accomplishment and community is heightened not hindered by our lack of physical contact. To express simple emotions taken for granted in the everyday, is in text form is an art. The mannerisms and body language we use everyday in teamwork and coordination are almost useless in gaming. It's a whole different world than that of the super dome, but no less challenging.

So my mantra for this game, this hobby, this sport, this reflection of life and relationship is "don't tell me it's just a game."