So this is a bit of a complaint and suggestion. I have noticed that the webbed status effect has absolutely no affect on the targets ability to cast spells. However, it is supposed to incite immobility, thus most commands do fail. I just think it's a little backwards that you can't do internal, seemingly motionless tasks like assess, perceive, or count something, but you can make arcane preparations and gestures while webbed.

Also, seeing how it does have this ineffiveness towards magic, and seeing how combat is definitely a much slower process than before I feel HB could benefit from an increase in duration of effect. This spell used to be a great ability of the guild. And now it just seems a pale version of its former glory. And honestly, barely used anymore. At least for me. Would love to see it get a little help.


~Van

>Arcane preparations are purely mental with cosmetic gestures used as memorization aids

While I understand that thinking up a spell and starting to conjure it as being a completely metal process. What makes you say that the gestures involved are completely cosmetic and not necessary of some sort? For instance, what makes them necessary for launching but not preparing? I am aware this is kind of goes into a theory based topic. But I guess I don't particularly recall any lore stating this as definitive condition.

So, I decided to focus on the mere fact that movements are being established during preparation, whether they are necessary or not is a deeper issue.
>>With tense movements you prepare your body for the Harawep's Bonds spell.


>... but arcane gestures that actually launch spells might be requisite, so it's not an invalid argument but I don't think the system distinguishes spells with no gesturing whatsoever (like Air Lash or Vivisection) versus those that require you do something with your hands. Or elbow. Or whatever.

Even if it didn't(though it probably should), what would be the premises that decide that prepping and casting a spell is more viable an action to allow, than others like assessing your situation? The entire point of an immobilizer is to stop actions against you, or prevent a target from escaping. Because I doubt many cast HB to prevent a target from assessing their current battle status, or perceiving the mana of the room. It just doesn't make sense to me.


~Van

HB in its current formed has been nerfed into irrelevance. For the cost of the spell slots of the spell, it should be MUCH better, since it is one of our most expensive spells. As it is, Curse of the wilds is a better choice, at a lower cost.

Falker

>HB in its current formed has been nerfed into irrelevance. For the cost of the spell slots of the spell, it should be MUCH better, since it is one of our most expensive spells. As it is, Curse of the wilds is a better choice, at a lower cost.

Pretty much my exact thoughts. Which is why I was saying it needs some help. BB and CotW are both much more effective, and both cost less. BB even being of the same contest type. At 3 spell slots, it would seem intuitive that HB be one of our most powerful/effective spells. Yet as it stands now, I rarely ever use it, because it just seems to be a poorer choice with most things at level. You have to really dominate a target for it to feel like it has the effects to the degree it should.


>The gestures are mnemonic devices, all the actual mechanics of casting a spell in Elanthia resides in the caster's head.

Well, then it definitely doesn't come across as an intuitive observation, when almost all preparations, and casts, are described as involving physical gestures. If this is the case then, though, assessing combat, and perceiving mana, and maybe a few other things also seem to be things one can do in one's head as well. How come are these get restricted? There are definitely a few of these I wouldn't mind being able to do.


>It should theoretically be harder to cast a spell when immobilized, but by no means impossible. I'll need to poke around next time I'm in that part of the magic system.

As far as I have been aware the difficulty in casting while webbed posed negligible, if any, difficulty changes.


~Van

I'm holding out against all hopes that once poisons are flushed out (no pun intended) that possibly HB will get a debilitation type poison effect added.

Too much to ask?

---

Player of Diggan, Ranger & Halfing of Aesry

I used to use HB all the time when sparring and somewhat frequently when hunting, but since the duration was cut down I can't remember the last time I used it either.
I don't really even think to cast it now.. COTW and BB have completely replaced it for me.

I do believe it affects spell casting quite a bit, or used to at least.
I know when someone attempted to prepare a spell when webbed, it used to say "so and so struggles to prepare a spelL" or something.. and I was told by more than one magic user that being webbed really messed up their rhythm because they had to allow their spells to prep just a little bit longer than they are used to or they would consistently backfire or fail.

Someone mentioned poison again. I have my doubts that the base spell will ever be given that again (or it would be more than debilitation), but maybe a poison self cast meta-spell with a fairly short duration, that when it is in effect would cause casts of HB (and maybe swarm & COTW) to include a little poison. I don't know..maybe it would poison the caster just a little bit in order to cast it too.

<<unconscious effect via BB be looked at?

This shouldnt have anything to do with BB. It's the unconscious affect itself and the combat system.

Falker