Howdy folks. Wanted to describe a new facet of the magic system we are looking to create sometime after 3.1 is out.
TM currently has a problem with damage. Players want TM to be powerful like it was in 2.0, and have a hard time understanding that combining TM with another weapon can double or triple their DPS (in the case of cyclic TM spells), and is one reason why TM isn't the powerhouse it used to be.
For 3.2 I have approval for creating TM Foci. TM Foci are held rods, staves, wands and other items that can significantly increase the stats of your TM attacks. Much like normal weapons, TM Foci will have stats that govern targeting time, accuracy, damage and other effects. They will exist in many varieties and Tiers just like normal weapons. TM Foci will be craftable using the Runecrafting system and sold in lower quality form from 24/7 shops in game.
TM Foci will be one type of finished enchanting product. This means there is a good chance you can further enchant the Foci for added diversity.
The obvious drawback to using a TM Foci will be the removal of a mundane weapon to attack with. Though, it may be possible that some extremely limited artifact-quality TM Foci can themselves be weapons. Many of us hope this breaks down the TM inequality doors, and expands the number of options available to players all across the board. Please let me know what you think!
And since I know it will be asked....
Runecrafting will generally produce products used only by MUs. These include TM Foci, Ritual Foci (not sure about Sorcery Foci but maybe), Founts and Runes. Founts are tools used in the enchanting process to determine how the item is powered. Enchantments all take up "space" on an item. More complex enchantments take up more space - and that is all I'll say about that for now.
Note that even permanent enchantments will have durability, and the enchantments will need to be renewed every few months of IG play. Festival, Auction and Quest enchantments will have ways to renew them. Yes, we may offer this service through NPC vendors like weapon repair. No, it will not be as cheap as weapon repair. Not even close :P
Possible stats for TM Foci:
1). % Damage increase
2). Add an additional type of damage to the spell
3). Add extra force to the attack to stun/knockback enemies
4). Potential tie-ins to TM based maneuvers
5). Add bonus mana to the cast spell
6). % chance to pierce TM barriers
7). Reduction in targeting time maybe?
Fount Types:
Large - Permanent foci
Medium - Foci that require periodic charging with mana
Small - Foci that de-enchant after X number of days
Tony - Foci that have a % chance to de-enchant with each cast
Ultimately this would combine to form a tier structure (as we intend to define for all enchanted objects)
Tier 7: Permanent Foci, low-tier weapon, 110% potency
Tier 6: Permanent Foci, 100% potency
Tier 5: Permanent Foci, 90% potency
Tier 4: Charged Foci, 80% potency
Tier 3: Charged/Timed Foci, 70% potency
Tier 2: Timed Foci, 60% potency
Tier 1: Timed Foci or % Break Foci, 50% potency
Phew, that's a lot of stuff. Interested to hear what you think.
"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts."
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 03:59 PM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 04:11 PM CST
My first thoughts:
1. It needs to look and feel cool and powerful. It also needs to not feel like Harry Potter.
2. I hope that Warrior Mages get special consideration, given that their thing is to wield both weapons and magic. Maybe this is something Summoning could do?
3. Please let's all call one a "focus" and multiple "foci"? Or else I may go crazy.
-- Player of Eyuve
1. It needs to look and feel cool and powerful. It also needs to not feel like Harry Potter.
2. I hope that Warrior Mages get special consideration, given that their thing is to wield both weapons and magic. Maybe this is something Summoning could do?
3. Please let's all call one a "focus" and multiple "foci"? Or else I may go crazy.
-- Player of Eyuve
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 04:37 PM CST
>>Players want TM to be powerful like it was in 2.0, and have a hard time understanding that combining TM with another weapon can double or triple their DPS (in the case of cyclic TM spells), and is one reason why TM isn't the powerhouse it used to be.
I admit I don't understand this reasoning. Leaving cyclics out for the moment, I'm either casting a spell or swinging a weapon - I don't get to do both simultaneously. It's like saying have a hammer and a scimitar lets me double my damage since I can swing my scimitar and then throw my hammer.
I don't get to combine my TM with my weapon - I get to use one and then use the other, just like any other weapon and brawling. The only time I do get to combine my weapon and TM is with cyclics. I can see why those should be nerfed but not normal TM spells.
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 04:57 PM CST
I was under the impression that the general consensus was that tm spell damage overall is severely lacking (excluding cyclics). How does adding more RT (for invoking the TM focus) and barring mundane weapon use help break down the TM inequality doors? I'm assuming using a TM focus would also negate the ability to wield magical weapons like moonblade. Will parry sticks work with a TM focus?
I do like the idea of being able to enchant a TM focus. I hope for the massive handicaps this plan has built-in the damage augmentation for TM is pretty dramatic. Also everything Eyuve said.
I do like the idea of being able to enchant a TM focus. I hope for the massive handicaps this plan has built-in the damage augmentation for TM is pretty dramatic. Also everything Eyuve said.
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 05:00 PM CST
Anything that lets me feel like my magic is powerful and makes me feel like a MAGE, and not a downgraded barbarian who has to go through extra hoops in order to achieve parity, (IE weapon plus spell) is a good thing.
I'd gladly trade off not having a solid damaging weapon in my hand in exchange for getting my magical potency back. On the other hand, I don't want to have to jump through stupid hoops in order to train weapons and magic. Long as a balance can be felt, I'm all for it.
And Kodius I love that you're really thinking about this and are trying to find a way to make us as magic users happy here. The idea needs I think some group-sourced fine tuning but you're heading in a positive direction here.
--
In memory of Lisa/Martee. Passed 6/17/2013. A friend. A sister.
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 05:19 PM CST
<<I do like the idea of being able to enchant a TM focus.>>
Me too. It sounds like some very neat stuff from an enchanting perspective.
<<I hope for the massive handicaps this plan has built-in the damage augmentation for TM is pretty dramatic.>>
Agreed. I really don't mind leaving my weapons in a bag in exchange for hitting hard with TM (even if I disagree with the reasoning); I just really want TM to stand on its own as an attack. If I can use a TM focus to drop DPS equal to some of the good weapon options, I'm happy. Getting there means a dramatic increase though.
Me too. It sounds like some very neat stuff from an enchanting perspective.
<<I hope for the massive handicaps this plan has built-in the damage augmentation for TM is pretty dramatic.>>
Agreed. I really don't mind leaving my weapons in a bag in exchange for hitting hard with TM (even if I disagree with the reasoning); I just really want TM to stand on its own as an attack. If I can use a TM focus to drop DPS equal to some of the good weapon options, I'm happy. Getting there means a dramatic increase though.
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 06:03 PM CST
>>I'd gladly trade off not having a solid damaging weapon in my hand in exchange for getting my magical potency back. On the other hand, I don't want to have to jump through stupid hoops in order to train weapons and magic.
Before the angst filled sky falling posts gather too much steam, this would be an extra thing. Added to whats there now (where TM is currently, easily, trainable) to give parity for pure casters in a high end damage situation. Something to give the Traim's and Zerreck's of DR a fighting chance using their hard earned TM ranks as they won't be using those tert weapons to whomp on people in PVP.
Looking at the post Kodius, I'm looking forward to it. Both Enchanting, and to the Foci for TM, which I'll gladly use both for my Necromancer.
Samsaren
Before the angst filled sky falling posts gather too much steam, this would be an extra thing. Added to whats there now (where TM is currently, easily, trainable) to give parity for pure casters in a high end damage situation. Something to give the Traim's and Zerreck's of DR a fighting chance using their hard earned TM ranks as they won't be using those tert weapons to whomp on people in PVP.
Looking at the post Kodius, I'm looking forward to it. Both Enchanting, and to the Foci for TM, which I'll gladly use both for my Necromancer.
Samsaren
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 07:19 PM CST
<I admit I don't understand this reasoning. Leaving cyclics out for the moment, I'm either casting a spell or swinging a weapon - I don't get to do both simultaneously. It's like saying have a hammer and a scimitar lets me double my damage since I can swing my scimitar and then throw my hammer.
I generally more or less agree with this statement which I've made a few times before myself. That and the fact that tert weapon skills get most folks nowhere in pvp, and also most folks according to GM's "underhunt" currently because if they didn't they wouldn't be able to hit the critters at a nice range for TM or defenses.
I also don't generally like having to use another item on top of all the other special ones I need for magic. That being said though, it wouldn't be so horrible to have to use a foci to get that extra oomph out of TM damage. Hopefully it just doesn't take a long time to get to that point since mana runs out extremely quick at this point even harnessing to reduce base mana cost. Like Traim has spoken about, you can deplete mana resources without killing another player at level really quickly or even hurting them that bad for that manner and that's not taking into account disablers and other spells that are a must in pvp.
I generally more or less agree with this statement which I've made a few times before myself. That and the fact that tert weapon skills get most folks nowhere in pvp, and also most folks according to GM's "underhunt" currently because if they didn't they wouldn't be able to hit the critters at a nice range for TM or defenses.
I also don't generally like having to use another item on top of all the other special ones I need for magic. That being said though, it wouldn't be so horrible to have to use a foci to get that extra oomph out of TM damage. Hopefully it just doesn't take a long time to get to that point since mana runs out extremely quick at this point even harnessing to reduce base mana cost. Like Traim has spoken about, you can deplete mana resources without killing another player at level really quickly or even hurting them that bad for that manner and that's not taking into account disablers and other spells that are a must in pvp.
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 07:49 PM CST
Tentatively optimistic about this, but I do have to say that if your consideration of "TM + Weapon damage = too much!" is related only to cyclic TM, I (this is just me and I have no idea what others would want) personally would honestly just rather have no TM cyclics.
Since traditional, prep/target/harness/cast spells are basically not usable in any practical sense alongside a weapon (You have an either/or decision to make with regards to what you're spending your precious seconds of RT on), will these be given added oomph as well to make the idea of say, using a cyclic while using other TM spells an option, or is the balancing going to be done around the idea that if you're using a weapon at all, your TM has to take a hit (or your weapon be low tier if it's also a focus).
I feel like the idea of cyclic spells needing a focus to function with power on par with non-cyclics makes sense. Using a spell and needing a focus to bring it up to parity with a weapon per RT spent is not okay to me and if this were the case, I'd pick swinging a weapon and using mana for disablers every time. What sort of results should we be able to expect? I use small-edged - am I going to be able to prep, fully target, harness, and fire off a spell in the time it'd take me to swing twice? Will the problem of this basically running any caster who is casting anywhere near their cap out of mana basically regardless of their skill after 3-5 casts be addressed?
I do not mean to sound overly critical, by the way. I think this is a great route to helping the issue, but for all the awesome potential the idea has, I don't want to, when it's all out, feel that TM is lackluster compared to weapons still - and then when I bring it up, get told "Use a focus!" and end up no more effective than I was using the weapon to begin with. If I am giving up the benefits of using a weapon - short RT, rapid fire strikes for solid damage against most targets, limited only by my stamina - what is using a TM focus going to get me in return? As it sounds right now, more damage (Not going to speculate how much at this early time, but I will assume enough that RT spent casting while giving up the use of a weapon will give noticeably more damage than casting normally while using a weapon also), less time spent targetting (which is needed to achieve DPS parity with weapons). This by itself will, with the current state of the game (which I realize is completely subject to change), will lead to me going out of mana after 3-5 capped casts depending on room mana and then going back to using a weapon while also using magic as mana permits. Foci helping with attunement use for TM spells would be pretty helpful for this, or negating cambrinth RT while you have a TM spell prepared and the focus in hand, or something. But entice me to use TM over a weapon + disabler. What makes my mana worth using on a fireball over say, arc light + maneuver cleave?
As an aside, will we be able to parry with foci in-hand?
I am sorry for so many questions on what is a really cool idea that's just in the beginning stages here, and I don't want it to dissuade you at all - it really is a good idea and will help. I rolled a Warrior Mage to be able to call on the elements to aid me in battle and to rain down destruction when things are at their most dire - I am looking for that destruction-raining to feel like it's destruction-raining, and not better served by sword swinging alone. Bring back the burninating the countryside.
- Starlear -
Since traditional, prep/target/harness/cast spells are basically not usable in any practical sense alongside a weapon (You have an either/or decision to make with regards to what you're spending your precious seconds of RT on), will these be given added oomph as well to make the idea of say, using a cyclic while using other TM spells an option, or is the balancing going to be done around the idea that if you're using a weapon at all, your TM has to take a hit (or your weapon be low tier if it's also a focus).
I feel like the idea of cyclic spells needing a focus to function with power on par with non-cyclics makes sense. Using a spell and needing a focus to bring it up to parity with a weapon per RT spent is not okay to me and if this were the case, I'd pick swinging a weapon and using mana for disablers every time. What sort of results should we be able to expect? I use small-edged - am I going to be able to prep, fully target, harness, and fire off a spell in the time it'd take me to swing twice? Will the problem of this basically running any caster who is casting anywhere near their cap out of mana basically regardless of their skill after 3-5 casts be addressed?
I do not mean to sound overly critical, by the way. I think this is a great route to helping the issue, but for all the awesome potential the idea has, I don't want to, when it's all out, feel that TM is lackluster compared to weapons still - and then when I bring it up, get told "Use a focus!" and end up no more effective than I was using the weapon to begin with. If I am giving up the benefits of using a weapon - short RT, rapid fire strikes for solid damage against most targets, limited only by my stamina - what is using a TM focus going to get me in return? As it sounds right now, more damage (Not going to speculate how much at this early time, but I will assume enough that RT spent casting while giving up the use of a weapon will give noticeably more damage than casting normally while using a weapon also), less time spent targetting (which is needed to achieve DPS parity with weapons). This by itself will, with the current state of the game (which I realize is completely subject to change), will lead to me going out of mana after 3-5 capped casts depending on room mana and then going back to using a weapon while also using magic as mana permits. Foci helping with attunement use for TM spells would be pretty helpful for this, or negating cambrinth RT while you have a TM spell prepared and the focus in hand, or something. But entice me to use TM over a weapon + disabler. What makes my mana worth using on a fireball over say, arc light + maneuver cleave?
As an aside, will we be able to parry with foci in-hand?
I am sorry for so many questions on what is a really cool idea that's just in the beginning stages here, and I don't want it to dissuade you at all - it really is a good idea and will help. I rolled a Warrior Mage to be able to call on the elements to aid me in battle and to rain down destruction when things are at their most dire - I am looking for that destruction-raining to feel like it's destruction-raining, and not better served by sword swinging alone. Bring back the burninating the countryside.
- Starlear -
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 08:49 PM CST
So just to be clear - this will not replace using TM as you do today. This is a new system and you can ignore that it exists if you'd like.
As for damage, It isn't possible to load, aim and fire a bow while using a scimitar to hack someone apart. However, TM does allow you to prepare and target a spell while taking other actions (ranged or melee).
"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts."
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes
As for damage, It isn't possible to load, aim and fire a bow while using a scimitar to hack someone apart. However, TM does allow you to prepare and target a spell while taking other actions (ranged or melee).
"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts."
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 09:03 PM CST
Can't you aim a crossbow with one hand while slicing with the off-hand in exactly the same manner as you target a spell, slice, then cast? Granted, that takes off-hand skill, but for guilds with decent weapon skill-set placement, they're still in a great position. Indeed, HE off-hand is pretty beast. My little LE below worked fine.
You begin to target a caracal.
> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to dodge.
The knife lands a good strike (3/22) to the caracal's neck.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in strong position.]
[Roundtime 2 sec.]
R>
* A caracal pounces, raking its hindclaws at you. You dodge.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in very strong position.]
R> draw left
...wait 1 seconds.
R> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to evade.
The knife lands a solid hit (4/22) to the caracal's left arm.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in very strong position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
R> draw left
>
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to evade.
The knife lands a good strike (3/22) to the caracal's abdomen.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in superior position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
R> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to dodge.
The knife lands a good strike (3/22) to the caracal's back.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in dominating position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
R> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal fails to dodge.
The knife lands a light hit (1/22) to the caracal's right arm.
[You're winded, adeptly balanced and overwhelming opponent.]
[Roundtime 2 sec.]
R>
You think you have your best shot possible now.
R>
* A caracal tenses, springs, and swipes at you. You dodge.
[You're winded, adeptly balanced and overwhelming your opponent.]
R> fire
< You fire a steel-tipped pulzone at a caracal. A caracal fails to dodge.
The pulzone lands a spine-rattling strike (16/22) that rips the top layer of skin from the caracal's chest and exposes underlying muscle, stunning it.
The steel-tipped pulzone lodges itself shallowly into the caracal!
[You're winded, adeptly balanced and overwhelming opponent.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
You begin to target a caracal.
> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to dodge.
The knife lands a good strike (3/22) to the caracal's neck.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in strong position.]
[Roundtime 2 sec.]
R>
* A caracal pounces, raking its hindclaws at you. You dodge.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in very strong position.]
R> draw left
...wait 1 seconds.
R> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to evade.
The knife lands a solid hit (4/22) to the caracal's left arm.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in very strong position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
R> draw left
>
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to evade.
The knife lands a good strike (3/22) to the caracal's abdomen.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in superior position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
R> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal attempts to dodge.
The knife lands a good strike (3/22) to the caracal's back.
[You're winded, nimbly balanced and in dominating position.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
R> draw left
< You draw a carving knife at a caracal. A caracal fails to dodge.
The knife lands a light hit (1/22) to the caracal's right arm.
[You're winded, adeptly balanced and overwhelming opponent.]
[Roundtime 2 sec.]
R>
You think you have your best shot possible now.
R>
* A caracal tenses, springs, and swipes at you. You dodge.
[You're winded, adeptly balanced and overwhelming your opponent.]
R> fire
< You fire a steel-tipped pulzone at a caracal. A caracal fails to dodge.
The pulzone lands a spine-rattling strike (16/22) that rips the top layer of skin from the caracal's chest and exposes underlying muscle, stunning it.
The steel-tipped pulzone lodges itself shallowly into the caracal!
[You're winded, adeptly balanced and overwhelming opponent.]
[Roundtime 1 sec.]
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 09:06 PM CST
>As for damage, It isn't possible to load, aim and fire a bow while using a scimitar to hack someone apart. However, TM does allow you to prepare and target a spell while taking other actions (ranged or melee).
The now dead (I assume, haven't seen anyone using it since 3.0) HUM command had several built in restrictions on what you could and could not do while humming.
Why not put in similar restrictions on the 'broken' parts of magic/combat? If it's hiding/bows which are broken, put in a check that says 'oh, you can't do that while prepping this spell'. Then you get to unlock the feature for certain guilds where it may be appropriate (rangers, WMs), rather than just have TM be kinda 'meh' overall.
The now dead (I assume, haven't seen anyone using it since 3.0) HUM command had several built in restrictions on what you could and could not do while humming.
Why not put in similar restrictions on the 'broken' parts of magic/combat? If it's hiding/bows which are broken, put in a check that says 'oh, you can't do that while prepping this spell'. Then you get to unlock the feature for certain guilds where it may be appropriate (rangers, WMs), rather than just have TM be kinda 'meh' overall.
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 09:42 PM CST
While Im not exactly going to disagree with you on this one Kodius, I do feel its not quite as clear cut as saying doing both TM+Weapons is unmatched damage output. Clearly Cyclic TM and weapons have this problem, but Single Targeted TM is a little more bandwidth restricted in practice.
I almost never just Prep/Target/Cast since I would quickly exhaust my Attunement, this means Mana Management eats up a lot of the ~10 target RT of spell casting. Personally I Prep/target/Harness #/Cast. So each harness action eats 3 seconds of target time, I personally only harness once but I can easily see others doing this 2 or 3 times. Others manage mana with cambrinth, which is a huge RT investment and depending on the mana you are charging (20 mana charge is 6 seconds of RT + 1 second invoke) can eat the entire ~10 second target time.
Now, in my case with a single harness action, I am left with about 7 seconds of target time that I can do weapon attacks in. With Small Edge as my primary weapon, and in a perfect world, that would net me around 3-5 attacks depending on which attacks I used. Now if any of those attacks killed my target, Ive wasted the target time and need to retarget. Since Im holding mana and am at risk of nerve damage, I usually release the spell and mana and start from scratch at this point.
Since Im not living in a perfect world I have to take into account things like Room Mana, Mana management and the biggest problem of all, TM/Weapon rank disparity. I am looking at about 300 ranks difference between my secondary TM/ and tertiary SE, so anything that trains SE likely wont train TM. While the rank disparity problem is purely a training/laziness issue on my part, it means that layering TM and Weapons is almost completely unfeasible in my normal hunting grounds.
So in short...
DPS from 0 Effort/Room wide AoE Cyclic TM + Weapons = Clearly absurd
DPS from Single Target TM + Weapon = High in theory, but I am willing to bet its much sane in practice.
Elusive
mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur
I almost never just Prep/Target/Cast since I would quickly exhaust my Attunement, this means Mana Management eats up a lot of the ~10 target RT of spell casting. Personally I Prep/target/Harness #/Cast. So each harness action eats 3 seconds of target time, I personally only harness once but I can easily see others doing this 2 or 3 times. Others manage mana with cambrinth, which is a huge RT investment and depending on the mana you are charging (20 mana charge is 6 seconds of RT + 1 second invoke) can eat the entire ~10 second target time.
Now, in my case with a single harness action, I am left with about 7 seconds of target time that I can do weapon attacks in. With Small Edge as my primary weapon, and in a perfect world, that would net me around 3-5 attacks depending on which attacks I used. Now if any of those attacks killed my target, Ive wasted the target time and need to retarget. Since Im holding mana and am at risk of nerve damage, I usually release the spell and mana and start from scratch at this point.
Since Im not living in a perfect world I have to take into account things like Room Mana, Mana management and the biggest problem of all, TM/Weapon rank disparity. I am looking at about 300 ranks difference between my secondary TM/ and tertiary SE, so anything that trains SE likely wont train TM. While the rank disparity problem is purely a training/laziness issue on my part, it means that layering TM and Weapons is almost completely unfeasible in my normal hunting grounds.
So in short...
DPS from 0 Effort/Room wide AoE Cyclic TM + Weapons = Clearly absurd
DPS from Single Target TM + Weapon = High in theory, but I am willing to bet its much sane in practice.
Elusive
mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 09:46 PM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 10:16 PM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 10:21 PM CST
I understand that you can Prep, Target, Cast + Slice, but you can also do what Traim mentioned with Crossbows. And in practice, what really ends up happening is one of two things:
Prep, Target, Slice, Slice, Slice, Cast + Slice at low mana for training and doing hardly any damage anyway, or Prep, Target, Harness, Harness, Cast, or Cambrinth + Invoke, Cast + Slice if you want to do actual damage. I suppose that's where the disconnect is. If option one is going to do solid damage after the changes, I understand wanting to limit the use of that.
- Starlear -
Prep, Target, Slice, Slice, Slice, Cast + Slice at low mana for training and doing hardly any damage anyway, or Prep, Target, Harness, Harness, Cast, or Cambrinth + Invoke, Cast + Slice if you want to do actual damage. I suppose that's where the disconnect is. If option one is going to do solid damage after the changes, I understand wanting to limit the use of that.
- Starlear -
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 11:09 PM CST
Interesting about the crossbow there. I don't think it makes any sense to be dancing around slicing a blade at someone while simultaneously aiming a bow.
And I realize in practice you aren't really doubling your DPS. Though maneuver muddy the waters. It is very easy to use the time while the maneuver is charging to be harnessing your mana - then whammo, land the maneuver and stun them, followed up with an acid ball to the forehead.
"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts."
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes
And I realize in practice you aren't really doubling your DPS. Though maneuver muddy the waters. It is very easy to use the time while the maneuver is charging to be harnessing your mana - then whammo, land the maneuver and stun them, followed up with an acid ball to the forehead.
"I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts."
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes
Re: TM Foci on 01/01/2014 11:32 PM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 01:42 AM CST
Very glad to see Foci are still on the table!
However;
>The obvious drawback to using a TM Foci will be the removal of a mundane weapon to attack with.
With 3.0, it's now possible to brawl all the time, no matter what you're holding. Is holding a focus going to interfere with brawling? Does it have to? Brawling does have some modest drawbacks of its own.
>Forgive my snark, but welcome to the life of a warrior mage.
However;
>The obvious drawback to using a TM Foci will be the removal of a mundane weapon to attack with.
With 3.0, it's now possible to brawl all the time, no matter what you're holding. Is holding a focus going to interfere with brawling? Does it have to? Brawling does have some modest drawbacks of its own.
>Forgive my snark, but welcome to the life of a warrior mage.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 05:09 AM CST
Can I get a tony-sized focuses?
In all seriousness, this looks amazing. Things that expand options and flavor are always a pro.
In regards to the magic 3.0 vs 2.0. It is my opinion that magic should be more powerful like it used to be. (I'm sure you disagree, as it was changed.)
As a stereotypical warrior mage player, I don't really train stealth. I tend to stick to edged melee weapons. I don't do the LT thing or whatever the flavor of the year is for combat.
So.. speaking from a level 70 something (now barely a novice) player who plays the guild based on the rules that were setup in the beginning of me joining the guild (which is why i joined the guild to begin with, magic and steel, badass)
Magic blows now. It's not fun to play with, I don't feel like my measly hard earned 300-400 ranks of magic do squat to anything at level anymore. Hell I went to goblins and it takes me 3 snapcasts to kill one. Three!
So to get back some of that umph I have to sacrifice the blade part.
Kodius have you seen the car commercial where "OR" is a bad idea, why not "AND"?
Why not AND?
What i would be biasedly pro for:
- targetting a spell pulls you from stealth.
- when a spell is being prepared, you can't attack with weapons (unless using a maneuver of some sort like barrage)
- any damage over a "good" hit makes you lose the spell, no matter what.
In exchange, beef spells to previous levels.
I want to snapcast one shot goblins, in the neck with air lash, and send heads flying. I've got 400ish ranks of TM I've earned it. I want to know that if I overpower this spell I'm going to obliterate the creature in front of me(at level, slightly overhunting) and royally screw my weapon training because i blew it up too much.
I want to know that if I can get that ice patch off on that thief he's mine. (damn you agility!)
I want to feel like being a *warrior mage* matters. I don't want to be a part time barbarian part time moon mage.
If I wanted to be a moon mage and tote a staff and eschew weapons, I'd have rolled one. (I still like the idea for the game, regardless)
I know this sounds whiny and I apologize. I'm frustrated with my guild's lack of blowing things up.
In all seriousness, this looks amazing. Things that expand options and flavor are always a pro.
In regards to the magic 3.0 vs 2.0. It is my opinion that magic should be more powerful like it used to be. (I'm sure you disagree, as it was changed.)
As a stereotypical warrior mage player, I don't really train stealth. I tend to stick to edged melee weapons. I don't do the LT thing or whatever the flavor of the year is for combat.
So.. speaking from a level 70 something (now barely a novice) player who plays the guild based on the rules that were setup in the beginning of me joining the guild (which is why i joined the guild to begin with, magic and steel, badass)
Magic blows now. It's not fun to play with, I don't feel like my measly hard earned 300-400 ranks of magic do squat to anything at level anymore. Hell I went to goblins and it takes me 3 snapcasts to kill one. Three!
So to get back some of that umph I have to sacrifice the blade part.
Kodius have you seen the car commercial where "OR" is a bad idea, why not "AND"?
Why not AND?
What i would be biasedly pro for:
- targetting a spell pulls you from stealth.
- when a spell is being prepared, you can't attack with weapons (unless using a maneuver of some sort like barrage)
- any damage over a "good" hit makes you lose the spell, no matter what.
In exchange, beef spells to previous levels.
I want to snapcast one shot goblins, in the neck with air lash, and send heads flying. I've got 400ish ranks of TM I've earned it. I want to know that if I overpower this spell I'm going to obliterate the creature in front of me(at level, slightly overhunting) and royally screw my weapon training because i blew it up too much.
I want to know that if I can get that ice patch off on that thief he's mine. (damn you agility!)
I want to feel like being a *warrior mage* matters. I don't want to be a part time barbarian part time moon mage.
If I wanted to be a moon mage and tote a staff and eschew weapons, I'd have rolled one. (I still like the idea for the game, regardless)
I know this sounds whiny and I apologize. I'm frustrated with my guild's lack of blowing things up.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 06:28 AM CST
>Magic blows now. It's not fun to play with, I don't feel like my measly hard earned 300-400 ranks of magic do squat to anything at level anymore. Hell I went to goblins and it takes me 3 snapcasts to kill one. Three!
FWIW, my barbarian with similar primary weapons probably would take 2-3 hits to kill a goblin too. One shots are a thing, but not the norm in 3.0
As for your three potential restrictions to TM, I think they sound pretty harsh. But maybe upping TM damage would ameliorate that. Personally, I prefer a more fluid routine ('i'm a warrior mage, so, i use all the tools at my disposal'), and adding TM maneuvers that allow TM to do more damage. Aiming a ranged weapon isn't stopped because you've taken a hit, and you can aim from hiding. I see no reason to apply these restrictions to TM.
My routine for all my MUs is to train a weapon to kill a critter, then train TM to kill a critter, and rotate. I feel both are about equal in killing time, but my TM routine is target, charge cambrinth, invoke cambrinth, cast before fully targeted. I'm definitely not targeting, swinging, then casting, and from talking to people, I don't think many people are. Hopefully foci will beef up TM damage similarly to how, say, picking up a good weapon beefs melee damage over brawling.
FWIW, my barbarian with similar primary weapons probably would take 2-3 hits to kill a goblin too. One shots are a thing, but not the norm in 3.0
As for your three potential restrictions to TM, I think they sound pretty harsh. But maybe upping TM damage would ameliorate that. Personally, I prefer a more fluid routine ('i'm a warrior mage, so, i use all the tools at my disposal'), and adding TM maneuvers that allow TM to do more damage. Aiming a ranged weapon isn't stopped because you've taken a hit, and you can aim from hiding. I see no reason to apply these restrictions to TM.
My routine for all my MUs is to train a weapon to kill a critter, then train TM to kill a critter, and rotate. I feel both are about equal in killing time, but my TM routine is target, charge cambrinth, invoke cambrinth, cast before fully targeted. I'm definitely not targeting, swinging, then casting, and from talking to people, I don't think many people are. Hopefully foci will beef up TM damage similarly to how, say, picking up a good weapon beefs melee damage over brawling.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 07:54 AM CST
<<- targetting a spell pulls you from stealth.
- when a spell is being prepared, you can't attack with weapons (unless using a maneuver of some sort like barrage)
- any damage over a "good" hit makes you lose the spell, no matter what.>>
Please, no. I would never be able to use magic anytime I fought a barb with decent LT (I'm going to get hit "good" every 2 seconds). And stealth sucks bad enough as it is without taking away targeting from hiding for those of us who DO like the stealth angle.
<<Interesting about the crossbow there. I don't think it makes any sense to be dancing around slicing a blade at someone while simultaneously aiming a bow.>>
It's really the only cool aspect of off-hand that I've ever heard of anyone using before you made maneuvers; aim LX with the right hand and throw LT with the left hand. It might not make sense, but other than being cool, it doesn't actually add DPS or even an accurancy advantage. No one has been pwnzing PvP this way or making life unbearable for GMPC bosses etc. Part of this is because aimable ranged weapons don't get their extra accuracy/power bonus from aiming anymore. You have to aim just to have an aimed weapon (or targeted spell) perform equivalent to a thrown weapon or melee weapon. Let me put it this way, the crossbow example I gave above (aim, draw left, draw left, draw left, fire) is absolutely no different in terms of attack opportunities than draw left, draw left, draw left, throw.
In any case, I'm fine giving up weapon use with TM if you decide that's needed; I need TM to be worth something at level because weapons (possibly barring maneuver use) never will be for me as a MM. Please keep in mind that TM power changes are felt from multiple angles, including: (1) increased vit/barriers for everyone and everything in 3.0 (this is unavoidable and generally good), and (2) mana caps doubling (sometimes close to tripling). Imagine tripling the fatigue hit for every weapon move while simultaneously increasing the number of hits to kill something by five to ten fold (conservatively).
- when a spell is being prepared, you can't attack with weapons (unless using a maneuver of some sort like barrage)
- any damage over a "good" hit makes you lose the spell, no matter what.>>
Please, no. I would never be able to use magic anytime I fought a barb with decent LT (I'm going to get hit "good" every 2 seconds). And stealth sucks bad enough as it is without taking away targeting from hiding for those of us who DO like the stealth angle.
<<Interesting about the crossbow there. I don't think it makes any sense to be dancing around slicing a blade at someone while simultaneously aiming a bow.>>
It's really the only cool aspect of off-hand that I've ever heard of anyone using before you made maneuvers; aim LX with the right hand and throw LT with the left hand. It might not make sense, but other than being cool, it doesn't actually add DPS or even an accurancy advantage. No one has been pwnzing PvP this way or making life unbearable for GMPC bosses etc. Part of this is because aimable ranged weapons don't get their extra accuracy/power bonus from aiming anymore. You have to aim just to have an aimed weapon (or targeted spell) perform equivalent to a thrown weapon or melee weapon. Let me put it this way, the crossbow example I gave above (aim, draw left, draw left, draw left, fire) is absolutely no different in terms of attack opportunities than draw left, draw left, draw left, throw.
In any case, I'm fine giving up weapon use with TM if you decide that's needed; I need TM to be worth something at level because weapons (possibly barring maneuver use) never will be for me as a MM. Please keep in mind that TM power changes are felt from multiple angles, including: (1) increased vit/barriers for everyone and everything in 3.0 (this is unavoidable and generally good), and (2) mana caps doubling (sometimes close to tripling). Imagine tripling the fatigue hit for every weapon move while simultaneously increasing the number of hits to kill something by five to ten fold (conservatively).
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 07:57 AM CST
I think it always gets lost in the chatter, but it bears mentioning that mans is a very discreet pool, much more restricted and restrictive than fatigue. And directly skill based.
So while you can in theory double dip, it's very difficult or impossible to do it for very long, compared to weapon damage. And most people further obscure this by using camb to reduce pool drain for RT investment.
So while you can in theory double dip, it's very difficult or impossible to do it for very long, compared to weapon damage. And most people further obscure this by using camb to reduce pool drain for RT investment.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 10:18 AM CST
I can't help but point out that, despite how fervently the "you can cast and use melee at the same time" argument is made from the staff side, I have not seen a single post of a PLAYER going "Yeah, he's totally right, this is awesome" I haven't even heard some one say it's VIABLE aside from cyclics.
No one is doing this, and if they are, it's not potent enough for the power gamer's to adopt, so....
No one is doing this, and if they are, it's not potent enough for the power gamer's to adopt, so....
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 10:33 AM CST
>>I can't help but point out that, despite how fervently the "you can cast and use melee at the same time" argument is made from the staff side, I have not seen a single post of a PLAYER going "Yeah, he's totally right, this is awesome" I haven't even heard some one say it's VIABLE aside from cyclics.
...I use physical and magical attacks side by side all the time. I thought everyone was and I'm a bit surprised to be in the minority if that's not the case. Normally I prep at minimum (or at least on the lower end of the prep ranges), attack two or three times, then cast when fully prepped. I'm surprised that this is something not typically done more often. Heck, sometimes I target, attack twice, shove, advance, then cast. The cast RT covers me going back to melee from pole, and I also get the advantage of a prone mob being hit with TM, let alone one that may be stunned from the physical attacks.
Most of the time I've heard people say they don't like using physical and magical attacks at the same time, it's more because they don't want to attack the mob with physicals because if it dies they'll have to retarget their spell on a new mob, which delays training TM.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
...I use physical and magical attacks side by side all the time. I thought everyone was and I'm a bit surprised to be in the minority if that's not the case. Normally I prep at minimum (or at least on the lower end of the prep ranges), attack two or three times, then cast when fully prepped. I'm surprised that this is something not typically done more often. Heck, sometimes I target, attack twice, shove, advance, then cast. The cast RT covers me going back to melee from pole, and I also get the advantage of a prone mob being hit with TM, let alone one that may be stunned from the physical attacks.
Most of the time I've heard people say they don't like using physical and magical attacks at the same time, it's more because they don't want to attack the mob with physicals because if it dies they'll have to retarget their spell on a new mob, which delays training TM.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 11:12 AM CST
>>> My routine for all my MUs is to train a weapon to kill a critter, then train TM to kill a critter, and rotate. I feel both are about equal in killing time, but my TM routine is target, charge cambrinth, invoke cambrinth, cast before fully targeted. I'm definitely not targeting, swinging, then casting, and from talking to people, I don't think many people are. Hopefully foci will beef up TM damage similarly to how, say, picking up a good weapon beefs melee damage over brawling.
I swing a weapon and use TM at the same time. I use harness to reduce the strain on my attunement but limit the roundtime loss. I do not chain cast TM indefinitely, however. Having said that, my Moon Mage has very unbalanced stats which make this more sustainable and anyone whose attunement skill is more on par with their weapons probably couldn't sustain even this strategy.
For reference:
Attunement: 557 Targeted Magic: 261
Small Edged: 219 Large Edged: 218 Small Blunt: 218
I swing a weapon and use TM at the same time. I use harness to reduce the strain on my attunement but limit the roundtime loss. I do not chain cast TM indefinitely, however. Having said that, my Moon Mage has very unbalanced stats which make this more sustainable and anyone whose attunement skill is more on par with their weapons probably couldn't sustain even this strategy.
For reference:
Attunement: 557 Targeted Magic: 261
Small Edged: 219 Large Edged: 218 Small Blunt: 218
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 11:15 AM CST
The place where it really is feasible is when you're dealing with a ranged aimable weapon. I can aim my crossbow and target a spell simultaneously, then harness twice while the aim and targeting proceeds. Since the ranged "aim" time is a soft RT, I am basically doubling up by getting some harnesses in while simultaneously aiming.
If damaging attacks, including the start of a maneuver, "broke" an active target (akin to how a pulse from whole displacement breaks an active target or aim), even this possibility would be nullified.
Still, I have yet to hear how the scenario I explained above is effectively any different from dual load.
If damaging attacks, including the start of a maneuver, "broke" an active target (akin to how a pulse from whole displacement breaks an active target or aim), even this possibility would be nullified.
Still, I have yet to hear how the scenario I explained above is effectively any different from dual load.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 11:19 AM CST
>>most of the time I've heard people say they don't like using physical and magical attacks at the same time, it's more because they don't want to attack the mob with physicals because if it dies they'll have to retarget their spell on a new mob, which delays training TM.
target, face next, wail, cast. helps keep everything alive for those massive 25-strike fireballs
so do barb roars and stuff fit into this discussion too?
_________________________________
An agonizing pain fills you as you feel your tongue turn to powder in your mouth! Through a haze of uncertainty and loss, you realize that something you just said was very wrong.
target, face next, wail, cast. helps keep everything alive for those massive 25-strike fireballs
so do barb roars and stuff fit into this discussion too?
_________________________________
An agonizing pain fills you as you feel your tongue turn to powder in your mouth! Through a haze of uncertainty and loss, you realize that something you just said was very wrong.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 11:27 AM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 11:32 AM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 12:26 PM CST
>>I also don't generally like having to use another item on top of all the other special ones I need for magic.
Wholehartedly agree with this. Its like a Barbarian did the entire magic 3.1. Seriously nerf it nerf it nerf it some more. Same thing happen to stealth over past 2 years. At this rate everyone needs to just join the Barbarian guild playing most other guilds you will be "punished" by tidious and difficult and complex things.
Above statement is a TAD overboard but com on. To cast a spell I have to prep X, charge cambrith Y, Invoke Cambrith, Harness Z, wait for it..... cast. Average time about 15 to 20 rt. ONE SPELL. Is that really not already overboard? Now I also have to go to the hasstle of sheathing my weapon so I can take out a Foci than putting the foci away than taking out my weapon again....
Wow...
Wholehartedly agree with this. Its like a Barbarian did the entire magic 3.1. Seriously nerf it nerf it nerf it some more. Same thing happen to stealth over past 2 years. At this rate everyone needs to just join the Barbarian guild playing most other guilds you will be "punished" by tidious and difficult and complex things.
Above statement is a TAD overboard but com on. To cast a spell I have to prep X, charge cambrith Y, Invoke Cambrith, Harness Z, wait for it..... cast. Average time about 15 to 20 rt. ONE SPELL. Is that really not already overboard? Now I also have to go to the hasstle of sheathing my weapon so I can take out a Foci than putting the foci away than taking out my weapon again....
Wow...
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 12:39 PM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 12:41 PM CST
>>So just to be clear - this will not replace using TM as you do today. This is a new system and you can ignore that it exists if you'd like.
And that is a good thing too already way too involved/complex to cast a spell to add another component. My previous post stated that average cast time for ONE spell is 15 to 20+rt. I dont see that as overkill.
>>As for damage, It isn't possible to load, aim and fire a bow while using a scimitar to hack someone apart. However, TM does allow you to prepare and target a spell while taking other actions (ranged or melee).
If you prep X spell at MAX mana you can. Yes you are right.
If you do what you must to train you cant because you will prep it at around 1/3 to 1/4 of your cap than stuff bunch into a Cambrith to tain Arcana than stuff more by harnessing once or twice to move Attunement than cast. Doing it that way your in RT almoust the entire time.
>>and have a hard time understanding that combining TM with another weapon can double or triple their DPS (in the case of cyclic TM spells)
While Cyclic TM spells have the potential and I mean POTENTIAL to do this they are not. I dont have Fire Rain or Ring of Spears mowing things down in ANY hurry. Takes a LOT of pulses to actually kill something far far more than a weapon would. After letting it cycle for a while nearly 2 minutes at 15 mana before things start dying.
The other thing to consider is I am not just traing TM as a mage I have to train other schools of magic which look at point A takes a LOT of time which means I cant swing my weapon so I cant kill. Like I said in my previous post its like a Barbarian designed the majority of 3.0 and it has become Spell caster unfriendly.
I have a barb and love playing him. He kills at a clip of x2 or x3 to my WM. All I do as a barb is swing swing swing swing swing swing. Lots of other things I got to do as a mage to train all my magics that does not involve killing outright. Ohh... yes not everything is supposed to be trainable in combat you said... unles your a Barb of course.
And that is a good thing too already way too involved/complex to cast a spell to add another component. My previous post stated that average cast time for ONE spell is 15 to 20+rt. I dont see that as overkill.
>>As for damage, It isn't possible to load, aim and fire a bow while using a scimitar to hack someone apart. However, TM does allow you to prepare and target a spell while taking other actions (ranged or melee).
If you prep X spell at MAX mana you can. Yes you are right.
If you do what you must to train you cant because you will prep it at around 1/3 to 1/4 of your cap than stuff bunch into a Cambrith to tain Arcana than stuff more by harnessing once or twice to move Attunement than cast. Doing it that way your in RT almoust the entire time.
>>and have a hard time understanding that combining TM with another weapon can double or triple their DPS (in the case of cyclic TM spells)
While Cyclic TM spells have the potential and I mean POTENTIAL to do this they are not. I dont have Fire Rain or Ring of Spears mowing things down in ANY hurry. Takes a LOT of pulses to actually kill something far far more than a weapon would. After letting it cycle for a while nearly 2 minutes at 15 mana before things start dying.
The other thing to consider is I am not just traing TM as a mage I have to train other schools of magic which look at point A takes a LOT of time which means I cant swing my weapon so I cant kill. Like I said in my previous post its like a Barbarian designed the majority of 3.0 and it has become Spell caster unfriendly.
I have a barb and love playing him. He kills at a clip of x2 or x3 to my WM. All I do as a barb is swing swing swing swing swing swing. Lots of other things I got to do as a mage to train all my magics that does not involve killing outright. Ohh... yes not everything is supposed to be trainable in combat you said... unles your a Barb of course.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 12:44 PM CST
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 12:51 PM CST
>>Barbs can train most everything they NEED in combat, but they cannot train everything in combat. Not sure what your point is here.
Talking about circle requirements. A barb can train every single thing they need to circle in combat.
Bottom line is we are going back to makign things "tideous" and "complex" where I need to perform half a dozen different actions to cast ONE spell if I wish to train well.
Talking about circle requirements. A barb can train every single thing they need to circle in combat.
Bottom line is we are going back to makign things "tideous" and "complex" where I need to perform half a dozen different actions to cast ONE spell if I wish to train well.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 12:56 PM CST
I'm not sure at all what you think adding TM Foci will do to change circling, or making things more tedious or complex. If anything, enhancing TM damage makes training easier, not harder.
Your complaints here really seem to amount to being upset that SLICE/CHOP are a thing. You haven't seen what the TM maneuvers are going to be, and you don't know how foci are going to operate.
Your complaints here really seem to amount to being upset that SLICE/CHOP are a thing. You haven't seen what the TM maneuvers are going to be, and you don't know how foci are going to operate.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 12:57 PM CST
Just to clarify Tigarclaw, the foci issue is intended to address damage--not learning. I wouldn't be so alarmed about TM learning itself. I learn TM as well or better in Test than I do in 3.0 (once I found the right 3.1 critter); it's damage that stinks and damage potential that foci are intended to address. Maybe your TM learning experience in Test is different, but that's not necessarily the same issue as TM damage--just wanted to note that.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 01:02 PM CST
>>Just to clarify Tigarclaw, the foci issue is intended to address damage--not learning.
You know as well as I do Traim that higher TM dmg = better exp. My point was if I want to train at OPTIMAL I have to take half a dozen different actions, literally perform a complex ritual to cast ONE spell.
I am more than likely going to ignore Foci just because I cant slow down further what is already a slow/tideous proces of spell casting.
The Ritual Foci made a LOT of sense for a spell that A gave you TON of benefit and B lasts up to nearly 2 hours. For normal casting that is supposed to happen repeatedly in my opinion is an extra layer on a cake that has one/two too many already. Overkill.
You know as well as I do Traim that higher TM dmg = better exp. My point was if I want to train at OPTIMAL I have to take half a dozen different actions, literally perform a complex ritual to cast ONE spell.
I am more than likely going to ignore Foci just because I cant slow down further what is already a slow/tideous proces of spell casting.
The Ritual Foci made a LOT of sense for a spell that A gave you TON of benefit and B lasts up to nearly 2 hours. For normal casting that is supposed to happen repeatedly in my opinion is an extra layer on a cake that has one/two too many already. Overkill.
Re: TM Foci on 01/02/2014 01:04 PM CST
>>To cast a spell I have to prep X, charge cambrith Y, Invoke Cambrith, Harness Z, wait for it..... cast.
...no you don't.
Heck, no you don't especially in the context of TM. I use my TM (and debilitation) at-level just fine casting at low preps.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.
...no you don't.
Heck, no you don't especially in the context of TM. I use my TM (and debilitation) at-level just fine casting at low preps.
Uzmam! The Chairman will NOT be pleased to know you're trying to build outside of approved zones. I'd hate for you to be charged the taxes needed to have this place re-zoned. Head for the manor if you're feeling creative.