To sage or not to sage?

[Econometr]

<p>I am returning to EQ2 after a lengthy departure.  I have a level 22 illusionist who is also a sage.  Given that characters can research their own spells now, what is the value of leveling as a sage?  I do not think sages can craft anything other than spell books.  Would I be better served taking alchemy as my primary tradeskill?  My illy is an arasai, and I think they can acquire a potion effect or duration bonus as a racial tradition. </p><p>Also, would I be better served taking tinkering or transmuting as a secondary tradeskill?  It appears to me that everyone can transmute now, so I presume the only thing transmuters can do is manufacture adornments.  Please correct me if I am mistaken.</p>

[Finora]

<p>Sage is still highly useful.</p><p>Researching takes longer and longer as you get higher in level and as the quality of the spell you are researching increases (expert takes longer than journeyman or adept and master takes longer still). It takes around a month at high levels to research one quaility level of spells. So close to 4 months for one spell, who wants to wait that long for something you use regularly. Even in the mid levels (30s or so) the time it takes goes up to a week per quality level.</p><p>And do you really want to wait to research your new mezzes or other important abilities? I know I don't, especially from apprentice all the way up to master. Those are too important.</p><p>As for secondary craft, you can take both tinkering and adorning (that is the making of adornments) if you so choose. Transmuting is considered a harvest skill now and is just using the ability to break down items in to the components one would use for adorning.</p>

[Econometr]

<p><cite>Finora@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Sage is still highly useful.</p><p>Researching takes longer and longer as you get higher in level and as the quality of the spell you are researching increases (expert takes longer than journeyman or adept and master takes longer still). It takes around a month at high levels to research one quaility level of spells. So close to 4 months for one spell, who wants to wait that long for something you use regularly. Even in the mid levels (30s or so) the time it takes goes up to a week per quality level.</p><p>And do you really want to wait to research your new mezzes or other important abilities? I know I don't, especially from apprentice all the way up to master. Those are too important.</p><p>As for secondary craft, you can take both tinkering and adorning (that is the making of adornments) if you so choose. Transmuting is considered a harvest skill now and is just using the ability to break down items in to the components one would use for adorning.</p></blockquote><p>Ouch!  Ok, I will need at least one sage. </p><p>Does being a sage provide any benefit to a character who has mastered all of his spells, or is it better to have one sage for crafting spells and have other characters take different tradeskills?  Would you say that alchemy is also a good profession for a mage?  Are there any other worthwhile tradeskills for casters? </p><p>Glad to hear about tinkering and adorning.  When I left, one could not have both tinkering and transmuting.</p>

[GussJr]

<p><cite>Econometrix wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Finora@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Sage is still highly useful.</p><p>Researching takes longer and longer as you get higher in level and as the quality of the spell you are researching increases (expert takes longer than journeyman or adept and master takes longer still). It takes around a month at high levels to research one quaility level of spells. So close to 4 months for one spell, who wants to wait that long for something you use regularly. Even in the mid levels (30s or so) the time it takes goes up to a week per quality level.</p><p>And do you really want to wait to research your new mezzes or other important abilities? I know I don't, especially from apprentice all the way up to master. Those are too important.</p><p>As for secondary craft, you can take both tinkering and adorning (that is the making of adornments) if you so choose. Transmuting is considered a harvest skill now and is just using the ability to break down items in to the components one would use for adorning.</p></blockquote><p>Ouch!  Ok, I will need at least one sage. </p><p>Does being a sage provide any benefit to a character who has mastered all of his spells, or is it better to have one sage for crafting spells and have other characters take different tradeskills?  Would you say that alchemy is also a good profession for a mage?  Are there any other worthwhile tradeskills for casters? </p><p>Glad to hear about tinkering and adorning.  When I left, one could not have both tinkering and transmuting.</p></blockquote><p>A tradeskiller that could make your armor (cloth, leather, chain, etc) is always a good idea...</p>

[Aneova]

<p>Sages also make Player made books, which i've grown quite fond of though i don't sell any of the books i've written up. I do spend quite a bit buying them from others.</p>