Posts from Magic or Education?

Lately, I've been wondering what's more important for a Necromancer – spellcasting or education? Which one should you choose? Each has its own undeniable advantages: education provides additional experience and stat bonuses, plus attraction, while spellcasting offers secret knowledge and mana regeneration, allowing you to travel across the map and not return to your castle for weeks. Share your opinion, preferably based on your gaming experience.

And is it impossible to acquire either of these skills at all? ;)

Added after 3 minutes
If I had no choice, I would choose Education. It's either a path to Spell Power or Mentorship, which is very useful. Again, Magic Affinity will partially replace Secret Knowledge and Mana Regeneration. What's bad is that the hero won't cast spells as often as they could, but I think that's something we can live with.

I only take Spellpower against Dungeon or Academy.
I always take Education: both for the main hero and for the creatures...

And for Lucretia, for example, what skills will you choose? Will you also go for education? But there's no room for such goodies there: attack, luck, mmm...

I'm going to focus on education regardless. Magic is good, but extra experience and stats are better.

Well, for Lucretia, what will you choose? Another education skill? Because there are such tempting skills that won't fit: attack, luck, mmm...

It seems we are considering different map sizes and the essence of the game again. I am reasoning from the point of view of a tournament (no one plays the original anymore; a tournament mod is used), and the map size is no more than Huge. In a Necropolis tournament, rushing usually happens no later than the 4th week. Therefore, I always take education. As for the late game, it seems that education will also be needed, especially since I understand that it can always be exchanged for other tempting skills, depending on the hero and other reasons...

I take whatever is offered first. I voted for education.

(no one plays the original anymore; a tournament mod is used)

What tournament mod?

Just for one bonus? Have you tried taking Secret Knowledge + Volatile Mana? The effect is the same, but you get more spells for the Spiritual Bond.

Where did you see me interpreting education like that? ))

And is it even necessary? The bonus to levels and characteristics only matters at high levels, where there's something to add. Necromancy knowledge is needed, yes, but with Sorcery and Artifacts, you have enough mana for spells. So, I think education isn't necessary for a Necromancer, only in the late game, and even then, Zoltan has it built-in and it has a direct impact on his ability.

What about the "Sorcery" parameter? A lot depends on it, especially when the hero's level is no more than 23-24. And if you're building a Necromancer rusher and want to invest in Chaos/Summoning, then you can't do without education...

Well, I don't know about Chaos, I've never leveled up a Necromancer, but I find that even with regular magic, I have enough skill points for Expert Summoning. Besides, what level hero do you consider a rusher? 23-24 seems more like a late-game hero, at least a mid-game one.

Is it even necessary? The bonus to levels and characteristics only matters at the high level, where there is something to add. Knowledge of Necromancy is needed, yes, but with Sorcery and Artifacts, we have enough mana for spells. So, I think that Necromancer education is not necessary, only in the late game, and even Zoltán, who has it built-in and it has a direct impact on his ability.

“Education” has no influence on Zoltán's specialization – there is no need to make up stories...

It has an indirect effect. Since the chance to block a spell depends on the level of the enemy hero, it would be very helpful if Zoltan's level is higher. Therefore, these 15% of experience can play a significant role in the final stage.

It has an indirect effect. Since the chance to block a spell depends on the level of the enemy hero, it would be very useful if Zoltan's level is higher. Thus, these 15% of experience can play a significant role in the final stage.

You are very stubborn, there are no words! Let's add "Logistics" here as well - it also has an indirect influence on the growth of the hero's levels, and, following your logic, on Zoltan's specialization. Don't forget about Summoning magic either - it helps to defeat very strong neutral creatures without losses and also has an indirect influence on the growth of the hero's levels... We are waiting for new discoveries...

Well, I don't kill neutrals with summons at all, except for raising the dead, and only at the beginning. It's definitely not worth giving up on education for the sake of magic. Yes, there are a lot of good things there, but there are many alternative branches that give more useful things. For example, I don't think it's a secret to anyone that the undead have the worst troop stats compared to all races. That is, defense and attack skills are a priority. I won't even talk about Darkness; it should be taken by any necromancer hero. Luck is also a more priority skill than magic. Lords and warriors with soldier skills work wonders. I won't even talk about bad luck and magic resistance. And as for small maps, Kaspar helps us here, and we focus on war machines.
Yes, don't forget about the campaign AI. Education is needed in any case. I don't know about you, but I can get education in 8 out of 10 cases by level 23. Of course, not with any hero,)) but with those who have a predisposition for it.
In general, I vote for education.
P.S. If something is wrong somewhere, and you have tested it in practice, I will be glad to hear it. And in general, I welcome any criticism. Because that's how we gain invaluable experience.
P.P.S. I would only take magic in the late game against orcs; otherwise, we can forget about winning. And Defense doesn't give anything there; any orc stack destroys our unit, unless it's a Battle Mage...

Necromancers have decent defense. Magic is the most common skill they get, followed by defense.

You're talking about hero skills. Take a look at the basic stats, or better yet, fight against all the factions.