Best magic-based character for a beginner

[Tarkh]

Hi to all.

Thanks for a wonderful game, Dark God!

I'm new in ToME. I have some experience in rogueLITES, e.g. The Pit. I'd like to play some magic-oriented character though mages should be harder to play than fighters, I guess... Nevertheless, I'd try one. What race/class would you recommend and why?

Thanks in advance.

[edge2054]

If you have Archmages unlocked a Cornac Archmage is really easy. Unlock Temporal with your starting category point and invest heavily in Time Shield as soon as you get it.

If you don't have one unlocked they're pretty easy to unlock. I won't spoil you here but if you want to be spoiled I'm sure someone in game chat could help you out

[twas Brillig]

Alchemists are a newbie-friendly magic class which start unlocked. They're not the most wizardly, but they can fling out magical effects and come complete with a golem meatshield. Arcane blades start unlocked but are not particularly newbie-friendly, since you need to juggle a lot of competing needs to stay effective.

[Effigy]

I would also vote for Archmage. It's really easy to unlock and very powerful if you play it right.

[HousePet]

Alchemist.

[grobblewobble]

Unlock archmage and start playing fire-based alchemists. That's the easiest way to unlock wildfire. (And alchemist is one of the most beginner friendly classes.)

Once you have wildfire, play a wildfire archmage.

Race doesn't matter much for an alchemist, pick whatever catches your fancy. The most important tips are:

- Learn about runes and infusions. At the start, you're best off with a physical wild infusion to remove bad status effects like blind and stun, a teleport rune (or movement infusion) as emergency escape button and the best protective rune or infusion you can find (either a shield, regeneration, or heal). Don't hesitate to replace your mana rune, you don't need it.
- Max out the second and third skill in the "throw bomb" category ASAP.
- Level up your golem too. Max out his eye beams first. In the early game (before your bomb skills mentioned above are good) your golem will deal more damage than you.
- Finish all the 6 starter dungeons first. (8 if dwarf)
- Learn to use the R button (rest) and the Z button (auto-explore).

[Tarkh]

Oh, thanks a lot for such a heap of info. It seems that Alchemist has won the exit-poll