This is in no way intended to demean or disrespect the efforts of those who have put together the current set of guides here. However, whilst hunting for a guide to loosely base my mage with I've come to the stark realization that most are written as though everyone has access to some crazy treasure cache in the game and that the aspiring new character's player has the time to reproduce some sort of pattern of movement to "advance quickly". Unfortunately, I don't find this particular style to be best suited for the way I would like to experience the game.

I'm not looking for methods to advance quickly - otherwise I'd shell out the 30 some-odd dollars for an advanced character template - but I am looking for a way to game more efficiently at the lower levels so that what little time I can afford to spend isn't being wasted on monotonous (or even twinkish) approaches.

Disclaimers and preludes aside, are there any template/skill guides that look past the science of number crunching or at the very least presents said number crunching in such a manner that allows one to experience the world of Sosaria while growing and nurturing a budding (and friendless) neophyte magus?

The magery guide seems a bit outdated as you do not need a boat anymore. Now with the random number generator, you can sit in your house and build up skills. An lrc suit is not a requirement to build your magery, as you can just buy reagents. If you wish to build skill while not just sitting in the house, there are more constructive ways to build said skill. I always found the best method was to cast 1 circle below your skill level. Example is, if you are at 50, cast something in the 4th circle until you no longer gain, then move up as needed. If you are going to work in your house or in town, you can cast your spells on pretty much anything. You can sit in umbra, and cast on yellow NPCs, you can sit in your house and cast on a parrot. Just gotta be a little creative and you can get the job done. I always found a great place to build magery is despise. You have a large amount of semi easy spawn to practice on. Plus you get gold while doing it.

I hear what you're saying, you're after a guide which suggests areas/monsters, rather than saying "hit x at X level" right?

Thanks for the tip, Bo. I'll have to keep that in mind when I start working on Magery again*. My new character still has issues with Spectres & Wraiths on his lonesome so I'm still sort of wary of solo spelunking.

* Working magery while learning the environment and the user interface seems like a daunting task so I've opted to go the very long round-about of going through the warrior, warrior/mage hybrid, to a pure mage journey.

So you basically did what everyone else has done since UO was started LOL :grin:

Well, I had hoped that there might've been a few success stories for approaching the pure mage path right off the bat. Unfortunately, it appears that it's not quite as ... rewarding an experience. But I'm glad to see that my logical conclusion is the tried and true progression.

It took me 2 years to gm my mage, however I did it naturally by hunting and I think back in those days the way u gained skills was different, IN the power hour days I would hunt alot during that time. Yes I was a slave to Power hour:shocked:

It took me almost two years to GM my mage, in part because it is / was such an expensive thing to do, what with having to buy all the regs. I would use my Amazon Swordswoman and get enough money to stock up on regs, then work the Magery. I finally made it while 'escorting' my daughter on her boat as she worked up her fishing and archery. (Helping her kill the Serpents she fished up)

4 of my 6 Ladies have GMd most of their skills/trades. I am currently working up my Fisher, Archer. Am VERY bogged down with the lady who is doing Barding. I got Music.. just am not loving it the way I love Swords, Archery and Magery. My mage was supposed to also be a Tamer, but I only got her to the 80's . Maybe sometime I will finish that.

It is very rewarding to create your characters this way. They take on real personalities and it enriches the game tremendously. Buying your skill, indeed buying without working almost any area just doesn't satisfy as well.

Good luck and pleasure to you in your pursuits!