Grimrock

I decided to try a question kind of like some older ones on this thread.

Has ANYBODY achieved the top staff defense skill? Staff master I believe it is called.
Obviously it is a near completly worthless skill. To get fifty in the main game would mean having only the first spell of any one line.
Did anyone with four mages decide to do that on the front row maybe? (I will give you with a full set of lurker armor that would be a damn near invincible mage) Four mages, thus two in the front row, is the only reason for the skill that I see.

So again, any takers on staff mastery?

No dice from me.

A mage focusing on staff defense would be very vulnerable until he reached staff master. With all possible evasion gear on him he may be able to reach evasion 100 then but what's the point when he doesn't or can't contribute to combat at any time? He'll be hardly more then a shield and torch holding statue.

Yeah, trust me I know. But it's there. So I'm asking if anyone has shot for the stars.
More specificaly, the very ugly stars.

He could still throw bombs, maybe enchants arrows/quivers, be a pack mule to the 3-member party, maybe a couple other uses

I got a mage with 42 level of Staff defence
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2282&start=20#p26186

yet king Semos got one with 50 level:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2282#p23303

Thanks Merethif. That thread answered that question. I hadn't thought of someone using all of the tomes of wisdom on them. However do to spreading out the skills they still only had the first spell as I predicted!

Edit: I'm refering to King Semos mage not yours since you only got 42.(but more spells)

I could have gave up Light spell and some energy and got those 50th level in Staff Defence.
Instead of this:

Staff Defence: 42
Ice Magic: 16
Spellcraft: 8

I would end up with this:

Staff Defence: 50 (+8)
Ice Magic: 14 (-2)
Spellcraft: 2 (-6)

So theoretically Staff Master could still play nicely as utility freezer mage (be able to cast second Ice Magic spell). And we're speaking about 13 level mage.

Also you could swap Natural Armour trait for Skilled trait which will give you another 7 points to spent. Actually it was something I should have done - I would lose 5 Protection at the start, but eventually I would have 10 Protection and 30 Evasion more.

EDIT:
Additional note. Because you're "wasting" all Books of Wisdom on that guy, it is worth considering having other party members mono-skilled and choose skills that play well solo. For example Unarmed Fighter (he gain enough defensive boosts from that skill to give up Armours) and two ranged, non-backstabbing Rogues (with Missile and/or Throwing skills).